Iran: The Latest

Latest Episodes:

Iran warns Trump: ‘We’ll take war global if you bomb us again’ May 20, 2026

Show notes

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

► 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/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

US's Call of Duty vs Iran’s Lego videos: who is winning the online war? May 19, 2026

Show notes

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

► 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/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gulf gets laser-guided missiles to fight drones & Iran executions soar May 18, 2026

Show notes

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

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/05/17/trump-wont-be-anything-left-of-iran-if-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

► 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/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why China’s promise of no arms to Iran will do little to end the war May 15, 2026

Show notes

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

► 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/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

High stakes at Beijing summit as Xi and Trump talk Taiwan and Iran May 14, 2026

Show notes

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

https://www.chathamhouse.org/2026/05/china-will-benefit-iran-war-regardless-any-deal-between-trump-and-tehran

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/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Iran’s hardliners will not listen to anyone - even China’s Xi Jinping May 13, 2026

Show notes

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 listento 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/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trump says US-Iran ceasefire ‘on life support’: can Xi Jinping revive it? May 12, 2026

Show notes

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

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/05/11/iran-us-war-latest-tehran-executes-alleged-cia-mossad-spy/

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/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Netanyahu says war not over as US and Iran veto rival peace proposals May 11, 2026

Show notes

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/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

‘Love tap’ or ‘reckless adventure’? US and Iran trade fire and blame May 08, 2026

Show notes

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

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/05/07/inside-tunnels-show-hezbollah-doesnt-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/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

‘Trump could reopen Hormuz if he dared, I’ve done it’: a rear admiral speaks out May 07, 2026

Show notes

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

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/05/06/us-iran-close-deal-end-war-israel-middle-east-hormuz-strait/

Akhtar Makoii: Trump and Mojtaba Khamenei have more in common than they realise

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/05/06/trump-and-mojtaba-khamenei-have-more-in-common-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

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/trumps-abrupt-u-turn-plan-re-open-strait-hormuz-came-backlash-allies-rcna343845

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/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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