April 25, 2026

CNN | First Of All with Victor Blackwell

Cornerstone Principal Charles Carithers joined CNN’s First of All with Victor Blackwell to discuss ongoing negotiations to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end the conflict with Iran. Drawing on a decade of experience in the U.S. Intelligence Community, he offered the following insights:

I think it’s important to realize that these things take time. And oftentimes you start with individuals who are the subject matter experts, who are nuclear experts on this particular matter, and so you want to get the right people in the room, because timing is everything…But you just can’t flip a switch and think that the Strait of Hormuz can magically reopen.”

Find Charles’ full commentary here.