{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/6583019ebbd71a00175001c8/6a85da271ad8716bb61e7531?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":" UAE cuts Iran’s economic lifeline after ‘ballistic missile strikes’","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/6583019ebbd71a00175001c8/1787157597929-41e56607-ff65-44ec-8882-22587087fe5f.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p>The UAE has dealt Iran a major blow by cutting off trade ties after accusing Tehran of firing two ballistic missiles towards the Gulf state. The missiles eventually landed outside territorial waters, but Abu Dhabi’s swift response could close down Iran’s key economic escape route.</p><p><br></p><p>On today’s episode of <em>Iran: The Latest</em>, Sophia Yan unpacks the latest news from the Middle East war with Mahsa Alimardani, associate director of Technology Threats &amp; Opportunities program at digital human rights group WITNESS. They discuss Iran’s state-backed cyber attacks against the West, how the Internet blackout has affected Iran’s economy and the unsophisticated AI around Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.</p><p><br></p><p>Plus, a new Iranian draft law that would criminalise speaking to foreign media, and news reports that Iran is assessing potential strikes against US military assets in Europe.</p><p><br></p><p>Highlights</p><ul><li>UAE cuts Iran’s economic lifeline after ‘ballistic missile strikes’</li><li>How the Internet blackout has affected Iran’s economy</li></ul><p><br></p><p>CHAPTERS</p><p>00:00:00 - UAE Imposes Trade Embargo Following Iranian Missile Attack</p><p>00:01:11 - Trump Denies Iran Talks as Hormuz Blockade Escalates</p><p>00:03:06 - Ground Reality: 90 Million Iranians Face Internal Warfare</p><p>00:06:04 - Khamenei Disappears: AI Deepfakes Fuel Regime Crisis</p><p>00:08:58 - US-Israel-Iran Conflict Drives Unprecedented AI Information War</p><p>00:11:50 - Regime Weapons-Grade Propaganda Targets US Political Divide</p><p>00:14:15 - White SIM Cards: How Elite Insiders Profit Off Internet Blackouts</p><p>00:22:27 - US DOJ Charges 17 Iranian Hackers Over Mass Cyber Theft</p><p>00:24:57 - Tehran Criminalizes Media Contact Under Zionist Law</p><p>00:33:50 - Regime Insider Warning: Iran Prepares Strikes on US Bases in Europe</p><p><br></p><p>CONTRIBUTORS:</p><p>Sophia Yan, co-host and senior foreign correspondent @sophia_yan</p><p>Mahsa Alimardani, associate director of Technology Threats &amp; Opportunities program at WITNESS @mahsaalimardani</p><p><br></p><p>WATCH US ON YOUTUBE: <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVAif-vifC6F2aoPB8GIw6dk\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVAif-vifC6F2aoPB8GIw6dk</a></p><p><br></p><p>CONTENT REFERENCED:</p><p>US-Iran talks have stopped, says Trump</p><p>https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2026/08/18/us-iran-talks-have-stopped-says-trump/</p><p><br></p><p><em>Winner Best News and Analysis Podcast - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026</em></p><p><em>Nominated Podcast of the Year - Society of Editors News Podcasts Awards 2026</em></p><p><em>Nominated Best News, Politics and Current Affairs - British Podcast Awards 2026</em></p><p><em>The Telegraph, Winner Podcast Publisher of the Year 2026 - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026</em></p><p><br></p><p>Audio Producer: David Dargahi</p><p>Video Producer: Max Bower</p><p>Researcher and Social Producer: Anna Hindmarsh</p><p>Studio Operator: Andy Watson</p><p>Executive Producer: Venetia Rainey&nbsp;</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. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor</p><p>► EMAIL US: Contact the team on battlelines@telegraph.co.uk</p><p>► GET THE LATEST HEADLINES: Find all our latest Iran coverage here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/iran-war/</p>","author_name":"The Telegraph"}