{"podcast":{"title":"Iran: The Latest","slug":"iran-the-latest-6656846","podcast_index_feed_id":6656846,"rss_url":"https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/6583019ebbd71a00175001c8","website_url":"https://www.telegraph.co.uk/iran--the-latest/","image_url":"https://assets.pippa.io/shows/6583019ebbd71a00175001c8/1772473555635-cba7af84-d6d4-4f86-919d-4324a711e2a4.jpeg","author":"Louisa Wells","episode_count":354,"summary":"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…","last_synced_at":"2026-07-21T06:20:06.077420+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/iran-the-latest-6656846"},"episode":{"title":"Sea mines and fast boats: how Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz","slug":"sea-mines-and-fast-boats-how-iran-closed-the-strait-of-hormuz","published_at":"2026-04-23T16:20:33+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/iran-the-latest-6656846/sea-mines-and-fast-boats-how-iran-closed-the-strait-of-hormuz","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/iran-the-latest-6656846","url":"https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/04/23/how-iran-closed-strait-of-hormuz-sea-mines-suicide-boats/","audio_url":"https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6583019ebbd71a00175001c8/e/69ea457d17df632b854ac866/media.mp3","summary":"What will it take to protect the Strait of Hormuz from Iran’s sea mines and fast boats? With Tehran now charging extortionate tolls, attacking commercial ships who do not get permission to transit and reportedly laying around 20 sea mines, the vital waterway has become a living nightmare. President Donald Trump today told the US Navy to fire on any boats laying mines, but with Pentagon estimates that it will take six months to mine-sweep the Strait, is that enough?  To discuss the problem, Venetia Rainey is joined by Emma Salisbury, an Associate Fellow at the Royal Navy Strategic Studies Centre. Emma explains how American minesweeping capabilities became so heavily degraded, why Iran’s non-conventional navy remains so effective and hard to destroy, and the maritime signs that Trump may be considering a return to all-out war.  Plus, senior foreign correspondent Sophia Yan talks through the latest news and updates from the region, including the status of the US-Iran ceasefire, reports that America is running out of munitions, and the Lebanon-Israel peace talks to disarm Hezbollah.  Highlights:  Why it would take the US six months to minesweep the Strait of Hormuz - in peacetime Sophia Yan on how the Iran war became a game of chicken CONTRIBUTORS: Venetia Rainey, co-host @venetiarainey Sophia Yan, senior foreign correspondent @sophia_yan Emma Salisbury, associate fellow Royal Navy Strategic Studies Centre @salisbot CONTENT REFERENCED: The Mine Gap: America Forgot How to Sweep the Sea Iranian shadow fleet tankers break through US blockade Trump has eight days to make up his mind on Iran Last Rounds? Status of Key Munitions at the Iran War Ceasefire Producer: Peter Shevlin Executive Producers: Venetia Rainey & Louisa Wells ► Sign up to our most popul…","meta_description":"What will it take to protect the Strait of Hormuz from Iran’s sea mines and fast boats? With Tehran now charging extortionate tolls, attacking commercial…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":2787,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/iran-the-latest-6656846/episodes/sea-mines-and-fast-boats-how-iran-closed-the-strait-of-hormuz/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/iran-the-latest-6656846/sea-mines-and-fast-boats-how-iran-closed-the-strait-of-hormuz.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}