US ‘blows up’ Iran mine-laying ships as Trump chases ‘bum deal’

The US says it has bombed Iranian mine-laying ships in the Strait of Hormuz and a missile launch site in southern Iran. Tehran says it has downed American drones. Is the war about to restart?

Former Royal Navy officer Tom Sharpe explains what we know about the latest tit-for-tat military activity today and why the timing is unusual. He also gives an inside look at the threat posed by Iran’s newly deployed “ship-smashing” Ghadir mini-submarines, known as the “dolphins of the Persian Gulf”.

Plus, Venetia Rainey and Sophia Yan discuss why the signs suggest peace talks are set to continue for now. While Chief foreign affairs commentator David Blair analyses what Donald Trump could get out of a deal - and why he’s making more and more concessions to the Iranian regime each passing week, including over its nuclear programme.

Highlights

Clashes in Hormuz as US ‘blows up’ Iranian mine-laying ships
Why Donald Trump is chasing a ‘quick and incomplete deal’

CONTRIBUTORS:

Venetia Rainey, co-host and executive producer @venetiarainey

Sophia Yan, co-host and senior foreign correspondent @sophia_yan

David Blair, chief foreign affairs commentator @davidblairdt

Tom Sharpe, ex-Royal Navy officer @TomSharpe134

CONTENT REFERENCED:

US strikes on Iran threaten fragile ceasefire

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/05/26/us-strikes-on-iran-threaten-fragile-ceasefire-war/

David Blair: Trump’s latest gambit on Iran is a smokescreen

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/05/26/trump-latest-gambit-iran-smokescreen/

Tom Sharpe: Iran’s ship-smasher mini subs are loose in Hormuz. I’ve been up against them before

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/05/18/iran-irin-irgcn-mini-submarines-torpedoes-strait-hormuz/

Producer: Peter Shevlin

Executive Producers: Venetia Rainey & Louisa Wells

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