What could happen if the US strikes Iran? episode artwork

EPISODE · Feb 4, 2026 · 26 MIN

What could happen if the US strikes Iran?

from The Global Story · host BBC World Service

For three weeks, the world has been watching to see whether Donald Trump will order military strikes on Iran. The US military has been building up forces close to the Islamic Republic, including an aircraft carrier and several warships which President Trump has been calling an “armada.” Trump says he wants to do a deal with Iran, and the two sides appear to be talking. White House special envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to meet with the Iranian Foreign Minister on Friday in Istanbul. But Trump has threatened that if no agreement is reached, he’s ready to order US forces into action. Frank Gardner, the BBC’s security correspondent, lays out what could happen if talks fail, and Trump decides to strike Iran. He describes several scenarios that might have major consequences for the Iranian leadership, its people, the wider region and the world. Producers: Viv Jones Executive producer: Bridget Harney Sound engineer: Travis Evans Senior news editor: China Collins (Photo: Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei. Credit: Iran’s Supreme Leader Office/EPA/Shutterstock)

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Feb 4, 2026

Embed this episode

NOW PLAYING

What could happen if the US strikes Iran?

0:00 26:26

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

No similar episodes found.

No similar podcasts found.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of The Global Story?

This episode is 26 minutes long.

When was this The Global Story episode published?

This episode was published on February 4, 2026.

Can I download this The Global Story episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.
URL copied to clipboard!