US and Israel draw up plans to target Iranian nuclear sites
Further details have emerged regarding US-Israeli plans for a joint military campaign against Iran after the midterm elections. Following sightings of Israeli Air Force jets flying up to the Iranian border on Monday, plans for a three-day military blitz on Iran’s nuclear facilities and energy infrastructure were revealed to the New York Times.
On today’s episode of Iran: the Latest, Roland Oliphant speaks to Reuters global defence commentator Peter Apps about whether a renewed campaign can force Tehran’s hand or if it will trigger a devastating cycle of retaliation across Gulf energy fields.
They examine the collapse of Iran’s shadow tanker fleet, escalating Houthi strikes in Saudi Arabia, and whether expanding cyber warfare and drone technology mean the West is already entangled in a broader global conflict.
Plus, what would be the global impact of Iranian attacks on undersea cables in the Persian Gulf, and why Russian trawlers are spying on critical British subsea infrastructure.
00:00:00 - US-Israel Renewed Strike Plans & Regional Military Activity
00:02:30 - Iran Shadow Tankers Run Dry & Middle East Escalation
00:04:42 - US Embassy Staff Reductions & Ongoing Proxy Campaign
00:06:06 - Potential Gulf Energy Infrastructure Strikes & Global Impacts
00:09:23 - Iranian Warnings Against Short-Sharp War Strategy
00:13:38 - Global Interconnected Conflicts & Expanding Proxy War Dynamics
00:17:33 - AI Vulnerabilities & Emergent Cyber Warfare Threats
00:22:48 - Autonomous Maritime Drones & Undersea Warfare Advancements
00:29:00 - Threats to Undersea Data Cables & Energy Infrastructure
00:32:38 - Pacific Flashpoint: Japan-China Tensions & Tech Supply Chains
Highlights
Iran’s ‘shadow fleet’ has run out of oil after a monthslong US blockade.
How conflicts around the world are inextricably linked and are AI cyber attacks dragging the West into global war?
CONTRIBUTORS:
Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant
Peter Apps, global defence commentator for Reuters @pete_apps
CONTENT REFERENCED:
US and Israel practise fresh strikes on Iran’s border https://www.telegraph.co.uk/wo....rld-news/2026/10/22/
US withdraws diplomats from Saudi Arabia https://www.telegraph.co.uk/wo....rld-news/2026/10/22/
Netanyahu pushes for new strikes against Iran before Israeli election https://www.telegraph.co.uk/wo....rld-news/2026/10/21/
Iran threatens to cut Hormuz internet cables https://www.telegraph.co.uk/wo....rld-news/2026/10/20/
Exclusive: Putin sends fishing trawlers to spy on Britain https://www.telegraph.co.uk/ne....ws/2026/10/21/exclus
Winner Best News and Analysis Podcast - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026
Bronze Best News, Politics and Current Affairs - British Podcast Awards 2026
Nominated Podcast of the Year - Society of Editors News Podcasts Awards 2026
Winner Podcast of the Year - London Press Club Awards 2026
The Telegraph, Winner Podcast Publisher of the Year 2026 - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026
Producers: Peter Shevlin and Max Bower
Researcher and Social Producer: Anna Hindmarsh
Studio Operator: Andy Watson
Executive Producer: Venetia Rainey
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