Claim OwnershipTalk War
Subscribed: 3Played: 46
Subscribe
© Talk
Description
This is Talk’s dedicated war and global security channel, covering conflicts from around the world.
From Ukraine and Russia to Israel and Hamas, and the latest conflict with Iran, Talk War brings together the sharpest conversations from across the network in one place.
Julia Hartley-Brewer, Jeremy Kyle, Ian Collins and Kevin O’Sullivan each bring their own approach — whether that’s on-the-ground reporting, geopolitical analysis or robust debate. You’ll hear from military voices, former intelligence figures, political heavyweights and people directly affected as events unfold.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
115 Episodes
Reverse
Former Defence Select Committee chair Tobias Ellwood delivers a stark warning about Britain’s military readiness as the Iran conflict escalates. Speaking on Talk War, the former soldier says “our defence posture is woefully inadequate for where the world is going”, arguing the crisis has exposed serious weaknesses in the UK’s armed forces.Ellwood explains the strategic messaging battle behind the White House’s war videos, saying they are designed to “keep your nation supporting your actions” while leaders manage domestic opinion during wartime. But he also warns the conflict risks becoming a missed opportunity to deal with Iran’s long-standing influence across the Middle East.The discussion also turns to Britain’s delayed response as HMS Dragon finally departs for Cyprus, raising questions about the state of the Royal Navy and the UK’s wider defence capability. Ellwood argues the crisis should be a wake-up call, urging politicians to put national security above party politics and increase defence spending as global tensions continue to rise. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
A fiery debate erupts on Talk War as former British ambassador to Iran Sir Richard Dalton clashes with Julia Hartley-Brewer over the legality of the US-Israeli strikes on Iran. Dalton insists the conflict is “an illegal war” and accuses Western leaders of escalating tensions, while the discussion turns heated over whether Iran was truly on the verge of developing nuclear weapons.The episode explores the global fallout from the strikes — including Donald Trump’s claim the war could end “very soon”, the destruction of key Iranian military capabilities, and growing pressure for de-escalation. Dalton argues diplomacy and international law should be leading the response, warning the conflict could destabilise Iran and the wider region.Later, defence analyst Simon Diggins examines what the next phase of the conflict might look like, explaining why eliminating Iran’s military capabilities is very different from achieving regime change. With questions over how long the war could last and whether Britain’s delayed deployment of HMS Dragon will make any difference, this episode breaks down the strategic stakes as the Middle East crisis continues to unfold. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
As the Iran conflict intensifies, Talk War brings together some of the sharpest voices in geopolitics and intelligence to unpack what happens next. Talk’s International Editor Isabel Oakeshott reacts to Britain’s slow military response, admitting “I’m embarrassed” as HMS Dragon finally heads toward the region while allies move faster. With the Strait of Hormuz under threat and global shipping disrupted, the stakes for the world economy and Western security are rising fast.Former NATO commander Rear Admiral Chris Parry explains why Iran’s military power has been “very much diminished” after devastating strikes, while Jake Wallis Simons argues the regime’s capabilities have been shattered but warns the war may not truly be over until the threat itself is destroyed. Meanwhile, former MI6 chief Sir Richard Dearlove raises serious questions about the political endgame — warning that military victory does not necessarily guarantee a stable outcome.With analysis from across the military, intelligence and political worlds, this episode examines whether the war is really “very complete” — or if the most dangerous phase is still ahead. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
As tensions in the Middle East escalate, this episode examines what the Iran crisis means for Britain at home and abroad. Andrew Fox argues the UK has little to add militarily to the US and Israel, but says Britain should be showing firmer diplomatic support, including proscribing the IRGC. He also warns that the current moment has exposed a deeper problem: Britain’s armed forces are badly managed despite having one of the biggest defence budgets in the world.The discussion also turns to Keir Starmer’s handling of the crisis, the strain on the UK-US relationship, and growing questions over military priorities after reports of culture-war reviews inside the armed forces while naval readiness is under fire. Andrew Fox says the Ministry of Defence looks “fundamentally unserious” at a time when global instability is rising and British defence capability is being tested.Former Royal Navy commander Tom Sharpe then explains why the Strait of Hormuz blockade could hit the UK hard, with oil, gas and shipping disruption feeding directly into higher bills and wider economic pain. He warns that Britain remains dangerously dependent on global sea lanes while decades of underinvestment, bad procurement and shrinking naval strength have left the country exposed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late Supreme Leader, has emerged as the regime’s new hardline figurehead. Former Iranian political prisoner Sheeva Maboudi says the move changes nothing for ordinary Iranians, describing it as an internal show of strength for the regime, the IRGC and its regional proxies rather than a genuine shift in power. She argues the Iranian people are united first and foremost around one goal: toppling the regime.Ian also hears from Jason Brodsky of United Against Nuclear Iran, who warns that Mojtaba Khamenei represents continuity, not reform. He says the new Supreme Leader is deeply tied to repression, secrecy, extremism and the IRGC, and suggests the regime rushed to install him to prevent fractures inside its military and security apparatus. The discussion also examines why some in Britain are mourning the old regime, despite its record of executions, crackdowns and terror.The episode explores the wider questions now hanging over the Iran crisis: what regime change could actually look like, whether a political vacuum is inevitable, and how much of Iran’s nuclear capability still remains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jeremy Kyle speaks to former head of the British Army Lord Richard Dannatt about the escalating Iran conflict, the role of Donald Trump and whether the war could spiral further across the Middle East. Dannatt explains the likely military objectives — weakening Iran’s missile capability and stopping a nuclear weapon — but warns regime change is far less likely and the conflict could drag on as energy prices surge and tensions spread across the Gulf.Jeremy also asks whether the crisis began with an Israeli intelligence opportunity rather than a carefully timed US strategy, and what that means for how long the conflict could last. With flights disrupted, oil prices rising and British citizens caught up in regional chaos, the episode looks at the wider impact of the Iran war on the UK and the global economy.Former foreign and defence secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind also joins the programme to discuss Keir Starmer’s handling of the crisis, the strain on the UK-US special relationship and whether Britain should have moved military assets earlier to protect its Cyprus base.Talk War from Talk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Julia Hartley-Brewer examines the fallout from the Iran conflict as Sir Keir Starmer comes under pressure over Britain’s response, the fraying US relationship and serious questions about UK military readiness. Speaking to former security minister Tom Tugendhat, Julia hears that while Britain is entitled to make its own decisions, Starmer has somehow alienated Washington, Tehran and his own backbenches all at once. Tugendhat says the US and Israel may have a lawful case for striking Iran, but warns the bigger issue is Britain’s failure to protect its own interests, with too few ships, too little kit and no clear sense of preparedness.Israeli Foreign Ministry special envoy Fleur Hassan-Nahoum tells Julia that Israel and the wider region are paying a far higher price than rising fuel bills, with civilians repeatedly forced into shelters while Iranian missiles target Israel, the Gulf and beyond. She argues the Islamic Republic remains a threat not just to Israel but to the wider West, warning that Iran’s regime, the IRGC and its terror network have destabilised the Middle East for decades. The episode also looks at the appointment of a new supreme leader in Iran, the long-term aim of removing the regime’s military threat, and whether the Iranian people could eventually rise up against their rulers.Former Conservative leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith rounds out the debate with a blunt warning that Britain has been caught flat-footed militarily and politically. He says the UK should already have had assets in the region, argues the failure to proscribe the IRGC is indefensible, and blames years of underinvestment in defence for leaving Britain exposed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jeremy Kyle speaks to Talk International Editor Isabel Oakeshott from Dubai as the Iran conflict deepens and Donald Trump turns on Sir Keir Starmer. Oakeshott says Britain’s response has looked “woefully lacking”, with HMS Dragon still in Portsmouth and the UK appearing unable to match the pace of allies in the Middle East. The episode asks whether Starmer’s handling of Iran has weakened Britain’s standing with Washington and damaged the special relationship.Oakeshott argues Starmer has landed in “the worst of all worlds” by trying to please everyone while showing no real strength. She says he is “completely insufficiently robust on every level” and warns the US now sees Britain as “not a reliable ally”. Jeremy and Isabel discuss Trump’s criticism, the pressure on UK diplomacy, and why Britain’s military capability is now being exposed in full view.The conversation also widens into a row about British identity and national priorities, from defence readiness to culture war flashpoints at home. Oakeshott says Britain must rediscover confidence in its values and stop looking weak while the world becomes more dangerous. For listeners searching for Iran war, Keir Starmer, Donald Trump, UK defence, HMS Dragon and the UK-US special relationship, this episode is a sharp analysis of a government under fire. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Alex Phillips speaks to Brendan O’Neill (Spiked), Rear Admiral Chris Parry (former NATO and Royal Navy commander) and Sir Liam Fox (former UK Defence Secretary) as the Iran conflict intensifies and Britain’s role comes under fierce scrutiny. O’Neill argues the UK should be “shoulder to shoulder” with allies, saying the Iranian regime and its proxies have targeted British citizens and that government hesitation is being dressed up as “legalism” instead of leadership.Rear Admiral Parry warns the crisis has exposed the UK’s hollowed-out readiness, calling it “ludicrous” that Britain cannot rapidly deploy an air-defence destroyer to the Eastern Mediterranean. He says politicians too often disregard professional military advice, and argues the real strategic risks include disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, threats to global energy supply, and the wider consequences of a prolonged conflict — from economic shock to pressure points elsewhere, including the Indo-Pacific.Sir Liam Fox says allies in Washington are alarmed by Britain’s direction of travel, accusing the government of reaching for lawyers instead of putting national security first. He raises fresh questions over the UK’s stance on Iran, the IRGC and the Chagos/Diego Garcia issue, warning that failure to project capability and clarity damages credibility abroad — and leaves the UK more vulnerable at home as security threats escalate. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jeremy Kyle speaks to Dr Dan Diker, President of the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs, and Tom Tugendhat MP, former UK Security Minister, about the escalating Iran crisis and Britain’s response. Dr Diker says Israel sees the current confrontation with Iran as a defining moment for the Western alliance, warning the Iranian regime has threatened both Israel and the United States since 1979 and was close to obtaining nuclear weapons. He tells Talk the conflict represents a broader struggle for Western security and values.Discussing the UK’s response, Diker says there is growing disappointment in Israel and across Europe at what he describes as hesitation from Western governments. He argues the Iranian regime has long sponsored terrorism across the region and beyond, insisting the threat posed by Tehran extends far beyond the Middle East.Former Security Minister Tom Tugendhat also criticises the UK government’s preparedness, questioning why British naval assets were not deployed earlier to help protect UK bases and allies in the region. Tugendhat warns Britain risks appearing weak to partners and adversaries alike, arguing that leadership in times of crisis requires decisive action rather than legal hesitation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jeremy Kyle speaks to former Conservative minister Steve Baker as criticism grows over the UK government’s handling of the escalating Iran crisis. The discussion comes after a British evacuation flight from Oman was delayed due to a technical fault, fuelling anger about what Jeremy calls a “terrible narrative of decline” in Britain’s ability to respond during international emergencies.Baker argues that the government’s reliance on interpretations of international law risks leaving democracies exposed to hostile regimes. Discussing the US and Israel strikes on Iran, he says Donald Trump acted largely out of fears that Tehran could eventually use nuclear weapons against Israel. “You can’t be too squeamish or idealistic when your own people are under threat,” Baker says, warning that Western countries must prioritise defending their citizens.The former MP also criticises what he sees as a wider breakdown in the international system, arguing treaty law created after the Second World War is no longer functioning as intended. Baker tells Talk that Britain risks appearing weak if it continues to rely on legal arguments rather than strategic realities, saying democracies must sometimes decide “what the right thing to do is” when confronting regimes like Iran. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jeremy Kyle speaks to former RAF fighter pilot and military analyst Sean Bell as the conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran intensifies. Bell explains that while American forces have already degraded significant parts of Iran’s military capability, the situation remains unpredictable. He says Washington’s initial goals appeared to be stopping Iran’s nuclear programme and forcing regime change — but warns the longer the operation continues, the harder it will be for President Donald Trump to step back. “Eventually Trump needs an off-ramp,” Bell tells Talk.Bell says Iran cannot realistically win a direct confrontation with the United States but doesn’t necessarily have to lose either, raising concerns the conflict could drag on. He highlights Iran’s stockpile of ballistic missiles as a key threat, explaining they are extremely difficult to intercept. Rather than waiting for launches, he says US strategy appears to be destroying missiles and launch sites on the ground before they can be used.The military analyst also warns that modern warfare is limited by logistics as much as battlefield success. Both Israel and the United States are expending large quantities of weapons and interceptors, he says, and those stockpiles cannot be replenished quickly. Bell adds that while the UK faces theoretical risk from Iranian missile programmes in the future, Tehran’s immediate focus remains the United States and regional targets rather than Britain. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ian Collins speaks to former Israeli government spokesman Eylon Levy and international law barrister Natasha Hausdorff as Israel and the United States intensify strikes against Iran’s military and nuclear infrastructure. Levy describes daily missile sirens and bomb shelter alerts inside Israel but says morale remains strong, insisting the conflict is about survival. “The Iranian regime has sworn death to Israel for decades,” he tells Talk, warning the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran is something Israel “cannot sweep under the rug”.Levy argues the joint US-Israel operation has dramatically shifted the battlefield, claiming air superiority over Iran and major blows against senior officials, missile launchers and regime infrastructure. Despite the disruption of repeated attacks and rocket alerts, he says Israelis understand the stakes — preventing Tehran from reaching the point where nuclear weapons and ballistic missile capabilities make it untouchable.Barrister Natasha Hausdorff, legal director at UK Lawyers for Israel, rejects claims the strikes breach international law, arguing critics are misrepresenting the legal framework. She says Israel has been in an ongoing armed conflict with Iran and its proxy forces for years, meaning military action against the regime and its nuclear programme can fall squarely within lawful self-defence. Hausdorff also warns that misusing “international law” as a political argument risks undermining the credibility of the entire global legal order. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ian Collins is joined by Conservative peer Lord Daniel Hannan as Donald Trump’s “no Churchill” swipe at Sir Keir Starmer detonates across Westminster and Washington. Hannan says the criticism has simply “caught up with where 85% of the British public is”, arguing Starmer’s instinctive response to the Iran war has been driven by a rigid, legalistic worldview — and that it’s colliding head-on with a White House that has little patience for international law arguments.The conversation homes in on the Chagos Islands deal and the claim that Britain is being led by a tight circle of “human rights lawyers”, with Hannan warning the government is prioritising abstract legal principles over hard national interests. He suggests Starmer’s repeated insistence that the UK was not involved in the Iran strikes — including remarks made at a Ramadan event — risks looking like political pandering at a moment when Britain’s security, alliances and global credibility are under pressure.Elsewhere, The Times’ Washington Editor Katy Balls assesses the cooling “special relationship” and whether Trump’s anger is personal, strategic, or both — before veteran Middle East correspondent Patrick Cockburn delivers a stark warning: even with US-Israeli military dominance, Iran’s retaliation could trigger a wider economic shock through the Strait of Hormuz, energy infrastructure vulnerabilities and Gulf disruption, raising the risk of a conflict that spreads well beyond the battlefield. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Samara Gill hosts a special Talk discussion on the escalating Iran crisis, speaking to Erol Morkoc of Republicans Overseas and Iranian political commentator Younes Sadaghiani about Donald Trump’s military strategy, the future of the Iranian regime and growing criticism of Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership. Moorcock argues US strikes were “inevitable”, describing Trump’s approach as “dovish on boots on the ground but hawkish on tactical strikes” — a strategy designed to weaken Iran’s regime without dragging America into another long war.Sadaghiani claims the reaction among many Iranians has been dramatically different to Western media narratives, insisting “90 per cent of Persians are celebrating” the weakening of the Islamic Republic. He argues Iran is fundamentally different from Iraq or Afghanistan — pointing to its history of democracy and strong national identity — and says regime change could open the door for a new political system led by figures such as Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi during a potential transition period.The conversation also explores the geopolitical fallout for the West, including tensions between Washington and London. Guests warn the biggest global risk now is instability if Iran fractures internally, but argue the ultimate goal is clear: dismantling the current regime and preventing Tehran from ever obtaining nuclear weapons — a move they say could reshape the Middle East and redefine Western alliances. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Alex Phillips speaks to Tom Sharpe OBE, former Royal Navy Commander, about the state of Britain’s naval power as tensions rise globally and questions grow over the UK’s ability to protect its interests at sea. Sharpe warns the public often forgets the Navy’s importance, pointing out that “almost everything you own has been imported from the sea” — yet political support for naval investment typically only appears during wartime.Sharpe insists the current situation is not the fault of the Royal Navy itself, arguing military planners have repeatedly presented proposals to strengthen Britain’s maritime capability. However, he claims those plans have often been ignored by successive governments, leaving the UK struggling to project power or respond quickly to crises.The former commander says Britain has become too comfortable delaying action until it is too late, warning the country has grown so used to holding back resources “for a rainy day” that it now struggles to recognise when a crisis is already underway. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Alex Phillips speaks to Israeli Foreign Ministry Special Envoy and former Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem Fleur Hassan-Nahoum as tensions with Iran escalate and global leaders clash over how to respond. Hassan-Nahoum delivers a stark warning about Western leadership, telling Talk that Donald Trump is right to criticise Sir Keir Starmer — arguing the Prime Minister is “no Churchill” and warning the West cannot allow a fanatical regime to “take the whole world hostage”.The Israeli envoy says the stakes are nothing less than preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, praising the United States for showing decisive leadership while urging Western allies to recognise the scale of the threat. She warns that a potential successor within the Iranian regime has links to the UK, raising fresh questions about Britain’s relationship with Tehran’s leadership network.Hassan-Nahoum also pushes back against comparisons with Iraq or Afghanistan, arguing Iran is a far more unified nation with a powerful global diaspora that could shape its future. Her message is clear: the world cannot afford hesitation — and stopping Iran from becoming a nuclear power is now the central test for Western security. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jeremy Kyle led a blistering Talk Breakfast special as the Middle East war dominated the agenda — with live updates from Dubai, anger over UK military readiness, and renewed fallout from Donald Trump’s attack on Keir Starmer. International editor Isabel Oakeshott joined from Dubai to describe a growing sense of national humiliation as Greek and French forces moved to protect the region while the UK’s HMS Dragon was still reportedly in Portsmouth, with Oakeshott branding the situation “so embarrassing” and accusing the Prime Minister of “cowering” when leadership was needed.The show then widened into a full-blown political reckoning. Former Tory leader Sir Ian Duncan Smith argued Starmer’s handling has left Britain exposed — and warned that allowing the US to use UK bases effectively makes Britain part of the operation, whatever Downing Street claims. He also questioned why UK assets weren’t pre-positioned earlier, linking the weakness to budget pressure and cuts to operational spending, and saying the armed forces are being left unable to move at pace just as the threat level rises.Finally, Lord Michael Gove told Kyle the UK is “exposing the weakness of Britain on the world stage”, warning Starmer has opted for legal “equivocation” instead of clear strategy — while still arguing the US-UK partnership will endure through intelligence and military cooperation. Gove backed the view that defence cuts have bitten hard, saying Britain is “sending one destroyer” while France deployed far more capability — and he openly questioned whether Starmer is now putting party management ahead of national interest as public anger grows over security, energy prices and borders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jeremy Kyle speaks to Mail on Sunday commentator Dan Hodges who says "We've got British territory being attacked... so by definition, the Government has already failed to defend British territory." Downing Street is in damage-limitation mode after Donald Trump’s personal broadside at Sir Keir Starmer — insisting the US-UK “special relationship” remains intact even as the Middle East war accelerates and Britain rushes to bolster defences.The Prime Minister has moved to frame Britain’s role as practical, military and ongoing: US aircraft operating from British bases, RAF jets flying defensive missions over key Gulf partners, and daily intelligence-sharing with Washington. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Kevin O’Sullivan tackles the UK-US rupture over Iran after Donald Trump publicly attacks Keir Starmer for restricting US access to RAF bases and Diego Garcia — and questions whether the “special relationship” has taken its biggest hit in years.First, Kevin is joined by Jim Jatras, former US diplomat and ex–Republican Senate foreign policy adviser, who says Americans are focused less on Britain’s stance and more on whether Washington even has an endgame — warning this could become a war without an exit, with the West running short on defensive interceptors and Trump facing MAGA backlash ahead of the midterms.Then Rear Admiral Chris Parry, former NATO and Royal Navy commander, reacts to Trump’s “not Winston Churchill” jibe and argues UK policy has been paralysed by legal hand-wringing, leaving British interests exposed — including Cyprus and the Gulf — while allies step in to plug capability gaps. His verdict: Starmer’s wobble has handed Tehran leverage and embarrassed Britain on the world stage.Finally, Fox News correspondent Joe Concha gives the US media and Washington readout as Trump doubles down on his criticism of Starmer, predicting a long memory in the Oval Office and warning the fallout could spill into trade, NATO and future UK-US cooperation — just as the Middle East conflict escalates. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Comments
Download from Google Play
Download from App Store
United States