Hello and welcome to Background Briefing, available 24-7 at Background Briefing.

I'm Ian Masters, and today we'll look into a number of stories and issues in the news.

We'll begin with Trump's ultimatum to Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz,

sending contradictory signals saying he's winding down his war in Iran,

at the same time sending more Marines to unblock the strait or capture Harg Island.

Joining us to describe that narrow choke point through which 20% of the world's energy passes is Robert Young Pelton, and author, filmmaker, journalist and explorer. He's the publisher

of Dangerous Magazine and has had first-hand perspective on the war on terror from direct

contact with the world's most infamous jihadi rebel and insurgent groups. His books include

the world's most dangerous places, come back alive, three worlds gone mad, licensed to kill,

hired guns in the war and terror, and his autobiography, The Adventurist. He is working on a documentary

about Jared Kushner's secret deals in the Gulf which lined his pockets.

Then we'll examine how Putin is winning the war on Iran so far as he prepares for a spring

offensive against Ukraine with extra revenues to pay for his war thanks to his boot-licking

friend Donald Trump.

Joining us is Olga Loutman, a non-resident senior fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis,

who is also the creator and co-hosts for the Kremlin Files podcast series,

which features expert discussions on the Kremlin's internal affairs, global operations and tactics used

from their hybrid warfare toolkit to destabilize Western democracies.

She has a Substac newsletter covering Russia, Ukraine, eastern and central Europe, with the

focus on Russia's intelligence operations available at Olga Laotman.substack.com, where her latest

articles include Trump threatens broadcasters over Iran war coverage, a move straight

out of Russia, and the irony of Trump demanding NATO help in the strait of Hamo's after

...