Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on May 24, 2019. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed.

It seemed like a recipe for conflict: Take the Iran nuclear deal, add a dash of US National Security Advisor John Bolton and some US warships, and top it off with the mysterious sabotage of oil tankers near one of the most sensitive stretches of water in the world.

This week on The Take, we go to the Strait of Hormuz to examine just how close the US and Iran have come to the edge of war.

In this episode: 

• Zein Basravi (@virtualzein), Al Jazeera Senior Correspondent 
• Kimberly Halkett (@kimberlyhalkettdc), Al Jazeera Correspondent 

Episode credits:

This episode was updated by Chloe K. Li. The original production team was Alexandra Locke, Morgan Waters, Priyanka Tilve, Dina Kesbeh, Ney Alvarez, Amy Walters, Seth Samuel, Graelyn Brashear, and our host Malika Bilal. 

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our engagement producers are Adam Abou-Gad and Vienna Maglio. Andrew Greiner is lead of audience engagement and Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer.

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China is more affected than any country outside the Gulf by the US-Israel war due to its energy reliance on Iran. But as the war reshapes global trade and alliances, it also stands to benefit. As Donald Trump prepares for a rare visit to Beijing, could this crisis reshape the balance of power?

In this episode: 

• Katrina Yu (@Katmyu), Al Jazeera Correspondent

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by David Enders, Sarí el-Khalili and Chloe K. Li, with Spencer Cline, Tuleen Barakat and our host, Malika Bilal. It was edited by Alexandra Locke.

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan.  Our video editors are Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad al-Melhemm. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. 

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Iran has named Mojtaba Khamenei as the Islamic Republic’s new supreme leader after his father was killed in US-Israeli strikes. Little-known publicly but influential behind the scenes, he takes power during a rapidly escalating regional war. Who is Mojtaba Khamenei, and what could his leadership mean for the country and the conflict ahead?

In this episode: 

• Ali Hashem (@alihashem), Al Jazeera Senior Correspondent

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Noor Wazwaz and Sarí el-Khalili with Spencer Cline, Chloe K. Li, Tuleen Barakat, David Enders and our host, Malika Bilal. It was edited by Alexandra Locke.

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editors are Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad al-Melhem. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer.

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As missiles strike across Israel and Iran, what are we really allowed to see?

With strict censorship and limited access, journalists and the public are seeing only part of the story: Who decides what information gets out, and what does that mean for truth in a war affecting millions?

In this episode: 

• Diana Buttu (@dianabuttu), Human Rights Lawyer and Analyst

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Marcos Bartolomé and Sarí el-Khalili with Spencer Cline, Chloe K. Li, Tuleen Barakat, Catherine Nouhan, and our host, Malika Bilal. It was edited by Alexandra Locke.

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan.  Our video editors are Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad al-Melhem. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. 

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The price of oil has soared over $100 a barrel globally as a result of the US-Israeli war on Iran. Iran has effectively shut down shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz, while Israel has attacked critical Iranian oil depots. Despite public pressure and outrage, all parties seem prepared to continue the war. What will it mean for the global economy and the people caught in the crossfire?

Listen to more about the Strait of Hormuz here. 

In this episode: 

• Zein Basravi (@virtualzein), Al Jazeera Senior Correspondent 

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Chloe K. Li, with Sarí el-Khalili, Catherine Nouhan, Tuleen Barakat, Spencer Cline and our host, Malika Bilal. It was edited by Alexandra Locke.

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan.  Our video editors are Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad al-Melhem. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer.

Special thanks to Sheila H.

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Israel’s latest attacks on Lebanon come after decades of conflict with Hezbollah. Wars, assassinations and pressure have failed to break the group, which continues to launch rockets and fight Israeli forces. Why has Hezbollah endured, and what does the latest escalation reveal about the long war between Israel and Hezbollah?

In this episode:

• Hala Jaber (@HalaJaber), Journalist

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Noor Wazwaz and Tuleen Barakat with Sarí el-Khalili, Monah Hamade, Gerard Baldadad, Adhil Veetil, Shreshtha Sanghvi, and our guest host, David Enders. It was edited by Noor Wazwaz. 

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan.  Our video editors are Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad al-Melhemm. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer.

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This week: 158 days into a ceasefire, Israel has killed at least 640 Palestinians in Gaza. Israel and US continue to strike in Iran, Israel closes all Gaza crossings. Lebanon’s central Beirut bombed by Israel.

Israel has killed more than 72,123 Palestinians in Gaza since October 7th, 2023.

In this episode:

• Mohamed Vall, Al Jazeera Journalist
• Zeina Khodr, (@ZeinakhodrAljaz) Al Jazeera Correspondent
• Hind Al Khoudary, (@Hind_Gaza) Al Jazeera Correspondent
• Zein Basravi, @virtualzein) Al Jazeera Senior Correspondent

Episode credits:

This episode was produced and mixed by Marthe van der Wolf. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Andrew Greiner and Munera AlDosari is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer.

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Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on June 23, 2025. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed.

Israel claims Iran is closer than ever to building a nuclear weapon. But as it targets Iran, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says his nation’s attacks will also “liberate” Iranians. In a civilization shaped by millennia of empire and resistance, those words land differently. What does liberation mean to Iranians as the US and Israel call for regime change?

In this episode:

• Hamid Dabashi (@dabashihamid), Professor, Columbia University

Episode credits:

This episode was updated by Tamara Khandaker. The original production team was Chloe K. Li, Sonia Bhagat, Haleema Shah, Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Tamara Khandaker, Mariana Navarrete, Noor Wazwaz, Kylene Kiang, and our guest host, Manuel Rápalo. 

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our engagement producers are Adam Abou-Gad and Vienna Maglio. Andrew Greiner is lead of audience engagement and Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. 

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Tools from Anthropic and OpenAI are being used by the Pentagon to make military decisions in Iran, guiding decisions could cost lives. Fast, powerful, or flawed, how have AI systems already changed how wars are fought?

In this episode:

• Heidy Khlaaf (@hak90), Principal Research Scientist, AI Now Institute 

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Marcos Bartolomé, Sarí el-Khalilí, Chloe K. Li, and Noor Wazwaz, with Spencer Cline, Tuleen Barakat, and our host, Malika Bilal. It was edited by Alexandra Locke. 

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan.  Our video editors are Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad al-Melhem. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. 

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From inside Iran to the diaspora, Iranians are deeply divided about their country’s future. With Ayatollah Ali Khamenei gone and Reza Pahlavi, the son of the former shah, waiting in the wings, what do conversations about regime change reveal about the spectrum of what Iranians really think?

In this episode: 

• Yara Elmjouie (@yelmjouie), AJ+ Journalist 

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Noor Wazwaz, Marcos Bartolomé, and Catherine Nouhan, with Spencer Cline, Tuleen Barakat, Maya Hamadeh, and our host, Malika Bilal. It was edited by Alexandra Locke. 

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editors are Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad al-Melhem. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. 

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube