UAE cuts Iran’s economic lifeline after ‘ballistic missile strikes’

The UAE has dealt Iran a major blow by cutting off trade ties after accusing Tehran of firing two ballistic missiles towards the Gulf state. The missiles eventually landed outside territorial waters, but Abu Dhabi’s swift response could close down Iran’s key economic escape route.

On today’s episode of Iran: The Latest, Sophia Yan unpacks the latest news from the Middle East war with Mahsa Alimardani, associate director of Technology Threats & Opportunities program at digital human rights group WITNESS. They discuss Iran’s state-backed cyber attacks against the West, how the Internet blackout has affected Iran’s economy and the unsophisticated AI around Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.

Plus, a new Iranian draft law that would criminalise speaking to foreign media, and news reports that Iran is assessing potential strikes against US military assets in Europe.

Highlights
• UAE cuts Iran’s economic lifeline after ‘ballistic missile strikes’
• How the Internet blackout has affected Iran’s economy

CHAPTERS
00:00:00 - UAE Imposes Trade Embargo Following Iranian Missile Attack
00:01:11 - Trump Denies Iran Talks as Hormuz Blockade Escalates
00:03:06 - Ground Reality: 90 Million Iranians Face Internal Warfare
00:06:04 - Khamenei Disappears: AI Deepfakes Fuel Regime Crisis
00:08:58 - US-Israel-Iran Conflict Drives Unprecedented AI Information War
00:11:50 - Regime Weapons-Grade Propaganda Targets US Political Divide
00:14:15 - White SIM Cards: How Elite Insiders Profit Off Internet Blackouts
00:22:27 - US DOJ Charges 17 Iranian Hackers Over Mass Cyber Theft
00:24:57 - Tehran Criminalizes Media Contact Under Zionist Law
00:33:50 - Regime Insider Warning: Iran Prepares Strikes on US Bases in Europe

CONTRIBUTORS:
Sophia Yan, co-host and senior foreign correspondent @sophia_yan
Mahsa Alimardani, associate director of Technology Threats & Opportunities program at WITNESS @mahsaalimardani

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

CONTENT REFERENCED:
US-Iran talks have stopped, says Trump
telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2026/08/18/us-iran-tal…

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: David Dargahi
Video Producer: Max Bower
Researcher and Social Producer: Anna Hindmarsh
Studio Operator: Andy Watson
Executive Producer: Venetia Rainey
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