Amanpour

A head-spinning week as Iran and the United States trade blows and mull peace deals, on the sidelines Europe is feeling the pain and calling for a permanent end to the conflict. Former French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin has been an outspoken critic of America's involvement in the Middle East and he joins Christiane from Paris to discuss the state of play. And, as the cycle of strikes and fragile truces continues, former Deputy National Security Adviser to President Barack Obama, Ben Rhodes offers his insight. He shares his predictions for post-war Iran and discusses his new book "All We Say" which traces fifteen significant American speeches, from Benjamin Franklin to Donald Trump. Then, a new opera in Kyiv tells the story of three Ukrainian women and their fight to bring their abducted children home. Christiane's report on "Mothers of Kherson" and the families torn apart by Russia. Plus, from rivals to friends. 18-time Grand Slam Tennis Champions Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert reflect on their shared battle against cancer, explored in their new documentary "The Final Set." From the Amanpour archives, we mark 35 years since Boris Yeltsin became Russia's first democractically elected president. A look back at Christiane's report from Paris during Yeltsin's trip to France as leader during a brief era of hope in Russia's relationship with Europe.

Air date: June 13th, 2026

Guests:

Dominique de Villepin

Ben Rhodes

Martina Navratilova & Chris Evert

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Day after day, Russia pounds Ukraine as President Putin tries to claim he's winning this war - now in its fifth year. But increasingly audacious long-range Ukrainian strikes are challenging that narrative. This week, they struck an arms factory and an oil refinery deep inside Russia. Ukraine also hit the Russian-occupied port of Mariupol - a strategically important site that was taken by Russian forces early in the war after it was the setting for one of the first major sites of Russian horrors. Many people scrambling to survive the atrocity took refuge in a theatre, which was bombed on March 16th, 2022. This critical episode of the war is the subject of a new book, "The Theatre," by journalist James Verini and he joins the show from New York.  

Also on today's show: actors Mark Strong and Lesley Manville discuss "Oedipus"; Rebecca Winthrop, Director, Brookings Institution Center for Universal Education 

 
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Trump says the US will hit Iran "very hard tonight" and is again threatening to take control of Kharg Island, the hub that handles most of Iran's oil exports. The threat comes just days before G7 leaders will meet in France. In advance of that summit, Christiane spoke with Dominique de Villepin, France's former Foreign Minister, Prime Minister and a potential contender in next year's presidential election. 

Also on today's show: tennis legends Martina Navratilova & Chris Evert; Byron Allen, host of "Comics Unleashed" 
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Early this morning, Iran launched retaliatory strikes on American bases in the region, after the US military struck strategic locations near the Strait of Hormuz, which were themselves a response to Iran's downing of a US Army helicopter earlier this week. This came shortly after Iran and Israel exchanged fire over the weekend. Suzanne Maloney is a leading expert on Iran and the Persian Gulf policy at the Brookings Institution. She joins the show to discuss the latest. 

Also on today's show: former Irish Senator-turned-journalist Maira Cahill; Heidi Blake, Staff Writer, The New Yorker; Shell US President Colette Hirstius 

 
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Once again, President Trump is falsely claiming election fraud after Democrats advanced in the non-partisan primary for the Los Angeles mayoral race. Trump has blamed mail-in ballots for the result, reviving false claims that have become a familiar feature of his presidency. So what does this tell us about the president's mindset, and the state of America's democracy heading into the midterms? Susan Glasser of The New Yorker joins Bianna from Washington. 

Also on today’s show: Atlantic staff writer Anne Applebaum; author Jules Boykoff, “Red Card” 

 
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices