Return to Transcripts main page

Early Start with Rahel Solomon

Trump Says U.S. Could End Iran War In Two To Three Weeks; Trump To Deliver Important Update On Iran; Oil Falls Below $100 On Optimism Over Iran war; Supreme Court Hears Trump Birthright Citizenship Case; Supreme Court Rules Against Colorado Ban On Conversion Therapy; NASA Set For First Crewed Moon Return In Over Half A Century; Judge Orders Construction Stopped On Trump's White House Ballroom. Aired 4-4:30a ET

Aired April 01, 2026 - 04:00   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[04:00:35]

BRIAN ABEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning and welcome to our viewers joining us from the United States and all around the world. I'm Brian Abel. Thank you so much for being with us. It is Wednesday, April 1, 4:00 a.m. here in Washington, D.C. and straight ahead on Early Start.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: President Trump now telling reporters he believes the United States will be out of Iran anywhere between two and three weeks from now.

DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: It'll take 15 to 20 years for them to rebuild what we've done to.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: NASA plans to launch four astronauts to deep space for the first time in over 50 years.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think everybody understands what our mission is and that's to get back to the moon and we're going to establish a presence there in the very near future.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The streets have emptied in this farming village and gunshots break the silence as violent gang attacks surge in western Haiti.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Legitimate authorities are struggling to quell this surge of violence.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ABEL: We are following the latest exchange of fire between Israel and Iran. Israeli authorities say at least 16 people, including a child, have been wounded after Iranian strikes hit Tel Aviv and a suburb earlier. Meanwhile, the IDF says it has completed a wide scale wave of strikes

targeting infrastructure sites in Tehran. U.S. Central Command releasing this video on Tuesday of what appears to be military operations targeting Iran.

CENTCOM says it hit underground military targets.

Meanwhile, the White House says President Donald Trump will deliver an address to the nation tonight. This as the president announced his new timeline for the war.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: We have had regime change. Now, regime change was not one of the things I had as a goal. I had one goal. They will have no nuclear weapon and that goal has been attained. They will not have nuclear weapons, but we're finishing the job and I think within maybe two weeks, maybe a couple of days longer to do the job.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ABEL: Tehran says it's prepared for a much longer fight. But U.S. secretary of state Marco Rubio echoed President Trump's claims.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARCO RUBIO, SECRETARY OF STATE: There are messages being exchanged. There are talks going on. There is the potential for direct meeting at some point. We're always going to be open for that, but we're not going to be. We're not what President Trump is not going to allow is he's not going to allow fake negotiations to be used as a delay tactic.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ABEL: Let's Bring in now CNN's Paula Hancocks live from Abu Dhabi with all the latest developments here in the conflict with Iran. Paula?

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Brian, it's very difficult to get an exact grasp on where exactly the diplomacy is at this point. We're seeing and hearing very different messages from both the U.S. and Iran. There seems to be a lot of light between the two countries, some optimism from the U.S. presidents as you heard there, two to three is his current timeline with the secretary of state saying that the end is in sight.

But what we're hearing from the Iranian side, we heard from the foreign minister Abbas Araghchi in an interview with Al Jazeera saying that they are prepared for at least six more months of war. Now, clearly that is not what the U.S. would want as that would take them very close to the midterm elections in the United States.

Also saying that Tehran is not in direct talks with Washington, but they are receiving messages from Steve Witkoff that the special envoy of the Trump administration. But as these this back and forth about where these negotiations stand continues, very little is changing on the ground. It's not impacting the military sense in any way.

In fact, what we've seen in Israel over this Wednesday morning, we've seen state media in Iran claim that they had three separate waves of projectiles targeting Israel in the space of one hour. Now, Passover, the Jewish holiday, starting in Israel there.

And we know that some 16 people were injured in one of the strikes, including a 10 year old girl. Now we did see as well heavy bombardments continuing in a number of different cities across Iran and Israel saying it's not going to let up in any way.

[04:05:00]

In fact, it's spoken of expanding and escalating, although we will see exactly what the message is later today from the U.S. President Donald Trump saying he will have a big announcement.

Now elsewhere across the region, we also saw in Kuwait at the international airport, fuel depots and fuel storage tanks once again were targeted. Officials there saying that there was a massive blaze, as in as a result of those projectiles and debris hitting the area.

The airspace is closed, though, so there were no casualties as there was very few people in that area. And also a tanker being hit off Doha. We have heard alerts here in the UAE as well. So really no sense at all that anything on the ground is easing off militarily, even as we hear the U.S. President suggesting that things are coming to an end. Brian.

ABEL: All right. Paula Hancocks for us in Abu Dhabi. Paula, thank you. President Trump says gas prices will come tumbling down once the U.S. leaves Iran. The national average for a gallon of regular unleaded gas is $4.06, according to AAA. That's up more than a dollar in the past month.

Oil prices are still around $100 a barrel for the global benchmark Brent crude. For more on all of this, let's bring in CNN's Eleni Giokos, tracking the latest on the markets from Dubai. And Eleni, is there any indicators that prices will indeed tumble when this conflict ends?

ELENI GIOKOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, everyone I've spoken to, the analysts that are focused on the oil markets, the traders, they tell me that it's not exactly going to be based in reality. They won't come tumbling down. There will be some softness that comes through.

But I think when we look at the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and how that's had an impact on globally and the real effects haven't really been felt as yet. And JP Morgan had actually put out some really interesting numbers in terms of the impact on Asia. Usually Asia feels it between 10 and 20 days. That's how long it takes for a shipment to go through the Strait of Hormuz to Asia. Then Africa will be next to feel it, then Europe and then the United States.

So if you take that in reverse, even if the opening of the Strait of Hormuz is something of a reality, if this war and when it comes to an end, that still is going to be something that feeds through. Interestingly, you've got Brent crude prices that are down 3.88 percent right now. They're sitting at $100 a barrel.

Asian markets this morning performing really well. European stocks opening up really strongly. And you've got the U.S. Futures also pointing to a positive start. I think this is also because of a lot of sort of optimism from the Trump administration about the timeline of perhaps two weeks, perhaps three weeks. And then the war will be sort of there'll be an unwinding, so to speak.

But one analyst that I spoke to saying the reality is still this closure of the Strait of Homo is still very much a reality. President Trump happy to end the war even without securing the opening of this maritime choke point.

And of course, we are still seeing attacks in the Gulf region even today. And this is now 33 days in. And I think the question on where gas prices in the United States are going, over the past month, the average gas price has increased by 35 percent. It takes you to $4 a gallon, Brian.

So in terms of unwinding that position going forward, it is going to take some time. But I think for a lot of analysts right now, they're going to be waiting to hear what President Trump's message is going to be later on today.

We must also mention there has been a big case of whiplash throughout this four-week period where you see, you know, optimism because of messaging and rhetoric out of the Trump administration. And then reality hits again the next day.

So let's see if we see concrete evidence of how the United States plans to sort of stop the war, end the war in the next two weeks, and then importantly, what efforts will be made to ensure that Iran doesn't have de facto control over the Strait of Hormuz.

ABEL: We will indeed see what happens tonight and see if actions meet words. Eleni Giokos in Dubai for us. Good to see you this morning, Eleni, thank you.

In the coming hours, the U.S. Supreme Court will consider the future of birthright citizenship. President Trump signed an executive order last year attempting to end the constitutional right that's been understood for more than a century now, guaranteed censorship -- citizenship rather for anyone born within the US.

His legal team argues that the law should not apply to children of people who are in the U.S. illegally or temporarily. Now, all other courts that have weighed in so far have ruled the order is unconstitutional. Trump says he will be at the Supreme Court today to hear oral arguments in the case.

The Supreme Court ruled on another important case on Tuesday, an 8 to 1 decision. The high court sided with a religious counselor challenging a Colorado ban on conversion therapy for gay and transgender youth. But the justices didn't technically strike down the law. CNN's Paula Reid explains.

[04:10:00]

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAULA REID, CNN CHIEF LEGAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: On Tuesday, the Supreme Court revealed how it is looking at one of the biggest questions before the court this term. Now, this case has to do with conversion therapy. This is the medically discredited practice that purports to convert homosexuals into heterosexuals and transgender folks into cisgender. The question before the court is whether that practice is actually protected by the First Amendment.

Now, the case focuses on the state of Colorado, which has banned conversion therapy for minors. But that ban was challenged as a violation of free speech.

Now, when the Supreme Court heard arguments in this case last year, it appeared that especially the conservative justices were going to strike down this ban. But on Tuesday, they kind of surprised us that instead of ruling on the constitutional question, instead they took the entire case and tossed it back down to the lower courts.

And they said that the courts need to consider this question with strict scrutiny. So this is the highest standard that is usually reserved when there's a fundamental right like free speech at stake. So now, these legal challenges continue, it appears after the Supreme Court's move here that this ban is highly likely to survive subsequent litigation, even though it is currently in place in the state of Colorado. Paula Reid, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ABEL: NASA is sending four astronauts on a test flight around the moon. Details on the historic Artemis II mission launch, just ahead.

Plus, a federal judge halts construction of President Trump's new White House ballroom. We'll look at the legal issues at the crux of the case and the president's reaction. And we'll bring you the latest from Haiti where gang violence against civilians is surging across the west of the country.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[04:16:15]

ABEL: NASA plans to launch astronauts back to the moon for the first time in over 50 years. This evening, the Artemis II mission will take 10 days to circle the moon and return back to Earth. It'll mark a major test for NASA's rocket and Orion spacecraft systems with the aim of returning the astronauts for a moon landing in a. CNN's Pete Muntean is at Kennedy Space center with the latest.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PETE MUNTEAN, CNN CORRESPONDNET: This mission is not only critical, it is necessary for NASA to prove that the SLS can carry these four astronauts out of the Earth's atmosphere, that the Orion capsule can maneuver in space, which is key to docking, then that can make it out of Earth orbit and into deep space, something that NASA has not done for some time. Make that free return trajectory using the moon's gravity to slingshot around it and then land back on Earth. It is no small task.

On Wednesday, we will really find out if NASA can pull this off. It is so key because the overarching message right now from NASA is really confidence. Even in spite of the failed wet dress rehearsal of only eight weeks ago, the issue has been all focused on hydrogen.

That is one of the critical fuels stored in that orange tank on the SLS system. The problem is it is the smallest molecule. It is incredibly prone to leaks and we will not find out until early Wednesday morning when NASA begins tanking the SLS, or rather fueling the SLS if those leak problems are fixed. Want you to listen now to NASA's Jeff Spaulding, who acknowledges that things have been pretty quiet when it comes to NASA finding new problems, but it does not mean that NASA is not looking out for them. Listen.

JEFF SPAULDING, SENIOR NASA TEST DIRECTOR, ARTEMIS II: I wouldn't necessarily characterize that because it's quiet, that we're not still doing the same amount of rigor out in the field. We're just finding less things now than we had previously.

I think at times you get to a point where you have found and corrected as many things as maybe are available to you. And so the things that we find now are quite small and much less significant than we had in the past.

Of course, the other big X factor here is the weather. And the latest weather briefing we've received from the Space Force's 45th Weather Squadron is that things are 80 percent go when it comes to the weather for launch on Wednesday. So many factors they have to consider wind, rain, lightning, even solar flares. There was a big one on Monday. Thankfully, though it was pointed away from Earth.

The issue is that after the Wednesday window, the weather looks a little bit worse going into the backup windows. But NASA meteorologists say nothing is really causing them to say it's a certain no go for Thursday, Friday or Saturday. Pete Muntean, CNN, Kennedy Space Center.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ABEL: Hopefully, we will see a launch. President Trump lashing out at the federal judge who halted his White House ballroom project, calling the decision so wrong. The judge appointed by former President George W. Bush blocked any further work on the massive new $400 million ballroom where the East Wing once stood.

Tuesday's ruling stated that the president needs congressional approval due to the enormous scope of the project, which he did not get.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: Well, we built many things at the White House over the years. They don't get congressional approval when they build in the White House. It's totally separate, and especially when it's a donation. I mean, the ballroom is a donation. It's gotten great reviews.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ABEL: The Trump administration says it will appeal the ruling, but the president did applaud part of that ruling, which allows work to continue on the areas deemed critical to the personal safety of the president and his staff.

[04:20:10]

Our coverage of the war in Iran resumes after a short break. We will share how the Gulf states are reacting to the possibility of American troops on the ground in Iran.

Plus, Pope Leo has a message for world leaders about the war. What he said next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ABEL: More on our top story now.

[04:25:00]

The White House says President Trump has an important update on Iran and will address the nation tonight. This as the U.S. and Israel's war with Iran expands in the region. Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels claim they launched a barrage of missiles at southern Israel in coordination with Tehran and Hezbollah.

And Israeli authorities say at least 16 people, including a child, have been wounded after Iranian strikes hit Tel Aviv in a suburb. Meanwhile, Iranian state media reports three people were killed in an attack on a major religious center and mosque in central Iran on Tuesday.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the U.S. needs to be unpredictable about potential boots on the ground in Iran, but not all Gulf states want that to happen. CNN's chief global affairs correspondent Matthew Chance reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CHIEF GLOBAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Well, I mean, look, it's certainly true that the risks of staging a ground operation would be extremely high, not just in the initial invasion, but in sort of securing those areas that were taken and resupplying the troops and without a sort of like clear objective, political objective to which the military can work towards, you know, this is a potentially open ended, you know, kind of quagmire that the United States is considering. You have to remember from the point of view of the Gulf states like

Qatar, and I'm speaking to you from Doha right now, they're being attacked on a daily basis. They're intercepting missiles and drones that have been fired by Iran and it's caused enormous economic damage and continues to do so.

And so they're very apprehensive about anything that is going to cause more retaliation of that kind from the Islamic State. And so earlier I spoke to the Foreign Ministry spokesperson here in Doha and asked him about that issue, about his concerns of U.S. boots on the ground. Take a listen.

There's a lot of talk at the moment about the possibility of a U.S. ground invasion of Iran. How concerned are you about that? How do you assess that would have consequences for Qatar and for the region?

MAJED MOHAMMED AL-ANSARI, QATARI FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESPERSON: We aren't against any escalation that could endanger the stability of the region any further. We have said from day one we are not going to comment on the operational strategies of both parties. But what we will say is that any kind of escalation that goes beyond the current parameters of the conflict threatens to further destabilize the region.

CHANCE: Do you understand why other countries in the Gulf region are less cautious than you on that point are actually pressing the United States to take military action that will remove any future Iranian threat?

AL-ANSARI: Our understanding is that there is a very unified position in the Gulf on calling for deescalation and an end to this war. But I would say that you should ask, you know, every country about their own positions on this.

CHANCE: Yes, interesting last point there the spokesperson was saying that there's been a lot of talk about some countries in the Gulf Arab states want to take a much harder line with Iran and have actually been pushing the United States to finish what they started and make sure that Iran can't pose the same kind of threat that it poses now in the future.

But the much bigger risk is that this conflict escalates and that the energy infrastructure, the desalination plants and the residential areas of those Gulf Arab states are targeted more and more by the Islamic Republic. And the economic damage continues to, well, continues to spiral.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ABEL: Israel says it plans to maintain control of parts of southern Lebanon even after its current military operation ends. Israel's defense minister says Israeli forces will remain in the area up to the Litani River, some 20 miles from the Israeli border.

He also says that the more than 600,000 residents who were forced to evacuate the area will not be allowed to return. Lebanon says more than a million people have been displaced so far in this war.

Meanwhile, Israel continues its strikes in Beirut.

Loud explosions shaking the city's southern suburbs overnight. Israel's military says it targeted two senior Hezbollah members in the area, but didn't say if they were killed.

Bring in Sanam Vakil, now director of the Middle East and North Africa program for Chatham House, joining me from London. Sanam, thank you for being with us.

Let's first talk about the prediction President Trump made that troops may leave Iran in two to three weeks. Based on what you're seeing, how realistic is that?

SANAM VAKIL, DIRECTOR, MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA PROGRAM, CHATHAM HOUSE: Well, good morning. It's nice to be with you. Troops haven't landed on Iranian territory just yet, but I think he is trying to signal to the American people and per to the markets that are facing a lot of uncertainty that he will draw down on this war.

[04:30:00]