{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/6583019ebbd71a00175001c8/6a0b32f44239db8b877e6e0f?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"Gulf gets laser-guided missiles to fight drones & Iran executions soar","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/6583019ebbd71a00175001c8/1779118832379-c1d2cdb3-71a0-408f-b5d6-e93744aa59dc.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p>Executions have soared inside Iran, with new Amnesty data today showing more than 2,000 people were given the death penalty in 2025.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>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.</p><p><br></p><p>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.&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>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.&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>Highlights&nbsp;</p><ul><li>Gulf gets new laser-guided missiles to help smash Iranian drones</li><li>‘Bloodthirsty’ Iran regime executions hit all-time high as economy freefalls</li></ul><p><br></p><p>CONTRIBUTORS:</p><p><br></p><p>Venetia Rainey, co-host and executive producer @venetiarainey</p><p>Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant</p><p>Tom Cotterill, acting defence editor @TomCotterillX</p><p>Maryam Mazrooie, journalist @MaryammazrooeiS</p><p><br></p><p>CONTENT REFERENCED:</p><p><br></p><p><a href=\"https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/05/17/trump-wont-be-anything-left-of-iran-if-refuses-peace-deal/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Trump: There won’t be anything left of Iran if it refuses peace deal</a></p><p><a href=\"https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/05/17/trump-wont-be-anything-left-of-iran-if-refuses-peace-deal/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/05/17/trump-wont-be-anything-left-of-iran-if-refuses-peace-deal/</a></p><p><br></p><p><a href=\"https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/05/17/typhoon-jets-new-missiles-iran-attacks/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Typhoon jets equipped with cheaper missiles to fend off Iranian attacks</a></p><p><a href=\"https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/05/17/typhoon-jets-new-missiles-iran-attacks/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/05/17/typhoon-jets-new-missiles-iran-attacks/</a></p><p><br></p><p>Tom Cotterill: <a href=\"https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/05/10/falkland-islands-trump-is-using-us-as-a-pawn/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Trump is using us as a pawn, says Falklands chief</a></p><p>https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/05/10/falkland-islands-trump-is-using-us-as-a-pawn/</p><p><br></p><p>David Blair: <a href=\"https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/05/17/irans-regime-confident-of-victory-it-may-overplaying-hand/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Iran’s regime is confident of victory. It may be overplaying its hand</a></p><p>https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/05/17/irans-regime-confident-of-victory-it-may-overplaying-hand/</p><p><br></p><p>Amnesty: <a href=\"https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2026/05/executions-surge-highest-recorded-figure-44-years/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Executions surge to highest recorded figure in 44 years</a></p><p>https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2026/05/executions-surge-highest-recorded-figure-44-years/</p><p><br></p><p>Producer: Peter Shevlin</p><p>Executive Producers: Venetia Rainey &amp; Louisa Wells</p><p><br></p><p>► 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.&nbsp;telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor</p><p>► EMAIL US: Contact the team on&nbsp;battlelines@telegraph.co.uk&nbsp;</p><p>► GET THE LATEST HEADLINES: Find all our latest Iran coverage here:&nbsp;https://www.telegraph.co.uk/iran-war/</p><p><br></p><p><br></p>","author_name":"The Telegraph"}