Iran: The Latest

Donald Trump has declared the war with Iran “effectively over,” claiming Middle East allies are protected and the Strait of Hormuz is effectively open. Tehran says talk of a deal is all “fake news”. On today’s episode of Iran: the Latest, Roland Oliphant is joined by former Royal Navy commander Tom Sharpe to analyse the gulf between White House claims and the reality on the water. Tom unpacks why the arrival of a third aircraft carrier could signal a wave of post-midterm "victory strikes," and explains how dangerous tanker shuttle runs and autonomous escorts are really keeping oil flowing through the Strait of Hormuz. It comes as Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth vows he would do the Iran war all over again if he had to despite facing impeachment. Plus, the US military scrambles aircraft away from another UK base - RAF Mildenhall - amid Iranian threats, the Houthis step up their offensive to capture the Yemeni city of Taiz, and France blames Iran’s elite cyber unit for hacking supermarket fridges. Highlights Trump says Iran war is over as US prises open Strait of Hormuz Why American ‘victory strikes’ may still be on the cards CONTRIBUTORS: Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant Tom Sharpe, former Royal Navy commander @TomSharpe134 WATCH US ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVAif-vifC6F2aoPB8GIw6dk CONTENT REFERENCED: US pulls aircraft from British base ‘after Iran threat’ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/11/10/us-evacuated-aircraft-uk-raf-mildenhall-iran-threat/ Iran’s elite hacking cell that left France hungry https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/11/10/elite-iranian-hacking-cell-that-left-france-hungry/ ‘I’d do it all again tomorrow’: Defiant Hegseth to fight impeachment https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2026/11/10/pete-hegseth-to-fight-congress-impeachment/ 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 [email protected] ► 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 military has bombed Qeshm Island again and launched Operation Iron Gate - an ambitious land blockade designed to sever Iran’s resupply corridors with Russia and China. On today’s episode of Iran: the Latest, Venetia Rainey is joined by Jonathan Hackett, retired US Marine Corps counterintelligence agent and author of 'Iran’s Shadow Weapons', to analyse whether Centcom’s latest moves are enough to isolate the IRGC. They delve into how exactly Beijing and Moscow are propping up Tehran, from targeting assistance to potential S-400 air defence batteries to missiles parts for the Houthis in Yemen. Donald Trump insists renewed strikes are "highly unlikely" but has assembled three aircraft carriers in the Middle East. Jonathan outlines three things to watch in the coming weeks to assess whether strikes are about to restart. Plus, will Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu lash out as he faces the prospect of losing power to rival Gadi Eisenkot? Jonathan explains why despite being cornered, Bibi cannot go it alone due to a lack of air defences. Highlights US blockades Iran’s borders as China and Russia rearm Tehran Trump bombs Qeshm island in the Strait of Hormuz CONTRIBUTORS: Venetia Rainey, co-host and executive producer @venetiarainey Jonathan Hackett, ex-US Marine Corps counterintelligence agent @jonathanhackett WATCH US ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVAif-vifC6F2aoPB8GIw6dk CONTENT REFERENCED: Russia in talks to supply advanced missiles to Iran https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/11/06/russia-in-talks-to-supply-advanced-missiles-to-iran/ Houthi missile debris smashes into Saudi skyscraper https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/11/08/houthi-missile-smashes-saudi-skyscraper/ ‘We’re not done with Iran’, warns Israel https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/11/08/nuclear-pickaxe-mountain-qatar-netanyahu-facilities/ Four reasons why ousting Netanyahu could get ugly https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/11/08/four-reasons-why-ousting-netanyahu-could-get-ugly/ China is helping the Houthis in order to spite the US https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/10/17/china-helping-houthis-in-order-to-spite-the-us/ 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 [email protected] ► 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 is rebuilding its bombed-out missile sites at the same time as dangling a nuclear offer in front of Donald Trump, as the US president weighs whether to restart strikes alongside Israel. On today’s episode of Iran: the Latest, Venetia Rainey speaks to Iranian-American analyst Holly Dagres from the Washington Institute about the moods in Washington and Tehran in the wake of the Republican’s crushing midterms defeat and how it could lead to miscalculation on both sides. The IRGC vows it will target Europe if the war restarts - but Holly argues that Tehran’s maximalist peace demands and Trump’s lack of patience means the war is likely to restart. Plus, talk of Pete Hegseth or Marco Rubio being sacked over the war’s failures, documents reveal Russia agreed to give Tehran 90 advanced guided missile launchers, and why anti-regime protests in Iran remain unlikely despite historic hyperinflation and mass executions. Highlights Trump threatens to destroy Iran as IRGC rebuilds missile sites US war cabinet crumbles as Hegseth fights for his job CONTRIBUTORS: Venetia Rainey, co-host and executive producer @venetiarainey Holly Dagres, senior fellow Washington Institute @hdagres WATCH US ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVAif-vifC6F2aoPB8GIw6dk CONTENT REFERENCED: Defiant Hegseth vows to finish Iran war https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/11/06/pete-hegseth-vows-finish-iran-war-defence-secretary-trump/ Charting how Iran drove Trump and Vance apart https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/11/06/charting-trump-vance-iran/ 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 [email protected] ► 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.

‘This is where the US-Israel-Iran war really began’ On today’s episode of Iran: The Latest, Venetia Rainey speaks to veteran Middle East journalist Kim Ghattas about Donald Trump’s stunning US midterm election losses, JD Vance demanding an end to the Iran war, and what it all means for the likelihood of American and Israeli strikes in the coming weeks. Kim talks about how her new book, The Best Kind of American, looks at the origins of the US-Israel-Iran relationship, born in the crucible of 1980s war-torn Beirut. She explains why even as the IRGC openly celebrates the Republicans losing the Senate and House of Representatives, Iran’s economy remains weak and the regime does not want to return to all-out war. Plus, why Israel’s future relationship with the US is more secure than it seems, how Iran uses the Houthis to target Saudi Arabia, and why hostage taking and kidnapping could soon be on the rise. Highlights Vance revolts over US-Iran war after midterms defeat. Will Israel go it alone? Journalist Kim Ghattas on the real origins of the war CONTRIBUTORS: Venetia Rainey, co-host and executive producer @venetiarainey Kim Ghattas, journalist and author The Best Kind of American @KimGhattas WATCH US ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVAif-vifC6F2aoPB8GIw6dk CONTENT REFERENCED: Vance ready to take Trump’s crown after midterms humbling https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/politics/2026/11/05/vance-ready-to-take-trumps-crown-after-midterms-humbling/ Vance breaks ranks with Trump over election catastrophe https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/politics/2026/11/04/vance-clashes-trump-midterms-election-catastrophe-iran-war/ 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 [email protected] ► 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 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 [email protected] ► 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.