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.
00:00:00 - Podcast of the Year Win & UK Emergency Stockpiling Advice
00:04:31 - Trump Teases Renewed Strikes & Obama Condemns Iran War Failures
00:08:41 - Election Timelines vs. Warfare: Why Delay Strikes Until After Midterms?
00:12:56 - Escalation Timeline: Will US & Israeli Bombing Resume in Weeks?
00:15:09 - Gulf States Bolster Counter-Drone Defenses: APKWS, Interceptors & Mass 00:18:16 - Leaked Memo: US Alerts Diplomats to Lethal Iranian Targeting Plots
00:21:14 - The Future US Military Footprint: Base Relocations & Falcon Strike Drones 00:27:09 - Houthis Strike Riyadh Airport & Saudi Oil Infrastructure Amid Taiz Siege
00:30:37 - Three War Frontlines: The Limits of Yemen’s Anti-Houthi Coalition
00:33:37 - Mecca Defense Pact Envoys in Tehran: Deterrence or Grand Regional Bargain?
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
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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