Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Newsroom
Israeli, Lebanese Leaders to Speak Today as per U.S. President Trump; China's First Quarter Economic Data Released Despite the Iran War. Aired 3-4a ET
Aired April 16, 2026 - 03:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[03:00:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us from all around the world. I'm Rosemary Church, just ahead.
A rare meeting between the leaders of Israel and Lebanon is set in the shadows of the Iran war. We are live in the region with the latest.
Plus, the U.N. says the clock is ticking to prevent a global food crisis that's now closer than ever.
And China's first quarter economic data is in. How the world's second largest economy is doing despite the war.
UNKNOWN (voice-over): Live from Atlanta, this is "CNN Newsroom" with Rosemary Church.
CHURCH: Thanks for joining us.
It is 10:00 a.m. across Israel and Lebanon and U.S. President Donald Trump says the leaders of the two countries will speak today. He posted that on Truth Social, trying to get a little breathing room between Israel and Lebanon. It has been a long time since the two leaders have spoken, like 34 years, his words there. An Israeli official tells CNN Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will speak with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.
Meanwhile, the U.S. is striking an optimistic tone about the possibility of ending the war with Iran. Press Secretary Karoline Levitt says the White House feels good about the prospects of a deal. And President Trump tells Fox News that he sees the war as very close to over.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARIA BARTIROMO, FOX NEWS ANCHOR: Is this war over?
DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: I think it's close to over. Yes, I mean, I view it as very close to over. You know what? If I pulled up stakes right now, it would take them 20 years to rebuild their country.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: A delegation from Pakistan is in Tehran, where they are expected to resume talks in the coming hours about a second round of negotiations with the U.S. Iran's foreign minister welcomed the visit, saying Tehran is committed to peace and stability in the region. The White House says despite the exchange of messages between the U.S. and Iran, reports of a ceasefire extension are not true.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KAROLINE LEAVITT, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: These conversations are productive and ongoing. And that's where we are right now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: Let's bring in CNN's Eleni Giokos live from Dubai. So Eleni, what more are you learning about these direct talks now confirmed between the leaders of Israel and Lebanon set to take place today?
ELENI GIOKOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: So this just coming into CNN from sources saying that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be speaking with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Thursday. So this is an interesting development because after we saw that post by President Trump, and I just want to read you what he said, "Trying to get a little breathing room between Israel and Lebanon. It has been a long time since the two leaders have spoken, like 34 years."
And of course, that is spot on. This is American-led negotiations and talks between Israel and Lebanon. And the big question is, is it going to result in any kind of agreement, any ceasefire plan going forward?
Also keeping in mind that Israel and Lebanon had its first direct talks in 40 years in Washington D.C. this week. Now this really does pertain around where Lebanon stands in terms of the overall ceasefire agreement between Iran and the United States. And Iran for its part says that Lebanon needs to be included in any ceasefire deal with the United States and any agreement that comes to the fore.
And of course, the United States and Israel have asserted that there was miscommunication, that Lebanon was never included. Pakistan, the key mediator, says that it was always included.
So this is very consequential as we look forward to some kind of second round of talks between the United States as well as Iran, even though we don't have details on that yet. Things are moving on the diplomatic front.
I also want to give you a sense of where Israel stands right now. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is still saying that they have objectives to take out Hezbollah targets. And even though we also had sources telling us that the Israeli cabinet was meeting around and discussing a potential ceasefire.
Take a listen to what Prime Minister Netanyahu had to say.
[03:05:03] (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER (through translator): In parallel, our forces continue to strike Hezbollah. The fighting is centered in Bint Jbeil. We are about to overwhelm Bint Jbeil. We are about to eventually eliminate the great stronghold of Hezbollah.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GIOKOS: So eliminate the great stronghold of Hezbollah and that's in Bint Jbeil, which is really important to note that while these conversations are happening, led by the United States, that you're still seeing both sides fighting. And in fact, the IDF spokesperson posting on social media just a short time ago, warning residents of South Lebanon that are south of the Zahrani River, that they're going to be targeting Hezbollah targets.
This, of course, all coming at a time where you're seeing immense devastation across Lebanon. You're also seeing Hezbollah targeting parts of Israel.
And when the ceasefire between Iran and the United States was announced, Israel had conducted its most extensive strike in the heart of Beirut, targeting 100 sites in the span of 10 minutes, where you saw hundreds of people losing their lives. You saw hundreds more injured as well.
So this, of course, is going to be part of the crux of the conversation in the next day. And importantly, is going to be one of the big issues that Iran is going to be raising in second round of talks with the United States.
CHURCH: Eleni Giokos bring us that live report. Many thanks.
Joining me now is Sina Azodi, Director of the Middle East Studies Program at George Washington University and author of "Iran and the Bomb: The United States, Iran and the Nuclear Question." I appreciate you joining us.
SINA AZODI, DIRECTOR OF MIDDLE EAST STUDIES PROGRAM, GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY, AND AUTHOR, "IRAN AND THE BOMB": Good to be with you, Rosemary. Thank you for having me.
CHURCH: Of course. So just days away from the ceasefire ending, the White House is sounding cautiously optimistic about restarting peace talks with Iran, even as the U.S. naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz continues and as Iran threatens shipping in the Red Sea now. So why do you think they're feeling so good about the prospects of a deal?
AZODI: Well, I think that the fact that the Pakistani delegation, the commander-in-chief of the Pakistani army is now in Tehran, he's visiting with the Iranian foreign minister and the Iranians had warmly welcomed him, I think that that is one good sign of a potential deal.
We're also hearing some reports that the Iranian side and the American side had agreed on a general framework for a nuclear agreement under which Iran would agree to suspend enrichment, uranium enrichment, for a period of, a period that they're both agree on it.
Now, the Iranian side had apparently offered a five-year moratorium or suspension. The American side, Vice President Vance, had said 20 years. If this is the case, I think that you can negotiate the exact number of years that works for the Iranian side and the American side.
This will be a much stronger deal than President Obama had signed with Iranians. And I think this could be a political victory for President Trump.
CHURCH: Yes, I mean, if they can reach that compromise, as you say, when you've got the U.S. saying 20 years and you've got Iran saying five, there's still quite a gap there for them to reach a compromise. We'll see if they can achieve that.
So how likely is it that the ceasefire will need to be extended to allow for more time to make a deal?
AZODI: It is quite likely. I think that if both sides see that the talks are going positively and there's a need for it, I think both the Iranian side and the American side would mutually agree to extend the ceasefire.
What is interesting is that both sides are now claiming that they don't need to extend the ceasefire, and it is the other side that is asking to extend it. Again, I think all of this is a good sign. We can be cautiously optimistic that the fragile ceasefire will hold until there's a deal between the Iranian side and the American side.
CHURCH: Right, of course, both sides want to come out of this being able to say that they were victorious. But Vice President J.D. Vance has been saying that they're not going to solve the issues with Iran overnight, while President Trump says the war is very close to being over. Two very different views.
What is going on here, do you think?
[03:10:00]
AZODI: I think that, I mean, they don't have to be mutually exclusive. I think both can be true. And what I mean by that is that a general framework or mutual understanding can be reached between the two sides, and then you can negotiate the exact details of it.
For example, if there's an agreement for the suspension of uranium enrichment, and then there has to be verification of the Iranian compliance and, of course, the American side's compliance.
Now, who will do the Iranian side's verification? That will be the job of the IAEA.
So all of this needs to be negotiated. And I think Vice President Vance is correct that you cannot solve everything, all the mistrust that both sides have in only a few days, or at least in the 21 hours that they had with each other.
It will take time, and I think it requires patience and focus, because I think there are a lot of spoiler actors that are trying to undermine, both domestically and externally, that are trying to undermine potential progress.
CHURCH: It sounds like you're fairly confident that this can be done, this deal can be reached within the next few days.
AZODI: I can never be confident of anything, because in international politics anything can happen. But I think the fact that there's a discussion of a number of years, and then we also put it next to the fact that both sides have a vested interest in ceasing hostilities, because the Iranian side has been hurt badly. The U.S. economy has also been hurt.
So both sides, I believe, have a vested interest in ending hostilities and finally reaching a mutually acceptable agreement from both sides.
CHURCH: Sina Azodi, thank you so much for talking with us. I appreciate it.
AZODI: Thank you for having me. Good to be with you.
CHURCH: Israel is still striking Gaza as the U.S. tries to advance a fragile ceasefire agreement. Palestinian health officials say five people were killed in a strike on Gaza City on Tuesday. The strike happened hours before a U.S. delegation met with Hamas negotiators in Cairo, according to Hamas sources.
The talks reportedly focused on the next phase of the agreement, which includes a Hamas disarmament and an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Palestinian officials say Israeli strikes have killed more than 765 people in Gaza since the ceasefire took effect in October.
Pope Leo says he has a message the world needs to hear. We will have details on that as he presses ahead with his tour of Africa.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[03:15:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHURCH: Right now the Pope is on a visit to Cameroon, the second stop on his four-country tour of Africa, and he brought with him a message of peace and unity.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
POPE LEO XIV, HEAD OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH: Although we have different beliefs, we have different ways of worshipping, we have different ways of living, we can live together in peace. And so I think that to promote that kind of image is something which the world needs to hear today.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: There was a welcome ceremony for him in the capital, where crowds of people lined the streets. CNN Vatican correspondent Christopher Lamb has our report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRISTOPHER LAMB, CNN VATICAN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Pope Leo is saying that his visit to Africa is about sending a message of peace and unity, that, quote, "the world needs to hear." He was speaking on board the papal plane from Algeria to Cameroon, talking to journalists about his trip to Algeria, stressing the importance of Christian- Muslim relations.
Leo, of course, facing huge criticism from President Trump and J.D. Vance for his stance on the war, but showing that he wants to continue to talk about peace. He won't be, as he said, afraid of the Trump administration.
Now, Leo is in Cameroon for a very important trip focused on reconciliation. This is a country where there's been conflict between the Francophone government and the English-speaking separatist groups.
Leo will be flying to Bamenda, which is at the center of this conflict, on Thursday. Leo, though, in the capital, Yaounde, addressing political authorities alongside a president, Paul Biya, the oldest in the world at 93 years old, hosting what is his fourth papal visit.
Christopher Lamb, CNN, Yaounde.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHURCH: Food insecurity is on the rise, driven by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Aid groups are warning of a crisis of the closure if the closure continues. Perspective from an economist straight ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[03:20:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHURCH: Welcome back to "CNN Newsroom," I'm Rosemary Church. I want to check today's top stories for you.
Pope Leo is bringing a message of unity to Cameroon, the second stop on his Africa trip. He said his recent visit to Muslim-majority Algeria proves that people can live together in peace despite differences in beliefs. The pope is expected to attend peace talks between Cameroon's Francophone government and English-speaking separatists.
The CEO of LivGolf is denying any changes to its operation after multiple reports suggested the future of the breakaway league is in doubt. Scott O'Neill sent a letter to employees saying LivGolf is moving forward as planned.
[03:25:06]
Reports on Wednesday indicated that Saudi Arabia is considering pulling funding from the league as the government deals with the economic fallout of the U.S. war with Iran.
U.S. President Donald Trump says the leaders of Israel and Lebanon will meet today. An Israeli official tells CNN Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will speak with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun. More than 2000 people in Lebanon have been killed in Israeli strikes amid fighting with Hezbollah since early March.
The International Monetary Fund says the world will suffer an oil shortfall this year even if the war with Iran ends this week. The IMF is the latest major economic body to warn of the potential severe impacts of the conflict.
The global oil supply plummeted by more than 10 million barrels a day last month, the largest disruption ever according to the International Energy Agency. This comes as Iran continues to block ships from transiting the Strait of Hormuz and in response, the U.S. has now imposed a blockade on Iranian ships in the Strait. The IMF warns the current course could lead to a worldwide recession.
The United Nations is warning that the clock is ticking to prevent a global food crisis. Ongoing shipping disruption in the Strait of Hormuz is raising the risk of higher food prices and a new wave of inflation. Oil and gas are not the only critical products coming through the Strait, fertilizer and other items critical for aquaculture are also shipped through the waterway.
Disruptions are already having an impact on food prices amid warnings that the effects will stretch far beyond the Middle East.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHEF JOSE ANDRES, FOUNDER, WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN: With this increase of food prices already, everyone including World Central Kitchen, we're going to have to start cutting in the output of food in the moment that we need more food at cheaper prices to feed the hungry of the world in many events happening around the world.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: For more on this, we are joined now by Maximo Torero, the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization's chief economist. I appreciate you joining us.
MAXIMO TORERO, CHIEF ECONOMIST, U.N. FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION: My pleasure to join you today.
CHURCH: So President Trump announced that the leaders of Israel and Lebanon will hold direct talks today, and he's also indicating a peace deal could come within days to end the war with Iran. But if that doesn't happen, your organization is warning that a global food crisis could develop if normal traffic through the Strait of Hormuz does not resume soon. So how bad is it now, and how much worse could this get?
TORERO: Exactly. So what we are arguing is that the clock is ticking because the clock is related to the crop calendar of countries. So right now we have a set of countries which are already in the planting season, like Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, India, Sudan, Kenya, for example, in the case of Africa, and Brazil in the case of South America and Thailand.
So if we continue the non-movement of shipments through this Strait of Hormuz, which brings 35 percent of the oil, 20 percent of the natural gas, and 20-30 percent of fertilizers, and 50 percent of sulfur, which is used also to produce phosphate, then we, of course, farmers will be making decisions of planting with less inputs. That will affect yields, and that will affect availability of food, which today we have food.
That's why the FAO food price index didn't show a significant increase only in oil seeds and sugar. But for the second half of the year and the next year, there is where the challenge will happen, and that's what could accelerate it. Commodity price increases, but also then food inflation, which will impact the overall inflation, and it's consistent to what the IMF is saying.
CHURCH: Yes, and of course, so we'll separate that out because, of course, we were talking about the food, and you've moved on to talk about what we would be very worried about too, farm supplies not getting through, oil, natural gas, fertilizers, and, of course, that means for planting in the future. So let's look at the impact of that and what that could ultimately mean if a deal isn't reached soon.
TORERO: So essentially what it means is that the decisions are the following. I can plant the same with less inputs. That will have an impact over my yields.
The second possible decision is I can shift to crops which can capture more nitrogen because the major problem is urea, which has nitrogen fertilizer, and that will mean that I will move from corn and wheat towards soybeans, and the third is how much I will allocate to biofuels if the oil prices crosses, again, the $100 limit.
[03:29:52]
All those decisions will restrict the food supply for the next half of the year and the following year, and that's when you have less supply and you have the same demand, of course, the price will go up, and that is what commodity prices will result, and that's why I'm saying increasing commodity prices, which is wheat and corn, will end in an increase also on the food in the stores, which is bread, for example. So bread, 10 to 15 percent is wheat. The rest is energy, which is increasing, and labor force.
So food will increase even at higher levels, and that will end in higher food inflation, which will affect, of course, the most vulnerable consumers.
CHURCH: And if a deal can't be reached before the ceasefire ends early next week, how critical is it that the U.S. extends the truce until a compromise deal can be made?
TORERO: Look, it's extremely critical because markets can react very fast, but the important thing is not only that there is no conflict in the Strait of Hormuz, the important thing is that vessels move from the Strait of Hormuz. Just to put in context, the last vessel that left the Strait of Hormuz arrived at the end of March.
So right now we are going to start seeing the scarcity of those inputs. So if vessels don't move, then the solution is not there. If vessels start to move, let's assume tomorrow, then our expectation is that in three to four months we will recover and markets will absorb.
And of course, we will never be at the same situation as before because there is some infrastructure damage that will take more than a year to be fixed. But at least we will be closer to a solution that could allow us to avoid the food crisis in the second half of the year and the following year.
CHURCH: And if they do come up with a deal within the next few days, I mean, there's they seem to be cautiously optimistic of the possibility of that. Would you then be relieved and feel that there wouldn't be so much of a problem when it comes to once these ships get through the Strait of Hormuz and supplies eventually get to their destinations around the globe?
TORERO: So look, damage is already done because infrastructure is damaged and that takes more than a year. But if they come to a deal in the next days, then of course we are in the window of zero to 90 days that is a critical window. And that will imply that in three to four months, markets could absorb most of the damage and distribution of fertilizers will move forward.
That could calm the situation and avoid a potential food crisis. But of course, prices will go up a little bit, but not as they will if the deal is not there. Also, it's important to understand that the pipeline that we have of vessels is important.
Therefore, the countries which need fertilizer earlier because of the crop calendar will have to pay more for those inputs to go faster to them. And that's the challenge that international financial organizations have to help by creating facilities or balance of payments that will allow them to facilitate those countries to accelerate the cheapness towards them.
So there will be a period of three to four months of higher prices, but then things should be settled. Our market should be absorbed, not to the initial situation, but at least as close as two. But for sure, we will be avoiding moving to a situation like the one we had in COVID-19 of an economic growth decrease of minus 1.7 percent.
Essentially, if we don't resolve this quickly, we could land in this inflation, no higher prices for food, higher prices overall inflation and lower economic growth.
CHURCH: And of course, the whole world is hoping that a deal can be reached soon. Maximo Torero, thank you so much for joining us. I appreciate it.
AZODI: A pleasure. Thank you.
CHURCH: Well, Germany says the aid conference it hosted for Sudan has generated pledges of more than $1.5 billion in humanitarian relief. Sudan's civil war has now entered its fourth year. The German foreign minister says both warring sides must allow humanitarian aid to reach those who need it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHANN WADEPHUL, GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER: The parties to the conflict, above all the RSF, have a duty to ensure that aid organizations are granted full, safe and unhindered access to the people. Only in this way can people in need be reliably provided with the aid essential for their survival.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: Sudan's government says it was not consulted about the conference and called it a surprising and unacceptable interference in its domestic affairs. The fighting between the Sudanese army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces began in April of 2023. The U.N. warns the conflict has left 14 million people displaced, with 70 percent of the population now living in poverty.
And this just into CNN, at least 16 people are dead after Russia launched one of its largest barrage of strikes on Ukraine this year. Officials say more than 100 others were wounded across the country, including in Kyiv, Kharkiv and Odessa.
And the strikes involved close to 700 drones and missiles fired over the past day. The attacks came after the Kremlin agreed to a brief ceasefire over Orthodox Easter last weekend.
[03:35:00]
Well the war with Iran is raising concerns about the global economy, but new figures show China is not missing a beat. Just ahead, why the world's second biggest economy is proving more resilient than expected, at least for now. Back in just a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[03:40:02]
CHURCH: Welcome back everyone. A look at your top business headlines now.
As tech platforms face growing global pressure to better protect young people online, Europe is rolling out a new age verification app. users will verify their age in-app by uploading a passport or I.D. card, so tech platforms won't have to verify users' ages themselves. European Commission leaders say online platforms now have, quote, no more excuses. Allbirds is making a radical change. For a while, the company soared
as makers of trendy eco-friendly sneakers, but it recently sold off its footwear assets as sales tanked. Now, Allbirds is recreating itself as an artificial intelligence company known as Newbird A.I., its stock shot up more than 600 percent on the news early Wednesday.
A jury in New York has found that Live Nation and Ticketmaster illegally operated as a monopoly that gouged customers on ticket prices. Several states sued the entertainment giant for stifling competition and driving up fees for concert and sports fans. A judge will decide what penalties to impose, possibly including breaking the company up, Live Nation said it plans to appeal.
Despite fears that the war with Iran could endanger the global economy, it seems China's economy is chugging along. Beijing just reported its GDP growth for the quarter beat expectations. Our Kristie Lu Stout has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: China had a strong start to the year. Its economy grew 5 percent in the first quarter from a year ago on the back of strong exports. But the war in the Middle East is creating uncertainties for the world's second largest economy.
Look, China may be the world's largest importer of energy, but it's been able to weather the Iran energy shock far better than its Asian neighbors because China was prepared.
It has an estimated 1.3 billion barrel strategic reserve of crude oil, that's more than four months' worth of imports. And it's diversified its power generation to include solar and wind. China also doesn't mind getting dirty, it still uses coal for energy and fertilizer.
And as soon as the war broke out, China curbed exports of energy like diesel, gas, and jet fuel.
Now China may be shielded, but it is still vulnerable to rising prices and slowing demand for its exports. According to Xinquan Chen, he's a China economist, Goldman Sachs, says this quote, "China's exports remain a key growth engine in 2026, but the recent energy shock has shifted the focus toward the sustainability of external demand," unquote.
And there are already signs of strain. In March, China's factory gate prices rose for the first time in more than three years.
Kristie Lu Stout, CNN, Hong Kong.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHURCH: I want to thank you so much for your company, I'm Rosemary Church. Have yourselves a wonderful day. "World Sport" is coming up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) [03:45:00]
(WORLD SPORT)
[03:50:00]
(WORLD SPORT)
[03:55:00]
(WORLD SPORT)
