US fears Iran war could drag into 2029. Trump insists it’s ‘worth it’

Donald Trump has admitted the US-Iran war will last beyond the November midterm elections - some think it will last well into 2029 - with Republicans now facing the possibility of losing the House and the Senate as oil prices surge towards $110/barrel.On today’s bonus episode of Iran: the Latest, Venetia Rainey chats to Washington correspondents Connor Stringer and Benedict Smith about Trump’s spectacular gamble to convince Republicans the Iran war is not a big deal at the Republican Midterms Convention. From threatening strikes on Iran’s Pickaxe Mountain nuclear site to offering voters an unprecedented $5,000 cash dividend if they vote Republican, his speech was “vintage Trump”. Plus, is Iran interfering in the US midterms to boost the Democrats?HighlightsTrump insists economic pain ‘worth it’ to stop Iran from getting nuclear weaponInside the colourful Republican Midterms ConventionCONTRIBUTORS:Venetia Rainey, co-host and executive producer @venetiaraineyConnor Stringer, chief Washington correspondent @connorstringerBenedict Smith, Washington correspondent @bsmithjournoWATCH US ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVAif-vifC6F2aoPB8GIw6dkCONTENT REFERENCED:The answer to Trump’s midterm woes? Make the campaign all about himhttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/politics/2026/09/10/trump-republican-midterms-convention-address-analysis/‘Common sense’ Democrat praises Trump at Republican midterm conventionhttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/politics/2026/09/10/democrat-john-fetterman-praises-trump-republican-convention/Trump: I’ll give $5,000 to every American if we win midtermshttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/politics/2026/09/10/trump-convention-speech-promise-5000-dollars-midterms-win/Rubio and Vance ‘think Iran war could last beyond the end of Trump’s term’https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2026/09/10/white-house-iran-war-trump-term/Trump makes his last standhttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/politics/2026/09/11/republican-party-convention-midterms-trump-last-stand/Trump’s Top Advisers Confront Possibility That Iran War Lasts Through End of Termhttps://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/trumps-top-advisers-confront-possibility-that-iran-war-lasts-through-end-of-term-5f4e23d7Silver Bulletin: https://www.natesilver.net/p/trump-approval-ratings-nate-silver-bulletinRace to the White House: https://www.racetothewh.com/Winner Best News and Analysis Podcast - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026Nominated Podcast of the Year - Society of Editors News Podcasts Awards 2026Nominated Best News, Politics and Current Affairs - British Podcast Awards 2026The Telegraph, Winner Podcast Publisher of the Year 2026 - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026Audio Producer: Max Bower Video Producer: Peter ShevlinResearcher and Social Producer: Anna HindmarshStudio Operator: Andy WatsonExecutive 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.