Iran: The Latest
The Telegraph
Iran: The Latest is The Telegraph’s defence, security and foreign affairs news 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.Every Wednesday on Battle Lines: Global Health Security they’re joined by Arthur Scott-Geddes to look at the intersection between health and security, from bioweapons to warzone diseases to frontline medicine. You can watch these episodes here.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.Battle Lines: Global Health Security is supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Feb 20, 2026 • 49min
Trump’s Iran plan: 'kick the door in' and hit the regime where it hurts
Maryam Mazrooei, an Iranian journalist and war photographer who fled after detention, gives firsthand testimony about repression inside Iran. Henry Bodkin, Jerusalem correspondent for The Telegraph, reports on military movements and strike capacities in the region. They discuss US carrier deployments, fast-jet and tanker movements, Iran’s defensive measures, and the risks of wider conflict and regime change.
Feb 18, 2026 • 32min
Frog poison, tear gas and Novichok: Inside Russia’s chemical weapons programme
Dr Gemma Bowsher, forensic and health researcher at King’s College London, and Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, former commander of the UK’s CBRN regiment, unpack the discovery that Navalny was killed with a rare frog poison. They trace how the toxin was identified, how samples were smuggled and forensically confirmed, and map Russia’s broader chemical capabilities from assassination agents to battlefield chemicals.
Feb 16, 2026 • 31min
North Korea 'names' 13-year-old nuclear heiress & inside Europe’s race to rearm
Phil Lockwood, former Canadian soldier and defence startup director, outlines how Europe is racing to scale arms production. Dr Edward Howell, Oxford North Korea specialist, assesses succession signals and intelligence limits. Lily Shanagher, The Telegraph reporter, describes Kim Ju-ae’s public appearances and the staged imagery that suggests a possible heir. Multiple short conversations explore succession signs and Europe's rearmament push.
Feb 13, 2026 • 40min
Vance’s ‘Enemy Within’: How the US shocked Europe into rearmament
A year ago, JD Vance gave an explosive speech at the Munich Security Conference. It marked a fundamental shift in the relationship between the US and its European allies that have since been cemented through tariff wars, a new National Security Strategy and threats to take Greenland. So has Europe risen to the challenge laid down by Donald Trump's administration and started to take care of its own security? Is there any trust left in the trans-Atlantic relationship? And will there be another attack on Europe at this weekend's Munich conference? Venetia and Roland chat to David Blair, Chief Foreign Affairs Commentator, and Joe Barnes, Brussels Correspondent to find out. Read Joe Barnes's story on how Europe ‘must become military superpower’ to survive without US: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/02/11/europe-must-be-military-superpower-to-survive-without-us/Read David Blair's analysis: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/d/da-de/david-blair/Pic credit: Matthias Schrader/APProducer: Peter ShevlinExecutive Producer: Louisa Wells► 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/fromtheeditorContact us with feedback or ideas:@venetiarainey@RolandOliphant Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Feb 11, 2026 • 37min
Trump’s 9 million death gamble: One year since he axed USAID
Kevin Melton, former USAID official turned CEO of PAC Strategies, brings insider perspective on stability and post-conflict tools. Angeli Achrekar, UNAIDS deputy executive director, speaks on HIV funding and treatment gaps. They discuss the shock of USAID's closure, potential mortality impacts, the US role in global HIV response, and how lost stability capabilities are being remade.
11 snips
Feb 9, 2026 • 42min
Project Vault: Trump's battle to break China’s critical mineral stranglehold
Naaja Nathanielsen, Greenland's minister overseeing mineral policy, and Sam Olson, chief analyst on critical minerals and geopolitical risk, discuss Project Vault and the race to secure rare earths. They cover why processing capacity matters more than mining. They examine China’s market leverage, funding and permitting challenges, Greenland’s timelines and sovereignty concerns.
Feb 6, 2026 • 1h 2min
'Copy Ukraine's defence model and reduce China dependency to survive'
Debates over political appointments and procurement transparency in defence. Questions about UK drone shortages, the troubled Ajax armoured vehicle, and reforming procurement. Urgent focus on Russia as the immediate threat and China's growing strategic support. Discussion of supply-chain resilience, critical minerals and how to fund defence priorities without reckless borrowing.
19 snips
Feb 4, 2026 • 32min
'No limits': Russia, China and US enter new nuclear arms race
Darya Dolzikova, RUSI expert on nuclear modernization, and Matthew Bunn, Harvard specialist in nonproliferation, discuss the fallout of New START's expiry. They explore why the U.S. and Russia retain huge arsenals. They examine China’s rapid buildup, novel Russian systems, trilateral control challenges, and how AI and decision speed raise new risks.
24 snips
Feb 2, 2026 • 39min
Trump masses 'large armada' to force Iran into nuclear deal
Sasha Brookman, defence analyst at IISS, explains US naval posture and military calculations toward Iran. Akhtar McCoy, foreign correspondent in Iran, relays on-the-ground reporting of protests, internet blackouts lifting, and regime fractures. They discuss the US armada, whether diplomacy masks military plans, the humanitarian toll, risks around the Strait of Hormuz, and Tehran’s internal politics.
Jan 30, 2026 • 44min
Nuclear secrets leak or paranoia? Why Xi really purged China’s top general
Oriana Schuyler-Mastro, a China military specialist from Stanford, explains the purge of PLA leadership. Rozina Sabur, national security editor, recounts state-linked hacking and espionage targeting UK officials. Gareth Corfield, investigative reporter, reveals unredacted embassy plans and surveillance risks. They discuss leaked nuclear claims, loyalty purges, embassy spying, burner-device tactics and wider UK-China security tensions.
