{
  "id": 17508515,
  "title": "Georgia GOP candidate Kevin Martin backs Trump's Iran strategy ahead of midterms: 'We don't do it lagging'",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/01/georgia-gop-candidate-kevin-martin-backs-trumps-iran-strategy-ahead",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-01T00:29:55.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Hindustan Times - World News",
    "slug": "hindustan-times-world-news",
    "url": "https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/us-news/exclusive-kevin-martin-georgia-republican-candidate-backs-trump-s-iran-strategy-ahead-of-midterms-we-dont-do-it-lagging-101792947643909.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Kevin Martin, a Republican candidate for Georgia’s 6th District, is backing President Donald Trump's Iran strategy ahead of the midterms. Martin, a fifth-generation Cobb County native, has spent over 35 years in accounting and finance before entering politics. In an interview with HT.com, Martin discussed his views on Trump and the Iran war.\n\nMartin grew up in a hard-working family, with his father working as a crew foreman at Atlanta Gaslight Company and his mother employed full-time at Bell South. He started working from a young age to earn extra money, which instilled in him a strong work ethic. Martin holds several priorities, including veterans' healthcare, education, and health coverage for the elderly.\n\nOn veterans' healthcare, Martin believes veterans should be able to receive care anywhere, emphasizing that they should have the choice to go to any facility for medical attention. Regarding education, he supports practical degrees that lead to jobs, reducing students' reliance on student loans. He also highlights the shortage of skilled workers like welders and electricians.\n\nMartin supports an open market for health insurance, aiming to prevent a single company from controlling rates. He advocates for keeping doctors separate from insurers and hospitals, ensuring doctors focus solely on patient care. Martin further proposes reducing red tape in the housing market, as he believes about 30% of a house's cost is due to government regulations.\n\nRegarding the Iran war, Martin states that the IRGC's leaders care only about their own power and attack other countries to instill fear. He suggests choking off their economy by cutting off their funds, which would prevent them from funding groups like the Houthis. Martin also supports economic pressure on Iran, including more pipelines, small nuclear reactors, and research into solar and wind power.\n\nMartin concludes by saying he sees the campaign as a job interview, with voters as the boss. He asks them to share their needs, and he will work to meet them.",
  "summary": "President Donald Trump stated that Iran wants to \"make a deal\" and that negotiations are \"going fine,\" though he questioned Tehran's reliability and noted that Iran has repeatedly backed out of agreements. Speaking at a party in Florida, Trump claimed the US destroyed Iran's manufacturing capabilities, air force, and navy. He also suggested he could launch fresh military action after the US midterm elections and renewed a threat to strike Pick Axe Mountain, a site Washington claims hosts a nuclear facility.\n\nIn response to threats of strikes following upcoming elections, Iran’s supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei warned the United States and Israel of fresh attacks. According to the New Straits Times and Malay Mail, Khamenei told military commanders that any threat must be met with an immediate and geographically unrestricted response, ordering them to update target lists to include all tangible and intangible assets of the \"American-Zionist enemy.\"\n\nWhile President Trump suggested potential military action, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the US would be open to a diplomatic solution if one exists. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke of a \"historic, one-time opportunity\" to topple the Iranian government. In Georgia’s 6th District, 60-year-old accountant and congressional candidate Kevin Martin discussed his stance on Trump and the Iran war.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 10,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Times of Israel",
        "title": "Iran strikes on US Mideast bases first took out early-warning systems, analyses finds",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/31/iran-strikes-on-us-mideast-bases-first-took-out-early-warning-systems",
        "published": "2026-10-31T16:29:53.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Business Recorder",
        "title": "Rubio says US yet to decide on new Iran strikes",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/31/rubio-says-us-yet-to-decide-on-new-iran-strikes",
        "published": "2026-10-31T16:57:24.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Haaretz",
        "title": "Trump yet to decide on Iran strikes, U.S. open to diplomacy, Rubio says",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/31/trump-yet-to-decide-on-iran-strikes-u-s-open-to-diplomacy-rubio-says",
        "published": "2026-10-31T17:05:38.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Middle East Eye",
        "title": "Trump has not decided whether to resume strikes on Iran, Rubio says",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/31/trump-has-not-decided-whether-to-resume-strikes-on-iran-rubio-says",
        "published": "2026-10-31T17:08:44.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Jerusalem Post",
        "title": "Trump 'has not made a decision' on Iran, Rubio tells press",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/31/trump-has-not-made-a-decision-on-iran-rubio-tells-press",
        "published": "2026-10-31T18:20:51.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Yonhap News",
        "title": "Trump open to talks with N. Korean leader but no meeting scheduled: Rubio",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/31/trump-open-to-talks-with-n-korean-leader-but-no-meeting-scheduled",
        "published": "2026-10-31T18:24:16.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Rubio says US yet to decide on new Iran strikes",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/31/rubio-says-us-yet-to-decide-on-new-iran-strikes-17481264",
        "published": "2026-10-31T21:50:53.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Trump open to talks with N. Korean leader but no meeting scheduled: Rubio",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/31/trump-open-to-talks-with-n-korean-leader-but-no-meeting-scheduled-17482041",
        "published": "2026-10-31T22:22:04.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Arutz Sheva - Israel National News",
        "title": "Report: Trump and Netanyahu hold talks amid tensions with Iran",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/31/report-trump-and-netanyahu-hold-talks-amid-tensions-with-iran",
        "published": "2026-10-31T23:02:51.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}