# Iran cornered but still dangerous: ex-general on the IRGC, Yemen’s Houthis and the special forces

An episode of [Iran: The Latest](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1712903296), 14 Oct 2026, 40 min.

Audio: https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6583019ebbd71a00175001c8/e/6acfa0ccdee83c6451c926f1/media.mp3

The Houthi offensive in Yemen is reaching a critical tipping point as the Iran-backed militants encircle the strategic city of Taiz, threatening to tip the war in their favour. On today’s episode of Iran: the Latest, Roland Oliphant speaks with Lieutenant General Graeme Lamb, former director of UK Special Forces and commander of the British Field Army, about the battle for Taiz and whether the West is underestimating Saudi Arabia’s capability to push them back. As US President Donald Trump scolds the “nasty” Houthis for “bad behaviour”, Lt Gen Lamb unpacks the ways in which the Yemen war folds into Iran’s strategy of global economic warfare and how Russia is helping Tehran keep going. Plus, the importance of civil society resilience in a time of war, why aid cuts don’t make us safer, and how special forces soldiers navigate international humanitarian law in tricky war zones. Highlights • Trump scolds ‘nasty’ Houthis for ‘bad behaviour’ by attacking Saudi Arabia • Lt Gen Graeme Lamb on the IRGC, Yemen’s Houthis and the special forces Highlights • Trump scolds ‘nasty’ Houthis for ‘bad behaviour’ by attacking Saudi Arabia • Lt Gen Graeme Lamb on the IRGC, Yemen’s Houthis and the special forces CONTRIBUTORS: Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant Lt Gen Graeme Lamb, former director of UK Special Forces and commander of the British Field Army WATCH US ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVAif-vifC6F2aoPB8GIw6dk CONTENT REFERENCED: Houthis on brink of taking their biggest scalp https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/10/13/houthis-on-brink-of-seizing-their-biggest-scalp/ Sal Mercogliano: The ayatollahs have been humbled by the power of capitalism https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/10/14/strait-of-hormuz-iran-war-shipping-oil-gas-diesel-drones/ Iran hits six oil tankers in single day https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/10/13/iran-hits-six-oil-tankers-day-hormuz-war-america-trump/ Diesel crisis to drag on for months, warns IEA https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/10/14/diesel-crisis-to-drag-on-for-months-warns-iea/ Winner Best News and Analysis Podcast - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026 Bronze Best News, Politics and Current Affairs - British Podcast Awards 2026 Nominated Podcast of the Year - Society of Editors News Podcasts Awards 2026 Nominated Podcast of the Year - London Press Club Awards 2026 The Telegraph, Winner Podcast Publisher of the Year 2026 - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026 Producers: Peter Shevlin and Max Bower 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.

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