War with Iran: Middle East in flames

About this episode

<p>This weekend, America and Israel launched long-anticipated <a href="https://www.economist.com/leaders/2026/03/01/why-donald-trump-gambled-in-iran?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">attacks on Iran</a>, killing <a href="https://www.economist.com/obituary/2026/03/01/ali-khamenei-grabbed-power-and-held-it-at-bloody-cost?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ali Khamenei,</a> the country’s supreme leader. Our correspondents analyse what his death <a href="https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2026/03/01/war-succession-and-the-perilous-test-of-two-myths-about-iran?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">means for the country</a> and the strategy behind Iran’s retaliation. We report how <a href="https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2026/02/28/americas-gulf-allies-face-a-moment-of-great-peril?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Gulf States</a> are dealing with unprecedented instability within their borders. And we assess Iran’s military capability and what might happen next.</p><br><p>Guests and host:</p><ul><li>Nicolas Pelham, Middle East correspondent </li><li>Gregg Carlstrom, Middle East correspondent </li><li>Gareth Browne, Middle East reporter</li><li>Shashank Joshi, defence editor</li><li>Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”</li></ul><p><br></p><p>Topics covered: </p><ul><li>Iran attacks, military capability</li><li>Ali Khamenei, succession </li><li>Donald Trump, foreign policy</li><li>Gulf States, Dubai </li></ul><p><br></p><br><p><em>Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—</em><a href="https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+</em></a></p><br><p><em>For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our </em><a href="https://myaccount.economist.com/s/article/What-is-Economist-Podcasts" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>FAQs page</em></a><em> or watch </em><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gczo71bg1uY" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>our video</em></a><em> explaining how to link your account. </em></p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>