Iran warns Trump: ‘We’ll take war global if you bomb us again’

Iran warns Trump: ‘We’ll take war global if you bomb us again’

Author: The Telegraph May 20, 2026 Duration: 38:33

Iran has threatened to spread the war beyond the Middle East if Donald Trump starts bombing the country again. Is it an empty threat or should we be worried?


Jonathan Hackett, a former US Marine Corps interrogator and special operations intelligence officer, joins the podcast again to discuss the state of Iran’s military capabilities, their Mosaic Doctrine and what next for the war with Venetia Rainey, Sophia Yan and Roland Oliphant.


They also discuss reports today that the US wanted to install former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Ali Khamenei’s place, news of secret Israeli bases in the Iraqi desert, and the shady Iran-linked group known as HAYI behind a series of attacks on Jews in London. 


Plus, as Vladimir Putin visits Xi Jinping in China, Sophia looks at how the energy crisis caused by the war has boosted Moscow by forcing the UK and US to drop sanctions on Russian oil, and Venetia looks at JD Vance’s latest comments on peace deal talks. 


Highlights

  • Iran warns Trump: ‘We’ll take war global if you bomb us again’
  • A US Marine on Iran’s terror war against the West


CONTRIBUTORS:


Venetia Rainey, co-host and executive producer @venetiarainey

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

Sophia Yan, co-host and senior foreign correspondent @sophia_yan

Jonathan Hackett, former US Marine Corps @jonathanhackett


CONTENT REFERENCED:


Akhtar Makoii: Iran’s plan to strike back in second round of war

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/05/19/iran-plan-strike-back-second-round-war/


Badenoch: PM’s sanctions U-turn will fund killing of Ukrainian soldiers

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2026/05/20/starmer-eases-sanctions-on-russian-oil/


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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