Iran demands $24bn to sign US peace deal - will Trump accept?

Iran demands $24bn to sign US peace deal - will Trump accept?

Author: The Telegraph May 27, 2026 Duration: 35:48

Iran appears increasingly confident that it will secure a favourable end to the war with the US.


From demanding $24bn in frozen assets to publishing what they say is a draft peace deal to restoring the Internet after nearly 90 days, Tehran seems to feel victory both at home and abroad is within its grasp. Foreign correspondent Akhtar Makoii joins Roland Oliphant and Venetia Rainey to discuss the latest news from inside Iran, as well as the significance of one of the country’s biggest exports: pistachios. 


Plus, as Israel launches a deadly new phase in its campaign against Hezbollah, UNIFIL spokesperson Kandice Ardiel joins from Beirut to share her insights on what it’s like working as a peacekeeper in southern Lebanon caught between the two longtime enemies. 


Highlights

  • Iran demands $24bn to sign US peace deal - will Trump accept? 
  • 'They think the war is over': Why Iran is restoring internet access


CONTRIBUTORS:


Venetia Rainey, co-host and executive producer @venetiarainey

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

Akhtar Makoii, foreign correspondent @akhtar_makoii

Kandice Ardiel, UNIFIL spokesperson @hikandice


CONTENT REFERENCED:


Iran will sign peace deal only if US releases $24bn of frozen assets

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/05/26/iran-peace-deal-us-release-24bn-frozen-assets/


The $24bn cost of Trump’s capitulation on Iran

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2026/05/26/trump-us-iran-capitulation/


Akhtar Makoii: Iran’s hardliners are sabotaging their own government’s peace talks

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/05/26/iran-hardliners-sabotaging-peace-talks/


Producer: Peter Shevlin

Executive Producers: Venetia Rainey & Louisa Wells


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For those trying to understand the complex and rapidly shifting landscape of the Middle East, Iran: The Latest offers essential context. This Telegraph podcast moves beyond the headlines to examine the military, diplomatic, and strategic forces shaping the ongoing tensions between Iran, the United States, and Israel. Hosted by veteran foreign correspondents Roland Oliphant and Venetia Rainey, each episode synthesizes frontline reporting from the paper's award-winning journalists with insightful conversations. You'll hear from specialists in areas like regional security architecture, covert operations, and geopolitical theory, providing a clearer picture of the stakes involved. The analysis considers historical grievances, economic pressures, and potential flashpoints, from proxy conflicts to direct confrontations. It’s a resource for anyone who wants to grasp not just what is happening, but why it matters and what might come next. By drawing on deep sourcing and expert commentary, this podcast delivers a nuanced perspective that is both timely and thoroughly researched, making sense of a critical and often misunderstood arena of global affairs.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

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