Can the US and Iran broker a peace deal while Israel and Hezbollah continue fighting?

All eyes are on Pakistan this weekend as US Vice President JD Vance flies to Islamabad to meet with Tehran’s negotiating team, led by Parliament speaker Mohammad Ghalibaf. But with disagreement over whether the ceasefire applies to Lebanon and the Strait of Hormuz still closed, it’s not clear what progress will be made.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump is pressuring Nato to come up with a solution to the Strait - and fast. Venetia Rainey talks through the latest updates and news from across the region today.

Plus, could this ceasefire be a tactical pause to allow US forces to regroup? If you want to know America’s real intentions in the coming weeks, just watch the cargo and refuelling planes, says ex-British Army officer Robert Campbell.

He also reflects on his experiences serving in the Israeli army in southern Lebanon during the 1990s and explains why there is “no quick fix” to get rid of Hezbollah.

CONTRIBUTORS:

Venetia Rainey, co-host @venetiarainey

Robert Campbell, former British Army officer

CONTENT REFERENCED:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/04/10/why-the-tehran-tollbooth-will-never-work/

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/04/09/netanyahu-fails-to-deliver-new-reality-promised-israel-iran/

Producer: Max Bower

Executive Producer: Louisa Wells

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Will Israel’s war to eliminate Hezbollah in Lebanon collapse the fragile US-Iran ceasefire?

Tehran has accused Israel of violating the terms of its deal with Donald Trump by launching a massive military operation against its Lebanese proxy on Wednesday afternoon, killing more than 250 people with strikes on more than 100 targets in the space of 10 minutes. Today, Hezbollah has responded by firing a barrage of rockets at northern Israel.

Iran and Europe want Lebanon to be included in the ceasefire, but Israel and the US say it’s a separate theatre of the war. Venetia Rainey talks through the latest updates and what it could mean for the upcoming peace talks in Pakistan.

Plus, as Keir Starmer tours the Gulf, countries in the normally stable region are reeling from more than 40 days of war.

Qatar-based IISS research fellow Sascha Bruchmann and Bahraini political consultant Ahmed Alkhuzaie discuss the Gulf’s scepticism of the ceasefire, why a counter-force in the Strait of Hormuz is essential, and how Ukraine is helping tackle the Iranian drone threat.

CONTRIBUTORS:

Venetia Rainey, co-host @venetiarainey

Ahmed Alkhuzaie, Bahraini political consultant @AhmedAlkhuzaie

Sascha Bruchmann, IISS research fellow

Producer: Max Bower

Executive Producer: Louisa Wells

Listen to Iran: The Latest: YOUTUBE | APPLE PODCASTS | SPOTIFY | AMAZON

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Is this the end of the Iran war?

Donald Trump has announced a two-week ceasefire deal after 40 days of fighting, with peace talks mediated by Pakistan set to go ahead this Friday. Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth today said the US had achieved a “historic and overwhelming victory on the battlefield”.

But many questions remain unanswered. Will the ceasefire turn into a lasting peace? What guarantees and concessions have been offered by each side? Will the Strait of Hormuz ever be fully open again? And why is Israel still attacking Lebanon?

Venetia Rainey is joined by chief foreign affairs commentator David Blair and foreign correspondent Akhtar Makoii to discuss the latest news and what it could mean for the region in the weeks and months ahead.

CONTRIBUTORS:

Venetia Rainey, co-host @venetiarainey

David Blair, chief foreign affairs commentator @davidblairdt

Akhtar Makoii, foreign correspondent @akhtar_makoii

CONTENT REFERENCED:

David Blair: Trump’s ceasefire threatens to hand Iran a critical advantage

Akhtar Makoii: Trump will never be able to wipe out my civilisation

New York Times: How Trump Took the U.S. to War With Iran

Producer: Max Bower

Executive Producer: Louisa Wells

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