Billionaire Republican donor Peter Thiel says he thinks Trump’s war with Iran was a mistake as potentially disastrous mid-terms loom

Peter Thiel, a billionaire investor and prominent Republican donor, said he was sceptical of the US war with Iran and thought it should not have been started. His criticism comes shortly before the mid-term elections, as Republicans try to retain control of Congress, but he also reaffirmed his support for President Donald Trump.

In a recording of a Nashville lecture, Thiel said mistakes had been made and questioned whether the US could prevail in either hard or soft power. The conflict began on 28 February with US and Israeli strikes on Iran, and has disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and driven up fuel prices. Thiel donated $1.25 million to Trump’s 2016 campaign, has backed JD Vance, and his company Palantir has assisted the administration’s deportation efforts.