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Connect the World
Israel's Defense Minister Says Iran's Security Chief Killed; Operations Suspended at UAE Gas Field After Drone Attack; UAE Temporarily Closed Airspace Amid "Security Developments"; Oil Prices Up as Iran Issues Warning Over Strait of Hormuz; Oil Prices Spike as Iran Warns Strait of Hormuz "Cannot Be the Same"; Havana in Darkness as Massive Blackout Hits Cuba. Aired 9-10a ET
Aired March 17, 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]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST, CONNECT THE WORLD: This is the scene in Tel Aviv after Israel claims it has killed Iran's Top Security Chief and one of its
most powerful decision makers. It is 03:00 p.m. there in Tel Aviv, it is 04:30 p.m. in Tehran, 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". The stock market in New York opens about 30
minutes from now. And futures are in and out of positive territory higher as we speak, as uncertainty about the situation with Iran remains a key
focus.
We start with Israel's claim that it has killed another top Iranian official. The Israeli Defense Minister, saying Iran Security Chief Ali
Larijani, was killed in an overnight strike in Tehran. Larijani was a close ally of assassinated Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
And helped negotiate the nuclear deal that U.S. President Donald Trump pulled out of in 2018. Israel's Defense Minister saying he was one of two
top officials killed. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ISRAEL KATZ, ISRAELI DEFENSE MINISTER: I was just updated by the chief of staff that the Secretary of the National Security Council, Larijani, and
the Head of the Basij, the central repression body of Iran, Soleimani were eliminated last night and joined the head of annihilation program, Khamenei
and all the eliminated members of the axis of evil in the depths of hell.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, the news coming as hopes for any sort of negotiated ceasefire appear to be stuck. Senior White House officials telling CNN, it
isn't clear that the New Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei's son, Mojtaba, is actually in charge. Well, in the meantime, more attacks in Iran and in
Lebanon, with Israel planning a major ground offensive in Lebanon to combat the Iran backed Hezbollah as mass evacuations continue.
And Iran firing back at Israel and attacking its Gulf neighbors. Well, another death reported today here in Abu Dhabi. One person was killed by
falling debris from an intercepted missile. Oil and gas fields here were hit by drones. And the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad again targeted by drones,
with one of them reportedly striking inside the compound.
Well, Ali Larijani was last heard from just days ago, speaking out against the U.S. and Israel at a rally on Al Quds Day. His death another blows to
Iran's top leadership as it tries to convey strength amid relentless Israeli and U.S. attacks. Nada Bashir has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NADA BASHIR, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It was just last week that Ali Larijani, Iran's top security official, was seen in public at a rally in
Tehran, defying threats against him by Israel and the United States. Ali Larijani spent decades at the center of power in Iran, a conservative
strategist who helped shape the Islamic Republic from within.
On Tuesday, Israel's Defense Minister claimed Larijani was killed in an Israeli air strike. His death would remove a veteran operator from the
inner circle of power. And it comes as Israel intensifies its strikes on Iran, targeting not just military infrastructure, but senior figures tied
to Iran's leadership.
His death could further harden Iran's response and push both sides deeper into a widening regional conflict. And it would remove a skilled negotiator
who could potentially help end the war, who replaces him as the top security official, could also signal a hardening of the regime, born into
one of Iran's most influential political families, dubbed the Iranian Kennedys by Time Magazine.
Larijani was also a mathematician and philosopher who wrote books on the enlightenment thinker Immanuel Kant.
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He rose quickly after the 1979 revolution, becoming a trusted figure in the system. He served as speaker of parliament for 12 years, overseeing key
legislation during some of the country's most turbulent periods. Before that, he held a series of high-profile roles, head of state broadcasting
Iran's top nuclear negotiator, and later a senior advisor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
In that advisory role, Larijani helped shape Iran's approach to nuclear diplomacy, including during high stake standoffs with the United States,
often described as a pragmatic conservative. He was seen as a bridge between factions, navigating the space between hard liners and more
moderate voices while remaining firmly loyal to the system.
But his record was also marked by controversy. The United States sanctioned Larijani earlier this year, accusing him of playing a role in the violent
suppression of nationwide protests and of calling for force against demonstrators. Despite shifting political winds, Larijani remained a key
figure in Iran's strategic decision making, particularly on national security and foreign policy.
Israel's targeting of Larijani raises new questions about whether this conflict is entering a more dangerous phase. Nada Bashir, CNN in London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Well, we've got Oren Liebermann with us this hour from Tel Aviv, and Paula Hancocks is in Abu Dhabi. Oren, let me start with you. The deaths
of Larijani and the Basij paramilitary command are not confirmed by Iran, but should that happen. Can you explain the significance, particularly of
Larijani as targets for Israel, and the likely consequence, should their deaths be confirmed?
OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN JERUSALEM BUREAU CHIEF: Becky, Ali Larijani was likely at the very top of Israel's target list and viewed as the de facto leader
of the country after the assassination of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, right at the beginning of this war, 18 days ago.
It was Larijani, who Israel believes was calling the shots when it came to conducting strikes against Israel, and those strikes we have continued to
see to this day the ballistic missile launches and the sirens. But more than that, it was also Larijani that Israel assesses was leading the
campaign attacking Gulf States and many of Iran's neighbors, as well as U.S. diplomatic compounds throughout the Gulf here.
It was Larijani who was essentially the focus of all of this, and basically at the top of what's left of the Iranian leadership's command structure.
And that basically made him target number one for Israel. And we saw that attack coming last night, Israel at first, announced that they had carried
out strikes in Tehran, as well as a number of other cities last night.
And then just a short time later, earlier this morning, Israel came out, and specifically Israel's Defense Minister, Israel Katz, came out and said
that Larijani had been killed in those strikes. As you point out, we haven't seen a confirmation here from Iran yet, but Israel making clear
that no matter who is next on the list, they too will be a target, as Israel goes after the entire Iranian leadership structure.
And that also now includes, as we have seen, the leaders of the Basij paramilitary force. It's not just the leader that Israel's military said
they killed, but an Israeli source tells us that Israel believes they have killed a number of other senior leaders of the Basij. This is significant.
It is the force that Israel assesses the Iranian leadership uses to crack down and crush protests such as those we saw earlier this year. Israel and
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in particular, have tried to speak to the Iranian people and said it will soon be their turn to try to rise up and
overthrow the regime.
Israel believes it is the Basij that prevents that from happening, so we'll see if this has a longer-term effect, Becky.
ANDERSON: Oren, thank you. I want to bring in Paula, who is in the UAE, in Abu Dhabi, before we talk more about the significance and likely
consequence of these deaths. Paula, the attacks on the UAE and across the region continue. What is the latest?
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well Becky, starting off here in the UAE, really, the past 24, 36 hours have seen a number of repeated attacks
against the energy infrastructure. We heard over the weekend from Iranian officials, the military spokesperson, saying that they would be targeting
ports and docks in the UAE, warning people to evacuate from the area.
And we have seen a number of these attacks. Fujairah port, just on the east of the country, has come under attack now two days in a row. We heard
earlier this Tuesday, authorities saying that they were battling a fire at that particular area. This is a significant area because it is an oil
industry zone on the east of the country.
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So, it is significant the amount of oil they can store there, and it doesn't have to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. So, it is able to get
oil into the world without that choke point. Now we had heard from Iran that it would be targeting there it has been. We also know that a tanker
just off the Coast of Fujairah was also struck.
It has minor structural damage, we're told. But that brings to 21 the number of vessels that have been impacted and targeted in this way, that's
according to the UK maritime agency. The Shah gas field, which is about three hours away from where we are in Abu Dhabi that has also been
targeted.
There's a fire that's been ignited. Authorities saying they have had to suspend operations for a time to try and bring that under control. What
we're seeing here is not targets that are in any way U.S. military or politically affiliated, but we are seeing Tehran clearly wanting to inflict
economic pain on the UAE and on its energy infrastructure.
I want to point out the number of drones and missiles that have been fired into the UAE. This is official figures that have come for the past 24
hours, 45 drones and 10 missiles. Now, that is the number of projectiles that they have actually engaged or intercepted. The number of drones is
interesting because that's double what we saw from the previous 24 hours and triple what we saw for the 24 hours before that.
So rather than any let up in the Iranian retaliation, certainly, here we are seeing, it appears, at least in the short term, an increase in drone
activity. We're also seeing drones being intercepted in Saudi Arabia, also in Kuwait, again, the energy infrastructure appears to be the main target
of Tehran at this point, Becky.
ANDERSON: Paula, thank you. And it's good to have Oren in Tel Aviv for us on what is an extremely busy day. Thank you both. My next guest is an
Expert on Iranian Affairs and Foreign Policy, Hamidreza Azizi joining me from Berlin. It's good to have you, sir. I just first want you to expand on
how important Ali Larijani has been to the regime as arguably its most powerful man since the war began, and the significance of his claimed
killing.
HAMIDREZA AZIZI, VISITING FELLOW AT GERMAN INSTITUTE FOR INTERNATIONAL & SECURITY AFFAIRS: Well, Larijani had what I would call a unique background,
in the sense that he had served at both security and also political decision-making roles in the system. He was a true insider of the Islamic
Republic.
But at the same time, he belonged to a faction that one may call a kind of, you know, pragmatic, conservative, bureaucratic faction, you know, given
this background. And his role, kind of elevated, especially after the 12- day war, as he kind of -- was reappointed as the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council and together with Shamkhani, who was killed in
the first day of the ongoing war.
ANDERSON: Yeah.
AZIZI: These two councils, Defense Council and this National Security Council were supposed to kind of coordinate decision making. So now, with
both of them gone, it's very kind of uncertain how the trajectory is going to be. In a way, it is certain that, you know, factions within the kind of
more hardline elements, like Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, like Ahmad Vahidi, the Commander of the IRGC, are going to take over.
ANDERSON: So how destabilizing is this for the regime? Because, on the one hand, it does have several layers of succession planning, of course. On the
other, Larijani a giant of Iranian politics and security for decades. What happens next?
AZIZI: Well, we need to look at it from the short term, and also long-term perspective. In the short term and as long as the war continues, I don't
expect it to have any significant impact on the war planning and war strategy of Iran, because after the killing of Khamenei and other
officials, the system was basically relying on two persons, not just one.
So, on one side, it was Larijani, who was mostly in charge of the political and strategic -- And on the other side, we have on the other side, we had
Ghalibaf, who's been primarily in charge with war planning and also war strategy. So that remains, and now maybe key's role is going to be
elevated.
And at the same time, we had the appointment of Mohsen Rezaei, Former Chief Commander of the IRGC, as the as an Advisor to the New Supreme Leader.
[09:15:00]
So, this core is going to kind of continue a war planning, but in the longer term, because, again, as part of that unique characteristic that
Larijani had, he was able to act as a coordinator between different factions. So, with that kind of loss, then, especially in the aftermath of
the war, there can be more fragmentation within the elites and more competition. So, that's the way I see that, with small potential.
ANDERSON: Yeah. Today is Chaharshanbeh Suri, which is the annual festival where Iranians jump over small bonfires as an act of purification and
renewal before now, who's the Persian New Year, marking the beginning of spring, and the regime has been warning Iranians not to celebrate,
arguably, to control dissent.
The opposition, the Reza Pahlavi, the calling for Iranians to go to the streets. Explain the reality for us on the ground, if you will, and whether
Israel is hoping that the elimination of Larijani, the besieged commander, would motivate Iranians to take to the streets, and whether you believe
that that will work?
AZIZI: Well, that might be part of the calculation, for sure, but my assessment at this moment is that it's not going to be a one-off strike,
one off decapitation. It signals to me something like Israel entering into a new phase of decapitation strategy after probably President Trump got
disappointed that the new leadership of the country was not kind of more accommodative of his demands.
They didn't, you know, come forward to make a deal. So, this might be kind of Trump green light for Israel, and we may see more of this. But in terms
of the realities on the ground, as you mentioned, one thing that has been kind of, you know, evident actually, since day one of the war has been a
growing concern among the political and security elites of the Islamic Republic that you know, for one reason or another, people may come to the
street, as you mentioned, for example, for Chaharshanbeh Suri tonight.
ANDERSON: Yeah.
AZIZI: And the security measures have been tightened. So, they have worked on it on two fronts. On one hand, we've seen growing intimidation in terms
of even sending text messages to the people threatening that you know, they would be treated as soldiers of Israel and things like that.
On the other hand, they have called on their supporters to come to the streets, to continue occupying the streets. And they benefited a lot from
Amazon.
ANDERSON: So -- yeah.
AZIZI: And every night, basically they were there. And I think that will happen tonight as well.
ANDERSON: I want, finally, just to close this with the following thought. Ali Larijani was a, if not the key interlocutor with Oman during last
month's diplomatic talks. So, I wonder now, is there anyone that the U.S. and Israel through Iran can possibly deal with if and when the time comes
for a negotiated end to this wall.
AZIZI: Well, among the current elite, acting elite, especially those with both security and political clots, I really don't see anyone, but it might
be actually Israel's plan at the moment, as it appears to me, if we assume that the United States and Israel don't have kind of, you know, similar
plans for Iran.
So it might be that Israel actually wants this war to continue, as do hardliners in Iran. So that actually makes any effort to end the war in the
short term very complicate --
ANDERSON: It's good to have you, sir. Hamidreza Azizi, your insight is so important to us. We really appreciate it. Thank you very much indeed for
joining us. The alerts going off here in Abu Dhabi in the UAE. We are in a safe and secure environment here, so I will carry on.
I sat down earlier on in Dubai with the CEO of Dubai airports, with airspace closures on and off and the threat of drone missile attacks, of
course, and anxious passengers. How is one of the world's busiest airports coping during this war? That exclusive conversation is up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[09:20:00]
ANDERSON: Well as the war escalates, oil prices have again surged. This is how Brent crude is doing as we speak. The price had spiked following a fall
in the previous trading session, as Iran intensifies strikes on energy infrastructure. WTI, the U.S. benchmark, has also climbed, as investors
have been rattled after a senior Iranian official warned the Strait of Hormuz cannot return to its previous conditions.
Well, Dubai Airport is one of the world's busiest hubs for international travel, handling about 100 million passengers per year under normal
circumstances. Now that airport and others, of course, across the region, are facing a challenge like never before, how to operate during these
attacks.
Well, earlier, I spoke with Dubai Airport CEO Paul Griffiths, only hours after airspace had been closed and flights had been suspended. And while
Dubai Airport is now operating a limited schedule, once again, it is clearly far from business as usual.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: We speak Tuesday, mid-day, 18 days into this, the airport is on the move. But earlier on, the airport's operations were suspended, the
airspace closed for a period of time. So, for people who will be watching this, who may have a real worry about safety and security. What's your
message? And just walk us through how difficult this sort of stop, start kind of atmosphere is.
PAUL GRIFFITHS, CEO OF DUBAI AIRPORTS: Well, firstly, the ability to detect and respond to threats as they've unfolded have been very, very effective
and efficient. We've closed air space. We've opened it as the threat level has changed, and we've been able to keep aircraft in the air.
And obviously to route through corridors that are properly designated by the GCAA across here, and obviously holding aircraft at out station, making
sure that they can be safely diverted if there is a threat. We facilitated the journeys of over a million passengers over the last 17 days, and the
recovery rate is significant.
We're back up to about 40, 45 percent of normal traffic movements.
ANDERSON: Talk to me about what you've been doing very specifically to support passengers.
GRIFFITHS: Well, first of all, when schedules are disrupted, and you know, in a normal day, we would handle something like 320,000 customers through
DXB. So, when that supply chain gets interrupted, it's incredibly important that we keep people informed, keep people already at the airport safe and
secure whilst we dealt with the backlog and got people to the places they needed to be.
And also provided the information to make sure that people only came to the airport when they needed to be. That seems to have worked pretty well. The
airport has remained calm and composed, and the many different comments we are getting from our customers, I think, suggest for the most part, we're
doing a reasonably good job.
[09:25:00]
ANDERSON: Talk to me about the collaboration with other airports to ensure that you are getting as many people on the move as possible.
GRIFFITHS: So, what we've done is we've worked closely with all of the other airports in the region to make sure that the number of flights is
carefully scheduled and predicted in advance, so that we can make the best use of the limited capacity that is available, which has enabled us to
minimize delays and to get as many people moving as we possibly can.
ANDERSON: Operational recovery isn't just about restoring flights. It's about ensuring the stability and security of the entire ecosystem. Can you
just speak to that as a challenge?
GRIFFITHS: Indeed. Well, if you look at the fact that from when an aircraft takes off from an overseas origin and lands here in Dubai, the number of
steps in that journey, and the number of people and different organizations involved is quite incredible, and obviously we've got a duty of care to
make sure that that supply chain is working as effectively and efficiently as possible.
And the liaison we've had with air traffic controllers with all of the different government organizations that have managed to, you know, keep all
those airways open and yet safe and secure has been incredible. The liaison we've had with the airlines, the handling companies, with civil defense,
all of our operations teams, everyone the retailers that have kept the food on, you know, in our restaurants and bars, here in the airports.
I mean, everyone has played an incredible part, and we're always reminded that this is a magnificent team effort, and when times of crisis hit us,
the way we respond, I think, has reminded us of the sheer dedication and commitments of our people.
ANDERSON: There are airlines who have suspended flights, I think, British Airways through July and others who have suspended flights for the time
being. What is your message to the aviation industry at this point.
GRIFFITHS: I think most of the problem has been insurance, and I think if foreign governments would underwrite, which surely for them, should be a
relatively easy thing to do the operation of their airlines to the UAE. Then, obviously we'll do everything we can to facilitate those.
But I think that's the attitude that's been shown by a lot of airlines coming in, that they are getting that support from governments to
underwrite their insurance policy.
ANDERSON: So, are you prioritizing Emirates at this point, the flag carrier here?
GRIFFITHS: That we're not turning anyone away that wants to mount an operation. Obviously, with the limited capacity, particularly through the
air corridors, we've got to do things to limit the delays. And we are working very, very closely with all the stakeholders.
ANDERSON: How are you managing, for example, with an incident like the fuel tanks being hit either by a rocket or by debris and the fires that ensued.
I mean, that was very close, of course, to this airport.
GRIFFITHS: Well, the first thing, obviously, is safety and security, and the communication down our lines of command has been so effective and
efficient, we've been able to get everyone to a place of safety very, very quickly. The Civil Defense were there within minutes and to contain the
situation.
And, you know, the normal operation, I think, resumed fairly shortly thereafter.
ANDERSON: I used the airport in Abu Dhabi very early on Sunday morning was a seamless experience. I flew back into Dubai that same day. I have to say,
a seamless experience, very efficient, very effective. So, as a resident here who was coming home, I have to say, I have first-hand experience of
the way that this airport is operating.
It was good to see the shops open, the restaurants open. What sort of impact do you believe this might have on the operations here going forward.
I'm thinking a little bit more long term, how do you bounce back from this?
GRIFFITHS: The aviation ecosystem in the Middle East is incredibly important to the world. When you consider that the amount of capacity that
comes through the hubs in the region the world cannot do without that. I mean, 1/3 of the world's population lives within four hours flying time of
Dubai, and two thirds within eight hours flying time.
So that capacity in world terms is incredibly important. And we will bounce back from the current situation, very, very quickly of that, I'm very, very
convinced.
ANDERSON: When the missiles stop, and they haven't yet, thankfully, there are less inbound, and they are being intercepted at an incredibly efficient
rate. When they stop, how quickly can you bounce back to normal operations?
[09:30:00]
GRIFFITHS: We are doing everything we can to preserve both the capability and the confidence to bring our operations up to 100 percent capacity as
quickly as we possibly can.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Paul Griffiths, with that exclusive interview I spoke to him, just earlier on today. Well, it is North American energy company ringing in
the opening bell on Wall Street, TC energy. It is March the 17th, Tuesday and the beginning of the trading session. Back there to see how markets
investors are reacting to this continued uncertainty and rise in oil prices, after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Welcome back. I'm Becky Anderson in Abu Dhabi, and you are watching "Connect the World". Here's your headlines. Israel's Defense
Minister says Israeli forces have killed the Iranian Security Chief, Ali Larijani, in an overnight strike in Tehran. Defense Minister says the head
of Iran's Basij paramilitary force was also killed.
Larijani was a close ally of the assassinated Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He helped negotiate the nuclear deal that U.S. President Donald
Trump pulled out of in 2018. Well, multiple Middle Eastern countries have been fending off new air attacks from Iran including Iraq, where drones
targeted the U.S. Embassy in a luxury hotel.
Video appears to show air defenses shooting down a projectile near the embassy and an explosion was seen nearby. Pakistan is rejecting claims by
Afghanistan that it targeted a hospital in Kabul with air strikes killing over 400 people on Monday. Pakistan says it targeted its strikes on
military installations and terrorist support infrastructure.
The incident marks a sharp escalation and fighting between the two countries since late February. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
arrived in London earlier today, ahead of a series of high-profile meetings, he'll visit Buckingham Palace next hour for a sit down with King
Charles before heading to 10 Downing Street to meet with the British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
The two leaders are expected to focus on defense cooperation and keeping attention on the war in Ukraine. They'll later be joined by NATO Chief Mark
Rutte. Right, we just showed you the bell ringing on Wall Street. Let's see how stocks are trading in the first couple of minutes of the trading day.
[09:35:00]
And the DOW JONES INDUSTRIALS looking in pretty good shape, up nearly 1 percent the NASDAQ and the S&P there both up by about two thirds of 1
percent. There is no doubt investors are nervous out there. Oil prices spiking over more supply worries after a warning from Tehran and more
attacks on energy facilities.
I want you to have another look at Brent crude, which is the international oil benchmark. It's there at about 101.81 up about 1.5 percent, slightly
off its highs though over the past trading session or so. Here's our WTI, the U.S. benchmark, is faring. And top Iranian official suggesting that the
crucial Strait of Hormuz won't be safe for ships anytime soon.
We are also hearing of an explosion ripping through a ship in Sharjah port. That is, according to Iranian state media here in Abu Dhabi, where I am,
operations have been suspended at a gas field after a drone strike and a tanker was reportedly hit by an unknown projectile, both near key UAE oil
port.
Well Fujairah passes the Strait of Hormuz, which has been effectively closed since the war with Iran began. Want to bring in Iman Nasseri, the
Managing Director of Middle East Research at the Energy Market Consultancy FGE-Nexant, it's good to have you. We have heard robust rhetoric coming out
of Iran.
The parliamentary speaker says the Strait of Hormuz remains under threat. What is your take at this point?
IMAN NASSERI, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF MIDDLE EAST RESEARCH AT FGE-NEXANT: Yes, Strait of Hormuz has been closed for over two weeks only because of the
threat that they are talking about. There has been no strong and solid evidence of any physical threat, including the mining or there have been a
few attacks on vessels, but two of those, at least, have been in the strait to the vessels in Iraqi water.
So basically, what has kept the strait closed has been the threat, the ship owners, the insurance companies and basically the cargo owners and traders
have not been able to take the risk of sending their vessels and cargoes through the strait to be basically destroyed by any missiles or drones or
debris coming from Iranian side, and that continues to be the case.
In my opinion, it's hard. It has been proven to be a hard task to open this trade, because the threat is not physical to remove it. The threat is the
risk, and that risk remains as long as the war between Iran and U.S. and Israel is ongoing.
ANDERSON: And Iran is threatened to continue to use that strait as a lever against what it sees as its enemies. The countries around the region, where
I am, here in the UAE and beyond, who are taking sort of unprovoked, reckless attacks daily from Iran, looking at how they adapt in this
situation. What are the best solutions for countries and companies to try and avoid that strait?
All right, listen, we seem to be having some technical difficulties with our guests there. We'll see if we can get him back. Iman Nasseri is the
Energy Market Consultancy at FGE-Nexant. It's good to have him. Well, the disruption in the Strait of Hormuz isn't just affecting oil supplies, of
course, it's also causing huge concern for Gulf states that get their imported goods by boats.
Now, countries like Kuwait starting to see an inflow of crucial supplies like food and medicine over land. CNN's Nic Robertson filed this report
from the Saudi-Kuwait border.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: These trucks here are the new lifeline, bypassing the Straits of Hormuz. The Straits of Hormuz
closed for oil getting out of the Gulf, closed for goods that would normally be coming in. And right now, these convoys coming out of Saudi
Arabia, going into Kuwait, they're bringing in food, they're bringing in medical supplies.
[09:40:00]
They're bringing in all the equipment that would normally get to Kuwait and other Gulf countries normally get there by ship or by air. The Iranians
have closed the Strait of Hormuz. The air space is closed because of all the missile strikes that are going on. And if you come around here, you can
get an idea of all the different products that are on their way into Kuwait.
Now, officials there aren't talking about food shortages yet, but people in Kuwait tell us, look, we're a desert kingdom. We're in the desert. It's a
desert country, and we need to import 90 percent of our food. So, this lifeline here that the Saudi say is passing about 900 trucks a day.
9000 trucks gone through from Saudi to Kuwait. They say, since the war began, is absolutely vital, and it gets more vital the longer the war goes
on. It's part of the Gulf solidarity. These trucks here are driving in from Saudi Arabia from about 1000 miles away, about 1800 kilometers across the
whole of the Arabian Peninsula, from Saudi's Western Coast, from the Port City of Jeddah on the Red Sea.
They can do that because the Red Sea isn't blockaded. It's not under fire at the moment, which means there's a way to get all this equipment, all
this food, all these medical supplies into countries like Kuwait. But right now, the Iranians have already started threatening the Red Sea with
potential strikes, because the USS Gerald Ford, the aircraft carrier, its battle group, are in the Red Sea at the moment.
So, this lifeline vital going to get more important if the war continues. But because the Red Sea now appears to be potentially under threat even
this way of getting around the siege of the Strait of Hormuz that Iran has put in place, even this could be under threat too. Nic Robertson, CNN, on
the Saudi-Kuwait border.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: I want to bring back Iman Nasseri, the Managing Director of Middle East Research at the Energy Market Consultancy, FGE-Nexant. And Nic
making the point there that just as we talk a lot about the movement of oil, some 20 percent of you know the global supply of all moving through
that Strait of Hormuz.
Of course, there are many other products, petrochemical products, moving through that strait as well. Is not just oil Nic concentrating there as
these attacks continue about food security and medical supplies security around this region. So, let's just remind our viewers, if we can, of the
sort of bigger picture here, when you consider the insecurity, the energy insecurity.
Plus, the sort of, you know, the problems that we see around this region in moving not just oil, but any goods at this point.
NASSERI: Yeah. So, Strait of Hormuz is a passage in and out. The strait serves as a mean of supply and a root of supply for the region, when it
comes to, as you mentioned, fresh food and vegetables, but also medical supply and everything else, as well as passage out, which mainly carries
energy, goods and products.
So, everyone's talking about oil. Oil is on everyone's mind, as the price of oil is known to everyone, as well as products at the pump. But other
commodities, including a very important one, which is gas, but also feed stocks for petrochemicals and fertilizers are not on everyone's mind, and
those are basically causing more trouble than oil itself.
There are plenty of oil as well as products, petroleum products in the storage tanks across the globe, in the North America, Europe and also OECD
countries of Asia. But gas, LPG and petrochemical fuel stocks do not have a clear backup. In terms of supply for the countries in the region, there are
alternative routes, basically through Oman and also Fujairah for the UAE, Saudi has access through the Red Sea.
ANDERSON: Yeah.
NASSERI: And also on land, they can bring more material and products to the countries do not have access. But getting some commodities out is not going
to be easy.
ANDERSON: And you can see Fujairah, you just mentioned Fujairah and the UAE there on the map, on the right-hand side, there on the right-hand side of
the Emirates. I just wonder how vulnerable the UAE's only export route which bypasses the Strait of Hormuz, is on the right side, as it were, of
this strait is at this point.
[09:45:00]
NASSERI: Well, there have been attacks on the infrastructure in Fujairah, mainly storage tanks in some, in one occasion, the matrix manifold that
connects terminals to the to the jetties have been basically damaged, but the terminal and Fujairah remain resilient, and they have been able to
overcome those and quickly resume operations.
So far, they have managed to bring the loading capacity back online just after a few hours. But obviously it is the only out way for the UAE in
terms of export of energy.
ANDERSON: Yeah. Iman, it's good to have you sir. Keeping us bang up to date on what is going on across not just these oil markets, but oil plus, plus
at this point. Thank you. Well, still to come, Afghanistan blaming Pakistan for a deadly air strike on a hospital in Kabul.
Going to get the latest on the escalating tensions between these neighbors. That is up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Well, Afghanistan says that a Pakistani air strike on a hospital has killed at least 400 people and injured 250. Officials say the strike
destroyed large sections of the 2000 bed facility in Kabul, and they condemn Pakistan for targeting civilians. In turn, Pakistan calls the
allegations false and misleading, saying strikes targeted military installations and terrorist support infrastructure.
Well, significant fighting between the neighbors erupted late last month, and it has produced repeated cross border clashes as well as air strikes
inside Afghanistan. CNN's Sophia Saifi joins me now from Islamabad, international calls for a ceasefire have gone unheeded since this fighting
erupted last month.
I wonder if you can just sort of further -- provide some further insight into what is going on and whether there is any end in sight for this
fighting. What are your sources telling you?
SOPHIA SAIFI, CNN PRODUCER: Hi, Becky. I mean, yes, we have been constantly in touch with various sources within the Pakistani establishment, and what
they've said on the record and behind closed doors as well, is that any end, according to the Pakistanis, is tied to the behavior of the Afghan
Taliban.
The Pakistanis have long accused and explained to the Afghan Taliban, according to them, that they cannot no longer harbor Islamic State, TTP,
which is the Pakistani Taliban militants on Afghan soil, which then carry out attacks within Pakistan. I think it's very interesting that they've
also been telling me that any end is also tied to the behavior of the Afghan Taliban and not to any calls for mediation by any international
actors.
[09:50:00]
So, what is interesting is that when this has been escalating and it has been escalating. This is one of the deadliest conflicts between Pakistan
and Afghanistan. Pakistan's entire history is that the Chinese have come out twice and called for de-escalation and for a need for mediation.
That has not happened yet. This conflict started right before what's happening in Iran, next door to Pakistan. So, this is the entire western
front of Pakistan up in flames at the moment. What has happened in Kabul overnight, according to the Pakistanis that they said that they have been
targeting infrastructure which is linked to assisting the Pakistani Taliban for carrying out attacks within Pakistani soi.
But what the Afghan Taliban have said is that they are now going to retaliate. Now, Pakistan is a nuclear armed country, and there is obviously
a military mismatch. But what is interesting is that there have been drones being shot down over Islamabad this past weekend, on Friday, which is a
huge development when you think of the fact that this is.
You know, the Afghan Taliban that are doing this from next door, whether it's a sleeper cell or not, there have been constant cross shelling that's
been happening on the border. What's interesting is, is that the usual players that have previously called for mediation when such conflicts have
arisen, whether it's the United States, whether it's Qatar or the Gulf states.
They're, of course, preoccupied elsewhere, and they have not really condemned anything. So, we're going to have to wait and see what happens
and how this is going to boil over for the region, Becky.
ANDERSON: Yeah, Sophia, it's good to have you. Thank you very much indeed. Sophia Saifi with the very latest from there. Well, millions of Cubans are
experiencing a nationwide blackout after the nation's power grid collapsed on Monday. These are live pictures of Havana, the capital.
We'll take a look at how a new threat from President Trump could complicate efforts to get the lights back on.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: President Trump has again set his sights on Cuba, threatening to take over the island as it deals with a crippling nationwide blackout.
Millions of people spent the night in the dark after the island's power system suffered a total collapse. It's the first island wide blackout since
the U.S. effectively shut off the flow of oil to Cuba.
[09:55:00]
On Monday, President Trump called Cuba a weakened nation and suggested he was open to taking it over.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: I do believe I'll be the honor of -- having the honor of taking Cuba. That'd be good honor.
That's a big honor.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Taking Cuba?
TRUMP: Taking Cuba in some form, yeah, taking Cuba. I mean, whether I free it, take it. Think I can do anything I want with it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: CNN's Patrick Oppmann has more from Havana.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PATRICK OPPMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Cuba is once again in an island wide blackout, something that has happened frequently enough over the years.
This time feels different because it is the first time since an oil embargo put in place by the Trump Administration has led or contributed to this
kind of island wide blackout affecting 10 million people.
At the moment, the Cuban government says they are working to restore power. The question is, can they, because according to their own admission, no oil
has come in two or three months now, we have seen longer and longer blackouts as this crisis has developed.
Where I live, sometimes it gets up to 20 hours in the last several days, we have seen people going out at night to protests, banging pots and pans in
one small town in the East of Cuba, people actually attacked the Communist Party headquarters over the weekend, tried to burn down the headquarters
before police came in and firing shots in the air, broke up that protest.
But people are on edge here. People are wondering if the government can hold on. Certainly, the Trump Administration has said that they believe
that the government here is in its final hours and that they should make a deal with the U.S. to allow some of that flow of oil, but Trump
Administration is calling on the government here to make major concessions.
No sign that would take place, and whether or not they could do it in time. Patrick Oppmann, CNN, Havana.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Well, the second hour of "Connect the World" begins after this short break. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
