‘Love tap’ or ‘reckless adventure’? US and Iran trade fire and blame

‘Love tap’ or ‘reckless adventure’? US and Iran trade fire and blame

Author: The Telegraph May 8, 2026 Duration: 42:39

The US and Iran have traded fire - and blame - in the Strait of Hormuz, is the war about to restart?


The ceasefire is looking shakier than ever after America bombed Iranian coastal cities overnight. It said it was a response to Tehran attacking three US destroyers passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Today, Iran has attacked the UAE with drones and missiles. President Donald Trump says the US strikes were just a “love tap”, while Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi calls it a “reckless military adventure”. 


Venetia Rainey is joined by Washington bureau chief Arthur MacMillan to discuss the view from the US following a week of U-turns and uncertainty. He explains why he does not have high expectations of a peace deal being struck before Trump goes to China, what the American public make of the war, and why the US may well pull more troops out of Europe.  


Plus, Jerusalem correspondent Henry Bodkin takes listeners inside a Hezbollah tunnel in a dispatch from southern Lebanon, where he reports on Israel’s plan to create a northern buffer zone in the style of Gaza. 


Highlights 

  • ‘Love tap’ or ‘reckless adventure’? US and Iran trade fire and blame
  • Plus: a dispatch from inside a Hezbollah tunnel in Lebanon


CONTRIBUTORS:


Venetia Rainey, co-host @venetiarainey

Arthur MacMillan, Washington bureau chief @arthurmacmillan

Henry Bodkin, Jerusalem correspondent @HenryBodkin


CONTENT REFERENCED:


Connor Stringer: How Trump’s ‘Project Freedom’ fell apart in one day

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2026/05/06/us-iran-trump-military-diplomacy-project-freedom/


Henry Bodkin: Inside the tunnels that show Hezbollah doesn’t want peace with Israel

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/05/07/inside-tunnels-show-hezbollah-doesnt-want-peace-with-israel/


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: 100

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