logo
episode-header-image
Oct 2024
14m 23s

Iran: What you need to know

Bbc World Service
About this episode

On Tuesday night, Iran fired 180 ballistic missiles at Israel. The Iranian military said it was in response to Israel’s assassinations of the Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, both whom had links to Iran.

What’s behind this long standing conflict between Iran and Israel? Who is in charge there? And what do Iranian people think about their leaders’ actions? Ghoncheh Habibiazad, a journalist from BBC Monitoring, gives us a basic guide to Iran, to understand what’s happening in the Middle East right now.

We also break down the different military capabilities of Iran and Israel, including nuclear and cyber warfare.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk Presenter: William Lee Adams Producers: Julia Ross-Roy and Benita Barden Editor: Rosanna La-Falce

Up next
Nov 21
The ancient origins of kissing
<p>Scientists at Oxford University in the UK now think that kissing evolved more than 21 million years ago, and it wasn’t humans that started it.</p><p>As a behaviour, it has no obvious survival or reproductive benefits but it’s seen across the world, in humans and animals alike. ... Show More
11m 34s
Nov 20
The drama at this year’s Miss Universe
<p>Miss Mexico Fatima Bosch has been crowned Miss Universe at a ceremony in Bangkok, marking the end of an exceptionally scandal-filled pageant season. It's the 74th Miss Universe pageant and there was a lot of drama before a single contestant took to the stage.</p><p>Early in No ... Show More
12m 55s
Nov 19
Epstein files: What are they and when will they be released?
<p>After months of mounting pressure, US lawmakers have just voted to release all of the so-called Epstein files. So documents from criminal investigations into the sex offender Jeffrey Epstein before his death could soon be made public. The vote was passed in the House of Repres ... Show More
9m 24s
Recommended Episodes
Oct 2024
Israel Invades Lebanon, Iran Attacks Israel
<p>Tommy and Ben discuss the escalating war between Israel, Hezbollah and Iran after Iran launched 200 ballistic missiles towards Israel on Tuesday in retaliation for the Israeli strike that killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. They also talk about Nasrallah’s importance and ... Show More
1h 14m
Aug 2024
What Iran Might Do Next
The assassination of a key Hamas leader in Tehran, following the killing of a top Hezbollah commander in Beirut, could escalate an already tense conflict between Israel, Iran, and its proxies. Middle East expert Trita Parsi sits down with Ravi Agrawal to discuss what might happen ... Show More
51m 12s
Jun 2025
Iran Retaliates After U.S. Strike. How Could This End?
Today, Iran fired missiles at a U.S. military base in Qatar. Officials said Iran also fired on Iraq. The attacks were in retaliation for a strike over the weekend that hit three of Iran’s nuclear facilities, authorized by President Trump. WSJ’s Shayndi Raice reports on how Iran g ... Show More
18m 13s
Aug 2024
What's Iran up to?
Middle Eastern nations are scrambling to protect a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas and prevent a regional conflict.    There are reports of imminent Iranian and Hezbollah retaliation on Israel, as the United States moves military assets to the region.   Joining Niall Pate ... Show More
17m 35s
Jul 2024
Iran Vows Revenge Against Israel
Hamas’ political leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in an early morning strike Wednesday in the Iranian capital of Tehran. Iran and Hamas claim Haniyeh was assassinated in an Israeli airstrike. Iran’s Supreme Leader is vowing revenge. Correspondent Nick Paton Walsh joins the show t ... Show More
1 h
Oct 2024
Israeli jets target Iran with airstrikes
Israel has finally retaliated for Iran's missile strikes earlier this month, carrying out a series of relatively restrained air attacks overnight. The Israeli army struck Iranian military sites, including air defence batteries and missile manufacturing facilities, killing two Ira ... Show More
47m 29s
Aug 2024
Kylie Moore-Gilbert on Israel, Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah
Iran has vowed “revenge” on Israel and negotiations to end the war in Gaza have been thrown into doubt after the killing of a Hamas leader in Iran. Meanwhile, Australians have been urged to leave Lebanon as fighting between Israel and Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah escal ... Show More
11m 25s
Oct 2024
Hour 2 - Iranian Missiles Rain Down on Israel
Iran attack on Israel much more extensive than the last time. Did Iranian missiles overwhelm Israel's Iron Dome? Israeli TV news reports on waves of Iranian missile attacks and Israel's coming retaliation. Waiting for word on casualties in Iranian strike on Israel. C&B take calls ... Show More
36m 54s
Aug 31
The United States vs. Iran
Fareed Zakaria hosts a detailed special tracing the historical conflict between the United States and Iran, starting with a dramatization of a B-2 bomber strike on Iran's nuclear facilities. The narrative revisits the pivotal 1979 Iranian hostage crisis, emphasizing its roots in ... Show More
48m 6s