Israel: Ultra-Orthodox community fails to back a candidate for prime minister, breaking with Netanyahu

Iran stated today that two oil tankers and a tugboat had caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz, at the heart of the conflict between Tehran and Washington. Last night, “a large oil tanker attempting to pass through a restricted area south of the strait caught fire after striking a mine and was left immobilised”, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards reported, as quoted by state media. In a separate incident, “another supertanker was immobilised by a violent fire whilst leaving the eastern part of the Strait of Hormuz. A tugboat, which had approached the supertanker to extinguish the flames, also caught fire”, the statement continued. Since the start of the conflict, Tehran has maintained strict control over this maritime passage, regularly targeting vessels attempting to pass through without its authorisation. In response, Washington has imposed a blockade on Iranian ports.

The Republicans’ defeat in the US mid-term elections has heightened uncertainty within Donald Trump’s administration over the strategy to adopt towards Iran. According to Axios, citing sources close to the White House, not even the President’s closest aides know what his next move will be, whilst various options are being considered, ranging from resuming military strikes to opening negotiations with Tehran. “He doesn’t want to look like a two-time loser,” a former presidential adviser told Axios, referring to the risk that any failure on the Iran issue could exacerbate the political fallout from the electoral defeat.

According to the American website’s analysis, Trump faces three main options: ordering new military strikes against Iran, attempting to reach an agreement through diplomatic channels, or continuing the strategy of economically strangling Tehran through sanctions and a naval blockade. Within the administration, some of the key advisers are reportedly in favour of maintaining economic and military pressure without immediately resorting to further air strikes. Among those in favour of continuing the naval blockade are said to be CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, along with other administration officials, according to Axios. However, the President has not yet decided which of the three paths to follow, whilst the new domestic political situation – brought about by the loss of the Republican majority in Congress – further complicates the White House’s decisions regarding the conflict with Iran.

The House could vote as early as next week to impeach Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth after many Republican lawmakers, alarmed by the mid-term election defeat, are rushing to blame him for the election results, arguing behind the scenes that he played a key role in persuading Trump to attack Iran without an exit strategy. This is according to CNN. Republican MP Thomas Massie has stated that he intends to call a vote on Hegseth’s impeachment when Parliament reconvenes next week, and Republican sources believe the motion will be passed.

Il segretario alla Difesa degli Stati Uniti Pete Hegseth osserva mentre il presidente Donald Trump incontra Stephen Hubbard, un detenuto russo rilasciato, nello Studio Ovale della Casa Bianca a Washington, DC, USA, il 30 ottobre 2026. Hubbard era stato condannato a sette anni di carcere ed è stato rilasciato il 22 ottobre 2026 dopo quattro anni. EPA/ANNABELLE GORDON / POOL

Steve Bannon is urging Donald Trump to set up a commission of inquiry to investigate the US war against Iran and to make the findings public, arguing that this is necessary for the President to regain the trust of the American people. According to the Washington Post, the statements by the controversial former White House strategist are the latest example of a prominent conservative figure close to Trump calling for transparency and accountability from the administration. His call comes in the wake of the Republicans’ heavy defeat in the mid-term elections: a result which, at least in part, reflects voters’ frustration at the high costs of the war with Iran. According to Bannon, Israeli institutions should cooperate by making their documents accessible.