• ‘Wake up’: US forces Israel into Hezbollah ceasefire after stark warning
    Jun 19 2026

    Is Donald Trump’s US-Iran peace deal already falling apart?


    Less than a day after the historic MoU was signed to end the war, fighting has been ongoing in Lebanon, with Hezbollah killing four Israeli soldiers and Benjamin Netanyahu unleashing a punishing wave of air strikes across southern Lebanon. A new ceasefire has today been agreed - but can it hold?


    Sophia Yan and Venetia Rainey discuss the latest news and the significance of US Vice President JD Vance’s stark warning to Israel to “wake up and smell reality”.


    Plus, New York Times journalist Yeganeh Torbati, co-author of Stolen Revolution, joins to discuss why Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is distancing himself from Trump's deal, and how the IRGC is using this diplomatic breathing room to prepare for a potential resumption of the war down the line.


    Highlights


    • US forces Israel into Hezbollah ceasefire after stark warning
    • Is Donald Trump’s US-Iran peace deal already falling apart?


    CONTRIBUTORS:

    Sophia Yan, senior foreign correspondent, @sophia_yan

    Yeganeh Torbati, NYT journalist and co-author Stolen Revolution @yjtorbati


    Producer: Max Bower

    Executive Producers: Louisa Wells & Venetia Rainey


    WATCH US ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVAif-vifC6F2aoPB8GIw6dk


    CONTENT REFERENCED:

    Vance tells Israel: You can’t kill your way out of problems

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2026/06/18/jd-vance-israel-friends/


    Stolen Revolution: Betrayal & Hope in Modern Iran

    https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/457807/stolen-revolution-by-torbati-bozorgmehr-sharafedin-and-yeganeh/9780241744017

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    39 mins
  • 4-2 to Iran: Trump’s peace deal proves the US lost the war
    Jun 18 2026

    Donald Trump has signed a peace deal with Iran, but his critics are saying it’s a humiliation.


    Roland Oliphant and David Blair go through the US-Iran deal line by line and give each side a score, from $300bn in payments to Iran to the reopening Strait of Hormuz to a ban on nuclear weapons. Among those critical of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is former vice president Mike Pence, who has called Trump an appeaser and accused him of handing a “lifeline” to the Iranian regime - is he right?


    Highlights


    • 4-2 to Tehran - the US-Iran peace deal gutted
    • How the MoU proves the US lost the war


    CONTRIBUTORS:

    Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant

    David Blair, chief foreign affairs commentator @davidblairdt


    CONTENT REFERENCED:

    How Trump’s ‘Operation Epic Disaster’ turned the world against America

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2026/06/18/iran-war-trump-us-credibility/


    David Blair: Trump’s extraordinary deal is a survival plan for Iran

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/06/17/iran-deal-survival-plan-for-islamic-republic/


    Producer: Peter Shevlin

    Executive Producers: Venetia Rainey & 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/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/

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    39 mins
  • Why Trump is throwing Israel under the bus over the Iran war
    Jun 17 2026

    As details of the US-Iran 14-point peace deal leaks, Trump and other world leaders at the G7 summit today are singing its praises - but is it any good?


    Venetia Rainey breaks down the proposed timeline in the Memorandum of Understanding that will see the war officially end, the Strait of Hormuz open up, sanctions on Iran lifted and something unspecified happen to Tehran’s enriched uranium.


    One country is particularly unhappy: Israel. So how will Benjamin Netanyahu respond? Global health security editor Paul Nuki joins from Tel Aviv to deliver a blunt realpolitik assessment on why Trump is trying to make Israel the lightning rod for the fallout from his unpopular war.


    CONTRIBUTORS:

    Venetia Rainey, co-Host and Executive Producer @venetiarainey

    Paul Nuki, Global Health Security Editor @PaulNuki


    CONTENT REFERENCED:

    The 14-point Iran deal in full – and how it favours Tehran

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/06/17/the-14-point-iran-deal-in-full-how-it-favours-tehran/


    War of broken promises leaves Israel weakened and despondent

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/06/16/broken-promises-israel-weakened-iran-trump/


    IDF soldier ‘just wanted to kill’ my son

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/06/14/idf-soldier-just-wanted-to-kill-my-son/


    Producer: Peter Shevlin

    Executive Producers: Venetia Rainey & 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/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/


    HIGHLIGHTS

    • Why Trump is throwing Israel under the bus over Iran war
    • ‘Iran had its foot on the world’s throat. This deal is a way out’



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    31 mins
  • 'Mini exodus' in Strait of Hormuz as Vance insists peace deal is ‘good for US’
    Jun 16 2026

    It’s become the crux of the US-Iran peace deal: is the Strait of Hormuz open or closed, free or with tolls?


    Roland Oliphant speaks to Richard Meade, editor in chief of Lloyd’s List, explains the lingering uncertainties left from Donald Trump’s Middle East war keeping shipping executives up at night and placing ordinary sailors in danger.


    Plus: as JD Vance insists the deal is “good for the American people”, Roland looks at the latest news, including the UK and France saying they are ready to help protect freedom of navigation in Hormuz and the politicisation of shipping from Iran to Russia.


    Highlights


    • Why Trump's peace deal hinges on the Strait of Hormuz
    • Mini exodus' of ships as Vance insists peace deal is ‘good for US’


    Producer: Peter Shevlin

    Executive Producers: Venetia Rainey & 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/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 for more information.

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    34 mins
  • Trump’s peace deal: is the US paying Iran to reopen Hormuz?
    Jun 15 2026

    Donald Trump has declared the Iran war over, telling oil tankers to "start their engines" as Tehran reopens the Strait of Hormuz and the US lifts its naval blockade. So why are so many people unhappy with the ‘peace deal’?


    Roland Oliphant and Venetia Rainey dive into the latest news of what we know today about the Memorandum of Understanding - and what we don’t. They discuss the problems raised by the outline of the deal so far - from an agreement on nuclear weapons to the war in Lebanon - and why Israeli military leaders are calling it a "strategic failure”.


    Highlights:



    • Trump’s peace deal: is the US paying Iran to reopen Hormuz?
    • Plus: why both Israelis and Iranians are furious


    CONTRIBUTORS:

    Venetia Rainey, co-host and executive producer @venetiarainey

    Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant


    CONTENT REFERENCED:


    WATCH US ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVAif-vifC6F2aoPB8GIw6dk


    The winners and losers of the Iran war

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/06/14/winners-losers-iran-war-usa-trump-middle-east/


    After 106 days of war, how Donald Trump and Iran finally agreed a deal

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2026/06/15/how-trump-iran-agreed-war-nuclear-strait-hormuz-deal/


    Thirteen thousand air strikes - for what?

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/06/15/us-launched-13000-air-strikes-on-iran-for-what/


    WATCH THE FULL EPISODE ON YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/-3VEIOK3-SU


    Producer: Peter Shevlin

    Executive Producers: Venetia Rainey & 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/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 for more information.

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    31 mins
  • 100 days of US-Iran war: the winners and losers
    Jun 14 2026

    After more than 100 days of the US-Iran war launched by Donald Trump, who is winning and who is losing?


    An American and an Iranian debate the big successes, what could have gone better, and what the long-term implications will be. Venetia Rainey and Roland Oliphant are joined by Ben Hodges, former US general and commander of the US Army in Europe, and Holly Dagres, Washington Institute analyst and author of The Iranist substack.


    They discuss the most significant moments from the war, from Ali Khamenei's death to an attack on a US base in Kuwait, why China is benefitting, and what surprised them most.


    Highlights


    • 100 days of war: the winners and losers so far
    • An American general and an Iranian analyst debate


    CONTRIBUTORS:

    Venetia Rainey, co-host @venetiarainey

    Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant

    Ben Hodges, former commanding general US Army Europe @general_ben

    Holly Dagres, Washington Institute analyst and The Iranist author @hdagres


    WATCH THE FULL EPISODE ON YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/-3VEIOK3-SU


    Producer: Peter Shevlin

    Executive Producers: Venetia Rainey & 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/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 for more information.

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    42 mins
  • ‘End it now’: Trump cancels Iran strikes as Gulf prays for deal
    Jun 12 2026

    Donald Trump says the Iran war could be ended with a peace deal this weekend.


    For the Gulf, everything is at stake. Battered by Iranian missiles and drones throughout the war and economically strangled by the Strait of Hormuz crisis, the Gulf states are desperate for the war to end - so much so that some are even having their own talks with Tehran.


    Sophia Yan chats to UAE-based Aniseh Bassiri Tabrizi, associate fellow for Chatham House’s MENA programme, about why despite Iran’s aggression, countries there just want things to go back to how they were before the war.


    Highlights:


    • Trump says Iran war could end with peace deal this weekend
    • Why the Gulf wishes the Iran war never happened


    CONTRIBUTORS:

    Sophia Yan, co-host and senior foreign correspondent @sophia_yan

    Aniseh Bassiri Tabrizi, Associate Fellow MENA Programme Chatham House @AnisehBassiri


    Producer: Max Bower

    Executive Producers: Venetia Rainey & 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/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 for more information.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    35 mins
  • Trump hits Iran with dozens of Tomahawks as war looms over World Cup
    Jun 11 2026

    Is this the start of a new phase in the US-Iran war?


    Following another night of US strikes on Iran and Tehran responding by hitting its Gulf neighbours, Donald Trump has today vowed to ramp things up even further tonight. Roland Oliphant discusses the latest news with chief foreign affairs commentator David Blair, and asks whether Trump can bomb his way out of the deadlock.


    Plus, for the first time ever, the World Cup 2026 will see a nation host a team it's currently at war with. As the competition kicks off, sports news reporter Tom Morgan joins Roland Oliphant from Mexico to discuss the strength of each side's teams, the politics behind the visa and ticketing rows, and how Iran and USA could even face one another on the pitch.


    Highlights


    • Trump hits Iran with dozens of Tomahawks and vows to keep going
    • The World Cup Iran war row: Everything you need to know


    CONTRIBUTORS:


    Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant

    David Blair, chief foreign affairs commentator @davidblairdt

    Tom Morgan, sports news correspondent @Tom_Morgs


    CONTENT REFERENCED:

    Iran arrive at World Cup with swipe at US over attack on school

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2026/06/08/iran-team-arrive-mexico-world-cup-swipe-us-attack-school/


    As cartels slink into shadows for the World Cup, horror remains

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2026/06/10/world-cup-mexico-search-victims-cartels-disappeared/


    Producer: Peter Shevlin

    Executive Producers: Venetia Rainey & 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/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 for more information.

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    35 mins