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Early Start with Rahel Solomon

How UAE Is Coping As Iran Keeps Up Strikes; NYT: Saudi Crown Prince Advising Trump On Iran War. Aired 4-4:30a ET

Aired March 16, 2026 - 04:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

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ANNOUNCER: This is CNN Breaking News.

RAHEL SOLOMON, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning and welcome to our viewers in the U.S. and all around the world. I'm Rahel Solomon, live this morning in New York.

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Becky Anderson live from our Middle East programming hub here in Abu Dhabi. And we are following breaking news this hour. The war with Iran now in its third week. New strikes being reported, including in Tehran and Beirut. Here in Abu Dhabi, one person was killed after a missile landed on a vehicle.

These were the scenes overnight in the Iranian capital where flames and plumes of smoke could be seen rising. The Israeli military says it launched a wave of strikes targeting infrastructure in Tehran. Well, Israel says it's planning at least three more weeks of its campaign against Iran with, quote, "thousands of targets remaining." Israel's military claims it struck more than 200 targets in one day, taking aim at what it called Iran's ballistic missile capabilities and air defense systems.

Meanwhile, several airstrikes rocked Beirut's southern suburbs overnight, with attacks also reported across southern Lebanon. Israel has announced limited and targeted ground operations against Hezbollah in the south of the country. Well, let's bring in CNN's Ivan Watson.

Let's start with any further detail, Ivan, that we have on these strikes on Iran.

IVAN WATSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Right. Israel issued a briefing, the Israeli military saying that it's carried out more than 7,000 sorties on Iran, that it has carried out some 4,700 strikes on Iran's missile program and claims to have neutralized about 70 percent of Iran's missile launchers. The ongoing war continues to claim lives, at least 1300 civilians killed in Iran, according to Iranian state media. And the conflict also is continuing on the Lebanese front with reports of additional Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon, eastern Lebanon and in the southern suburbs of a -- of Beirut. The death toll has gone above 850 people killed in Lebanon thus far.

And we're talking about more than 800,000 people displaced by what the Israeli military calls evacuation orders, but are essentially the declarations that large swaths of territory are effectively kill zones so people have to flee their homes at short notice to ensure that they may not be killed by airstrikes. In the meantime, Hezbollah continues its attacks on Israel, carrying out dozens of claimed attacks a day. The Israeli military says it has information that Hezbollah plans to expand its operations. So no signs of a let up there. The other real point of tension right now is the ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz, Becky and Rahel, where you had President Trump urging other countries such as China and its People's Liberation army navy to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which he kind of said should be not a big project, a quote, "very small endeavor," were the words of President Trump on Air Force One just several hours ago.

But the fact is that you have oil prices at the highest they've been in nearly four years right now. We saw earlier today some 20 crew members from Thailand arriving in Bangkok after their cargo ship was hit in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday. Three of their compatriots are still missing right now, and theirs was just one of more than a dozen ships that have been targeted in and around the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf.

Now, as for countries being called on to help now that the Trump administration wants help keeping the Strait of Hormuz open, we haven't heard anybody saying, yes, the Japanese prime minister has said, we don't have plans right now. The Australian government has said it will not send a ship, though it has not been formally asked to send a ship. China, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson says they have not gotten a formal request or they haven't confirmed whether or not they've had a formal request yet for assistance.

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And in the meantime, India has negotiated its own agreement with the Iranian government to secure safe passage for two LPG tankers over the course of the weekend. India's Foreign Ministry saying that his own direct negotiations with the Islamic Republic of Iran yielded results suggesting some countries may be exploring side deals to try to open up the flows of Persian Gulf energy.

A final note, a Iranian official did tell CNN Iran was mulling allowing some ships through, provided transactions were paid for in Chinese yuan, the Chinese currency. Back to you.

ANDERSON: Ivan, good to have you. Thank you.

And just a further update, the E.U. foreign policy chief says it is in the E.U.'s interest to keep the Strait of Hormuz open and that they will discuss how to reopen the straits today as they meet. Ivan Watson reporting.

Airline travel is still being disrupted in the Middle East as the Iran war rages on. Flights temporarily suspended and people reportedly evacuated Dubai International Airport earlier today after a fuel tank nearby caught fire. Smoke could be seen from the highway. Authorities said it was a drone related incident and the fire has been successfully contained. Dubai Airport has announced a resumption of flights and the authorities advise passengers to check with their airlines.

My next guest writes, quote, "The UAE and the Arab Gulf states have proven that they are capable of defending themselves with their own defensive capabilities and do not need the help of fragile Arab countries that are living through suffocating internal crises and cannot even defend themselves. As for the formation of a joint Arab force, it has not seen the light since 1952 and we do not need it now."

Joining me now is Abdulkhaleq Abdulla, professor of Political Science at the United Arab Emirates University. It's good to have it -- have you with us today.

We're both here in the UAE.

ABDULKHALEQ ABDULLA, PROF. OF POLITICAL SCIENCE, UAE UNIVERSITY: Thank you, Becky.

ANDERSON: We've just seen what had been, you know, a series of further drone attacks. Although the numbers significantly lower and clearly the inception rate continues to be very efficient. We are still seeing the moment like we did this morning, the shutting down of Dubai International Airport for a period of time. Just give me your sense of how the UAE is assessing the security threat at present.

ABDULLA: Well, Becky, thanks for having me. And I think during this abnormal time, it's great that life is going back to normal. You just mentioned the airport. Almost 70 to 80 percent of the airport is once again back in operation. That's quite something.

I think we have numbers such as malls are packed again with people, 92 percent of people are going back to normal life, go into their shopping especially this is holiday season. We have traffic in the road, almost 98 percent traffic back to where it was before these attacks. We have also other things like no panic is there, no exodus of people, and the -- no outflow of money. So I think in all level, where Iran meant it to create panic in this city and in this country, I think they failed disasterly. And I think, you know, thanks to the fact that we are well equipped to face up to this kind of attack, Becky.

ANDERSON: Yes, and I was out in Dubai late last night, as you rightly point out, the traffic flowing people out and about. People will be mindful of their safety and security and follow the rules should they get an alert. But you're right to suggest both in Abu Dhabi, and I can say this from just observations myself, life goes on as it does in Dubai.

There's been much talk about the relationship between the United States and the UAE and other Gulf allies, and some talk about whether these Gulf countries are disappointed or frustrated with the U.S. Its attacks on Iran, and the fact that these Gulf countries have been attacked, unprovoked and reckless. Now, according to the United Nations Security Council, here's what the UAE Minister of International Cooperation had to say about the relationship with the U.S. at present. Have a listen.

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REEM AL HASHIMY, UAE MINISTER FOR INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION: Our relationship with the U.S. is a long standing strategic partnership. It's a partnership that doesn't falter in moments of crisis but has been built on decades of trust and mutual respect. We've been long standing partners of the U.S., long standing partners of Australia as well. And this doesn't deter us because we're also a resilient bunch and we don't take to -- trying to being bullied around either.

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ANDERSON: That was Reem Al Hashmy speaking to ABC, the Australian Broadcast Company just some 48 hours ago, doubling down to a degree on its relationship with the United States. What's your view of that? And does that surprise you in any way?

ABDULLA: Absolutely not. I think that we have some of the best relationship at this moment with the United States of America and we like to keep it despite a few frustration here and there. Maybe we're not well informed beforehand, maybe you were not alerted, maybe America should have done better when it comes to Strait of Hormuz. But at the end of the day America is very important partner, the pillar of the relationship. Whether it is the bases, whether it's the weapon, the state of the art weapon, whether it is economic relationship, the pillars are at its best and will remain so.

America is a strategic partner and I think we should be in a way grateful to America because some of the defense system we have, such as THAAD, such as Patriot, it's the best defense system in the world and we're lucky to have it. So America being next to it is a very comfortable and it's an important sign that our relation with America needs to be deepened rather than questioned. Many people have questioned that relationship. Maybe they were, you know, something that we don't know. But we should be at this moment of crisis grateful to everybody, America, Europe, everybody that have supplied us with this defense system.

It is the best defense system in the world, one of the best for sure. I think we need to be grateful to America and to all of our partners. Becky.

ANDERSON: And I think it was described as a six layer, multilayer defense system now in operation in the skies over the UAE and other countries also as you rightly point out, benefiting from not just U.S. but European and other offers of support in the skies and with equipment. The Saudi and UAE leaders say that GCC states will work together to defend regional security. I wonder how you would assess the effectiveness of the communication and coordination between Saudi Arabia, the UAE and other Gulf states in responding to these Iranian attacks.

ABDULLA: Well, so far the response have been defensive. As you know, we have not fired one bullet towards Iran. We go into the third week almost of this and called for massive vicious attack bombardment of missiles and drones for the past 16, 17 days almost now. But I think, you know, we have stayed calm. I think if there is any need to shift from defensive mood to more offensive mood, that is probably has been talked about, but I don't see it coming anytime soon.

And if that is to happen, then it has to be collective. It's not going to be just Saudi Arabia alone or UAE, Iran or Kuwait or Amman or whatever. It has to be GCC. But at this moment America is doing the job and let them do what they doing and there is nothing more than we could do.

At the end of the day, Becky, what is important to us when it comes to Iran, which is public enemy number one at this moment, we have to distinguish between the regime and the people of Iran. There is 19 million Iranian there and we do not want them to remember at any time in the future that we fire the bullet towards Iran. That is to us strategic choice. Maybe this regime will fall tomorrow, maybe a year down the road, it doesn't matter. But it is eventually going to go away.

What it stays is the 90 to 100 million Iranian and we want them to know this is not the neighborhood that you feel insecure. This is not the neighbors that you would expect that we will fire a bullet towards Iran and towards them.

ANDERSON: And finally, Abdulkhaleq, the New York Times today reporting that Donald Trump is taking advice from Gulf leaders, including Mohammed bin Salman in Saudi too, and they are quoting him here, keep hitting the Iranians hard. From your perspective, does that reporting reflect then the reality of Gulf-U.S. communications?

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ABDULLA: I think at this moment there is this view that please go ahead, Mr. President, finish the job. If the intention here is to get done with this regime, so be it. That's not just good for us here and for you and for everybody in the Gulf and throughout Middle East. It's good for the 90 million Iranian who had enough of this regime.

Look, they have been through difficult time. This is probably the regime that did not deliver the minimum of what they need. They look around and they see Dubai, they see UAE and see how life here is tolerant, is open, it's success story, and look at 48 years of Iran, it's been miserable. So I think, you know, if there is a way to get rid of this regime, I think everybody will be happy, not just around Iran, but inside Iran even more.

ANDERSON: Abdulkhaleq, it's always good to get your perspective. Thank you very much indeed for joining us this morning.

Rahel will get you more news from the region a little later in the program, of course. For the time being though, let's get you -- get your viewers back to you in New York.

SOLOMON: Thank you, Becky. We'll see you shortly.

All right. Still to come for us here on this program, we're going to have more on President Trump's push to get China and U.S. allies to help secure the Strait of Hormuz. Plus, the conflict continues to disrupt the flow of crude oil through the Strait of Hormuz. Coming up, we'll take a look at how the war is impacting global markets after this short break.

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SOLOMON: Welcome back. Officials in the Trump administration are saying that they expect the war with Iran to end within weeks, if not sooner. This as economists warn that oil disruptions in the region could cause a recession. The president says that the U.S. and Israel are largely aligned in their war goals. Meanwhile, Trump is now seeking assistance from U.S. allies and even China to help secure the critical Strait of Hormuz.

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DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I really am demanding that these countries come in and protect their own territory because it is their territories. It's a place from which they get their energy. And they should come and they should help us protect it.

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SOLOMON: Now, Trump says that there has been some positive response, although no country has made a firm commitment to send warships to the strait. More details now from CNN's Julia Benbrook.

JULIA BENBROOK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: President Donald Trump is back in Washington, D.C. now, but he spent his weekend here in Florida. And as he traveled back, he spoke with reporters on Air Force One about the ongoing conflict in Iran. He was asked specifically if he was ready to declare victory. He was hesitant to use that word. Instead, he used wording that we've heard him use before, saying that Iran has been decimated. The Strait of Hormuz has been a big topic.

That's where 20 percent of the world's oil travels through. And over the weekend, Trump said that many countries, those that have been impacted by Iran's attempted closure of the strait, would be sending warships in conjunction with the United States to keep it open. In that post, he said that "hopefully," important to emphasize that word, "China, France, Japan, South Korea and the U.K. would be among those sending ships."

He said that in the meantime, the United States would be bombing the shoreline. Now, Trump said that he has been talking with these countries. He believes that those conversations are going well. When he was pressed on if he had received any commitments so far, he said he didn't want to get into that, but that some countries didn't necessarily want to be involved in that way.

He's also ramping up pressure specifically on NATO countries, saying that he will pay attention to those that are not willing to be involved. It's important to note that NATO is a defense alliance set up to promote peace and stability and safeguard security for its members. Trump said that getting involved here, he believes, is a small ask because in his words, Iran has a little bit of fight back, but not much.

Traveling with the president in Florida, Julia Benbrook, CNN.

SOLOMON: And the disruption in the Strait of Hormuz is sending oil prices soaring to their highest level since 2022. Brent crude, which is the global benchmark, surpassed $106 a barrel earlier. Right now, it's still pretty much sitting close to that level. I'm just taking a look here at Brent. Yes, pretty much didn't close to that level at this point.

U.S. oil prices also spiked, the surge causing U.S. gas prices to rise some 24 percent since the start of the conflict. That's according to the AAA Auto Association.

Let's bring it down CNN's Eleni Giokos, who joins us live this morning from Dubai with more on how the escalating conflict is impacting oil prices around the globe.

Eleni, as I said, it's, you know, it's unclear whether any of these countries will actually send ships to the strait. But talk to us about what oil prices seem to be suggesting about the situation in the strait right now.

ELENI GIOKOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: So, firstly, we know that the International Energy Agency has released what they're going to say is a record number of barrels into the market. That's 4,400 million barrels. I want to start with this context because they're trying to mitigate the rise in the oil price. That's what's happening in terms of policy.

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Naval escorts have still not materialized. President Trump trying to build a coalition of governments to come in and help. So far, no categorical yes in terms of assistance. President Trump also saying that NATO is going to have a very bad future if NATO countries don't intervene in terms of helping vessels and tankers pass through the Straits of Hormuz. That's on the policy side.

I want to talk about the critical infrastructure damage that we've been seeing here in the Gulf and we've seen consistently over the last two weeks since the hostilities started, strikes in Oman, in Bahrain, here in the UAE, in Qatar, that causing the LNG terminal to completely stop producing gas. We've seen strikes in Saudi Arabia. But just this morning, and I think this is really important because we've consistently seen, we've seen a few of these incidents play out in Fujairah. It's an industrial zone that has a very key oil terminal there. Reports coming through from the Fujairah media office confirming that a large fire broke out in the petroleum industries area caused by a drone strike.

No injuries reported. But we've seen fires ensuing there over the past week. So we've seen multiple drone incidents in Fujairah. And this is a very big sign of how critical infrastructure, Rahel, consistently is being targeted, which further exacerbates just how much oil can get into the market and also taking capacity out of the market despite policy efforts to try get ships moving and importantly to try getting more oil and reserves, those emergency reserves into the market.

SOLOMON: Yes, certainly a lot of simultaneous things that investors continue to watch and continue to have tension over in terms of prices. Eleni Giokos in Abu Dhabi. Eleni, thank you.

We're going to have more breaking coverage on the war with Iran. Coming up, the latest on where the conflict stands as the U.S. and Israel warn of an expanding military timeline. We'll be right back.

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