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Connect the World
Saudi Arabia Accuses Iran of Attacking it Based on False Claims; Fresh Iranian Attacks on Gulf States, Energy Sites Under Fire; Mojtaba Khamenei Selected as Iran's New Supreme Leader; Rubio Pays Tribute to Hostages and Wrongful Detainees; Violence Escalates Between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon; Europe Scrambles to Evacuate Citizens in the Middle East. Aired 9-10a ET
Aired March 09, 2026 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[09:00:00]
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST, CONNECT THE WORLD: Well, this is the scene in Beirut, where a fresh wave of Israeli air strikes has hit the city. Targets
inside Iran also being struck this Monday. It's 03:00 p.m. there in Beirut, it is 05:00 p.m. here in Abu Dhabi. I'm Becky Anderson from our Middle East
programming headquarters.
You're watching "Connect the World". Also coming up, Iranians instructed to celebrate the announcement of a new supreme leader, the son of Ayatollah
Ali Khamenei. We'll take a look at what his appointment means. Plus, all eyes on oil prices skyrocket as energy infrastructure becomes a target.
The very latest on how oil markets are reacting, how the global economy and ultimately, how you could be affected. Well stock markets in New York open
about 30 minutes from now, and this is the picture in the futures market ahead of the start of the trading week. Back there at 09:30 local time.
Well, it is the 10th day of the U.S. and Israel's war with Iran. Here is what we know. Iranians were called to gather nationwide today to pledge
allegiance to the country's new supreme leader. Mojtaba Khamenei was chosen to succeed his late father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in U.S.
and Israeli strikes at the start of this war.
Israel says it has started a quote, wide scale wave of attacks on what it calls Iranian regime infrastructure. CNN's team on the ground in Tehran
reported loud thugs across the capital on Monday morning. Worldwide, alarm bells growing louder over the severe blows being dealt to the global
economy.
G7 Finance Ministers holding a crisis meeting today. The French Finance Ministry says they will take stock of the situation in the Gulf from an
economic perspective, in response to the events of the last few days. U.S. President Donald Trump says he will decide together with Israel when to end
the war with Iran. For its part, Iran's Foreign Ministry says right now, there is no room for negotiations.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ESMAIL BAGHAEI, IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESPERSON: At present, all our energy focus and capacity are directed toward defending Iran's sovereignty
and territorial integrity. Keep in mind that the military aggression is still ongoing. And therefore, under these conditions, there is little room
to talk about anything other than defense and delivering a decisive response to the --
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Energy infrastructure across some of this gulf region in the crosshairs. Bahrain's national oil company declaring a force majeure after
an attack on its refinery, joins a number of countries across the Gulf that have cut production or suspended shipments.
Well, oil prices are soaring as the war escalates. Both Brent crude, the benchmark for global oil markets. And U.S. crude hitting levels that we
haven't seen since the start of Russia's war in Ukraine in 2022. Brent jumped to nearly $120 earlier today. Here's where prices are right now.
And G7 Finance Ministers meeting today to discuss whether to release oil from their strategic reserves. CNN's Business Editor-at-large, Richard
Quest is live in London. Good to have you, Richard. We are looking at these prices as the tax continue to unfold on infrastructure across the region
where I am. Question is, how bad could this get at this point?
RICHARD QUEST, CNN BUSINESS EDITOR-AT-LARGE: According to one trade of the sky is the limit. For one civil reason, that look we got -- we came back
from 120 down to these levels because of that G7 meeting, which is taking place. But there is real the factor that's really moving this market.
Firstly, that there is very little oil moving through the Strait of Hormuz, virtually none at all. So, the supply is almost non-existent, or the
increasing supply is nonexistent. And the second factor the damage that is being done to infrastructure, both in Iran and elsewhere, when you see, for
example, as you saw in Bahrain, with the depots being blown up.
So, you take those two factors and you end up with a market that is extremely worried about what comes next. We went into this war, by the way,
with a glut of oil, which is why we had a price of around $60 a barrel, that has evaporated. And now the concern is not only the supply, but
frankly, just will they even be able to handle the stuff if they can get out the ground.
[09:05:00]
ANDERSON: Yeah. I mean, it's not the fact that the world doesn't have oil. It's just moving that oil around and getting it to the places that matter
most. And that includes, of course, to refineries, where we're not just talking about oil here, but we're talking about refined products, aren't
we?
And those products around the world are massively important to the global economy. The G7 Ministers are weighing releasing strategic reserves. What
does that look like? What might that look like, Richard?
QUEST: OK, so if you start releasing the reserves, of which all major governments have a certain large number in the U.S. has, I mean, gazillions
based. It's in the porous rock and in the mountains, in the ground in the United States. That does bring the price down, no question about it, but it
is a short-term measure.
Essentially, you are making it available to the market, but you're not able to replenish it. You can in the U.S. because of you've got, of course,
local supply, but elsewhere you won't be able to replenish it. So, the moment you release your supplies, your stores, if you will, that is a one
hit wonder.
You had better hope that you know, the overall situation improves. If you have a scenario where the President of the United States says he and the
Israelis will decide when this ends. And you've got the Iranians saying, no surrender. It's difficult to see this end soon. And in that scenario, why
would the price come down, other than through artificial means such as release of supplies.
ANDERSON: Yeah. You know, very good point. Always good to have you. Glad you're in London. Good time zone for us. Thank you, Richard.
QUEST: Thank you.
ANDERSON: Let's get you back to this region where I am to the Gulf. Nic Robertson is standing by for you in the Saudi capital of Riyadh. And Nic,
we are hearing a pretty robust and stock statement from Saudi Arabia, in part, saying the following, Iran's current actions towards our countries do
not reflect wisdom or serve the interest of avoiding a widening escalation, in which Iran would be the greatest loser.
Pretty strong language, Nic, what should we make of this statement today.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Yeah, I think it is incredibly strong language. What it doesn't do in this sort of cease and
desist, they also say that continued attacks represent this escalation. Saudi Arabia has tried to stay out of this war.
Wants to stay out of the wars.
Real perception here that this is the United States and Israel's war, and that being drawn into it will create greater chaos, greater confusion,
greater damage to the investments in this region and the future that the Crown Prince wants for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia wants for the region.
But the language has been very, very clear in this very strong diplomatic message. It says that Iran's strikes against civilian infrastructure, and
here they mean airports, they mean oil fields, represents a breach of international humanitarian law, so that creating a legal context to put
forward what Iran is doing.
So, it seems to be a very clear diplomatic ratcheting up of the rhetoric. And I think if you add into that picture as well the reflections of the way
that the United States is interpreting that. They've issued an order for all non-emergency staff and families of embassy and consulate staff, both
here, both in Jeddah, both in Dammam in the east to get out of Saudi Arabia, ordered to leave because of security risks.
The sort of flags, if you will, or the arrows here diplomatically pointing in a direction that the situation can really potentially get worse. I think
it's key to mention here as well that Saudi Arabia is not saying it's going to join the war. In fact, it's reinforced the message to Iran that its
bases are being used.
They're being used to defend the skies from Iranian missiles defend Saudi Arabia. The GCC countries from those attacking Iranian missiles, and they
say Iran is fully cognizant of that. Yet it continues today, ballistic missiles fired at a Saudi Air Base, multiple intercepted.
ANDERSON: So Nic --
ROBERTSON: And again, more drones, two waves of drones in the early hours this morning, fired at a key Saturday oil field, and that's an oil field
they keep going for.
ANDERSON: Nic, the European Union's Top Diplomat, Kaja Kallas describing Iran as weaker than ever before. I just want our viewers to have a listen
to this.
[09:10:00]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KAJA KALLAS, EUROPEAN COMMISSION VICE PRESIDENT: Iran is responsible for decades of violence, and the fewer options Iran has to terrorize the
region, the better Iran's military. Iran is responsible for decades of violence, and the fewer options Iran has to terrorize the region, the
better.
Iran's military capabilities are limited, and the regime is weaker than it ever has been before. But there is no clear trajectory how this war will
end.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: I'm really interested that you brought up this sort of diplomatic chatter out there. The Europeans, the Gulf states, including plus Jordan,
at this point, certainly pushing for a U.N. Security Council using international law on the global stage to isolate Iran at this point.
There is certainly significant momentum for that just explain and what the objectives might be at this stage. Should they get a resolution at the
security council at this point. Why is that so -- would that be so significant?
ROBERTSON: It's hugely significant because I think everyone, particularly in in Europe, particularly in this region, recognizes that if there is a
wider war. I think there's a sense that everyone here is sort of standing on the edge of the precipice and staring in, and they can see the situation
that if oil and liquid natural gas are not able to be exported from here.
And agricultural products, fertilizers, all the key things underpin the economies outside what, in this region and outside of this region, if there
isn't a break in the fighting and there isn't a way to get those energy products out, then the knock on global economic impact is huge.
The language that's being used that Iran by attacking civilian infrastructure, we know just last night, 32 Bahraini civilians injured
during an attack in Bahrain last night, many of them children, many of them seriously injured. Saudi Arabia yesterday an Indian national, Bangladeshi
national, 12 Bangladeshis -- the 12 were injured.
The two were killed in an Iranian missile impact here. All of that underscores the sort of civilian nature of what's being targeted, and
that's being held up as a breach of international humanitarian law by Iran. And that perhaps can lead to a mechanism and a language that can be
successful at the U.N. Security Council.
Of course, we know that Russia has stood very strongly behind Iran so far in this conflict. And they would have a power of veto within the security
council, but even a big vote writ larger at the U.N. will send a very, very strong message. It's not clear that it's a message that Iran is going to
listen to, but it's one that can be become a vehicle to further isolate Iran and try to send that diplomatic message, Becky.
ANDERSON: Yeah, know, well explained, and such an important track as we continue to report on, the war, of course, the military sort of angle of
the war and how that war is impacting the region where you and I are. We see no sort of political track, you know, to speak of at this present.
That third track, as it were, that diplomatic track, is hugely important, and one we should absolutely keep across. Good to have you, Nic. Thank you
very much indeed. We are following these behind-the-scenes diplomatic efforts as closely as possible, just as we cover that latest battlefield in
Iran, Israel and the UAE and across the region.
My team here in Abu Dhabi are contributing across multiple hours of CNN programming and reporting new information on all CNN platforms around the
clock. So, if you miss those news making conversations when they happen live on CNN, do follow my social channels where we post all the key lines
and most insightful analysis from interviewees throughout the day.
That's @beckycnn on X and Instagram, as well as our show's landing page, CNN.com/CTW. Well U.S. President Trump says he will decide with the Israeli
Prime Minister when to end the war with Iran. In a telephone interview with "The Times of Israel", he said, and I quote him here, I think it's mutual.
We've been talking I'll make a decision at the right time, but everything is going to be taken into account, end quote. Asked if Israel could
continue the war after the U.S. decides to hold its strikes, President Trump said, quote, I don't think it's going to be necessary. Let's bring in
Kevin Liptak at the White House.
[09:15:00]
Kevin, what's been reaction to Trump's comment there at the White House in Washington on Capitol Hill? What do you think U.S. lawmakers you've been
largely left out of this process, will make of them?
KEVIN LIPTAK, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Yeah, completely sidelined, in some ways of their own making. But I think that there are still a lot of
questions, both among Republicans and Democrats about how long this war is going to last, what precisely the military objectives are, and how
President Trump plans to end all of this, what exactly is his end game?
Because for all of the explanations that you've heard from the White House podium from the Pentagon podium, about trying to degrade Iran's missile
capabilities, its nuclear ambitions. The president seems to have a much broader scope of what he's looking for here, including complete surrender
of Iran, the definition of which he hasn't explicitly made clear.
And so, I think when you talk to lawmakers who are wondering where all of this is going, they do sort of express some misgivings about what exactly
it is the president is trying to accomplish. And you know, when they were briefed last week by senior members of the administration, many professed
not to have heard a precise end game from the president.
And so, when he says that he alone, along with the Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, will decide when the war ends. I don't know that that gives a
lot of them a great amount of solace, just because it doesn't come with any sort of quantifiable objectives that the president is looking for here.
And you know, you're right, the Congress has been put to the side in all of this. There were two votes last week attempting to assert their war powers
authority that failed on Capitol Hill. A lot of lawmakers, particularly on the Republican side, willing, at least for now, to give President Trump
very wide leeway in how he executes this conflict.
But as this war goes on and as the political fallout becomes clearer and clearer, whether it's the number of Americans who are killed or whether
it's the price of gas in the United States. I think it's clear that the president will be coming under some sort of pressure, at least for members
of his own party to at least more clearly explain what he's trying to get out of all of this.
ANDERSON: Good to have you, sir. Thank you. Well, next up, the son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is chosen as Iran's New Supreme Leader. We're
going to take a look at his appointment, what it means for the war and for Iran's future.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Vladimir Putin has congratulated Iran's New Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, the second son of Ali Khamenei who was killed in U.S. air
strikes, U.S. and Israeli air strikes at the beginning of the war.
[09:20:00]
In the past few hours, some Iranians celebrated the appointment after being urged to hold nationwide gatherings to pledge their allegiance to the new
leader. Born in 1969 Mojtaba Khamenei received religious training but never rose to the rank of Mujtahid, a level of Islamic jurisprudence many regime
loyalists consider essential for the role of supreme leader.
Mojtaba also has no administrative record, having never led a major organization or entity, but he has proved influential in other ways. In the
2005 presidential vote, many believe he played a pivotal role in pushing for the election of the hardline Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
And Khamenei was sanctioned by the U.S. in 2019 after the U.S. treasury accused him of working closely with the commander of the Revolutionary
Guards to advance his father's ambitions. Well, I'll get you more now on Iran's New Supreme Leader. Karim Sadjadpour is a CNN Global Affairs Analyst
and Senior Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, it's good to have you on board.
Thank you so much for joining us, Karim. Let's focus on the man himself. Mojtaba Khamenei was chosen as supreme leader. And you have written Mojtaba
faces a crisis of both legitimacy and longevity. He lacks a public mandate. A recent Bloomberg report ties him to extensive overseas money laundering
and he would have to elude Israel's continuous campaign of decapitation.
His father ruled for 37 years. Mojtaba might not last 37 days. Karim, do you see him consolidating power and at the same time evading an
assassination attempt?
KARIM SADJADPOUR, CNN GLOBAL AFFAIRS ANALYST: Becky, Mojtaba Khamenei is inheriting a terrible situation from his father. He's essentially,
simultaneously fighting three wars against America, Israel and his own population. He was injured in the strike that killed his father, his
mother, his wife, and he's now trying to elude assassination.
So, you put yourself in his shoes, he's somewhere in hiding, probably underground, injured. He's just lost much of his family, and he's trying to
fight the greatest superpower in the world, the greatest military power in the Middle East and Israel and his population has already started chanting
death to Mojtaba.
And so, I think he's, you know, inherited a situation which is going to be very difficult for him to manage.
ANDERSON: You could argue that Donald Trump has got his regime change Iran, just not the regime change that he was likely looking for. Mojtaba Khamenei
is a tool of the Revolutionary Guard. Is he not? Who were, of course, empowered by his father, but not ultimately in charge. That consolidation
has now happened. So, should he survive? What happens next?
SADJADPOUR: So, I think the accounts we read about the costs of this war is that it's been costing the United States over a billion dollars a day. And
so, we're about eight days into it, and so it's almost been a $10 billion war, and for President Trump to end the war with one Khamenei replacing
another Khamenei.
One death to America, supreme leader replacing another death to America, supreme leader. That is obviously going to be not a political victory for
President Trump. So, I think in some ways, most appointment likely ensures that this war will continue, and I think they will continue to try to
target him.
You're right that the power behind his throne are indeed the Revolutionary Guards and a very radical faction of the Revolutionary Guards led by a guy
called Hossein Taeb. Taeb was the Head of Revolutionary Guard Intelligence. He and Mojtaba go back many decades, and I think their vision for Iran is
essentially a Shiite North Korea, a government which is deeply, deeply repressive, deeply ideological and deeply militarized.
ANDERSON: Well, I don't think we need to ask Donald Trump as to whether that is the vision that he is looking for, for Iran. He though, has also
showed very little interest in a democratic Iran going forward. The sense was that Donald Trump was looking for somebody he could do business with.
I mean that both sort of metaphorically and physically at this point. So ultimately, I guess, the question is this.
[09:25:00]
Mojtaba is the leader. You've just explained who is his sort of you know, is his force, his right-hand man, as it were. Ultimately, we know that
Donald Trump is looking for a sort of Venezuela Delcy moment, as he has described it. Could this regime potentially be that?
SADJADPOUR: I'm very skeptical, Becky. I think Mojtaba Khamenei is closer to Kim Jong Un than he is Delcy Rodriguez. He's someone who is like his
father, very deeply ideological, dogmatic. His father was willing to die a martyr rather than compromise. He's also someone who has a very closed
circle of people, a closed echo chamber of like-minded advisors.
So, he may well miscalculate, like his father, and so I think the likelihood that -- I think what ultimately Trump is looking for is --
ANDERSON: Understood. Karim, can I jump in? We are listening in to Marco Rubio, who is speaking at an event in Washington. And I need to just break
into that and have a listen, stand by.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARCO RUBIO, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: Now, we are here today, obviously on something that touches right on Iran. But I think, unfortunately, it's not
just limited to Iran. And we're here on the third U.S. hostage and wrongful detainee day, and it's a day that exists because families and loved ones'
refuse, because families refuse to let their loved ones be forgotten.
We have this day to celebrate those who returned, to honor those who perished in captivity, and commit to returning those who are still in
detention and holding also the perpetrators of this accountable. Last year marked 10 years of what they call SPEHA and the hostage recovery fusion
cell.
These were entities that were created with a specific mission of bringing Americans who are justly detained, bringing them home, and because of this
mission, because the heart of this mission really can be captured in one word, and that one word is homecoming, reuniting people to their loved
ones.
Four years ago, 50 plus families in the bring our families home campaign created the flag that flies here today. It's a symbol of solidarity. It's a
symbol of resolve. It's flown in honor of Americans brought home over the past three years and the Americans yet to be brought home to their
families.
And many of the families and of the returnees and the advocates who made those moments possible, are with us here today, and we want to thank you
for your advocacy, for never allowing us or anyone to forget of those Americans that are unjustly detained. And we're especially grateful to
those who themselves were detained. You know, we perfectly understand --
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Right folks. I'm going to just jump out of this for the moment, because this isn't event -- this isn't an event pertaining to Iran. But
just a little bit earlier, he did talk about the war with Iran. So, let's just have a listen to what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RUBIO: This mission is clear, and it's important to continue to remind the American people of why it is that the greatest military in the history of
the world is engaged in this operation. It is to destroy the ability of this regime to launch missiles, both by destroying their missiles and their
launches, destroy the factories that make these missiles and destroy their navy.
I think we are all seeing right now the threat that this clerical regime poses to the region and to the world. They are trying to hold the world
hostage. They are attacking their neighbors. They are attacking neighboring countries, their energy infrastructure, their civilian population.
They're attacking embassies. This is a terrorist government. This is a terroristic regime, and we are seeing them conduct terrorism using nation
state elements, using weapons like missiles and one way attack drones. And the objective of this mission is to destroy their ability to continue to do
that.
And we are well on our way to achieving that objective every single day with overwhelming force, with overwhelming precision. The military, the
United States military, the men and women in uniform, are conducting an extraordinary operation. There are not a lot of cameras down there covering
what they're doing, as opposed to some of the other images that you may see from some of the cities and capitals nearby.
But I want everyone to know your military is getting the job done. And every single day, this regime in Iran has less missiles, has less
launchers, their factories.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: All right, so you just listen to Marco Rubio there at the top of his remarks at an event in Washington at the State Department, he said that
the goals of the Iran mission are clear. It is to destroy its military infrastructure. Iran is a terroristic regime, and it is attacking its
neighbors.
[09:30:00]
And he said, you're obviously alluding to the U.S. military is getting the job done. The world is going to be a safer place when this mission is
accomplished. We get to Wall Street. This is the beginning of the trading day. This is the bell on Wall Street, the chair of America 250 ringing that
opening bell.
That organization preparing events for the U.S.'s 250th anniversary. We will see how investors respond to what has been a very busy week with
extremely high weekend with extremely high oil prices. The impact, coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: I want to get a look at how stocks are getting on at the open, 2.5 minutes into the trading day, and that is the picture on Wall Street
beginning of a trading week after a really messy weekend around the region where I am, of the Gulf, where we saw a tax on oil installations, sending
the price of crude skyrocketing.
Let's bring up the numbers as we speak. This is WTI crude, as I understand it. We're just about to bring that up for you. Oil prices have been surging
as the war with Iran raises fears about disruptions to Middle Eastern supplies. This number is interesting because it is significantly lower than
what we saw Sunday and overnight, making a real impact on Asian markets.
Oil prices have been up at six-year highs, a real spike towards $120 so coming off just slightly, but that crude climbing above $100 a barrel for
the first time, of course, since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. G7 Finance Ministers are holding an emergency meeting to discuss a possible
joint release of strategic oil reserves to stabilize the markets.
And we have heard talk at the back end of last week by the Trump Administration about how they may also try to ensure that the supply of oil
keeps moving. Helima Croft is Managing Director and Global Head of Commodity Strategy at RBC Capital Market. She joins us now live from New
York City.
And I have to say, some people may be quite surprised at how these markets, to all intents and purposes, at the open on Wall Street, are holding up
discipline. They're down. They're down by about 1 percent but that is not as bad as it could have been. Why?
[09:35:00]
HELIMA CROFT, GLOBAL HEAD OF COMMODITY STRATEGY AT RBC CAPITAL MARKETS: Becky, I think everyone is waiting for the G7 meeting that you just
referenced. There is an anticipation that we will have some type of coordinated strategic stockpile release, the 3-to-400-million-barrel number
being bandied about.
So, the question is, are we going to see some type of measures taken in a coordinated fashion to deal with this supply disruption? Now the issue, as
you know, is that only buys you so much time if the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed. So, I would say a strategic stockpile release
would be welcomed.
It's just a question of, is it a band aid, as opposed to a cure for the problem?
ANDERSON: There isn't a shortage of supply out there in the world, it's just not moving at this point, you know. And in fact, there's been somewhat
of a sort of glut to date, which is why the price of oil has been sort of trading in that sort of $55 to $65 range for so long.
G7 of course, now discussing that possibility of a strategic release. President Trump says, and I quote him here, short term oil prices, which
will drop rapidly when the destruction of the Iran missiles threat is over, is a very small price to pay for USA and world, Safety and Peace.
Only fools would think differently, he said. Are consumers already feeling the impact?
CROFT: Well, we are starting to see the impact and Becky. Yes, you can say there's plenty of oil out there, but if it doesn't reach markets, it really
doesn't do any good to consumers. So, it is really imperative that they find a solution to the Strait of Hormuz, because we are already having
significant production shut ins because of the shipping problems.
Iraq has shut in around 3 million barrels already. Remember, Becky, part of the run up that we had during the Russia and Ukraine war, up to about 127
was out of concern that we would have a 3 million barrel a day disruption because of sanctions. So, we've already shut in more than we were concerned
about during the Russia Ukraine war, just based on Iraq.
And you know they're rolling shut ins. Kuwait Petroleum Corporation is shutting in. We don't have the volumes, but we know they're starting to
shut in production. Ad knock is starting to do some rolling shut ins as well.
ANDERSON: Yeah.
CROFT: So, the question is, how long does this conflict last? I think duration is key to determining the ultimate energy price outcome.
ANDERSON: And I think what's really important for our viewers, just to understand, if they don't already, is the impact on the global economy.
It's not just oil, physical oil itself, but it's the products.
CROFT: Oh yes.
ANDERSON: That are, you know, made from in those refineries, in those production bases.
CROFT: Yes, Becky, think about that --
ANDERSON: Can you just briefly explain to us what we talking about here? What sort of shortages we face? Yeah.
CROFT: I mean, Becky, you show the price of WTI, you could put up the price of jet fuel, and you will see a much higher price spike. Look at the price
of diesel, and also think about natural gas. I mean, we've talked about some routes that you can divert some crude away from the Strait of Hormuz,
particularly Saudi Arabia's east west pipeline.
There is no diversionary route for natural gas. And as you know, Qatar has shut in the all-important Ras Laffan, LNG facility, their natural gas is
not moving. And we're getting reports that important consumers in Asia are running out of natural gas at a very alarming rate. So again, this is
beyond oil.
And also think about fertilizer. When you think about food prices, the inability to get fertilizer to key markets as well could have a food
inflationary price impact the longer this goes on.
ANDERSON: Always good to have you. Thank you very much indeed for your perspective. It is 09:38 in the morning there on Wall Street, beginning of
the trading day, and you've got some analysis and insight there, which is important as we watch these markets. CNN's Fred Pleitgen is reporting in
Tehran.
He has an exclusive interview now with Kamal Kharazi who is the Foreign Policy Adviser to the Supreme Leader. CNN is operating in Iran with the
permission of the Iranian government, but maintains full editorial control over what it reports. Have a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Iran has a new supreme leader. What does that mean for your military effort and the
confrontation with the United States and Israel?
KAMAL KHARAZI, FOREIGN POLICY ADVISER TO IRAN'S SUPREME LEADER: That means the system is quite functioning.
PLEITGEN: So, the United States says it's drastically degraded the Iranian military the capabilities as far as missiles is concerned, drones are
concerned. How much longer can you do this?
KHARAZI: That is one of the false narratives that the United States government is producing.
[09:40:00]
Iranian military is quite as strong, as you see, because they have the motivation, they have the arms that they need, which are produced in Iran.
As a matter of fact, we are not dependent on any other country for weapons and arms.
PLEITGEN: So, your side is ready for a long war if the United States and Israel choose that. Do you consider this an existential threat to the
Islamic Republic?
KHARAZI: It is an existential threat to the Islamic Republic, and therefore we have to say, with full mind, as we are doing now.
PLEITGEN: Is your side seeking, or will you seek a ceasefire with the United States at this point in time and with Israel?
KHARAZI: I don't see any room for diplomacy anymore, because Donald Trump have been deceiving others and not keeping with his promises. And we
experienced this in two times of negotiations, that while we were engaged in negotiation, they structured us.
PLEITGEN: How does all of this end then? If you say, right now, there's no room for negotiation, President Trump says he wants complete surrender.
What does that lead to?
KHARAZI: There's no room unless the economic pressure would be built up to the extent that other countries would intervene to guarantee this
termination of aggression of Americans and Israelis against Iran.
PLEITGEN: Finally, what is your message to President Trump as we sit here, as the war is going on.
KHARAZI: That means that what is important for us is the end of this game, and we are ready to continue that game.
PLEITGEN: The end of this game, you mean how this war will end is?
KHARAZI: Yeah, the end of the game would be the time that American and Israelis would come to this understanding that this strategy is not
working, and they have to stop the regulations against Iranians.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: And that interview conducted just in Iran, as Fred is there, of course, on the ground, and as soon as we get it into CNN, of course, comes
not easy, but as soon as we get it in CNN, we wanted you to get part of that interview and more to come in the hours to come.
Still to come here, this hour, a humanitarian crisis in Lebanon is widening as Israel and Hezbollah militants continue to attack one another. We are
going to speak to a U.N. official about the impact on civilians.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Well, I'm Becky Anderson. You're watching "Connect the World" from our Middle East programming headquarters here in Abu Dhabi.
[09:45:00]
Lebanon's Prime Minister told a Beirut newspaper that his government is ready to resume negotiations with Israel. Now this comes as Israel
continues its latest wave of attacks on the Iran backed Hezbollah. These are their targets around Beirut. According to Israel, Lebanon and was
dragged into the widening Middle East conflict last week after Hezbollah fired into Israel.
Nearly 400 people have been killed in Lebanon since Israel began its attacks. According to the Lebanese Health Ministry. That fighting has also
led to mass evacuations across southern Lebanon, pushing hundreds of thousands of people from their homes. I want to get a better picture of
exactly what's going on.
Let's bring in Anandita Philipose. She's the Lebanon Representative for the United Nations Population Fund, and has over 18 years' experience with the
U.N. managing complex humanitarian crises of which, and indeed are, of course, there have been many. And how does this one stack up?
ANANDITA PHILIPOSE, LEBANON REPRESENTATIVE FOR UNFPA: So, Becky, the situation on the ground is truly alarming. Since the conflict intensified
over a week ago, we've seen a sharp increase in air strikes, bombings and armed conflict. You already spoke about the mass evacuations, and I'm sure
many of you have seen the video footage of cars stuck in gridlock traffic for miles because hundreds of thousands of families had to flee their
homes, the places that they knew and loved, in the matter of minutes to get to some safer.
I myself was at a collective shelter where many of these people are being housed last Thursday when an evacuation order was given for the southern
suburbs of Beirut. And my team and I had to leave in a rush as well. This is the reality for many people now, and what is happening is for UNFPA,
which is a humanitarian agency.
We're really here to safeguard the health and protection of the women who are often the hidden and silent victims of crisis like this.
ANDERSON: Yeah, and of course, this must feel like sort of wave after wave of crises, evacuation, you know, desperation by these civilians. Hezbollah
has been battered by years of relentless Israeli assaults and has seen its most senior leaders, of course, assassinated.
With that said, how long could this latest outbreak of violence go on, do you believe? And did your group have any sense of a timeline at this point?
PHILIPOSE: So, what we are doing is really responding to the events as they unfold, and they are unfolding extremely fast. The numbers of displaced
people are changing minute by minute. And what we are seeing is that the women and girls who, as I also said, are often the hidden victims in a
conflict.
Those are the ones that require our support the most. We have had reports of women giving birth on the streets of Beirut because they've been stuck
in traffic trying to get to somewhere safer. When I was at the collective shelter on Thursday, and I went back again earlier today to continue my
conversation with the women and girls I saw.
I asked them what they need from us, and they said, we need what is also being tried and tested solutions. For UNFPA, that means we're deploying
midwives who provide the maternal health care, deploying social workers, getting together mobile teams of people who can reach displaced people in
the shelters and where they need the services.
Women do not stop giving birth just because there is a conflict. Our job is to make sure that they're able to do it safely.
ANDERSON: It's good to have you on. This is really important stuff, and ensuring that people understand that this is during time of conflict. You
know, life goes on for people, and it is so tough giving birth, as you say, you know, on the streets as a result of being displaced.
I'm sure will resonate with people the, you know, horror and trauma of that as people watch wherever they are around the world. Thank you very much
indeed for your work and for your time today. Still ahead, thousands of passengers stranded in Qatar as the war with Iran disrupts Gulf air travel.
Airlines are now slowly reopening riots. And CNN is at the airport with the very latest.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[09:50:00]
ANDERSON: -- the war with Iran ramps up, so too do efforts to repatriate foreign citizens stranded in the Middle East. Several European nations been
sending evacuation flights for their citizens since early last week. At that time, French President Emmanuel Macron said about 400,000 French
nationals were in the region.
But the complex -- the operation is complex. On Thursday, a French repatriation flight from the UAE was forced to turn back due to missile
fire. Well earlier I spoke with Eleonore Caroit, the French Minister for French Nationals Abroad. Here's what she told me.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ELEONORE CAROIT, FRENCH MINISTER DELEGATE FOR FRENCH NATIONALS ABROAD: This is not France's war. France is only in support of its citizens, which are
many in the area, and also of its interest and very interested in the resumption of trade and liberty of circulation in the area, because this,
of course, has an impact on all of us.
ANDERSON: President Macron posting yesterday on X that he had spoken to the Iranian President, emphasizing, quote, the necessity for Iran to
immediately cease its stripes against countries in the region. Well, that hasn't happened. What did your president achieve by that conversation?
CAROIT: Our president, since the beginning of the war in Iran and the general conflict in the Middle East has shown that France is a reliable
partner for its allies, for the Gulf countries that are our allies and with whom we have cooperation agreement. We've shown our support with all of
those countries that are being bombed by Iran these days.
But at the same time, we are a dialog country. We believe in diplomatic approaches, and so having conversations with every single leader is
important to de-escalate the situation, because, as I said, we have interest in the region, but we are also interested in the resumption of
trade, and of course, the security of all those that today are suffering of the attacks.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Well, the war with Iran has caused the most serious disruption to air travel in the Gulf since the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 8000
passengers have been stuck in Qatar, for example, since the conflict began at the airport. Airlines are now beginning to reopen some routes.
CNN's Bijan Hosseini is at Doha's Hamad International, where Qatar Airways has started to offer flights for travelers desperate to get home.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BIJAN HOSSEINI, CNN SENIOR PRODUCER (voice-over): At Doha's Hamad International Airport, departure boards that sat frozen for more than a
week are beginning to move again. The regional conflict forced Qatar to close its airspace after repeated missile and drone attacks.
HOSSEINI: For most of these travelers, their stay here in Doha wasn't supposed to last this long. A lot of them were just transiting through 10
days ago before finding themselves in the middle of an escalating regional crisis. But now limited flight corridors are opening and they're finally
able to go home.
HOSSEINI (voice-over): Among the passengers leaving today, Derek and Madeleine --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: -- bag is there.
MADELEINE, TRAVELER: Yeah.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I will pick up.
HOSSEINI (voice-over): Their flight home to London couldn't come soon enough. Derek has a heart condition, and his medication soon ran out.
DEREK, TRAVELER: -- no complaints. That was fine until my tab was run out. So, we're now getting really urgent, and I've already missed two
appointments in England and through the delay. So, I got two serious appointments I missed. Yeah, so we're hoping to go today.
HOSSEINI (voice-over): The couple say help from home has been hard to find.
MADELEINE: I registered with the UK government, and we had an email and acknowledgement, and that's been it. Communication with them has been nil,
yeah, not impressed.
HOSSEINI (voice-over): Madeleine says many people have tried to make the unexpected stay a bit easier. Qatar is covering hotel stays and providing
food vouchers for stranded travelers.
MADELEINE: -- lovely.
DEREK: Lovely.
MADELEINE: The people couldn't be more helpful. They're lovely.
[09:55:00]
-- hope that --
HOSSEINI (voice-over): Derek and Madeleine are just two of the roughly 8000 passengers who were stranded in Qatar, according to government figures.
HOSSEINI: What have the last 10 days been like.
DARIA, TRAVELER: Nervous, because almost every day we got the alarms on our phones, like saying that it's dangerous and don't go out from the
buildings.
HOSSEINI (voice-over): Others say disruption has put their lives and livelihoods on hold.
MOHAMMED, TRAVELER: I was trying to connect with my company, you know, like, it can't work. They give me a leave of absence, one week notice, and
then we're going to terminate to work, right? So, there's a lot of pressure from different points, from my perspective, but I'm sure other people have
the same issues as well.
Yes, terrifying, man. You know, in addition to seeing all the rockets above your head.
HOSSEINI (voice-over): Officials stress these flights are operating under temporary authorization, and they don't mean that normal commercial
operations have resumed. The fragile reopening also comes as tensions across the region remain high, but for Derek and Madeleine, today is about
one thing, finally, boarding a flight home to London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Bijan Hosseini reporting there. Well, that is it for the first hour of this show "Connect the World". I'll be back with the top of -- at
the top of the hour, with a lot more for you. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
