The Inside Story Podcast

Iranian armed forces say they've closed the Strait of Hormuz after Israeli attacks on Lebanon, just days after an agreement with the U.S. reopen it. Disruption to the crucial waterway has had a huge economic impact worldwide. So, what happens next? 

In this episode: 

• Ian Ralby - Senior Fellow at the Center for Maritime Strategy and Associate Fellow with the International Law Programme at Chatham House. 
• Mehran K...

A landslide win, only two years ago - yet now UK prime minister Keir Starmer's resisting calls to step down. The return to parliament of Andy Burnham makes a leadership challenge more likely.  What's gone wrong so fast, for Starmer? And why so much turmoil at the top of British politics? 

In this episode: 

• Peter Oborne - UK Political Commentator and Associate Editor of Middle East Eye - a digital news organisati...

Fury from Israeli ministers over the agreement US President Donald Trump has signed with Iran. 
And a sharp rebuke in response from his vice president JD Vance. What are the implications for Israel and its prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu? 

In this episode: 

• Gideon Levy, Columnist at Haaretz newspaper 
• Mairav Zonszein, Senior Israel Analyst at the International Crisis Group
• Mitchell Barak, Founder of K...

China calls for stronger representation for the Global South. It warns that the international rules-based order is at a critical crossroads. Beijing says it has a solution to a more equitable system. But does it have the leverage and tools to enforce it?

In this episode: 

• Steve Tsang, Director of the SOAS China Institute

• Cobus van Staden, Head of Research at the China-Global South Project

• Allen Carlson, Associate Pro...

Kyiv has just started formal talks to join the bloc. It comes after Moscow declined an offer of direct talks to end the war. So, would membership protect Ukraine? And what would it mean for Europe?

In this episode: 

• Peter Zalmayev, Executive Director at Eurasia Democracy Initiative
• Theresa Fallon, Director at the Centre for Russia Europe Asia Studies
• Alexander Bratersky, independent journalist and political...

An agreement between Washington and Tehran has all but ended the Iran war, both claiming victory despite the huge cost. Among that is damage to Iranian relationships with its Gulf neighbours, which it attacked. So, what has Iran won and lost in the region from this war? 

In this episode: 

• Ali Akbar Dareini, Researcher at the Center for Strategic Studies in Tehran. 
• Roxane Farmanfarmaian, Professor of Modern Midd...

The UK says it's banning access to social media for those under 16. Its government argues it's the right choice to protect young people from online harm. But will this policy work? And how will it be enforced?

In this episode: 

• Dr Charlotte Armitage, Psychologist and Psychotherapist and author of Generation Zombie: Why Devices Are Harming Our Children and What We Can Do About It
• Paolo Gerbaudo, Sociologist and Politi...

The annual G7 summit is set to be held in France. But this time, differences within the group are growing. From tensions in the Middle East to the war in Ukraine, can the G7 help resolve global crises as geopolitical realities shift?

In this episode: 

• Jacques Reland, Senior Research Fellow, Global Policy Institute.
• Scott Lucas, Professor, US and International Politics, Clinton Institute, University College Dubli...

The European Union's new migration pact is now in force,, tightening border controls and overhauling asylum rules. Will it reduce migration to Europe? And what does it reveal about the political forces shaping the bloc?

In this episode: 

• Marta Welander - EU Advocacy Director, International Rescue Committee.
• Nathalie Tocci - Professor of Practice at Johns Hopkins University SAIS Europe.
• Pieter Cleppe - Editor-in-ch...

Donald Trump says a new agreement with Iran is within reach. Tehran insists key issues remain unresolved. So is a deal finally close? What would it mean for tensions in the region? And if an agreement is signed, can it survive the political pressures on both sides?

In this episode: 

• Dania Thafer - Executive Director, Gulf International Forum
• Foad Izadi - Associate Professor at University of Tehran
• Barbara Slavin - Di...

The nine countries believed to hold nuclear weapons have spent a record $119bn on their arsenals. The US budget was more than all the others combined, according to an anti-proliferation group. So why the huge surge? And what does it mean for the future of disarmament?

In this episode: 

• Tariq Rauf, Former Head of Verification and Security Policy Co-ordination, International Atomic Energy Agency. 
• Susi Snyder, Director...

Turmoil in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. A banned group has been protesting against a court ruling that kept in place legislative representation for Kashmiri refugees living in Pakistan. What are the political implications of the demonstrations?

In this episode: 

• Maria Iqbal Tarana, Senior Leader, Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz.
• Sahar Khan, Nonresident Fellow, Institute for Global Affairs.
• Imtiaz Gul, Executive D...

Chinese President Xi Jinping visits North Korea. Beijing is Pyongyang's main political and economic backer. Xi has voiced his opposition to what he called hegemonism and power politics. So, how could his visit shape geopolitics in the region?

In this episode: 

• Einar Tangen, Senior Fellow, Centre for International Governance Innovation. 
• Hannah Kim, Associate Professor, International Studies, Sogang University.&n...

Protests in the UK after the release of police video of an 18-year-old stabbing victim handcuffed by officers after his attacker alleged racial abuse. The case has caused outrage with the Prime Minister rejecting claims of police bias against white people. So, why are racial issues so prominent now in the UK? 

In this episode: 

• Tim Bale, Professor, Politics, Queen Mary University of London. 
• Dal Babu, Forme...

Armenians are voting in pivotal parliamentary elections. With Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan facing pro-Russia rivals, why is the outcome being watched so closely in Brussels, Moscow and Washington?

In this episode: 

• Richard Giragosian - Director of the Regional Studies Center think-tank
• Kenneth Roth - Visiting Professor at the Princeton School of Public & International Affairs
• Chris Weafer - Chief Executive Officer o...

The US has announced another ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon. But Israeli strikes continue and Hezbollah remains engaged. Can the truce hold, and what lies ahead for Lebanon?

In this episode: 

• Heiko Wimmen - Project Director for Iraq, Syria and Lebanon, International Crisis Group
• Nimrod Novik - Former Special Envoy & Senior Adviser to former Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres 
• Rami Khouri - Distinguished Fe...

The head of the World Health Organization seems confident and says there's hope. But with an already volatile security situation in the region, what are the risks of the virus spreading?

In this episode: 

• Dr. Marie Roseline Belizaire, Emergency Director for the World Health Organization Africa
• Dr. Ekwaro Obuku, physician who served as a policy advisor on Uganda's national task force during the 2022 Ebola outbreak
• Dr....

A proposal to tighten EU migration policy. Negotiators from the European Parliament and Council have provisionally agreed on a new deal. It includes the deportation to third countries of people whose applications are rejected. But where would that leave the rights of those seeking safe haven in Europe?

In this episode: 

• Marta Welander, EU Advocacy Director at the International Rescue Committee
• Susan Fratzke...

Lebanon under Israeli attack - while diplomatic efforts continue to end the war in Iran. And with Israel escalating attacks on Hezbollah, Tehran wants any peace deal to cover both conflicts. So, why is Iran making Lebanon a central issue in its own war? 

In this episode: 

• Naim Salem, Professor of Political Science at the Lebanese Army Military Academy
• Marzie Khalilian, Political Analyst and Academic Researcher
• N...