Donald Trump has threatened to restart the war with Iran with “another little Operation Epic Fury”, even as US intelligence exposes advanced Iranian plots targeting American personnel across the Middle East.

On today’s episode of Iran: the Latest, Venetia Rainey and Roland Oliphant look at why the US and Israel are delaying strikes until after the midterm and parliamentary elections. Sascha Bruchmann, Research Fellow at the IISS in Bahrain, breaks down why the region is changing forever and the Gulf’s military posture as leaders from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey visit Iran for an emergency summit.

Plus, former President Barack Obama weighs in on the Iran war, the Tehran-backed Houthi forces launch ballistic missiles at Riyadh’s main airport, why war resilience is about more than stockpiling.

Highlights

• Trump vows a ‘little Operation Epic Fury’ against Iran
• Tehran plots to target American personnel across the Middle East

CONTRIBUTORS:

Venetia Rainey, co-host and executive producer @venetiarainey

Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant

Sascha Bruchmann, IISS Defence and Military Analysis Research Fellow

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

CONTENT REFERENCED:

Obama accuses Trump of ‘chaos, cruelty and corruption’

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/10/25/obama-accuses-trump-chaos-cruelty-corruption/

US withdraws diplomats from Saudi Arabia

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/10/22/us-withdraws-diplomats-from-saudi-arabia/

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

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