Game of Drones – Iran’s Threat Choking The World’s Oil Lifeline

Game of Drones – Iran’s Threat Choking The World’s Oil Lifeline

Author: Robert Riggs April 28, 2026 Duration: 35:29

by Robert Riggs

This episode is about the standoff with Iran in the Strait of Hormuz and the threat of its drone attack to the global economy.

And I know what some of you may be wondering.

What does Iran have to do with a true crime podcast?

My answer is simple.

For more than forty years, the Iranian regime has been linked to the killing of Americans, sometimes directly, sometimes through proxies, and often with little lasting consequence.

This is not an abstract foreign policy debate for me.

During my thirty years in television news, I saw the human cost of that shadow war up close. 

I covered the bombing of the Marine barracks in Beirut, Lebanon, where 241 American service members were killed in 1983. 

Federal court records have described Hezbollah as the perpetrator and Iran as a source of political, financial, and operational support tied to the attack.

I was an embedded reporter during the invasion of Iraq, where American troops faced roadside bombs and armor-piercing explosives supplied or supported by Iranian networks.

In more than a dozen attacks, Iran has killed Americans without putting Iranian soldiers in the fight. 

It used terror groups, militias, mines, missiles, and now drones. 

When a regime uses proxies to kill Americans and destabilize the world, that is not merely geopolitics. It is state-sponsored crime.

The world is focused on the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow strip of water off Iran’s coast where the global oil supply and American military power now face one of the most dangerous choke points on earth.

To help understand what this conflict means now, I turned to retired Army Colonel John Antal, a 30-year veteran soldier, historian, leadership expert, and best-selling author. 

Antal is here to help us see the battlefield clearly.


Timeline of Iranian or Iranian-backed Attacks on U.S. Military Personnel



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Robert Riggs has spent decades as an investigative reporter, and in True Crime Reporter, he applies that relentless, document-driven approach to the stories that haunt us. This isn't just a retelling of grim headlines; it's a meticulous walk through active case files, historical injustices, and the societal undercurrents that allow crime to flourish. Each episode feels like you're sitting across from Riggs as he lays out his notes, connecting dots between evidence, witness accounts, and the often-overlooked details that change a narrative. You'll hear the tension in the pursuit of truth, the weight of unresolved questions, and the quiet impact on communities and families left in the wake of violence. The podcast moves beyond the sensational to examine the cultural and systemic factors at play, offering a sober, deeply researched perspective. Listen for long-form narratives that build like a detective's board, where every piece of audio, every interview, and every document serves a purpose. It’s for those who want to understand the 'why' and the 'how' as much as the 'who,' presented with the clarity and authority of a seasoned journalist who knows the terrain. This is a journey into real stories, handled with the care they demand, and it naturally becomes an essential listen for anyone fascinated by the intersection of human behavior, justice, and the news.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

True Crime Reporter
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