The World with Richard Engel and Yalda Hakim

Inside Iran: Is the war about to escalate? 15.07.2026 24min

Richard has just returned from Iran, where he witnessed the funeral of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He shares what he saw inside the country, answers your questions about reporting from Tehran as tensions flared once again, and explains what the funeral revealed about the mood inside Iran after months of conflict. Richard is also joined by Professor Robert Pape, one of the world's leading experts on war and military strategy. They look at why the Iranian regime still appears so resilient when the country has suffered such significant military blows. And is the US and Israel's strategy achieving its goals - or risking something much bigger? Together they unpack Pape's theory of the "escalation trap", explore where Iran still holds leverage, and ask whether this conflict is any closer to ending, or about to accelerate. Email your questions about to Richard and Yalda at theworld@sky.uk. You can also watch our podcasts on our YouTube channel here.

Inside Cuba: Trump's next target? 08.07.2026 35min

Communism, cigars and Cadillac cars. A beautiful island that has been the thorn in the side of the U.S government for 67 years. But what is it about this small island of approximately 10 million people and 90 miles off the coast of Florida that makes president after president so frustrated? Yalda has just been in Havana, interviewing the president who rarely gives interviews to foreign press. He told her he was ready to give his blood to defend Cuba, if Trump decides on military action. But will he? And what about the people of Cuba? What is life actually like under a blockade, with blackouts and a growing humanitarian crisis. This week, Yalda is joined by Dr Christopher Sabatini, director of the Latin America programme at Chatham House. He has spent a lot of time in Cuba and talks to Yalda about the state of the nation at this pivotal time. You can email your questions to Richard and Yalda at theworld@sky.uk You can also watch our podcasts on our YouTube channel here.

Why Trump has surrendered to Iran | Robert Kagan 03.07.2026 19min

America has lost the war with Iran and suffered their biggest strategic defeat in history.That is according to Robert Kagan, a prominent foreign policy analyst and historian. He joins Richard on the podcast in this extra episode to talk about America’s position in the world following the start of the war in the Gulf.Why did Trump get involved? What next for Israel? Can the Gulf States still count on America to defend them? The two get into all of these questions and debate whether this actually was America’s biggest global loss.You can email your questions to Richard and Yalda at theworld@sky.ukYou can also watch our podcasts on our YouTube channel here.

Why Lebanon is key to understanding the Middle East 01.07.2026 28min

Do all roads in the Middle East lead to Lebanon?Journalist and historian Kim Ghattas thinks so. She argues that it is often the fate of small nations to be playgrounds rather than players.Iran, America and Israel all have interest in the country. It is also now central to the Memorandum of Understanding that exists between Iran and America.After months of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah and a bombing campaign by the Netanyahu government that has left over 4,000 people dead, a shaky ceasefire is now in place. So what does the future hold for this country?Richard and Kim discuss all of this on this week’s episode of The World podcast.You can email your questions to Richard and Yalda at theworld@sky.ukYou can also watch our podcasts on our YouTube channel here.

Can Trump's Iran deal survive? 24.06.2026 37min

The US and Iran have agreed a framework for peace talks, but Israel is deeply unhappy with the direction of travel. With mixed messages from Donald Trump, growing scepticism in Israel and no guarantees the deal will hold, how fragile is this peace process? Yalda Hakim and Richard Engel unpack the deal, why Vice President JD Vance has become its public face and whether he is being set up to take the blame if it fails. Plus, Yalda reflects on her interview with US conservative commentator Tucker Carlson and what his growing influence says about the changing debate around Israel in America. Send your questions to Richard and Yalda at theworld@sky.uk.Also, you can watch The World on our YouTube channel here.

The US-Iran Agreement: Breakthrough or Bluff? 17.06.2026 31min

Four months of fighting between America and Iran has led to this: a one-and-a-half-page agreement. But what does it actually mean? The details are sparse, but the Strait of Hormuz will be reopened, the US blockade will end and in the next 60 days there will be negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme. Trump says Iran can never have a nuclear weapon - will Iran agree? This week, Yalda is joined by Ali Vaez, the Iran project director at the International Crisis Group. He was involved in the negotiations that led to the 2015 nuclear deal and is a nuclear scientist. He talks to Yalda about what the next 60 days could bring and why he thinks this war may have actually encouraged Iran to develop its nuclear programme quicker. You can email your questions to Richard and Yalda at theworld@sky.uk You can also watch our podcasts on our YouTube channel here.

Introducing... Stuff Matters with Ed Conway 15.06.2026 15min

LEDs were supposed to be one of the great environmental success stories: a revolutionary technology that uses a fraction of the energy of traditional light bulbs. But have they really saved the world?In our new podcast Stuff Matters, economics and data editor Ed Conway takes an object, cracks it open and reveals the world shaping forces hidden inside.Each episode follows a trail of ideas that stretches beyond the object itself, uncovering far reaching economic powers that shape how we live.Along the way, Ed meets fascinating characters, from brilliant inventors to Latin American revolutionaries. He dives into their personal stories and reveals how they’ve changed the course of industries and economies.Because when you look closely enough, even the simplest things turn out to matter more than you think.Follow Stuff Matters to never miss an episode.

Inside Putin’s Russia: Is the Kremlin getting nervous? 10.06.2026 45min

Why did President Zelenskyy write an open letter to Vladimir Putin? Why did Putin say he was rude? And why are ordinary Russians complaining about the price of cucumbers? In this episode of The World podcast, Yalda is joined by Sky’s Moscow correspondent Ivor Bennett to find out what it's like reporting from Russia. They talk about Zelenskyy’s open letter, Putin’s reaction, and what Russians are saying about price rises and internet shutdowns. The pair also examine whether the Kremlin is getting nervous, and how the war with Ukraine might end. You can email your questions to Richard and Yalda at theworld@sky.uk You can also watch our podcasts on our YouTube channel here.

Ex-CIA analyst predicted Iran crisis years ago - so why was Trump surprised? 03.06.2026 38min

In 2012, a former CIA analyst ran a war game between the US and Iran.One of the first things he found was that Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz after America attacked. From there, his war game spiralled to a grisly end.So why did the Trump administration expect a quick victory?Fourteen years after the war game, Richard Engel sits down with Ken Pollack - the man behind the war game and now vice president for policy at the Middle East Institute to ask him exactly this.Would Trump and his team have been given this information? Why did he press ahead?The two also discuss the situation inside Iran as well as Israel's renewed strike on Lebanon, and ask the big question: where is this all going next?You can email your questions to Richard and Yalda at theworld@sky.ukYou can also watch our podcasts on our YouTube channel here.

China versus America: who will win the AI race? 27.05.2026 28min

Will China ever produce an Elon Musk?Kyle Chan, research fellow at the Brookings Institution and an expert on the AI race between the two superpowers thinks not.He talks to Yalda about the new Cold War - the race for the best AI between China and America.The two talk about Taiwan, Tehran and the different ways that each country approaches AI research and development. Could the Chinese government actually be holding progress back?You can email your questions to Richard and Yalda at theworld@sky.ukYou can also watch our podcasts on our YouTube channel here.

Robots on the frontline: Is Ukraine now winning the war? 20.05.2026 39min

Fully automated frontlines? Robots on the battlefield? Drones fighting drones? The Ukraine war has been transformed from an old-fashioned trench war to a modern one in a matter of years. On this episode of the podcast, Richard talks to Professor Phillips O’Brien, a defence expert and head of international relations at St Andrews University - an expert on the Ukraine war. He tells Richard how Ukraine's frontlines have developed with the use of tech and how Ukraine is now able to strike deep into the heart of Russia. Four years into the war, has the tide now turned in Ukraine's favour? Professor O’Brien gives Richard his assessment. Yalda also discusses Sky News' exclusive reporting in Minab, Iran. International affairs editor Dominic Waghorn is at the site of an alleged US strike on a primary school which left more than 150 people dead, most of them children, on the first day of the US-Israeli war on Iran. You can watch Dom’s full report here You can email your questions to Richard and Yalda at theworld@sky.uk You can also watch our podcasts on our YouTube channel here.

Trump versus Xi: Who will win the battle of the superpowers in Beijing? 13.05.2026 25min

A US President has not been to China since Donald Trump’s last trip nine years ago, so what will happen when Xi Jinping rolls out the red carpet for him again? Could there be progress made in Iran, Taiwan, or rare earth minerals? Yalda tells Richard what her contacts in the region are making of the meeting and where the war in Iran might be heading. Richard also details some of his reporting in the West Bank, in light of the New York Times investigation which alleges Israeli forces committed crimes against Palestinians. Some details of this story may be upsetting. You can watch Richard’s full report from 2023 here. And read Kristoff’s NYT piece here. You can email your questions to Richard and Yalda at theworld@sky.uk You can also watch our podcasts on our YouTube channel here.

How Pakistan became the peacemaker in the Middle East 06.05.2026 33min

More than eight weeks into the war in Iran, an unlikely country has emerged as the go-between for the two sides: Pakistan. How did General Asim Munir emerge as both the Trump and Iran whisperer?Yalda explains to Richard how this came about and why India may feel sidelined.Richard also tells Yalda about the fear of Israeli extremists felt by some members of Jerusalem's Christian community. He has spoken to religious leaders following the attack by a 36-year-old man on a nun.A man has been arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated assault but not charged. The Israeli Foreign Ministry says: "This shameful act stands in direct contradiction to the values of respect, coexistence, and religious freedom upon which Israel is founded and to which it remains deeply committed".You can email your questions to Richard and Yalda at theworld@sky.ukYou can also watch our podcasts on our YouTube channel here.

Who are the jihadists sweeping across Africa? 29.04.2026 41min

On Saturday 25 April armed terrorists rode into the capital of Mali in West Africa. Al Qaeda affiliated jihadists now say they are going to launch a total siege of the capital – home to some four million people. Who are these jihadists? What do they want? And could Mali be about to fall? Yalda speaks to Yousra Elbagir, Sky’s Africa correspondent, about the growing threat of jihadism in West Africa and why the world needs to pay attention - because what happens in Africa does not stay there. Meanwhile, Richard is back in Israel and talks about the potential opposition to Benjamin Netanyahu and why he’s keen to stay on a war footing. You can email your questions to Richard and Yalda at theworld@sky.uk You can also watch our podcasts on our YouTube channel here.

How does the war in Iran end? 22.04.2026 35min

With Trump saying the ceasefire with Iran is 'extended', how could this conflict end? And what are the long-term implications for the region, and who will dominate – Israel or Iran?Richard is joined by Hamidreza Azizi, an Iranian analyst and Visiting Fellow at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs in Berlin. He has spent much of his career in Iran, studying the regime, and talks at length about the current war, its origins and what could happen next in the Middle East.The two also discuss Iran's 'Axis of Resistance' in the region - made up of Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis. Azizi's new book The Axis of Resistance: Iran, Israel and the Struggle for the Middle East is out later in the spring.You can also watch our podcasts on our YouTube channel here.You can email your questions to Richard and Yalda at theworld@sky.uk

‘Black Wednesday’ - Inside Lebanon after Israel’s airstrikes 15.04.2026 32min

On Wednesday 8 April, more than 300 people were killed after Israel launched ‘100 strikes in 10 minutes’ in Lebanon during what is being dubbed ‘Black Wednesday’. What exactly unfolded that day? Yalda has spent time with those who witnessed the attacks and shares with Richard what they have been telling her. While a shaky ceasefire remains in place between Iran and the US, no such ceasefire exists between Lebanon and Israel although talks are underway between the two countries in Washington. Richard gives his view from Tel Aviv, where life is much more normal. So what could happen next in this war? Listen to the full episode to find out. You can email your questions to Richard and Yalda at theworld@sky.uk You can also watch our podcasts on our YouTube channel here.

Inside Lebanon: A war within the war 25.03.2026 36min

Is Trump winding down the war or just playing for time? Did Netanyahu just reveal his grand plan for the Middle East? And how is the conflict is playing out in Lebanon?Yalda is in Beirut where Israeli bombs continue to devastate the capital. She has spent time in residential areas that have been largely destroyed and spoken to people living there. Is this the Israeli next front line?Meanwhile Richard is in Tel Aviv where he managed to speak to Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a press conference. But why is what he said so extraordinary?You can email your questions to Richard and Yalda at theworld@sky.ukYou can also watch our podcasts on our YouTube channel here.

Inside Iran: What's it like in Tehran right now? 19.03.2026 27min

Sky News International Affairs Editor Dominic Waghorn and his team are currently some of the only international journalists inside Iran. The internet is sporadic but they managed to connect with Yalda to bring her news from straight from Iranian capital Tehran. The team were there to witness the Israeli air strike that killed Iran's security chief Ali Larijani. They were able to see the thousands of supporters take to the streets for his funeral and have spoken to ordinary Iranians about the conflict. Yalda also talked to Dominic and his producer Zein Ja'Far about the difficulties they have faced in reporting from Iran. If you have any questions for Yalda and the team, please email them at theworld@sky.uk You can also watch the podcast on our YouTube channel here

Did America and Israel just ramp up the war in the Middle East? 18.03.2026 34min

Is Israel about to occupy Lebanon? Why is Donald Trump sending more troops to the Middle East? And what is it actually like reporting from an active war zone?Yalda and Richard discuss the latest developments in Iran and what the killing of the country's security chief Ali Larijani could mean for any peace process.They assess the reaction of the Gulf states to the war and look at how possibly putting troops on the ground could affect the conflict.Meanwhile, Israel says its forces have begun “limited and targeted” ground operations against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. What’s the justification? The pair examine the possible reason and talk about when they were both there in 2024.The two of them will answer listeners' questions, so write to them at theworld@sky.ukYou can also watch the podcast on our YouTube channel here

10 days of war: How the Iran conflict is becoming a global crisis 11.03.2026 34min

Who is the new Iranian leader and will he make a difference to the conflict? Trump says the war is "won" but do his team agree? And who is set to gain from the war in Iran? Yalda is in Qatar and Richard is in Tel Aviv for this week's episode. Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al Thani has told Yalda he wants a diplomatic solution to the conflict and has told Iran to stop the attacks in the region. The pair discuss what the conflict means for the Gulf States and Richard gives some context to Iran's new leader Mojtaba Khamenei and what his appointment might mean for hopes of peace. They also answer listeners' questions on which countries will benefit from the war, that reveal some surprising answers. To watch the episode on YouTube, click here. Send your questions to theworld@sky.uk