Iran sinks two ships in Strait of Hormuz as Houthis ‘days’ from taking Yemen’s Taiz

15 Oct 2026 · 37 min

Episode Iran sinks two ships in Strait of Hormuz as Houthis ‘days’ from taking Yemen’s Taiz

0:00 36:55

Iran has sunk two cargo vessels in under 24 hours in the Strait of Hormuz for the first time since the war began in March.

On today’s episode of Iran: the Latest, Venetia Rainey speaks to chief foreign affairs commentator David Blair about why Tehran is expanding its pace of attacks. So far the US has avoided a military response but how long can that last? Meanwhile, news that US President Donald Trump is considering using the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb - aka the “mother of all bombs”.

Plus, the Iran-backed Houthis have encircled Yemen’s Taiz and are on the cusp of taking the strategic city for the first time in the war in what would be a major blow to Saudi Arabia.

Maysaa Shuja Al-Deen, a Yemeni senior researcher from the Sana’a Center for Strategic Studies, explains why the Houthis are so desperate to capture Taiz as a stepping-stone to oil-rich Marib and port city Aden and how it could take just “days” to fall. With around a million people trapped inside and news of food and medicine shortages, a humanitarian disaster is looming and Iran’s proxy group is on the brink of a major victory.

Highlights

• Iran sinks two ships in Strait of Hormuz as attacks escalate • Houthis ‘days’ from taking Yemen’s key city of Taiz

CONTRIBUTORS:

Venetia Rainey, co-host and executive producer @venetiarainey

David Blair, chief foreign affairs commentator @davidblairdt

Maysaa Shuja Al-Deen from the Sana’a Center for Strategic Studies @maysaashujaa

WATCH US ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVAif-vifC6F2aoPB8GIw6dk

CONTENT REFERENCED:

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/

Trump lines up ‘mother of all bombs’ to strike Iran

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/10/15/trump-mother-of-all-bombs-strike-iran-moab/

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/

Con Coughlin: The Houthis are Europe’s problem

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/10/15/houthis-are-europe-problem/

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

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