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Iran Vows Retaliation After U.S. Strikes On Key Oil Hub; Trump Claims Countries Will Send Warships To Open The Strait Of Hormuz; Suspect In Michigan Terror Attack On Federal Watch List; Jewish Community On High Alert After Recent Antisemitic Attacks; Interview With Representative David Kustoff (R-TN); Iran Vows Retaliation After U.S. Strikes On Key Oil Hub; Trump Claims Countries Will Send Warships To Open Strait Of Hormuz; Polls: Most Republicans Approve Of War On Iran. Aired 7-8p ET

Aired March 14, 2026 - 19:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[19:00:00]

JESSICA DEAN, CNN ANCHOR: That's coming one day after the U.S. targeted Iran's Kharg Island. It's a key oil hub that handles a vast majority of the country's crude exports. On Friday, the U.S. hit military facilities on that island.

Let's bring in CNN international diplomatic editor Nic Robertson from Kuwait.

Nic, Iran said it's going to retaliate for those U.S. strikes on Kharg Island. What is the latest from the region tonight?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Yes, quite a lot of attacks going on all across the region. Saudi Arabia, some of the latest details coming in, six ballistic missiles intercepted, but they were targeting that air base just outside of the capital Riyadh, where the U.S. Air Force has a lot of air force assets on the ground there. So that's come under attack again.

The east of Saudi Arabia under attack. Sirens going off in Bahrain in the past couple of hours. Qatar intercepting a number of ballistic missiles, four ballistic missiles earlier today, and a number of drones. The UAE saying a significant number of ballistic missiles impacting. There are nine ballistic missiles, 33 drones they say. That's a pretty high number.

And here in Kuwait a few hours ago, the sirens were going off. Earlier in the evening, about three hours ago, we heard from the civil aviation authority here, they said that two drones had impacted the civilian international airport, impacting radar equipment there. No one injured. Three drones intercepted earlier in the evening, according to the military here. Two other drones landing in an open area and two other further drones landing in a Kuwaiti air base and we also know from the Kuwaiti military here, three military service personnel here were injured in strikes today.

So very busy and this does seem to be Iran following through the IRGC, the military, the political leadership, the foreign ministry today saying that they would double down on attacks on U.S. commercial interests in the region. It's not entirely clear what has been impacted across the region tonight, apart from, as we understand, those details about the radar at Kuwait International Airport.

Well, one of the significant events today that we heard out of the UAE, the UAE authorities there finally managed to put out a fire at an oil facility there that has been burning since Tuesday. So that gives you a sense of the scale of some of the impacts that we're aware of. And Iran really seeming to increase what it's targeting today.

DEAN: Yes, certainly. And help people understand the significance of Friday's U.S. attacks on those military -- again, this is important. The military targets there on Kharg Island.

ROBERTSON: Clearly a message to Iran that the United States has the capability to take out the most sensitive, vital, economically important facility that Iran has and that is Kharg Island's oil terminals. They were not damaged. The United States Air Force and military assets went after the military there. But this is so vitally important to Iran. 90 percent of its crude oil gets exported from Kharg Island.

It has sort of these deep water port facilities there, oil loading facilities, that allow supertankers to pull up there. Four percent to 5 percent of the world's oil supplies come from that particular terminal. This is an island about a third the size of Manhattan. And strategically it's about 130 miles from where we are here, right in the northern end of the Persian Gulf, a separate area to the Strait of Hormuz. It really puts a new focus in the northern area of the Gulf right now.

DEAN: All right. Important context and information from Nic Robertson there on the ground in Kuwait. Thank you so much for that.

I want to bring in CNN White House correspondent Julia Benbrook, who is traveling with the president in Florida this weekend.

And Julia, let's talk more from your perspective on what the president is saying about all of this and specifically what's going on there in the Strait of Hormuz. That is where Kharg Island is adjacent to and located.

JULIA BENBROOK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This is a big area of focus right now. It's 20 percent, roughly 20 percent of the world's oil travels through the Strait of Hormuz. In fact, President Donald Trump has posted about this twice today. In his most recent post, he reiterated calls for countries to help secure shipping in the passage.

I want to pull up part of that for you now. He said this, he said, quote, "The countries of the world that receive oil through the Hormuz Strait must take care of that passage, and we will help a lot. The U.S. will also coordinate with those countries so that everything goes quickly, smoothly and well. This should have been a team effort, and now it will be." And this comes as Americans are directly feeling the impact here with a surge in gas prices.

[19:05:02]

And while Trump has said that he is confident that those will eventually go down this could be an attempt to address some of those growing concerns right now. In his post earlier in the day, he said that several countries, specifically those impacted by Iran's attempted closure of the strait, will be sending warships to help make sure that the strait can be open.

And then he added in that post, so at the beginning he said they will be. Then he added in that post that he hopes China, France, South Korea and the United Kingdom will be sending ships. He said that the United States will be bombing the shoreline in the meantime.

Now, Iran's foreign minister has denied claims that the Strait of Hormuz has been completely closed, instead saying it is blocking vessels with ties to the United States and Israel -- Jessica.

DEAN: All right, Julia Benbrook in Florida. Thank you so much for that reporting.

Also tonight, the Amsterdam mayor is denouncing what he called a targeted attack after a bomb exploded at a Jewish school there. The overnight blast hitting the outer wall of the building. No one was injured. City officials tell CNN police do have images of the person who set off the device.

After a wave of antisemitic attacks one Dutch father says he now wears a bulletproof vest when going to the synagogue.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAEL, AMSTERDAM RESIDENT (through translator): My five daughters went to this school. So I wonder now, where is the government? Where is the safety? We have very good police in the neighborhood which are doing their best for us. But now I am walking around in a bulletproof vest, you see. I don't dare go to the synagogue without it because of all the tensions.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DEAN: The Dutch prime minister says there is no place for antisemitism in the Netherlands, and Jewish people must feel safe.

We're also learning new information about the extremist ties of the man who rammed a car full of explosives into a Detroit area synagogue full of children. Law enforcement sources telling CNN the 41-year-old had previous links to the militant group Hezbollah, though he was not believed to be a member.

CNN's Brian Abel has more now.

BRIAN ABEL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Jessica, the suspect Ayman Ghazali, according to the FBI, pulled into Temple Israel here Thursday morning around 10:00 and then stayed in his truck for more than two hours before deciding to start driving and then barreling through the doors, eventually hitting a security guard with his truck as he continued to barrel down the hallway. All the while inside the vehicle a rifle as well as commercial grade fireworks and jugs of flammable liquids.

At one point, his truck got stuck between hallway walls. That's when he decided to open fire. Ghazali firing through the windshield. There was an exchange of gunfire at that point, and at one point he fatally shot himself, Ghazali did, as well as the engine of the truck lighting on fire.

Now, I do want to talk a little bit about what police know about Ghazali's background at this point. The 41-year-old, he did not have any previous criminal history. He was not part of any previous FBI investigation until this point, but he was according to law enforcement that are briefed on this, he did appear to be in federal government databases as having connections to, quote, "known or suspected terrorists associated with Hezbollah in Lebanon."

The Lebanon born man who became a U.S. citizen in 2016, also had family in Lebanon and a mayor in a city there in Lebanon tells us that he did have family members that were killed in an Israeli airstrike just a week before the attack here. Two of Ghazali's brothers were killed. One of those brothers had two children who were killed. Ghazali's parents and brothers' wives were injured in that attack as well.

I asked a state representative, a state lawmaker here, who also goes to attend Temple Israel, if those details change how she views this attack.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SAMANTHA STECKLOFF, MICHIGAN STATE HOUSE: We can't continue to blame what happens overseas for a targeted attack on a Jewish community. This gentleman, while suffering a devastating loss as a family, he chose to turn that anger into hate and come to a preschool, a preschool of innocent Jewish kids. And that's where he chose his attack. That, at the core, is antisemitism.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ABEL: There were more than 100 kids inside Temple Israel at the time of this attack. More than 600 law enforcement officers responded to the scene, and more than 60 were treated for smoke inhalation. They are expected to recover -- Jessica.

[19:10:06]

DEAN: All right, Brian Abel, thank you.

We've seen a surge of antisemitism in recent years, and that attack in Michigan has only amplified the feelings of fear among many Jewish Americans.

Let's bring in CNN's Julia Vargas Jones, who joins us now. She's been speaking with members of Jewish congregations.

What are they telling you, Julia?

JULIA VARGAS JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, for all of the reasons that Brian just outlined there, outlined there, Jessica, they are scared. They're scared of going to synagogues. Some of them are debating whether or not they should go to Shabbat service on Friday night and saying that they're also exhausted by this, Jessica. There's just been so many targeted attacks in the Jewish community.

They're saying they're just tired of having to go through security, through metal detectors, showing their I.D. to go into places of worship. But that is just not how their community wants to live. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOEL NICKERSON, SENIOR RABBI, WILSHIRE BOULEVARD TEMPLE: Despite the fact that we have incredible security here, the fact that I have congregants who question whether or not they should show up, who are worried about bringing their children to school. Those are things that we should not have to be worrying about. The fact that as a Jewish community, that is something that almost on a daily basis people in my community are waking up and thinking about, that is so upsetting.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VARGAS: And the feeling from the congregants there, Jessica, is of just widespread sadness and anger. You know, they have put these protocols into place years ago. And we started seeing a rise in attacks at synagogues and other places of Jewish congregation. So they're used to already to showing their I.D.s, to going through metal detectors, and having all of that just so they can go to a synagogue. But this is just adding another layer.

They're saying they're just getting tired of this, but the Jewish community is preparing for Passover. It's just in a couple of weeks. And the rabbi mentioned something really interesting. He made this analogy between the idea of Passover, which is a commemoration of this journey from slavery into freedom. He said that this is a symbol of resilience for the Jewish community, and that he's hoping that they can cling on to that over the next few weeks.

He's encouraging congregants to show up and not be scared of showing up for service and being together. He said that being in community is the best defense against fear and isolation -- Jessica.

DEAN: All right. Julia Vargas Jones, thank you so much from Los Angeles.

And still to come here tonight, I'm going to speak with a Jewish Republican congressman, David Kustoff, about the rise in antisemitism and what he thinks needs to change. That's after our break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[19:17:27] DEAN: Back now with more breaking news. Antisemitism here in the U.S. and around the world escalating, especially in the wake of the war with Iran. Words spilling into action this week here in the U.S., we just talked about this. Vehicle filled with what appeared to be explosives ramming into a Michigan synagogue with more than 100 children inside. The FBI calling that a targeted act of violence against the Jewish community. The official motive remains under investigation.

We want to bring in Republican Representative David Kustoff of Tennessee. He serves on the House Ways and Means Committee.

Congressman, thank you so much. You are a member of the Jewish faith yourself, and that puts you in a unique position to kind of take in what we have seen this week. I just want to get your thoughts on where we stand today.

REP. DAVID KUSTOFF (R-TN): Well, Jessica, thank you for having me this evening. A number of things. One is it's a tough time in the nation with the rising levels of antisemitism. We've seen an explosion and exasperation of it since the October 7th, 2023 attacks where people are becoming certainly more violent. They've become more prevalent on social media, which feeds into this.

And I will say, as it relates to that attack just a few days ago, we are very thankful for those trained private security forces that Temple Israel had in Michigan, along with the quick response of local and federal law enforcement. But it's a shame that Jewish communities in places like Michigan and here in Tennessee have to employ trained private security forces that they have to pay for in order to safeguard synagogues and Jewish community centers across the country.

DEAN: We heard from Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer on Friday talking about this attack. I want to play a clip of what she said. This is what -- part of what she said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. GRETCHEN WHITMER (D), MICHIGAN: This is not a political moment. This is not a political debate. This is targeting babies who are Jewish. That's antisemitism at its absolute worst. And that's why we cannot lose sight of that. The importance of keeping everyone in Michigan safe by being responsible in how we talk about issues and how we treat one another.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DEAN: And she went on, as well as the Senator Elissa Slotkin, talking about the importance of calling out antisemitism and the danger of words online spilling into action in real life.

[19:20:08]

What do you think needs to change to protect people from that happening? KUSTOFF: First, I think Governor Whitmer for her statement because it

was a strong statement. It takes people like me in Washington, D.C. both in the House and the Senate, to call out this behavior. And frankly a number of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle do that. But we need -- we need more of it. I will say that the -- that President Trump has been very strong in calling out this type of antisemitic behavior.

The director of the FBI, Kash Patel, has been very forceful, saying antisemitic attacks won't be tolerated here in this country. We've got to continue to do that. And as I said a moment ago with the rise of social media, you know, you're seeing a lot of -- a lot of really dark forces that permeate. And unfortunately, it attaches to some people. So we've got to do more of it. We've got to be louder. We've got to be more vocal.

But I will say that the law enforcement in this country at all levels, local, state and federal, have really been stellar in their responses to these unfortunate activities.

DEAN: I also want to ask you about the Department of Homeland Security, which is still affected by this partial government shutdown, is now going unfunded for a month now. Impacted workers missing their first full paychecks this weekend including TSA workers.

Just broadly in this moment, both from the antisemitism front and the threat to the Jewish community. Also just we also saw other terror attacks in America this week that were said to be inspired by ISIS or had connectivity to other terror groups. Are you concerned about DHS in its current state? And do you think Americans are safe enough?

KUSTOFF: Well, Jessica, I am concerned about DHS and think about this, not only from the TSA perspective but other DHS employees, this is the second time in four months or so that they've had to go through not getting paid. There was a period of 43 days from October 1 through the early second week of November that they missed paychecks. They missed at least now one full paycheck and a partial paycheck previously.

In the House of Representatives I voted twice to fund DHS. The effort has failed in the Senate. And I would just encourage the Democrat senators who I realize have a problem with ICE and other issues relating to DHS that their actions not to fund DHS, two things, one, affects real people in terms of these men and women that we're asking to go out and do very important jobs to protect the homeland, they're not getting paid. And that is wrong.

The second thing is, I know that Leader Thune and the Republican leadership have offered, look, let's just on a temporary basis fund DHS while we try to work through and negotiate these other issues that you're concerned about and the Democrats in the Senate are unwilling to do that. We're one big disaster away from seeing the real effects of DHS not being funded. And I even mentioned FEMA, which comes into play, obviously with natural disasters and weather disasters. Let's get the government funded.

DEAN: Yes. Just quickly, I had your Democratic colleague Gregory Meeks on in an earlier hour. He honestly said the same thing, which is why can't we just fund -- pay them right now while we sort this out? And he was saying that Republicans need to do that. I hear you saying Democrats need to do that. So it sounds like at least the two of you agree that they should be paid while they work this out.

KUSTOFF: Well, we've taken a vote twice in the last several weeks to fund DHS fully if the Democrats aren't willing to do that. I know that there's been an offer to fund it temporarily while the substantive issues are debated and tried to be worked out. Let's be reasonable, let's be sensible, and let's take care of these men and women who are reporting to work and not getting paid.

DEAN: All right. Congressman David Kustoff, thank you so much for your time. We appreciate it.

KUSTOFF: Thank you for having me.

DEAN: Yes.

Still ahead, Tehran doubling down on closing one of the world's most important oil channels, but will U.S. strikes on their oil hub, on military targets, on their oil hub put enough pressure on the country to back off?

[19:25:03]

We're going to talk with a military expert about that next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

DEAN: Another consequence of the war with Iran, Formula One and its governing body FIA announcing the Grand Prix races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, scheduled for next month, will not be taking place. Both of those countries have been struck by Iran after the United States and Israel launched those initial waves of attacks on Iran.

And today, Iran issuing another warning to civilians in the United Arab Emirates, urging them to stay away from the country's main ports. That could possibly be an attempt from Iran to create panic among residents after vowing revenge for U.S. strikes on a key oil hub Kharg Island.

Trump saying yesterday the raid, quote, "totally obliterated every military target on the island."

[19:30:10]

Let's bring in retired U.S. Army Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt. Joining us now. Thank you so much for being here with us. As we stand, we had these strikes on Kharg Island on those military targets just yesterday. We've now seen Iran striking the Iraqi in Baghdad, the Iraqi Embassy there with drones. Where do you see things going from here?

BRIG. GEN. MARK KIMMITT (RET) U.S. ARMY: Well, first of all, I think Iraq is a separate issue because that's in the presence of Iranian backed militias there. While it may have been motivated by Iran, it was certainly done by Iraqis themselves.

Look, the stakes are getting higher it's clear that the Iranians are trying to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed. That was the pronouncement of the new Supreme Leader President Trump then took Kharg Island basically holding the entire output of the Iranian oil industry hostage, saying, if you don't let the boats through the Strait of Hormuz, we're just going to hang on to this.

So, I think it basically is a bit of poker being played by both sides. And we really won't know until we start getting some ships through the Strait of Hormuz, which is going to be exceptionally difficult.

DEAN: And in talking with another with a Former Pentagon official in the last hour, he was explaining to us that part of hitting those military facilities on Kharg Island is likely in preparation to try to get some of these ships through the Strait of Hormuz. But even then, if you can start doing it, it's still very difficult work and it can be kind of whack-a-mole in terms of the new threats that might pop up. How would you assess that situation?

KIMMITT: Well, as you articulated it, I don't know if the Pentagon official was talking about. The fact remains, we've been through this before, there was a Tanker War in the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf, 1981 to 1988.

We reflagged the oil tankers, the United States provided escorting of over 22,000 ships through the Strait of Hormuz, lost a couple of hundred, some were sunk. But it's a very dangerous operation. We've done it before. I just am concerned that we don't have the assets marshaled right now between ourselves and our allies to do this without putting those ships at risk. And if those ships are at risk their insurance companies are not going to let them go through the Strait of Hormuz or out of the Persian Gulf.

DEAN: Right.

KIMMITT: So, it's to have a significant effect on the oil prices.

DEAN: Certainly, and so to your point then, the President now asking our allies and others to join together to try to help with this effort. How likely do you think that is and what will it take to get some of those assets you're talking about in place?

KIMMITT: Well, in a bit of self-promotion, I write about this in hopefully the article will get published in "The Hill." I've done this before at State Department building, a coalition for counter piracy.

If there is anything that should bring the allies into this situation, it should be their own self-interest. Gas right now is four times the price in France and Europe and in Germany and in the United Kingdom than it is in the United States. They have more countermeasure ships than we do. It's a fairly non-contentious involvement in the war. They're not bombing Iran and they're not defending against those bombs. They're simply trying to protect their ships going through the Gulf. So candidly, they've got the equipment that we need. They have a self- interest in this. I believe the allies should be if not willing to do this, persuaded that it's in their best interest for their people to do this.

DEAN: All right, General Mark Kimmitt, thank you so much for being with us. We really appreciate it.

KIMMITT: Yes, thank you.

DEAN: President Trump has been urging countries, as we just noted, to help secure the Strait of Hormuz as Iran's blockage has sent rippling effects throughout the global economy.

CNN's Nic Robertson is in Kuwait, where he is seeing firsthand the devastating consequences of this war and how it is playing out across the broader region.

Nic, you talked with the family of a Kuwaiti soldier who was killed in these strikes. What did they tell you?

ROBERTSON: Yes look, everyone is talking about the cost of the war gas going up at the pump crude oil hitting $100.00 a barrel, the focus being on the Strait of Hormuz. And of course, these are the key important big pictures towards ending the war with Iran. But there really are some families and we met some of them that are really paying a much higher price.

[19:35:10]

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ROBERTSON (voice over): Farhad Al-Majmad's relatives are among them, their loved one buried in a cemetery reserved for Kuwait's heroes.

Farhad was 33 years old, a major in Kuwait's border force, and died instantly. His family says, when an Iranian drone struck his vehicle four days ago. His brother Saud shows me a picture of Farhads, now fatherless three- month-old daughter. The hardest thing, he says, telling my mother.

SAUD AL-MAJMAD, BROTHER OF KUWAITI SOLDIER (through translator): I was trying to find a way around it, saying he was injured but the news was spreading. It was difficult, sad. I pray we never relive it again.

ROBERTSON (voice over): Kuwait has become the deadliest place from Iranian attack for service personnel in the gulf so far. Six U.S. service personnel killed and four Kuwaitis in separate incidents many, many more injured.

Farhad's first passion was soccer, captained his local team, played on the National Squad. Five days before the war, he retired, played his last game, took his young daughter to see it, got a huge send off from adoring fans and players. He was a big deal in Kuwait.

AL-MAJMAD (through translator): Fahad was passionate about military life. He always wanted to defend his country and what an honor it was.

ROBERTSON (voice over): A few nights before the Iranian drone snatched his life, he sent this message to his family. "Sleep safely and know we have your back."

Kuwait's interior ministry immediately made it a national slogan.

AL-MAJMAD (through translator): As devastated as I am over the loss of Fahad, I'm also very proud of him. He was brave ready to sacrifice his life and he did sacrifice his life for his country.

ROBERTSON (voice over): Fahad's funeral was national news. Hundreds came to show their respects, a much-needed morale boost for his battered family. His mother, the most grievously impacted, they say.

AL-MAJMAD (through translator): The Gulf states were thrust into this war, which we had nothing to do with. My message is stop the war as soon as possible.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROBERTSON: So, long after the drones and the missiles stopped coming and the sirens here fall silent. There'll be some very sad families with an empty seat at the dinner table, but they'll know that when their nation called them to action, they paid the ultimate price.

DEAN: All right, our Nic Robertson in Kuwait, thank you so much for that. We appreciate it, we'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[19:42:53]

DEAN: President Trump's decision to strike Iran has caused some divide within his own party. CNN's Harry Enten runs the numbers on where conservatives stand -- Harry.

HARRY ENTEN, CNN CHIEF DATA ANALYST: Hey there, Jessica, happy Saturday to you.

Look, there's a lot of noise from certain folks on the right, like Tucker Carlson against the U.S. military's recent actions in Iran. But I'm here to tell you that it's just such a small portion of the Republican part of the electorate. Most Republicans are with Donald Trump when it comes to his actions and the U.S. military's actions when it comes to Iran and with Donald Trump overall. What are we talking about here?

Well, let's just take a look at the most recent polling. Republicans on U.S. military action in Iran. Look at this, overall, were talking about amongst the GOP, 78 percent approve compared to just 13 percent who disapprove. And an average of all the March polling, we are talking about a very wide margin here. We're talking about just such a slim portion of the Republican Party who disapprove of the U.S. military's actions in Iran. And we're talking about four and five Republicans who approve. They are with Donald Trump at this point when it comes to U.S. military action in Iran. Now, when we slim it down, when we go in even further, the real true Republican base, the Make America Great Again self as, this 78 percent, it goes even further. What are we talking about?

Let's take a look here. Okay, MAGA GOP on U.S. Military action in Iran. Look at this. Look at this. We're talking about 89 percent, nearly nine in 10 MAGA Republicans who approve of the U.S. Military action in Iran compared to just, get this, we're talking about single digits, nine percent just nine percent who disapprove of the U.S. Military action in Iran.

As I said at the beginning of this, the Republican electorate and specifically the MAGA GOP base, they are with Donald John Trump, the President of United States, and they are standing against standing against the Tucker Carlsons in the world.

They say Tucker Carlson be darned, darned when it comes to the U.S. Military action in Iran. I should point out this finding first came from Gabe Fleischer over at Wake Up to Politics, a very smart young fellow, he pointed this out, but it's very clear right here. We're talking about nearly nine in 10 MAGA Republicans who in fact approve of the U.S. military action in Iran and this isn't much of a surprise to me Jessica. This is not much of a surprise to me. Why do I say it's not much of a surprise?

The reason I say it's not much of a surprise is because look at this, GOP who approve of Trump overall. That is his overall job approval rating, back on February 14th, it was 86 percent. You know, the vast, vast majority. Jump ahead to now, look at this, well within the margin of error, that same 85 percent of Republicans who approve of the job that Donald Trump is doing when it comes to his overall job approval rating.

[19:45:43]

Again, looking pre and post military action in Iran, it's the same number here. The vast majority of Republicans are with Donald John Trump. And I want to put this even to more of a historical perspective, because I think it's so important to note just how strong Trump's grip, his grip is, his grip when it comes to the Republican Party. And we can do this by looking back at other 21st century Presidents at this point in their second term.

Take a look here, I got it for you up here on the screen right here, 21st century Presidents own party approval about at this point, a second term. Look at where Trump is, he's at 85 percent. He's at 85 percent. That is a very strong figure.

It is significantly stronger, significantly stronger than Barack Obama was at this point, 77 percent. Or how about George W. Bush another Republican President who is at 77 percent as well. Donald Trump running well ahead of the pack here at this point, a second term there is no sign that the military action, at least at least at this point when it comes to Iran, is shifting that dynamic at all because the bottom line is this the Republican base is with Donald Trump overall, and they're very much with him when it comes to U.S. military action in Iran especially that MAGA base. That, of course, has supercharged Donald Trump's political his -- just his political abilities over the course, of course, over the last decade, as I said earlier on, the Republican base is with Donald Trump, Tucker Carlson be darned.

Back to you, Jessica.

DEAN: Harry Enten with the numbers. Thanks so much.

Still to come here, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy talking to CNN explaining how Russia is getting involved in the U.S. War against Iran. More of that conversation after a quick break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[19:51:57]

DEAN: New tonight, an exclusive interview with CNN, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy telling our Fareed Zakaria, Russia has significantly aided Iran in the war with U.S. and Israel. Here's what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FAREED ZAKARIA, CNN HOST, "FAREED ZAKARIA GPS": Do you have intelligence or any information about this report that the Russians are providing Iran with intelligence, specifically providing Iran with intelligence on where American troops are, where American assets are, so that the Iranians can strike and kill Americans?

VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE: First of all, Russia gave drones already the Shaheds. They are using Iranian licenses you know, that they built and produced a lot of drones. They gave them, I have 100 percent facts that they, that Iranian regime used against American bases and against in Middle East. and Middle East neighbors of Iran they used these drones.

We saw intelligence shared with us some details, and it was Russian details in these Iranian drones. They said the first. And the second point is my intelligence told me next that they think that they share information, intelligence with Iranian regime.

They helped them. And also, they told my intelligence told me that they said if Europe and United States can help Ukraine with intelligence in this war, it means that Russia can help Iranian regime. This is their point of view on this. So, it's a fact and you see, that is not a big secret.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DEAN: Zelenskyy also spoke about how Ukraine is offering assistance to the U.S. and gulf nations during the war with Iran, and you can catch the full interview with Fareed tomorrow at 9:00 A.M. and 1:00 P.M. Eastern time. Some other top stories were following, the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command says North Korea launched multiple ballistic missiles earlier today, adding the launches do not pose a threat to U.S. personnel or territory.

These are images showing Kim Jong-un and his daughter after launching another missile test earlier this week.

A federal judge is delaying President Trump's plan to close and renovate the Kennedy Center. The judge ruling the administration must provide renovation plans to Democratic Congresswoman Joyce Beatty, who sits on the board before Mondays' vote, Trump administration lawyers had argued the plans were preliminary and not finalized the Congresswoman is also asking the judge to halt the centers planned closure until it receives Congressional approval.

A new CNN special, diving into the making and meaning of the academy awards as Hollywood prepares to celebrate its most prestigious honor. And here's a preview of that.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Once it became televised, that's when you had the mass market appeal.

[19:55:07]

In 1953, they started televising that theatricalized version of the awards with an audience and people opening the envelopes on stage and all this sort of basic architecture of what we now know as the Academy Awards.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This was an evening where you got to see your favorite actors be themselves.

HOST: Marlon Brando for "On the Waterfront".

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: To see them as human beings, I think is one of the biggest draws. You see them as people.

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DEAN: You can catch "Hollywood and the Oscars: Still Golden" now streaming on our CNN app.

I want to say thanks so much for joining me this evening. Kate Bolduan is going to pick up our breaking news coverage after a quick break and I'm going to see you back here tomorrow at 6:30 P.M. Eastern time. Have a good night, everyone.

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