ZB ZB
Opinion
Live now
Start time
Playing for
End time
Listen live
Listen to NAME OF STATION
Up next
Listen live on
ZB

'Hand on the tiller': Iran's "gaining leverage" from ceasefire, national security expert says

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Thu, 9 Apr 2026, 8:48am
A view of the vessels passing through Strait of Hormuz following the two-week temporary ceasefire reached between the United States and Iran on the condition that the strait be reopened, seen in Oman on April 08, 2026. (Photo by Shadi J. H. Alassar/Anadolu via Getty Images)
A view of the vessels passing through Strait of Hormuz following the two-week temporary ceasefire reached between the United States and Iran on the condition that the strait be reopened, seen in Oman on April 08, 2026. (Photo by Shadi J. H. Alassar/Anadolu via Getty Images)

'Hand on the tiller': Iran's "gaining leverage" from ceasefire, national security expert says

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Thu, 9 Apr 2026, 8:48am

A US national security expert believes Iran is gaining leverage out of the ceasefire, showing it can open and close the Strait of Hormuz at will. 

“The real question here is: what is Iran holding back?”, New Haven University's Dr Matthew Schmidt told Mike Hosking. 

“Can they restart their threats over the Strait of Hormuz six weeks from now, two weeks from now, right, six months from now?” 

Gulf states were “desperate” for the strait to open and to have Iranian drones and missiles under control.

"They're being fired directly at their oil and gas facilities, which are going to cost hundreds of billions of dollars - if they are taken offline - to restart.” 

The key question was what would happen in two weeks’ time - whether Iran would “flex their muscles” and threaten to close the strait, or control which ships could travel through. 

Schmidt believed the Iranian regime was weakened and would not last long-term, but it could still be in control for a decade or more. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

Take your Radio, Podcasts and Music with you