About this episode

Ravi Agrawal discusses the implications of a cease-fire in the Iran conflict and the role of energy as a weapon in global politics.

After news of a 14-day cease-fire in the middle east conflict, Ravi shares his initial thoughts and analysis. Plus, the rationale for attacking Iran revolved around security. How did the global narrative become about energy? Iran’s strongest weapon has turned out to be its ability to strangle the Strait of Hormuz, an important trade choke point. What does the return of energy as a weapon mean for the global economy? Meghan O’Sullivan, author of Windfall: How the New Energy Abundance Upends Global Politics and Strengthens America’s Power, explains how countries need to think about their energy security. She is a professor at Harvard University and has previously served as deputy national security advisor for Iraq and Afghanistan in the George W. Bush administration. Ravi Agrawal: Why Trump Mishandled Iran New York Times: How Trump Took the U.S. to War With Iran Amir Handjani: The War Will End With a Hormuz Toll Booth Nils Gilman: Electrostates vs. Petrostates Jason Bordoff and Spencer Dale: Making the U.S. More Resilient to Oil Price Shocks Foreign Affairs: Jason Bordoff and Meghan L. O’Sullivan: The Return of the Energy Weapon Foreign Affairs: Jason Bordoff and Meghan L…

People in this episode

Host: Ravi Agrawal

Guest: Meghan O’Sullivan

Topics covered

• Iran conflict
• energy security
• global economy
• cease-fire
• Strait of Hormuz
• energy weapon

Keywords

• Iran
• cease-fire
• energy weapon
• Strait of Hormuz
• global economy
• energy security
• Meghan O’Sullivan

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Harvard University, George W. Bush administration

Books & works: Windfall: How the New Energy Abundance Upends Global Politics and Strengthens America’s Power, How Trump Took the U.S. to War With Iran, The War Will End With a Hormuz Toll Booth, Electrostates vs. Petrostates, Making the U.S. More Resilient to Oil Price Shocks, The Return of the Energy Weapon, The Iran Shock And the Dangerous Allure of Energy Autarky

More episodes of Foreign Policy Live

• Where the Iran War Goes From Here · May 1, 2026 · 51 min
• Is America Becoming a Rogue State? · April 15, 2026 · 44 min
• An Iran Hawk’s Take on the Cease-Fire · April 9, 2026 · 34 min
• What Is Iran’s Endgame? · March 31, 2026 · 43 min
• How High Could Oil Prices Go? · March 26, 2026 · 42 min
• The World After Trump · March 24, 2026 · 41 min

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