Secretary of State Marco Rubio dismissed reported Iranian hopes of a Democratic victory in the midterm elections, saying they come from a “misreading” of the U.S. political system.

Ever since the beginning of Operation Epic Fury, analysts have accused Tehran of focusing on maximizing the political and economic costs for President Donald Trump, aiming to hold out until a hypothetical Democratic victory in the 2026 midterm elections forces him to capitulate. When asked by reporters about Iranian hopes that the midterms would decide the war, Rubio dismissed them.