Iran warns it will block Gulf and Red Sea

Iran warns it will block Gulf and Red Sea

Author: BBC World Service April 15, 2026 Duration: 26:43
Global News Podcast
NewsDaily

Iran warns that it will block trade through the Red Sea as well as the Gulf and the Sea of Oman, if the United States continues its own blockade of Iranian ports and shipping. The head of the Iranian military command centre says the US blockade is a prelude to a violation of the ceasefire. Also: a day after peace talks in Washington between Israel and Lebanon, the Iranian backed group, Hezbollah, and Israel exchange fire again. On the third anniversary of the civil war in Sudan, an international donors conference takes place in Berlin. At least four people are killed in a school shooting in southern Turkey. A new German online search engine is helping people to discover if their ancestors were members of the Nazi Party. President Trump criticises Pope Leo again following his condemnation of the war in Iran as well as US immigration policies. Russia's foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, meets the Chinese President, Xi Jinping, in Beijing. Speaking after the meeting, Mr Xi praised the close cooperation between Russia and China. And, ahead of the men's football World Cup, Brazil's first official tartan is formally unveiled in Scotland, designed by a six-year-old Scottish schoolgirl.

The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk


Staying informed means navigating a constant stream of events, and the Global News Podcast from the BBC World Service provides a grounded, thorough digest of that flow. This isn't just a headline service; it's a twice-daily briefing that situates you within the day's most pressing stories, particularly focusing on complex, unfolding situations. Right now, that means dedicated coverage from across the Middle East, including Iran, Israel, Lebanon, and the Gulf states, offering clarity on regional dynamics and their global implications. Alongside that essential regional focus, the podcast consistently pulls back for a wider lens, bringing reports and context from every corner of the world. What you'll hear is the BBC's signature blend of on-the-ground reporting and measured expert analysis, all designed to build understanding rather than just summarize events. For a reliable, in-depth audio briefing that updates each weekday morning and evening, this podcast delivers a comprehensive picture of our world as it happens.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Official website RSS
Global News Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Uncertainty over US-Iran peace talks [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:56
Iran's chief negotiator has cast fresh doubt on whether a second round of peace talks with the United States will go ahead in Pakistan. Mohammed Bagher Qalibaf said Tehran would not accept negotiations under the shadow o…
Are insider traders making millions from the Iran war? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:54
The BBC has found a pattern of spikes in trades on financial markets ahead of public announcements by President Trump, including during the Iran war. It's raised suspicions of insider trading, where bets are made based o…
US seizes Iranian-flagged cargo ship [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:31
The US military says it has intercepted an Iranian-flagged cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman as part of its naval blockade. Iran has promised to retaliate. The announcement came after the White House confirmed US Vice-Presi…
Iran closes Strait of Hormuz a day after declaring it open [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:16
Iran says its forces are in full control of the Strait of Hormuz and passage through the vital oil waterway would remain restricted, unless the US removed its blockade of Iranian ports. President Trump has said the US wi…
The Happy Pod: Filling the empty chair left by my best friend [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:30
We meet the man helping to tackle loneliness by offering strangers somewhere to sit and chat. Dean Perryman started the Empty Chairs project, honouring the memory of his best friend. After he posted the concept online, i…
US and Tehran dispute the future of Iran's uranium [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:18
President Trump has again insisted that Tehran is ready to hand over its enriched uranium as part of a deal to end the war, despite Iran saying no such agreement is in place, and that its nuclear material is "going nowhe…
Tens of thousands of Lebanese return home after ceasefire [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:04
A 10-day pause in the fighting between Israeli forces and Hezbollah has led to tens of thousands of displaced Lebanese families returning home. Despite the ceasefire, Israel has said it reserves the right to continue tar…
Ceasefire in Lebanon begins [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:48
A 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon has come into effect after it was brokered by the United States. Hezbollah have indicated they will observe the truce, though Israeli troops are to remain in Lebanese areas t…
Pope Leo: 'world ravaged by handful of tyrants' [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:35
In unusually forceful political remarks, Pope Leo has said the world is "being ravaged by a handful of tyrants". Addressing a crowd during his visit to a region of Cameroon affected by a separatist insurgency, the head o…

«123456...10»