Iran's supreme leader killed - is the Middle East in all-out war?

Iran's supreme leader killed - is the Middle East in all-out war?

Author: The Times March 1, 2026 Duration: 35:15

Early on Saturday morning, the US and Israel launched a wave of attacks on Iran, killing the supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei. Iran has retaliated, with strikes reported in the UAE, Qatar and across the region. But will Trump get his regime change or could Iran become just another failed state? And is the middle east on the brink of all-out war?


Our listener survey is live - find it here.


This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory


Guests:

  • Gabrielle Weiniger, Israel, the West Bank and Gaza correspondent, The Times.
  • Sir Peter Westmacott, formerly Britain’s Ambassador to the United States of America, and Britain's political secretary, Tehran.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Producers: Olivia Case and Sophie McNulty.


We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.com

Read more: Iran latest: UK plans mass Middle East evacuation as Tehran strikes back

Further listening: Four years of war: can Ukraine continue to deny Putin?

Clips: The White House / YouTube, CBS, Truth Social, ABC, BBC, The Times. 

Photo: Getty Images.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


Each morning, The Story arrives with a clear purpose: to move beyond the headlines and explore the forces and people shaping our world. Guided by the experienced reporting of Manveen Rana and Luke Jones, this daily podcast from The Times delves into the most significant political developments and news events with a level of depth and context that only their global network of journalists can provide. You’ll hear more than just summaries; you’ll get a nuanced understanding of why a story matters, who it impacts, and what might happen next. The analysis is sharp and the storytelling is compelling, designed to fit into your morning routine seven days a week. It’s a direct line to the frontline reporting and editorial expertise of one of the world’s most respected news organizations. This consistent, in-depth approach makes the podcast a reliable resource for anyone looking to truly comprehend the day’s events. Supported by readers of The Times and The Sunday Times, the production maintains a commitment to journalistic integrity and thorough exploration, ensuring every episode provides substance and clarity.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 108

The Story
Podcast Episodes
Why it's time to give up ultra-processed food [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:33
High-calorie, ultra-processed food has taken over the British diet, accounting for 60 per cent of our calorie intake. Now, in an alarming new book, Dr Chris van Tulleken shows what non-natural foods are doing to our bodi…
Fired, interrogated, killed: Where are Putin's generals? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:20
Following the Wagner mutiny, it’s been a difficult few weeks for Vladimir Putin. He has detained, interrogated or fired a number of his top soldiers – including generals – as infighting and discontent weakens Russia’s mi…
Is Israel becoming a dictatorship? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:09
It's not often that a parliamentary vote changes the fate and character of a nation. But this week Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right coalition pushed through a vote which did just that – stripping the country’s supreme cour…
Greece is burning... is climate change to blame? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:07
For the past week, islands in Greece have experienced catastrophic wildfires. Over twenty thousand people have been evacuated - the largest rescue operation in the country's history. It comes amid a punishing heat wave,…
Why single women are going to Denmark to become mothers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:52
In the last few years, the UK has seen a 44 percent increase in single women seeking fertility treatment on their own. That means they need sperm - and many are looking towards Danish donors for it. So why is single moth…
The Ukrainian spymaster who Putin wants dead [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:55
Major-General Kyrylo Budanov is the head of Ukraine’s military intelligence - the 37-year-old has enjoyed a meteoric rise to become the country's youngest head of the organisation. Russia believes that he is lying in a c…
How a fake AI ‘you’ could con your parents out of thousands [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:18
With just a few seconds of your voice, a scammer can create a fake AI version of “you”, call your parents and potentially scam them out of thousands of pounds. The ruse is on the rise in the UK and uses cheap and readily…
Why Hollywood shut down [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:20
Last week, Hollywood’s actors joined its writers in the first industry-wide shutdown in 63 years. The West Wing’s Richard Schiff tells us his fears for new actors and how it feels to know that AI could “clone” him for fu…
How giant pandas became China’s furry diplomats [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:13
The giant panda has become one of China’s diplomatic tools, after a pair were gifted to President Nixon as an act of friendship in the 1970s. But with US-China relations deteriorating - what can pandas tell us about the…
Should Rishi Sunak fear a by-election disaster? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:23
It’s a by-election triple whammy tomorrow - and seats up for grabs include Boris Johnson's former constituency of Uxbridge. The votes were triggered after three Conservative MPs resigned - and the Tories are already sayi…