• Trump’s peace deal: is the US paying Iran to reopen Hormuz?
    Jun 15 2026

    Donald Trump has declared the Iran war over, telling oil tankers to "start their engines" as Tehran reopens the Strait of Hormuz and the US lifts its naval blockade. So why are so many people unhappy with the ‘peace deal’?


    Roland Oliphant and Venetia Rainey dive into the latest news of what we know today about the Memorandum of Understanding - and what we don’t. They discuss the problems raised by the outline of the deal so far - from an agreement on nuclear weapons to the war in Lebanon - and why Israeli military leaders are calling it a "strategic failure”.


    Highlights:


    • Trump’s peace deal: is the US paying Iran to reopen Hormuz?
    • Plus: why both Israelis and Iranians are furious


    CONTRIBUTORS:

    Venetia Rainey, co-host and executive producer @venetiarainey

    Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant


    CONTENT REFERENCED:


    WATCH US ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVAif-vifC6F2aoPB8GIw6dk


    The winners and losers of the Iran war

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/06/14/winners-losers-iran-war-usa-trump-middle-east/


    After 106 days of war, how Donald Trump and Iran finally agreed a deal

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2026/06/15/how-trump-iran-agreed-war-nuclear-strait-hormuz-deal/


    Thirteen thousand air strikes - for what?

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/06/15/us-launched-13000-air-strikes-on-iran-for-what/

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    31 mins
  • 100 days of US-Iran war: the winners and losers
    Jun 14 2026

    After more than 100 days of the US-Iran war launched by Donald Trump, who is winning and who is losing?


    An American and an Iranian debate the big successes, what could have gone better, and what the long-term implications will be. Venetia Rainey and Roland Oliphant are joined by Ben Hodges, former US general and commander of the US Army in Europe, and Holly Dagres, Washington Institute analyst and author of The Iranist substack.


    They discuss the most significant moments from the war, from Ali Khamenei's death to an attack on a US base in Kuwait, why China is benefitting, and what surprised them most.


    Highlights


    • 100 days of war: the winners and losers so far
    • An American general and an Iranian analyst debate


    CONTRIBUTORS:

    Venetia Rainey, co-host @venetiarainey

    Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant

    Ben Hodges, former commanding general US Army Europe @general_ben

    Holly Dagres, Washington Institute analyst and The Iranist author @hdagres


    WATCH THE FULL EPISODE ON YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/-3VEIOK3-SU


    Producer: Peter Shevlin

    Executive Producers: Venetia Rainey & Louisa Wells


    ► 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/

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    42 mins
  • ‘End it now’: Trump cancels Iran strikes as Gulf prays for deal
    Jun 12 2026

    Donald Trump says the Iran war could be ended with a peace deal this weekend.


    For the Gulf, everything is at stake. Battered by Iranian missiles and drones throughout the war and economically strangled by the Strait of Hormuz crisis, the Gulf states are desperate for the war to end - so much so that some are even having their own talks with Tehran.


    Sophia Yan chats to UAE-based Aniseh Bassiri Tabrizi, associate fellow for Chatham House’s MENA programme, about why despite Iran’s aggression, countries there just want things to go back to how they were before the war.


    Highlights:


    • Trump says Iran war could end with peace deal this weekend
    • Why the Gulf wishes the Iran war never happened


    CONTRIBUTORS:

    Sophia Yan, co-host and senior foreign correspondent @sophia_yan

    Aniseh Bassiri Tabrizi, Associate Fellow MENA Programme Chatham House @AnisehBassiri


    Producer: Max Bower

    Executive Producers: Venetia Rainey & Louisa Wells


    ► 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/

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    35 mins
  • Trump hits Iran with dozens of Tomahawks as war looms over World Cup
    Jun 11 2026

    Is this the start of a new phase in the US-Iran war?


    Following another night of US strikes on Iran and Tehran responding by hitting its Gulf neighbours, Donald Trump has today vowed to ramp things up even further tonight. Roland Oliphant discusses the latest news with chief foreign affairs commentator David Blair, and asks whether Trump can bomb his way out of the deadlock.


    Plus, for the first time ever, the World Cup 2026 will see a nation host a team it's currently at war with. As the competition kicks off, sports news reporter Tom Morgan joins Roland Oliphant from Mexico to discuss the strength of each side's teams, the politics behind the visa and ticketing rows, and how Iran and USA could even face one another on the pitch.


    Highlights


    • Trump hits Iran with dozens of Tomahawks and vows to keep going
    • The World Cup Iran war row: Everything you need to know


    CONTRIBUTORS:


    Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant

    David Blair, chief foreign affairs commentator @davidblairdt

    Tom Morgan, sports news correspondent @Tom_Morgs


    CONTENT REFERENCED:

    Iran arrive at World Cup with swipe at US over attack on school

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2026/06/08/iran-team-arrive-mexico-world-cup-swipe-us-attack-school/


    As cartels slink into shadows for the World Cup, horror remains

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2026/06/10/world-cup-mexico-search-victims-cartels-disappeared/


    Producer: Peter Shevlin

    Executive Producers: Venetia Rainey & Louisa Wells


    ► 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/

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    35 mins
  • Trump vows Iran will ‘pay the price’ & inside the Pentagon's drone revolution
    Jun 10 2026

    Trump has vowed Iran will “pay the price” after it launched multiple strikes on US bases throughout the Middle East.


    The latest escalation came up after the US bombed Iran in response to a Shahed drone downing an American Apache helicopter in the Gulf of Oman. The crew were rescued by an unmanned boat - a US first. Venetia Rainey speaks to former US Deputy Secretary of Defence Kathleen Hicks about what this week’s events tell us about the growing role of autonomous systems in the military.


    Plus, what is the Pentagon’s plan to combat the drone threat posed by enemies from Iran to China - and is it moving fast enough? Hicks and Aaron Sherman from the Atlantic Council talk about the Replicator project they launched in 2023 in the Department of Defence and why it’s more vital than ever.


    Highlights


    • Trump vows Iran will ‘pay the price’ for firing at US bases
    • From Iran to China: inside the Pentagon's drone revolution


    CONTRIBUTORS:

    Venetia Rainey, co-host and executive producer @venetiarainey

    Kathleen Hicks, former US Deputy Secretary of Defence

    Aaron Sherman, non-resident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council


    CONTENT REFERENCED:

    How a cutting-edge AI drone boat saved defenceless US Apache pilots

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2026/06/09/apache-pilots-rescued-ai-drone-boat


    Move Fast and Scale: A Brief Insiders' History of the Replicator Initiative

    https://www.belfercenter.org/research-analysis/move-fast-and-scale-brief-insiders-history-replicator-initiative


    Producer: Peter Shevlin

    Executive Producers: Venetia Rainey & Louisa Wells


    ► 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/

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    37 mins
  • US Apache helicopter downed & why Trump’s war is ‘colossal failure’ for Israel
    Jun 9 2026

    The exchange of strikes between Israel and Iran have highlighted the tensions between Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu after more than 100 days of war.


    The US president wants the war to stop - now. The Israeli leader wants to keep going. Why? What else does he want to achieve? And why is Trump stopping him?


    Venetia Rainey chats to Danny Citrinowicz, senior researcher at Israeli think tank the Institute for National Security Studies, about why most Israelis think that the war has been a ‘colossal failure’ and how he fears Iran’s regime has been the real winner in all of this.


    Highlights:


    • Why Israelis think the war has been a ‘colossal failure’
    • Why Israel wants the Iran war to continue - and why Trump says no


    CONTRIBUTORS:


    Venetia Rainey, co-host and executive producer @venetiarainey

    Danny Citrinowicz, senior researcher INSS @citrinowicz


    CONTENT REFERENCED:


    WATCH: 100 days of US-Iran war: the winners and losers so far

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3VEIOK3-SU


    Israelis grow tired of Bibi and bomb shelters

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/06/08/israelis-grow-tired-of-bibi-and-bombshelters/


    Netanyahu: Our war with ‘weak’ Iran isn’t finished

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/06/07/iran-launches-missile-attack-on-israel/


    Producer: Peter Shevlin

    Executive Producers: Venetia Rainey & Louisa Wells


    ► 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/

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    36 mins
  • Israel hammers Iran after ballistic missiles attack & 100 days of war: winners and losers
    Jun 8 2026

    Iran and Israel have bombed each other for the first time since they agreed a ceasefire with the US in early April. Why? And can Donald Trump stop all-out war from re-erupting? Venetia Rainey and Roland Oliphant bring you all the latest updates from the past 24 hours, plus chief foreign affairs commentator David Blair and foreign correspondent Akhtar Makoii discuss how we got here, the domestic factors at play in each country and what might happen next.

    Plus, an American and Iranian on what we learned from 100 days of war. What are the big successes, what could have gone better, and what will the long-term implications be? Venetia and Roland speak to Ben Hodges, former US general and commander of the US Army in Europe, and Holly Dagres, Washington Institute analyst and author of The Iranist substack. They discuss the most significant moments from the war, the biggest winners and losers, and what surprised them.


    WATCH THE FULL 100 DAYS OF WAR ROUNDTABLE NOW: https://youtu.be/-3VEIOK3-SU


    Highlights


    • Iran and Israel bomb each other - what just happened?
    • 100 days of war: an American and an Iranian debate


    CONTRIBUTORS:

    Venetia Rainey, co-host @venetiarainey

    Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant

    Ben Hodges, former commanding general US Army Europe @general_ben

    Holly Dagres, Washington Institute analyst and The Iranist author @hdagres


    Producer: Peter Shevlin and Phil Atkins

    Executive Producers: Venetia Rainey & Louisa Wells


    ► 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/


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    33 mins
  • Iran’s drones have reshaped warfare. Can the US catch up?
    Jun 5 2026

    How did heavily sanctioned Iran create a drone so cheap, deadly and effective that everyone from Russia to the US has copied it?


    From the Gulf being inundated with attacks by Iranian Shaheds to Ukraine finding innovative new ways to counter the Russian version, Tehran has mass-produced a strategic weapon that has challenged traditional Western air-defence thinking.


    To look at how Iran did it, what makes the Shahed so brutal and how to counter it, guest host from the Ukraine: the Latest team Sophie O’Sullivan speaks to Mykola Bielieskov, research fellow at the Kyiv-based National Institute for Strategic Studies, and Peter Lee, co-Director of the Centre for Defence, Risk and Resilience at Britain’s University of Portsmouth.


    Plus, Sophie covers the latest major updates from the region, including Hezbollah’s rejection of the Israel-Lebanon deal as “Satan’s dream” and news of a secret deployment of elite Israeli military units to Azerbaijan.


    Highlights

    • Iran’s cheap but deadly drones have reshaped warfare. Can the US catch up?
    • Why everyone from Russia to the US are copying the Shahed


    CONTRIBUTORS:

    Sophie O’Sullivan, guest host and producer Ukraine: the Latest

    Mykola Bielieskov, research fellow at National Institute for Strategic Studies @MBielieskov

    Peter Lee, professor at the University of Portsmouth


    Producer: Phil Atkins

    Executive Producers: Venetia Rainey & Louisa Wells


    ► 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/

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    33 mins