Trump vows to hit Iran ‘hard’ despite US military war warning | Iran: the Latest news
For the first time in over a month, fighting has erupted in the Strait of Hormuz after US forces struck Iranian sea mine-equipped rocket launchers on Larak Island. Iran retaliated by targeting US bases in Jordan, prompting Donald Trump to vow to hit Iran “hard”.
On today's episode of Iran: The Latest, Venetia Rainey and Roland Oliphant unpack the details of the violence and why Trump has posted an AI video of an attack on Kharg Island. They also discuss why President Masoud Pezeshkian is calling for a return to the Memorandum of Understanding peace deal amid growing pressure on Iran’s economy from the US blockade.
Plus, a leaked report shows top military commanders have warned Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that the war is unsustainable, as US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll abruptly resigns amid growing chaos in the Pentagon.
00:00 - Introduction & Weekend Overview
00:38 - Preemptive US Strikes on Larak Island
01:20 - IRGC Retaliation: Jordan Air Base Strikes
02:22 - Trump’s Threat & AI Kharg Island Video
03:14 - Tanker Attacks in the Strait of Hormuz
03:50 - Disputed Claims Over Mine Clearing
05:15 - Fast-5 Rocket System & Mine Deployment
06:26 - US Blockade & Impact on Oil Prices
07:00 - Severe Economic Inflation inside Iran
08:13 - President Pezeshkian’s Call to Restore MOU
09:50 - Regional Reactions to Diplomatic Stagnation
10:47 - Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit
#USIranWar #StraitOfHormuz #MiddleEastNews
Picture credit: Trump / Truth Social - note, this image was AI generated
CONTRIBUTORS:
Venetia Rainey, co-host and executive producer @venetiarainey
Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant
WATCH US ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVAif-vifC6F2aoPB8GIw6dk
CONTENT REFERENCED:
US strikes Iran for first time in a month
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/08/30/pete-hegseth-told-not-to-extend-iran-war/
Trump posts AI video of Kharg Island being ‘blown to smithereens’
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/08/31/donald-trump-ai-video-kharg-island-iran-middle-east/
Washington Post: Military leaders warn Hegseth against extending Iran war operations
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/08/30/military-leaders-warn-hegseth-against-extending-iran-war-operations/
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
Audio Producer: Max Bower
Video Producer: Peter Shevlin
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/
On today's episode of Iran: The Latest, Venetia Rainey and Roland Oliphant unpack the details of the violence and why Trump has posted an AI video of an attack on Kharg Island. They also discuss why President Masoud Pezeshkian is calling for a return to the Memorandum of Understanding peace deal amid growing pressure on Iran’s economy from the US blockade.
Plus, a leaked report shows top military commanders have warned Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that the war is unsustainable, as US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll abruptly resigns amid growing chaos in the Pentagon.
00:00 - Introduction & Weekend Overview
00:38 - Preemptive US Strikes on Larak Island
01:20 - IRGC Retaliation: Jordan Air Base Strikes
02:22 - Trump’s Threat & AI Kharg Island Video
03:14 - Tanker Attacks in the Strait of Hormuz
03:50 - Disputed Claims Over Mine Clearing
05:15 - Fast-5 Rocket System & Mine Deployment
06:26 - US Blockade & Impact on Oil Prices
07:00 - Severe Economic Inflation inside Iran
08:13 - President Pezeshkian’s Call to Restore MOU
09:50 - Regional Reactions to Diplomatic Stagnation
10:47 - Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit
#USIranWar #StraitOfHormuz #MiddleEastNews
Picture credit: Trump / Truth Social - note, this image was AI generated
CONTRIBUTORS:
Venetia Rainey, co-host and executive producer @venetiarainey
Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant
WATCH US ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVAif-vifC6F2aoPB8GIw6dk
CONTENT REFERENCED:
US strikes Iran for first time in a month
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/08/30/pete-hegseth-told-not-to-extend-iran-war/
Trump posts AI video of Kharg Island being ‘blown to smithereens’
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/08/31/donald-trump-ai-video-kharg-island-iran-middle-east/
Washington Post: Military leaders warn Hegseth against extending Iran war operations
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/08/30/military-leaders-warn-hegseth-against-extending-iran-war-operations/
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
Audio Producer: Max Bower
Video Producer: Peter Shevlin
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/