Strikes close key Saudi oil pipeline after Houthis ask Trump not to bomb them

A strike from militants in Iraq has knocked out Saudi Arabia’s vital East-West oil pipeline, as Donald Trump reveals Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels called him asking the US not to get militarily involved.

On today’s episode of Iran: The Latest, Roland Oliphant talks to chief foreign affairs commentator David Blair to break down how Saudi Arabia has been left in a tricky place amid a lack of allies to help it deal with the lightning Houthi offensive to seize control of the Red Sea. As oil prices continue to rise and Houthis bomb a Saudi air base, the latest news suggests the war is escalating across the Middle East with unintended consequences.

Plus, a deadly IRGC gun battle with Baluchi militants, a rogue Iranian hardline faction reportedly launched strikes on ships in the Strait of Hormuz to sabotage summer peace talks, and a US Air Force pilot describes how he was downed behind enemy lines back in April.

Highlights

• Iraq-based strikes close key Saudi East-West oil pipeline
• Trump says Houthis ‘asked US not to bomb them’

CONTRIBUTORS:
Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant
David Blair, chief foreign affairs commentator @davidblairdt

WATCH US ON YOUTUBE: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVAif-vifC…

CONTENT REFERENCED:

IRGC soldiers gunned down in street clashes in Iran
telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/09/14/irgc-sol…

Houthis give Trump yet another Middle East headache
telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/09/12/houthis-…

Tom Sharpe: The Houthis are back and it’s a problem for everyone, not just the US
telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/09/12/houthis-red-se…

The shock Houthi mission to strangle global oil
telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/09/12/the-shoc…

How Iran’s hard-liners blew us the US peace deal
nytimes.com/2026/09/13/world/middleeast/iran-h…

US airman tells of 50 hours behind enemy lines with broken back
telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/09/14/us-airma…

Winner Best News and Analysis Podcast - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026
Nominated Podcast of the Year - Society of Editors News Podcasts Awards 2026
Nominated Best News, Politics and Current Affairs - British Podcast Awards 2026
The Telegraph, Winner Podcast Publisher of the Year 2026 - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026

Audio Producer: Max Bower
Video Producer: Peter Shevlin
Researcher and Social Producer: Anna Hindmarsh
Studio Operator: Andy Watson
Executive Producer: Venetia Rainey

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