The Story

Iran has appointed a new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei. He’s the son of the late Ali Khamenei and a shadowy figure with a history of orchestrating brutal crackdowns on dissenters. President Donald Trump is also not a fan. So what does his appointment mean for the conflict raging in the Middle East? Our listener survey is live - find it here.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuests: Catherine Philp, world affairs editor, The Times.Negah Angha, former US State Department and National Security Council advisor.  Host: Darryl Morris.Producer: Micaela Arneson, Sophie McNulty.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comOur listener survey is live - find it here.Read more: Who is Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran’s new supreme leader?Further listening: How AI helped Trump attack IranClips: Sky News, Al Jazeera, NBC, Fox News, The Times, ABC NewsPhoto: Getty Images.

The use of Artificial Intelligence by militaries used to be talked about in the abstract, but during the US and Israel’s strikes on Iran we’ve seen it used in real time. So what happens when you have robots who can make battlefield decisions quicker than the speed of thought? And what made the Trump administration fall out with one of the world’s leading AI companies?Our listener survey is live - find it here.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: David Leslie, Professor of ethics, technology and society in the Digital Environment Research Institute at Queen Mary University of London.Host: Rosie Wright.Producers: Harry Stott, Sophie McNulty. We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: How AI helps 20 US troops do the work of 2,000 in Iran warFurther listening: Anthropic vs Pentagon: How AI is changing warClips: Fox, CBS News, Reuters.Photo: Getty Images.

Thirty years after her death, Frida Kahlo went from relative obscurity to one of the most famous female artists on the planet. Now, her image has been used on everything from watches, scented candles, clothes, sanitary pads, and even Barbie dolls. But how did the communist icon become the face of a million dollar enterprise? At the centre of the story is a Kahlo family divided. Should her image reflect her artistic treasures or a global brand?Our listener survey is live - find it here.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Blanca Schofield, assistant culture and books editor for both The Times and The Sunday Times.Host: Rosie Wright.Producer: Dave Creasey.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Artist — or brand? How Frida Kahlo’s family lost controlPhoto: FridaMoji/Getty Images.

The war in Iran has left its people divided. Some openly welcome the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, others mourn, steadfast in their loyalty to the Islamic Republic. The divisions run deep, cutting across generations. Majid Parsa grew up in one such household. He tells his story.Our listener survey is live - find it here.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryRead by: Majid Parsa, author of The Ayatollah's Gaze.Host: Rosie Wright.Producer: Dave Creasey.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comPhoto: Getty Images.

As the war in the Middle East enters its seventh day, prominent supporters of President Trump have criticised his decision to attack Iran. The political stakes are high for a president who pledged no new wars on the campaign trail. So can he keep the MAGA crowd on his side?Our listener survey is live - find it here.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Katy Balls, Washington editor for The Times and The Sunday TimesHost: Manveen RanaProducer: Julia WebsterWe want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Iran is Trump’s biggest bet yet. It could define his presidencyFurther listening: Iran after the AyatollahClips: Sky, CBS, CNN, ABC, WAAY 31, BBC, Fox, Tucker Carlson, Channel 4, C-SPAN, Associated Press, Boston GlobePhoto: Graphic by Denise Kelly. Getty Images.

In this bonus episode we're showcasing how The Story host Manveen Rana and her Times colleague Anthony Loyd are back exploring the the kidnap and disappearance of British photojournalist John Cantlie by ISIS in Syria, after a mysterious listener got in contact.Originally released four years ago, Last Man Standing is now the inspiration for the new BBC three-part documentary series Hostage, based on reporting from our original series.Find the full Last Man Standing series here.Hosts: Manveen Rana and Anthony Loyd, special correspondent, The Times.Producer: Harry Stott.Executive Producer: Will Roe.Further reading: Anthony Loyd: my hunt for the forgotten Isis hostage John CantlieWatch: Hostage on BBC iPlayer. Clips: BBC.

When the Mexican government took down a drug lord last week, the Sunday Times was there to document the aftermath. Does this mark a turning point in the war on drugs? Or are things about to get much worse? A warning that this episode contains descriptions of graphic violence. Our listener survey is live - find it here. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Louise Callaghan, Americas correspondent, The Sunday Times. Host: Rosie Wright. Producer: Micaela Arneson. We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: A cartel boss is dead, but normal Mexicans always pay the priceFurther listening: The town ripped apart by Mexico’s new narcos Clips: BBC, WMTW, Configo FN, Fox News, Al Jazeera, Noticias Telemundo, Reuters.

Last month, Sir Keir Starmer made it clear that the US would not be permitted to use UK bases to launch strikes against Iran. On Sunday, that position shifted. Not only has the UK now allowed the use of joint bases, it is also intercepting Iranian drones, and sources have told The Times that a British warship may be deployed to Cyprus. As tensions in the Middle East escalate, is Britain being drawn ever deeper into the conflict? And how might this end?Our listener survey is live - find it here. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuests: Michael Evans, defence contributor, The TimesGeneral Sir Patrick Sanders, former Chief of the General Staff and co-host of The General & the Journalist, one of our sister podcasts Host: Rosie WrightProducers: Sophie McNulty & Olivia CaseWe want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Special relationship ‘not what it once was’, as Trump rebukes PM on IranFurther listening: Iran after the AyatollahClips: The Times, AP, BBC, CNN, The White House, Sky News. Photo: Getty Images.

After weeks of protests against Ayatollah Khamenei’s regime earlier this year, the Iranian people cried out for American help as they were massacred in their thousands. Over the weekend, the Americans and Israelis did finally intervene in Iran, killing the Ayatollah, but leaving a flood of questions in their wake. Who will now fill the political vacuum? Will there be regime change? And what next for the Iranian people?Our listener survey is live - find it here. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuests:Rana Rahimpour, Iranian journalist.Ali Ansari, professor of Iranian history, the University of St. Andrews. Host: Rosie Wright.Producers: Harry Stott, Julia Webster. We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Who will replace Ayatollah Khamenei — a moderate or an ‘Iranian Putin’?Further listening: Iran's supreme leader killed - is the Middle East in all out war?Clips: BBC, AP, EuroNews, State Department / Instagram, 60 Minutes.Photo: Getty Images, The Times, Dana Chan.