TEHRAN, 5 November, 2026 (Ghufran): Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has warned that any renewed US military strikes against Iran could expand the ongoing conflict across the Middle East, as diplomatic efforts continue to prevent a fresh escalation of hostilities. In a written statement issued on Wednesday, Khamenei dismissed expectations that the recent US midterm election results would bring a change in Washington’s policy towards Tehran, saying those who believe political developments or concessions could change American hostility towards Iran were mistaken. His remarks came after US President Donald Trump’s Republican Party suffered a significant setback in the midterm elections, potentially limiting his ability to advance his political agenda, although he retains the authority to order military action. Iran’s chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said American voters had rejected war through their election decisions, adding that Tehran supported the public’s opposition to further conflict. Iran’s judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei also described Trump’s electoral setback as a political and military defeat. Meanwhile, Trump acknowledged that the Iran conflict may have contributed to his party’s electoral losses but maintained that US forces remained prepared to strike additional targets inside Iran if necessary. The US president confirmed that American forces had attacked an anti-aircraft facility on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, describing the operation as a minor strike. Iranian state media reported several explosions on the island, while the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed that a US MQ-1 drone had been intercepted and destroyed, a claim not confirmed by Washington. Trump also referred to a suspected nuclear facility known as Pickaxe Mountain in central Iran as a potential target, although he indicated that a full-scale resumption of the war might not be necessary. On the diplomatic front, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said his government remained committed to resolving the crisis through dialogue and had received additional negotiating powers from the supreme leader. Qatar, which has been mediating between the two sides, said both Washington and Tehran were reviewing proposals aimed at reaching an interim agreement. China also stressed that preventing a return to hostilities remained a key priority of its diplomatic engagement. The conflict, which began in February with large-scale US and Israeli strikes against Iran, has remained largely deadlocked for months, with Iranian officials repeatedly warning of widespread retaliation if Washington resumes military operations.