Trump hits Iran hard after US troops killed by ‘Chinese-guided’ strikes

The war between Donald Trump and Iran has escalated dramatically following the first direct US combat deaths since the start of the war and rare strikes against Saudi Arabia’s oil assets. In today’s episode of Iran: The Latest, Venetia Rainey and chief foreign affairs commentator David Blair unpack the most violent weekend of the conflict since the ceasefire. Following deadly Iranian precision attacks on the Muwaffaq Salti airbase in Jordan - potentially with Chinese help - Trump has ordered strikes across the country and sought to cut off the crucial port city of Bandar Abbas. Iran has furiously hit back by targeting Saudi Arabia’s key Yanbu oil infrastructure, alongside successful strikes on critical water infrastructure in Kuwait. Plus, they discuss reports of dwindling US interceptor missile stockpiles and whether the US is sliding into a forever war.HighlightsTrump hits Iran hard after US troops killed by ‘Chinese-guided’ missilesIran targets Saudi Arabia’s key Yanbu oil infrastructureCONTRIBUTORS:Venetia Rainey, co-host and executive producer @venetiaraineyDavid Blair, chief foreign affairs commentator @davidblairdtWATCH US ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVAif-vifC6F2aoPB8GIw6dkCONTENT REFERENCED:Trump’s bridge strikes cut off city that keeps Iran alivehttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2026/07/18/trump-iran-strikes-bridge-bandar-abbas/‘Controlled detonation’ of Iranian drone kills US soldierhttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/07/19/us-punishes-iran-for-soldier-deaths-with-fresh-strikes/US doesn’t have enough missiles to return to all-out war with Iranhttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/07/20/us-prepares-all-out-war-iran-sending-more-jets-middle-east/Tom Sharpe: Iranian missiles are defeating US soft-kill defences using Chinese guidancehttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/07/15/iran-hormuz-missile-strikes-us-china-beidou-satnav/ITL Best News and Analysis Podcast - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026The Telegraph Podcast Publisher of the Year 2026 - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026ITL Nominated Podcast of the Year - Society of Editors News Podcasts Awards 2026Producer: Max BowerVideo Producer: Peter ShevlinResearcher and Social Producer: Anna HindmarshStudio Operator: Andy WatsonExecutive 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 [email protected]► 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.