Iranian officials have launched a sustained messaging campaign directed at American voters, emphasizing the economic toll of the ongoing war with the United States and Israel as the nation approaches its midterm elections next month. State-affiliated media outlets have published articles analyzing the conflict’s impact on oil prices and the US economy, while senior Iranian figures have actively engaged on social media to amplify these messages.
Iran’s chief negotiator and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has been particularly vocal, sharing posts that draw connections between the war and rising inflation, elevated energy costs, and declining economic confidence. On social media, Ghalibaf addressed US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent directly, using economic data and satirical imagery to underscore his arguments about the conflict’s financial consequences. These communications reference dramatic increases in fuel prices, with diesel reaching record highs and gasoline prices significantly elevated compared to prewar levels.
Experts characterize Iran’s approach as information warfare aimed at raising the political costs of the conflict for US leadership rather than attempting to manipulate the electoral process in favor of a particular party. Since the war commenced on February 28, Iranian disruptions to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz have contributed to global energy price increases that have fueled domestic inflation. The Federal Reserve’s recent interest rate increase reflects these economic pressures, occurring at a time when political leaders have emphasized the need for monetary stimulus.
The Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps released a public letter on September 29 challenging the Trump administration’s characterization of the war’s economic impact, arguing that declining international confidence in US financial instruments signals broader economic vulnerability. Within Iran, analysts debate whether a Democratic victory in the midterm elections could constrain the administration’s war powers through congressional action such as funding restrictions, though uncertainty persists regarding potential policy shifts. Trump has indicated that the midterm results would not influence his Iran strategy, stating that nuclear nonproliferation remains his primary consideration regardless of electoral outcomes or their timing relative to the vote scheduled for November 3.
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