‘Love tap’ or ‘reckless adventure’? US and Iran trade fire and blame

The US and Iran have traded fire - and blame - in the Strait of Hormuz, is the war about to restart?

The ceasefire is looking shakier than ever after America bombed Iranian coastal cities overnight. It said it was a response to Tehran attacking three US destroyers passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Today, Iran has attacked the UAE with drones and missiles. President Donald Trump says the US strikes were just a “love tap”, while Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi calls it a “reckless military adventure”.

Venetia Rainey is joined by Washington bureau chief Arthur MacMillan to discuss the view from the US following a week of U-turns and uncertainty. He explains why he does not have high expectations of a peace deal being struck before Trump goes to China, what the American public make of the war, and why the US may well pull more troops out of Europe.

Plus, Jerusalem correspondent Henry Bodkin takes listeners inside a Hezbollah tunnel in a dispatch from southern Lebanon, where he reports on Israel’s plan to create a northern buffer zone in the style of Gaza.

Highlights

• ‘Love tap’ or ‘reckless adventure’? US and Iran trade fire and blame
• Plus: a dispatch from inside a Hezbollah tunnel in Lebanon

CONTRIBUTORS:

Venetia Rainey, co-host @venetiarainey

Arthur MacMillan, Washington bureau chief @arthurmacmillan

Henry Bodkin, Jerusalem correspondent @HenryBodkin

CONTENT REFERENCED:

Connor Stringer: How Trump’s ‘Project Freedom’ fell apart in one day

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2026/05/06/us-iran-trump-military-diplomacy-project-freedom/

Henry Bodkin: Inside the tunnels that show Hezbollah doesn’t want peace with Israel

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/05/07/inside-tunnels-show-hezbollah-doesnt-want-peace-with-israel/

Producer: Peter Shevlin

Executive Producers: Venetia Rainey & Louisa Wells

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