The US Navy is facing increasingly long deployments as depleted interceptor stockpiles as aircraft carriers struggle to cope with Donald Trump’s eight-month Iran war and other commitments. Is America overstretched at sea?

On today’s episode of Iran: the Latest, Roland Oliphant is joined by RUSI naval warfare experts Dr. Sidharth Kaushal and Professor Kevin Rowlands to discuss the chronic problems within the US Navy, from an ageing carrier fleet to the lack of regular maintenance. They discuss why the Strait of Hormuz has been so hard to resolve militarily and how much longer Trump can continue to fight Iran.

Plus, in Yemen, the Iran-backed Houthis have fired ballistic missiles at Saudi airports as the Riyadh-backed government forces recapture the key Red Sea port of Mocha as part of a major push. What does this latest news mean for the Bab al-Mandeb chokepoint?

Highlights

• How the Iran war exposed the US Navy’s chronic problems
• Houthis strike Saudi airports as Yemen forces retake Mocha port

CONTRIBUTORS:

Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant

Kevin Rowlands, RUSI journal editor @c21st_sailor

Dr Sidharth Kaushal, RUSI senior research fellow sea power

WATCH US ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVAif-vifC6F2aoPB8GIw6dk

CONTENT REFERENCED:

Saudi-backed forces run over surrendering Houthis with trucks

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/10/05/saudi-deploys-100-fighter-jets-to-retake-red-sea/

Iran ‘plotted Spider Web-style drone attack on RAF Fairford’

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2026/10/05/vance-bombers-fairford-iran-threat/

Tom Sharpe: It’s advantage Trump in the Strait of Hormuz

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/10/06/strait-hormuz-oil-crude-iran-war-strikes-red-sea-trump/

RUSI: The Overstretch Facing the US Navy

https://www.rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/commentary/overstretch-facing-us-navy

Winner Best News and Analysis Podcast - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026

Bronze Best News, Politics and Current Affairs - British Podcast Awards 2026

Nominated Podcast of the Year - Society of Editors News Podcasts Awards 2026

The Telegraph, Winner Podcast Publisher of the Year 2026 - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026

Producers: Peter Shevlin and Max Bower

Researcher and Social Producer: Anna Hindmarsh

Studio Operator: Andy Watson

Executive Producer: Venetia Rainey

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