Trump reimposes naval blockade & how China and Russia use Iran to bleed US munitions

Trump vows to target Pickaxe Mountain & infiltration, executions and fear inside Iran

As the latest round of the war enters its 11th day, US President Donald Trump has signalled the US could strike Iran's hardened Pickaxe Mountain underground nuclear facility where Israel claims centrifuges are being hidden.  On today’s episode of Iran: the Latest, Venetia Rainey and Telegraph journalist Sophie O’Sullivan look at the news that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has admitted US war costs have reached $37bn, a landmark US nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia, and the Houthis’ blockade on Saudi Arabia claiming its first victims. Is this the new Strait of Hormuz? Plus, Iranian journalist Tara Kangarlou on an explosive interview by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi that revealed critical internal security breaches and deep US and Israeli intelligence infiltration inside the regime. They discuss how Trump’s strikes are smashing critical civilian infrastructure, why a brutal wave of political executions could accelerate, and how the economy is in meltdown.  Highlights * Trump vows to target Pickaxe Mountain nuclear underground fort * Inside Iran: regime infiltration, executions and fear CONTRIBUTORS: Venetia Rainey, co-host and executive producer @venetiarainey Sophie O’Sullivan, journalist and Ukraine: the Latest producer  Tara Kangarlou, journalist and author @tarakangarlou WATCH US ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVAif-vifC6F2aoPB8GIw6dk [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVAif-vifC6F2aoPB8GIw6dk] CONTENT REFERENCED: Trump’s nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia will only embolden Iran https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/07/22/trump-saudi-arabia-nuclear-deal-will-only-embolden-iran/ [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/07/22/trump-saudi-arabia-nuclear-deal-will-only-embolden-iran/] Pentagon is running out of money in Iran war, Hegseth admits https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2026/07/22/pentagon-running-out-of-money-iran-war-hegseth-admits/ [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2026/07/22/pentagon-running-out-of-money-iran-war-hegseth-admits/] Iran: the Latest’s episode on the Minab school attack https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/03/18/iran-the-latest-trump-biggest-mistake-iran-war-so-far/ [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/03/18/iran-the-latest-trump-biggest-mistake-iran-war-so-far/] Sky News documentary on the Minab school attack https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siRuobaj7IE [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siRuobaj7IE] For more on Ukraine news, listen to/watch Ukraine: the Latest https://linktr.ee/UkraineTheLatest [https://linktr.ee/UkraineTheLatest] ITL Best News and Analysis Podcast - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026 The Telegraph Podcast Publisher of the Year 2026 - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026 ITL Nominated Podcast of the Year - Society of Editors News Podcasts Awards 2026 Producer: Peter Shevlin Video Producer: Max Bower Researcher and Social Producer: Anna Hindmarsh Studio Operator: Chris January 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/ ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Trump weighs major escalation as Iran hammers Kuwait’s power and water

Donald Trump is weighing up a massive expansion of the war with Iran after Tehran launched fresh strikes against US military sites across the Gulf, including Amazon services in Bahrain and vital power and water infrastructure in Kuwait. Nearly 100 US service members have been injured in recent weeks, according to the Pentagon, as the latest round of fighting enters its tenth day. On today’s episode of Iran: the Latest, Venetia Rainey and Arthur Scott-Geddes look at the news that Pakistan, Qatar and Egypt are trying to broker a mini 10-day ceasefire even as Iran has hit two more tankers in Strait of Hormuz. Will anyone come to the negotiating table? Plus, the Houthis have declared a Red Sea maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia, Iran admits its ailing economy is now the “main battlefield”, and Britain’s new Prime Minister Andy Burnham and his Cabinet face an early diplomatic test over the Iran war.  Highlights * Trump weighs escalation as Iran injures hundreds of US troops * Iran hammers Kuwait’s power and water infrastructure CONTRIBUTORS: Venetia Rainey, co-host and executive producer @venetiarainey Arthur Scott-Geddes, deputy editor Global Health Security @ascottgeddes WATCH US ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVAif-vifC6F2aoPB8GIw6dk [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVAif-vifC6F2aoPB8GIw6dk] CONTENT REFERENCED: Trump expects Burnham to let US strike Iran from British bases https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/politics/2026/07/21/trump-expects-burnham-to-let-america-use-uk-bases-iran/ [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/politics/2026/07/21/trump-expects-burnham-to-let-america-use-uk-bases-iran/] White House ‘deeply concerned’ over Miliband as Foreign Secretary https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2026/07/21/white-house-deeply-concerned-miliband-foreign-secretary/ [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2026/07/21/white-house-deeply-concerned-miliband-foreign-secretary/] Foreign brief for Miliband risks Trump’s wrath https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2026/07/20/burnham-risks-trump-wrath-foreign-brief-ed-miliband/ Pentagon hiding missile shortage from White House, insiders fear https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2026/07/21/pentagon-hiding-missile-shortage-white-house/ [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2026/07/21/pentagon-hiding-missile-shortage-white-house/] Lebanon’s leader seeks Trump’s help to end occupation and insurrection https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/07/21/lebanons-leader-seeks-trumps-help-end-occupation/ ITL Best News and Analysis Podcast - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026 The Telegraph Podcast Publisher of the Year 2026 - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026 ITL Nominated Podcast of the Year - Society of Editors News Podcasts Awards 2026 Producer: Max Bower Video Producer: Peter Shevlin 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/ ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Trump hits Iran hard after US troops killed by ‘Chinese-guided’ strikes

The war between Donald Trump and Iran has escalated dramatically following the first direct US combat deaths since the start of the war and rare strikes against Saudi Arabia’s oil assets.  In today’s episode of Iran: The Latest, Venetia Rainey and chief foreign affairs commentator David Blair unpack the most violent weekend of the conflict since the ceasefire. Following deadly Iranian precision attacks on the Muwaffaq Salti airbase in Jordan - potentially with Chinese help - Trump has ordered strikes across the country and sought to cut off the crucial port city of Bandar Abbas.  Iran has furiously hit back by targeting Saudi Arabia’s key Yanbu oil infrastructure, alongside successful strikes on critical water infrastructure in Kuwait. Plus, they discuss reports of dwindling US interceptor missile stockpiles and whether the US is sliding into a forever war. Highlights * Trump hits Iran hard after US troops killed by ‘Chinese-guided’ missiles * Iran targets Saudi Arabia’s key Yanbu oil infrastructure CONTRIBUTORS: Venetia Rainey, co-host and executive producer @venetiarainey David Blair, chief foreign affairs commentator @davidblairdt WATCH US ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVAif-vifC6F2aoPB8GIw6dk [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVAif-vifC6F2aoPB8GIw6dk] CONTENT REFERENCED: Trump’s bridge strikes cut off city that keeps Iran alive https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2026/07/18/trump-iran-strikes-bridge-bandar-abbas/ [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2026/07/18/trump-iran-strikes-bridge-bandar-abbas/] ‘Controlled detonation’ of Iranian drone kills US soldier https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/07/19/us-punishes-iran-for-soldier-deaths-with-fresh-strikes/ [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/07/19/us-punishes-iran-for-soldier-deaths-with-fresh-strikes/] US doesn’t have enough missiles to return to all-out war with Iran https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/07/20/us-prepares-all-out-war-iran-sending-more-jets-middle-east/ [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/07/20/us-prepares-all-out-war-iran-sending-more-jets-middle-east/] Tom Sharpe: Iranian missiles are defeating US soft-kill defences using Chinese guidance https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/07/15/iran-hormuz-missile-strikes-us-china-beidou-satnav/ [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/07/15/iran-hormuz-missile-strikes-us-china-beidou-satnav/] ITL Best News and Analysis Podcast - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026 The Telegraph Podcast Publisher of the Year 2026 - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026 ITL Nominated Podcast of the Year - Society of Editors News Podcasts Awards 2026 Producer: Max Bower Video Producer: Peter Shevlin 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/ ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Trump bombs key ports and bridges as China upgrades Iranian missiles

Donald Trump has ordered the heaviest escalation in the US-Iran war so far this week, striking critical Iranian bridges, airports, and infrastructure surrounding the critical Strait of Hormuz chokepoint. Iran has hit back with attacks on the UAE, Qatar and other Gulf states, as well as allegedly targeting US Special Forces outposts in Syria. In today’s episode of Iran: The Latest, Sophia Yan and Roland Oliphant break down the overnight news of more kinetic strikes. Plus, Reuters global defence commentator Peter Apps joins the show to analyze how Iranian missiles are leveraging China’s encrypted BeiDou-3 satellite system to bypass Western air defenses, why the UAE is secretly bombing Iran, and whether the House of Saud is ready to ditch Washington for Beijing. Highlights * Trump destroys key ports and bridges in sweeping strikes * How China is upgrading Iranian missiles to make them harder to stop CONTRIBUTORS: Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant Sophia Yan, co-host and senior foreign correspondent @sophia_yan WATCH US ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVAif-vifC6F2aoPB8GIw6dk [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVAif-vifC6F2aoPB8GIw6dk] CONTENT REFERENCED: Burnham plans to sanction Israel set to anger White House https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2026/07/15/white-house-warns-burnham-do-not-sanction-israel/ [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2026/07/15/white-house-warns-burnham-do-not-sanction-israel/] Alleged spy charged with helping Iran’s secret service https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/07/17/counter-terror-police-charge-spying-iran/ [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/07/17/counter-terror-police-charge-spying-iran/] Iran’s war faces a dangerous new threat https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/07/15/houthis-plot-to-open-new-front-in-iran-war/ ITL Best News and Analysis Podcast - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026 The Telegraph Podcast Publisher of the Year 2026 - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026 ITL Nominated Podcast of the Year - Society of Editors News Podcasts Awards 2026 Producer: Max Bower Video Producer: Peter Shevlin 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/ ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

US blasts tanker with Hellfire missiles & why an Iran ground war is a trap

The US has dramatically expanded its strike campaign into northern Iran for the first time in this latest stage of the war, targeting critical ballistic missile and space facilities near Tehran.  With Donald Trump warning Tehran that they "better behave," the US Navy has unleashed Hellfire missiles to disable an oil tanker attempting to run the blockade. Iran has responded with drone and missile strikes targeting US bases in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan. On today’s episode of Iran: the Latest, Venetia Rainey and Roland Oliphant break down the overnight strikes, the high-stakes naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, and whether the US is preparing for an imminent ground campaign. Plus: is Donald Trump marching into a trap? Leaked reports suggest Washington is again considering an amphibious ground offensive to Iranian coastal territory. Former US Marine Colonel Andy Milburn breaks down why an amphibious landing along the Iranian coastline is a tactical dead-end and how Tehran’s decentralized "Mosaic Doctrine" is designed to survive Western airstrikes. Highlights * Trump launches hellfire missiles at tanker as American blockade escalates * US Marine colonel: A ground war in Iran is a trap with no purpose CONTRIBUTORS: Venetia Rainey, co-host and executive producer @venetiarainey Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant Andy Milburn, former US Marine colonel @andymilburn8 WATCH US ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVAif-vifC6F2aoP [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVAif-vifC6F2aoPB8GIw6dk] WATCH PART TWO - ROLAND’S INTERVIEW WITH ANDY MILBURN: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVAif-vifC6F2aoPB8GIw6dk [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVAif-vifC6F2aoPB8GIw6dk] CONTENT REFERENCED: The hidden messages behind Trump’s latest wave of Iran strikes https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/07/16/hidden-messages-behind-trumps-new-wave-of-iran-strikes/ Andy Milburn: Outgunned, But Not Outplayed: Iran’s Theory of Victory https://warontherocks.com/outgunned-but-not-outplayed-irans-theory-of-victory/ ITL Best News and Analysis Podcast - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026 The Telegraph Podcast Publisher of the Year 2026 - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026 ITL Nominated Podcast of the Year - Society of Editors News Podcasts Awards 2026 Producer: Peter Shevlin Video Producer: 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/ ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.