Trump vows to target Pickaxe Mountain & infiltration, executions and fear inside Iran

Trump vows to target Pickaxe Mountain & infiltration, executions and fear inside Iran

Author: The Telegraph July 22, 2026 Duration: 47:31
Iran: The Latest
NewsCommentary

As the latest round of the war enters its 11th day, US President Donald Trump has signalled the US could strike Iran's hardened Pickaxe Mountain underground nuclear facility where Israel claims centrifuges are being hidden. 


On today’s episode of Iran: the Latest, Venetia Rainey and Telegraph journalist Sophie O’Sullivan look at the news that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has admitted US war costs have reached $37bn, a landmark US nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia, and the Houthis’ blockade on Saudi Arabia claiming its first victims. Is this the new Strait of Hormuz?


Plus, Iranian journalist Tara Kangarlou on an explosive interview by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi that revealed critical internal security breaches and deep US and Israeli intelligence infiltration inside the regime. They discuss how Trump’s strikes are smashing critical civilian infrastructure, why a brutal wave of political executions could accelerate, and how the economy is in meltdown. 


Highlights

  • Trump vows to target Pickaxe Mountain nuclear underground fort
  • Inside Iran: regime infiltration, executions and fear


CONTRIBUTORS:

Venetia Rainey, co-host and executive producer @venetiarainey

Sophie O’Sullivan, journalist and Ukraine: the Latest producer 

Tara Kangarlou, journalist and author @tarakangarlou


WATCH US ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVAif-vifC6F2aoPB8GIw6dk


CONTENT REFERENCED:

Trump’s nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia will only embolden Iran

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/07/22/trump-saudi-arabia-nuclear-deal-will-only-embolden-iran/


Pentagon is running out of money in Iran war, Hegseth admits

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2026/07/22/pentagon-running-out-of-money-iran-war-hegseth-admits/


Iran: the Latest’s episode on the Minab school attack

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/03/18/iran-the-latest-trump-biggest-mistake-iran-war-so-far/


Sky News documentary on the Minab school attack

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siRuobaj7IE


For more on Ukraine news, listen to/watch Ukraine: the Latest

https://linktr.ee/UkraineTheLatest


ITL Best News and Analysis Podcast - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026

The Telegraph Podcast Publisher of the Year 2026 - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026

ITL Nominated Podcast of the Year - Society of Editors News Podcasts Awards 2026


Producer: Peter Shevlin

Video Producer: Max Bower

Researcher and Social Producer: Anna Hindmarsh

Studio Operator: Chris January

Executive Producer: Venetia Rainey 

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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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