The Intelligence from The Economist

The third Gulf war: one week on

After a momentous week [https://www.economist.com/briefing/2026/03/05/how-the-latest-regional-conflict-is-reshaping-the-middle-east?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners], our editors reflect on how uncertainty about the goals of the war in Iran [https://www.economist.com/leaders/2026/03/05/donald-trump-must-stop-soon?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners] will affect its course. Iran’s retaliation has been fierce and wide ranging. How long can Gulf stocks of missile interceptors [https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2026/03/03/are-gulf-states-running-out-of-missile-interceptors?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners] last? And our obituaries editor looks back at the life of Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei [https://www.economist.com/obituary/2026/03/03/ali-khamenei-hoped-his-legacy-might-last-for-ever?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners].  Guests and host: * Edward Carr, Economist deputy editor  * Josie Delap, Middle East editor * Shashank Joshi, defence editor * Ann Wroe, obituaries editor * Rosie Blau, host of “The Intelligence” Topics covered:  * Iran, Donald Trump, third Gulf war, war goals * Interceptor missiles, military strategy * Ali Khamenei  Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+ [https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus] For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page [https://myaccount.economist.com/s/article/What-is-Economist-Podcasts] or watch our video [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gczo71bg1uY] explaining how to link your account. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Spars and strikes: Who backs Iran war?

As America continues to batter Iran, what are the domestic implications [https://www.economist.com/united-states/2026/03/03/the-perils-of-donald-trumps-pivot-from-peace-to-war-president?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners] of the war for Donald Trump? The widening conflict [https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2026/03/04/the-iran-war-has-been-a-stunning-operational-success?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners] has prompted some European countries to deploy defensive forces. France [https://www.economist.com/europe/2026/03/03/what-frances-new-nuclear-arms-doctrine-means-for-europe?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners] has also announced a bigger shift in policy: to bolster its nuclear arsenal. And the politics of beer and nappies [https://www.economist.com/business/2026/02/15/why-maga-brands-have-been-a-flop?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners]. Guests and host: * Adam Roberts, foreign editor * Sophie Pedder, Paris bureau chief * Shera Avi-Yonah, business writer * Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence” * Jason Palmer, co-host of “The intelligence” Topics covered:  * Iran, Donald Trump, senate, Turkey * France, Macron, nuclear warheads, NATO * MAGA, marketing  Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+ [https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus] For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page [https://myaccount.economist.com/s/article/What-is-Economist-Podcasts] or watch our video [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gczo71bg1uY] explaining how to link your account. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Crude awakening: Iran oil shock

As America and Israel continue to bombard Iran, much of Iran’s retaliation is directed against energy infrastructure [https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2026/03/03/the-nightmare-iran-energy-scenario-is-becoming-reality?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners]. With tankers blocked and oil prices rising, our correspondent discusses the impact on the global economy. Why do student debts weigh heavily on Britain’s graduates? And is line dancing [https://www.economist.com/culture/2026/02/22/the-latest-choreography-craze-line-dancing?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners] really becoming sexy?  Guests and host: * Rachana Shanbhogue, business affairs editor * Josh Roberts, capital markets correspondent * Hollie Berman, news editor, US bureau   * Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”  * Jason Palmer, co-host of “The intelligence” Topics covered:  * Iran, oil, gas, global economy, Dubai, Gulf, stockmarkets * Britain, universities, student loans, tax * Line dancing, New York, bar culture Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+ [https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus] For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page [https://myaccount.economist.com/s/article/What-is-Economist-Podcasts] or watch our video [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gczo71bg1uY] explaining how to link your account.  ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Escalation: Middle East war widens

The war in Iran [https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2026/03/02/the-iran-war-is-rapidly-engulfing-the-region?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners] has entered its fourth day with further American and Israeli strikes, and Iranian retaliation across the region. Now Israel’s prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu has launched a ground offensive in Lebanon [https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2026/03/02/hizbullah-the-reluctant-proxy-strikes-at-israel?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners]. Attacks on Tehran involved the use of Artificial Intelligence, so why is the Pentagon picking a fight with Anthropic [https://www.economist.com/business/2026/02/24/pete-hegseth-wages-war-on-anthropic?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners], its supplier? And Pokémon [https://www.economist.com/culture/2026/02/26/thirty-years-on-pokemon-is-still-a-monster-hit?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners] turns 30. Watch “The Insider [https://www.economist.com/insider?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners]” on Iran: Economist experts ask what will happen next Guests and host: * Anshel Pfeffer, Israel correspondent * Henry Tricks, US technology editor * Moeka Iida, Japan correspondent * Rosie Blau, host of “The Intelligence” Topics covered:  * War in Iran, America, Israel, Lebanon, Hizbullah, Middle East * Anthropic, OpenAI, Claude, Artificial Intelligence  * Pokemon, media Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+ [https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus] For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page [https://myaccount.economist.com/s/article/What-is-Economist-Podcasts] or watch our video [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gczo71bg1uY] explaining how to link your account. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

War with Iran: Middle East in flames

This weekend, America and Israel launched long-anticipated attacks on Iran [https://www.economist.com/leaders/2026/03/01/why-donald-trump-gambled-in-iran?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners], killing Ali Khamenei, [https://www.economist.com/obituary/2026/03/01/ali-khamenei-grabbed-power-and-held-it-at-bloody-cost?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners] the country’s supreme leader. Our correspondents analyse what his death means for the country [https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2026/03/01/war-succession-and-the-perilous-test-of-two-myths-about-iran?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners] and the strategy behind Iran’s retaliation. We report how Gulf States [https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2026/02/28/americas-gulf-allies-face-a-moment-of-great-peril?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners] are dealing with unprecedented instability within their borders. And we assess Iran’s military capability and what might happen next. Guests and host: * Nicolas Pelham, Middle East correspondent  * Gregg Carlstrom, Middle East correspondent  * Gareth Browne, Middle East reporter * Shashank Joshi, defence editor * Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence” Topics covered:  * Iran attacks, military capability * Ali Khamenei, succession  * Donald Trump, foreign policy * Gulf States, Dubai  Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+ [https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus] For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page [https://myaccount.economist.com/s/article/What-is-Economist-Podcasts] or watch our video [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gczo71bg1uY] explaining how to link your account.  ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.