The World This Week

Iran: Is Trump 'bored'?, Bolivia at 'breaking point', A Spanish scandal 29.05.2026 49min

It's been a week where, 90 days into the conflict and ceasefire stand-off with Iran, both Tehran and Washington are insisting time is on their side – each claiming the other needs a deal more urgently. Pressure is growing on the Trump administration with soaring energy prices and midterm elections approaching, while Iran is reportedly losing huge oil revenues with tankers backed up in port.

Putin and Xi, To catch a Castro, Red carpet rebellion 22.05.2026 47min

It's been a week marked by major geopolitical and cultural developments across several fronts, from Beijing to Havana to Cannes.

Trump and Xi, Carry on Westminster, A French pivot in Africa 15.05.2026 47min

This week has seen the world's superpowers take centre stage with US President Donald Trump in Beijing for the first state visit of a US leader in almost a decade. With tensions over trade, technology and Taiwan, what stayed tacitly implied was the deeper, more difficult question of whether the two alpha powers of world order can share the 21st century. Or is confrontation ultimately unavoidable?

One-page peace plan for Iran? Starmer's sinking ship, Musk vs Altman 08.05.2026 48min

This week has seen renewed hope for ending the war in Iran, 10 weeks since it started, with four weeks of stalemate, a ceasefire and skirmishes over the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Intermittent peace talks have boiled down to a 14-point, one-page "memorandum of understanding", crafted by Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, which has been sent to Pakistani mediators and is being reviewed by Tehran.

King Charles and the art of the seal, Moscow calling, Musk vs Altman & OpenAI 01.05.2026 47min

In this edition of The World This Week, Gavin Lee's panel discuss King Charles's state visit to the US, US President Donald Trump's phone call with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, and the court battle playing out between Elon Musk and Sam Altman.

Iran: Neither war nor peace, Ukraine's lifeline, 'Just a scratch' for Starmer? 24.04.2026 49min

In a week where a stalemate appears to have developed after nearly two months of asymmetric warfare between the US and Iran, President Donald Trump's Truth Social posts have swung between belligerent maximalism and breezy deal-making: one minute suggesting a within-reach deal, whereby Iranian forces would personally help their enemy confiscate what he calls the "nuclear dust" and move it to America. The next moment: threats of nationwide annihilation. "No more Mr. Nice Guy," he warned.

Iran, Magyar, Mythos and the pope 17.04.2026 47min

In a week where Iran declared the Strait of Hormuz fully open for commercial trade – effectively ending its nearly seven-week de facto blockade of the critical shipping lane – President Donald Trump imposed a US blockade on Iranian ports to strangle its ability to trade. Trump vowed to continue enforcing what is effectively a US siege until a peace deal is finalised.

Ceasefire & peacetalks, Hungary 'false flags' & Final rallies 11.04.2026 46min

It’s been a week that began with US President Donald Trump threatening to wipe out an entire civilisation in Iran if the regime failed to respond to his ultimatum. Presidential decorum quickly went out of the window, with Trump speaking unfiltered – even swearing on Easter Sunday – as he warned Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. That message was reinforced in surreal scenes on the White House lawn, as he addressed families and children, flanked by the First Lady and the Easter Bunny.

Iran: US fighter jet downed, The space race, Syrians leaving Germany? 03.04.2026 47min

It has been a week that began with President Trump addressing the nation for the first time since the Iran war began five weeks ago. Expectations that he might signal an end to the conflict – or announce a ground offensive, or a split from NATO – were not met. Instead, his 18-minute speech echoed his social media rhetoric: a mix of “we’re almost done” and threats of escalating attacks, including striking every Iranian power plant if a deal is not reached. On the Strait of Hormuz, he told allies simply to “just take it”.

Iran: Rolling ultimatums, Moscow 'at the EU table'? 27.03.2026 47min

In a week of movable ultimatums set by US President Donald Trump to "obliterate Iran’s power plants", a deadline was set initially of Monday at midnight, then extended by five days on account of "very productive conversations", then to 10 days with Trump claiming "talks are ongoing" and "going very well".

Iran: The 'Mosaic Doctrine', Zelensky vs Orban, Hungary-splaining 20.03.2026 45min

In a week where assassinations have continued within the top ranks of Iran's regime – the minister of intelligence, the commander of the Bases paramilitary and the powerful security chief Ali Larijani included – a weakened government seems to have had little bearing on Tehran's retaliation across Israel and nine Gulf states.

Iran: A 'nepo-ayatollah', the 'hubris trap' and the costs of a 'very complete war' 13.03.2026 46min

It’s been a week that's seen a new ayatollah proclaimed in Iran. Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the assassinated supreme leader Ali Khamenei, has not been seen in public and is believed to be in hiding after reportedly being injured in the same strike that killed his father. State television showed crowds chanting "Long Live Khamenei", while at night in Tehran some residents risked arrest to shout from their windows "Death to Mojtaba". A statement attributed to the new leader vowed continued attacks on US and Israeli interests, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and what it called "never-ending revenge".

Iran war: A special edition 06.03.2026 46min

A major war erupted in the Middle East this week when the United States and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran, killing Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and at least forty senior Iranian officials – reportedly within the first five minutes of the bombing campaign on Saturday morning.

Ukraine, The Clintons, 'El Mencho' and Iran 27.02.2026 47min

It's been a week that began in silence in Kyiv's Independence Square, where European leaders laid flowers for Ukraine's war dead – even as the fighting grinds on in the east, across vast drone-dominated front lines in territory Russia now claims as its own.

Epstein, Andrew's arrest and a royal crisis 20.02.2026 48min

It’s been a week that saw Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrested on his 66th birthday, facing charges of misconduct for sharing confidential material with Jeffrey Epstein – deepening the crisis for the monarchy.

Munich Security Conference, Epstein files, Confessions of an Olympic love cheat 13.02.2026 41min

This Friday in The World This Week, we talk about the unravelling of the Epstein files, the end of the Old World Order and the Olympic helmet dilemma.

Epstein files special: Revelations, redactions & ramifications 06.02.2026 48min

In a week where global headlines have been dominated daily by the fallout from what the Trump administration calls the "final release" of Epstein files, we bring you a special edition of The World This Week focusing on the consequences for those associated with the late sex offender.

'Minneapolis Now', Iran & the 'Armada', A Gaza milestone 30.01.2026 47min

This Friday in The World This Week, we talk about the implications of a fatal week in Minneapolis, Iran & the "Armada" ultimatum and what Trump's goal is for Gaza.

Taking the peace, Making Europe Grateful Again, No friends but the mountains? 23.01.2026 48min

It's been a week of power plays and redrawn lines. In Davos, US President Donald Trump declared victory in the escalating row over Greenland, announcing a framework deal he says delivers "everything we wanted, total security". The White House hails it as classic Art of the Deal brinkmanship — critics warn it’s come at the cost of the old world order, a charge echoed by Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Iran: An uprising and a massacre, The Greenland narrative, Preventing WWIII 16.01.2026 47min

It's been a week marked by brutality, brinkmanship and political theatre. In Iran, a third week of protests spiralled into a nationwide uprising as the regime shut down the internet and phone lines. Graphic accounts of a violent crackdown emerged via Elon Musk’s Starlink satellites, with human rights groups reporting thousands killed by Iran's Revolutionary Guards in what they describe as an unprecedented massacre – even as US President Donald Trump urged protesters on, before appearing to shift his tone.