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Trump Agrees to Suspend Bombing of Iran for Two Weeks; Pakistani PM Invites U.S. And Iran for Talks on Friday; Iran Claims Victory, Says U.S. Accepts 10-point Plan; Israel Launches Largest Strikes on Lebanon Since War Began; Trump & Top U.S. Officials to Meet with NATO Chief Today; U.S. Defense Secretary Indicates Strait of Hormuz Currently Open. Aired 9-10a ET

Aired April 08, 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: Well, a ceasefire with Iran. Both the U.S. and Iran are claiming victory. But has anyone really won. It

is 09:00 a.m. in Washington. It is 05:00 p.m. in Abu Dhabi from our Middle Eastern Gulf programming headquarters.

I'm Becky Anderson. You are watching "Connect the World". And the stock market in New York opens about 30 minutes from now. Futures indicating a

strong start between sort of 2.5 and 3.5 percent rise on the back of what has been a steep decline in oil prices after the announcement of this

ceasefire late on Tuesday evening, U.S. time.

Well in the past few minutes, the U.S. Defense Secretary has hailed the success of operations in Iran after both sides agreed to a two-week

ceasefire. He echoed Donald Trump's sentiment. The war was a total and complete victory.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PETE HEGSETH, U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY: You see, had Iran refused our terms, the next targets would have been their power plants, their bridges and oil

and energy infrastructure, targets they could not defend and could not realistically rebuild. It would have taken them decades, and we were locked

and loaded. They couldn't defend against it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: While Iran now considering a 15-point proposal from the U.S. ahead of further talks. It is believed to include Iran committing to no

nuclear weapons, handing over its highly enriched uranium, limits on defense capabilities, and an end to regional proxy groups, and the

reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and acknowledging Israel's right to exist.

Iran says it will coordinate the passage of ships through the strait with oil prices plunging in response. Well, that is a live image of what is

going on at present in that strait. The Israeli military says it has completed the largest strikes across Lebanon since the start of the war

there, as it vows to continue targeting Hezbollah.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office, says Lebanon and is not part of the ceasefire, despite Pakistan saying it is. Well, we are covering

all sides of this breaking story. Nic Robertson is in Tel Aviv for you today. Alayna Treene is at the White House.

Paula Hancocks is in region where I am, here in Abu Dhabi. Nic, let's just start with you. What were your key takeaways from the U.S. perspective, as

laid out by Pete Hegseth and General Caine in the past hour?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Yeah, Victory with a capital V that's how the Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth framed it, and

I think that is what's going to be tested here. It does seem that the statements coming from the Pentagon about how much of Iran's military

capability has been destroyed is really open to question.

The number of sorts is that's indisputable, that's calculable and measurable, but the net effects Iran has demonstrated, today, last night

and in recent days that it can escalate, that it can target where it chooses, and it seems unlikely that those threats are gone.

[09:05:00]

Those threats were minimized by Pete Hegseth, but it's not clear where diplomatic talks around the United States 15 points, which many of those

points were already unpalatable to Iran, or Iran's 10 points which are many of those unpalatable to the United States, where those go.

They will be tested, it seems, according to Pakistani officials at top level talks later this week. So tested diplomatically, tested rhetorically

in the sort of public sphere, because we're hearing from many different voices in Iran's leadership calling it a victory from their side as well.

But the most specific space it will be contested in is the Strait of Hormuz. How much that opens up, President Trump said is committed to

getting ships through. There are over 400 tankers, LNG, Liquid Natural Gas, liquid petroleum and oil tankers sitting in the Gulf.

Two were passed through today with the compliance of Iran. But that still remains the absolute test of where the two sides are in all of this. And as

you say, when it comes to Lebanon, just north of here, the prime minister here has said that the deal doesn't include that has continued to strike in

a maximalist way today, and that does seem to fly in the face of what the interlocutors in Pakistan believe that they have agreed.

So, there's a lot to be tested, not least of which is Iran's desire to comply and when and if it breaks. There certainly does seem to be a will on

both sides for a pause, but it's not clear how long that's going to last, Becky.

ANDERSON: Alayna, let me bring you in there, because Pakistan, as Nic points out, has invited the U.S. and Iran to hold talks this Friday. That

is the extent of the detail to date. What more are you learning about who will attend and the framework of these discussions?

ALAYNA TREENE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, look so from my conversations, Becky, with administration officials, we know that they are

preparing to have U.S. officials there and present for the meeting. I will say they warned that the timing is fluid. It could be Friday.

It may move. We'll see. But as of now, they are planning to travel to Islamabad for an in-person meeting with the Iranians, and, of course,

Pakistan there as the crucial mediator through all of these talks. Now I would note that the Vice President JD Vance, he is currently traveling.

He's in Budapest today. He could extend his trip. We're told to add on this stop to his current trip to make sure that he is there. I think you know,

from what I've been told from people in that building behind me, not only do the Iranian, but a lot of the Pakistanis want him in the room for these

types of talks.

They recognize that Vance is one of the people who has been kind of pushing, you know, this anti interventionist type of view, that he was one

of the few people who was very critical of launching strikes in this war to begin with, and so they're hoping he can lend a certain presence to those

talks.

We're also told that Steve Witkoff of the President's Special Envoy, as well as his son in law, Jared Kushner, also, you know, key leaders in these

negotiations to be present as well, but we still have to see they have not, at least on the U.S. side, given a firm confirmation that they will be

attending this meeting on Friday.

Look, I do want to add though, and I think everything Nic, laid out is exactly on point. I think there are so many questions right now of where

this is going to go from my conversations yesterday, just to give you a little insight, Becky, into how we got to the ceasefire.

There were a lot of people throughout the administration who were trying to find some sort of off ramp to that really aggressive rhetoric that the

president used, this idea of wiping out a whole civilization if Iran did not meet the 08:00 p.m. deadline he had set to reopen the strait.

They were really trying to find a way to stave off further escalated military attacks to that level, and that came, of course, in the way of

this two-week ceasefire, but there's so much that still needs to be determined. And I note as well that you know, we heard from the president

this morning.

He's been doing different interviews. He's calling this deal, this two-week ceasefire, a total and complete victory. But there is so much that they

have been pushing for that of course, they have not gotten. You know, for one, Iran's leadership structures still remain largely intact, despite them

having assassinated some of Iran's former leaders.

Sanctions have been lifted for now. They still control. Have large control over the Strait of Hormuz, some of the missile capabilities they have, yes,

it has been damaged, but not completely obliterated, as they're trying to maintain here. So, there's a lot that I think still needs to be examined

closely.

[09:10:00]

And also, of course, see what they can actually get to agree on in these next two weeks, these talks that could happen in Pakistan on Friday are

expected to be the start of several negotiations. And we really have to see whether or not both sides, you know, they're coming to the table, Iranians

believing that they're going they're using their 10-point plan as the jumping off point.

We heard the president this morning arguing that, you know, he was referencing the 15-point plan that the U.S. has put forward. They have to

really see if they can get through that daylight between all of that to really have substantial and meaningful negotiations moving forward.

ANDERSON: -- Thank you. Paula, let me bring you in here. Questions, not least in this gulf region where strikes have continued. Pete Hegseth was

asked whether Iran had been offered a grace period in this ceasefire. He said, it takes, I want to paraphrase him here, it takes time to get the

carrier pigeon to the guys who are spread across the country who may not have got the message.

And what's been the reaction in region, here in the Gulf region, to this ceasefire and to these continued strikes?

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Becky, I think it's a combination of relief that there is this temporary ceasefire in place, considering what

the other options were, but also concern as to what is left, how intact is the capability of Iran to be able to terrorize its neighbors in the future?

We've heard from officials across the region that is something they were worried about. They didn't just simply want a ceasefire. They wanted to

make sure that this could not happen again. So, we have seen there have been emergency alerts here in the UAE. There have been interceptions in

Kuwait.

There have been interceptions there. Officials say there's been significant material damage to oil facilities and to desalination plants since the

ceasefire came into being. Now Iran had pointed out that they had this decentralized strategy, so that even if the military leadership was taken

out, they could still have people on the ground that were firing these projectiles.

It is possible that is what we are seeing here. Pete Hegseth also said it takes time for ceasefires to take hold sometimes, but also said that if

they do continue firing, it would be very unwise. So, there is a concern that this is happening, but it just shows the fragility as well of this

ceasefire.

Now we've heard from Iranian officials talking about what they see as a victory, also claiming victory. Not a surprise. I want to play you what was

said on state TV this morning about what they believe the deal might entail.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Iran has achieved a great victory and forced America to accept its 10-point plan. America is committed to non-aggression, continued

Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz, acceptance of enrichment, lifting of all sanctions, termination of all resolutions of the Security

Council and Board of Governors, payment of compensation to Iran, withdrawal of American forces from the region, and secession of war on all fronts,

including against the Islamic resistance of Lebanon.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HANCOCKS: Now this has been a war of narrative as well as a military battle. Of course, there is propaganda that is going to come out, but a lot

of those things that we are hearing on Iranian state television claiming that they will be pushing forward are maximalist demands, the fact that

they believe that the U.S. will agree to allow them to be able to enrich uranium, the lifting of all sanctions.

This is something obviously that will be discussed when the two sides do meet. Pakistan's Prime Minister, saying he's hoping that the delegations

will be in Islamabad on April 10th. We will see if that is fluid, but it does go to show that the two sides are still fairly far apart.

There is this two-week ceasefire, but when it comes to what both sides wants from the end of this ceasefire to turn it into a permanent deal,

there is still a lot of light between them, Becky.

ANDERSON: Yeah. And Nic, let me just bring you back in briefly. We're talking about two sides here. There is, of course, a third party in this,

and that is Israel. Hegseth said to our Israeli allies, thank you. But Israel, it seems, not at the table at this point. Has it signed off on a

ceasefire? At this point, what's the Israeli position at this point?

ROBERTSON Well, the Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave a brief statement in English, notably not in Hebrew, not to the population of

Israel. And oftentimes his message in English would be the international community, and will differ in tone and style from what he says

domestically.

It is, of course, Passover holiday here still, so perhaps that's why he hasn't spoken to the Israeli people.

[09:15:00]

I started my day in Amman, Jordan. And I have to say, over there, people were happy that there was a deal, but skeptical that it would hold, when I

cross the border here, I think there's a sense of disappointment in President Trump and disappointment in Prime Minister Netanyahu.

A sense that they got it wrong, and it's not clear how deep that will dig in, and whether that's just a political position being taken against the

prime minister to try to exploit weaknesses, but it was always a fear in Israel, particularly within the sort of you know Prime Minister Netanyahu's

cabinet, that President Trump might cut and run from this conflict, and it wouldn't go on long enough for Israel's purposes.

And there's perhaps a sense that it is, in that way, cut short, and Israel, in the meantime, doubling down or taking its heaviest coordinated strikes

in Lebanon so far, perhaps because in part, it has more military assets freed up and can focus there. Perhaps in part because they know that when

the deal finally moves forward, if it does, then targeting Hezbollah in Lebanon is going to become a red line that President Trump will request

that Prime Minister Netanyahu desist from that as well, though, so as not to de stabilize.

But at the moment, I think there's a lot of open questions here, as we've been talking not just about, you know, who's the victor? How's the victory

standing for either side? Who's going to control the Strait of Hormuz? But from Israel's perspective, it looks at Iran as an existential threat.

And I'm not sure that the calculus on that has fundamentally changed, because they see the regime that exists there as being another face of the

previous regime, Becky.

ANDERSON: Good to have you all. Thank you very much indeed. Our global reporting on what is a global story. Oil prices plunging on that last

minute ceasefire deal, fueling hope that more oil tankers will soon be sailing through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran says its military will

coordinate shipping in the strait during this ceasefire.

President Trump saying the reopening of the waterway is a key condition of what is this temporary truce? CNN's Eleni Giokos joining us from Dubai. So,

oil down futures indicating a sort of two and a half percent jump on the open on news of this pause will be fragile ceasefire, at best at this

point.

Markets, of course, squarely focus on the Strait of Hormuz. What a ship is saying about what is going on there and what must happen next?

ELENI GIOKOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yeah. All right, so what must happen next, essentially, is clear indication on how to negotiate and how to secure safe

passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Shippers are telling me that they are currently preparing their vessels, but in their mind, the status quo

remains.

In other words, coordinate directly with the IRGC in order to be able to transit through the strait. What's interesting here is that the Iranians

have categorically said safe passage would be allowed with coordination. And of course, in terms of technical issues that might arise, President

Trump has a very different take.

In fact, a short time ago, on ABC, he was saying perhaps he'd be considering some kind of joint venture with Iran, and earlier, he had

posted on social media that he was considering, you know, a lot of money to be made, and that the strait will be open. He's also considering assisting

some of the tankers and the vessels that are trapped within the Persian Gulf.

So, this is sort of an interesting moment in time, because we've actually seen a little bit of traffic, a bit of movement this morning, of one

particular vessel that passed through. We don't know if that was pre cleared before the ceasefire, but there is hope that we'll start to see

some movement.

The other messaging that I'm getting, everyone is waiting to see who will go first. Is it going to be a country that's friendly to Iran? Are they

going to be paying a toll? And then what about any vessels that are linked to the United States or Israel? What happens then?

But the sense is, it's still a very 10-year situation, but just on Brent, Becky, as well as WTI, the international benchmark Brent sitting at $91 a

barrel, it's down 16 percent. WTI, at $92 a barrel, it's down 18 percent if it closes down below 14.5 percent, it will be the lowest drop since 2020.

And then I've got physical barrels. So that's the oil that is actually available that is sitting at very close to $150 a barrel. That's the

highest we've seen since 2008 pre global financial crisis. So, these are very technical issues and technical levels that we're hitting right now on

oil markets.

And as everyone has said, will the ceasefire hold? What actually happens with the Strait of Hormuz?

[09:20:00]

What is the U.S.'s role? What is Iran's role? And importantly, Iran has de facto control even today as we speak. The question is, will the mechanism

with Oman work out in terms of paying a toll? How will the U.S. play handed in all of this? But shippers are just waiting to see what happens next in

terms of the security that has been plaguing them since the start of the war.

ANDERSON: Good to have you. Thank you. And just a note, Gulf stocks surged on the news of this two week pause, obviously huge hopes that those

waterways will be navigable again. And of course, hopes that attacks that have caused such damage to regional infrastructure and disruption,

ultimately, to sort of business and the economy will be over.

We will continue to monitor. Well, Pakistan, of course, is emerging as a key mediator between Iran and the U.S., leveraging its relatively warm ties

with Tehran on the one hand and Washington on the other. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, has invited delegations from both sides for talks in

Islamabad on Friday.

And said in a statement, we earnestly hope that the Islamabad talks succeed in achieving sustainable peace, and wish to share more good news in coming

days. Well, let's get you straight to Sophia Saifi in Islamabad, Pakistan. There is no doubt that the prime minister will be relief that he has got at

least this pause across the line in all of the work that's been going on behind the scenes.

His statement on the ceasefire agreement does include Lebanon, but Israel insisting that Lebanon is not part of that deal. It's also the first

statement out of the Israeli Prime Minister's office since the agreement was announced. What are you hearing from Sharif's office today in the past

hours?

SOPHIA SAIFI, CNN PRODUCER: Well, Becky, we haven't got a confirmation about Lebanon. We've reached out to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as

well as to the prime minister's office, as well as to other separate sources that we have, and we have not responded -- they have not responded

to us yet.

And that's really been the theme in the weeks leading up to the culmination of the ceasefire, is that the information that we've been getting out of

Pakistan has been very controlled, which is unusual for Pakistan. But you know, we had that tweet out by Pakistan's Prime Minister announcing the

ceasefire.

In the past couple of hours, there's been a Cabinet meeting. We've been informed by the prime minister's office, that the Pakistani Prime Minister

had a 45-minute-long conversation with the Iranian President. We don't have any details of what was discussed exactly, but it was about the upcoming

Friday, Islamabad talks as they're being called here in Pakistan.

Separately, Pakistan's Prime Minister also released a statement just an hour ago thanking China foremost about with its help with reaching the

ceasefire. China, Egypt, Turkey, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, as well as the Gulf countries separately. Now we had, in the lead up to these

talks, been getting information from various sources in Pakistan that there is a possibility that China could be a guarantor before Iran, with regards

to the talks even happening.

So that's something that we're looking into exploring at the moment, because, unusually, Pakistan's Foreign Minister, had gone to China right

after other talks last week. So again, lots of movement, lots of anticipation, and we're waiting to see how this unfolds here in Islamabad,

Becky.

ANDERSON: Yes. There is no doubt that Islamabad playing a key role in all of this. Sophia, it's great to have you there in Islamabad. Thank you. And

we will continue to push for the very latest details from Pakistan on the ceasefire agreement. At the very top of the next hour, I will speak to

Pakistan's Ambassador to the United States, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh.

Stay with us for that, and you can keep bang up to date, of course, on all of the latest developments on CNN's Digital platforms. Well still ahead,

President Trump set to meet with the Head of NATO in the coming hours. This just days after he renewed his threat to leave the alliance altogether. The

details on that after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:25:00]

ANDERSON: Well, the IDF has said today it has carried out its largest strikes on Lebanon since the war began. That is despite Iran's stipulation

that its regional neighbor be included in this ceasefire deal with the U.S. and Israel. And these are live pictures coming to us from Beirut, where the

time is just nearly half past four in the afternoon this Wednesday.

Pakistan's Prime Minister, who helped broker the agreement, stated on social media that Lebanon and is included in the ceasefire, but the office

of the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu disagrees. More on that as we get it. Well, uncertainty remains over the exact details of the

ceasefire in Iran, but global leaders have widely welcomed last night's announcement.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who visits the Gulf today, expressed his desire for the initial two week pause to be extended to a quote,

lasting agreement. In D.C., NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte will meet with President Trump and other top officials later today, as I understand

it, he's in fact meeting the Secretary of State, Marco Rubio as we speak.

CNN's Clare Sebastian has been tracking international reaction to the ceasefire deal. Joining me now from London. We -- let's talk about this

NATO meeting before we get the reaction, because President Trump has been heavily critical of NATO since the outbreak, since he got into office and

in his term beforehand.

But since the outbreak of the war, he's been even more so, calling the alliance of paper tiger, threatening to withdraw. Should we expect more of

the same sort of rhetoric today?

CLARE SEBASTIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, look Becky, Mark Rutte certainly has form in managing to smooth the waters with President Trump. He's done

it multiple times in the past, although I think evidence now clearly suggests that there is no permanent cure for Trump skepticism of NATO.

But I think there's certainly a will on the side of Rutte and frankly, other NATO members as well, to deescalate the sort of rhetoric that's been

coming from the White House from not only Trump, but also, for the first time, we saw last week, Marco Rubio, a traditional supporter of NATO, come

out and suggest that there was Perhaps limited value in the U.S. remaining in the alliance, given the reluctance of some members to support their

efforts in Iran.

Look, I think now that we have this ceasefire in place, certainly that will help. We've had a statement as well from seven NATO members and the heads

of EU institutions this afternoon supporting the diplomatic efforts and saying our governments, and I quote, will contribute to ensuring freedom of

navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

This is something, of course, as you know, that they had always said they would do once the hostilities had stopped. But I think certainly that could

help. And obviously President Trump has made it clear that while he is skeptical of NATO, he really does seem to personally like Mark Rutte, the

Secretary General.

So, I think we're going to continue to see the kind of conciliatory, perhaps even bordering on flattering, approach from Rutte to Trump that

we've seen over the past more than a year, Becky.

ANDERSON: Yeah, it is going to be really interesting. I know that some of those NATO leaders are in the Gulf today. Gulf nations will be very keen to

see the support that these countries will provide in this Strait of Hormuz. It is absolutely essential for these countries of this region, and indeed

countries around the world, not least in Asia, that those waterways are fit for purpose.

[09:30:00]

Again, which is moving oil and other commodities and petrochemicals in and out of this region. All right. Clare, it's good to have you. Thank you. We

are going to get to the bell on Wall Street expect a pretty positive start. It has to be said today. Coca-Cola is in charge of the ding today, so let's

hear it. There you go.

This is the Coca-Cola Andina, in fact, the company produces and distributes coke drinks across South America. So, let's get ourselves to a break. Oil

prices have been plunging off to the U.S. and Iran agreed to this ceasefire. We're going to talk about why shipping experts are actually

toning down expectations of a return to normal in the oil markets.

But the oil markets have certainly reacted with spirit to the announcement of this ceasefire, and as I say, these markets are expected to take off

when we see the Big Three, open on Wall Street. Back to that after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Welcome back. I'm Becky Anderson in Abu Dhabi. You're watching "Connect the World" from our Middle East programming headquarters here in

the UAE. These are your headlines pro regime residents of Tehran filled the streets in celebration as the U.S. and Iran announced a two-week ceasefire,

both sides are heralding victory, with Tehran now considering a 15-point proposal from the United States.

Well, the U.S. President Donald Trump said on Truth Social that many of those points have now been agreed on. Pakistan, inviting both sides for

talks there in Islamabad this Friday. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the Strait of Hormuz is open in accordance with the ceasefire

agreement with Iran.

Speaking at a pentagon briefing in the last hour, hedge said claim quote, Operation Epic Fury was an historic and overwhelming victory on the

battlefield. Well Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel's military action against Hezbollah in Lebanon is not part of the two-week

ceasefire.

There was also no mention of Lebanon, in President Trump's statement, the announcement from Pakistan's Prime Minister, on the other hand, said the

deal does include a ceasefire there. Well, let's see how stocks are getting on the open and as we had predicted and was indicated by the futures market

sees three major markets up by between about 2.5 and 3.5 percent.

No real surprise when you consider that oil prices are way down on the ceasefire news.

[09:35:00]

Analysts, though, say there is some uncertainty surrounding what is after all a temporary truce. This is a pause at this point. It leaves questions

over how soon traffic through the critical Strait of Hormuz can return to normal? It could also take a while for retail gas prices to get back to

anything like prewar levels, something of course, the U.S. President is very focused on when it comes to U.S. gas prices, very specifically, the

sort of gas you put in in your tank.

Iman Nasseri is the Managing Director of Middle East Research at the Energy Market Consultancy, FGE-Nexant joining us from Dubai. Great to have you.

Let's start with oil, prices significantly pulling back, offering some real relief, I guess for investors in the global economy.

Do you see this as a sustained trend or just an initial reaction at this point?

IMAN NASSERI, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF MIDDLE EAST RESEARCH AT FGE-NEXANT: No, this is an initial reaction. This is basically 18, 19, $20 of the

heightened kind of risk included premium our price. And if you remember the price before the war broke, was into 70s, and that's basically where the

price normally should have been if there was no supply risk and supply outage.

Hence, we're still probably 10 to $20 we have a recent -- premium in the prices. But this is a reaction. This is market reading this as a positive

sign of starting potential de-escalation path. Obviously, as you mentioned, it is a pause to talk. It's not a deal, and it may break at any point in

time, but if it doesn't, and if it succeeds, it can then basically result in flowing the oil back to the market, which is still is far from balance.

ANDERSON: Yeah.

NASSERI: We had over 300 million of the market, and we need to fill those gaps first.

ANDERSON: Yeah, and that is really important to point out. Gulf stock markets, you will be well aware. And our viewers, I think it's important to

point out, have rallied on the back of the U.S.-Iran ceasefire. Dubai closing, nearly 7 percent higher. Abu Dhabi closing some nearly 3 percent

higher.

Qatar closing up more than 3.5 percent. And these are sort of gains across sectors, and let's remember these markets do have, you know, sort of other

businesses, aside from the other sectors, aside from the oil and gas markets. We're talking tourism and construction and the like.

How much confidence do you believe investors, then should have in this rebound? I mean, the Strait of Hormuz, of course, is key for not just these

markets, but global markets. It's key that it is opened up, that oil you've just suggested that is in storage at present is on the move again. How long

do you think this rally might last?

NASSERI: It's a good question. I don't think the market is yet confident that the oil, and all of that oil, is on the move. There was a key word in

Iranian Foreign Minister's letter saying that the strait is open, but only with coordination. Basically, the vessels can go through in coordination

with Iran and the IRGC.

And that basically implies that still the same sort of due diligence needs to be done. And there are indications that even the payment that the dollar

per barrel or $2 million per vessel fee is still in certain messages are indicated that needs to be claimed and received. So, it's far from open, as

I said, it's just a reaction by the market.

Market is still waiting to see how the vessels start to flow, which companies, because it is again, need to be verified, the buyers, the

sellers, the vessel owner, the flag, everything, I believe, remains a key into how much of those 150 million barrels of floating oil in the Persian

Gulf right now on vessels can start hitting the market.

The market is also, perhaps far from confident that the disrupted supply from the refineries that have been shutting in the Gulf to oil fields and

gas fields which have been shutting to resume because we have to start de stocking the -- not only the vessels, but a lot of tanks which have been

filled up.

[09:40:00]

So, the market is not yet sure, first, in terms of how long this ceasefire will last, and second, how much of these vessels can really leave, depart.

ANDERSON: Understood.

NASSERI: And remember about 30 to 40 percent of the vessels are oil tankers. A lot of other types of vessels need to carry and need to go

through the Strait of Hormuz if and when it fully opens.

ANDERSON: Yeah. Good to have you, Iman. Thank you very much indeed. Well, you are watching "Connect the World" from our Middle East programming

headquarters here in Abu Dhabi in the UAE. Next up, we're going to explore in depth, what a framework may look like in these talks scheduled for

Friday, that after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Both the U.S. and Iran are claiming victory after agreeing to a two-week ceasefire. In remarks the media last hour U.S. Defense Secretary

Pete Hegseth, the U.S. has won the war and has largely destroyed Tehran's military, though he admits, quote, they can still shoot.

U.S. Intelligence has assessed that Iran still maintains significant missile launching capability. Meantime, there were celebrations in Tehran

where Iran hailed the temporary ceasefire as a, quote, great victory, and warned they are ready to return to war if, quote, the enemy makes another

miscalculation.

Well part of this two-week ceasefire agreement allows for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, which you will now know is a crucial corridor for the

world's oil and gas. The U.S. and Iran expected to work towards a longer- term peace agreement in Islamabad when both sides meet in person on Friday.

Well, a statement from Iran's supreme National Security Council says Tehran forced the U.S. to accept its 10-point plan. President Trump calls that

statement a fraud. The Iranian plan outlined in a post on X by its embassy in India. It includes Iran's continued control of the Strait of Hormuz the

acceptance of enrichment, a lifting of all sanctions and a withdrawal of U.S. combat forces from the region.

Well to take a closer look at this plan, CNN' Stephen Collinson is in Washington. CNN's Clarissa Ward is today in Riyadh. Clarissa, sort of start

with you there. The Pakistanis have complimented to the Saudi Arabia's remarkable restraint, the decision by the kingdom not to retaliate for the

strikes and drones that Iran has been lobbying in its direction.

Let's just lay the table here. What is Saudi and the rest of the GCC likely to make of Iran's 10-point plan. Donald Trump has called that a workable

basis on which to negotiate, and then called the idea of it a fraud. So please, sort of lay this out for us.

[09:45:00]

CLARISSA WARD, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Becky, I would say that you know, officially Saudi Arabia still being very circumspect,

but we've been talking to a number of sources here, and make no doubt about it. There is a palpable wave of relief that is rippling through this

country.

A sense that after the very real and tangible fear of yesterday, that perhaps cooler heads might prevail. Now, having said that there are, of

course, real concerns and a real understanding of the huge road blocks and the massive diversity the glaring chasm between the U.S.'s 15-point peace

plan and Iran's 10-point peace plan.

For the GCC countries, obviously, the crucial components are the issue of ballistic missile launches, which we heard today from Secretary of Defense,

Pete Hegseth that he said that Iran no longer has the capacity to build those launchers. But we can see in real time today that Iran still has the

capacity to launch those missiles.

So that is clearly a very big concern. Another big concern is, Iran's regional proxies, although one source I spoke to said that he was at least

somewhat encouraged to see that the Houthis in Yemen had been behaving in what he called a humbler way than we have seen in previous conflagrations.

And then finally, of course, as you mentioned, the Strait of Hormuz, sources here saying this is a red line for those GCC countries. And it's

important for our viewers to understand, Becky, as you are well aware that the Gulf felt under the JCPOA, the previous agreement between Iran and the

U.S. under the Obama Administration, that a lot of their concerns were kind of not addressed or not included.

And they want to make sure that, that does not happen again, because at the end of the day, once the U.S. pulls out and leaves, everybody here

understands that it is the Gulf countries that will be left to contend with the fallout from this and a potentially unstable and belligerent Iran,

Becky.

ANDERSON: Yeah, and they have insisted that their regional security is embedded in any deal going forward. I concur with you on the sense of

relief? I mean, personally and professionally, you know, I can say that, you know, you feel it here, absolutely in the UAE.

Stephen, you write, while the U.S. and Israel say, probably correctly, that their joint attacks have demolished most of Iran's missile programs and

military forces ending the war with an Iranian choke hold over that strait would be a strategic disaster and defeat for Donald Trump.

So where do you understand we are at with any sort of framework around how the Strait of Hormuz will be operated going forward?

STEPHEN COLLINSON, CNN POLITICS SENIOR REPORTER: It seems exceedingly unclear. The president this morning, wrote on social media that perhaps he

could have a joint venture with Iran to administer the strait. That seems pretty absurd, given the antipathy that the Iranians have towards the

United States.

The idea that Iran could have the right to charge ships to go through the strait is incompatible with international and maritime law. The U.S., I

think, has even less of a claim. I think what we are seeing in the immediate reaction from the White House to this is what we have seen

throughout the war.

There was no real plan for going into the war once they were in, there was no real plan for getting out. There doesn't seem to be any framework or

concerted position in the administration about what these talks will look like, and what the post war period, if that's what we're going to go into,

will look like.

Everything is subject to the whims of the President of the United States. Yesterday, he was talking about a civilization might die. Today, he's

talking about a joint venture with Iran to administer the strait. I think that shows you how unclear this all is how everything really just depends

on what the president thinks at one moment and it can change in the next.

That doesn't seem to be a very strong basis for going into negotiations, just as it seems, the United States didn't really take into account, or

Trump, at least, didn't take into account what might happen if they went to war with Iran. There doesn't seem to be a great deal, at least in public,

of understanding about the implications of what these peace talks will entail.

ANDERSON: The reason we brought you both up together, thank you, Stephen.

[09:50:00]

Is to just to gage how this ceasefire is going down, where you both are and what the consensus is on, whether this is a win for Washington or for

Tehran. So that question to both of you, starting with Clarissa in Riyadh.

WARD: Well, I think first of all, let's just look at for all the talk of ceasefire, Becky, let's look at what's actually happening on the ground

here in the Gulf today. I mean just some of the numbers the UAE, where you are, 17 missiles intercepted, 35 drones, Kuwait, at least 28 drones,

attacks on Bahrain.

We're also hearing from the "Financial Times" and "Reuters" that Saudi Arabia's east west pipeline was hit by a drone. I don't need to tell you

what a crucial artery that is 7 million barrels of oil a day. This is the only place now that they can actually effectively export their crude oil

from.

So, all of this when you take it in conjunction with the fact that Israel has pounded on a historic scale, Lebanon today. Iran is now, or I should

say, Hezbollah is now threatening to back out of the ceasefire and start hitting Israel again. Iran potentially reassessing whether they want to

participate in these talks on Friday or not, to say that this is a fragile ceasefire would be a generous assessment.

And yet, underneath it all, there is, I feel a broader, palpable sense that people across this region, and certainly in the U.S. as well, want to make

this work, if it is possible to find a way to find an overlap between the Iranian and U.S. position, which at this stage, seemed to have very little

overlap at all, Becky.

ANDERSON: Yeah. Stephen, briefly, what's the take in Washington?

COLLINSON: I think everything involving Donald Trump is process of this massive prism of polarization and emotion that is involved with Trump. So,

if you're a Trump fan, you see this as another great mastermind, example of his negotiating prowess. If you don't like Trump, you think this whole

thing is a strategic disaster.

You know, once again, I think what we're seeing is what is perceived in Washington through this American political prism often doesn't really

reflect the realities on the ground in the Middle East.

ANDERSON: Yeah, it's very well put. Stephen and Clarissa, fantastic to have you. Thank you very much indeed. And we will be back after this quick

break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Well, finally, NASA has released more photos captured by the Artemis II astronauts showcasing what was this historic space flight. These

incredible images show an Earth set as it's known, with the Earth on the point of disappearing from view behind the Moon.

All told, the astronauts took about 10,000 photos, images that will lay the groundwork for research and future missions to the lunar surface. The crew

also had a time for a bit of fun on Tuesday. They enjoyed a conversation with their counterparts aboard the International Space Station. Check out

this incredibly long-distance phone call.

[09:55:00]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REID WISEMAN, ARTEMIS II COMMANDER: C-DUB, right before you launched, you said you can't wait to talk to us on the space-to-ground, and it is

happening brother. I cannot believe it. I can't believe it.

CHRISTOPHER WILLIAMS, ASTRONAUT ABOARD ISS: Yeah, I can't believe it. I mean it's, I remember having coffee and sitting with you guys just before I

walked to fly up here, and it's so awesome being able to talk to you right now. It's such a special opportunity.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: A very long distance call the Artemis crew has traveled further away from Earth than any humans in history.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: -- that's not what you're wearing to the dinner --

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, "Two Devils in Prada" coming together, sharing the cover of Vogue after 30 years behind the scenes, Anna Wintour is now a Vogue cover

star. She was joined by Meryl Streep, who plays a fictionalized version of Wintour in that great movie "The Devil Wears Prada".

The sequel comes out in May. Right, taking a very short break back with the second hour of our show, after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

END