Iran War: Supreme Leader's Warning After US & Israeli Strikes | The Pulse 05/26/2026

Why It Matters

The renewed strikes and hardline stances threaten to derail a negotiated settlement with Iran, risk broader Middle East conflagration that would disrupt global shipping and energy markets, and divert U.S. diplomatic and military bandwidth from Ukraine and other priorities.

Summary

U.S. and Israeli forces carried out overnight strikes on vessels and missile launchers tied to Iran, while Tehran reported shooting down a U.S. drone; Israel said it did not participate in the raids. Hopes for an imminent Iran-U.S. deal have dimmed as talks continue in Qatar but stall over control of the Strait of Hormuz and the fate of enriched uranium. Israel has stepped up strikes in Lebanon against Hezbollah, raising the risk of a wider regional escalation even as Gulf states (UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia) mediate. Separately, Russia has intensified strikes on Kyiv and urged U.S. citizens to evacuate, leaving little prospect of progress on a Ukraine peace deal as U.S. focus shifts to the Iran crisis.

Original Description

US & Israeli jets carried out new strikes on Iranian vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, describing them as 'defensive'. The strikes came just hours after US President Donald Trump said talks to end the war were "proceeding nicely." Iran's Supreme Leader has warned that “nations and lands of the region will no longer be a shield for American bases.”

Russia has warned all foreign nationals to leave the Ukrainian capital as soon as possible. Russia Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told US Secretary of State Marco Rubio that Moscow is planning to launch systematic and consistent strikes against facilities in Kyiv as well as against the relevant “decision-making centers."

Today's guests: Rachel Ellehuus, RUSI, Director-General; Karen Ward, JPMorgan Asset Management, EMEA Chief Market Strategist; Mohit Joshi, Tech Mahindra, CEO & Ilaria Resta, Audemars Piguet, CEO.

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"The Pulse With Francine Lacqua" is all about conversations with high profile guests in the beating heart of global business, economics, finance and politics. Based in London, we go wherever the story is, bringing you exclusive interviews and market-moving scoops.

Chapters:

00:00:00 - The Pulse with Francine Lacqua

00:00:25 - US strikes Iran targets in Strait of Hormu

00:04:00 - Lavrov tells Rubio to evacuate Americans from Kyiv

00:05:35 - Rachel Ellehuus, RUSI, Director-General

00:15:21 - Karen Ward, JPMorgan Asset Management, EMEA Chief Market Strategist

00:23:53 - Tuesday headlines

00:24:31 - Mohit Joshi, Tech Mahindra, CEO

00:30:57 - Quad launches Indo-Pacific maritime surveillance plan

00:33:28 - Ebola death toll tops 200 in DR Congo

00:37:34 - Ilaria Resta, Audemars Piguet, CEO

00:47:28 - Ferrari's first fully electric car

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