Chris Evans, Editor
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The Princess of Wales greets Seamus, the mascot of the Irish Guards
Larijani’s death is more significant than that of supreme leader
Ali Larijani, last pictured at a Quds Day rally on Friday, was the hugely powerful secretary of Iran’s supreme national security council
Akhtar Makoii
Foreign correspondent
Israel says that it has killed the man considered by many to be Iran’s true power broker.
His absence may matter more than any other assassination in this war.
Ali Larijani wasn’t just the secretary of the supreme national security council of Iran. He was the institutional glue holding the Islamic Republic together.
There is no mechanism for replacing his 30 years of relationships, back-channels, and insider knowledge on how to make the system work. He was, according to one Iranian official last month, “running everything”.
With Ali Khamenei assassinated and Larijani gone, Iran is left with a new supreme leader nobody has seen in weeks and who may also be dead.
Iran continues to threaten escalation. However, when it needs to negotiate, its most credible diplomat will not be at the table. Larijani was the only figure trusted by both Iranian hardliners and foreign governments to structure agreements.
This may suit Israelis who want the Islamic Republic to fall, but those looking for a quick way out of a war that is triggering a global energy crisis may be disappointed.
Continue reading ➤
Plus, the death-defying nuclear commando mission that could end the war ➤
Opinion
Jack Watling
The real Battle of Hormuz is about to begin, and Iran has the advantage
Tehran will re-establish deterrence should its strategy of blocking shipping force a de-escalation
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Steven Knight, creator of Peaky Blinders, may have had a film to promote, but it was clear that he liked nothing better than a natter about his beloved Birmingham City, writes Matt Law, our football news correspondent. I even dared tell him that I’m a lifelong Aston Villa fan. At the end of an entertaining half an hour with him, he bid me farewell with a “Keep Right On” – in reference to his club’s favourite anthem.
Len Deighton’s first four novels not only proved to be instant hits but also set a new tone for the spy novel
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Like Harry Palmer, the hero he created, the author Len Deighton was a restless, unconventional loner with a penchant for beautiful women and gourmet food. Deighton reinvented the spy thriller, transforming a flashy, snobbish, tuxedo-clad genre into something more gritty and realistic, capturing the spirit of the Sixties.
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What to watch tonight
BBC Four, 10pm
Portrait of a Confused Father – Storyville
This feature-length documentary about father-son bonds is profoundly moving. Gunnar Hall Jensen, the Norwegian filmmaker, chronicles the complex life and death of Jonathan, his only son.
Our pick of the best shows on BBC iPlayer ➤
Channel 4, 8pm
The Dog House
The dog-matching series returns to help more rescue pooches find forever homes at Woodgreen Pets Charity.
Our pick of the best TV shows to watch on Channel 4 ➤
ITV1, 9pm
The Summit
The Ben Shepard-fronted reality show – a mash-up of The Traitors and Race Across the World – reaches its climax.
Our pick of the best TV shows to watch on ITVX ➤
Channel 4, 9pm
Handcuffed: The Final
Jonathan Ross’s social experiment also draws to a close tonight, after the five remaining handcuffed pairs vie for the £100,000 prize.
Film4, 9pm
Film of the Day: Wild Rose (2018)
Tom Harper’s excellent music drama stars an exuberant Jessie Buckley as a recent parolee with a great singing voice (and two kids and an overbearing mother) who is desperate to become a country star. The trouble is, she lives in Glasgow.
Your say
Office footwear
Every weekday, Orlando Bird, our loyal reader correspondent, shares an off-piste topic that has brought out the best of your opinions and stories.
Orlando writes…
In a recent article for The Telegraph, Mark Palmer issued a cri de coeur. Provoked by the sight of Robert Peston carrying out his presenting duties in a pair of chunky Nike trainers, he declared that the time had come for men to start wearing “proper” shoes to the office again. Many readers wholeheartedly agree.
Stevie Gooding writes: “For me, trainers are sports shoes and their use should be confined to a sporting environment. Derby boots for casual; wholecut Oxfords for formal. Look after them and they last for years.”
Murdo Mackay adds: “I started wearing good-quality leather shoes, mainly Loakes, about 60 years ago, when I worked in an establishment with unbelievably hot underfloor heating. I’m now almost 82 and many parts of my body are falling apart – but my feet are still in excellent condition. Good leather shoes will pay dividends in later life.”
Chris Hayes wonders, however, if the impeccably shod are fighting a losing battle: “I have several pairs of Crockett & Jones shoes, black and brown, and boots too – all on very nice shoe trees. None of them gets worn more than once or twice a year. Like my suits, ties and countless white shirts and overcoats, they belong to a bygone age.”
Richard Woodbridge makes another case for going casual (or at least a bit more casual): “I rarely wear trainers outside the gym. But with some significant ankle and leg damage, I need good ankle support. So I am sticking with a pair of leather motorcycle boots for the commute, and leather Chelsea boots when I need to wear a suit.”
That’s all from me for today, folks, but be sure to join us again tomorrow morning for the best Telegraph talking points. In the meantime, you can contact me here.
today’s Quiz
Which member of the Royal family recently shared a video of their chicken farm?
Today’s Episode
‘Insanity!’ – Rachel Reeves’ reckless EU gamble
Rachel Reeves calls for closer alignment with Brussels, as Nigel Farage tells The Daily T the Government is lurching to the left
Find it on
Apple Podcasts ➤ Spotify ➤ Acast ➤
Chris Evans, Editor
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