Iran: Trump decision to strike Soleimani was ‘suggested as a joke’ – Robert Fox

<p>Iran has launched<a href="https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/iran-launches-revenge-rocket-attacks-at-us-troops-in-iraq-a4329061.html " rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> rocket attacks</a> on two Iraqi bases housing US troops. The missile strikes came in retaliation to the US drone strike that killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani. Iran’s supreme leader has said the missile attack was<a href=" https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/missile-strikes-on-us-bases-were-not-enough-says-iran-s-leader-a4329436.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> “not enough”</a>. As <a href="https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/donald-trump-insists-all-is-well-after-iran-targets-us-troops-at-iraq-bases-in-revenge-missile-a4329076.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">tensions</a> continue to rise between the two nations, The Leader podcast speaks to the Evening Standard’s Defence editor Robert Fox.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>£1 million grant to cut school exclusions:<em>&nbsp;</em></strong></p><p>To coincide with an in-depth investigation into secondary school exclusions, looking into the best way to improve grades and help curve sustained bad behaviour, the Evening Standard are launching a £1 million campaign<a href="https://www.standard.co.uk/news/education/150000-per-school-over-three-years-how-to-apply-for-our-pilot-fund-a4329211.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> to radically cut exclusions</a>. Eliza Reberio founded the Lives not Knives campaign aimed at tackling youth crime and gang culture. Eliza was sent to a Pupil Refferal Unit when she was younger and tells The Leader podcast why teens are most likely behaving badly in school and why they need better support.</p><br><p>Subscribe to find us from 4pm every week day.</p><br><p>TRANSCRIPT:</p><br><p>David Marsland&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Welcome to The Leader of the Evening Standard's daily news commentary and analysis podcast. We're here at 4pm, make sure you never miss an episode by subscribing. now, from the Evening Standard in L