Show notes
The UAE has dealt Iran a major blow by cutting off trade ties after accusing Tehran of firing two ballistic missiles towards the Gulf state. The missiles eventually landed outside territorial waters, but Abu Dhabi’s swift response could close down Iran’s key economic escape route.On today’s episode of Iran: The Latest, Sophia Yan unpacks the latest news from the Middle East war with Mahsa Alimardani, associate director of Technology Threats & Opportunities program at digital human rights group WITNESS. They discuss Iran’s state-backed cyber attacks against the West, how the Internet blackout has affected Iran’s economy and the unsophisticated AI around Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.Plus, a new Iranian draft law that would criminalise speaking to foreign media, and news reports that Iran is assessing potential strikes against US military assets in Europe.HighlightsUAE cuts Iran’s economic lifeline after ‘ballistic missile strikes’How the Internet blackout has affected Iran’s economyCHAPTERS00:00:00 - UAE Imposes Trade Embargo Following Iranian Missile Attack00:01:11 - Trump Denies Iran Talks as Hormuz Blockade Escalates00:03:06 - Ground Reality: 90 Million Iranians Face Internal Warfare00:06:04 - Khamenei Disappears: AI Deepfakes Fuel Regime Crisis00:08:58 - US-Israel-Iran Conflict Drives Unprecedented AI Information War00:11:50 - Regime Weapons-Grade Propaganda Targets US Political Divide00:14:15 - White SIM Cards: How Elite Insiders Profit Off Internet Blackouts00:22:27 - US DOJ Charges 17 Iranian Hackers Over Mass Cyber Theft00:24:57 - Tehran Criminalizes Media Contact Under Zionist Law00:33:50 - Regime Insider Warning: Iran Prepares Strikes on US Bases in EuropeCONTRIBUTORS:Sophia Yan, co-host and senior foreign correspondent @sophia_yanMahsa Alimardani, associate director of Technology Threats & Opportunities program at WITNESS @mahsaalimardaniWATCH US ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVAif-vifC6F2aoPB8GIw6dkCONTENT REFERENCED:US-Iran talks have stopped, says Trumphttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2026/08/18/us-iran-talks-have-stopped-says-trump/Winner Best News and Analysis Podcast - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026Nominated Podcast of the Year - Society of Editors News Podcasts Awards 2026Nominated Best News, Politics and Current Affairs - British Podcast Awards 2026The Telegraph, Winner Podcast Publisher of the Year 2026 - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026Audio Producer: David DargahiVideo Producer: Max BowerResearcher and Social Producer: Anna HindmarshStudio Operator: Andy WatsonExecutive Producer: Venetia Rainey ► 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 [email protected]► GET THE LATEST HEADLINES: Find all our latest Iran coverage here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/iran-war/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
