
Iran Ceasefire Explained: Winners, Losers, and What Comes Next
From The Long Game with Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer by Vox Media Podcast Network
April 9, 2026 · 1h 13m
About this episode
Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer break down the recent ceasefire between the United States and Iran, discussing its implications and future negotiations.
Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer break down the ceasefire between the United States and Iran, announced Tuesday evening. They walk through how the deal came together from President Trump’s escalating rhetoric to Pakistan’s role as an unlikely intermediary and assess what the ceasefire actually is, and what it isn’t. They also break down the deeper questions about what the U.S. achieved, what Iran gained, and how this reshapes the strategic balance going forward. Topics discussed: What the ceasefire includes and address the major gaps that remain Why Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz may be the most important outcome of the war What could come out of the upcoming negotiations, including the future of Iran’s nuclear stockpile The impact of the war on U.S. deterrence, military readiness, and global credibility The broader implications for Russia, China, NATO, and the U.S.-Israel relationship At the end of the episode, Jake and Jon open up the Long Game mailbag for the first time, answering listener questions on targeted assassinations, Russia’s status as a great power, what’s next for Cuba, and why they started the podcast after leaving the government. Follow The Long Game so you…
People in this episode
Hosts: Jake Sullivan, Jon Finer, Jake, Jon
Topics covered
- Iran ceasefire
- U.S.-Iran relations
- Strait of Hormuz
- Iran's nuclear stockpile
- U.S. military readiness
- global credibility
- Russia
- China
- NATO
- U.S.-Israel relationship
Keywords
- ceasefire
- negotiations
- military
- deterrence
- listener questions
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: Long Game, The Long Game
Places: Iran, the United States, Pakistan, U.S., the Strait of Hormuz, Russia, China, U.S.-Israel, Cuba
More episodes of The Long Game with Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer
- What the World Cup Reveals About Global Politics (w/ Franklin Foer) · June 12, 2026 · 48 min
- Is Ukraine Now Winning the War Against Russia? (w/Michael Kofman) · June 4, 2026 · 1h 10m
- Iran Talks and Trump’s Cuba Strategy w/Ricardo Zúñiga · May 28, 2026 · 1h 12m
- America’s Cybersecurity Crisis Starts With Software (w/Jen Easterly) · May 22, 2026 · 1h 8m
- China’s Strategy for Trump (w/Kurt Campbell) · May 13, 2026 · 1h 10m
- Iran War & Trump’s Europe Troop Drawdown: What Comes Next? · May 7, 2026 · 1h 11m
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The Long Game with Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer podcast page.