Iran: The Latest

Iran has bombed Oman’s Didamar Island in a bid to disrupt Gulf oil shipping, as fierce nightly battles rage with the US for control of the Strait of Hormuz.On today’s episode of Iran: the Latest, Roland Oliphant and Sophia Yan are joined by Professor Ali Ansari, professor of Iranian History at the University of St Andrews, to examine how the US naval blockade is choking Iran's economy and how Tehran is responding.He discusses each side’s pain thresholds and argues that while Donald Trump may be hurting, Iran has far from won the war. He also explains why Tehran’s refusal to give up on its totemic issue of enriching uranium means a diplomatic deal with America - under Democrats or Republicans - remains out of reach and conflict with Israel is inevitable.Plus, President Masoud Pezeshkian demands war reparations, a listener shares his first-hand account of fleeing Tehran during the 12-day war, and what the Persian Shahnameh epic poem tells us about Iranian hubris.HighlightsIran bombs Oman as US fights to maintain Strait of Hormuz blockadeWhy Tehran's impossible demands mean endless warCONTRIBUTORS:Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphantSophia Yan, co-host and senior foreign correspondent @sophia_yanAli Ansari, professor University of St Andrews @aa51_ansariWATCH US ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVAif-vifC6F2aoPB8GIw6dkCONTENT REFERENCED:Tom Sharpe: It looks as though the situation in the Strait of Hormuz will become permanenthttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/11/12/strait-hormuz-iran-war-trump-us-navy-missiles-strikes/Winner Podcast of the Year - London Press Club Awards 2026Winner Best News and Analysis Podcast - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026Bronze Best News, Politics and Current Affairs - British Podcast Awards 2026Nominated Podcast of the Year - Society of Editors News Podcasts Awards 2026The Telegraph, Winner Podcast Publisher of the Year 2026 - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026Producers: Peter Shevlin and Max BowerResearcher and Social Producer: Anna HindmarshStudio Operator: Andy WatsonExecutive 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/

Tehran has unveiled an enormous subterranean missile complex, with the IRGC claiming that it is ready for strikes from the US or Israel and will escalate the war beyond the Middle East if Iran is bombed by Donald Trump. In today’s episode of Iran: The Latest, Venetia Rainey is joined by Chatham House’s MENA director Sanam Vakil to examine the messaging behind the extraordinary video and what it tells us about the direction of the war and the militarisation of Iran. They discuss the likelihood of strikes versus peace talks and why Gulf states are forming an integrated military command in Kuwait to make themselves less reliant on America. Plus, an Iranian-Iraqi national is accused of orchestrating the UK RAF Fairford plot from behind bars in New York, US planes are evacuated from a second UK airbase RAF Mildenhall, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth narrowly dodges impeachment over the Iran war - for now. HighlightsIran unveils underground ‘Missile City’ with long-range weaponsGulf states form an integrated military command in Kuwait CONTRIBUTORS:Venetia Rainey, co-host and executive producer @venetiaraineySanam Vakil, MENA director Chatham House @SanamVakilWATCH US ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVAif-vifC6F2aoPB8GIw6dkCONTENT REFERENCED:Iran unveils new ‘missile city’https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/11/10/iran-unveils-new-missile-city/RAF Fairford organiser ‘directed terror attacks on FaceTime’https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/11/10/raf-fairford-suspect-directed-terror-attacks-facetime/Richard Kemp: Britain is overrun with Iranian agents. No wonder America won’t keep its planes herehttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/11/10/raf-mildenhall-base-security-us-air-force-planes-iran-war/Houthis mobilise forces to take control of Yemen,https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/11/11/houthis-mobilise-forces-to-take-control-of-yemen/Winner Podcast of the Year - London Press Club Awards 2026Winner Best News and Analysis Podcast - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026Bronze Best News, Politics and Current Affairs - British Podcast Awards 2026Nominated Podcast of the Year - Society of Editors News Podcasts Awards 2026The Telegraph, Winner Podcast Publisher of the Year 2026 - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026Producers: Peter Shevlin and Max Bower Researcher and Social Producer: Anna HindmarshExecutive 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/

Donald Trump has declared the war with Iran “effectively over,” claiming Middle East allies are protected and the Strait of Hormuz is effectively open. Tehran says talk of a deal is all “fake news”.On today’s episode of Iran: the Latest, Roland Oliphant is joined by former Royal Navy commander Tom Sharpe to analyse the gulf between White House claims and the reality on the water. Tom unpacks why the arrival of a third aircraft carrier could signal a wave of post-midterm "victory strikes," and explains how dangerous tanker shuttle runs and autonomous escorts are really keeping oil flowing through the Strait of Hormuz. It comes as Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth vows he would do the Iran war all over again if he had to despite facing impeachment.Plus, the US military scrambles aircraft away from another UK base - RAF Mildenhall - amid Iranian threats, the Houthis step up their offensive to capture the Yemeni city of Taiz, and France blames Iran’s elite cyber unit for hacking supermarket fridges.HighlightsTrump says Iran war is over as US prises open Strait of HormuzWhy American ‘victory strikes’ may still be on the cardsCONTRIBUTORS:Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphantTom Sharpe, former Royal Navy commander @TomSharpe134WATCH US ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVAif-vifC6F2aoPB8GIw6dkCONTENT REFERENCED:US pulls aircraft from British base ‘after Iran threat’https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/11/10/us-evacuated-aircraft-uk-raf-mildenhall-iran-threat/Iran’s elite hacking cell that left France hungryhttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/11/10/elite-iranian-hacking-cell-that-left-france-hungry/‘I’d do it all again tomorrow’: Defiant Hegseth to fight impeachmenthttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2026/11/10/pete-hegseth-to-fight-congress-impeachment/The shadow war has a new target: You https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/11/11/how-the-shadow-war-is-coming-for-you/Winner Podcast of the Year - London Press Club Awards 2026Winner Best News and Analysis Podcast - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026Bronze Best News, Politics and Current Affairs - British Podcast Awards 2026Nominated Podcast of the Year - Society of Editors News Podcasts Awards 2026The Telegraph, Winner Podcast Publisher of the Year 2026 - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026Producers: Peter Shevlin and Max BowerResearcher and Social Producer: Anna HindmarshStudio Operator: Andy WatsonExecutive 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/

The US military has bombed Qeshm Island again and launched Operation Iron Gate - an ambitious land blockade designed to sever Iran’s resupply corridors with Russia and China. On today’s episode of Iran: the Latest, Venetia Rainey is joined by Jonathan Hackett, retired US Marine Corps counterintelligence agent and author of 'Iran’s Shadow Weapons', to analyse whether Centcom’s latest moves are enough to isolate the IRGC. They delve into how exactly Beijing and Moscow are propping up Tehran, from targeting assistance to potential S-400 air defence batteries to missiles parts for the Houthis in Yemen. Donald Trump insists renewed strikes are "highly unlikely" but has assembled three aircraft carriers in the Middle East. Jonathan outlines three things to watch in the coming weeks to assess whether strikes are about to restart. Plus, will Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu lash out as he faces the prospect of losing power to rival Gadi Eisenkot? Jonathan explains why despite being cornered, Bibi cannot go it alone due to a lack of air defences. HighlightsUS blockades Iran’s borders as China and Russia rearm TehranTrump bombs Qeshm island in the Strait of Hormuz CONTRIBUTORS:Venetia Rainey, co-host and executive producer @venetiaraineyJonathan Hackett, ex-US Marine Corps counterintelligence agent @jonathanhackettWATCH US ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVAif-vifC6F2aoPB8GIw6dkCONTENT REFERENCED:Russia in talks to supply advanced missiles to Iranhttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/11/06/russia-in-talks-to-supply-advanced-missiles-to-iran/Houthi missile debris smashes into Saudi skyscraperhttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/11/08/houthi-missile-smashes-saudi-skyscraper/‘We’re not done with Iran’, warns Israelhttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/11/08/nuclear-pickaxe-mountain-qatar-netanyahu-facilities/Four reasons why ousting Netanyahu could get uglyhttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/11/08/four-reasons-why-ousting-netanyahu-could-get-ugly/China is helping the Houthis in order to spite the UShttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/10/17/china-helping-houthis-in-order-to-spite-the-us/Winner Podcast of the Year - London Press Club Awards 2026Winner Best News and Analysis Podcast - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026Bronze Best News, Politics and Current Affairs - British Podcast Awards 2026Nominated Podcast of the Year - Society of Editors News Podcasts Awards 2026The Telegraph, Winner Podcast Publisher of the Year 2026 - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026Producers: Peter Shevlin and Max Bower Researcher and Social Producer: Anna HindmarshStudio Operator: Andy WatsonExecutive 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/

Iran is rebuilding its bombed-out missile sites at the same time as dangling a nuclear offer in front of Donald Trump, as the US president weighs whether to restart strikes alongside Israel.On today’s episode of Iran: the Latest, Venetia Rainey speaks to Iranian-American analyst Holly Dagres from the Washington Institute about the moods in Washington and Tehran in the wake of the Republican’s crushing midterms defeat and how it could lead to miscalculation on both sides. The IRGC vows it will target Europe if the war restarts - but Holly argues that Tehran’s maximalist peace demands and Trump’s lack of patience means the war is likely to restart. Plus, talk of Pete Hegseth or Marco Rubio being sacked over the war’s failures, documents reveal Russia agreed to give Tehran 90 advanced guided missile launchers, and why anti-regime protests in Iran remain unlikely despite historic hyperinflation and mass executions.HighlightsTrump threatens to destroy Iran as IRGC rebuilds missile sitesUS war cabinet crumbles as Hegseth fights for his jobCONTRIBUTORS:Venetia Rainey, co-host and executive producer @venetiaraineyHolly Dagres, senior fellow Washington Institute @hdagresWATCH US ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVAif-vifC6F2aoPB8GIw6dkCONTENT REFERENCED:Defiant Hegseth vows to finish Iran warhttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/11/06/pete-hegseth-vows-finish-iran-war-defence-secretary-trump/Charting how Iran drove Trump and Vance aparthttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/11/06/charting-trump-vance-iran/Winner Podcast of the Year - London Press Club Awards 2026Winner Best News and Analysis Podcast - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026Bronze Best News, Politics and Current Affairs - British Podcast Awards 2026Nominated Podcast of the Year - Society of Editors News Podcasts Awards 2026The Telegraph, Winner Podcast Publisher of the Year 2026 - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026Producers: Peter Shevlin and Max Bower Researcher and Social Producer: Anna HindmarshStudio Operator: Andy WatsonExecutive 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/

‘This is where the US-Israel-Iran war really began’On today’s episode of Iran: The Latest, Venetia Rainey speaks to veteran Middle East journalist Kim Ghattas about Donald Trump’s stunning US midterm election losses, JD Vance demanding an end to the Iran war, and what it all means for the likelihood of American and Israeli strikes in the coming weeks.Kim talks about how her new book, The Best Kind of American, looks at the origins of the US-Israel-Iran relationship, born in the crucible of 1980s war-torn Beirut. She explains why even as the IRGC openly celebrates the Republicans losing the Senate and House of Representatives, Iran’s economy remains weak and the regime does not want to return to all-out war.Plus, why Israel’s future relationship with the US is more secure than it seems, how Iran uses the Houthis to target Saudi Arabia, and why hostage taking and kidnapping could soon be on the rise.HighlightsVance revolts over US-Iran war after midterms defeat. Will Israel go it alone?Journalist Kim Ghattas on the real origins of the warCONTRIBUTORS:Venetia Rainey, co-host and executive producer @venetiaraineyKim Ghattas, journalist and author The Best Kind of American @KimGhattasWATCH US ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVAif-vifC6F2aoPB8GIw6dkCONTENT REFERENCED:Vance ready to take Trump’s crown after midterms humblinghttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/politics/2026/11/05/vance-ready-to-take-trumps-crown-after-midterms-humbling/Vance breaks ranks with Trump over election catastrophehttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/politics/2026/11/04/vance-clashes-trump-midterms-election-catastrophe-iran-war/Winner Podcast of the Year - London Press Club Awards 2026Winner Best News and Analysis Podcast - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026Bronze Best News, Politics and Current Affairs - British Podcast Awards 2026Nominated Podcast of the Year - Society of Editors News Podcasts Awards 2026The Telegraph, Winner Podcast Publisher of the Year 2026 - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026Producers: Peter Shevlin and Max BowerResearcher and Social Producer: Anna HindmarshStudio Operator: Andy WatsonExecutive 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/

The 2026 US midterms results are in: Donald Trump’s Republican Party has suffered a devastating defeat, losing both the House and the Senate amid voter fury over high fuel prices caused by the Iran war. In today’s episode of Iran: The Latest, Venetia Rainey and Sophia Yan break down how the elections have changed the Congress map, from Texas’s flip to Abdul el-Sayed’s Michigan win. Along with guest Leo Shane, Politico’s defence correspondent, they ask what the midterm results mean for Trump and his foreign policy. The president has insisted future attacks against Iran remain on the table if they don’t strike a nuclear deal, but Tehran has warned that a return to full combat operations will be met with a “Nightmare” - will he be chastened or unleashed? And what does it mean for other countries in Trump’s sights such as Ukraine, Venezuela and Cuba?Plus, the looming battle over the Pentagon’s budget, will Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth face impeachment and Trump's shock announcement to halt military aid to Israel. HighlightsTrump’s Republicans suffer midterms bloodbath over Iran warTehran threatens ‘nightmare’ if Trump restarts strikesCONTRIBUTORS:Venetia Rainey, co-host and executive producer @venetiaraineySophia Yan, co-host and senior foreign correspondent @sophia_yanLeo Shane III, Politico defence reporter @LeoShaneWATCH US ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVAif-vifC6F2aoPB8GIw6dkCONTENT REFERENCED:Mapped: US midterms results in fullhttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/politics/0/us-midterms-2026-results-for-senate-and-house-timings-democrat/Trump crushed in midtermshttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/politics/2026/11/04/james-talarico-texas-senate-ken-paxton-midterms/John Bolton: The Democrats will now take revenge on Trump and his ilkhttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/11/04/democrats-will-now-take-revenge-on-trump-and-his-ilk/Trump’s election day gamble over Israel backs Vance into a cornerhttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2026/11/03/trump-election-day-gamble-israel-backs-vance-into-corner/Winner Podcast of the Year - London Press Club Awards 2026Winner Best News and Analysis Podcast - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026Bronze Best News, Politics and Current Affairs - British Podcast Awards 2026Nominated Podcast of the Year - Society of Editors News Podcasts Awards 2026The Telegraph, Winner Podcast Publisher of the Year 2026 - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026Producers: Peter Shevlin and Max Bower Researcher and Social Producer: Anna HindmarshStudio Operator: Andy WatsonExecutive 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/

Donald Trump has launched secretive strikes on Iran’s Qeshm Island, as Tehran threatens to tear up its nuclear weapons ban and Gulf allies brace for renewed war.In today’s episode of Iran: the Latest, Roland Oliphant looks at reports of five explosions in Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, home to an underground Iranian missile site, even as Trump insists the US has already "won" the conflict. Meanwhile, Tehran warns it is ready for battle and may formally abandon its ban on nuclear weapons after the assassination of Ali Khamenei at the beginning of the war. Plus, National Security Editor Rozina Sabur reports from the “gloomy” Manama Dialogue in Bahrain, where Gulf states admit their collective security has collapsed in the face of Iranian threats. As Americans head to the polls for today’s midterm elections, Rozina - formerly Washington editor - breaks down what the vote means for Trump’s war effort and whether the US could see a rerun of the January 6 Capitol unrest.HighlightsUS bombs Iran’s Qeshm Island in the Strait of HormuzTehran considering ending its own nuclear weapons banCONTRIBUTORS:Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphantRozina Sabur, national security editor @RozinaSaburWATCH US ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVAif-vifC6F2aoPB8GIw6dkCONTENT REFERENCED:Iran reconsiders its own ban on nuclear weaponshttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/11/02/iran-reconsiders-its-own-ban-on-nuclear-weapons/Pickaxe Mountain nuclear strike and Trump’s other Iran war optionshttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/11/03/pickaxe-mountain-nuclear-strike-trumps-iran-war-options/US strikes Iran on eve of midterm electionshttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2026/11/03/us-strikes-iran-qeshm-island-eve-of-midterm-elections/Winner Podcast of the Year - London Press Club Awards 2026Winner Best News and Analysis Podcast - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026Bronze Best News, Politics and Current Affairs - British Podcast Awards 2026Nominated Podcast of the Year - Society of Editors News Podcasts Awards 2026The Telegraph, Winner Podcast Publisher of the Year 2026 - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026Producers: Peter Shevlin and Max Bower Researcher and Social Producer: Anna HindmarshStudio Operator: Andy WatsonExecutive 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/