Trump vows 'economic D-Day' as US jets escort oil tankers through Hormuz | Iran: the Latest news
Donald Trump has vowed an ‘economic D-Day’ to crush Iran, amid news that the US military is stealthily getting oil out of the Strait of Hormuz despite Tehran’s attacks. Will US jets escorting tankers stop oil prices from rising further?
In today’s episode of Iran: The Latest, Roland Oliphant talks to Matthew Savill, director of Military Sciences at the UK’s Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), to dissect the reality of Iran’s diminishing maritime leverage in the war, and how effective economic pressure will be on the Iranian regime.
Plus, Britain’s diminishing minehunting capabilities in the Middle East, why Iran views the UK as the ‘Little Satan’, and what it’s like to be attacked by Iranian-backed militias in Iraq.
CHAPTERS
00:00 — Trump’s ‘Economic D-Day’ against Iran
01:23 — Maximum Pressure Part 2: US targets Iran’s lifelines
03:38 — Secondary Sanctions: Will the US go after China?
05:18 — Why Europe won’t save Iran from US sanctions
07:44 — Is Iran’s economic leverage running out?
10:03 — US Navy establishes Hormuz oil shipping corridor
13:03 — Can US fighter jets keep the Strait of Hormuz open?
17:19 — Inside US & UK military contingency plans for Iran
20:47 — IRGC drone and missile threat in the Persian Gulf
22:35 — UK deep state policy and the IRGC proscription debate
CONTRIBUTORS:
Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant
Matthew Savill, RUSI director of Military Sciences, @MTSavill
CONTENT REFERENCED:
Trump declares ‘economic D-Day’ against Iran
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2026/08/20/trump-declares-economic-d-day-iran-sanctions/
Winner Best News and Analysis Podcast - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026
Nominated Podcast of the Year - Society of Editors News Podcasts Awards 2026
Nominated Best News, Politics and Current Affairs - British Podcast Awards 2026
The Telegraph, Winner Podcast Publisher of the Year 2026 - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026
Video Producer: Max Bower
Audio Producer: David Dargahi
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/
In today’s episode of Iran: The Latest, Roland Oliphant talks to Matthew Savill, director of Military Sciences at the UK’s Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), to dissect the reality of Iran’s diminishing maritime leverage in the war, and how effective economic pressure will be on the Iranian regime.
Plus, Britain’s diminishing minehunting capabilities in the Middle East, why Iran views the UK as the ‘Little Satan’, and what it’s like to be attacked by Iranian-backed militias in Iraq.
CHAPTERS
00:00 — Trump’s ‘Economic D-Day’ against Iran
01:23 — Maximum Pressure Part 2: US targets Iran’s lifelines
03:38 — Secondary Sanctions: Will the US go after China?
05:18 — Why Europe won’t save Iran from US sanctions
07:44 — Is Iran’s economic leverage running out?
10:03 — US Navy establishes Hormuz oil shipping corridor
13:03 — Can US fighter jets keep the Strait of Hormuz open?
17:19 — Inside US & UK military contingency plans for Iran
20:47 — IRGC drone and missile threat in the Persian Gulf
22:35 — UK deep state policy and the IRGC proscription debate
CONTRIBUTORS:
Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant
Matthew Savill, RUSI director of Military Sciences, @MTSavill
CONTENT REFERENCED:
Trump declares ‘economic D-Day’ against Iran
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2026/08/20/trump-declares-economic-d-day-iran-sanctions/
Winner Best News and Analysis Podcast - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026
Nominated Podcast of the Year - Society of Editors News Podcasts Awards 2026
Nominated Best News, Politics and Current Affairs - British Podcast Awards 2026
The Telegraph, Winner Podcast Publisher of the Year 2026 - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026
Video Producer: Max Bower
Audio Producer: David Dargahi
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/
k play/pause · j/l ±10 s · m mute · f fullscreen · t theatre · shift+n next