{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/6583019ebbd71a00175001c8/6ad0f096aba1fa33f64caab6?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"Iran sinks two ships in Strait of Hormuz as Houthis ‘days’ from taking Yemen’s Taiz","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/6583019ebbd71a00175001c8/1792077986927-d5d4baa4-e29a-4b33-a59d-3f4dea04a17d.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p>Iran has sunk two cargo vessels in under 24 hours in the Strait of Hormuz for the first time since the war began in March. </p><p><br></p><p>On today’s episode of <em>Iran: the Latest</em>, Venetia Rainey speaks to chief foreign affairs commentator David Blair about why Tehran is expanding its pace of attacks. So far the US has avoided a military response but how long can that last? Meanwhile, news that US President Donald Trump is considering using the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb - aka the “mother of all bombs”. </p><p><br></p><p>Plus, the Iran-backed Houthis have encircled Yemen’s Taiz and are on the cusp of taking the strategic city for the first time in the war in what would be a major blow to Saudi Arabia. </p><p><br></p><p>Maysaa Shuja Al-Deen, a Yemeni senior researcher from the Sana’a Center for Strategic Studies, explains why the Houthis are so desperate to capture Taiz as a stepping-stone to oil-rich Marib and port city Aden and how it could take just “days” to fall. With around a million people trapped inside and news of food and medicine shortages, a humanitarian disaster is looming and Iran’s proxy group is on the brink of a major victory. </p><p><br></p><p>Highlights</p><ul><li>Iran sinks two ships in Strait of Hormuz as attacks escalate</li><li>Houthis ‘days’ from taking Yemen’s key city of Taiz</li></ul><p><br></p><p>CONTRIBUTORS:</p><p>Venetia Rainey, co-host and executive producer @venetiarainey</p><p>David Blair, chief foreign affairs commentator @davidblairdt</p><p>Maysaa Shuja Al-Deen from the Sana’a Center for Strategic Studies @maysaashujaa</p><p><br></p><p>WATCH US ON YOUTUBE: <u><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></u></p><p><br></p><p>CONTENT REFERENCED:</p><p>Iran hits six oil tankers in single day</p><p><u><a href=\"https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/10/13/iran-hits-six-oil-tankers-day-hormuz-war-america-trump/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/10/13/iran-hits-six-oil-tankers-day-hormuz-war-america-trump/</a></u></p><p>Trump lines up ‘mother of all bombs’ to strike Iran</p><p><a href=\"https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/10/15/trump-mother-of-all-bombs-strike-iran-moab/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/10/15/trump-mother-of-all-bombs-strike-iran-moab/</a></p><p>Houthis on brink of taking their biggest scalp</p><p><u><a href=\"https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/10/13/houthis-on-brink-of-seizing-their-biggest-scalp/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/10/13/houthis-on-brink-of-seizing-their-biggest-scalp/</a></u></p><p>Con Coughlin: The Houthis are Europe’s problem</p><p><a href=\"https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/10/15/houthis-are-europe-problem/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/10/15/houthis-are-europe-problem/</a></p><p><br></p><p><em>Winner Best News and Analysis Podcast - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026</em></p><p><em>Bronze Best News, Politics and Current Affairs - British Podcast Awards 2026</em></p><p><em>Nominated Podcast of the Year - Society of Editors News Podcasts Awards 2026</em></p><p><em>Nominated Podcast of the Year - London Press Club 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>Producers: Peter Shevlin and Max Bower </p><p>Researcher and Social Producer: Anna Hindmarsh</p><p>Studio Operator: Andy Watson</p><p>Executive Producer: Venetia Rainey </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&#39;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"}