Global News Podcast – BBC World Service
Episode: Can the US really take control of Iran's oil?
Date: March 30, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode of the Global News Podcast, hosted by Charlotte Gallagher, delivers in-depth analysis and first-hand reporting from volatile regions in the Middle East, especially focused on the ongoing US-Israel conflict with Iran. Central themes include President Trump’s threats to Iran’s oil infrastructure, the possibility of the US seizing the vital Kharg Island, the impact of sanctions and military action on ordinary Iranians, and the broader geopolitical reverberations – including Russia bypassing a US oil blockade to supply Cuba. The episode rounds out with major world stories (the Myanmar coup, Australian manhunt, a significant art heist) and cultural highlights.

Main Story: Can the US Take Control of Iran's Oil?

President Trump's Strategy and Military Options

• President Trump has oscillated between aggressive threats (“hit Iran’s energy infrastructure”) and signals of negotiation with Iranian leadership to end the war, creating uncertainty over US intentions.
  [02:10] Charlotte Gallagher: “President Trump's latest remarks... have been raising eyebrows with his mixed messaging.”

• Massive US troop buildups are preparing for possible ground operations to seize Kharg Island, Iran's key oil export hub, though such a move is fraught with risk.

Expert Analysis: Military and Strategic Challenges

• Brad Taylor, former US Special Forces Lt. Col., highlights the logistical and tactical problems of such an operation:
  “If it's just to stop the Iranians from exporting oil… you don’t need troops to do that. You could blow up the piers... So in my mind, it’s more of a psychological effect... But I’m not sure it’s worth the risk of actually doing it.”
  [02:40]

  He warns of resupply issues and vulnerability of US troops to Iranian artillery and missile fire:
  “You’re going to have to get them resupplied to sustain the operation... That involves another risk... flying helicopters in and out... It's just a very logistically challenged piece.”
  [03:33]

Diplomatic Perspectives: Leverage or Quagmire?

• James Landale (BBC Diplomatic Correspondent) explains the reasoning behind Kharg Island as a pressure tool:
  “If the Americans can control that island, then they can put pressure on the Iranian regime... It would, in theory, give the Americans some leverage.”
  [03:46]

  But he points out the dangers and stresses of maintaining such a position:
  “The longer you hold any island... the harder it becomes to defend it... the cost will mount.”
  [04:21]

  On reports of missing uranium and a possible US special forces operation to seize it:
  “Experts estimate about 10 to 12 bombs [could be made with it]… But again, experts warn this would be hugely complex.”
  [05:06]

Confusion or Deliberate Misdirection?

• Gallagher asks if Trump’s lack of clear exit strategy has become problematic:
  “Has President Trump got himself in a bit of a mess here because it doesn't appear like there's an exit strategy?”
  [05:46]

  Landale suggests mixed US messaging is partly to “keep the Iranians guessing,” but notes risks due to lack of clarity and overexposure of possible tactics:
  “The element of surprise has gone because Donald Trump has been speaking so openly...”
  [05:56]

Life Inside Iran Under Aerial Assault

Civilian Struggles Amid War and Sanctions

• Joe Inwood (Tehran) depicts scenes of destruction—craters in the streets, damaged cars—and the psychological impact of constant attacks:
  “Working by torchlight, a search and rescue team navigates a vast crater in the centre of a Tehran street...”
  [07:29]

• Residents express a mix of public defiance (“fighting to prevent sanctions, to show the strength of the country”) and private hardship:

  • [08:11] “My businesses are completely shut down now. My situation is not better than theirs.”
  • [09:18] “We're slowly starting to learn how to live with war... we get emotional watching old photos and movies of Iran.”

• Communication with the outside world is limited due to near-total Internet shutdown, further isolating Iranian civilians.

Memorable Moment: Trump’s Verbal Misstep

• President Trump mistakenly refers to the “Strait of Hormuz” as the “Strait of Trump,” causing widespread consternation even among regime critics:
  [09:43] James Landale: “They have to open it up. They have to open up the Strait of Trump.”

  [09:49] Iranian Local Resident: “I mean, Hormuzza.”

  [09:53] James Landale: “Excuse me—I'm so sorry. Such a terrible mistake.”

• Joe Inwood notes the significance:
  “Whether or not it was a joke, it seemingly upset Iranians, even those who oppose the regime.”
  [09:59]

Oil, Sanctions, and International Tensions

Russia Sends Oil to Cuba Despite US Blockade

• After months under US blockade, Cuba is set to receive 700,000 barrels of Russian oil.

  • [10:47] Charlotte Gallagher: “Russia has come to the aid of Cuba... after months of a US oil blockade.”

• Mimi Swaby (Global Affairs Reporter) explains the ambiguity:

  • Trump now claims “no problem with Russia sending fuel,” but it’s unclear if this is a reversal of the blockade or a one-time exception.
    [11:39]: “He said... ‘if a country wants to send oil to Cuba right now, I have no problem with that, whether it’s Russia or not... Cuba is finished...’ So it essentially didn't matter if a boat of oil got through or not. It's really unclear.”

  • The delivery will briefly alleviate Cuba's acute fuel shortages and blackouts:
    [12:49]: “This amount of oil... is thought to supply Cuba for about a week of fuel... hospitals... many running off generators... emergency services seriously under pressure...”

Other Global Headlines

Myanmar: Military Locks in Power with ‘Civilian’ Presidency

• Jonathan Head (Southeast Asia Correspondent) calls the transition “an expanded version of the existing military regime in civilian clothes,” with Min Aung Hlaing tightening his grip and Western powers refusing legitimacy.

  • [20:32]: “You’ve got a parliament where 90% are loyal to the military... Min Aung Hlaing is choosing his own loyalists... It's very much still his show.”

• Public sentiment is marked by exhaustion and resignation due to civil war and economic collapse:

  • [22:08]: “I think for most people here, they're just exhausted by the civil war... The economy has completely collapsed... fuel shortages caused by the Iran war... it’s very hard to get fuel now...”

Australia’s Massive Manhunt Ends

• Police shoot and kill Desi Freeman, fugitive wanted for the murder of two officers.

  • [24:28] Mike Bush, Victoria Police: “There was an opportunity for him to surrender peacefully, which he did not. This brings closure to a tragic and terrible event.”

• Notable for the scale of the search, involving hundreds of officers, army, and international help.

In-Depth Features

The Reality of Stolen Art

• After a high-profile theft of works by Renoir, Cézanne, and Matisse in Italy, Noah Charney (Art Crime Expert) dispels myths perpetuated by movies:

  • “Their understanding of how art crime works is from the same films and fiction that the general public watches, which suggests that criminal collectors exist, when in fact in known history we know of almost none that have ever existed.”
    [17:31]

  • Why steal art if it cannot easily be sold?

    • “Stolen work... is worth maybe 10% of its legitimate value... you can trade it for other objects of a similar value on the black market.”
      [27:37]

Archaeology: Bronze Age Shield Returns to Scotland

• Matthew Knight (National Museum Scotland) introduces listeners to a rare Bronze Age shield:

  • “You can really clearly see where a prehistoric sword or spear has pierced the shield at some point. So they were definitely used in combat.”
    [01:57] and [29:38]

  • Symbolizes both ceremonial status and early warfare—“the Bronze Age arms race.”

Science and Society

Night Owls vs. Early Birds: Mental Health Impact

• Dr. Lindsay Browning (Sleep Clinic Founder) discusses recent findings that night owls exhibit more signs of depression, anxiety, and irritability.

  • “We all have a thing called our chronotype... It determines when in the day you feel you’re most alert. Basically, you can’t change that particularly.”
    [14:23]

  • The problem for night owls is mismatched societal schedules:

    • “If you are a night owl, then your daytime isn't really working with your biological... So you might... end up getting less sleep... Short sleep and poor quality sleep have a huge impact on our emotional regulation.”
      [15:21]

  • Advice: Keep a regular sleep schedule and gain bright morning light to anchor circadian rhythms.
    [16:41]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Brad Taylor on Kharg Island:
  [02:40] “It's more of a psychological effect of here come the troops. But I'm not sure it's worth the risk of actually doing it.”

• James Landale on Trump's mixed strategy:
  [05:56] “Sometimes the American messaging is deliberately mixed to confuse the enemy... But... there is still a degree of strategic confusion over how the Americans wish to exit this war.”

• Iranian Local Resident on US strike aftermath:
  [07:51] “They hit the middle of the street near our house with no specific target... Several parked and passing cars were turned to dust.”

• Noah Charney on art theft myths:
  [17:31] “The idea of criminal art collectors is primarily from the realm of fiction.”

• Matthew Knight describing the shield:
  [29:15] “It’s a round shield hammered from a fingerlingot of bronze into a very, very thin sheet... over 9,000 bosses hammered into the surface.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:18 — Main stories headlines (Trump, Iran, Cuba oil, archeological shield)
• 02:10 — US military options and risks re: Iran’s oil
• 03:46 — Diplomatic analysis of Kharg Island strategy
• 07:29 — Daily life and civilian voices from Tehran
• 10:47 — Russia breaks US oil blockade for Cuba
• 11:39 — Analysis on the oil supply and Cuba’s crisis
• 14:23 — Science: Night owls and mental health
• 20:32 — Myanmar: Military regime recap
• 23:27 — Australia manhunt ends with shooting
• 26:14 — Feature: How do art thieves profit from major heists?
• 28:58 — Feature: Bronze Age shield returns to Scotland

This episode provides a comprehensive, nuanced view of the intersection of war, geopolitics, economics, and culture, with insightful expert interviews and vivid on-the-ground reporting.