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)
The US is sending a third aircraft carrier, the USS Theodore Roosevelt, to Iran even as Donald Trump admits to ammunition shortages as a result of the war. On today’s episode of Iran: the Latest, Sophia Yan speaks with Renad Mansour, deputy director of the MENA Programme and director of the Iraq Initiative at Chatham House, about what this signals about a return to all-out fighting. Renad explains why this is becoming a long-term war of attrition that could last years. They also discuss why the US withdrawal from Iraq could play into Tehran’s hands, from providing more space for pro-Iran Shiite militias to the potential resurgence of the Islamic State or other radicalised groups. Plus, Houthi strikes target sites near Islam’s holiest sites in Saudi Arabia and the Iran links to the UK RAF Fairford suspected terror plot and the Flydubai Israel plane hijacking. CHAPTERS: 00:00 - Introduction & Guest Overview 00:32 - U.S. Deploys 3rd Carrier Strike Group to the Middle East 01:15 - Escalation vs. Diplomacy: A Protracted War of Attrition 04:11 - The Strategic Control of the Strait of Hormuz 05:09 - Trump Admits to Weapons & Ammunition Shortages 06:14 - Asymmetrical Warfare & Economic Costs of Conflict 08:15 - Houthi Offensives & Attacks Targeting Holy Sites 11:03 - Inaction of the Tripartite Defense Pact (Saudi, Turkey, Pakistan) 13:00 - The Paradox of U.S. Foreign Policy in the Middle East 14:28 - Expanding Frontlines: Transnational Terror Plots & Radicalization 18:28 - Final U.S. & Western Troop Withdrawal from Iraq 22:02 - Iraq's New Prime Minister & the Deadline to Disarm Militias 26:21 - Houthi Capabilities vs. Fragmented Iraqi Militias 28:10 - Challenges of Disarming Militias & Threats to Sovereignty 30:05 - Assessing the Risk of an Islamic State Resurgence 32:12 - U.S. Economic Sanctions & Financial Leverage Over Iraq #IranWar #USMilitary #MiddleEast #Iraq CONTRIBUTORS: Sophia Yan, co-host and senior foreign correspondent @sophia_yan Renad Mansour, deputy director MENA Programme and director Iraq Initiative Chatham House, @renadmansour CONTENT REFERENCED: US is running out of weapons, Trump admits https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2026/10/01/us-running-out-of-weapon-iran-trump-admits/ Iranian arrested over suspected RAF terror plot https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/10/01/iranian-arrested-over-suspected-raf-terror-plot/ Trump: Co-pilot hijacker is linked to Iran https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/10/01/netanyahu-co-pilot-hijacker-is-radical-islamist/ US closes final base in Iraq as Iran eyes chance to fill vacuum https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/09/30/us-closes-final-base-iraq-as-iran-eyes-chance-fill-vacuum/ David Blair: Under more pressure than ever, Iran is failing to save itself https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/10/01/iran-us-war-donald-trump-diplomacy-strait-of-hormuz/ Winner Best News and Analysis Podcast - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026 Bronze Best News, Politics and Current Affairs - British Podcast Awards 2026 Nominated Podcast of the Year - Society of Editors News Podcasts Awards 2026 The Telegraph, Winner Podcast Publisher of the Year 2026 - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026 Producers: Peter Shevlin and Max Bower Researcher and Social Producer: Anna Hindmarsh Studio Operator: Andy Watson 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/