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U.S. Military Begins Blockade Of Iranian Ports; Hungarian Voters Reject Viktor Orban, Hand Victory To Peter Magyar; Orban Concedes Election Defeat After 16 Years In Power; United Kingdom Prime Minister Makes Statement On Situation In Middle East; Starmer: Gulf Leaders Clear Strait Of Hormuz Must Be Reopened. Aired 10-11a ET
Aired April 13, 2026 - 10:00:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:00:43]
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN ANCHOR: Well, all eyes are on the Strait of Hormuz this hour. Hello and welcome to What is the second hour of CONNECT THE WORLD
live from CNN's Middle East programming headquarters here in Abu Dhabi.
President Donald Trump has promised that right now, about now, the U.S. Navy will begin enforcing its blockade on Iran, preventing any ships from
entering or leaving its ports on the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea markets already reacting to this news, with oil prices jumping again to
more than $100 a barrel.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard call warned today that no port in the Persian Gulf, also known as the Arabian Gulf, in this region and the sea of
Oman, would be safe if its own ports were threatened.
We are covering this from all angles, incredibly important story. Kevin Liptak is at the White House. Lieutenant General Ben Hodges is the former
commanding general of the U.S. Army in Europe. Dina Esfandiary is Middle East Geoeconomics Lead at Bloomberg Economics, and we'll be joined by Nic
Robertson, my colleague, shortly.
Kevin, let's start with you. What is the White House saying about this blockade?
KEVIN LIPTAK, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Yes, and they're essentially casting this as an extension of the negotiations that fell apart in
Pakistan over the weekend. The president really viewing this step as the next iteration of the U.S. attempts to wield leverage over Iran and try and
find wherever its threshold is for breaking on some of these red lines that the U.S. has laid out as part of these negotiations.
You know, the White House has insisted that it has the naval assets in place that will allow this to go into effect. The USS Abraham Lincoln, the
aircraft carrier strike group that is positioned at the mouth of the Strait of Hormuz, ready and to go to essentially enforce what the president has
ordered up here.
And remember, it's not just enforcing a blockade on ports inside Iran. The president has also said that the U.S. will interdict any vessels that have
paid a toll to Iran that are transiting in international water.
So, it's an enormous undertaking, and I think the president recognizes that this does come, of course, with the potential for risk. You know, the U.S.
Navy, up until now, has not been sort of the primary combatant as part of this war. It has been airstrikes that have formed the bulk of the U.S.
initiative in this conflict.
Now the president asking the U.S. Navy to undertake what is, I think, a very dangerous mission. You know, for as much as the U.S. has degraded
Iran's missile and drone capabilities, it still has these asymmetric capabilities, whether it's mines or whether it's small boats that could
potentially put these naval ships at quite a major risk.
You know, over the weekend, as President Trump was talking about his decision to implement this blockade and his view of the negotiations
altogether, it was pretty clear that his focus is very much on Iran's nuclear capabilities. Listen to what he said over the weekend.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Iran is in very bad shape. And just so you understand, Iran will not have a nuclear weapon.
Will not have. There is no way that they're going to get it. They still want it, and they made that clear the other night, Iran will not have a
nuclear weapon.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How long are you waiting for them to come back to negotiating table?
TRUMP: Oh, I don't know. I don't care if they come back or not. If they don't come back, I'm fine.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LIPTAK: Now, when it comes to this blockade, the president has said that numerous countries are on board to help the United States, but so far, none
have come out and said that they will assist in this effort.
ANDERSON: General Hodges, U.S. Central Command says this blockade schedule to begin right now will be enforced, and I quote, against vessels of all
nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas. What does that actually look like in practice to your mind?
LT. GEN. BEN HODGES, FORMER COMMANDER, U.S. ARMY IN EUROPE: Well, in practice, Becky, the U.S. Navy is going to be working hard to have
visibility on all the ports, as well as all the ships. And just watching your graphic earlier, you can see there's still a lot of activity out
there, even if it's not moving through the Strait.
[10:05:13]
So, having the effect of an unblinking eye that is constantly watching everything, potential threats, potential ships and might need to be
stopped. And of course, they'll know which ships are Iranian ships, or they're flagged by other countries, which ones may have already paid some
sort of a toll that this will be an important part of the operation. It's not just the ships that are out there, but it's knowing about what is out
there and what's moving.
ANDERSON: And how will they intervene to prevent vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas?
HODGES: Right. So, of course, there's maritime traffic, there's rules for moving at sea, there's communications that all of the different ship --
ship's captains are speaking over and so the Navy -- the Navy's commanders will address the ship, you know, to tell them to stop, wait to be boarded,
or to respond to whatever orders they might get from the U.S. Navy.
So, there's a lot of communication that's going on between the blockading force and those ships that may be subject to either boarding or the need to
return to port or whatever instructions are going to be given.
So, it's not like they're out there banging into each other. There's a lot of communication that has to go on. Obviously, if somebody disobeys or
disregards what they're being told by the U.S. Navy. Then it gets a little bit more dicey.
ANDERSON: Dina, markets have been whip soaring through this conflict this past what, seven weeks or so, nearly 50 days. Explain how traders and
investors are reacting to this U.S. blockade idea.
DINA ESFANDIARY, MIDDLE EAST GEOECONOMICS LEAD, BLOOMBERG ECONOMICS: Well, the blockade aims to close off all transit of goods and ships from Iran to
elsewhere, which means you're taking off more oil from the market.
Even though Iran's oil wasn't necessarily flowing to the rest of the world. China was buying it after the lifting of U.S. sanctions, India was buying
it. And so, if you're taking that off as well off the market, then it means that the price of oil is going to increase quite significantly. And that's
exactly what we've seen in the last few hours.
ANDERSON: Let me just bring in Nic Robertson, who's just joined us. Dina, stand by. Our chief international editor is still in Islamabad where these
talks took place over the weekend.
Nic, as we await to see how the U.S., you know, affects this blockade scheduled to start now in this Strait, Can you just step back and walk us
through what happened this weekend.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: -- on hours, it was in a hotel in the center of Islamabad, super secure, so much secrecy. There
was no information leaking out from the talk, certainly not being given to, you know, coming from U.S. or Pakistan officials. I think Iranian media
were giving a certain amount of information to their media.
So, it came as a real shock at 6:00 in the morning when the Vice President J.D. Vance after a marathon session of talks, the sun had gone down, the
sun had come up, it was the highest level meeting between U.S. and Iranian official since before the Iranian Islamic revolution that's back in 1979.
So, historic scale, Marathon scale, talks J.D. Vance coming out to the press, saying there was bad news and some good news. This is how he framed
it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
J.D. VANCE, U.S. VICE PRESIDENT: We have been at it now for 21 hours, and we've had a number of substantive discussions with the Iranians. That's the
good news. The bad news is that we have not reached an agreement, and I think that's bad news for Iran much more than it's bad news for the United
States of America.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTSON: So, I asked him -- I asked him there to try to give us some more information to help us understand what he meant. And he said specifically
that Iran had not given the sufficient commitments that the United States wants on uranium enrichment, Iran's pathway to making a nuclear weapon,
that they didn't go far enough. They didn't give enough commitments.
What we've heard from the Iranian's side subsequently, the Iranian foreign minister, who was, of course, in there, in the talks, top level, part of
their delegation there, saying that they had felt that they had met a lot of what the United States wanted. And they -- and he criticized the United
States for shifting the goal post ahead of the delegation. The Iranian speaker said that United States, they've given them a lot of, I think, he
said, 169 different points of conversation and ways to try to get through some of their discussions.
[10:10:13]
But he said that it was time for the United States to make a decision whether or not it could trust Iran.
Now, I think out of these talks, there's a real, I think, surprise on a lot of -- lot of sides here that there wasn't progress, a lack of clarity about
the ceasefire. But now we're in the blockade phase. It does appear very much as if you're in the phase of another eight days on the ceasefire to
run. President Trump's upping the ante on these -- on that delegation process with his blockade.
We don't know if there are discussions to hold more talks, but according to the interlocutors here, the Pakistanis, they remain positive that they can
play a role and can help out.
ANDERSON: OK. Kevin, 21 hours then of talks and no deal over the weekend. But as Nic points out, the cease fire is still in place, and it has a week
at this point to run.
Specifically, what are you learning about the sticking points for the Trump administration in those talks falling apart?
LIPTAK: Yes, and I think the major sticking points all really had to do with Iran's nuclear program. In a way, they're exactly the same sticking
points that existed before this war began six weeks ago, when the Iranians were sitting with the Americans and trying to negotiate.
Yesterday, a White House official laying them out in some specificity, saying that the red lines that the U.S. wants to see enforced include Iran
ending all of its uranium enrichment, dismantling its nuclear enrichment facilities, and retrieving all of that highly enriched uranium, you know,
the more than 400 kilograms that are believed to be buried underground.
Those are all elements that Iran has said previously it cannot agree to, even despite six weeks of bombardment from the U.S. and Israel, it doesn't
seem to have backed off any of them so far.
And so, I don't know that it was a major surprise to people who are watching these negotiations from the outside that Iran didn't immediately
concede to what J.D. Vance was demanding in there. And it does remain to be seen how those bridges will be gapped going forward.
You know, when you talk to American officials, they do insist these negotiations are not over. They still believe a deal is possible. They're
trying to use this blockade to wield the leverage that they believe the United States has on Iran. Essentially, it's the art of the deal that the
president is trying to negotiate here.
But you heard him earlier say he doesn't care really whether a deal is made or not made. He seems to be of the belief that the U.S. has already
achieved everything it can in Iran militarily.
And so, it does leave this big question of what happens when the cease fire expires on April 21st, does the president go back to war? It doesn't seem
as if he has much appetite for that. Does the president just leave it as is Iran not agreeing to all of these nuclear red lines that he has laid out?
He hasn't said explicitly.
So, we're left in this sort of precarious position, liminal position, of not knowing exactly where this is all heading.
ANDERSON: And Dina, you know, this idea that Donald Trump really doesn't care about what's going on at present, really, we have to assume that is
all part of the art of the deal, of course.
The stranglehold on the Strait by Iran described here in the UAE, where I am, as economic terrorism. Now, Trump upping the economic ante with this
blockade, that seems to be the point, tightening the financial squeeze on Iran.
The head of the Iranian delegation, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, posted on X, "Enjoy the current pump figures with the so called blockade. Soon you'll be
nostalgic for $4.00-$5.00 gas."
Is it clear how much more pressure this blockade will add to oil prices, and by dint, of course of association and product to gasoline prices in the
United States?
ESFANDIARY: Well, it will certainly add pressure. It will add pressure on Iran, that's the -- that's the objective, right, to squeeze Iran to prevent
it from exporting its oil, which, like I said, will take a lot of oil off the market, which is likely to increase prices.
The problem is that President Trump sees this as a tactic as part of his negotiations, whereas from Iran's perspective, this looks like the
declaration of war.
So, if Trump follows through on the blockade, if you start to have American ships shooting at the Iranians or at Iranian ships, then we're going to see
ourselves in yet another escalation spiral, because Iran will have to respond.
And at the end of the day, this is about Iran's survival, this -- that's what matters to Tehran, which means that their ability to withstand
pressure right now is much higher than the U.S.'s ability to withstand pressure and the increase in oil prices.
[10:15:14]
I mean, a blockade is an act to war. And on the flip side, Iran has a stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz, another act of war as far as the U.S.
and the international community is concerned.
General, the U.S. Navy also has to clear Iranian mines from the Strait, and Donald Trump spoke to that in one of his posts. Where do they even begin?
HODGES: Well, of course, this is going to be a challenge. And the Navy sent two ships through last night to get through the Strait to sort of proof the
lane, we would say, to start looking.
Now, of course, there's different types of mines that are out there, some that you're familiar with, they have the spikes on, but there are various
other types that won't be so easy to spot, and then you've got to either destroy them in place or somehow deactivate these things.
This will be a challenge, and I think the Iranians have even reported that they're not entirely sure what all is out there. This will -- this will be
a hard part of the task, but I think the Navy, they've thought through how to do this, and they'll get better with each passing day on doing it.
I think watching the insurance companies, their level of confidence on whether or not these lanes have been cleared will be a real indicator of
the success of what we're trying to do here.
ANDERSON: Nic, I begin to sort of wrap this up. This has been fascinating. What happens next? No deal reached, blockade going into effect as we speak,
cease fire still holding for at least a week. It was scheduled for two, started last Tuesday. I mean, where do we go from here?
ROBERTSON: Look, I think Iran's calculation is, as we've just been talking about in this discussion, that they can endure better, that they feel that
what they're up against is an existential threat against their against their existence.
So, they get to buy their time more. President Trump is time limited, as you say, despite his bluster about not caring about the price of oil and
trying to kind of set expectations and take some political pressure off of his shoulders by saying that maybe the price isn't going to come down for
quite some time.
Iran can actually sit there and try to avoid an escalation. And I think you know, if you're in the Iranian shoes, despite the bellicose some of the
bellicose statements, unless they find themselves cornered into a position where they need to militarily escalate. I think they're going to try to
avoid that, and therefore leave the burden of pressure on the United States.
Now, of course, if the United States tries to force open some passages through the Strait of Hormuz, then clearly that puts a burden on Iran to
escalate militarily against those pathways, quite simply, because that is their leverage, and absent their leverage, they're out of the game.
So, I think it's careful, careful on both sides at first, but it could tip easily.
ANDERSON: I think we should also just have a discussion about where China stands in all of this. We have certainly seen some China flagged vessels
passing through the Strait of Hormuz, we know that China played a significant role behind the scenes in getting both parties to the table in
Islamabad over the weekend.
I hear locally here that there is quite a lot going on with regard sort of Chinese as a sort of interlocutor at present, very good relations, of
course, with the Iranians, buying awful lot of oil and gas from them. I know there's a huge delegation from the UAE just today in China, and I want
to listen to the Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez for a moment for the benefit of our viewers, have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PEDRO SANCHEZ, SPANISH PRIME MINISTER (through translator): I know that China is fully aware and it is doing a lot, and I welcome that. But I think
China can do more, for example, by demanding, as it is doing, that international law be complied with, and that the conflicts in Lebanon, in
Iran, in Gaza, in the West Bank, and also in Ukraine.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: General, I was reminded by somebody whose judgment I really, you know, respect here the other day, that there are two key dates for Donald
Trump, May the 14th, around that time, that is his scheduled meeting with the Chinese leader Xi Jinping, and July 4th, which, of course, is the 250th
anniversary of American independence. Donald Trump, this source was telling me we want to be shot of all of this by then. You know, America first, a
square sort of focus on what is going on in the States will be his want.
[10:20:05]
What do you make -- let's treat that sort of first date and the Trump-Xi meeting, with that in mind, what if any, what's China's role if any in all
of this, General?
HODGES: Well, of course, I am anxious to see what happens with the first time that the U.S. Navy begins to communicate to a Chinese flag vessel
that's passing through that may or may not be headed to an Iranian port, but maybe it was believed that China would have made some sort of payment
to Iran to be able to do this.
So, the potential of a U.S. versus China situation under these new rules of engagement, and then the situation, how that plays out, will be important.
And of course, I think both Beijing and Washington absolutely want to avoid that kind of a thing happening before the president is supposed to go to
China, so that this could be a something, hopefully the Chinese and the Americans will avoid any kind of a confrontation there.
ANDERSON: Fascinating. Dina, let me close this out with you. Donald Trump, very eager to point out the availability of U.S. oil and gas at present,
and he's leaning into his access to Venezuelan oil at this point. I just wonder what you make of that emerging narrative. How much longer the global
economy can endure all of this?
ESFANDIARY: Oh, that's the million dollar question. I think the answer to that is, for now, oil prices seem to be relatively manageable, but the
impact of the Strait's closure is likely to be felt long after the war is over, as regional infrastructure is rebuilt, as the rules of engagement in
the Straits become clearer.
And also, as oil producers begin to divert oil away from the Straits. So, for example, we saw Saudi Arabia divert some of its oil to the Red Sea. And
if the red Sea stays stable, then some of the oil barrels can get out that way.
So, producers are trying to find ways around it, and buyers are trying to find ways around it. But at the end of the day, it's really -- it's almost
impossible to say that we can completely bypass the Strait of Hormuz, which is why Iran will continue to have this leverage long after the war is over.
ANDERSON: Yes, we are seeing countries around this region trying to mitigate the risk of new rules of engagement in the Strait. But as you say,
it's almost impossible to believe that they -- you know, that Strait is no longer, you know, usable now and in the future.
It's good to have all of you. Thank you so much. Your insight analysis incredibly important this Monday. Thank you all.
Still to come on CONNECT THE WORLD, a political earthquake in Europe, as Hungary celebrates a new outlook and a new prime minister, we'll get you
live to Budapest, after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:25:26]
ANDERSON: Breaking news, a U.S. judge has just dismissed President Donald Trump's lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal. Now, he sued the Journal
over an article asserting that his name was on a lewd 2003 -- excuse me, birthday greeting to Jeffrey Epstein. The judge ruling President Trump
failed to plausibly allege that the newspaper acted with actual malice when it published the story. The suit was dismissed without prejudice, meaning
that the president's legal team has two weeks to file an amended complaint addressing the judge's concerns. More on that as we get it.
Well, massive celebrations spilled onto the streets of Hungary after a landslide victory for the center right Tisza Party and its leader Peter
Magyar, who will take the reins of government. Sunday's election was a rejection of the post pro Trump and pro Kremlin. Viktor Orban, who has
served as prime minister for the last 16 years, he saw the writing on the wall even before the final vote count.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VIKTOR ORBAN, OUTGOING HUNGARIAN PRIME MINISTER (through translator): Dear friends, the election result is not final yet, but it is understandable and
clear. The election result is painful for us, but clear, the responsibility and possibility of governing was not given to us. I have congratulated the
winner.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, let's get you live to CNN's Melissa Bell live in Budapest in Hungary, and you were there last night. You've been there for the past
few days, but there very specifically as all of this was unfolding, just describe what you saw on the mood on the ground.
MELISSA BELL, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Just before I do Becky, one of the most fascinating things to emerge from this nearly two-
hour press conference that Peter Magyar has been giving has been the details of the phone call between he and Viktor Orban last night. Remember
that Peter Magyar is a former Fidesz member left two years ago because of the corruption.
And so, when last night he received a phone call from a close friend, godfather to his son, saying that the outgoing prime minister wished to
speak to him very early on in the evening. This is something that surprised us a great deal, even as we were trying to wrap our heads around the
intricacies of Hungarian electoral law, we understood that Viktor Orban had conceded.
He called him from a personal number, said that he wished him well and that he congratulated him on his victory. Peter Magyar thanked him and urged
that the two may now work together, since their joint shared responsibility now was this transition period.
Remember that Viktor Orban remains the prime minister for 30 days here, and what we've heard from Peter Magyar over the last two hours is urging the
president named by Peter, Orban that he described as a puppet of the mafia state, urging him to stand down sooner, in order that this incoming
majority, super majority on the part of his party, Tisza, Peter Magyar, should be able to take control sooner, before the date that is provided for
in the country's constitution.
So, a fascinating moment of transition, and certainly, Peter Magyar has been vowing to act very quickly to return Hungary to the rule of law,
Becky, suggesting that it had been left robbed, indebted and devastated by a government that he described as a criminal mafia, really, not mincing his
words here today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PETER MAGYAR, LEADER, TISZA PARTY (through translator): J.D. Vance, they will cooperate with the next Hungarian government, whether it's going to be
headed by Viktor Orban or the leader of the opposition that they didn't know then, hopefully we'll get to know each other. The Americans have
dropped him then. Now, the Kremlin have dropped him after the statement of today, and I believe more and more those linked to MAGA or patriots'
alliances, it's going to be -- it was his very close Russian ties were it could be seen that he was not representing European interests, but other
interests, Russian interests.
So, now, having lost the elections so strongly, let's say for him, this is a major lost the whole propaganda, Secret Service agencies. He called world
leaders.
[10:29:57]
He was bowing to the east, to the west, he asked for help from everywhere, and still he lost. So, I believe his stance fell.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, this is absolutely fascinating, and your detail that you provided earlier, so important to us, as we try and get up, sort of wrap
our arms around what happens next year. Reaction from European leaders has been very positive. What are they expecting from this incoming government?
And as we listen there to the new leader, what can the U.S. expect from Hungary with this new administration?
BELL: Well, what you just heard there was the incoming prime minister replied to a question that I'd had Becky about what Viktor Orban's defeat,
given the figurehead that he was for this global populist movement, means for movements like MAGA, that was his reply to that.
Essentially, suggesting that his approach will be with much pragmatism to work with both Washington and Moscow, but not as the sort of ideological
allies that they were for his predecessor.
As to the Europeans, they have lined up to congratulate him with ill- disguised glee and relief at the idea that the arch blocker of so much European legislation helped to Ukraine should now be out of office.
And Peter Magyar has been very clear today in this press conference, he was less so on the campaign trail, I think, because he needed to make sure that
he was speaking for Hungarians and to Hungarians.
But what he had to say today about Europe and about his stance towards the United States and to Russia, and things like Russian oil, was that he would
defend the Hungarian people and the interests of Hungarian. But he spoke very warmly about the need for European integration and for the fact that
this is the anniversary of the initial referendum that Hungary had held for accession, and it was high-time, he explained, that the country returned to
the European fold where it belonged, rather than representing and fighting for the interests of foreign powers like Russia.
So, he has been very clear on what he intends to do, and it is to work with Brussels in the interests of Hungary.
One other interesting thing he has had to say is about how he's built this extraordinary machine. It started from nothing two years ago. They now have
a super majority in parliament. How he said, did we do it? What was our recipe? Listening to the people he said, and representing him -- them.
Becky.
ANDERSON: Melissa, great to have you there. Thank you so much. That is such an important story, and we will continue to watch its development in the
days and weeks ahead. Thank you.
Well, look, as this U.S. naval blockade on Iranian ports takes effect. Whatever that looks like, and it isn't clear at this point, France says it
is working with the United Kingdom to convene a separate track of talks in the coming days about reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
Prime Minister Macron, writing on X at the conference they are convening will center on a peaceful multinational mission aimed at restoring freedom
of navigation in the strait. Adding that it is strictly defensive in nature and separate from the warring parties to the conflict.
Look, it is unclear which other countries will participate at the moment. For more on all of this, I want to bring in good friend of the show,
Mohammad Ali Shabani is the editor of Amwaj.media. He is warning of indiscriminate and catastrophic impacts on the Iranian people, and says,
"Tehran is unlikely to lie down and play dead."
First, what are you hearing from your sources about reaction to this blockade and whether Iran is likely to address this militarily?
MOHAMMAD ALI SHABANI, EDITOR OF AMWAJ.MEDIA: So, I think on the political end, among the diplomats, and the political officials, there is a sense of
this kind of being part of brinkmanship on the part of President Trump, of him trying to force concessions at the negotiating table. And I think, they
are still seeing light at the end of the tunnel. They are not seeing the negotiation track as being dead yet. That's on the political end.
On the military end, we have seen already today, one who is being issued that there will be eye for an eye. Meaning that if Iran imports are going
to be blockaded by the U.S. military, Iran will respond by hitting GCC. And here, I think, we can look at sites, particularly in Kuwait, UAE, also
Bahrain as among possible targets, I think that's on the kind of immediate. If you look at implementation of this blockade really becoming serious,
there are a number of other issues that would arise.
ANDERSON: I just wonder, as I follow here, how lightly Iran is to play his card of -- let's call it, encouraging the Houthis, if not telling the
Houthis to close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait in the Red Sea.
[10:35:06]
SHABANI: Yes. So, that's what I was referring to when I -- meaning, kind of, if the implementation of this blockade becomes serious, we can look at
a number of steps apart from just tit-for-tat attacks on ports. I think, it could be that Iran encourages its Yemeni allies to lash out by shutting
down the mouth of the Red Sea. We could also see Iranian attacks on Saudi oil terminals on the Red Sea coast. There are a number of escalatory steps
they can take.
But I think for now, the political leadership of Iran sees this as brinksmanship. They are definitely going to show some kind of response, but
I'm not sure whether they are going to go all out from day one.
ANDERSON: So, spell out for me, if you can more of the civilian and economic toll a blockade would have on Iran, and how feasible it would be,
for example, for Tehran to divert oil and gas through alternate routes to alleviate some of this financial pressure, which will clearly be swinging
at this point.
Stand by. Let me -- let me just go to Keir Starmer, who is speaking in the U.K. Parliament. Important stuff. It is about what the U.K. and France
might do in that strait. Let's listen in.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KEIR STARMER, PRIME MINISTER, UNITED KINGDOM: -- determination to make changes across the entire state that are so clearly necessary to honor the
victims, the injured, and the families of Southport.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
STARMER: Today's report, Mr. Speaker, is harrowing. It is difficult to read, and I cannot begin to imagine the pain upon pain that will cause the
families that it affects. And our thoughts are with them today.
And the Home Secretary will respond to the report in full, Mr. Speaker, after this statement.
Mr. Speaker, last week, I visited the gulf, and I was able to thank in person some of the brave men and women who, from day one of the U.S.-Iran
conflict, have resolutely defended the interests of this country, its people, and its partners.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
STARMER: I thank them again, Mr. Speaker, in this house, for their courage and their service, and I'm sure the whole house will join me in those
thanks.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
STARMER: Mr. Speaker, whilst in the Gulf, I met leaders and senior military representatives across the region. Including the crown prince of Saudi
Arabia, the president of the UAE, the king and crown prince of Bahrain, the amir and prime minister of Qatar, and in recent days, I have also spoken to
the sultan of Oman, and the emir of Kuwait.
Across all of these conversations, I agree to deepen our engagement on both defense and economic resilience, because Mr. Speaker, they all made it
abundantly clear that the solidarity and strength of our partnership with them has been a comfort in these challenging times.
And we should not forget that the nature of Iran's response, the indiscriminate attack upon countries who never sought this conflict, the
huge damage done across the gulf to civilian infrastructure, with civilian casualties, is abhorrent. It has clearly shocked the region and all of us.
And we must bear that in mind now as we lift our sights to the future, because whilst the cease fire between the U.S., Israel, and Iran is
undeniably welcome, it is also highly fragile.
The region remains on edge, and a lot of work is required to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, to de-escalate the situation, leading to a sustainable
cease fire.
In pursuit of that goal, we call for Lebanon to be included urgently in the ceasefire.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
STARMER: Diplomacy is the right path, and I welcome the talks taking place this week. Hezbollah must disarm. But I am equally clear Israel's strikes
are wrong. They are having devastating humanitarian consequences and pushing Lebanon into a crisis. The bombing should stop now.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
STARMER: Mr. Speaker, we also put on record our thanks to Pakistan and other partners for playing such an important role in diplomatic efforts.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
STARMER: We hope the process will continue without further escalation, and that applies to the running saw that is the Strait of Hormuz, shamefully
exploited by Iran.
All of the leaders that I met were crystal clear that freedom of navigation is vital and must be restored. No conditions, no tolls, and no tolerance of
Iran holding the world's economy to ransom.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
STARMER: Because, Mr. Speaker, the impact of Iran's behavior in the Strait is causing untold economic damage. It's visible on every petrol ball court
in the country.
My guide from the start of this conflict has always been our national interest. That's why we stayed out of the war, and why we continue to stay
out of the war.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
STARMER: And that is why we are working now to restore freedom of navigation in the Middle East, because that is squarely in our national
interest.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
STARMER: Now, Mr. Speaker, quite clearly, this is not a straightforward task. It will take time.
I met U.K. businesses, and energy, shipping, insurance, and finance. And they are clear that vessels will not be put through the strait until they
are confident that it is safe to do so. And that is why we are working around the clock on a credible plan to reopen the strait.
And Mr. Speaker, I can confirm today that together with President Macron, I will convene a summit of leaders this week to drive forward the
international effort we have built in recent weeks, bringing together dozens of countries to ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of
Hormuz.
The summit will be focused on two things. First, diplomatic efforts to bring pressure to bear for a negotiated end to the conflict and for the
strait to be opened.
Second, military planning to provide assurance to shipping as soon as a stable environment can be established. And let me be very clear, this is
about safeguarding shipping and supporting freedom of navigation once the conflict ends. Our shared aim here is a coordinated, independent,
multinational plan. This is the moment, Mr. Speaker, for clear and calm leadership, and notwithstanding the difficulties, Britain stands ready to
play our part.
Mr. Speaker, let me now return to the impact of this conflict on our economy. We all know that the consequences will be significant, but they
will last longer than the conflict itself.
Now, we continue to monitor the effects, and I remind the House that energy bills went down on the first of April, and whatever happens in the Middle
East, those bills will stay down until July.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
STARMER: We are investing over 50 million pounds to support heating oil customers, and fuel duty is frozen until September, all because of the
decisions that this government took at the budget.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
STARMER: But Mr. Speaker, there is a wider point, because we cannot stand here in this House and pretend that a global shock threatening to hit the
living standards of British people is somehow a novel experience.
Britain has been buffeted by crises for decades now. From the 2008 financial crash through austerity, Brexit, COVID, the war that still rages
in Ukraine, and the disastrous premiership of Liz Truss.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
STARMER: The response each time -- the response each time, has been to try to return to the status quo. A status quo, Mr. Speaker, that manifestly
failed working people, who saw their living standards flat line, and their public services decimated.
So, this time, Britain's response must and will be different to reflect the changing world that we live in. That starts with our economic security,
where, during this conflict alone, we have capped energy bills, raised the living wage, strengthened workers' rights, and ended the two-child limit
that will lift nearly half a million children out of poverty.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
STARMER: But Mr. Speaker, looking forward, it also means a closer economic relationship with our European allies.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
STARMER: Because Brexit did deep damage to the economy, and the opportunities we now have to strengthen our security and cut the cost of
living are simply too big to ignore.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
STARMER: It continues, Mr. Speaker, with our energy security, where I say once again, oil and gas will be part of our energy mix for decades to come.
But Mr. Speaker, we do not set the global price for oil and gas. And households across the country are fed up with international events beyond
their control, pushing up their energy bills, and I stand with them on that.
[10:45:04]
So, we will go further and faster on our mission to make Britain energy independent.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
STARMER: Because that is the only way we get off the fossil fuel roller coaster and take control of our energy bills.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
STARMER: Finally, Mr. Speaker, we must strengthen our defense security. That means boosting our armed forces, as we have with the biggest sustained
investment since the Cold War.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
STARMER: It means doubling down on the most successful military alliance the world has ever seen, the NATO alliance.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
STARMER: Of which this party in government was a founding member. But it also means strengthening the European element of that alliance. Taking
control of our continent's defense more robustly, deepening our partnerships. Have we done with our deals to build Norwegian frigates on
the Clyde, Turkish typhoons in Lancashire?
Not only, Mr. Speaker creating thousands of secure jobs and opportunities for our defense industry right across the country, but also enhancing the
way our armed forces can collaborate with our allies.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
STARMER: Because, Mr. Speaker, as the Middle East conflict shows, once more, the world in which we live has utterly changed. It is more volatile
and insecure than at any period in my lifetime.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
STARMER: And we must rise to meet it calmly but with strength.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
STARMER: That is exactly what we are doing at home and abroad. We are strengthening our security, taking control of our future, and building a
Britain that is fair for all. And I commend the statement to the House.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
SIR LINDSAY HARVEY HOYLE, SPEAKER, HOUSE OF COMMONS: Kemi Badenoch, leader of the opposition.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
KEMI BADENOCH, LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION, UNITED KINGDOM: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and can I thank the prime minister for advance sight of his
statement?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Right. You have been listening to the British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. He referenced gulf partners and his visit to this region. He
talked about having no tolerance for Iran, holding the global economy hostage in the Strait of Hormuz.
He talked about needing to prioritize the mediation efforts, thanking Pakistan for their diplomatic work.
I want to get back to Mohammed Ali Shabani. From what you are hearing, what hope is there of the talks that failed over the weekend, restarting and
leading to anything?
SHABANI: Becky, as I mentioned previously, I believe that the political leadership of Iran looks at the naval blockade of the U.S. as a kind of
bargaining chip, kind of brinkmanship to try to secure a deal. They believe that there is genuine U.S. interest in a deal. I think, Tehran as well,
wants a deal.
The key issue, as I see it, and based on the sources I have spoken to, are related to the nuclear program, and it's actually quite narrow.
Number one issue is the stockpile of uranium that Iran has in its possession, and the future of it. Iran has offered to dilute the stockpile
to ensure that doesn't pose any kind of threat in terms of weaponization. However, it seemed that the U.S. side insists on this kind of stockpile
being exported from Iran, meaning that it needs to leave Iranian territory.
The second issue pertains to the future of enrichment in Iran, and I think there are differences over the period for the freezing of such activities.
For instance, I think, some sources are saying that up to 20-year freeze is what the U.S. wants was Iran is willing to go down a few -- a few years --
about five years.
I think there are -- there are some differences there over the length. But the core contention right now pertains to the future of nuclear material in
Iran and how the U.S. approaches.
ANDERSON: Fascinating. I do want to allude to what Keir Starmer just talked about there. The idea of this international summit to facilitate freedom of
navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. I mean, this isn't a new idea. We have seen a sort of international coalition coming together. But being very
emphatic that this would be, you know, about, you know, about freedom of navigation once the war ended, or at least there was, you know, a cease
fire in place.
This wasn't an active war zone, effectively. And that's not going down very well. I have to say that sort of view from the region that I am in here,
certainly, the UAE wants to see much more sort of definitive action by other players in getting that strait opened.
How does Iran view that international effort, do you believe?
SHABANI: So, I think from the outset of this conflict, Iran strategy has been to internationalize this. And what I mean by that is that they want to
see the effects to be felt far beyond the region, and in that way, kind of try to rein in Trump and what he is doing, and also in Israel, and also try
to divide the U.S. from its European allies.
And I think the fact that Keir Starmer is debating this topic today in the parliament, the fact that it's even being brought up, shows, to some
extent, that it's being successful.
[10:50:05]
The Iranian strategy works because people outside the region -- far away from region are talking about it. The effects of this war are being felt
far away from the region, and this creates impetus for trying to resolve this diplomatically, which I think ultimately is the aim of Iran.
I think the fact that Europe is choosing not to join the United States in this war, that they are making clear that any effort to clear the Strait of
Hormuz will only follow a conclusion to this war. It kind of indicates, from the Iranian perspective, that whatever they're doing right now it
works, that Trump is finding himself isolated from his own European allies and that there is pressure on him to resolve this diplomatically.
ANDERSON: Good to have you there. Thank you. Busy newsroom with you there in London. Always a pleasure. Your insights very valuable for us. Thank
you. And I will be back with more news in just a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: All right. Welcome back. You are with CONNECT THE WORLD, with me, Becky Anderson. The headlines for you right now: The U.S. Navy is enforcing
a blockade of Iran's ports. It says it will prevent any ships from entering or leaving ports. In Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea. Oil prices jump to
more than a $100 a barrel.
Supporters turn out on mass in Hungary after the opposition party led by Peter Magyar won the national election on Sunday.
The center-right Tisza Party has forced pro-Kremlin Prime Minister Viktor Orban out of office after 16 years.
Well, Pope Leo says he has no fear of the Trump administration. After President Trump lashed out on a social media post and later doubled down on
that message, saying he is not a fan of the pope.
Well, in the lead up to direct talks between Israel and Lebanon on Tuesday, Lebanese media report Israel carrying out more deadly attacks in the south.
Lebanese health authorities say more than 2,000 people have been killed during this war.
CNN's Jeremy Diamond joining us from Tel Aviv. And can you just sort of set the scene, as it were, with the latest out the Israeli government, ahead of
what are these scheduled talks, direct talks between Lebanon and Israel. These are U.S. brokered talks, of course, in Washington.
JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT: Well, Israel certainly hasn't agreed to a cease fire in Lebanon as it continues to carry out strikes
against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, continuing its ground operations in southern Lebanon as well.
But there does appear to have been somewhat of a scaling back of Israeli strikes, at least, in the Lebanese capital of Beirut, where we haven't seen
any Israeli strikes since Thursday. And that comes amid a lot of pressure from the United States, from President Trump directly speaking with the
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urging him to scale back those strikes as the -- as Israel entered these direct negotiations with the
Lebanese government.
And so, there does seem to be some attempt, at least on the Israeli side, to try and avoid the kind of mass, large scale strikes that we saw in the
middle of last week, for example, in the Lebanese capital, to avoid undermining these negotiations with Lebanon, but also the broader cease
fire agreements with Iran.
That being said, we have seen strikes from Israel in southern Lebanon that have killed multiple people, including a Red Cross worker who was killed
just yesterday. We have seen fierce fighting between Israeli soldiers and Lebanese -- Hezbollah militants in one of the key Lebanese border villages
of Bint Jbeil, where we have seen intense fighting in the last few days, and publicly, the Israeli prime minister is very much sending a message,
certainly to the Israeli public, that the fight is not over yet.
He has talked not only about refusing to agree to a cease fire, but also recently talking about the establishment of a "solid, deep security zone"
inside of Lebanon. And indeed, we have continued to see the Israeli military laying the groundwork for establishing this buffer zone in
southern Lebanon, along the Israeli border. And that work seems to be going unimpeded.
But for the moment, at least, it seems like the, you know, scale of Israeli military action in Lebanon, for now, has not unraveled the Iranian cease
fire agreement altogether, and it hasn't led to a cancelation of planned talks between Israel and Lebanon that are set to take place tomorrow.
Becky?
ANDERSON: Jeremy, always a pleasure. Thank you very much indeed.
You have been watching CONNECT THE WORLD, from the team working with me here in Abu Dhabi. It is a very good evening.
Stay with CNN, though. "ONE WORLD" is up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
