Week in Review: Iran Talks and Strikes, Democrats Win Congress
This week, diplomacy and military escalation over Iran ran side by side, alongside the US midterm elections on November 3. Preliminary results gave Democrats the majority in Congress, and the war with Iran moved to the center of American political debate. In the region, confrontation between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia escalated, and Sudan and Ethiopia traded accusations over drone attacks.
Iran and Washington: Escalation and Negotiations
The week opened with sharper rhetoric: Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei ordered the army to respond to any new threat without geographic limits, and Mohsen Rezaei said the Strait of Hormuz would not reopen until Tehran's conditions were met. On November 2, Axios reported that Netanyahu was urging Trump to resume strikes after the congressional elections, while Trump leaned toward negotiation, according to the site. Washington carried out limited strikes on Qeshm Island, which US Central Command confirmed and US officials described as defensive; Trump then said there were no immediate plans for a strike on Iran. On November 6, Reuters cited a senior Iranian official saying Tehran had sent a nuclear proposal via Qatar and would not discuss it until Washington met seven demands. On November 7, Trump said negotiations were going very well and that Washington would decide within two weeks…
- Khamenei orders military to respond without geographic limits as Trump holds off on decision
- Netanyahu urges Trump to resume Iran strikes after US midterms, Axios reports
- US carries out limited strikes on Iran's Qeshm Island as indirect talks hang in the balance
- Trump says US has no immediate plans to strike Iran
- Iran sends nuclear proposal to Washington via Qatar, conditions talks on seven demands
- Trump says Iran talks going well, decision on next steps due within two weeks
The Midterms and Their Fallout
On the eve of the vote, Trump called the midterms the most important of Americans' lifetimes. On Election Day he told Fox News that Washington would end its annual military aid to Israel, about $4 billion, at the end of the year; according to the New York Times, he described it as part of an agreement reached months earlier. Preliminary results showed Democrats taking the majority in both the Senate and the House; Trump said he could work with them and acknowledged that the war with Iran had affected the outcome. Hakeem Jeffries formally announced his bid for House speaker, and Chuck Schumer called for ending the war with Iran, hinting at using control over government funding as leverage.
- Trump calls midterms the most important of our lifetimes on eve of vote
- Trump says US military aid to Israel will end by year's close
- Early results give Democrats control of Congress in US midterms
- Democratic midterm win puts Hakeem Jeffries on track to become House speaker
- Trump acknowledges Iran war weighed on midterm election results
- Schumer calls for an end to Iran war, hints at using government funding as leverage
Yemen, Saudi Arabia and Gulf Security
On November 2, the Saudi-led coalition announced what it called a qualitative military operation against the Houthis, with no details on locations or results. The Houthis said Saudi strikes hit Hodeidah port and threatened Aramco and Saudi aviation, while the coalition said it intercepted air attacks. The same day, Anwar Gargash said he hoped for a diplomatic breakthrough while the UAE stayed ready for the worst. On November 5, the Houthis announced they had targeted King Khalid Airport in Riyadh, and the death toll from the airport attack rose to 14, according to BBC Arabic. On November 6, the Turkish parliament ratified the Mecca joint defense agreement with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.
- Saudi-led coalition announces military operation against Houthis in Yemen
- Houthis say Saudi strikes hit Hodeidah port and other areas in Yemen
- Gargash hopes for diplomatic breakthrough as UAE prepares for worst case
- Riyadh airport attack death toll rises to 14 as Houthis claim strike
- Turkish parliament ratifies Mecca joint defense agreement
Ukraine and Russia: Talks and Security Guarantees
On November 3, Axios reported that the United States would take part in a second round of trilateral talks with Russia and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi on November 10 and 11. On November 6, envoy Jared Kushner said Washington had held talks in Brussels with Ukraine, NATO and European partners, covering security guarantees for Ukraine and a broader European security architecture. The same day, Trump expressed confidence that a major agreement with Russia was possible, one that, according to media reports, might extend beyond Ukraine to European security as a whole.
Sudan and Ethiopia: Drone Attack Accusations
On November 1, Sudan's Foreign Ministry said Ethiopia had carried out drone attacks targeting facilities in Sudan, and stressed Sudan's right to respond to any aggression. Egypt condemned the escalating drone attacks on Sudanese civilian and vital facilities and called for stopping the flow of weapons from Sudan's neighbors. On November 2, Sudan filed a complaint against Ethiopia with the UN Security Council and the African Union Peace and Security Council, saying the drones were launched from Ethiopian territory and hit civilian sites and facilities.
What to watch
The second round of trilateral talks among the United States, Russia and Ukraine is due in Abu Dhabi on November 10 and 11, according to Axios. Trump said Washington would decide within two weeks whether to take further steps on Iran or approve a deal.
This review was prepared with the help of AI from the summaries Lamha published during the week, and may contain errors. Spotted one? Let us know