Global News Podcast – Iran Foreign Minister Responds to Trump Intervention Threats

Date: January 12, 2026
Host: Alex Ritson (BBC World Service)

Episode Overview

This episode of the Global News Podcast provides a comprehensive update on escalating tensions in Iran following widespread protests, with a particular focus on Iran’s foreign minister responding to U.S. intervention threats by President Trump. The episode also delves into other major global stories, including the Myanmar genocide trial at The Hague, criminal investigations into the U.S. Federal Reserve chair, developments in Gaza post-ceasefire, the campaign against child marriage in the U.S., environmental rewilding successes in the UK, and a tribute to a remarkable research chimpanzee.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Iran: Protests, Government Crackdown, and U.S. Threats

• Situation Update & Government Control (01:12–04:02)

  • Recent deadly protests in Iran have led to "piles of bodies" and near-total Internet shutdowns.
  • Iran's leadership, especially the foreign minister Abbas Araghchi, states they're "fully in control" and ready for both war and negotiations.
  • Quote: “The Islamic Republic of Iran is not seeking war, but is fully prepared for war.” – Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi (02:17)

• Counter-Demonstrations & Official Threats

  • Parliament speaker Mohammad Barreir Khaliba joins pro-regime rallies, warning the U.S.:
    • Quote: “If the US attacks Iran, Trump will be given an unforgettable lesson... everywhere is a target.” (03:12)

• Uncertain Reality Due to Internet Blackout

  • BBC Persian’s Gonche Habibi Azad emphasizes unreliable information flow:
    • People "are still chanting anti-establishment slogans from their homes at night," but receive only propaganda via remaining communication channels. (04:08)
  • Insight: Starlink and other satellite internet provide limited windows for independent reporting.

• Public Sentiment on Foreign Intervention

  • Iranian opinions are divided on the prospect of targeted U.S. strikes, with no clear consensus. (05:07)

2. Myanmar Genocide Hearings at The Hague (06:33–10:06)

• Gambia's Landmark Case Against Myanmar

  • The UN's top court hears Gambia’s charges accusing Myanmar of genocide against the Rohingya people.
  • Gambia’s Justice Minister Dawda Jallow:
    • Quote: “We brought this case after reviewing credible reports of the most brutal and vicious violations imaginable... Sadly, Myanmar appears to be trapped in a cycle of atrocities and impunities.” (06:33)

• Significance of the Trial

  • BBC’s Anna Holligan: The case is significant for interpreting the legal threshold for genocide, with witness testimony (some sessions closed to media).
  • Highlights the international importance, including implications for other global crises (Gaza, Ukraine, Russia).

3. US Fed Chair Criminal Probe & Tensions with White House (10:06–13:19)

• Jerome Powell Investigation Details

  • Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell faces a criminal investigation tied to a renovation project; he asserts the root cause is his resistance to political pressure from President Trump on interest rates.
  • Quote: “This is about whether the Fed will be able to continue to set interest rates based on evidence and economic conditions, or whether... monetary policy will be directed by political pressure or intimidation.” – Jerome Powell (10:38)

• Precedent & Impact

  • BBC's Nick Marsh describes the DOJ investigation as likely “unprecedented.”
  • Powell’s term is set to end in May 2026; Trump hints at an ally (Kevin Hassett) as successor.

4. Obituaries: What We Remember Most (13:19–17:45)

• What Families Value

  • A Michigan State study finds "kindness and tradition" are the qualities most frequently celebrated in obituaries.
  • Anna Tremkin (The Times):
    • Quote: “Obituaries are not hagiographies. They should acknowledge a person’s shortcomings as well as successes.” (16:40)

• Writing Balanced Obituaries

  • Some obituaries (e.g., on controversial figures like Hitler and Stalin) reflect full, candid accounts.

5. Gaza: Ceasefire, Governance, and Disarmament Challenges (18:54–22:12)

• Shifting Control and Peace Plan

  • Following October’s ceasefire, Hamas offers to hand control to an independent technocratic body but resists disarmament.
  • Egyptian officials are mediating; skepticism remains from all sides (Hamas, Israel, U.S.).

• Ceasefire Fragility

  • John Sudworth (Jerusalem): Truce is "fragile at best," with ongoing accusations of violations and continued Israeli strikes.

6. Child Marriage in the United States (22:12–25:46)

• Legal Loopholes and Reform Efforts

  • Over 300,000 children married in the U.S. (mostly girls to adult men) between 2000-2021; 16 states have now banned it.
  • California resists changing the law, partly due to opposition from progressive groups.

• Powerful Personal Testimony

  • Sara Tasneem explains her forced marriage at age 15:
    • Quote: “I was introduced to him in the morning and I was given away to him that night. He was a stranger to me.” (23:01)
  • Frady Reiss (Unchained at Last):
    • Quote: “That’s like saying banning child rape takes away a girl’s right to be raped. Child marriage is not a right – it’s a human rights abuse.” (24:38)

• Chelsea Clinton’s Advocacy

  • Clinton urges legal reform:
    • Quote: “I very much believe in the ongoing work of changing hearts and minds. I also believe in the hard legal work of changing laws and enforcing those laws.” (25:23)

7. Rewilding Success at NEP Estate, UK (25:46–28:41)

• Biodiversity Gains

  • After 20 years of rewilding, the NEP estate has become a hotspot for endangered species, with significant increases in birds and butterflies.

• Philosophy of Rewilding

  • Isabella Tree:
    • Quote: “It’s about putting nature back in the driving seat… we should be much, much more ambitious for our nature reserves and our rewilding projects.” (26:24 / 27:35)

8. Tribute to AI, the Memory Champ Chimpanzee (28:41–31:34)

• AI’s Remarkable Cognitive Achievements
  • AI, a chimpanzee, outperformed humans in photographic memory tests at Kyoto University.
  • Pete Ross explains the test:
    • Quote: “She and other chimps…showed astonishing powers of recall, demonstrating a sort of photographic memory and easily beating their human counterparts.” (29:15)
  • Scientists suggest humans lost some memory abilities in exchange for complex language and tool use.

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• “The Islamic Republic of Iran is not seeking war, but is fully prepared for war.” – Abbas Araghchi, Iran FM (02:17)
• “If the US attacks Iran, Trump will be given an unforgettable lesson... everywhere is a target.” – Mohammad Barreir Khaliba (03:12)
• “Obituaries are not hagiographies. They should acknowledge a person’s shortcomings as well as successes.” – Anna Tremkin (16:40)
• “I was introduced to him in the morning and I was given away to him that night. He was a stranger to me.” – Sara Tasneem (23:01)
• “That’s like saying banning child rape takes away a girl’s right to be raped. Child marriage is not a right – it’s a human rights abuse.” – Frady Reiss (24:38)
• “It’s about putting nature back in the driving seat… we should be much, much more ambitious for our nature reserves and rewilding projects.” – Isabella Tree (27:35)
• “She and other chimps…showed astonishing powers of recall, demonstrating a sort of photographic memory and easily beating their human counterparts.” – Pete Ross (29:15)

Major Segments by Timestamp

• 01:12 – Iran unrest, foreign minister’s response, and risk of U.S. military intervention
• 06:33 – Myanmar genocide case at The Hague
• 10:06 – U.S. Fed chair criminal investigation and political independence
• 13:19 – The value of kindness and tradition in obituaries
• 18:54 – Gaza’s post-ceasefire governance and peace prospects
• 22:12 – Child marriage in the US: personal stories and advocacy
• 25:46 – Rewilding success at NEP estate, UK
• 28:41 – AI the chimpanzee’s legacy in memory research

Tone & Style

The episode adopts a factual, urgent tone consistent with the BBC World Service, interweaving expert analysis, firsthand reporting, and deeply personal accounts. Moments of gravity, especially around Iran, Myanmar, and child marriage, are balanced with inspiring segments on nature and animal intelligence.

Summary

This Global News Podcast episode captures a world in flux, marked by civil unrest, struggles for justice and accountability, and ongoing fights for basic rights and environmental healing. Through interviews, analysis, and moving individual testimony, listeners come away with a nuanced understanding of today’s major global stories, anchored by the measured, trustworthy voice of the BBC.