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 (416 videos)
China looms large over the entire US-Iran war - but what does leader Xi Jinping really think of the conflict and how is he exploiting it to benefit Beijing? On part 2 of today’s episode of Iran: the Latest, Venetia Rainey speaks to world-renowned China expert Steve Tsang, director of SOAS’s China Institute, about Xi’s support for Iran despite its claims of neutrality. Tsang reveals why Donald Trump’s costly military intervention creates an unprecedented opening for Beijing and how it shifts Xi's calculations on invading Taiwan. Plus, they discuss how China is building a new world order around itself using events such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation to weaken the Western-led international order and whether a war with the US is inevitable - the dreaded Thucydides Trap. CHAPTERS 00:00 — China’s Role in the US-Iran War 01:09 — How Xi Jinping Exploits US Military Conflict 02:27 — Why Trump’s Iran War Helps China End Western Dominance 04:26 — Xi Jinping’s Masterplan to Reshape the Global Order 06:15 — The SCO Summit: How China Rallies the Global South 10:35 — Covert Support: Is China Arming Iran Against the US? 15:50 — Taiwan Invasion Timeline: How the Iran War Shifts Xi’s Plans 18:35 — Why the PLA Isn’t Ready to Take Taiwan Yet 24:43 — "Make China Great Again": Inside Xi Jinping’s Foreign Policy 28:12 — Pax Sinica: Can America Prevent War With China? CONTRIBUTORS: Venetia Rainey, co-host and executive producer @venetiarainey Steve Tsang, director SOAS China Institute WATCH PART 1 ABOUT US STRIKES ON IRGC TARGETS: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVAif-vifC6F2aoPB8GIw6dk CONTENT REFERENCED: Podcast series: Inside the rise of China’s military - and what it means for Taiwan https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/08/08/battle-lines-podcast-inside-the-rise-of-chinas-military/ Book: Steve Tsang and Olivia Cheung - China's Global Strategy under Xi Jinping https://global.oup.com/academic/product/chinas-global-strategy-under-xi-jinping-9780197828816 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 Video Producer: Max Bower Audio Producer: Peter Shevlin Researcher and Social Producer: Anna Hindmarsh and Lucy Hadlow 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/