logo
episode-header-image
Mar 2023
25m 22s

The Gulf narrows: Iran-Saudi relations

The Economist
About this episode

The two regional rivals have negotiated a deal, ending a seven-year lapse in diplomatic ties. Elsewhere, though, Iran remains aggressive. We ask what to make of its apparent inconsistency. Geothermal is a viable renewable source. What would it take for America to tap in? And, the multibillion-dollar Chinese industry being hit by a theory of covid-19’s origins


For full access to print, digital and audio editions of The Economist, try a free 30-day digital subscription by going to www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer




Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Today
That warm buzzy feeling: malaria and climate change
As temperatures climb, mosquitoes will migrate to places where natural resistance to malaria is lower. More and more severe natural disasters will make for more breeding grounds. How to stop a deadly disease getting deadlier? In China’s cut-throat food-delivery war, absolutely no ... Show More
24m 43s
Aug 22
Rule and divide: opposition grows in Syria
Less than nine months after Syria’s dictator Bashar al-Assad was toppled, the honeymoon is over. How is the new regime responding to rising dissent? Introducing Britain’s revolutionary retirees: why pensioners increasingly dominate political protest. And celebrating the life of o ... Show More
23m 38s
Aug 21
Stake and chips: will America take 10% of Intel?
Intel was once synonymous with chip-making, but in recent years it has fallen behind. Now the Trump administration may become its biggest shareholder. A political assassination in Colombia raises fears about a return to violence. And what an annual snail race tells us about rural ... Show More
21m 2s
Recommended Episodes
Mar 2023
The Gulf narrows: Iran-Saudi relations
The two regional rivals have negotiated a deal, ending a seven-year lapse in diplomatic ties. Elsewhere, though, Iran remains aggressive. We ask what to make of its apparent inconsistency. Geothermal is a viable renewable source. What would it take for America to tap in? And, the ... Show More
25m 22s
Apr 2021
Fission expedition: nuclear-site attack in Iran
An apparent act of sabotage at an Iranian nuclear site, blamed on Israel, has complicated the prospect of America returning to the 2015 nuclear deal; we ask what happens next. Many of Europe’s public-service broadcasters are being squeezed by populist movements and illiberal gove ... Show More
21m 22s
Feb 2022
Fission creep: Iran nuclear talks resume
After protracted negotiations, at last a conclusion appears nigh—but depending on whom you ask, a breakthrough is as likely as a breakdown. The regime in Bangladesh has been growing more brutal, yet some American sanctions seem to have had a swift and surprising effect. And Japan ... Show More
22m 48s
Oct 2023
The Intelligence: Iran’s dangerous game in Gaza
American airstrikes on Syrian bases linked to Iran are a reminder that Iran’s proxies lie behind many Middle East conflicts. But the ayatollahs’ angling for wider war in Gaza is a deeply dangerous game. We introduce you to our latest subscriber-only show, “The Weekend Intelligenc ... Show More
22m 43s
Jan 2024
The Intelligence: Iran increases the stakes in the Middle East
Iran-backed proxies have killed three American soldiers and injured dozens of others in their weekend strike. A response from the Pentagon seems inevitable, but what might it look like? If Britain wants to decarbonise, it is going to need to revamp the grid. The effort will be bo ... Show More
24m 11s
Aug 2020
Money Talks: Tik for Tok
Relations between America and China are at a fresh low. What do Donald Trump’s latest threats mean for Chinese businesses? Also, the coronavirus has had a disastrous effect on Saudi Aramco’s earnings. How can the state-controlled oil company weather the extreme conditions? And, t ... Show More
25m 2s
Jan 2020
Viral hit: the costs of China’s lockdown
Our correspondent travels to the border of the locked-down Hubei province, finding among the people a mixture of resignation, fear and distrust. Was the draconian response appropriate? Big oil firms have just the kind of expertise needed to make a vast transition to renewables; i ... Show More
23m 23s
Apr 2024
The Intelligence: Iran and Israel’s new era?
A missile has reportedly struck a site in the Islamic Republic. If this is retaliation for Iran’s most recent attacks, then it is a muted response. But is there still a risk of escalation? As India’s election kicks off, a look into why the opposition is likely to have a poor show ... Show More
27m 7s
Feb 2022
The deal with Iran
A restored nuclear deal with Iran was “closer than ever,” according to negotiators, when war broke out in Ukraine. Now, stung from the US reneging on the last deal, many Iranians are holding back their hopes of freedom from stifling sanctions. What are the main sticking points? A ... Show More
21m 30s
Apr 2021
A Difficult Diplomatic Triangle
When a nuclear fuel enrichment site in Iran blew up this month, Tehran immediately said two things: The explosion was no accident, and the blame lay with Israel.Such an independent action by Israel would be a major departure from a decade ago, when the country worked in tandem wi ... Show More
23m 28s