On 3 January 2020, the United States killed Iran’s top spy master, Major General Qasem Soleimani, in a drone strike in Iraq. There was nothing grey or ambiguous about the assassination, but this episode explores the escalating grey zone hostilities between Iran and the United States in the preceding years and how they almost ignited a real war. Sky News journalist Deborah Haynes explores in particular how Iran allegedly uses proxy forces in the grey zone, under the threshold of war, to try to level the playing field when competing with a super power. Interviews: General David Petraeus, former director of the Central Intelligence Agency John Raine, Senior Adviser for Geopolitical Due Diligence, International Institute for Strategic Studies Anne-Marie Trevelyan, Conservative MP and former UK defence minister. She now serves as energy minister Fabian Picardo, Chief Minister of Gibraltar Anonymous Iraqi MP Seyed Mohammad Marandi, Professor of English Literature and Orientalism, University of Tehran Major General Amos Yadlin, a former chief of Israel’s Military Intelligence Directorate Credits: Written and narrated by Deborah Haynes Edited and produced by Chris Scott Production support from Michael Greenfield The head of Sky News Radio is Dave Terris