Iran: The Latest

The US has halted its air strikes on Iran, creating a sudden pause in a conflict that has raged for nearly two weeks. Is this a strategic move to allow for diplomacy, or has the American military been forced to back down by a critical shortage of Patriot interceptor missiles?

On today’s episode of Iran: the Latest, Arthur Scott-Geddes speaks to David Blair, The Telegraph’s Chief Foreign Affairs Commentator, about the reality of the situation in Washington and the potential fallout across the region. They discuss the growing concerns over dwindling US munition stocks, the impact of the pause on global oil prices, and what Benjamin Netanyahu is hoping to secure in his upcoming meeting with President Donald Trump.

Plus, the team analyses a surprising new front in the war: Ukraine’s brazen strike on an Iranian ship in the Caspian Sea, and what message Kyiv is trying to send to the White House.

Highlights

Tactical diplomacy or a critical missile shortage?
What the Israeli Prime Minister is demanding from Washington
Why the markets are reacting to the halt in hostilities

CONTRIBUTORS:
Arthur Scott-Geddes, deputy editor Global Health Security @ascottgeddes
David Blair, chief foreign affairs commentator @davidblairdt

WATCH US ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVAif-vifC6F2aoPB8GIw6dk

TL Best News and Analysis Podcast - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026
The Telegraph Podcast Publisher of the Year 2026 - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026
ITL Nominated Podcast of the Year - Society of Editors News Podcasts Awards 2026

Producer: Max Bower
Researcher and Social Producer: Anna Hindmarsh
Studio Operator: James England
Executive Producer: Venetia Rainey

► 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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Lebanese President Joseph Aoun met US President Donald Trump in Washington this week with a historic proposal: end the war between Lebanon and Israel, force an Israeli withdrawal from the south, and disarm Iran’s proxy group Hezbollah. Could it work?

On today’s bonus episode of Iran: the Latest, Venetia Rainey speaks to Lama Amine, arts director at local charity Seenaryo, about the reality for civilians caught up in the conflict in Lebanon, how people are worried the latest escalation in Iran will spillover, and why Hezbollah would just be replaced by a similar group if it was disarmed.

Plus, first-person accounts of what it’s like to live under the shadow of war. Excerpts from pieces written for Seenaryo by Syrian refugee Eman Fisal Almodhi, read by Irish actor Jessie Buckley, and a WhatsApp conversation between Lebanese women displaced in south Lebanon, read by British-Lebanese-Palestinian actor Sirine Saba.

Highlights
Trump’s Lebanon dilemma: Why Israel can't win this war
Voices from Lebanon on life under the shadow of war

CONTRIBUTORS:
Venetia Rainey, co-host and executive producer @venetiarainey
Lama Amine, director of arts at Seenaryo

WATCH US ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVAif-vifC6F2aoPB8GIw6dk

CONTENT REFERENCED:
Lebanon’s leader seeks Trump’s help to end occupation and insurrection
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/07/21/lebanons-leader-seeks-trumps-help-end-occupation/

ITL Best News and Analysis Podcast - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026
The Telegraph Podcast Publisher of the Year 2026 - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026
ITL Nominated Podcast of the Year - Society of Editors News Podcasts Awards 2026

Producer: Max Bower
Video Producer: Peter Shevlin
Researcher and Social Producer: Anna Hindmarsh
Studio Operator: Andy Watson
Executive Producer: Venetia Rainey

► 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.

As this new round of war enters its 13th day, US President Donald Trump has signalled he is close to deciding whether to launch a "massive attack" on Iran. The IRGC has declared that UK bases including RAF Fairford are legitimate targets, accusing new Prime Minister Andy Burnham of aiding US heavy B-1 bomber strikes.

On today's episode of Iran: the Latest, Venetia Rainey is joined by chief Washington correspondent Connor Stringer and acting US news editor Lottie Tiplady-Bishop to break down the White House's military strategy, the political rift tearing through the Republican’s MAGA base, and how the war has led to dwindling missile stockpiles, war cash, and strategic oil reserves.

Plus, Trump linking Israeli normalisation to the US-Saudi nuclear deal, why new British foreign secretary Ed Miliband is not popular in the White House, and the news of fresh US tariffs on the UK, Europe and other countries.

Highlights
Trump weighs 'bigger than ever, massive attack' against Iran
IRGC calls UK bases including RAF Fairford ‘legitimate targets’

CONTRIBUTORS:
Venetia Rainey, co-host and executive producer @venetiarainey
Connor Stringer, chief Washington correspondent @connorstringer
Lottie Tiplady-Bishop, acting US news editor @lottietipbishop

WATCH US ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVAif-vifC6F2aoPB8GIw6dk

CONTENT REFERENCED:
Short of missiles and cash for war, now Trump is running out of oil
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/07/23/short-of-missiles-cash-for-war-now-trump-running-out-oil/

UK ‘ready to defend itself’ after Iran threatens to strike RAF base
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/07/23/iran-threatens-to-attack-raf-fairford/

White House concerned over Miliband as Foreign Secretary
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2026/07/21/white-house-deeply-concerned-miliband-foreign-secretary/

Trump punishes Britain for China ties with 10pc tariff
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2026/07/23/trump-punishes-britain-for-china-ties-with-10pc-tariff/

Trump tells Saudi: No nuclear deal unless you recognise Israel
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2026/07/23/trump-tells-saudi-no-nuclear-deal-unless-recognise-israel/

ITL Best News and Analysis Podcast - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026
The Telegraph Podcast Publisher of the Year 2026 - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026
ITL Nominated Podcast of the Year - Society of Editors News Podcasts Awards 2026

Producer: Peter Shevlin
Video Producer: Max Bower
Researcher and Social Producer: Anna Hindmarsh
Studio Operator: Chris January
Executive Producer: Venetia Rainey

► 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.

Donald Trump has escalated the US’s war against Iran, deploying a heavy B-1 long-range bomber directly from RAF Fairford to strike IRGC targets. Meanwhile, Yemen’s Iranian proxy group the Houthis have launched missile attacks against Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea as part of their blockade.

In today’s episode of Iran: the Latest, Venetia Rainey and Jerusalem Correspondent Henry Bodkin discuss how the Bab al-Mandeb waterway could become the next Strait of Hormuz, how Iranian missiles are becoming deadlier, and why Israel is furious about a new US-Saudi civil nuclear agreement.

Plus, former US Assistant Secretary of State in the Middle East David Schenker on why a maritime blockade is the most effective tool Trump has against Iran, and his one piece of advice to the president as the conflict threatens to spiral out of control.

Highlights

US deploys heavy B-1 Bomber to Iran as strikes escalate
Houthis attack Saudi oil tankers in Red Sea as part of blockade

CONTRIBUTORS:
Venetia Rainey, co-host and executive producer @venetiarainey
Henry Bodkin, Jerusalem Correspondent @HenryBodkin
David Schenker, The Washington Institute and former US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs @davidschenker1

WATCH US ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVAif-vifC6F2aoPB8GIw6dk

CONTENT REFERENCED:
US bombs Iran from UK air base for first time under Burnham
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/07/23/us-bombs-iran-from-uk-air-base-for-first-time-under-burnham/

Trump: For every ship Iran attacks we will blow up a power plant
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/07/22/donald-trump-iran-ships-power-plant-strait-hormuz/

How Iran’s missiles became more lethal
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/07/23/how-irans-missiles-became-more-lethal

Ambrose Evans-Pritchard: Beware the rising energy dangers of Trump’s Gulf war
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/07/22/beware-the-rising-energy-dangers-of-trumps-gulf-war/

ITL Best News and Analysis Podcast - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026
The Telegraph Podcast Publisher of the Year 2026 - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026
ITL Nominated Podcast of the Year - Society of Editors News Podcasts Awards 2026

Producer: Peter Shevlin
Video Producer: Max Bower
Researcher and Social Producer: Anna Hindmarsh
Studio Operator: Chris January
Executive Producer: Venetia Rainey
► 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.

As the latest round of the war enters its 11th day, US President Donald Trump has signalled the US could strike Iran's hardened Pickaxe Mountain underground nuclear facility where Israel claims centrifuges are being hidden.

On today’s episode of Iran: the Latest, Venetia Rainey and Telegraph journalist Sophie O’Sullivan look at the news that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has admitted US war costs have reached $37bn, a landmark US nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia, and the Houthis’ blockade on Saudi Arabia claiming its first victims. Is this the new Strait of Hormuz?

Plus, Iranian journalist Tara Kangarlou on an explosive interview by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi that revealed critical internal security breaches and deep US and Israeli intelligence infiltration inside the regime. They discuss how Trump’s strikes are smashing critical civilian infrastructure, why a brutal wave of political executions could accelerate, and how the economy is in meltdown.

Highlights
Trump vows to target Pickaxe Mountain nuclear underground fort
Inside Iran: regime infiltration, executions and fear

CONTRIBUTORS:
Venetia Rainey, co-host and executive producer @venetiarainey
Sophie O’Sullivan, journalist and Ukraine: the Latest producer
Tara Kangarlou, journalist and author @tarakangarlou

WATCH US ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVAif-vifC6F2aoPB8GIw6dk

CONTENT REFERENCED:
Trump’s nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia will only embolden Iran
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/07/22/trump-saudi-arabia-nuclear-deal-will-only-embolden-iran/

Pentagon is running out of money in Iran war, Hegseth admits
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2026/07/22/pentagon-running-out-of-money-iran-war-hegseth-admits/

Iran: the Latest’s episode on the Minab school attack
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/03/18/iran-the-latest-trump-biggest-mistake-iran-war-so-far/

Sky News documentary on the Minab school attack
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siRuobaj7IE

For more on Ukraine news, listen to/watch Ukraine: the Latest
https://linktr.ee/UkraineTheLatest

ITL Best News and Analysis Podcast - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026
The Telegraph Podcast Publisher of the Year 2026 - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026
ITL Nominated Podcast of the Year - Society of Editors News Podcasts Awards 2026

Producer: Peter Shevlin
Video Producer: Max Bower
Researcher and Social Producer: Anna Hindmarsh
Studio Operator: Chris January
Executive Producer: Venetia Rainey
► 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.