Iran: The Latest

The 2026 US midterms results are in: Donald Trump’s Republican Party has suffered a devastating defeat, losing both the House and the Senate amid voter fury over high fuel prices caused by the Iran war.

In today’s episode of Iran: The Latest, Venetia Rainey and Sophia Yan break down how the elections have changed the Congress map, from Texas’s flip to Abdul el-Sayed’s Michigan win. Along with guest Leo Shane, Politico’s defence correspondent, they ask what the midterm results mean for Trump and his foreign policy. The president has insisted future attacks against Iran remain on the table if they don’t strike a nuclear deal, but Tehran has warned that a return to full combat operations will be met with a “Nightmare” - will he be chastened or unleashed? And what does it mean for other countries in Trump’s sights such as Ukraine, Venezuela and Cuba?
Plus, the looming battle over the Pentagon’s budget, will Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth face impeachment and Trump's shock announcement to halt military aid to Israel.

Highlights
Trump’s Republicans suffer midterms bloodbath over Iran war
Tehran threatens ‘nightmare’ if Trump restarts strikes

CONTRIBUTORS:
Venetia Rainey, co-host and executive producer @venetiarainey
Sophia Yan, co-host and senior foreign correspondent @sophia_yan
Leo Shane III, Politico defence reporter @LeoShane

WATCH US ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVAif-vifC6F2aoPB8GIw6dk
CONTENT REFERENCED:
Mapped: US midterms results in full
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/politics/0/us-midterms-2026-results-for-senate-and-house-timings-democrat/
Trump crushed in midterms
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/politics/2026/11/04/james-talarico-texas-senate-ken-paxton-midterms/
John Bolton: The Democrats will now take revenge on Trump and his ilk
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/11/04/democrats-will-now-take-revenge-on-trump-and-his-ilk/
Trump’s election day gamble over Israel backs Vance into a corner
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2026/11/03/trump-election-day-gamble-israel-backs-vance-into-corner/
Winner Podcast of the Year - London Press Club Awards 2026
Winner Best News and Analysis Podcast - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026
Bronze Best News, Politics and Current Affairs - British Podcast Awards 2026
Nominated Podcast of the Year - Society of Editors News Podcasts Awards 2026
The Telegraph, Winner Podcast Publisher of the Year 2026 - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026

Producers: Peter Shevlin and Max Bower
Researcher and Social Producer: Anna Hindmarsh
Studio Operator: Andy Watson
Executive Producer: Venetia Rainey

► Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor
► EMAIL US: Contact the team on battlelines@telegraph.co.uk
► GET THE LATEST HEADLINES: Find all our latest Iran coverage here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/iran-war/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donald Trump has launched secretive strikes on Iran’s Qeshm Island, as Tehran threatens to tear up its nuclear weapons ban and Gulf allies brace for renewed war.

In today’s episode of Iran: the Latest, Roland Oliphant looks at reports of five explosions in Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, home to an underground Iranian missile site, even as Trump insists the US has already "won" the conflict. Meanwhile, Tehran warns it is ready for battle and may formally abandon its ban on nuclear weapons after the assassination of Ali Khamenei at the beginning of the war.

Plus, National Security Editor Rozina Sabur reports from the “gloomy” Manama Dialogue in Bahrain, where Gulf states admit their collective security has collapsed in the face of Iranian threats. As Americans head to the polls for today’s midterm elections, Rozina - formerly Washington editor - breaks down what the vote means for Trump’s war effort and whether the US could see a rerun of the January 6 Capitol unrest.

Highlights
US bombs Iran’s Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz
Tehran considering ending its own nuclear weapons ban

CONTRIBUTORS:
Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant
Rozina Sabur, national security editor @RozinaSabur

WATCH US ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVAif-vifC6F2aoPB8GIw6dk

CONTENT REFERENCED:
Iran reconsiders its own ban on nuclear weapons
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/11/02/iran-reconsiders-its-own-ban-on-nuclear-weapons/
Pickaxe Mountain nuclear strike and Trump’s other Iran war options
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/11/03/pickaxe-mountain-nuclear-strike-trumps-iran-war-options/
US strikes Iran on eve of midterm elections
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2026/11/03/us-strikes-iran-qeshm-island-eve-of-midterm-elections/

Winner Podcast of the Year - London Press Club Awards 2026
Winner Best News and Analysis Podcast - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026
Bronze Best News, Politics and Current Affairs - British Podcast Awards 2026
Nominated Podcast of the Year - Society of Editors News Podcasts Awards 2026
The Telegraph, Winner Podcast Publisher of the Year 2026 - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026

Producers: Peter Shevlin and Max Bower
Researcher and Social Producer: Anna Hindmarsh
Studio Operator: Andy Watson
Executive Producer: Venetia Rainey

► Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor
► EMAIL US: Contact the team on battlelines@telegraph.co.uk
► GET THE LATEST HEADLINES: Find all our latest Iran coverage here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/iran-war/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Iran’s supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei has made a rare statement, threatening to wage war with “no geographical restrictions” if the US resumes strikes. Meanwhile, Donald Trump has issued a stark ultimatum: strike a peace deal including nuclear weapons or he will “hammer” sites including Pickaxe Mountain.

On today’s episode of Iran: the Latest, Venetia Rainey and Roland Oliphant break down the news that suggests a full restart to the war is increasingly imminent, even as peace talks enter a crucial final crunch period ahead of the 2026 US midterm elections on November 3.

Vice President JD Vance has written a letter to the Iranian regime and oil prices are slightly down, but with Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu pushing for bombing to restart this week and Iranian officials vowing to target Europe, is there any chance of peace winning over war?

Highlights
Trump vows to ‘hammer’ regime and strike Pickaxe Mountain
Iran threatens US and Europe with ‘no limits’ war

CONTRIBUTORS:
Venetia Rainey, co-host and executive producer @venetiarainey
Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant

WATCH US ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVAif-vifC6F2aoPB8GIw6dk

CONTENT REFERENCED:
From the shadows, Iran’s supreme leader asserts his power
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/10/31/from-shadows-iran-supreme-leader-asserts-power-khamenei-war/
Nine things that could make or break Trump in the midterms
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/politics/2026/11/02/nine-things-standing-between-trump-and-midterm-victory/

Winner Podcast of the Year - London Press Club Awards 2026
Winner Best News and Analysis Podcast - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026
Bronze Best News, Politics and Current Affairs - British Podcast Awards 2026
Nominated Podcast of the Year - Society of Editors News Podcasts Awards 2026
The Telegraph, Winner Podcast Publisher of the Year 2026 - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026

Producers: Peter Shevlin and Max Bower
Researcher and Social Producer: Anna Hindmarsh
Studio Operator: Andy Watson
Executive Producer: Venetia Rainey

► Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor
► EMAIL US: Contact the team on battlelines@telegraph.co.uk
► GET THE LATEST HEADLINES: Find all our latest Iran coverage here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/iran-war/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Centcom’s commander Admiral Brad Cooper has briefed Donald Trump on options to resume major combat operations against Iran, as the war collides with next week’s high-stakes US midterm elections.

On today’s episode of Iran: The Latest, Roland Oliphant is joined by Curt Mills, Executive Director of The American Conservative, to analyse how the Iran war is impacting the polls - and how the election results could affect the conflict in the Middle East. What happens if Trump loses the midterms? With oil prices surging past $115 a barrel, they unpack whether the "America First" movement has lost control of the White House and why Texas has become a political crucible.

Plus, two vessels hit by explosions in the Strait of Hormuz, the IRGC claims to have downed two US drones, and Qatari envoys make a desperate return to Tehran to revive a deadlocked peace deal.

Highlights
Trump briefed on Iran strike options as he faces midterm disaster amid $115 oil
The IRGC claims to have downed two US drones

CONTRIBUTORS:
Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant
Curt Mills, executive director The American Conservative magazine @CurtMills

WATCH US ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVAif-vifC6F2aoPB8GIw6dk

CONTENT REFERENCED:
US midterm elections 2026: How do they work and what could they mean for Trump?
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2026/10/26/us-midterm-elections-2026/

Winner Podcast of the Year - London Press Club Awards 2026
Winner Best News and Analysis Podcast - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026
Bronze Best News, Politics and Current Affairs - British Podcast Awards 2026
Nominated Podcast of the Year - Society of Editors News Podcasts Awards 2026
The Telegraph, Winner Podcast Publisher of the Year 2026 - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026

Producers: Joleen Goffin and Max Bower
Researcher and Social Producer: Anna Hindmarsh
Studio Operator: Andy Watson
Executive Producer: Venetia Rainey

► Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor
► EMAIL US: Contact the team on battlelines@telegraph.co.uk
► GET THE LATEST HEADLINES: Find all our latest Iran coverage here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/iran-war/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The US and Israel are preparing for an imminent post-midterms strike campaign on Iran as new intelligence reveals Tehran has built a secret network of companies to rearm with the help of Russia and China.

On today’s episode of Iran: the Latest, Venetia Rainey is joined by intelligence analyst and former US soldier Ryan McBeth to unpack whether another round of strikes can achieve anything more than "turning big rocks into little rocks". They discuss whether JD Vance’s backchannel letter to Iranian hardliners is a serious off-ramp or just more Trump bluster, why critical US precision munitions inventories like Patriot and Tomahawk face dangerous depletion, and what it will mean for a potential future war with China.

Plus, Akhtar Makoii’s scoop that Iranian intelligence operations are targeting the US midterm vote, the firing of another top Pentagon general by Pete Hegseth.

Highlights
Trump warns Gulf of imminent Iran blitz
China and Russia caught smuggling weapons to Iran

CONTRIBUTORS:
Venetia Rainey, co-host and executive producer @venetiarainey
Ryan McBeth, intelligence analyst and former US soldier @RyanMcbeth

WATCH US ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVAif-vifC6F2aoPB8GIw6dk

CONTENT REFERENCED:
Iran prepares to disrupt US midterms after meddling in Israel election
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/10/29/election-interference-tehran-cyber-baghaei/
Vance makes last-ditch attempt to stop fresh Iran bombing
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2026/10/28/vance-makes-last-ditch-attempt-to-stop-fresh-iran-bombing/
Iran’s Hidden Web of Military Agencies Is Slipping Hardware Past the US Blockade
https://www.reuters.com/world/iran/irans-hidden-web-military-agencies-is-slipping-hardware-past-us-blockade-2026-10-29/

Winner Podcast of the Year - London Press Club Awards 2026
Winner Best News and Analysis Podcast - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026
Bronze Best News, Politics and Current Affairs - British Podcast Awards 2026
Nominated Podcast of the Year - Society of Editors News Podcasts Awards 2026
The Telegraph, Winner Podcast Publisher of the Year 2026 - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026

Producers: Joleen Goffin and Max Bower
Researcher and Social Producer: Anna Hindmarsh
Studio Operator: Andy Watson
Executive Producer: Venetia Rainey

► Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor
► EMAIL US: Contact the team on battlelines@telegraph.co.uk
► GET THE LATEST HEADLINES: Find all our latest Iran coverage here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/iran-war/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.