Trump halts 14-day Iran strikes for talks as US admits running out of ideas

Donald Trump has U-turned on a 14-day campaign of military strikes on Iran, which he claimed would have been the biggest attack since World War II in favor of restarting peace talks. Tehran insists no negotiations with the US are taking place. Meanwhile, an intelligence breach reveals Centcom is actively seeking "unconventional" ways to pressure Iran, while fresh missile attacks and radio threats near Oman continue to disrupt critical shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. On today's episode of Iran: The Latest, Venetia Rainey and Roland Oliphant discuss the news, the rinse-and-repeat cyclical nature of the war and why Saudi Arabia is becoming increasingly vocal and involved. Plus, new polling showing American public support for the war dropping to record lows, the Shia festival of Arbaeen in Iraq and how climate change is affecting the region. Highlights Trump cancels ‘biggest strike since WW2’ on Iran, but Tehran denies peace talks Leaked Centcom emails expose US military running out of ways to punish Tehran CONTRIBUTORS: Venetia Rainey, co-host and executive producer @venetiarainey Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant WATCH US ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVAif-vifC6F2aoPB8GIw6dk CONTENT REFERENCED: Pentagon asks soldiers for ‘creative’ ideas to punish Iran https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/08/03/pentagon-asks-soldiers-for-creative-ideas-to-punish-iran/ Oil plummets as Trump calls off Iran strikes https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/08/03/oil-plummets-as-trump-calls-off-iran-strikes/ Tiny militias threaten to draw Middle East into forever war https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/08/03/iraqi-militias-threaten-draw-middle-east-into-forever-war/ New Hormuz plan leaves Iran in control https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/08/01/israel-poised-return-iran-war-heaviest-us-strikes/ US lacks weapons to defend Israel against Iran, leaked memo warns https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/08/02/us-lacks-weapons-to-defend-israel-leaked-memo-warns/ Winner Best News and Analysis Podcast - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026 Nominated Podcast of the Year - Society of Editors News Podcasts Awards 2026 Nominated Best News, Politics and Current Affairs - British Podcast Awards 2026 The Telegraph, Winner Podcast Publisher of the Year 2026 - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026 Producer: Max Bower Video Producer: Peter Shevlin Researcher and Social Producer: Anna Hindmarsh Studio Operator: Andy Watson Executive 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 battlelines@telegraph.co.uk ► 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.