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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. As the geopolitical landscape shifts, subscribe for essential updates on the security shifts defining our global future.
Every Wednesday on Battle Lines: Global Health Security they’re joined by Arthur Scott-Geddes to look at the intersection between health and security, from bioweapons to warzone diseases to frontline medicine. You can watch these episodes here.
Battle Lines, a defence podcast with a wider scope and created by David Knowles, previously lived on this feed.
Don’t forget to follow and leave a review to stay updated on the latest in global conflict and foreign affairs.
Battle Lines: Global Health Security is supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-06-23 15:15:14
Iran’s stealth Strait of Hormuz toll plan & how Trump’s war reshaped the world (media.mp3)
Iran has unveiled a plan to impose stealth fees on the Strait of Hormuz, using an insurance loophole to keep exacting tolls out of the key waterway post-war.
Telegraph senior foreign correspondent Adrian Blomfield joins Roland Oliphant to break down how the conflict has permanently disrupted the global balance of power, from disrupting the US pivot to Asia to breaking US-Israeli ties.
Plus, they take a moment to consider how the past four months will reverberate in the years to come and ask: what would Herodotus, the first historian of a Persian war, make of it all?
Highlights
- Iran’s secret plan to keep control of the Strait of Hormuz
- How Trump’s greatest foreign policy failure reshaped the world
WATCH US ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVAif-vifC6F2aoPB8GIw6dk
CONTRIBUTORS:
Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant
Adrian Blomfield, senior foreign correspondent @adrianblomfield
CONTENT REFERENCED:
How Trump’s greatest foreign policy failure has reshaped the world
Has the US-Israel relationship changed forever?
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/06/20/has-the-us-israel-relationship-changed-forever/
Producers: Max Bower and Elliot Lampitt
Executive Producers: Venetia Rainey & Louisa Wells
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► GET THE LATEST HEADLINES: Find all our latest Iran coverage here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/iran-war/
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-06-22 16:59:16
US and Iran set up Hormuz crisis hotline & how Trump lost his final European allies (media.mp3)
As Vice President JD Vance and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi lock down a 60-day roadmap to end the war, Tehran has walked away with immediate waivers on its oil and petrochemical exports. Venetia Rainey and Roland Oliphant go behind the scenes at the high-stakes negotiations in Switzerland, including nuclear negotiations and the rumors of an Iranian walkout.
Meanwhile, the fallout from Washington’s fury with his closest European allies over their Iran war “betrayal” has ramped up after Donald Trump publicly rebuked Italy’s Giorgia Meloni over her refusal to help him. They also analyse the resignation of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and how his indecision over allowing the US to use UK bases to strike Iran was indicative of his premiership’s failings.
Plus, how the Iranian football team’s gritty 0-0 World Cup draw against Belgium turned into a propaganda stunt for the regime to invoke the ghosts of the schoolchildren killed in Minab at the start of the war.
Highlights
- US and Iran set up Hormuz crisis hotline as oil sanctions lifted
- How Trump lost his final European allies, from Meloni to Starmer
WATCH US ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVAif-vifC6F2aoPB8GIw6dk
CONTRIBUTORS:
Venetia Rainey, co-host and executive producer @venetiarainey
Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant
CONTENT REFERENCED:
Iranian leader criticises his negotiators in secret letters
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/06/22/iran-us-war-mojtaba-khamenei-mahmoud-nabavian-middle-east/
Inside the Hezbollah tunnels where peace will be made or broken
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/06/21/inside-hezbollah-tunnels-where-peace-will-be-made/
Trump tears into Meloni over G7 picture row
Producer: Max Bower
Executive Producers: Venetia Rainey & Louisa Wells
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► GET THE LATEST HEADLINES: Find all our latest Iran coverage here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/iran-war/
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-06-19 16:18:58
‘Wake up’: US forces Israel into Hezbollah ceasefire after stark warning (media.mp3)
Is Donald Trump’s US-Iran peace deal already falling apart?
Less than a day after the historic MoU was signed to end the war, fighting has been ongoing in Lebanon, with Hezbollah killing four Israeli soldiers and Benjamin Netanyahu unleashing a punishing wave of air strikes across southern Lebanon. A new ceasefire has today been agreed - but can it hold?
Sophia Yan and Venetia Rainey discuss the latest news and the significance of US Vice President JD Vance’s stark warning to Israel to “wake up and smell reality”.
Plus, New York Times journalist Yeganeh Torbati, co-author of Stolen Revolution, joins to discuss why Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is distancing himself from Trump's deal, and how the IRGC is using this diplomatic breathing room to prepare for a potential resumption of the war down the line.
Highlights
- US forces Israel into Hezbollah ceasefire after stark warning
- Is Donald Trump’s US-Iran peace deal already falling apart?
CONTRIBUTORS:
Sophia Yan, senior foreign correspondent, @sophia_yan
Yeganeh Torbati, NYT journalist and co-author Stolen Revolution @yjtorbati
Producer: Max Bower
Executive Producers: Louisa Wells & Venetia Rainey
WATCH US ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVAif-vifC6F2aoPB8GIw6dk
CONTENT REFERENCED:
Vance tells Israel: You can’t kill your way out of problems
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2026/06/18/jd-vance-israel-friends/
Stolen Revolution: Betrayal & Hope in Modern Iran
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-06-18 16:25:35
4-2 to Iran: Trump’s peace deal proves the US lost the war (media.mp3)
Donald Trump has signed a peace deal with Iran, but his critics are saying it’s a humiliation.
Roland Oliphant and David Blair go through the US-Iran deal line by line and give each side a score, from $300bn in payments to Iran to the reopening Strait of Hormuz to a ban on nuclear weapons. Among those critical of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is former vice president Mike Pence, who has called Trump an appeaser and accused him of handing a “lifeline” to the Iranian regime - is he right?
Highlights
- 4-2 to Tehran - the US-Iran peace deal gutted
- How the MoU proves the US lost the war
CONTRIBUTORS:
Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant
David Blair, chief foreign affairs commentator @davidblairdt
CONTENT REFERENCED:
How Trump’s ‘Operation Epic Disaster’ turned the world against America
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2026/06/18/iran-war-trump-us-credibility/
David Blair: Trump’s extraordinary deal is a survival plan for Iran
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/06/17/iran-deal-survival-plan-for-islamic-republic/
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producers: Venetia Rainey & Louisa Wells
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► 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/
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-06-17 16:59:02
Why Trump is throwing Israel under the bus over Iran war (media.mp3)
As details of the US-Iran 14-point peace deal leaks, Trump and other world leaders at the G7 summit today are singing its praises - but is it any good?
Venetia Rainey breaks down the proposed timeline in the Memorandum of Understanding that will see the war officially end, the Strait of Hormuz open up, sanctions on Iran lifted and something unspecified happen to Tehran’s enriched uranium.
One country is particularly unhappy: Israel. So how will Benjamin Netanyahu respond? Global health security editor Paul Nuki joins from Tel Aviv to deliver a blunt realpolitik assessment on why Trump is trying to make Israel the lightning rod for the fallout from his unpopular war.
CONTRIBUTORS:
Venetia Rainey, co-Host and Executive Producer @venetiarainey
Paul Nuki, Global Health Security Editor @PaulNuki
CONTENT REFERENCED:
The 14-point Iran deal in full – and how it favours Tehran
War of broken promises leaves Israel weakened and despondent
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/06/16/broken-promises-israel-weakened-iran-trump/
IDF soldier ‘just wanted to kill’ my son
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/06/14/idf-soldier-just-wanted-to-kill-my-son/
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producers: Venetia Rainey & Louisa Wells
► 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/
HIGHLIGHTS
- Why Trump is throwing Israel under the bus over Iran war
- ‘Iran had its foot on the world’s throat. This deal is a way out’
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-06-16 16:47:41
'Mini exodus' in Strait of Hormuz as Vance insists peace deal is ‘good for US’ (media.mp3)
It’s become the crux of the US-Iran peace deal: is the Strait of Hormuz open or closed, free or with tolls?
Roland Oliphant speaks to Richard Meade, editor in chief of Lloyd’s List, explains the lingering uncertainties left from Donald Trump’s Middle East war keeping shipping executives up at night and placing ordinary sailors in danger.
Plus: as JD Vance insists the deal is “good for the American people”, Roland looks at the latest news, including the UK and France saying they are ready to help protect freedom of navigation in Hormuz and the politicisation of shipping from Iran to Russia.
Highlights
- Why Trump's peace deal hinges on the Strait of Hormuz
- Mini exodus' of ships as Vance insists peace deal is ‘good for US’
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producers: Venetia Rainey & Louisa Wells
► 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
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► GET THE LATEST HEADLINES: Find all our latest Iran coverage here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/iran-war/
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-06-15 17:19:49
Trump’s peace deal: is the US paying Iran to reopen Hormuz? (media.mp3)
Donald Trump has declared the Iran war over, telling oil tankers to "start their engines" as Tehran reopens the Strait of Hormuz and the US lifts its naval blockade. So why are so many people unhappy with the ‘peace deal’?
Roland Oliphant and Venetia Rainey dive into the latest news of what we know today about the Memorandum of Understanding - and what we don’t. They discuss the problems raised by the outline of the deal so far - from an agreement on nuclear weapons to the war in Lebanon - and why Israeli military leaders are calling it a "strategic failure”.
Highlights:
- Trump’s peace deal: is the US paying Iran to reopen Hormuz?
- Plus: why both Israelis and Iranians are furious
CONTRIBUTORS:
Venetia Rainey, co-host and executive producer @venetiarainey
Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant
CONTENT REFERENCED:
WATCH US ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVAif-vifC6F2aoPB8GIw6dk
The winners and losers of the Iran war
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/06/14/winners-losers-iran-war-usa-trump-middle-east/
After 106 days of war, how Donald Trump and Iran finally agreed a deal
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2026/06/15/how-trump-iran-agreed-war-nuclear-strait-hormuz-deal/
Thirteen thousand air strikes - for what?
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/06/15/us-launched-13000-air-strikes-on-iran-for-what/
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-06-14 08:00:00
100 days of US-Iran war: the winners and losers so far (media.mp3)
After 100 days of the US-Iran war launched by Donald Trump, who is winning and who is losing?
An American and an Iranian debate the big successes, what could have gone better, and what the long-term implications will be. Venetia Rainey and Roland Oliphant are joined by Ben Hodges, former US general and commander of the US Army in Europe, and Holly Dagres, Washington Institute analyst and author of The Iranist substack.
They discuss the most significant moments from the war, from Ali Khamenei's death to an attack on a US base in Kuwait, why China is benefitting, and what surprised them most.
Highlights
- 100 days of war: the winners and losers so far
- An American general and an Iranian analyst debate
CONTRIBUTORS:
Venetia Rainey, co-host @venetiarainey
Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant
Ben Hodges, former commanding general US Army Europe @general_ben
Holly Dagres, Washington Institute analyst and The Iranist author @hdagres
WATCH THE FULL EPISODE ON YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/-3VEIOK3-SU
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producers: Venetia Rainey & Louisa Wells
► 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
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► GET THE LATEST HEADLINES: Find all our latest Iran coverage here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/iran-war/
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-06-12 15:43:52
'End it now’: Why the Gulf needs Trump to strike Iran deal (media.mp3)
Donald Trump says the Iran war could be ended with a peace deal this weekend.
For the Gulf, everything is at stake. Battered by Iranian missiles and drones throughout the war and economically strangled by the Strait of Hormuz crisis, the Gulf states are desperate for the war to end - so much so that some are even having their own talks with Tehran.
Sophia Yan chats to UAE-based Aniseh Bassiri Tabrizi, associate fellow for Chatham House’s MENA programme, about why despite Iran’s aggression, countries there just want things to go back to how they were before the war.
Highlights:
- Trump says Iran war could end with peace deal this weekend
- Why the Gulf wishes the Iran war never happened
CONTRIBUTORS:
Sophia Yan, co-host and senior foreign correspondent @sophia_yan
Aniseh Bassiri Tabrizi, Associate Fellow MENA Programme Chatham House @AnisehBassiri
Producer: Max Bower
Executive Producers: Venetia Rainey & Louisa Wells
► 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/
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-06-11 15:24:51
Trump hits Iran with dozens of Tomahawks as war looms over World Cup (media.mp3)
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 first time ever, the World Cup 2026 will see a nation host a team it's currently at war with. As the competition kicks off, sports news reporter Tom Morgan joins Roland Oliphant from Mexico to discuss the strength of each side's teams, the politics behind the visa and ticketing rows, and how Iran and USA could even face one another on the pitch.
Highlights
- Trump hits Iran with dozens of Tomahawks and vows to keep going
- The World Cup Iran war row: Everything you need to know
CONTRIBUTORS:
Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant
David Blair, chief foreign affairs commentator @davidblairdt
Tom Morgan, sports news correspondent @Tom_Morgs
CONTENT REFERENCED:
Iran arrive at World Cup with swipe at US over attack on school
As cartels slink into shadows for the World Cup, horror remains
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2026/06/10/world-cup-mexico-search-victims-cartels-disappeared/
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producers: Venetia Rainey & Louisa Wells
► 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/
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-06-10 16:52:03
Trump vows Iran will ‘pay the price’ & inside the Pentagon's drone revolution (media.mp3)
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 about what this week’s events tell us about the growing role of autonomous systems in the military.
Plus, what is the Pentagon’s plan to combat the drone threat posed by enemies from Iran to China - and is it moving fast enough? Hicks and Aaron Sherman from the Atlantic Council talk about the Replicator project they launched in 2023 in the Department of Defence and why it’s more vital than ever.
Highlights
- Trump vows Iran will ‘pay the price’ for firing at US bases
- From Iran to China: inside the Pentagon's drone revolution
CONTRIBUTORS:
Venetia Rainey, co-host and executive producer @venetiarainey
Kathleen Hicks, former US Deputy Secretary of Defence
Aaron Sherman, non-resident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council
CONTENT REFERENCED:
How a cutting-edge AI drone boat saved defenceless US Apache pilots
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2026/06/09/apache-pilots-rescued-ai-drone-boat
Move Fast and Scale: A Brief Insiders' History of the Replicator Initiative
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producers: Venetia Rainey & Louisa Wells
► 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/
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-06-09 16:32:45
‘Colossal failure’: How Israel and Trump lost to Iran’s regime (media.mp3)
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 Institute for National Security Studies, about why most Israelis think that the war has been a ‘colossal failure’ and how he fears Iran’s regime has been the real winner in all of this.
Highlights:
- Why Israelis think the war has been a ‘colossal failure’
- Why Israel wants the Iran war to continue - and why Trump says no
CONTRIBUTORS:
Venetia Rainey, co-host and executive producer @venetiarainey
Danny Citrinowicz, senior researcher INSS @citrinowicz
CONTENT REFERENCED:
WATCH: 100 days of US-Iran war: the winners and losers so far
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3VEIOK3-SU
Israelis grow tired of Bibi and bomb shelters
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/06/08/israelis-grow-tired-of-bibi-and-bombshelters/
Netanyahu: Our war with ‘weak’ Iran isn’t finished
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/06/07/iran-launches-missile-attack-on-israel/
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producers: Venetia Rainey & Louisa Wells
► 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/
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-06-08 16:40:36
Israel hammers Iran after ballistic missiles attack & 100 days of war: winners and losers (media.mp3)
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 factors at play in each country and what might happen next.
Plus, an American and Iranian on what we learned from 100 days of war. What are the big successes, what could have gone better, and what will the long-term implications be? Venetia and Roland speak to Ben Hodges, former US general and commander of the US Army in Europe, and Holly Dagres, Washington Institute analyst and author of The Iranist substack. They discuss the most significant moments from the war, the biggest winners and losers, and what surprised them.
Highlights
- Iran and Israel bomb each other - what just happened?
- 100 days of war: an American and an Iranian debate
CONTRIBUTORS:
Venetia Rainey, co-host @venetiarainey
Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant
Ben Hodges, former commanding general US Army Europe @general_ben
Holly Dagres, Washington Institute analyst and The Iranist author @hdagres
Producer: Peter Shevlin and Phil Atkins
Executive Producers: Venetia Rainey & Louisa Wells
► 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/
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-06-05 16:18:43
Iran’s drones have reshaped warfare. Can the US catch up? (media.mp3)
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, what makes the Shahed so brutal and how to counter it, guest host from the Ukraine: the Latest team Sophie O’Sullivan speaks to Mykola Bielieskov, research fellow at the Kyiv-based National Institute for Strategic Studies, and Peter Lee, co-Director of the Centre for Defence, Risk and Resilience at Britain’s University of Portsmouth.
Plus, Sophie covers the latest major updates from the region, including Hezbollah’s rejection of the Israel-Lebanon deal as “Satan’s dream” and news of a secret deployment of elite Israeli military units to Azerbaijan.
Highlights
- Iran’s cheap but deadly drones have reshaped warfare. Can the US catch up?
- Why everyone from Russia to the US are copying the Shahed
CONTRIBUTORS:
Sophie O’Sullivan, guest host and producer Ukraine: the Latest
Mykola Bielieskov, research fellow at National Institute for Strategic Studies @MBielieskov
Peter Lee, professor at the University of Portsmouth
Producer: Phil Atkins
Executive Producers: Venetia Rainey & Louisa Wells
► 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/
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-06-04 16:23:29
The secret US operation defying Iran’s Strait of Hormuz blockade (media.mp3)
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 “surrendering” after agreeing a deal with Israel. Venetia Rainey and Sophia Yan discuss the latest news, including the significance of the US House passing a war powers resolution to curb further American military activity and the death of British MI6 boss Sir Alex Younger.
Highlights
- The secret US operation evading Iran’s Strait of Hormuz blockade
- Israel and Lebanon to use “pilot zones” to push out Hezbollah
CONTRIBUTORS:
Venetia Rainey, co-host and executive producer @venetiarainey
Sophia Yan, co-host and senior foreign correspondent @sophia_yan
CONTENT REFERENCED:
Sir Alex Younger, long-serving head of MI6 who shaped the service for a ‘fourth generation of espionage’
The Economist: A former spy chief’s take on intelligence and the Iran war
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producers: Venetia Rainey & Louisa Wells
► 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/
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-06-03 17:03:37
Iran strikes Kuwait airport after US bombs Qeshm Island & why the World Cup’s timing matters for the war (media.mp3)
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, founder of Iran Wire, about why the war is unlikely to erupt until after the World Cup.
One of Iran’s most experienced journalists until he was forced into exile, Bahari’s English and Persian website has become an invaluable source of reliable information for anyone interested following the war. He explains why the Iranian regime is weaker than most think and shares his experiences of being interrogated by IRGC officials who rely on pornography to understand the Western world.
Plus, global health security editor Paul Nuki explains why Israelis can’t ignore Donald Trump’s explosive reported warning to leader Benjamin Netanyahu that the world is starting to hate his country due its military activity.
Highlights
- Iran strikes Kuwait airport after US bombs Qeshm Island
- Why IRGC officers believe the West is just like in porn films
CONTRIBUTORS:
Roland Oliphant, chief foreign analyst, @rolandoliphant
Maziar Bahari, founder of Iran Wire, @maziarbahari
Paul Nuki, global health security editor, @PaulNuki
CONTENT REFERENCED:
Paul Nuki: Trump outburst reflects Israel’s sinking popularity in American eyes
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producers: Venetia Rainey & Louisa Wells
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-06-02 17:31:35
What Trump's angry call with Netanyahu means for the Iran war (media.mp3)
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 the latest news from this active frontline, how Hezbollah has been rearmed by Iran and what it means for the broader war.
Plus, Roland Oliphant gets a rare look inside Iran with Jan Egeland, secretary general of the aid organisation Norwegian Refugee Council, who describes the bombed-out police stations, factories, military posts and homes he has seen first-hand across the country.
Highlights
- What Trump's angry call with Netanyahu means for the Iran war
- Inside Iran: ‘Bombed-out police stations, factories and military posts’
CONTRIBUTORS:
Venetia Rainey, co-host and executive producer @venetiarainey
Sophia Yan, co-host and senior foreign correspondent @sophia_yan
Jan Egeland, NRC secretary-general @NRC_Egeland
Michael Young, Carnegie Middle East Center senior editor @BeirutCalling
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producers: Venetia Rainey & Louisa Wells
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-06-01 17:21:26
Iran quits US talks, vows escalation after Israel orders Beirut strikes (media.mp3)
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 a symbolic and strategic victory by capturing Beaufort Castle as part of its expanding offensive in the country’s south, amid fierce fighting with Hezbollah.
Plus, how did Iran become a corrupt mafia state? Iranian journalists Yeganeh Torbati (New York Times) and Bozorgmehr Sharafedin (Iran International) have written a new book on the subject, Stolen Revolution, and join the show to explain why the war is likely to make things even worse.
Highlights
- Iran quits US talks after Israel orders Beirut strikes
- Plus: how Iran became a corrupt mafia state
CONTRIBUTORS:
Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant
Venetia Rainey, co-host and executive producer @venetiarainey
Yeganeh Torbati, journalist and author of Stolen Revolution @yjtorbati
Bozorgmehr Sharafedin, journalist and author of Stolen Revolution @bozorgmehr
CONTENT REFERENCED:
Kasra Aarabi and Saeid Golkar: The West is ignoring the dangerous new partnership reshaping Iran from within
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/05/29/shadowy-new-hardline-alliance-reshaping-irans-regime/
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-05-29 17:54:52
Trump lifts Hormuz naval blockade & inside Iran’s ‘idiot’ proxy army (media.mp3)
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 Tsurkov. In 2023, while on a research trip to Iraq, the Russian-Israeli PhD student was kidnapped for nearly three years by Kataib Hezbollah, the most powerful of Iran’s Iraqi proxy militias.
Still recovering from the ordeal, she takes Sophia Yan and Roland Oliphant inside the group - and why she was surprised to learn that many of her kidnappers were “idiots”. Plus, she explains how they sustain Iran’s shadow economy, dominate politics in their host counties, and double up as fronts for massive embezzlement schemes.
Highlights
- Donald Trump lifts US naval blockade on Iran
- Elizabeth Tsurkov on being kidnapped by “idiot” Iranian militias in Iraq
CONTRIBUTORS:
Sophia Yan, senior foreign correspondent, @sophia_yan
Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant
Elizabeth Tsurkov, fellow at the New Lines Institute @LizHurra
CONTENT REFERENCED:
Elizabeth Tsurkov: I Was Kidnapped by Idiots
https://www.theatlantic.com/international/2026/01/kidnapped-baghdad/685470/
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producers: Venetia Rainey & Louisa Wells
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-05-28 16:45:59
‘Ceasefire violated’: US fury after Iran targets Kuwait base (media.mp3)
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 America means Donald Trump is more confident and feeling less pressure to secure a peace deal.
Plus, Alp Toker, the founder of Netblocks, explains what we learned from Iran’s record-setting Internet blackout and what it means for other authoritarian regimes around the world.
Highlights
- ‘Ceasefire violated’: US fury after Iran targets Kuwait base
- ‘The most intense game of chicken ever’
CONTRIBUTORS:
Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant
Lottie Tiplady-Bishop, associate US News Editor @lottietipbishop
Alp Toker, Netblocks founder @atoker
CONTENT REFERENCED:
Trump: We’re not satisfied with Iran deal
US military hits Iranian control centre in fresh strikes
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/05/28/us-military-strikes-southern-iran-peace-deal/
Terror and trauma under the world’s longest internet blackout
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/05/27/iran-relief-internet-restoration-weeks-war/
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producers: Venetia Rainey & Louisa Wells
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-05-27 17:23:27
Iran demands $24bn to sign US peace deal - will Trump accept? (media.mp3)
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 latest news from inside Iran, as well as the significance of one of the country’s biggest exports: pistachios.
Plus, as Israel launches a deadly new phase in its campaign against Hezbollah, UNIFIL spokesperson Kandice Ardiel joins from Beirut to share her insights on what it’s like working as a peacekeeper in southern Lebanon caught between the two longtime enemies.
Highlights
- Iran demands $24bn to sign US peace deal - will Trump accept?
- 'They think the war is over': Why Iran is restoring internet access
CONTRIBUTORS:
Venetia Rainey, co-host and executive producer @venetiarainey
Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant
Akhtar Makoii, foreign correspondent @akhtar_makoii
Kandice Ardiel, UNIFIL spokesperson @hikandice
CONTENT REFERENCED:
Iran will sign peace deal only if US releases $24bn of frozen assets
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/05/26/iran-peace-deal-us-release-24bn-frozen-assets/
The $24bn cost of Trump’s capitulation on Iran
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2026/05/26/trump-us-iran-capitulation/
Akhtar Makoii: Iran’s hardliners are sabotaging their own government’s peace talks
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/05/26/iran-hardliners-sabotaging-peace-talks/
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producers: Venetia Rainey & Louisa Wells
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► GET THE LATEST HEADLINES: Find all our latest Iran coverage here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/iran-war/
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-05-26 17:05:36
US ‘blows up’ Iran mine-laying ships as Trump chases ‘bum deal’ (media.mp3)
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 deployed “ship-smashing” Ghadir mini-submarines, known as the “dolphins of the Persian Gulf”.
Plus, Venetia Rainey and Sophia Yan discuss why the signs suggest peace talks are set to continue for now. While Chief foreign affairs commentator David Blair analyses what Donald Trump could get out of a deal - and why he’s making more and more concessions to the Iranian regime each passing week, including over its nuclear programme.
Highlights
- Clashes in Hormuz as US ‘blows up’ Iranian mine-laying ships
- Why Donald Trump is chasing a ‘quick and incomplete deal’
CONTRIBUTORS:
Venetia Rainey, co-host and executive producer @venetiarainey
Sophia Yan, co-host and senior foreign correspondent @sophia_yan
David Blair, chief foreign affairs commentator @davidblairdt
Tom Sharpe, ex-Royal Navy officer @TomSharpe134
CONTENT REFERENCED:
US strikes on Iran threaten fragile ceasefire
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/05/26/us-strikes-on-iran-threaten-fragile-ceasefire-war/
David Blair: Trump’s latest gambit on Iran is a smokescreen
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/05/26/trump-latest-gambit-iran-smokescreen/
Tom Sharpe: Iran’s ship-smasher mini subs are loose in Hormuz. I’ve been up against them before
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/05/18/iran-irin-irgcn-mini-submarines-torpedoes-strait-hormuz/
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producers: Venetia Rainey & Louisa Wells
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-05-26 17:05:36
US ‘blows up’ Iran mine-laying ships as Trump chases ‘bum deal’ (media.mp3)
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 deployed “ship-smashing” Ghadir mini-submarines, known as the “dolphins of the Persian Gulf”.
Plus, Venetia Rainey and Sophia Yan discuss why the signs suggest peace talks are set to continue for now. While Chief foreign affairs commentator David Blair analyses what Donald Trump could get out of a deal - and why he’s making more and more concessions to the Iranian regime each passing week, including over its nuclear programme.
Highlights
- Clashes in Hormuz as US ‘blows up’ Iranian mine-laying ships
- Why Donald Trump is chasing a ‘quick and incomplete deal’
CONTRIBUTORS:
Venetia Rainey, co-host and executive producer @venetiarainey
Sophia Yan, co-host and senior foreign correspondent @sophia_yan
David Blair, chief foreign affairs commentator @davidblairdt
Tom Sharpe, ex-Royal Navy officer @TomSharpe134
CONTENT REFERENCED:
US strikes on Iran threaten fragile ceasefire
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/05/26/us-strikes-on-iran-threaten-fragile-ceasefire-war/
David Blair: Trump’s latest gambit on Iran is a smokescreen
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/05/26/trump-latest-gambit-iran-smokescreen/
Tom Sharpe: Iran’s ship-smasher mini subs are loose in Hormuz. I’ve been up against them before
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/05/18/iran-irin-irgcn-mini-submarines-torpedoes-strait-hormuz/
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producers: Venetia Rainey & Louisa Wells
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► GET THE LATEST HEADLINES: Find all our latest Iran coverage here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/iran-war/
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-05-25 06:00:00
How the tank is evolving to survive the century of the drone (media.mp3)
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 century of the drone? Or will the venerable tank go the way of the armoured knight before it?
Hamish de Bretton Gordon, a former commander of the Royal Tank Regiment and the author of a new book on the subject, Tank Command, takes Roland Oliphant through the history of armoured warfare. They discuss why the tank has long been the ultimate instrument of battlefield shock action from World War 1 to the Arab-Israeli war to Ukraine today. Hamish argues that in 100 years from now, armies will still be fielding - and fighting against - tanks.
Plus, Hamish shares what it’s like to command a Challenger, his ultimate "petrol-head" tank from history, and the definitive Hollywood film every enthusiast needs to watch.
Highlights
- Why the lessons of tank development are still hugely relevant today
- What it’s like to command a Challenger
CONTRIBUTORS:
Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant
Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, former tank commander @HamishDBG
CONTENT REFERENCED:
Hamish de Bretton-Gordon’s new book Tank Command is out June 4: https://linktr.ee/TankCommand
Producer: Max Bower
Executive Producers: Venetia Rainey & Louisa Wells
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-05-22 16:48:39
First Venezuela, then Iran. Is Cuba next on Trump’s hit list? (media.mp3)
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 been deployed to the Caribbean. A blockade has been in place for months, leading to mass blackouts.
Carlos Solar, RUSI’s senior research fellow for Latin American security, joins Roland Oliphant to examine whether the United States is creating a pretext for an attack on Cuba. They discuss why things are escalating in the Caribbean and what an attack on the country might look like. Plus, how it is all connected to the war in Iran.
Highlights
- First Venezuela, then Iran. Is Cuba next on Trump’s hit list?
- How the Iran war is pushing Cuba’s regime over the edge
CONTRIBUTORS:
Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant
Carlos Solar, RUSI Latin American Security senior fellow @CSolar
CONTENT REFERENCED:
Trump: deploying aircraft carrier to Caribbean is not meant to intimidate Cuba
Rubio: Cuba is a national security threat
Cuba is dark, desperate and still deluded
Producer: Max Bower
Executive Producers: Venetia Rainey & Louisa Wells
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-05-21 17:17:26
Trump, Iran and the $150,000 Strait of Hormuz toll (media.mp3)
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 the ongoing crisis in the Strait of Hormuz is transforming shipping all over the world.
Hans also looks at why India’s leader Narendra Modi is in Europe at the moment trying to drum up deals amid fears the Iran war could impact his country’s superpower trajectory.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu clash over whether to restart active hostilities, Pakistan’s army chief heads to Tehran to coax the regime towards a peace deal, and Iran says it will not give up its Uranium.
Highlights
- How Iran’s Strait of Hormuz toll could spread worldwide
- Why the Iran war is throwing India off its superpower trajectory
CONTRIBUTORS:
Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant
Hans van Leeuwen, international economics editor @hansvan333
CONTENT REFERENCED:
How Trump trampled on Modi’s dream of an Indian superpower
Iran weaponised world trade and others are following suit
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producers: Venetia Rainey & Louisa Wells
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-05-20 16:32:20
Iran warns Trump: ‘We’ll take war global if you bomb us again’ (media.mp3)
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 Rainey, Sophia Yan and Roland Oliphant.
They also discuss reports today that the US wanted to install former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Ali Khamenei’s place, news of secret Israeli bases in the Iraqi desert, and the shady Iran-linked group known as HAYI behind a series of attacks on Jews in London.
Plus, as Vladimir Putin visits Xi Jinping in China, Sophia looks at how the energy crisis caused by the war has boosted Moscow by forcing the UK and US to drop sanctions on Russian oil, and Venetia looks at JD Vance’s latest comments on peace deal talks.
Highlights
- Iran warns Trump: ‘We’ll take war global if you bomb us again’
- A US Marine on Iran’s terror war against the West
CONTRIBUTORS:
Venetia Rainey, co-host and executive producer @venetiarainey
Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant
Sophia Yan, co-host and senior foreign correspondent @sophia_yan
Jonathan Hackett, former US Marine Corps @jonathanhackett
CONTENT REFERENCED:
Akhtar Makoii: Iran’s plan to strike back in second round of war
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/05/19/iran-plan-strike-back-second-round-war/
Badenoch: PM’s sanctions U-turn will fund killing of Ukrainian soldiers
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2026/05/20/starmer-eases-sanctions-on-russian-oil/
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producers: Venetia Rainey & Louisa Wells
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► GET THE LATEST HEADLINES: Find all our latest Iran coverage here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/iran-war/
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-05-19 17:35:19
America’s Call of Duty vs Iran’s Lego videos: who is winning the online war? (media.mp3)
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 Rainey chats to information warfare specialist Tal Hagin about which is cutting through more.
They also discuss the rise in AI-driven misinformation, anti-Semitism and desensitisation during the Iran war, from the deadly Minab school attack to Benjamin Netanyahu’s “extra” finger and rumoured death.
Plus, how can Israel deal with the growing Hezbollah drone threat? Lieutenant Colonel Sarit Zehavi, founder of the Alma Center, explains what it’s like living in northern Israel at the moment and why a bigger war with Lebanon would be needed to root out the terror group.
Highlights
- America’s Call of Duty vs Iran’s Lego videos: who is winning the online war?
- Why Israel wants to go deeper into Lebanon to root out Hezbollah
CONTRIBUTORS:
Venetia Rainey, co-host and executive producer @venetiarainey
Tal Hagin, information warfare analyst @talhagin
Lt Col. Sarit Zehavi, founder Alma Center @ZehaviAlma
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producers: Venetia Rainey & Louisa Wells
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-05-18 16:43:39
Gulf gets laser-guided missiles to fight drones & Iran executions soar (media.mp3)
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 amid a growing economic disaster, with mass layoffs and no internet.
Plus, the UK has fitted new laser-guided missiles to its Typhoon jets on patrol in the Gulf. Venetia Rainey talks to acting defence editor Tom Cotterill about how they have been designed to talk on Iranian Shahed drones and why they were developed so fast.
Tom also talks about his recent trip to the Falklands, where locals dismissed rumours that the US may drop its backing for British sovereignty over the Islands as punishment for not joining Donald Trump’s war against Iran.
Highlights
- Gulf gets new laser-guided missiles to help smash Iranian drones
- ‘Bloodthirsty’ Iran regime executions hit all-time high as economy freefalls
CONTRIBUTORS:
Venetia Rainey, co-host and executive producer @venetiarainey
Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant
Tom Cotterill, acting defence editor @TomCotterillX
Maryam Mazrooie, journalist @MaryammazrooeiS
CONTENT REFERENCED:
Trump: There won’t be anything left of Iran if it refuses peace deal
Typhoon jets equipped with cheaper missiles to fend off Iranian attacks
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/05/17/typhoon-jets-new-missiles-iran-attacks/
Tom Cotterill: Trump is using us as a pawn, says Falklands chief
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/05/10/falkland-islands-trump-is-using-us-as-a-pawn/
David Blair: Iran’s regime is confident of victory. It may be overplaying its hand
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/05/17/irans-regime-confident-of-victory-it-may-overplaying-hand/
Amnesty: Executions surge to highest recorded figure in 44 years
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2026/05/executions-surge-highest-recorded-figure-44-years/
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producers: Venetia Rainey & Louisa Wells
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-05-15 17:04:21
Why China’s promise of no arms to Iran will do little to end the war (media.mp3)
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-Iran expert who has spent the war in China, about how the conflict is perceived in Beijing. Plus, Roland Oliphant summarises the latest news from the Middle East, including renewed drone strikes in Iraq.
Highlights:
- Trump says that Xi has pledged no military equipment to Iran
- Cautious optimism in Lebanon as talks with Israel progress
CONTRIBUTORS:
Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant
Sophia Yan, senior foreign correspondent, @sophia_yan
Andrea Ghiselli, China-ME expert and lecturer at the University of Exeter @AGhiselliChina
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producers: Venetia Rainey & Louisa Wells
► 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
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► GET THE LATEST HEADLINES: Find all our latest Iran coverage here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/iran-war/
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-05-14 16:54:16
High stakes at Beijing summit as Xi and Trump talk Taiwan and Iran (media.mp3)
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 House, joins Roland Oliphant and Sophia Yan and explains how Beijing’s complex relationship with Tehran and the Gulf monarchies will inform its approach to the war.
Highlights
- What Beijing really wants from the Iran crisis
- The balancing act between Tehran and the Gulf states
CONTRIBUTORS:
Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant
Sophia Yan, senior foreign correspondent, @sophia_yan
Ahmed Aboudouh, Chatham House @AAboudouh
CONTENT REFERENCED:
China ‘secretly planning to ship arms to Iran’
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2026/05/13/china-weapons-deal-iran/
China will benefit from the Iran war, regardless of any deal between Trump and Tehran
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producers: Venetia Rainey & Louisa Wells
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-05-14 16:54:16
High stakes at Beijing summit as Xi and Trump talk Taiwan and Iran (media.mp3)
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 House, joins Roland Oliphant and Sophia Yan and explains how Beijing’s complex relationship with Tehran and the Gulf monarchies will inform its approach to the war.
Highlights
- What Beijing really wants from the Iran crisis
- The balancing act between Tehran and the Gulf states
CONTRIBUTORS:
Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant
Sophia Yan, senior foreign correspondent, @sophia_yan
Ahmed Aboudouh, Chatham House @AAboudouh
CONTENT REFERENCED:
China ‘secretly planning to ship arms to Iran’
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2026/05/13/china-weapons-deal-iran/
China will benefit from the Iran war, regardless of any deal between Trump and Tehran
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producers: Venetia Rainey & Louisa Wells
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-05-13 17:14:12
Iran’s hardliners will not listen to anyone - even China’s Xi Jinping (media.mp3)
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 explains why Iran’s hardliners are unlikely to listen to China’s leader Xi Jinping, have stepped up execution of opponents and alleged spies at home, and are nose-diving the economy with a crippling internet black out. This is the latest from Donald Trump’s war against Iran – which will overshadow his summit later this week with Xi.
Highlights
- Iran retains 70 percent of its missile arsenal
- Why Tehran's hardliners will resist pressure from China
CONTRIBUTORS:
Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant
Sophia Yan, senior foreign correspondent, @sophia_yan
Holly Dagres, Washington Institute, @hdagres
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producers: Venetia Rainey & Louisa Wells
► 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
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► GET THE LATEST HEADLINES: Find all our latest Iran coverage here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/iran-war/
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-05-13 17:14:12
Iran’s hardliners will not listen to anyone - even China’s Xi Jinping (media.mp3)
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 explains why Iran’s hardliners are unlikely to listen to China’s leader Xi Jinping, have stepped up execution of opponents and alleged spies at home, and are nose-diving the economy with a crippling internet black out. This is the latest from Donald Trump’s war against Iran – which will overshadow his summit later this week with Xi.
Highlights
- Iran retains 70 percent of its missile arsenal
- Why Tehran's hardliners will resist pressure from China
CONTRIBUTORS:
Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant
Sophia Yan, senior foreign correspondent, @sophia_yan
Holly Dagres, Washington Institute, @hdagres
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producers: Venetia Rainey & Louisa Wells
► 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/
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-05-12 16:37:02
Trump says US-Iran ceasefire ‘on life support’: can Xi Jinping revive it? (media.mp3)
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 the war? But does China have the leverage to force Iran to act, and would Xi Jinping be willing to use it to help out Donald Trump?
Highlights
- Can China stop the Iran conflict from spiralling further?
- What will a successful US-China Summit look like for Trump?
CONTRIBUTORS:
Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant
Allegra Mendelson, Asia Correspondent
Dr Alessandro Arduino, RUSI Associate Fellow, International Security
CONTENT REFERENCED:
Antonia Langford, Putin expands world’s largest drone factory
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/05/11/putin-expands-worlds-largest-drone-factory/
Benedict Smith, Trump: ceasefire with Iran is on life support
Robert White, UAE ‘carried out secret attacks on Iran’
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/05/12/uae-secret-attacks-on-iran/
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producers: Venetia Rainey & Louisa Wells
► 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/
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-05-11 16:37:47
Netanyahu says war not over as US and Iran veto rival peace proposals (media.mp3)
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 could help Donald Trump to end the war, why he is unlikely to be terribly helpful, and why some fear the US might sell out Taiwan in exchange for Chinese help.
Highlights
- Netanyahu preparing to reengage militarily
- Can Xi Jinping help Donald Trump find an off-ramp from the Iran war?
CONTRIBUTORS:
Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant
David Blair, chief foreign affairs commentator, @davidblairdt
Memphis Barker, senior foreign correspondent, @memphisbarker
CONTENT REFERENCED:
‘Double-dealing’ Pakistan plots windfall from Iran peacemaker role
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/05/03/pakistan-takes-centre-stage-in-iran-negotiations/
Trump now has three options. They are all bad
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/05/06/trump-three-options-all-bad/
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producers: Venetia Rainey & Louisa Wells
► 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/
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-05-08 18:09:46
‘Love tap’ or ‘reckless adventure’? US and Iran trade fire and blame (media.mp3)
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 strikes were just a “love tap”, while Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi calls it a “reckless military adventure”.
Venetia Rainey is joined by Washington bureau chief Arthur MacMillan to discuss the view from the US following a week of U-turns and uncertainty. He explains why he does not have high expectations of a peace deal being struck before Trump goes to China, what the American public make of the war, and why the US may well pull more troops out of Europe.
Plus, Jerusalem correspondent Henry Bodkin takes listeners inside a Hezbollah tunnel in a dispatch from southern Lebanon, where he reports on Israel’s plan to create a northern buffer zone in the style of Gaza.
Highlights
- ‘Love tap’ or ‘reckless adventure’? US and Iran trade fire and blame
- Plus: a dispatch from inside a Hezbollah tunnel in Lebanon
CONTRIBUTORS:
Venetia Rainey, co-host @venetiarainey
Arthur MacMillan, Washington bureau chief @arthurmacmillan
Henry Bodkin, Jerusalem correspondent @HenryBodkin
CONTENT REFERENCED:
Connor Stringer: How Trump’s ‘Project Freedom’ fell apart in one day
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2026/05/06/us-iran-trump-military-diplomacy-project-freedom/
Henry Bodkin: Inside the tunnels that show Hezbollah doesn’t want peace with Israel
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producers: Venetia Rainey & Louisa Wells
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► 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/
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-05-08 18:09:46
‘Love tap’ or ‘reckless adventure’? US and Iran trade fire and blame (media.mp3)
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 strikes were just a “love tap”, while Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi calls it a “reckless military adventure”.
Venetia Rainey is joined by Washington bureau chief Arthur MacMillan to discuss the view from the US following a week of U-turns and uncertainty. He explains why he does not have high expectations of a peace deal being struck before Trump goes to China, what the American public make of the war, and why the US may well pull more troops out of Europe.
Plus, Jerusalem correspondent Henry Bodkin takes listeners inside a Hezbollah tunnel in a dispatch from southern Lebanon, where he reports on Israel’s plan to create a northern buffer zone in the style of Gaza.
Highlights
- ‘Love tap’ or ‘reckless adventure’? US and Iran trade fire and blame
- Plus: a dispatch from inside a Hezbollah tunnel in Lebanon
CONTRIBUTORS:
Venetia Rainey, co-host @venetiarainey
Arthur MacMillan, Washington bureau chief @arthurmacmillan
Henry Bodkin, Jerusalem correspondent @HenryBodkin
CONTENT REFERENCED:
Connor Stringer: How Trump’s ‘Project Freedom’ fell apart in one day
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2026/05/06/us-iran-trump-military-diplomacy-project-freedom/
Henry Bodkin: Inside the tunnels that show Hezbollah doesn’t want peace with Israel
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producers: Venetia Rainey & Louisa Wells
► 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/
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-05-07 16:08:40
‘Trump could reopen Hormuz if he dared, I’ve done it’: a rear admiral speaks out (media.mp3)
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 Oliphant that the US could do it again - if it really wanted to.
He also explains what it is like fighting the fanatical but talented sailors of the IRGC navy, and why he thinks their claims to have mined the Strait are probably lies.
Plus, The Telegraph’s foreign correspondent Akhtar Makoii gives the view from Iran amid growing expectations of an imminent peace deal today, and Venetia Rainey looks at why Israel has suddenly bombed Beirut despite a ceasefire. They also discuss the latest news of extensive damage to American bases in the Gulf and the long-term implications.
Highlights
- ‘Trump could reopen Hormuz if he dared, I’ve done it’
- Retired Royal Navy rear admiral James Parkin speaks out
CONTRIBUTORS:
Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant
Venetia Rainey, co-host @venetiarainey
Akhtar Makoii, foreign correspondent @akhtar_makoii
James Parkin, retired Royal Navy rear admiral
CONTENT REFERENCED:
Connor Stringer: How Trump’s ‘Project Freedom’ fell apart in one day
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2026/05/06/us-iran-trump-military-diplomacy-project-freedom/
Henry Bodkin: US and Iran ‘close’ to deal to end war
Akhtar Makoii: Trump and Mojtaba Khamenei have more in common than they realise
Washington Post: Iran has hit far more U.S. military assets than reported, satellite images show
https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2026/05/06/iran-us-bases-satellite-images/
NBC: Trump’s abrupt U-turn on a plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz came after backlash from allies
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producers: Venetia Rainey & Louisa Wells
► 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/
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-05-07 16:08:40
‘Trump could reopen Hormuz if he dared, I’ve done it’: a rear admiral speaks out (media.mp3)
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 Oliphant that the US could do it again - if it really wanted to.
He also explains what it is like fighting the fanatical but talented sailors of the IRGC navy, and why he thinks their claims to have mined the Strait are probably lies.
Plus, The Telegraph’s foreign correspondent Akhtar Makoii gives the view from Iran amid growing expectations of an imminent peace deal today, and Venetia Rainey looks at why Israel has suddenly bombed Beirut despite a ceasefire. They also discuss the latest news of extensive damage to American bases in the Gulf and the long-term implications.
Highlights
- ‘Trump could reopen Hormuz if he dared, I’ve done it’
- Retired Royal Navy rear admiral James Parkin speaks out
CONTRIBUTORS:
Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant
Venetia Rainey, co-host @venetiarainey
Akhtar Makoii, foreign correspondent @akhtar_makoii
James Parkin, retired Royal Navy rear admiral
CONTENT REFERENCED:
Connor Stringer: How Trump’s ‘Project Freedom’ fell apart in one day
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2026/05/06/us-iran-trump-military-diplomacy-project-freedom/
Henry Bodkin: US and Iran ‘close’ to deal to end war
Akhtar Makoii: Trump and Mojtaba Khamenei have more in common than they realise
Washington Post: Iran has hit far more U.S. military assets than reported, satellite images show
https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2026/05/06/iran-us-bases-satellite-images/
NBC: Trump’s abrupt U-turn on a plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz came after backlash from allies
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producers: Venetia Rainey & Louisa Wells
► 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/
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-05-06 16:35:58
The end of Operation Epic Fury & why Trump is pulling troops from Germany (media.mp3)
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 importance of talks between Iran and China.
Plus, did a spat over the Iran war prompt Trump to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany last week? Berlin correspondent James Rothwell explains the significance of America’s significant troop presence in the country and why America’s pull-out is fuelling speculation that Nato is well and truly over.
Highlights
- The end of Operation Epic Fury amid growing talks of a peace deal
- Why Trump has pulled troops from Germany following Iran war spat
CONTRIBUTORS:
Venetia Rainey, co-host @venetiarainey
Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant
James Rothwell, Berlin correspondent @JamesERothwell
CONTENT REFERENCED:
David Blair: Trump now has three options. They are all bad
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/05/06/trump-three-options-all-bad/
Akhtar Makoii: Trump and Mojtaba Khamenei have more in common than they realise
Donald Tusk: Nato is disintegrating
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/05/02/donald-tusk-nato-is-disintegrating/
Why the US cannot fight another war after Iran without China’s help
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/04/30/us-cannot-fight-another-war-after-iran-without-china-help/
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producers: Venetia Rainey & Louisa Wells
► 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/
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-05-05 16:34:48
‘One step away from war’: Trump launches Project Freedom to open the Strait of Hormuz (media.mp3)
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 an oil port in the UAE, and today says it is “just getting started”.
Roland Oliphant and chief foreign affairs commentator David Blair discuss the latest updates and why both sides are now likely locked in a downward spiral, putting us “one step” away from renewed all-out fighting.
Plus, former US Navy submariner Bryan Clark, director of the Center for Defense Concepts and Technology at the Hudson Institute, explains why America must put more force into the Strait of Hormuz if it wants to win against a patient enemy like Iran. He also talks through Iran’s remaining naval capabilities, from midget subs to fast boats.
Highlights
- Why Trump’s Project Freedom will fail without more force
- An ex-US Navy submariner on what it will take to reopen the Strait of Hormuz
CONTRIBUTORS:
Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant
David Blair, chief foreign affairs commentator @davidblairdt
Bryan Clark, senior fellow Hudson Institute @clarkdefense
CONTENT REFERENCED:
Trump has finally realised he must seize the Strait of Hormuz
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/05/04/trump-finally-realised-seize-the-strait-of-hormuz/
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producers: Venetia Rainey & Louisa Wells
► 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/
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-05-04 06:00:00
Oil, revolution and ayatollahs: how Iran went from great power to rogue state (media.mp3)
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 Revolution and the 1953 coup, to the 1979 ousting of the shah and the 2026 US assassination of Ali Khamenei.
From the blunders of the unlikely "midwife" of the modern Iranian state - Great Britain - to the catastrophic decisions of successive Supreme Leaders after the founding of the Islamic Republic, he charts the course that shaped the country Donald Trump is fighting today.
How do the myths overshadow the facts of the CIA's 1953 coup and the Iran-Iraq war? Why is the regime so obsessed with enriching uranium and fighting Israel and America? And is the UK guilty of betraying Iranian dreams of democracy?
Plus, how the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company brought association football to Tehran.
Highlights
- Oil, revolution and ayatollahs: how Iran went from great power to rogue state
- Professor Ali Ansari explains 20th-century Iranian history
CONTRIBUTORS:
Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant
Ali Ansari, professor University of St Andrews @aa51_ansari
CONTENT REFERENCED:
Part 1: ‘Iran thinks it’s still a great power’: Why the regime won’t surrender
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/04/03/why-the-iranian-regime-wont-surrender-ali-ansari/
Producer: Max Bower
Executive Producers: Venetia Rainey & Louisa Wells
► 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/
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-05-01 17:09:13
US 'could deploy hypersonic missiles' & how Russia is using Iran to fight the West (media.mp3)
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 Middle East. Venetia Rainey and Roland Oliphant discuss the latest updates from the region.
Plus, what is Russia’s role in the Iran war? Behnam Ben Taleblu, senior director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies’s Iran program, explains how Moscow has supported Tehran and is using it as a “pawn” in the broader fight against the West. He also analyses the significance of the viral Iranian Lego propaganda videos and Mojtaba Khamanei’s latest statement.
Highlights
- US 'could deploy hypersonic missiles' to Middle East
- How Russia is supporting Iran to fight the West
CONTRIBUTORS:
Venetia Rainey, co-host @venetiarainey
Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant
Behnam Ben Taleblu, Foundation for Defense of Democracies @therealBehnamBT
CONTENT REFERENCED:
US asks to move Dark Eagle hypersonic missiles towards Iran
1,000 targets a day in Iran: How AI is accelerating war
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/05/01/1000-targets-day-how-ai-accelerating-america-iran-war/
Maven: the AI system helping the US bomb Iran
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdHYDGHN5rQ
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producers: Venetia Rainey & Louisa Wells
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-04-30 16:59:11
Iranian terror in London & why the US needs China to rearm (media.mp3)
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 action against Iran or in the Strait of Hormuz, Samuel Olsen, chief analyst at risk and intelligence firm Sibylline, explains that the conflict has further indebted the US to China. Why? Beijing’s near-total dominance of the supply chain of rare earths and critical minerals, which every bit of modern military kit requires. Trump’s upcoming visit to Beijing to meet Xi Jinping is likely to centre on this issue - as well as Taiwan.
Elsewhere, Venetia Rainey and Sophia Yan analyse what we learned from Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth’s first under-oath testimony on the war and why the ceasefire seems to be holding everywhere apart from Iraq.
Highlights
- Why the US cannot rearm post-Iran war without China
- Rozina Sabur on the Iran-linked group claiming to be behind the Golders Green attack
CONTRIBUTORS:
Venetia Rainey, co-host @venetiarainey
Sophia Yan, senior foreign correspondent @sophia_yan
Samuel Olsen, chief analyst Sibylline @samolsenx
CONTENT REFERENCED:
Project Vault: Trump’s battle to break China’s critical mineral stranglehold
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/02/09/project-vault-trumps-battle-to-break-chinas-mineral-strangl/
China just proved it can cripple the US military in days. Now Trump is furious
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/10/20/china-just-proved-it-can-cripple-the-us-military-in-days-no/
The Iranian sleeper cell bringing terror to Europe
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/03/23/iranian-sleeper-cell-islamic-movement-companions-synagogue/
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producers: Venetia Rainey & Louisa Wells
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-04-29 17:16:17
I went to the Strait of Hormuz. This is why Trump can’t defeat Iran’s mosquito fleet (media.mp3)
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 “mosquito” fleet of fast boats.
Meanwhile, Jerusalem correspondent Henry Bodkin discusses the growing threat posed by Hezbollah as it adopts Ukrainian drone tactics to fight Israeli troops in southern Lebanon. He talks through a particularly worrying video showing the terror group flying a fibre-optic first-person view (FPV) drone at a medivac helicopter.
Plus, Venetia and Roland run through the latest updates from today, including Donald Trump’s new threat to Iran and bad signs from the Iranian economy.
Highlights:
- Adrian Blomfield on his trip to the Strait of Hormuz
- Henry Bodkin on the growing threat posed by Hezbollah as it adopts Ukrainian drone tactics
CONTRIBUTORS:
Venetia Rainey, co-host @venetiarainey
Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant
Adrian Blomfield, senior foreign correspondent @adrianblomfield
Henry Bodkin, Jerusalem correspondent @HenryBodkin
CONTENT REFERENCED:
Hezbollah attacks Israeli military helicopter with fibre optic drones
Adrian Blomfield: Here in the Strait, Iran’s mosquito fleet renders Trump blockade futile
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producers: Venetia Rainey & Louisa Wells
► 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
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-04-28 17:49:46
‘A bunch of losers with no power’: Why Iran’s hardliners won’t win (media.mp3)
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. 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.
He explains why the country’s powerful, IRGC-linked chief negotiator Mohammad Ghalibaf is increasingly being attacked in Iranian media and the dilemma facing the Islamic Republic as it looks to make a deal without surrendering the anti-American dogmatism that revolutionaries hold so dear.
Plus, as Donald Trump rejects Iran’s proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz before settling the nuclear question, senior foreign correspondent Adrian Blomfeld reports from out on the Strait itself.
Sophia and Roland also discuss the latest news from the region, including the UAE pulling out of OPEC.
Highlights
- Arash Azizi on why Iran’s hardliners are a “bunch of losers with no power”
- How the Iranian regime is facing a choice between reform and destruction
CONTRIBUTORS:
Roland Oliphant, co-host @rolandoliphant
Sophia Yan, senior foreign correspondent @sophiacyan
Arash Azizi, author and historian Yale University @arash_tehran
CONTENT REFERENCED:
Adrian Blomfield: Here in the Strait, Iran’s mosquito fleet renders Trump blockade futile
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/04/28/strait-of-hormuz-irans-mosquito-fleet-winning-blockade/
Robert White, Iona Cleave: Trump ‘unlikely to accept’ Iran’s Hormuz deal https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/04/28/iran-war-live-trump-peace-talks-hormuz-strikes-lebanon/
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producers: Venetia Rainey & Louisa Wells
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-04-27 17:42:18
The true cost of America’s hidden missile crisis & why US-Iran talks are deadlocked (media.mp3)
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 and Chris Park from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) about what’s running low, why and what impact it will have.
Plus, will Donald Trump strike a deal with Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz instead of prioritising a nuclear agreement?
That’s what Tehran is reportedly proposing today, but as veteran US diplomat David Satterfield explains, that comes with its own problems. With Iran playing the long-game in an asymmetric war, the former ambassador says Trump does not have many good options available.
CONTRIBUTORS:
Venetia Rainey, co-host @venetiarainey
David Satterfield, former US diplomat and director of Baker Institute for Public Policy
Mark Cancian, senior fellow CSIS @MarkCancian
Chris Park, research associate CSIS @chrhspark
CONTENT REFERENCED:
Last Rounds? Status of Key Munitions at the Iran War Ceasefire
https://www.csis.org/analysis/last-rounds-status-key-munitions-iran-war-ceasefire
Producer: Elliot Lampitt
Executive Producers: Venetia Rainey & Louisa Wells
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-04-24 16:41:00
‘Trump is wrong - Iran’s regime is not split over this war’ (media.mp3)
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 why the normally factional Iranian regime is united in its need to end the war, and how Donald Trump’s attempt to drive a wedge between “moderates” and “hardliners” is likely to fail.
Plus, international economics editor Hans van Leeuwen explains why the world has been watching the wrong oil price - and how the global impact of the war could be worse than we thought.
Highlights
- Why time is not on Trump’s side in the Iran war
- Mojtaba Khamenei’s injuries and what they say about the Iranian regime
CONTRIBUTORS:
Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant
Hans van Leeuwen, International economics editor @hansvan333
Sanam Vakil, MENA programme director Chatham House @SanamVakil
CONTENT REFERENCED:
Hans van Leeuwen: The world is watching the wrong oil price
Producer: Elliot Lampitt
Executive Producers: Venetia Rainey & Louisa Wells
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► GET THE LATEST HEADLINES: Find all our latest Iran coverage here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/iran-war/
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-04-23 17:20:33
How Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz - from sea-mines to suicide boats (media.mp3)
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 that it will take six months to mine-sweep the Strait, is that enough?
To discuss the problem, Venetia Rainey is joined by Emma Salisbury, an Associate Fellow at the Royal Navy Strategic Studies Centre. Emma explains how American minesweeping capabilities became so heavily degraded, why Iran’s non-conventional navy remains so effective and hard to destroy, and the maritime signs that Trump may be considering a return to all-out war.
Plus, senior foreign correspondent Sophia Yan talks through the latest news and updates from the region, including the status of the US-Iran ceasefire, reports that America is running out of munitions, and the Lebanon-Israel peace talks to disarm Hezbollah.
Highlights:
- Why it would take the US six months to minesweep the Strait of Hormuz - in peacetime
- Sophia Yan on how the Iran war became a game of chicken
CONTRIBUTORS:
Venetia Rainey, co-host @venetiarainey
Sophia Yan, senior foreign correspondent @sophia_yan
Emma Salisbury, associate fellow Royal Navy Strategic Studies Centre @salisbot
CONTENT REFERENCED:
The Mine Gap: America Forgot How to Sweep the Sea
Iranian shadow fleet tankers break through US blockade
Trump has eight days to make up his mind on Iran
Last Rounds? Status of Key Munitions at the Iran War Ceasefire
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producers: Venetia Rainey & Louisa Wells
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-04-23 17:20:33
Sea mines and fast boats: how Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz (media.mp3)
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 that it will take six months to mine-sweep the Strait, is that enough?
To discuss the problem, Venetia Rainey is joined by Emma Salisbury, an Associate Fellow at the Royal Navy Strategic Studies Centre. Emma explains how American minesweeping capabilities became so heavily degraded, why Iran’s non-conventional navy remains so effective and hard to destroy, and the maritime signs that Trump may be considering a return to all-out war.
Plus, senior foreign correspondent Sophia Yan talks through the latest news and updates from the region, including the status of the US-Iran ceasefire, reports that America is running out of munitions, and the Lebanon-Israel peace talks to disarm Hezbollah.
Highlights:
- Why it would take the US six months to minesweep the Strait of Hormuz - in peacetime
- Sophia Yan on how the Iran war became a game of chicken
CONTRIBUTORS:
Venetia Rainey, co-host @venetiarainey
Sophia Yan, senior foreign correspondent @sophia_yan
Emma Salisbury, associate fellow Royal Navy Strategic Studies Centre @salisbot
CONTENT REFERENCED:
The Mine Gap: America Forgot How to Sweep the Sea
Iranian shadow fleet tankers break through US blockade
Trump has eight days to make up his mind on Iran
Last Rounds? Status of Key Munitions at the Iran War Ceasefire
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producers: Venetia Rainey & Louisa Wells
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► 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/
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-04-22 16:34:55
Trump’s Iran ceasefire flounders as ‘utter chaos’ engulfs Strait of Hormuz (media.mp3)
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 war about to restart? Venetia Rainey and Roland Oliphant are joined by chief foreign affairs commentator David Blair and foreign correspondent Akhtar Makoii to discuss the latest news, decode the signals from each side and explain what might happen next.
Plus, Roland chats to Richard Mead, editor-in-chief of the maritime industry bible Lloyd's List, about the wider implications of the Strait of Hormuz being in “utter chaos”, how ships are increasingly going dark to avoid detection, and China’s role in everything.
Highlights
- David Blair and Akhtar Makoii discuss whether the Iran war will restart
- Why the Strait of Hormuz being in “utter chaos” matters for everyone
CONTRIBUTORS:
Venetia Rainey, co-host @venetiarainey
Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant
David Blair, chief foreign affairs commentator @davidblairdt
Akhtar Makoii, foreign correspondent @akhtar_makoii
CONTENT REFERENCED:
Connor Stringer: ‘It’s all a giant clusterf---’: Inside Trump’s floundering Iran peace process
Akhtar Makoii: Iran’s real negotiator is staring Trump down from the shadows
David Blair: Trump’s flip-flopping will only embolden Iran to harden its demands
Hormuz chaos shows Iran is too fractured to speak with one voice
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producers: Venetia Rainey & Louisa Wells
► 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
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► GET THE LATEST HEADLINES: Find all our latest Iran coverage here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/iran-war/
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-04-21 16:54:15
‘Any US-Iran nuclear deal is an illusion without proper checks’ (media.mp3)
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 programme.
Washington wants Tehran to end all advanced uranium enrichment and give up its 450kg of “nuclear dust” that is currently buried under rubble. Rafael Grossi, director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, tells foreign editor Louis Emanuel that without proper verification on the ground, any agreement will be an “illusion”.
Meanwhile, senior foreign correspondent Memphis Barker explains how the "ghost" of the previous Iran nuclear agreement - Barack Obama's 2015 JCPOA - looms large over everything. Can Trump strike a better deal now than the one he tore up in 2018?
Plus, Roland Oliphant runs through the latest updates and news from across the region, including what is going on in the Strait of Hormuz and some clarity on when the ceasefire actually ends.
Highlights:
- Rafael Grossi, head of the IAEA, on why a nuclear deal with Iran is tricky but doable
- Why the ghost of Obama’s 2015 Iran nuclear deal looms over peace talks
CONTRIBUTORS:
Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant
Memphis Barker, senior foreign correspondent @memphisbarker
Louis Emanuel, foreign editor @louisjemanuel
Rafael Grossi, director general IAEA @rafaelmgrossi
CONTENT REFERENCED:
Exclusive interview: World faces new nuclear arms race
Why Obama’s Iran nuclear deal looms large over Trump’s negotiations
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producer: Louisa Wells
► 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
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► GET THE LATEST HEADLINES: Find all our latest Iran coverage here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/iran-war/
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-04-20 16:58:16
US seizure of Iran vessel near Strait of Hormuz leaves ceasefire in peril (media.mp3)
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 whole vessel taken into custody.
Retired Royal Navy commodore Steve Prest looks at how such seizures normally happen, the tricky question of what will happen to the vessel now and the long-term prospects of the Strait of Hormuz being reopened for global trade.
Plus, with the deadline for ceasefire talks in Pakistan fast approaching, Venetia Rainey looks at the signs today that talks may go ahead on Tuesday despite Iranian denials. She also explains the latest updates from Lebanon, where Hezbollah killed two Israeli soldiers over the weekend.
CONTRIBUTORS:
Venetia Rainey, co-host @venetiarainey
Steve Prest, ex-Royal Navy commodore @fightingsailor
CONTENT REFERENCED:
Akhtar Makoii: Hormuz chaos shows Iran is too fractured to speak with one voice
‘Vacate your engine room’: US Navy warns Iran ship before firing
You’re firing, let me turn back: Panicked sailor pleads with Iranian attackers
Israeli soldier smashes Jesus statue in face with sledgehammer
Times of Israel: 26 years later, IDF restores its south Lebanon security zone — with key changes
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producer: Louisa Wells
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-04-20 16:58:16
US seizure of Iran vessel near Strait of Hormuz leaves ceasefire in peril (media.mp3)
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 whole vessel taken into custody.
Retired Royal Navy commodore Steve Prest looks at how such seizures normally happen, the tricky question of what will happen to the vessel now and the long-term prospects of the Strait of Hormuz being reopened for global trade.
Plus, with the deadline for ceasefire talks in Pakistan fast approaching, Venetia Rainey looks at the signs today that talks may go ahead on Tuesday despite Iranian denials. She also explains the latest updates from Lebanon, where Hezbollah killed two Israeli soldiers over the weekend.
CONTRIBUTORS:
Venetia Rainey, co-host @venetiarainey
Steve Prest, ex-Royal Navy commodore @fightingsailor
CONTENT REFERENCED:
Akhtar Makoii: Hormuz chaos shows Iran is too fractured to speak with one voice
‘Vacate your engine room’: US Navy warns Iran ship before firing
You’re firing, let me turn back: Panicked sailor pleads with Iranian attackers
Israeli soldier smashes Jesus statue in face with sledgehammer
Times of Israel: 26 years later, IDF restores its south Lebanon security zone — with key changes
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producer: Louisa Wells
► 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/
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-04-17 16:56:38
Iran ‘surrendering’ enriched uranium & why Israel-Lebanon ceasefire won't hold (media.mp3)
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 Hormuz after Tehran said it was “completely open”.
Plus, as the separate Israel-Lebanon ceasefire comes into force today, The Telegraph’s Jerusalem correspondent Henry Bodkin and AP’s Beirut correspondent Kareem Chehayeb look at the prospect of it lasting. Kareem explains why disarming Hezbollah is desirable for many Lebanese but difficult, while Henry analyses why Israelis are feeling dejected and pessimistic about all fronts of the war.
CONTRIBUTORS:
Venetia Rainey, co-host @venetiarainey
Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant
Henry Bodkin, Jerusalem correspondent @HenryBodkin
Kareem Chehayeb, AP Beirut correspondent @chehayebk
CONTENT REFERENCED:
Lebanon can’t expel one Iranian. So how will it disarm Hezbollah?
Lebanon peace deal in full – and how it could unravel
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producer: Louisa Wells
► 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/
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-04-16 18:01:19
Ceasefire agreed between Israel and Lebanon & how Trump’s ‘toxic’ Iran war broke the European Right (media.mp3)
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 map of Europe.
James Crisp, the Telegraph’s Europe editor, explains how the conflict has turned Donald Trump from populist inspiration to an electoral kiss of death for the European right, and asks whether Iran’s attempts to manipulate Western voters with Lego propaganda videos is paying off.
CONTRIBUTORS:
Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant
James Crisp, Europe editor,
CONTENT REFERENCED:
Starmer and Macron to cut Trump out of Hormuz patrols
Meloni-Trump love-in falls apart as a political affair comes to an end
How Trump’s ‘toxic’ Iran war broke the European Right
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producer: Louisa Wells
► 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
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-04-16 18:01:19
Ceasefire agreed between Israel and Lebanon & how Trump’s ‘toxic’ Iran war broke the European Right (media.mp3)
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 map of Europe.
James Crisp, the Telegraph’s Europe editor, explains how the conflict has turned Donald Trump from populist inspiration to an electoral kiss of death for the European right, and asks whether Iran’s attempts to manipulate Western voters with Lego propaganda videos is paying off.
CONTRIBUTORS:
Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant
James Crisp, Europe editor,
CONTENT REFERENCED:
Starmer and Macron to cut Trump out of Hormuz patrols
Meloni-Trump love-in falls apart as a political affair comes to an end
How Trump’s ‘toxic’ Iran war broke the European Right
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producer: Louisa Wells
► 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
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-04-15 16:50:57
Trump vs Netanyahu: will Israel continue fighting if America pulls out? (media.mp3)
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 the deadlock.
Plus, Venetia Rainey talks to former Mossad analyst Sima Shine and asks what role Israel played in launching the war in the first place, and whether Netanyahu would prefer the ceasefire to fail?
CONTRIBUTORS:
Sophie O'Sullivan, cover-host
David Blair, Chief Foreign Affairs Commentator @davidblairdt
Venetia Rainey, co-host
Sima Shine, a senior researcher at Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producer: Louisa Wells
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-04-14 16:52:35
US and China on maritime 'collision course' as first ships try to pass Trump's blockade (media.mp3)
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 the crisis. Chinese officials were key to persuading Iran to accept the ceasefire. There are claims that Chinese weapons are on their way to re-stock Iranian air defences. Telegraph Asia Correspondent Allegra Mendelson explains China's role in Iran, what it wants from the war, and what would happen if an American warship dared to board a Chinese freighter.
CONTRIBUTORS:
Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant
Tom Sharpe, former Royal Navy Commander and Telegraph columnist @TomSharpe134
Allegra Mendelson, Asia correspondent @amendelson_
CONTENT REFERENCED:
Connor Stringer and Allegra Menedelson: How China helped seal Trump’s 11th hour Iran truce
Tom Sharpe: Trump’s blockade on a blockade is possible That doesn’t mean its a good idea
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producer: Louisa Wells
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-04-14 16:52:35
US and China on maritime 'collision course' as first ships try to pass Trump's blockade (media.mp3)
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 the crisis. Chinese officials were key to persuading Iran to accept the ceasefire. There are claims that Chinese weapons are on their way to re-stock Iranian air defences. Telegraph Asia Correspondent Allegra Mendelson explains China's role in Iran, what it wants from the war, and what would happen if an American warship dared to board a Chinese freighter.
CONTRIBUTORS:
Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant
Tom Sharpe, former Royal Navy Commander and Telegraph columnist @TomSharpe134
Allegra Mendelson, Asia correspondent @amendelson_
CONTENT REFERENCED:
Connor Stringer and Allegra Menedelson: How China helped seal Trump’s 11th hour Iran truce
Tom Sharpe: Trump’s blockade on a blockade is possible That doesn’t mean its a good idea
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producer: Louisa Wells
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-04-13 17:06:11
Can Trump’s blockade break Iran’s grip on Strait of Hormuz? (media.mp3)
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 foreign correspondent Adrian Blomfield in Oman to discuss whether it could work.
Adrian also looks at the reasons behind the failure of US-Iran peace talks in Islamabad, Pakistan over the weekend and why there are still hopes that something positive will come of it.
Plus, Venetia and Roland discuss the latest news updates from the region, including talks between Lebanon and Israel and Trump’s spat with the Pope.
CONTRIBUTORS:
Venetia Rainey, co-host @venetiarainey
Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant
Adrian Blomfield, senior foreign correspondent @adrianblomfield
CONTENT REFERENCED:
Connor Stringer: 21 hours, a dozen calls to Trump and no deal – how the peace talks fell apart
Adrian Blomfield: The strategic deadlock now facing Trump and Iran
Battle Lines: How MAGA Catholics won the White House
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producer: Louisa Wells
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-04-13 17:06:11
Can Trump’s blockade break Iran’s grip on Strait of Hormuz? (media.mp3)
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 foreign correspondent Adrian Blomfield in Oman to discuss whether it could work.
Adrian also looks at the reasons behind the failure of US-Iran peace talks in Islamabad, Pakistan over the weekend and why there are still hopes that something positive will come of it.
Plus, Venetia and Roland discuss the latest news updates from the region, including talks between Lebanon and Israel and Trump’s spat with the Pope.
CONTRIBUTORS:
Venetia Rainey, co-host @venetiarainey
Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant
Adrian Blomfield, senior foreign correspondent @adrianblomfield
CONTENT REFERENCED:
Connor Stringer: 21 hours, a dozen calls to Trump and no deal – how the peace talks fell apart
Adrian Blomfield: The strategic deadlock now facing Trump and Iran
Battle Lines: How MAGA Catholics won the White House
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producer: Louisa Wells
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-04-10 16:04:18
Is the Iran war over or is the US just reloading? (media.mp3)
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 made.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump is pressuring Nato to come up with a solution to the Strait - and fast. Venetia Rainey talks through the latest updates and news from across the region today.
Plus, could this ceasefire be a tactical pause to allow US forces to regroup? If you want to know America’s real intentions in the coming weeks, just watch the cargo and refuelling planes, says ex-British Army officer Robert Campbell.
He also reflects on his experiences serving in the Israeli army in southern Lebanon during the 1990s and explains why there is “no quick fix” to get rid of Hezbollah.
CONTRIBUTORS:
Venetia Rainey, co-host @venetiarainey
Robert Campbell, former British Army officer
CONTENT REFERENCED:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/04/10/why-the-tehran-tollbooth-will-never-work/
Producer: Max Bower
Executive Producer: Louisa Wells
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-04-09 16:11:50
Trump’s Iran ceasefire on brink of collapse & how Ukraine is helping the Gulf (media.mp3)
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 barrage of rockets at northern Israel.
Iran and Europe want Lebanon to be included in the ceasefire, but Israel and the US say it’s a separate theatre of the war. Venetia Rainey talks through the latest updates and what it could mean for the upcoming peace talks in Pakistan.
Plus, as Keir Starmer tours the Gulf, countries in the normally stable region are reeling from more than 40 days of war.
Qatar-based IISS research fellow Sascha Bruchmann and Bahraini political consultant Ahmed Alkhuzaie discuss the Gulf’s scepticism of the ceasefire, why a counter-force in the Strait of Hormuz is essential, and how Ukraine is helping tackle the Iranian drone threat.
CONTRIBUTORS:
Venetia Rainey, co-host @venetiarainey
Ahmed Alkhuzaie, Bahraini political consultant @AhmedAlkhuzaie
Sascha Bruchmann, IISS research fellow
Producer: Max Bower
Executive Producer: Louisa Wells
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-04-08 16:05:39
Why Trump’s Iran war ceasefire hinges on the Strait of Hormuz (media.mp3)
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 guarantees and concessions have been offered by each side? Will the Strait of Hormuz ever be fully open again? And why is Israel still attacking Lebanon?
Venetia Rainey is joined by chief foreign affairs commentator David Blair and foreign correspondent Akhtar Makoii to discuss the latest news and what it could mean for the region in the weeks and months ahead.
CONTRIBUTORS:
Venetia Rainey, co-host @venetiarainey
David Blair, chief foreign affairs commentator @davidblairdt
Akhtar Makoii, foreign correspondent @akhtar_makoii
CONTENT REFERENCED:
David Blair: Trump’s ceasefire threatens to hand Iran a critical advantage
Akhtar Makoii: Trump will never be able to wipe out my civilisation
New York Times: How Trump Took the U.S. to War With Iran
Producer: Max Bower
Executive Producer: Louisa Wells
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-04-07 16:57:07
Trump's Iran deal deadline: ‘A whole civilization will die tonight’ (media.mp3)
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 to discuss Trump’s latest ultimatum, the frantic peace talks underway to avoid further escalation, and the possible impact on Iranians of such a widespread campaign of destruction.
Plus, they discuss China’s fuel shipments to the Iranian regime, the fallout from the latest attacks on the Gulf, and how Israel’s invasion of southern Lebanon is heightening sectarian tensions among local communities.
CONTRIBUTORS:
Venetia Rainey, co-host @venetiarainey
Sophia Yan, senior foreign correspondent @sophia_yan
CONTENT REFERENCED:
Akhtar Makoii: How Trump is turning Iran into a full military dictatorship
Adrian Blomfield: Ceasefire remains unlikely while both Iran and the US think they’re winning
Producer: Max Bower
Executive Producer: Louisa Wells
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-04-06 12:00:00
Inside the 'Easter Miracle': How the US rescued two airmen from Iran (media.mp3)
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 (WSO) from the downed F-15E had been rescued alive after 36 hours stranded behind enemy lines.
Jack provides a unique insight into the dramatic double rescue mission - already being described as the most complex in American military history. He explains the initial search and rescue (CSAR) efforts, what the WSO would have been doing to survive on the ground, and why the US abandoned and blew up two multimillion-dollar aircraft at a remote desert airstrip.
Plus: what role is AI playing in the Iran war and beyond, in battlefields from Ukraine to Gaza?
The US military increasingly relies on an AI decision support system called Maven to help with targeting, intelligence assessments and troop deployments. Israel and Ukraine use similar technology. Proponents of artificial intelligence argue it makes warfare faster and more efficient - giving the West a key battlefield advantage in a time of rising conflict.
But critics say there are concerns over safety and low accuracy, and worry humans are increasingly being left out of the loop. Some of these concerns come from industry insiders such as AI company Anthropic, which is in a dispute with the Pentagon over the use of its system Claude for autonomous weapons.
Venetia Rainey is joined by Adam Wishart, the filmmaker behind new Channel 4 documentary, Click to Kill: the AI War Machine, and Heidy Khlaaf, chief AI scientist at the AI Now Institute and previously at OpenAI.
CONTRIBUTORS:
Venetia Rainey, co-host @venetiarainey
Jack Murphy, ex-special forces and host The Team House @JackMurphyRGR
Heidy Khlaaf, chief AI scientist AI Now Institute @HeidyKhlaaf
Adam Wishart, director Click to Kill: the AI War Machine @adam_wishart
CONTENT REFERENCED:
Click to Kill: the AI War Machine on Channel 4
Producer: Rachel Porter
Executive Producer: Louisa Wells
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-04-03 13:15:54
‘Iran thinks it’s still a great power’: Why the regime won’t surrender (media.mp3)
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 the University of St Andrews, joins Roland Oliphant to take us all the way back to the empire of Cyrus the Great and the legendary heroes of Persian literature on a quest for the origins of the country.
Who are Iranians? Why do they think of themselves as a great power that can rival the West? And how has their long history shaped the regime at war with Donald Trump today?
Ansari explains how Iran is not as Islamic as the ayatollahs make out, why Iran adopted Shia rather than Sunni Islam, and how history and myth are used by both the regime and its opponents. Plus, perhaps most importantly, why the ancient Persians loved a drink.
CONTRIBUTORS:
Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant
Ali Ansari, professor University of St Andrews @aa51_ansari
Pic credit: The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1949
Producer: Rachel Porter
Executive Producer: Louisa Wells
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-04-02 17:07:01
'We’ve trained for this': How US Marines could open the Strait of Hormuz and seize Iran’s uranium (media.mp3)
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 US Marine Corps colonel and ex-deputy Commander of Special Operations Command Central (CENTCOM), the headquarters responsible for all American special operations in the Middle East.
He explains what operations the Marines could undertake in the Strait, why a potential plan to seize Iran’s uranium is do-able but dangerous, and why some in the Gulf are worried there could be a premature ceasefire.
CONTRIBUTORS:
Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant
Andrew Milburn, former US Marine Corps colonel and co-host of Eyes-On @andymilburn8
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producer: Louisa Wells
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-04-01 16:22:59
Iran's 'zombie regime' & UAE ‘to help force open’ Strait of Hormuz (media.mp3)
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, Washington’s ire is palpable.
Venetia Rainey runs through the latest updates from the Middle East, including Trump’s claim ahead of his big speech tonight that Iran has asked for a ceasefire, and a potentially game-changing report that the UAE is pushing for a coalition to help reopen the Strait by force.
Plus, Roland Oliphant and senior foreign correspondent Sophia Yan speak to Iranian-American analyst and author of the Iranist newsletter, Holly Dagres. She explains why there haven’t been more protests and how the Islamic Republic is becoming a “zombie regime”.
CONTRIBUTORS:
Venetia Rainey, co-host @venetiarainey
Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant
Sophia Yan, senior foreign correspondent @sophia_yan
Holly Dagres, Washington Institute analyst @hdagres
CONTENT REFERENCED:
Roland Oliphant: The four outcomes if Trump surrenders the Strait of Hormuz to Iran
Trump interview: I am strongly considering pulling out of Nato
Iona Cleave: Iranian fortress at the centre of the battle for Hormuz
Akhtar Makoii: How Iran plans to fight US troops if Trump invades
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producer: Louisa Wells
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-03-31 16:55:49
One month of Iran-US war: Assassinations, missiles and the Strait of Hormuz (media.mp3)
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 the Gulf and the global economic shock caused by Iran’s closure of the vital waterway, the Strait of Hormuz.
Plus, they discuss the depletion of global munition stocks after a month of air strikes, how the conflict has further frayed the Western alliance and what all that means for Ukraine and Russia.
If you’ve been struggling to keep up with the latest news from the Middle East conflict, this is an update and analysis of everything you need to know from March 2026.
CONTRIBUTORS:
Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant
Venetia Rainey, co-host @venetiarainey
CONTENT REFERENCED:
Why tens of millions face hunger and poverty in wake of Trump’s Iran war
American troops forced to withdraw from Middle East bases
RUSI: Over 11,000 munitions in 16 Days of the Iran War: ‘Command of the Reload’ Governs Endurance
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producer: Louisa Wells
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-03-30 16:25:46
Iran vows to ‘rain fire’ on US troops, the Houthi ‘nightmare’ & on the ground in Tehran (media.mp3)
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 Oliphant discuss all the latest updates, along with the impact on the price of oil and Israel expanding its offensive in southern Lebanon.
Yemen expert and University of Cambridge mistress Elisabeth Kendall explains why the Houthis joining the war is so significant and how they could turn things into a “nightmare”.
Plus, a glimpse into daily life on the ground in Tehran. Norwegian Refugee Council’s Iran director, Martje van Raamsdonk, joins from the Iranian capital to talk about how bombing has intensified in recent days, prompting residents to tape up their windows, and growing fears and uncertainty amid talks of a US invasion.
CONTRIBUTORS:
Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant
Venetia Rainey, co-host @venetiarainey
Elisabeth Kendall, president of Girton College, @Dr_E_Kendall
Martje van Raamsdonk, Norwegian Refugee Council’s Iran director
CONTENT REFERENCED:
Trump needs troops to seize the Strait of Hormuz. These are his options
‘Gate of Tears’ could be a strait too far for Trump’s military
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producer: Louisa Wells
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-03-27 16:51:55
‘A full spectrum crisis’: how the Iran war went global (media.mp3)
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 on shipping through the Strait carries other key commodities used by the tech industry, hospitals and farmers. Ambrose explains how the war will almost certainly cause a global food shock in 2027.
They also discuss how Russia and China are benefitting from the Iran war and why the Houthis in Yemen remain the dog that hasn’t barked - but could make things even worse than they are now.
Plus, Roland Oliphant and senior foreign correspondent Sohia Yan analyse the latest news from the Iran war, including Donald Trump’s ongoing attempts at peace talks with Tehran, the US Navy’s first ever use of unmanned surface boats and why AP is now calling Israel’s attack on Lebanon an invasion.
CONTRIBUTORS:
Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant
Sophia Yan, senior foreign correspondent @sophia_yan
Ambrose Evans-Pritchard, world economy editor
CONTENT REFERENCED:
Roland Oliphant: Trump needs troops to seize the Strait of Hormuz. These are his options
Ambrose Evans-Pritchard: China has already won the Gulf War
Ambrose Evans-Pritchard: The longer Trump’s war drags on, the worse the coming global food crisis
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producer: Louisa Wells
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-03-26 16:32:31
Iran navy chief killed & why the war 'was based on a lie' (media.mp3)
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 82nd Airborne Division; acting Defence Editor Tom Cotterill explains what sort of missions this elite group of paratroopers might be able to execute.
Plus, former UK ambassador to Iran Sir Richard Dalton gives his insights into why striking a deal with the regime will be so difficult and how he thinks the war is based on a lie around Tehran’s nuclear capabilities.
CONTRIBUTORS:
Venetia Rainey, co-host @venetiarainey
Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant
Tom Cotterill, acting Defence Editor @TomCotterillX
Sir Richard Dalton, UK’s former ambassador to Iran
CONTENT REFERENCED:
What 2,000 US paratroopers could do in Iran
Trump denies it – but two wars are becoming one
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producer: Louisa Wells
► 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
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Find all our latest Iran coverage here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/iran-war/
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-03-25 16:06:14
Delay tactic? Trump deploys paratroopers as he outlines peace plan (media.mp3)
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 being viewed in Iran. They also discuss Turkey’s role as a potential mediator and the impact of the conflict on China.
From the Telegraph’s US bureau, editor Lottie Tiplady-Bishop explains why Vice President JD Vance is now involved in peace negotiations and how boots on the ground is a red line for Trump’s MAGA base.
Plus, how is the Iran war being viewed by ordinary Americans? Reporter Natasha Leake takes the temperature on the streets of Washington DC.
CONTRIBUTORS:
Venetia Rainey, co-host @venetiarainey
Sophia Yan, senior foreign correspondent @sophia_yan
Lottie Tiplady-Bishop, associate US news editor @lottietipbishop
Natasha Leake, US reporter @NatashaLeake
CONTENT REFERENCED:
Trump hands Iran 15-point plan to end war
‘Where the hell is JD Vance?’: Why Trump’s VP is missing in action
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/politics/2026/03/10/jd-vance-trump-iran-war-missing/
JD Vance met with Trump security official who quit over Iran war
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/politics/2026/03/18/jd-vance-met-joe-kent-quit-iran/
Donald Trump said he would be the president of peace
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/03/20/trump-promised-peace-then-he-started-war/
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producer: Louisa Wells
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Find all our latest Iran coverage here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/iran-war/
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-03-24 16:59:16
‘Iran thinks it’s winning’: can US peace talks in Pakistan really end the war? (media.mp3)
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 Vice President J D Vance and an Iranian delegation in Islamabad later this week. But who is the mystery Iranian negotiator? Does Iran have any reason to stop fighting now? And if peace is about to break out, why is the Iran war on the battlefield accelerating?
Meanwhile, amid a bruising war with Israel, Iran’s Lebanese ally Hezbollah is on the brink of total collapse.
Roland Oliphant is joined by David Blair, the Telegraph’s chief foreign affairs commentator, and Lina Khatib, associate fellow for the Middle East and North Africa programme at Chatham House.
CONTRIBUTORS:
Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant
David Blair, chief foreign affairs commentator @davidblairdt
Lina Khatib, associate fellow Chatham House @LinaKhatibUK
CONTENT REFERENCED:
Trump may have blinked, but his war of necessity will grind on
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/03/23/iran-war-no-end-in-sight/
Iran now has a clear path to victory
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/03/24/iran-now-has-a-clear-pathway-to-victory/
Producer: Elliot Lampitt
Executive Producer: Louisa Wells
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Find all our latest Iran coverage here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/iran-war/
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-03-23 16:52:26
‘A forever mission': US colonel on Trump's Strait of Hormuz quagmire (media.mp3)
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 to discuss the hard power options open to Trump, from taking an island in the waterway to invading the mainland coastline.
He also talks about the option of conducting special raids to seize enriched uranium to hobble Iran’s nuclear programme and explains why the war risks becoming a quagmire for the West akin to what he saw first-hand in Iraq.
Plus, The Telegraph’s acting defence editor Tom Cotterill explains what we know about the hugely significant Iranian ICBM attack on Britain’s Diego Garcia base and how worried the UK and Europe should be of repeat incidents.
CONTRIBUTORS:
Venetia Rainey, co-host @venetiarainey
Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant
Tom Cotterill, acting Defence Editor @TomCotterillX
Peter Mansoor, chair military history Ohio State University
CONTENT REFERENCED:
Telegraph View: Britain must do what it can to open the Strait of Hormuz
Britain ‘defenceless against Iranian missiles’
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/03/22/britain-defenceless-against-iranian-missiles/
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producer: Louisa Wells
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-03-20 15:55:33
US sends Marines to Strait of Hormuz & why Iran can still fire missiles (media.mp3)
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 is likely deterring China from taking Taiwan by force for at least another few years.
Plus, how is Iran still able to inflict so much damage on its neighbours? University of Oslo missiles expert Fabian Hoffman explains why Iran’s launchers may run out before its missiles do and how much longer interceptor stocks in the Gulf and Israel could last.
CONTRIBUTORS:
Venetia Rainey, co-host @venetiarainey
Peter Apps, Reuters defence columnist @pete_apps
Fabian Hoffman, University of Oslo @FRHoffmann1
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producer: Louisa Wells
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-03-19 16:49:38
‘Drunk on assassinations’: What is Israel’s Iran war strategy? (media.mp3)
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 Roland Oliphant to explain why the attack is consistent with Israel’s war goals and how tactics are potentially being prioritised over strategy.
Henry also discusses his reporting from northern Israel where troops are readying for an expanded ground invasion of Lebanon to root out Hezbollah and why talk of a buffer zone there may not match up with the threat.
Plus, senior foreign correspondent Sophia Yan joins to discuss her time on the ground in Iraq and why things there are much worse than being reported. She also shares her thoughts on how Turkey is so far staying out of the conflict and why Iranian Kurds are pushing the US to let them invade.
CONTRIBUTORS:
Venetia Rainey, co-host @venetiarainey
Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant
Sophia Yan, Senior Foreign Correspondent @sophia_yan
Henry Bodkin, Jerusalem Correspondent @HenryBodkin
CONTENT REFERENCED:
Trump’s three options for reopening the Strait of Hormuz:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/03/18/trump-three-options-reopening-strait-hormuz/
Missiles and drones chase Americans out of Iraq
Tehran won’t fall without a ground offensive, says Kurdish leader
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producer: Louisa Wells
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Contact the team on battlelines@telegraph.co.uk
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Find all our latest Iran coverage here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/iran-war/
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-03-18 17:27:26
America’s biggest mistake in the Iran war so far & Israel's 'Gaza' threat to Lebanon (media.mp3)
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 Gareth Corfield join Venetia Rainey and Arthur Scott-Geddes to go through all the evidence and explain why it matters.
Plus: Israel is upping its war against Hezbollah in Lebanon, with strikes on central Beirut, troops invading from the south and flyers invoking the threat of Gaza.
The Telegraph’s global health security editor Paul Nuki joins from Beirut to discuss the latest news on what’s been targeted, the displacement crisis and attempts at peace talks. He also outlines three scenarios for how the war in Lebanon may unfold in the weeks to come.
CONTRIBUTORS:
Venetia Rainey, co-host @venetiarainey
Arthur Scott-Geddes, co-host @ascottgeddes
Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant
Gareth Corfield, transport editor @GazTheJourno
CONTENT REFERENCED:
A girls’ school in Iran was blown up. Here’s what locals say happened
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/03/10/girls-school-iran-blown-up-locals-say-happened/
The evidence that shows a US missile hit an Iranian girls’ school
The top US intelligence official who turned on Trump over Iran
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/politics/2026/03/17/joe-kent-tulsi-gabbard-right-hand-man/
Producer: Louisa Wells
Executive Producer: Louisa Wells
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Contact the team on battlelines@telegraph.co.uk
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Find all our latest Iran coverage here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/iran-war/
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-03-17 17:05:20
‘Huge void’ in Iran regime after security chief 'assassinated' (media.mp3)
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 of the National Council of Resistance of Iran. The NCRI is essentially Iran’s anti-monarchy opposition group and is led by the highly controversial People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (MEK) - previously designated as terrorists.
MEK supporter Safavi argues that an armed uprising rather than a war is needed to overthrow the Islamic Republic. He also discusses the MEK’s chequered history, the Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, and the enormous divisions among Iranian diaspora opposition groups.
CONTRIBUTORS:
Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant
Akhtar Makoii, foreign correspondent
Ali Safavi, National Council of Resistance of Iran @amsafavi
CONTENT REFERENCED:
Larijani’s death is more significant than that of supreme leader
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/03/17/ali-larijani-killing-hits-iran-more-than-ayatollah-death/
Producer: Sophie O'Sullivan
Executive Producer: Louisa Wells
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Contact the team on battlelines@telegraph.co.uk
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Find all our latest Iran coverage here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/iran-war/
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-03-13 15:46:22
Two weeks of Iran war: who's winning and losing? (media.mp3)
Two weeks into the American and Israel war with Iran, who is winning?
From Tehran’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 Oliphant is joined by The Telegraph’s chief foreign affairs commentator David Blair and foreign correspondent Akhtar Makoii to discuss the conflict so far and answer listeners’ questions.
Plus, Jonathan Hackett, a former Marine Corps interrogator, counterintelligence agent, and special operations intelligence officer, returns to give his assessment of the past two weeks, discuss the Israeli covert ops taking place on the ground, and look at where things might go from here.
CONTRIBUTORS:
Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant
David Blair, chief foreign affairs commentator @davidblairdt
Akhtar Makoii, foreign correspondent @akhtar_makoii
Jonathan Hackett
CONTENT REFERENCED:
Mojtaba Khamenei has called for Iranian unity – but he may not be alive
David Blair: Iran’s leaders have every reason to believe they’re succeeding
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/03/12/irans-leaders-every-reason-believe-succeeding/
Producer: Sophie O'Sullivan
Executive Producer: Louisa Wells
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► 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/
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-03-12 16:02:36
‘Strategically appalling’: Britain’s greatest military expert on Trump’s Iran war (media.mp3)
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 the global oil crisis in the Strait of Hormuz, Israel’s attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon, lessons (or not) from the Iraq war, and the impact on the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Sir Lawrence is the emeritus professor of war studies at King’s College London and has spent half a century looking at wars, national security and defence doctrine. He is new book, On Strategists and Strategy, is a collection of essays covering the Iraq war, the importance of tactics and nuclear deterrence.
CONTRIBUTORS:
Roland Oliphant, Chief Foreign Affairs Analyst and co-host @RolandOliphant
Venetia Rainey, co-host @venetiarainey
Sir Lawrence Freedman, emeritus professor of war studies King's College London @LawDavF
CONTENT REFERENCED:
A girls’ school in Iran was blown up. Here’s what locals say happened
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/03/10/girls-school-iran-blown-up-locals-say-happened/
The evidence that shows a US missile hit an Iranian girls’ school
Con Coughlin: Putin has been the Iran war’s big winner
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/03/12/putin-iran-war-big-winner/
Tom Sharpe: The Strait of Hormuz has been opened by force before, and it can be again
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/03/12/strait-hormuz-us-navy-escort-tanker-war-iran-force-open/
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producer: Louisa Wells
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► EMAIL US:
Contact the team on battlelines@telegraph.co.uk
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Find all our latest Iran coverage here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/iran-war/
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-03-11 16:13:31
Inside Iran: Why some celebrate Trump bombing their country (media.mp3)
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 Iranians in the country who have been speaking to her.
Plus, The Telegraph’s Global Health Security Editor Paul Nuki joins from Beirut to talk about the latest in Israel’s escalating war against Hezbollah and the death, damage and disruption it’s causing on the ground.
CONTRIBUTORS:
Venetia Rainey, co-host @venetiarainey
Arthur Scott-Geddes, co-host @ascottgeddes
Sahar Zand, journalist @SaharZand
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producer: Louisa Wells
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► 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/
CONTENT REFERENCED:
How Iran’s ‘horizontal warfare’ could trap Trump in another Vietnam
UN claims 700,000 displaced in Lebanon after Israeli bombings
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
From Iran: The Latest at 2026-03-10 16:16:35
World War 3? How Iran conflict could pit US against Russia and China (media.mp3)
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 the data says about this conflict so far, from the high intensity of the military campaign to the surprisingly low casualty rates.
Plus, Senior Foreign Correspondent Sophia Yan reports from the Iraqi side of the Iranian border where she has been speaking to Iranian Kurdish separatist leaders who say they have thousands of fighters ready to go. Trump has flip-flopped over whether he would support the separatist groups as a proxy ground force in the US-Israel war against Iran. But they say America cannot topple Tehran’s regime without their help.
CONTRIBUTORS:
Roland Oliphant, Chief Foreign Affairs Analyst and co-host @RolandOliphant
Sophia Yan, Senior Foreign Correspondent @sophiayan
Clionadh Raleigh, ACLED CEO, @cliona_raleigh
CONTENT REFERENCED:
Trump needs us to win war, says Kurdish opposition commander
Kurds desperate to invade Iran... if they get Trump’s jets
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/03/08/kurds-desperate-invade-iran-cover-trump-jets/
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producer: Louisa Wells
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Find all our latest Iran coverage here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/iran-war/
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-03-09 16:49:03
Why Iran's new supreme leader could intensify the war (media.mp3)
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 war is dragging in countries there.
CONTRIBUTORS:
Venetia Rainey, co-host @venetiarainey
Roland Oliphant, Chief Foreign Affairs Commentator and co-host @RolandOliphant
Sascha Bruchmann, IISS Research Fellow for Defence and Military Analysis
CONTENT REFERENCED:
David Blair: New supreme leader shows folly of Trump’s war
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/03/09/new-iran-supreme-leader-folly-trump-iran-war/
Iran has already made its first big miscalculation of the war
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/03/09/iran-first-big-miscalculation-war/
Iran war, day ten: Everything you need to know
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/03/09/iran-war-day-ten-everything-you-need-to-know/
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producer: Louisa Wells
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Contact the team on battlelines@telegraph.co.uk
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Find all our latest Iran coverage here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/iran-war/
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-03-06 16:11:54
‘Shock and awe’ but no regime change: Assessing Trump's Middle East war, one week in (media.mp3)
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 Officer who has served in the Middle East, and Matthew Savill, director of military sciences at the Royal United Services Institute.
They discuss how much progress America has made with its stated objectives, whether Iran is running out of missiles or holding them back, the Shahed drone problem, what’s left of the Iranian navy and why regime change still seems a distant prospect for now.
Plus, two arguments for and against the UK becoming militarily involved - is it Keir Starmer’s moral duty or does Britain have nothing relevant to offer?
Read Iran war, day seven: Everything you need to know: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/03/06/iran-war-day-seven-everything-you-need-to-know/
Read Trump to use British bases for ‘surge’ in Iran attacks: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/03/06/trump-to-use-british-bases-for-surge-in-iran-attacks/
Producer: Sophie O'Sullivan
Executive Producer: Louisa Wells
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Contact us with feedback or ideas:
@venetiarainey
@RolandOliphant
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-03-05 16:20:41
Why Iran's navy is not - yet - defeated (media.mp3)
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 Iran; why Iranian maritime forces are equally well prepared; and the cruel necessities of submarine warfare.
And Nicholas Hopton, a former British ambassador to Iran, explains the three conditions necessary for a regime collapse - and why none of them have yet been met.
Read: The US submarine which torpedoed the Iranian frigate will soon be flying the Jolly Roger, by Tom Sharpe: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/03/05/us-submarine-torpedo-iranian-warship-jolly-roger/
Read: Will America betray the Kurds again? by Owen Matthews: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/03/05/will-america-betray-kurds-again/
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producer: Louisa Wells
► 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
Contact us with feedback or ideas:
@venetiarainey
@RolandOliphant
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-03-04 16:20:23
Is Europe being dragged into Trump’s Iran war? (media.mp3)
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 that are resisting.
Iranian-British journalist Nazenin Ansari talks about why she is pro-regime change but doesn’t want this war, the brutality of the IRGC, and how Khamenei’s son Mojtaba would be just more of the same if picked as his successor.
Plus, senior foreign correspondent Sophia Yan sends a dispatch from the Turkish-Iranian border where she has been speaking to fleeing Iranians, and Dr Hanan Balkhy, WHO’s Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, explains how the UN’s health body prepared for the conflict.
Read Sophia Yan’s analysis of why China is unfazed by the war: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/03/04/why-china-is-unfazed-by-donald-trump-epic-fury/
Read Tom Cotterill on why this could be the Royal Navy’s biggest humiliation: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/03/03/is-this-the-royal-navys-biggest-humiliation/
Read our visual journalism deep dive on how Trump sank the Iranian navy: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/03/03/how-trump-sank-iranian-navy/
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producer: Louisa Wells
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-03-03 16:48:35
US obliterates Iranian navy, exclusive Trump chat & voices from inside Tehran (media.mp3)
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 official Navy and the possibility of Saudi Arabia joining the war.
The Telegraph’s foreign reporter Akhtar Makoii shares his insights from speaking to people inside Iran about how ordinary people are now facing threats from both American bombs and the regime, who are out in force on the streets.
Maya Gebeily, Reuters’ bureau chief in Beirut, discusses the state of Hezbollah and the mood on the ground in Lebanon after Israel announced it is invading.
Plus, The Telegraph's US Correspondent Connor Stringer talks about his exclusive phone call with Donald Trump in the midst of the Iran war and why the president thinks Keir Starmer is “disappointing”.
Read Connor Stringer's exclusive chat with Trump: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2026/03/02/exclusive-trump-very-disappointed-in-starmer-over-iran/
Read Akhtar Makoii’s interviews with people inside Iran: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/03/02/iran-war-tehran-live-in-fear-us-bombs-whats-left-regime/
Read Akhtar Makoii’s rundown of Khamenei’s possible successors: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/03/03/the-four-men-who-could-save-or-destroy-iran/
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producer: Louisa Wells
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-03-02 15:05:15
Iran bombs entire Middle East after Ayatollah Khamenei assassinated by Israel and US (media.mp3)
On day three of the conflict in the Middle East which started with Israel’s ‘pre-emptive attack’ on Iran, 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.
We also talk to former Israeli intelligence official and Iran expert Danny Citrinowicz on how poorly defined the war's goals are and the fact that we aren't seeing any cracks in the regime yet.
Plus, The Telegraph’s David Blair on the significance of Khamenei's assassination and Trump's conflicting messaging.
Read Iran war, day three: Everything you need to know: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/03/02/iran-war-day-three-everything-you-need-to-know/
Read David Blair on why Trump’s incoherence on Iran maximises the risk of failure: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/02/28/trump-is-taking-a-monumental-risk-on-iran/
Read Roland Oliphant on the eight-month plot that led to Trump’s attack on Iran: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/02/28/donald-trump-attack-iran-israel-how-it-came-to-this/
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producer: Louisa Wells
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-03-02 15:05:15
Iran bombs entire Middle East after Ayatollah Khamenei assassinated by Israel and US (media.mp3)
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 intelligence official and Iran expert Danny Citrinowicz about how poorly defined the war's goals are and why we aren't seeing any cracks in the regime yet.
Plus, The Telegraph’s David Blair on the significance of Khamenei's assassination and Trump's conflicting messaging.
Read Iran war, day three: Everything you need to know: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/03/02/iran-war-day-three-everything-you-need-to-know/
Read David Blair on why Trump’s incoherence on Iran maximises the risk of failure: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/02/28/trump-is-taking-a-monumental-risk-on-iran/
Read Roland Oliphant on the eight-month plot that led to Trump’s attack on Iran: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/02/28/donald-trump-attack-iran-israel-how-it-came-to-this/
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producer: Louisa Wells
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-02-28 12:58:57
Trump launches 'major combat operations' against Iran to oust regime (media.mp3)
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 in Israel amid air raid sirens around the country.
Plus, Roland speaks to Jonathan Hackett, a 20-year US Marine Corps veteran and special operations capabilities specialist, as well as the author of Iran's Shadow Weapons: Covert Action, Intelligence Operations and Unconventional Warfare. Their conversation - which was recorded shortly before the attack began - covers how Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was offered an escape route but refused to take it, the state of the IRGC and why regime change in Iran will be so difficult.
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producer: Louisa Wells
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-02-27 06:02:00
Cuba 'very close' to regime change: John Bolton on Trump, Venezuela and Iran (media.mp3)
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 finer details of the US’s new found dominance in the Caribbean, Venetia is joined by The Telegraph’s foreign reporter, Lily Shanagher.
Plus, former national security advisor John Bolton, voices the need for regime change in Venezuela, Iran and Cuba. Coining the phrase ‘Troika of Tyranny in 2018, Bolton has had Cuba in his sights for many years as a rogue state. So what should happen next in the region? John Bolton lays bare the truth about Trump’s decision making and the need for swift action.
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producer: Louisa Wells
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-02-23 17:13:31
The 'super secret' Chagos island airbase at heart of Trump-Starmer row (media.mp3)
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 special relationship turned toxic over these islands? And should the sovereignty transfer be stopped? To discuss, Roland turns to Ben Judah who has worked for the previous foreign secretary and Chief Foreign Affairs Commentator, David Blair.
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producer: Louisa Wells
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-02-23 17:13:31
The 'super secret' Chagos island airbase at heart of Trump-Starmer row (media.mp3)
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 this 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 special relationship turned toxic over these islands? And should the sovereignty transfer be stopped? To discuss this Roland turns to The Telegraph’s Ben Judah who worked for the previous foreign secretary and Chief Foreign Affairs Commentator, David Blair.
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producer: Louisa Wells
► 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
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-02-20 06:00:00
Trump’s Iran plan: 'kick the door in' and hit the regime where it hurts (media.mp3)
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 buildup in the Middle East since the Iraq war in 2003.
Venetia chats to Henry Bodkin, The Telegraph's Jerusalem correspondent, and Roland Oliphant, chief foreign affairs analyst about when war might break out and how it could unfold.
Plus Roland speaks to Maryam Mazrooei, an Iranian journalist and war photographer who fled the country after being arrested and imprisoned in 2022, about whether American-led regime change would spark a civil war in Iran.
Read - Trump sends fighter jet squadron to ‘kick the door down’ in Iran: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/02/18/us-military-aircraft-heading-towards-iran/
Producer: Sophie O'Sullivan
Executive Producer: Louisa Wells
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-02-16 17:41:09
North Korea 'names' 13-year-old nuclear heiress & inside Europe’s race to rearm (media.mp3)
North Korea’s dynasty dictatorship has taken on a new leather clad, second-in-command. Reports from South Korea have suggested that Kim Jong Un’s daughter Kim Ju-ae is now the heir apparent in the totalitarian state.
Could she one day be the youngest person to command a nuclear arsenal? Roland chats to The Telegraph’s Lily Shanagher and from the University of Oxford, North Korea watcher, Dr Edward Howell, to unpack what we know from the shadows.
Plus, after the Munich Security Conference at the weekend, Europe is facing a new future without Washington’s steadying hand and will have to be less reliant on the Stars and Stripes. But is European defence manufacturing scaling up in line with these new demands? Roland speaks to Philip Lockwood from defence startup Stark to find out just how quickly the ambitions are being realised.
Read Lily's article on Kim Ju-ae: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/02/16/kim-opens-neighbourhood-families-soldiers-killed-ukraine/
Pic credit: KCNA via Reuters
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producer: Louisa Wells
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From Iran: The Latest at 2026-02-13 06:02:00
Vance’s ‘Enemy Within’: How the US shocked Europe into rearmament (media.mp3)
A year ago, JD Vance gave an explosive speech at the Munich Security Conference. It marked a fundamental shift in the relationship between the US and its European allies that have since been cemented through tariff wars, a new National Security Strategy and threats to take Greenland.
So has Europe risen to the challenge laid down by Donald Trump's administration and started to take care of its own security? Is there any trust left in the trans-Atlantic relationship? And will there be another attack on Europe at this weekend's Munich conference?
Venetia and Roland chat to David Blair, Chief Foreign Affairs Commentator, and Joe Barnes, Brussels Correspondent to find out.
Read Joe Barnes's story on how Europe ‘must become military superpower’ to survive without US: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/02/11/europe-must-be-military-superpower-to-survive-without-us/
Read David Blair's analysis: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/d/da-de/david-blair/
Pic credit: Matthias Schrader/AP
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Executive Producer: Louisa Wells
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