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The peace talks failed, so now US President Donald Trump wants to further disrupt the vital oil shipping route, the Strait of Hormuz. A US blockade will stop ships entering or departing Iranian ports, but will it really work to bring an end to the conflict?Today, Hussein Ibish from the Arab Gulf States Institute on what happens next and why the Iran conflict is starting to look like a ‘forever war’ for Trump. Featured: Hussein Ibish, senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute

The ABC’s Alan Kohler thinks the treasurer should nationalise the childcare system and take centres out of the hands of for-profit businesses.With lingering concerns about the quality and safety of some centres and families struggling to afford the bills, is now the time for such a radical shake up?Today, Alan Kohler on the case for change and childcare policy expert Elizabeth Hill on whether it could really work.Featured: Alan Kohler, ABC finance expert and host of “That's Business with Alan Kohler” podcastElizabeth Hill, Professor in the Department of Political Economy and Deputy Director of the Australian Centre for Gender Equality and Inclusion at Work at the University of Sydney

A fragile two week ceasefire between Iran, the United States and Israel has raised hopes ships stuck in the Strait of Hormuz will soon be on the move. Disruptions to the oil and gas supply have raised fears of a global economic slowdown as surging fuel prices punish households and businesses. Today, Susan Stone, the Credit Union SA Chair of Economics, on whether a ceasefire changes expectations about the economic fallout and whether petrol and diesel prices are set to fall.Featured: Susan Stone, Credit Union SA Chair of Economics at Adelaide University

Donald Trump was threatening to wipe out ‘a whole civilisation’, then about an hour before his deadline the US president announced a ceasefire deal had been struck with Iran. Iran and the United States will now spend two weeks negotiating a peace plan, but it seems there’s little they can agree on.Today, Barbara Slavin, distinguished fellow at the Stimson Center on why Trump ‘blinked’ and what comes next.Featured: Barbara Slavin, distinguished fellow at the Stimson Center in Washington and a lecturer in international affairs at George Washington University

As a Victoria Cross recipient, Ben Roberts-Smith is one of Australia’s most decorated soldiers.Now, he’s been charged with five counts of the war crime of murder. It comes after he lost a landmark defamation trial in which a judge found that on the balance of probabilities, allegations the former special forces soldier was responsible for, or complicit in the deaths of four detainees in Afghanistan were substantially true. Today, international law expert Don Rothwell on the charges, which if proven, could see Ben Roberts-Smith jailed for life.Featured: Donald Rothwell, Professor of International Law at the Australian National University’s College of Law

We know that US President Donald Trump is the ultimate decision maker when it comes to the war in Iran, but who’s in his ear?From Pete Hegseth to Marco Rubio and JD Vance, they’re each playing a role in executing or trying to explain the rationale for the controversial action in Iran. If the war can’t be sold as a success in the end, who in Trump’s cabinet will end up paying the price?Today, David Smith from the United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney on Trump’s team and whether any of them know what they’re doing. Featured: David Smith, Associate Professor in American Politics and Foreign Policy at the United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney

Oil and financial markets have been swinging wildly with every social media post from Donald Trump. But a pattern of large, well-timed trades placed on commodity and prediction markets just minutes before major Iran war announcements has emerged. It’s raising concerns that some investors could be acting on inside information. Today, Andrew Verstein an expert on insider trading and law professor at UCLA on the money changing hands.Featured: Andrew Verstein, Professor of Law, and Faculty Co-Director of the Lowell Milken Institute for Business Law and Policy at UCLA.

He's sending more troops to the Middle East, while insisting the war in Iran is nearly over. So is Donald Trump preparing to pull out or digging in? If the US steps back, it's signalled other countries could be left to secure the Strait of Hormuz-- a vital global oil route-- on their own.Today, defence strategist Kelly A. Grieco on why whatever comes next, the chaos is far from over.Featured:Kelly A. Grieco, Senior Fellow with the Reimagining US Grand Strategy Program at the Stimson Center

With the Easter break approaching, many motorists are wondering if they’ll be able to fill up their tanks and whether it’s worth travelling far from home. The fuel crunch has been triggered by the ongoing war in Iran which is disrupting global oil supply, making availability in Australia increasingly uncertain. Today, energy expert Saul Kavonic on what to expect and why government fuel incentives could make the situation worse.Featured: Saul Kavonic, energy analyst, MST Financial

Could the Iran war lead our economy into a recession?Past oil shocks have sparked economic downturns and as petrol and diesel prices climb now, it could happen again. Today, the ABCs finance expert Alan Kohler on why he thinks this could be one of the great disasters of our lifetime. Featured: Alan Kohler, ABC finance expert and host of the “That's Business with Alan Kohler” podcast