Iran: The Latest is The Telegraph’s defence, security and foreign affairs podcast providing deep-dive analysis on the ongoing conflict between the US, Israel and Iran. Veteran foreign correspondents Roland Oliphant and Venetia Rainey bring you the latest updates from The Telegraph’s award-winning journalists, plus exclusive interviews with world-class experts in military strategy, international relations, and Middle East policy. From attacks on the Gulf to Hezbollah in Lebanon to the Houthis in Yemen to the threat of nuclear escalation, stay informed with the best of The Telegraph’s Middle East coverage in one place. As the geopolitical landscape shifts, subscribe for essential updates on the security shifts defining our global future. Battle Lines, a defence podcast with a wider scope and created by David Knowles, previously lived on this feed. Don’t forget to follow and leave a review to stay updated on the latest in global conflict and foreign affairs.
Curated by: The Telegraph (450 videos)
As Chinese leader Xi Jinping concludes his three-day state visit to Washington, Beijing’s incremental support of Tehran threatens to undermine Donald Trump’s pressure campaign. On today’s episode of Iran: the Latest, host Sophia Yan speaks with China military expert Meia Nouwens to break down Beijing’s strategic calculus in the Middle East, how China benefits from the US getting bogged down in a regional war, and preparations for potential future wartime chokepoints in the Strait of Malacca. Plus, Iran-backed Houthi strikes hit Saudi Arabia’s state-owned Aramco facilities, driving up crude oil prices and prompting an emergency meeting amongst Saudi, Turkish, and Pakistani military chiefs. Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi proposes a seven-day truce to Washington, demanding a halt to all hostilities, $12 billion in frozen assets to be released and an end to the US naval blockade – pre-conditions to reopen Hormuz. #IranWar #USChinaRelations #XiJinping #DonaldTrump #MiddleEastCrisis #Houthis #SaudiArabia #Geopolitics #NewsUpdate #DefenseNews #TaiwanStrait #internationalrelations CHAPTERS 00:00 - Introduction & News Briefing 00:35 - Houthi Strikes in Saudi Arabia & Regional Defensive Moves 02:06 - Iran Proposes 7-Day Truce to the U.S. 03:44 - Iranian President Addresses the Conflict 04:21 - Diplomatic Developments at the UN (UK & Israel Speeches) 05:05 - Regional Impact of U.S. Sanctions & Flight Suspensions 05:41 - Analysis: Xi Jinping's U.S. State Visit Overview 07:08 - Why China Continues Supporting Iran Amid Sanctions 08:59 - Tech CEOs at the State Dinner: Messaging & Optics 09:53 - Future Trump-Xi Summits & Rebuilding Bilateral Trust 12:32 - Xi's Strategy on Taiwan Red Lines and Conflict Avoidance 14:44 - What China & Asia are Learning from the Iran War 16:39 - Economic Consequences of Potential Maritime Chokepoint Blockades 19:08 - Overview of China’s Rapid Military Modernization & PLA Weaknesses 22:54 - China as an Economic Lifeline for Iran & Dual-Use Supplies 24:58 - PLA Self-Sufficiency & Reliance on Foreign Technology 27:41 - Impact of a Reduced U.S. Footprint in the Middle East 31:56 - China's Growing Ambitions as a Global Defense Exporter CONTRIBUTORS: Sophia Yan, co-host and senior foreign correspondent @sophia_yan Meia Nouwens, Senior Fellow, International Institute for Strategic Studies, @MeiaNouwens WATCH US ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVAif-vifC6F2aoPB8GIw6dk CONTENT REFERENCED: Miliband warns Iran: Britain will not tolerate intimidation https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/09/25/ed-miliband-iran-foreign-minister-abbas-araghchi/ Iran’s supreme leader is alive, president insists https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/09/25/iran-supreme-leader-alive-mojtaba-khamenei-pezeshkian/ Winner Best News and Analysis Podcast - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026 Nominated Podcast of the Year - Society of Editors News Podcasts Awards 2026 Nominated Best News, Politics and Current Affairs - British Podcast Awards 2026 The Telegraph, Winner Podcast Publisher of the Year 2026 - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026 Audio Producer: Max Bower Video Producer: Peter Shevlin Researcher and Social Producer: Anna Hindmarsh Executive 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/ ► Sign up to the Telegraph's free new daily newsletter, From the Editor, bringing you the latest news, features and analysis from the Telegraph newsroom: www.telegraph.co.uk/customer/secure/newsletter/from-the-editor/?WT.mc_id=tmgoff_youtube_telegraphmain ► Get the latest headlines: www.telegraph.co.uk?WT.mc_id=tmgoff_youtube_telegraphmain ► Stay ahead with a Telegraph digital subscription: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/customer/subscription/store?WT.mc_id=tmgoff_youtube_telegraphmain https://www.telegraph.co.uk/ and https://www.youtube.com/telegraph are websites of The Telegraph, the UK's best-selling quality daily newspaper providing news and analysis on UK and world events, business, sport, lifestyle and culture.