The ceasefire with Iran has to hold, according to an intelligence foreign policy analyst, otherwise the entire global economy will collapse.

The reduction in energy resources from the war was like “doing one of those Vulcan pressure holds on your carotid artery”, former US Navy senior chief Malcolm Nance told Ryan Bridge.

“You can't hold it forever, you're then going to start killing the system… [US President Donald Trump] had to take this deal.”

The US-allied Gulf states had lost trillions of dollars in market capital from the attacks, Nance said.

“[Trump’s] going to have to deal with what's been played now, because there's no restarting this war. It will collapse the global economy if they do it again.”

Nance —who has extensive experience fighting in the Persian Gulf— said the war should never have started in the first place as Iran’s chokehold over the Strait of Hormuz has been very clear since the 1980s.

“This was done almost haphazardly. They didn't consult anybody and they didn't listen to the advice of military planners.

“We are awesome —America— at blowing things up. We're apparently really awful at meeting our stated objectives.”

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Drug traffickers have their eyes on New Zealand as Customs deals with a massive influx in border seizures.

A Cabinet paper shows the volume of intercepted drugs more than quadrupled between 2018 and 2024, going from 1.5 to 6.5 tonnes.

Drug Detection Agency Chief Executive Glen Dobson told Ryan Bridge officials are stepping up.

He says we're being actively targeted by organised crime groups, and recommends greater cross-agency consultation.

But Dobson says greater seizures are also a success.

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The Reserve Bank expects inflation to spike this quarter - but says it's still too early to say by how much.

The central bank's opted to keep the Official Cash Rate unchanged at 2.25 percent, for now.

It's forecasting inflation will surge to 4.2 percent in the June quarter - but admits that forecast doesn't take into account the fall in fuel prices after yesterday's Iran ceasefire announcement.

The Co-operative Bank CEO Mark Wilkshire shares his thoughts with Ryan Bridge.

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On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Thursday 9th of April 2025, Iran and the US have agreed on a two week ceasefire, Intelligence, Foreign Policy Analyst and former US Navy Senior Chief Malcolm Nance tells Ryan if it will hold.

Huge drug hauls are being caught at Auckland Airport, Drug Detection Agency CEO Glen Dobson tells Ryan why there's so much more drugs coming in.

The OCR held steady at 2.25%, but the Reserve Bank says inflation will peak at 4.2% this quarter, the Co-operative Bank CEO, Mark Wilshire shares his thoughts.

Plus, US Correspondent Mitch McCann has the latest on Trump changing tact on Iran, with negotiations set to commence on Friday in Pakistan and the Artemis crew heading back to Earth after reaching the far side of the Moon.

Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Should we welcome a ceasefire? Yes, of course.

Should we count on it holding? No, of course not.

The Iranians now control a strait they didn’t control before the war and the Israelis are still dropping bombs in Lebanon even though this ceasefire apparently says they shouldn’t be.

In fact, both sides now seem to be claiming they're talking about completely different 10-point plans.

These are the things you can’t control.

But on the things we can, does anybody else feel a bit relieved about the grown ups we have in charge at home?

Nicola Willis has risen to the occasion. Clear, concise, across the detail and realistic about what government can and can’t do to fix everybody’s problems.

You’ll remember when this all kicked off I said they had few political choices given how hard they fought Labour’s Covid spending and its effect on inflation.

The targeted, temporary, timely motto seems to have, for now, been the right one.

Cometh the hour, cometh the woman. If there was to be a leadership spill in National, her performance in this crisis has out her top of the list of contenders.

And Winston Peters, for all the cries and pleas for him to thump Trump, to criticise and protest, to play the role of the ICC, he’s held his nerve and kept his thoughts to himself.

Some argue that shows weakness.

But most kiwis know what he’s doing is protecting us from the wrath of a very sensitive and vindictive President.

This situation is far from done and dusted, but it’s shown us we have competent political and diplomatic leaders who are realistic about they can’t and can’t control.

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A think tank's warning the way we appoint public agency leaders is hindering the Government from governing.

The New Zealand Initiative says consecutive governments struggling to fulfil their promises is due to elected ministers being unable to choose a department's chief executive.

Executive Director Oliver Hartwich says the Public Service Commissioner makes the appointment, which can happen before a minister is elected.

He told Ryan Bridge that ministers may be forced to work with department heads appointed during the previous government's term, who may not be happy with you and vice versa, and that doesn’t work well to implement the Government’s agenda.

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The Reserve Bank is expected to play it safe today as it releases the first Official Cash Rate since the Iran war began.

Economists predict it'll remain at 2.25% until later this year.

ANZ Chief Economist Sharon Zollner told Ryan Bridge the conflict is very much inflationary and bad for growth.

She says until it's clear whether higher interest rates are required to head off persistent inflation or not – the best thing to do is stay in 'wait and see' mode.

The OCR will be released at 2pm.

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Donald Trump's rhetoric is becoming more violent as he issues a grave threat toward Iran.

The US President says 'a whole civilisation will die tonight' unless the Strait of Hormuz reopens, warning US forces will demolish Iranian bridges and power.

But Tehran is holding steadfast.

The Guardian's defence and security editor Dan Sabbagh told Ryan Bridge Iranian infrastructure's already being bombed.

He says Israel's blown up eight bridges across Tehran's rail network.

US forces also bombed targets on Kharg Island overnight, which exports most of Iran's oil.

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