Trump vows Iran will ‘pay the price’ & inside the Pentagon's drone revolution

Trump vows Iran will ‘pay the price’ & inside the Pentagon's drone revolution

Author: The Telegraph June 10, 2026 Duration: 36:32

Trump has vowed Iran will “pay the price” after it launched multiple strikes on US bases throughout the Middle East. 


The latest escalation came up after the US bombed Iran in response to a Shahed drone downing an American Apache helicopter in the Gulf of Oman. The crew were rescued by an unmanned boat - a US first. Venetia Rainey speaks to former US Deputy Secretary of Defence Kathleen Hicks about what this week’s events tell us about the growing role of autonomous systems in the military. 


Plus, what is the Pentagon’s plan to combat the drone threat posed by enemies from Iran to China - and is it moving fast enough? Hicks and Aaron Sherman from the Atlantic Council talk about the Replicator project they launched in 2023 in the Department of Defence and why it’s more vital than ever. 


Highlights


  • Trump vows Iran will ‘pay the price’ for firing at US bases 
  • From Iran to China: inside the Pentagon's drone revolution


CONTRIBUTORS:

Venetia Rainey, co-host and executive producer @venetiarainey

Kathleen Hicks, former US Deputy Secretary of Defence 

Aaron Sherman, non-resident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council


CONTENT REFERENCED:

How a cutting-edge AI drone boat saved defenceless US Apache pilots

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2026/06/09/apache-pilots-rescued-ai-drone-boat


Move Fast and Scale: A Brief Insiders' History of the Replicator Initiative

https://www.belfercenter.org/research-analysis/move-fast-and-scale-brief-insiders-history-replicator-initiative


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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