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
Aug 22
ID please! Why the UK is checking your age online
In the UK, if you want to watch pornography or see content on sites like X, Reddit and Discord that is deemed only suitable for people over 18 years old, you now need to provide your identification to prove you are old enough to access this material. The UK government says its On ... Show More
11m 33s
Aug 21
Why fake weddings are India’s latest party trend
The big fat 'fake' Indian wedding is social media’s latest party trend. Fake wedding parties have taken the world and social media by storm with people getting together to enjoy all the fun of a wedding party: the food, Bollywood music, dancing and glamorous outfits. But there ar ... Show More
10m 5s
Aug 20
Why the world is divided on plastic pollution
Life is full of plastic, but it’s not always fantastic. We know that plastic is super useful: it helps keep food fresh and lets medicines, like vaccines, be delivered at scale to billions of people. But the world is drowning in it. In fact, the amount of plastic on our planet now ... Show More
11 m
Recommended Episodes
Aug 2024
What is really going on in Iran while Israel braces for retaliation?
Over the course of two days last week, two major assassinations shook the Middle East. The first was of senior Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr, for which the Israeli military took credit, in Beirut. The second was a much more daring operation – the killing of Hamas leader Ismail H ... Show More
23m 30s
Oct 2024
Israel Invades Lebanon, Iran Attacks Israel
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 th ... 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
52m 12s
Jun 23
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
19m 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 36s
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
1h 2m
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
Oct 2024
The view from Tehran: Iran's VP Zarif on Israel, Gaza & US complicity in ongoing conflicts
The Middle East finds itself teetering on the brink of a full-scale regional conflict as the world marks one year since the October 7th Hamas attacks. Israel has intensified its military operations against Iran-backed forces across multiple fronts, leaving destruction in its wake ... Show More
33m 57s