Iran: The Latest
Iran: The Latest is The Telegraph’s defence, security and foreign affairs news podcast providing deep-dive analysis on the ongoing conflict between the US, Israel and Iran. Veteran foreign correspondents Roland Oliphant and Venetia Rainey bring you the latest updates from The Telegraph’s award-winning journalists, plus exclusive interviews with world-class experts in military strategy, international relations, and Middle East policy. From attacks on the Gulf to Hezbollah in Lebanon to the Houthis in Yemen to the threat of nuclear escalation, stay informed with the best of The Telegraph’s Middle East coverage in one place.
Episodes
Trump hits Iran with dozens of Tomahawks as war looms over World Cup
Is this the start of a new phase in the US-Iran war?Following another night of US strikes on Iran and Tehran responding by hitting its Gulf neighbours, Donald Trump has today vowed to ramp things up even further tonight. Roland Oliphant discusses the latest news with chief foreign affairs commentator David Blair, and asks whether Trump can bomb his way out of the deadlock. Plus, for the
Trump vows Iran will ‘pay the price’ & inside the Pentagon's drone revolution
Trump has vowed Iran will “pay the price” after it launched multiple strikes on US bases throughout the Middle East. The latest escalation came up after the US bombed Iran in response to a Shahed drone downing an American Apache helicopter in the Gulf of Oman. The crew were rescued by an unmanned boat - a US first. Venetia Rainey speaks to former US Deputy Secretary of Defence Kathleen Hicks
US Apache helicopter downed & why Trump’s war is ‘colossal failure’ for Israel
The exchange of strikes between Israel and Iran have highlighted the tensions between Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu after more than 100 days of war.The US president wants the war to stop - now. The Israeli leader wants to keep going. Why? What else does he want to achieve? And why is Trump stopping him?Venetia Rainey chats to Danny Citrinowicz, senior researcher at Israeli think tank the Ins
Israel hammers Iran after ballistic missiles attack & 100 days of war: winners and losers
Iran and Israel have bombed each other for the first time since they agreed a ceasefire with the US in early April. Why? And can Donald Trump stop all-out war from re-erupting? Venetia Rainey and Roland Oliphant bring you all the latest updates from the past 24 hours, plus chief foreign affairs commentator David Blair and foreign correspondent Akhtar Makoii discuss how we got here, the domestic fa
Iran’s drones have reshaped warfare. Can the US catch up?
How did heavily sanctioned Iran create a drone so cheap, deadly and effective that everyone from Russia to the US has copied it?From the Gulf being inundated with attacks by Iranian Shaheds to Ukraine finding innovative new ways to counter the Russian version, Tehran has mass-produced a strategic weapon that has challenged traditional Western air-defence thinking. To look at how Iran did it,
The secret US operation defying Iran’s Strait of Hormuz blockade
The US military is secretly helping ships circumvent Iran’s stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz along a new route hugging the Omani coast. Bryan Clark, a former US Navy officer and senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, looks at whether this is a solution to the Hormuz crisis that has plagued Donald Trump and the rest of the world since the war began.Plus, Hezbollah accuses Lebanon of “surre
Iran strikes Kuwait airport after US bombs Qeshm Island & why the World Cup’s timing matters for the war
Is Donald Trump waiting until after the World Cup to restart the war with Iran despite the largest attack on the Gulf since the ceasefire began?Violence erupted overnight in the Middle East after the US attacked a ship heading to Iran and Tehran fired missiles and drones at Kuwait and Bahrain. Roland Oliphant looks at the latest news of clashes in the Persian Gulf and speaks to Maziar Bahari, foun
What Trump's angry call with Netanyahu means for the Iran war
Could Israel’s campaign against Hezbollah ruin the US’s attempts to strike a deal with Iran?News today about a fiery, expletive-laden phone call suggests Donald Trump is very upset with Benjamin Netanyahu and has forced him to halt a planned attack on Beirut.Michael Young from the Carnegie Middle East Center think tank joins from the Lebanese capital to take Venetia Rainey and Sophia Yan through t
Iran quits US talks, vows escalation after Israel orders Beirut strikes
Iran has pulled out of peace talks to end the war with the US, accusing Israel of breaking the ceasefire by ordering strikes on Beirut. Roland Oliphant and Venetia Rainey discuss the latest news, which comes after a series of military escalations over the weekend, including more tit-for-tat bombing between the US and Iran in the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile in Lebanon, the Israeli army scored
Trump lifts Hormuz naval blockade & inside Iran’s ‘idiot’ proxy army
Donald Trump says the US is lifting its blockade of Iranian ports and boats in the Strait of Hormuz - does this mean a peace deal is imminent?Plus, Iran famously has two militaries: a regular army, and the IRGC. But Tehran also has a third force: its network of foreign militias in Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen. They played a key role in the recent war - and no outsider knows them better than Elizabeth T
‘Ceasefire violated’: US fury after Iran targets Kuwait base
The United States has for the first time accused Iran of breaching the ceasefire, after Tehran fired a ballistic missile at Kuwait in response to the Americans hitting southern Iran.Washington brushed off previous exchanges of fire as ceasefire compliant, so does the change in rhetoric herald a return to all-out war? The Telegraph’s Lottie Tiplady-Bishop explains why domestic developments in Ameri
Iran demands $24bn to sign US peace deal - will Trump accept?
Iran appears increasingly confident that it will secure a favourable end to the war with the US.From demanding $24bn in frozen assets to publishing what they say is a draft peace deal to restoring the Internet after nearly 90 days, Tehran seems to feel victory both at home and abroad is within its grasp. Foreign correspondent Akhtar Makoii joins Roland Oliphant and Venetia Rainey to discuss the la
US ‘blows up’ Iran mine-laying ships as Trump chases ‘bum deal’
The US says it has bombed Iranian mine-laying ships in the Strait of Hormuz and a missile launch site in southern Iran. Tehran says it has downed American drones. Is the war about to restart?Former Royal Navy officer Tom Sharpe explains what we know about the latest tit-for-tat military activity today and why the timing is unusual. He also gives an inside look at the threat posed by Iran’s newly d
How the tank is evolving to survive the century of the drone
In this special bank holiday episode, we’re taking a break from looking at the US-Iran war and focusing instead on tanks. Since it first appeared on the Somme battlefield, the tank has dominated and defined modern warfare. It has been such a successful concept that its distinctive silhouette - two tracks, a turret and a gun - has barely changed in a hundred years. But can it survive in the ce
First Venezuela, then Iran. Is Cuba next on Trump’s hit list?
With Iran peace talks deadlocked, US military attention appears to be turning to another longtime enemy: Cuba. This week, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared Cuba a threat to US security. Indictments have been issued against its elderly former president Raúl Castro. Claims about a Cuban drone stockpile aimed at the US have been leaked to the press. The USS Nimitz aircraft carrier has b
Trump, Iran and the $150,000 Strait of Hormuz toll
Oil flows will not return to normal until the second half of next year - even if the Strait of Hormuz opens now.That’s the grim prognosis of the UAE’s most senior oil executive. But even if it does open, Iran is implementing a system of tolls that will have long-term implications, both in the Middle East and further afield. International economic editor Hans van Leeuwen tells Roland Oliphant how t
Iran warns Trump: ‘We’ll take war global if you bomb us again’
Iran has threatened to spread the war beyond the Middle East if Donald Trump starts bombing the country again. Is it an empty threat or should we be worried?Jonathan Hackett, a former US Marine Corps interrogator and special operations intelligence officer, joins the podcast again to discuss the state of Iran’s military capabilities, their Mosaic Doctrine and what next for the war with Venetia Rai
US's Call of Duty vs Iran’s Lego videos: who is winning the online war?
Donald Trump has postponed his “scheduled” attack on Iran for now, but who is winning the online war between the two countries?America’s military has pumped out videos of air strikes and missile attacks, often spliced in with video game footage and overlaid with high octane music for maximum effect. Meanwhile, Iranian activists have created slick Lego animation videos set to hip hop music. Venetia
Gulf gets laser-guided missiles to fight drones & Iran executions soar
Executions have soared inside Iran, with new Amnesty data today showing more than 2,000 people were given the death penalty in 2025. Roland Oliphant speaks to Iranian journalist in exile Maryam Mazrooei about the “bloodthirsty” regime’s latest tactic to scare citizens into silence amid the war with the US and Israel. She also explains why the mood inside the country is increasingly dark
Why China’s promise of no arms to Iran will do little to end the war
Donald Trump ended his high stakes trip to China claiming Xi Jinping had promised not to arm Iran, wanted the Strait of Hormuz open, and backed his goal of preventing Tehran getting a nuclear weapon. But does any of that amount to a change in Chinese policy, and will it do anything to bring the frozen but still rumbling conflict to a close? Sophia Yan speaks to Andrea Ghiselli, a China-I
High stakes at Beijing summit as Xi and Trump talk Taiwan and Iran
As two more ships are attacked in the Strait of Hormuz and the ceasefire in Lebanon nears its end, all eyes are on the high-stakes US-China summit in Beijing.Donald Trump and Xi Jinping say they agree that Iran must not have nuclear weapons and that the Strait must be reopened - but what does that mean in practice? Ahmed Aboudouh, Associate Fellow for Middle East and North Africa at Chatham H
Iran’s hardliners will not listen to anyone - even China’s Xi Jinping
Weeks of American and Israeli airstrikes inflicted grievous losses on Iran’s military. Or so we thought. Now, US intelligence assessments suggest that Iran retains 70 percent of the missiles and launch vehicles it had before the war - including most of the sites threatening the Strait of Hormuz. Holly Dagres joins Roland Oliphant and Sophia Yan to unpack the implications. She also explai
Trump says US-Iran ceasefire ‘on life support’: can Xi Jinping revive it?
The US-Iran ceasefire is on ‘life support,’ says Donald Trump. Iran may enrich Uranium to weapons grade if the war resumes, says its government. All this sets the stage for Donald Trump’s trip to Beijing this week, where he will ask Xi Jinping for help bringing the war to a satisfactory end.Might the two most powerful men on the planet might find a way to re-open the Strait of Hormuz and end
Netanyahu says war not over as US and Iran veto rival peace proposals
As Donald Trump rejects Iran’s rejection of his peace terms, diplomatic efforts to end the war are back where they started. David Blair explains how this leaves Donald Trump with little choice to restart the war - but with little appetite to do so. And with time running out before the US president heads to China for a high-stake summit with Xi Jinping. Memphis Barker explains how Xi Jinping c
‘Love tap’ or ‘reckless adventure’? US and Iran trade fire and blame
The US and Iran have traded fire - and blame - in the Strait of Hormuz, is the war about to restart?The ceasefire is looking shakier than ever after America bombed Iranian coastal cities overnight. It said it was a response to Tehran attacking three US destroyers passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Today, Iran has attacked the UAE with drones and missiles. President Donald Trump says the US stri
‘Trump could reopen Hormuz if he dared, I’ve done it’: a rear admiral speaks out
The focus of the US-Iran war rests once again on the Strait of Hormuz, is there any way to get it open again? Since Donald Trump cancelled Project Freedom, Iran’s chokehold on the vital waterway is as tight as ever. But James Parkin has some ideas. The former Royal Navy rear admiral was in charge of the task force that broke the last attempted IRGC shut down in 2019, and tells Roland Ol
The end of Operation Epic Fury & why Trump is pulling troops from Germany
Is America’s Operation Epic Fury really over?Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the US’s military campaign against the Iranian regime has finished, and there are growing reports of a US-Iran peace deal in the offing. Venetia Rainey and Roland Oliphant break down the top three news stories you need to know today, from why Donald Trump has ended Project Freedom in the Strait of Hormuz to the import
‘One step away from war’: Trump launches Project Freedom to open the Strait of Hormuz
Is the US-Iran war about to restart amid escalating tensions in the Strait of Hormuz?Donald Trump has launched Project Freedom - a US Navy mission to break the Iranian blockade imposed since the beginning of the war. However, while the White House has framed the escort of neutral vessels as a “humanitarian gesture”, Tehran sees it as an escalation. Iran has fired missiles and drones at ships and a
Oil, revolution and ayatollahs: how Iran went from great power to rogue state
Within living memory, Tehran ruled an oil-rich great power brimming with intellectuals inspired by British democracy. So how did it become an impoverished rogue state at war with the West?In this special Bank Holiday edition, Ali Ansari, professor of Iranian history at the University of St Andrews, takes Roland Oliphant through Iran's tumultuous modern era: from the 1906 Constitutional Revolu
US 'could deploy hypersonic missiles' & how Russia is using Iran to fight the West
Donald Trump faces a critical decision as the Iran war drifts into a stalemate: double down on military force or hope the US blockade will break the deadlock. Amid a deadline today for Trump to get Congress’ approval for further military operations under the War Powers Act, new reports suggest the Pentagon has requested the deployment of America’s Dark Eagle hypersonic missiles to the M
Iranian terror in London & why the US needs China to rearm
The UK is in shock after an Iran-linked Islamist group claimed yet another attack on Jews in London. In the wake of the Golders Green stabbing attack, national security editor Rozina Sabur looks at what we know about the shadowy online group known as Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia (HAYI) and its links to the Iranian regime. Plus, as Donald Trump weighs whether to take further military
A trip to the Strait of Hormuz & Hezbollah adopts Ukraine-style drone warfare
From the Strait of Hormuz to Lebanon, the Iran war has seen the West’s foes adopt asymmetric warfare with growing efficacy. Fresh off the boat from the Omani side of the Strait, Adrian Blomfield joins Venetia Rainey and Roland Oliphant. He explains how being out on the busy, misty and historic waterway helped him to understand why it is almost impossible for the US to counter Iran’s so-called
‘A bunch of losers with no power’: Why Iran’s hardliners won’t win
Iran’s regime is facing an existential crisis prompted by the US-Israeli war. Despite taking a military battering and the economy being in ruins, Tehran refuses to surrender to Donald Trump. Historian Arash Azizi takes Roland Oliphant and Sophia Yan inside the clash between the regime establishment and the ultra-hardliners who fear their vision of the Islamic Republic will not survive peace.&
The true cost of America’s hidden missile crisis & why US-Iran talks are deadlocked
The US has severely depleted key munitions in the Iran war - and it’s already having global consequences. From delayed deliveries to allies such as Japan, South Korea and Ukraine, to a knockon impact on any future wars - such as a potential conflict with China over Taiwan - new analysis of America’s strategic stockpiles do not make for comfortable reading. Venetia Rainey talks to Mark Cancian
‘Trump is wrong - Iran’s regime is not split over this war’
The US-Iran ceasefire has limped into its third week, but can stuttering peace talks deliver a deal before war resumes? Roland Oliphant is joined by Sanam Vakil, director of the Middle East and North Africa program at Chatham House, to discuss the latest news and updates, including what Mojtaba Khamanei’s reported injuries tell us about the balance of power in Tehran. She also explains w
Sea mines and fast boats: how Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz
What will it take to protect the Strait of Hormuz from Iran’s sea mines and fast boats?With Tehran now charging extortionate tolls, attacking commercial ships who do not get permission to transit and reportedly laying around 20 sea mines, the vital waterway has become a living nightmare. President Donald Trump today told the US Navy to fire on any boats laying mines, but with Pentagon estimates th
Trump’s Iran ceasefire flounders as ‘utter chaos’ engulfs Strait of Hormuz
Instead of peace talks today, the US-Iran ceasefire is on the brink of collapsing and the Strait of Hormuz is heating up. Despite the two-week deadline expiring today, JD Vance never boarded a plane to Pakistan for negotiations and neither did anyone from Iran. Instead, Donald Trump has extended the ceasefire indefinitely and the IRGC has today attacked several more international ships.Is the
‘Any US-Iran nuclear deal is an illusion without proper checks’
Can the US and Iran strike a last-minute nuclear deal to end the war?With the two-week ceasefire deadline expiring on Wednesday, peace talks are tentatively set to go ahead in Pakistan between US Vice President JD Vance and an Iranian delegation led by Mohammad Ghalibaf. Donald Trump has threatened to resume bombing if negotiations fail, but a major stumbling block remains: Iran’s nuclear programm
US seizure of Iran vessel near Strait of Hormuz leaves ceasefire in peril
Will the weekend showdown in the Strait of Hormuz collapse the US-Iran ceasefire?After Iran opened and then closed the Strait, attacked an Indian tanker and turned around ships, Donald Trump ordered the seizure of a sanctioned Iranian vessel that was attempting to pass through the US blockade. What followed was a new first for the war: shots fired at the Iranian container ship’s engine and the who
Iran ‘surrendering’ enriched uranium & why Israel-Lebanon ceasefire won't hold
Is Iran giving up its enriched uranium?US President Donald Trump says Tehran has agreed to hand over all of its “nuclear dust” - a potentially huge concession in the war. Venetia Rainey and Roland Oliphant discuss why this would be so significant and what might have been offered to Iran in return. They also discuss what this means for US-Iran peace talks and the latest updates from the Strait of H
Ceasefire agreed between Israel and Lebanon & how Trump’s ‘toxic’ Iran war broke the European Right
On today’s episode, Donald Trump wrangles the leaders of Israel and Lebanon into their first direct talks in decades. Ending the fighting in Lebanon would bring the White House’s “grand bargain” peace deal with Iran itself a step closer. But on the ground, Israel’s offensive against Hezbollah rages unabated. While the ceasefire In Iran itself is holding, the war is remaking the political
Trump vs Netanyahu: will Israel continue fighting if America pulls out?
With a tenuous ceasefire hanging in the balance, Vice President of the United States JD Vance has come out offering a ‘grand bargain’ with Iran, signalling a possible reset of ties with the Islamic Republic. Is this a shift in position? Or is it postponing the inevitable reckoning? The Telegraph's Chief Foreign Affairs Commentator David Blair gives us his take on the chances of diplomacy breaking
US and China on maritime 'collision course' as first ships try to pass Trump's blockade
America's naval blockade of Iran is meant to choke Tehran into lifting its own restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz, but will it work and can it be enforced? Former Royal Navy Commander Tom Sharpe joins Roland Oliphant to explain the operational challenges. The first day of the maritime siege has drawn vocal condemnation from Beijing, in the latest sign of growing Chinese involvement in
Can Trump’s blockade break Iran’s grip on Strait of Hormuz?
Could Donald Trump’s naval blockade break Iran’s grip on the Strait of Hormuz?As the shaky ceasefire between the US, Israel and Iran continues to hold despite failed peace talks over the weekend, Washington is trying a new tack to end the war: barring Iran’s use of its ports. With the US Navy enforcing a blockade of the Strait as of today, Venetia Rainey and Roland Oliphant are joined by senior fo
Is the Iran war over or is the US just reloading?
Can the US and Iran broker a peace deal while Israel and Hezbollah continue fighting?All eyes are on Pakistan this weekend as US Vice President JD Vance flies to Islamabad to meet with Tehran’s negotiating team, led by Parliament speaker Mohammad Ghalibaf. But with disagreement over whether the ceasefire applies to Lebanon and the Strait of Hormuz still closed, it’s not clear what progress will be
Trump’s Iran ceasefire on brink of collapse & how Ukraine is helping the Gulf
Will Israel’s war to eliminate Hezbollah in Lebanon collapse the fragile US-Iran ceasefire?Tehran has accused Israel of violating the terms of its deal with Donald Trump by launching a massive military operation against its Lebanese proxy on Wednesday afternoon, killing more than 250 people with strikes on more than 100 targets in the space of 10 minutes. Today, Hezbollah has responded by firing a
The holes in Trump's Iran ceasefire: Israel, Lebanon and the Strait of Hormuz
Is this the end of the Iran war? Donald Trump has announced a two-week ceasefire deal after 40 days of fighting, with peace talks mediated by Pakistan set to go ahead this Friday. Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth today said the US had achieved a “historic and overwhelming victory on the battlefield”.But many questions remain unanswered. Will the ceasefire turn into a lasting peace? What guar
Trump's Iran deal deadline: ‘A whole civilisation will die tonight’
What will happen after Donald Trump’s midnight deadline for Iran to strike a deal? The US president has issued a series of increasingly hardline threats to Tehran to force it sue for peace and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, from the complete demolition of all of its bridges and power plants to destroying its entire civilisation.Venetia Rainey is joined by senior foreign correspondent Sophia Yan
Inside the 'Easter Miracle': How the US rescued two airmen from Iran
How did America manage to rescue two airmen after their plane was shot down over Iran?In this bonus bank holiday episode, Venetia Rainey is joined by Jack Murphy, ex-US special forces who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, including as a Green Beret. He is now a journalist and military commentator and hosts The Team House national security podcast. He broke the story that the weapons systems officer
‘Iran thinks it’s still a great power’: Why the regime won’t surrender
Why hasn’t the Iranian regime surrendered yet?The Islamic Republic is at the centre of a war sending shock waves around the world, and despite being pummelled by the US and Israel, it remains defiant. The explanation lies in the country's ancient history and myths, which still permeate modern Iranian politics today. For this special Easter edition, Ali Ansari, professor of Iranian history at
'We’ve trained for this': How US Marines could seize Iran’s uranium and open the Strait of Hormuz
Could US amphibious troops re-open the Strait of Hormuz? In his first major speech on the Iran war, Donald Trump said America is on course to finish its military campaign in the next three weeks. But to do so, he will have to find solutions to both the Strait, and Iran's remaining stockpile of enriched uranium.To discuss, Roland Oliphant is joined from Saudi Arabia by Andrew Milburn, a former
Iran's 'zombie regime' & UAE ‘to help force open’ Strait of Hormuz
Could the UAE help solve the Strait of Hormuz stalemate caused by the Iran war?The US is growing increasingly angry with its allies for refusing to help fully reopen the blocked waterway, which has led to soaring oil prices and dire economic warnings. From President Donald Trump threatening to pull out of Nato (a Telegraph exclusive) to Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth lambasting the UK, Washingt
One month of Iran-US war: Assassinations, missiles and the Strait of Hormuz
After one month of the US-Iran war, who is winning and who is losing?Roland Oliphant and Venetia Rainey step back to examine how much of US President Donald Trump’s original war goals have been achieved, from destroying Iran’s missiles, navy and regional proxies to regime change and preventing the development of nuclear weapons. They also look at the role of Israel, the impact of attacks on t
Iran vows to ‘rain fire’ on US troops, the Houthi ‘nightmare’ & on the ground in Tehran
Is the US about to invade Iran? Warship USS Tripoli has arrived in the Middle East with thousands of fresh troops, and the USS Boxer is not far behind - but Iran has vowed to “rain fire” on any American troops who set foot on its territory. Meanwhile, Trump is said to be considering taking Kharg Island and has been claiming regime change has already happened. Venetia Rainey and Roland Ol
‘A full spectrum crisis’: how the Iran war went global
Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has already pushed up oil prices. But is a bigger global economic disruption yet to come? And how long will it last?The Telegraph’s World Economy Editor Ambrose Evans-Pritchard joins Roland Oliphant to explain why the Iran conflict is sending shock waves around the world - and not just in the oil market. From fertiliser to helium to sulphur, the block o
Iran navy chief killed & why the war 'was based on a lie'
Will Israel’s assassination of the IRGC’s naval chief lead to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz?Hosts Roland Oliphant and Venetia Rainey analyse the latest news from the Iran war, from the killing of navy commander Alireza Tangsiri to Donald Trump’s claim that Tehran is “begging” for a deal. With thousands of US troops en route to the Middle East, the stakes are high. Among them are the 8
Delay tactic? Trump deploys paratroopers as he outlines Iran peace plan
Donald Trump has set out a 15-point Iran peace plan, but is he serious about ending the war?With news that another 2,000 elite American troops are en route to the Middle East, Tehran has its doubts - particularly as they’ve been here twice before with Trump. The Telegraph’s senior foreign correspondent Sophia Yan joins Venetia Rainey to talk through how realistic the proposal is and how it’s
‘Iran thinks it’s winning’: can US peace talks in Pakistan really end the war?
After four weeks of war with Iran, is Donald Trump calling it quits? The US president claims he is in advanced talks with a highly placed regime insider on a peace deal that would end Iran’s nuclear ambitions, reopen the strait of Hormuz, and give the country’s leadership a reason to make up with the rest of the Middle East. Pakistan and Egypt say they have brokered a meeting between US
‘A forever mission': US colonel on Trump's Strait of Hormuz quagmire
Could US Marines seize Kharg Island and reopen the Strait of Hormuz?President Donald Trump has U-turned on his threat to bomb Iranian energy infrastructure after announcing a five-day moratorium and peace talks underway. But the Strait of Hormuz problem remains. Iraq veteran, Ohio State University military historian and former US Colonel Peter Mansoor joins Venetia Rainey and Roland Oliphant
US sends Marines to Strait of Hormuz & why Iran can still fire missiles
Thousands of US Marines and sailors are heading towards Iran - does this mean boots on the ground? Venetia Rainey is joined by Reuters global defence commentator Peter Apps to discuss the war three weeks in, how to open the Strait of Hormuz and whether as part of it, Trump will order troops to take Kharg Island. They also discuss whether this counts as a world war and why this conflict i
‘Drunk on assassinations’: What is Israel’s Iran war strategy?
Has Israel gone rogue with the attack on Iran’s South Pars gas field?The bombing triggered a furious response from Tehran and led to a further escalation in the energy crisis caused by the US and Israeli war with Iran.President Donald Trump says the US did not know about it but Israeli officials say it was coordinated. The Telegraph’s Jerusalem correspondent Henry Bodkin joins Venetia Rainey and R
America’s biggest mistake in the Iran war so far
When an Iranian primary school was bombed on the first day of the war, killing dozens of children instantly, it spawned a cycle of denials, conspiracy theories and online speculation. Nearly three weeks on, it’s clear that an American Tomahawk missile was responsible for the deadliest attack of the conflict so far. The Telegraph’s chief foreign affairs analyst Roland Oliphant and OSINT expert
‘Huge void’ in Iran regime after security chief 'assassinated'
Ali Larijani, Iran’s security chief, is believed to have been assassinated today by Israel in what could be a huge blow to the Iranian regime.Roland Oliphant is joined by Akhtar Makoii to explain who Larijani was and why his death could be more significant for Tehran than Khamenei’s amid the ongoing US war.Plus, Roland speaks to opposition figure Ali Safavi, part of the Foreign Affairs Committee o
Exclusive: Why Iran's new leader survived & how to reopen the Strait of Hormuz
No one knew how Iran’s new supreme leader survived the 30 bombs dropped on his father’s compound. Until now. The Telegraph’s foreign correspondent Akhtar Makoii has obtained exclusive audio from an IRGC meeting that explains how Mojtaba Khamenei escaped the deadly US-Israeli strikes that killed his father, wife, sister, and other relatives on the first day of the Iran war. It also sheds new l
Two weeks in: A US Marine on Iran’s plan to win
From Iran’s perspective, this war is going according to plan. Even though America and Israel have dominated the battlefield, the regime has not collapsed, the Strait of Hormuz has been blocked, and the entire region is under pressure. Yet major questions remain over how many missiles they have left and how long they can stop major protests from erupting once again on the streets. Roland Oliph
‘Strategically appalling’: Britain’s greatest military expert on Trump’s Iran war
Does the US war with Iran make strategic sense? No, says Britain’s foremost military expert and strategist, Sir Lawrence Freedman.Talking to Roland Oliphant and Venetia Rainey on The Telegraph’s Iran: The Latest podcast, Sir Lawrence shares his damning verdict of Donald Trump’s military operation against the Iranian regime: no proper preparation and no thinking through the risks.They also discuss
'I hate Trump but I support his war': why some Iranians celebrate this conflict
How do Iranians inside Iran feel about Trump’s war?With no independent reporting allowed, an internet blackout in place and harsh punishments for anyone who speaks out against the regime, it’s hard to tell. But there are some voices getting out - and some are happy about the American-Israeli attack. Sahar Zand, an Iranian-British investigative journalist based in London, shares messages from Irani
World War 3? How Russia and China could be dragged into the Iran conflict
Is this what the start of World War Three looks like?On the 11th day of the US-Israeli war with Iran, Roland looks at how the conflict is broadening well beyond Iran’s borders. President Donald Trump has hinted the war is nearly over, but ACLED CEO Clionadh Raleigh says it is dangerously close to dragging in Russia and China given they have already openly backed Iran. She also talks through what t
Why Iran's new supreme leader could intensify the war
Could Iran’s new leader be worse than the old one? On the 10th day of the US-Israeli war with Iran, Roland looks at why IRGC-favourite Mojtaba Khamenei has been chosen as the new supreme leader to take over from his assassinated father and what it means for the regime. Plus, Venetia gets a view from the Gulf about the growing oil crisis, fears over dwindling interceptor missile stocks and how the
Shock and awe but no regime change: one week of Trump’s Iran war
It’s the seventh day of the US-Israeli war with Iran and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has said America is about to dramatically increase the amount of firepower over the country as the military campaign moves into the next phase.On today’s episode, Venetia takes a step back and looks at what has been achieved so far over one week of war. She is joined by Col. Simon Diggins, a former British Army
How the Iran war was years in the planning
On the sixth day of the US-Israeli war with Iran, the Strait of Hormuz is remains effectively closed to shipping, despite the US Navy crippling Iran’s surface fleet - including by torpedoing a Frigate off Sri Lanka. On today’s episode of Iran: the Latest, Roland Oliphant speaks to former Royal Navy commander Tom Sharpe about how Western militaries have prepared for years for a big war with Ir
Is Europe being dragged into Trump’s Iran war?
In the wake of an attack on a British military base in Cyprus, the UK has said it will send an extra warship to the region. Does this make Britain militarily involved in America and Israel’s war against Iran? Or was that already true after Prime Minister Keir Starmer allowed Donald Trump to use British bases? Venetia and Roland discuss Europe’s growing involvement in the conflict and the countries
US obliterates Iranian navy, exclusive Trump chat & voices from inside Tehran
Battle Lines is now Iran: The Latest! Roland and Venetia are going to be covering the new conflict every day for the weeks to come, bringing you the best of The Telegraph’s reporting from around the world and exclusive interviews with world-class experts in military strategy, diplomacy, and the Middle East.On today’s episode, Venetia and Roland look at America’s devastating attacks on Iran’s offic
Iran bombs entire Middle East after Ayatollah Khamenei assassinated by Israel and US
Iran's leader Ayatollah Khamenei was killed in an Israeli and US strike on Saturday morning, kicking off a major war that has since expanded to the entire Middle East. On day three of the conflict, Venetia and Roland run through the big updates, including the UK’s involvement, the ongoing death toll and how Iran is striking back on key targets in the region. They also talk to former Israeli i
Trump attacks Iran with 'major combat operations' to oust regime - what next?
The US and Israel have launched what President Donald Trump has described as "major combat operations" to try to bring about the end of the Iranian regime.In this bonus episode, Roland and Venetia look at what we know so far - from Trump’s speech to strikes across the Middle East - and what might happen next, while Henry Bodkin, The Telegraph’s Jerusalem correspondent, reports from on the ground i
Cuba 'very close' to regime change: John Bolton on Trump, Venezuela and Iran
For sixty years Washington and Havana have been having a geopolitical tango fuelled by obsession and ideology. The island nation of Cuba has been a socialist splinter in the finger of the Florida coastline, its regime infecting the region. Now, with the toppling of Nicolás Maduro and Venezuelan oil tightly controlled by the US, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel could be next. To get into the
Drugs, HIV and gangs: the Pacific island paradise hit by a triple epidemic
Drugs and gangs have created an explosion in HIV cases in Fiji.This week on Battle Lines: Global Health Security, Arthur Scott-Geddes is joined by Sarah Newey, The Telegraph’s correspondent in Bangkok who recently travelled to Fiji, and Dr Jason Mitchell, the head of the country’s HIV task force.On the archipelago known as the gateway to the Pacific, Chinese triads, Mexican cartels, and Australian
The 'super secret' Chagos island airbase at heart of Trump-Starmer row
The British Indian Ocean Territory, AKA the Chagos Islands is home to the American super-base of Diego Garcia. Located on the largest island in the archipelago and home to the joint UK/US military base since the 1970s.The Chagos handover to Mauritius has been controversial from the outset and shifting signals from Donald Trump have left the Starmer government open to a political backlash.Has the s
Trump’s Iran plan: 'kick the door in' and hit the regime where it hurts
The drumbeat of war in the Middle East is getting louder - and once again it’s Iran in America’s crosshairs.A second round of talks over Iran’s alleged nuclear weapons programme ended this week without a deal. In the last few days, dozens of American fighter jets and refuelling tankers have joined the US's two carrier strike groups in the region. This is now the largest American military buil
Frog poison, tear gas and Novichok: Inside Russia’s chemical weapons programme
Two years ago, Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny died in a Siberian penal colony. There was an outcry and many suspected foul play, but nothing could be proved. That is until last weekend, when five European countries including the UK announced that they had made a startling discovery: Navalny had been killed with a rare frog poison.How was the poison was identified, how were the sampl
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