What will it take to protect the Strait of Hormuz from Iran’s sea mines and fast boats?

With Tehran now charging extortionate tolls, attacking commercial ships who do not get permission to transit and reportedly laying around 20 sea mines, the vital waterway has become a living nightmare. President Donald Trump today told the US Navy to fire on any boats laying mines, but with Pentagon estimates that it will take six months to mine-sweep the Strait, is that enough?

To discuss the problem, Venetia Rainey is joined by Emma Salisbury, an Associate Fellow at the Royal Navy Strategic Studies Centre. Emma explains how American minesweeping capabilities became so heavily degraded, why Iran’s non-conventional navy remains so effective and hard to destroy, and the maritime signs that Trump may be considering a return to all-out war.

Plus, senior foreign correspondent Sophia Yan talks through the latest news and updates from the region, including the status of the US-Iran ceasefire, reports that America is running out of munitions, and the Lebanon-Israel peace talks to disarm Hezbollah.

Highlights:

• Why it would take the US six months to minesweep the Strait of Hormuz - in peacetime
• Sophia Yan on how the Iran war became a game of chicken

CONTRIBUTORS:

Venetia Rainey, co-host @venetiarainey

Sophia Yan, senior foreign correspondent @sophia_yan

Emma Salisbury, associate fellow Royal Navy Strategic Studies Centre @salisbot

CONTENT REFERENCED:

The Mine Gap: America Forgot How to Sweep the Sea

Iranian shadow fleet tankers break through US blockade

Trump has eight days to make up his mind on Iran

Last Rounds? Status of Key Munitions at the Iran War Ceasefire

Producer: Peter Shevlin

Executive Producers: Venetia Rainey & Louisa Wells

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Instead of peace talks today, the US-Iran ceasefire is on the brink of collapsing and the Strait of Hormuz is heating up.

Despite the two-week deadline expiring today, JD Vance never boarded a plane to Pakistan for negotiations and neither did anyone from Iran. Instead, Donald Trump has extended the ceasefire indefinitely and the IRGC has today attacked several more international ships.

Is the war about to restart? Venetia Rainey and Roland Oliphant are joined by chief foreign affairs commentator David Blair and foreign correspondent Akhtar Makoii to discuss the latest news, decode the signals from each side and explain what might happen next.

Plus, Roland chats to Richard Mead, editor-in-chief of the maritime industry bible Lloyd's List, about the wider implications of the Strait of Hormuz being in “utter chaos”, how ships are increasingly going dark to avoid detection, and China’s role in everything.

Highlights

• David Blair and Akhtar Makoii discuss whether the Iran war will restart
• Why the Strait of Hormuz being in “utter chaos” matters for everyone

CONTRIBUTORS:

Venetia Rainey, co-host @venetiarainey

Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant

David Blair, chief foreign affairs commentator @davidblairdt

Akhtar Makoii, foreign correspondent @akhtar_makoii

CONTENT REFERENCED:

Connor Stringer: ‘It’s all a giant clusterf---’: Inside Trump’s floundering Iran peace process

Akhtar Makoii: Iran’s real negotiator is staring Trump down from the shadows

David Blair: Trump’s flip-flopping will only embolden Iran to harden its demands

Hormuz chaos shows Iran is too fractured to speak with one voice

Producer: Peter Shevlin

Executive Producers: Venetia Rainey & Louisa Wells

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► EMAIL US: Contact the team on battlelines@telegraph.co.uk

► GET THE LATEST HEADLINES: Find all our latest Iran coverage here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/iran-war/

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Can the US and Iran strike a last-minute nuclear deal to end the war?

With the two-week ceasefire deadline expiring on Wednesday, peace talks are tentatively set to go ahead in Pakistan between US Vice President JD Vance and an Iranian delegation led by Mohammad Ghalibaf. Donald Trump has threatened to resume bombing if negotiations fail, but a major stumbling block remains: Iran’s nuclear programme.

Washington wants Tehran to end all advanced uranium enrichment and give up its 450kg of “nuclear dust” that is currently buried under rubble. Rafael Grossi, director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, tells foreign editor Louis Emanuel that without proper verification on the ground, any agreement will be an “illusion”.

Meanwhile, senior foreign correspondent Memphis Barker explains how the "ghost" of the previous Iran nuclear agreement - Barack Obama's 2015 JCPOA - looms large over everything. Can Trump strike a better deal now than the one he tore up in 2018?

Plus, Roland Oliphant runs through the latest updates and news from across the region, including what is going on in the Strait of Hormuz and some clarity on when the ceasefire actually ends.

Highlights:

• Rafael Grossi, head of the IAEA, on why a nuclear deal with Iran is tricky but doable
• Why the ghost of Obama’s 2015 Iran nuclear deal looms over peace talks

CONTRIBUTORS:

Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant

Memphis Barker, senior foreign correspondent @memphisbarker

Louis Emanuel, foreign editor @louisjemanuel

Rafael Grossi, director general IAEA @rafaelmgrossi

CONTENT REFERENCED:

Exclusive interview: World faces new nuclear arms race

Why Obama’s Iran nuclear deal looms large over Trump’s negotiations

Producer: Peter Shevlin

Executive Producer: Louisa Wells

► Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor

► EMAIL US: Contact the team on battlelines@telegraph.co.uk

► GET THE LATEST HEADLINES: Find all our latest Iran coverage here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/iran-war/

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