Did Trump’s Iran Ceasefire Make Iran Stronger?

Iran ceasefire: Trump announces a two-week truce as Iran retains control of the Strait of Hormuz. Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer break down what the US-Iran deal actually means — and who really won the Iran war. They also walk through how the ceasefire came together: from Trump's escalating Truth Social threats to Pakistan's unlikely role as mediator. They assess Iran's 10-point plan, the fragile truce, and the single biggest strategic outcome of the conflict — Iran's new stranglehold over the Strait of Hormuz and what it means for global oil prices, deterrence, and the next crisis. Then: what comes next? Iran nuclear stockpile negotiations, sanctions relief, the Lebanon wildcard, and whether this temporary ceasefire can hold. Plus a broader net assessment of the Iran war's consequences for US power, Russia, China, and NATO. Finally, the Long Game mailbag — listener questions on targeted assassinations, Russia as a great power, Cuba, and why Jake and Jon left government to start a podcast. New episodes drop weekly, follow The Long Game on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. 0:00 - Iran’s New Leverage in the Strait of Hormuz 1:09 - Intro: A Ceasefire Between the U.S. and Iran 2:13 - Trump’s Rhetoric and Pakistan’s Surprise Mediation 4:48 - Why a Ceasefire Is Good News — and Why It’s Fragile 8:09 - Did Trump’s Threats Actually Force a Ceasefire? 12:44 - What the Ceasefire Includes — and What It Leaves Unresolved 17:39 - Iran’s Strategic Gain: Deterrence Through the Strait 20:19 - The Negotiations Ahead: Sanctions, Shipping, and Uranium 37:22 - Who Really Came Out Ahead in the War? 45:07 - Global Fallout: Russia, China, Israel, and U.S. Credibility 53:15 - Mailbag: Assassinations, Russia, Cuba, and Why We Started the Podcast #iranwarnews #Ceasefire #Geopolitics #USForeignPolicy #StraitOfHormuz #MiddleEast #TheLongGame