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Early Start with Rahel Solomon
War With Iran; Surging Violence In Haiti; Tiger Woods Pleads Not Guilty. Aired 4:30-5a ET
Aired April 01, 2026 - 04:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[04:30:00]
SANAM VAKIL, DIRECTOR, MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA PROGRAMME, CHATHAM HOUSE: - to the American people and perhaps to the markets that are facing a lot of uncertainty that he will draw down on this war. But that doesn't mean that the war in itself is going to be over. Right now we are waiting, of course, for President Trump's discussion tonight to the American people, which will probably make a case for their war finally, five weeks on, in laying out what the US is trying to achieve.
But we're also waiting to see if the United States is going to move ahead with a military operation to open the Strait of Hormuz or seize one of Iran's islands in the Persian Gulf.
BRIAN ABEL, CNN ANCHOR: Secretary of State Marco Rubio, he echoed President Trump, saying the finish line is in sight. I know I'm going to ask you to speculate a little bit here, but walk us through what you believe the US is hoping to achieve before crossing that finish line. And what role could diplomacy play in that?
VAKIL: Well, right now I know there is a lot of movement and hope for diplomacy to play out, and that's because this is a very dangerous moment. President Trump is walking into an escalation that could be wholly dangerous for the American military and lead to further escalation. I think that there's real consideration to land on Iranian territory to try and open the Strait of Hormuz.
This is an operation that is not going to be easy, and we'll certainly have high political, human and economic costs as Iran still retains the ability to retaliate. Also, there is support across the Gulf Arab side for the United States to not cut and run. But if we do move into this escalation, I think President Trump hopes to inflict damage on Iran, perhaps obtain the upper hand in order to cut a deal and leave.
This war is increasing political costs for President Trump, but also economic costs, not just for Americans, but everyone everywhere. So this is a very dangerous period of time. But if he chooses to walk through this door, there are a lot of known unknowns of how this will end.
ABEL: And hopefully he's been advised of those known unknowns. We were just looking at images of Isfahan just a moment ago, and you mentioned Iran's capability to still retaliate. Give us a sense, if you can, of what's been achieved against Iran so far. What is Iran's capacity at this point for a nuclear program and its missile attack capability?
VAKIL: Well, first of all, it's just important to stress that we are analyzing and watching this war. While there has been a full internet blackout for over a month, for a number of weeks since January in Iran, we don't have a clear picture of what is happening. The United States and Israel are certainly inflicting unprecedented damage on Iran trying to take out as many ballistic missile facilities in Iran's industrial complex.
Steel plants have been targeted, petrochemical plants. We've also seen targets on a desalination plant. I think the war is taking a dangerous toll and turn because as we are supposedly nearing the end, it's likely that both Israel and the United States are going to try to target as much as they can, leaving the Islamic Republic weaken and leaving it almost impossible for the system to reconsolidate.
Even though they do retain power at the top and they still have command of the country, they still do have considerable ballistic missile retaliation capacity and they have tens of thousands of drones. They're perhaps holding back to a certain degree because Iran has prepared for a longer war. They want to wear out the United States and Israel.
They want to draw down the interceptors and the ability to respond, and they want to spread the costs far and wide. But this is a dangerous game that Iran is also playing. There is no scenario where Iran comes out really with a strengthened hand. Yes, it might survive. Yes, the Islamic Republic might live to see another day. But internally it will be weakened.
Politically, of course, there are huge legitimacy crisis. And economically, it's very hard to see how this country will recover. So it will be failing as a state, and it may eventually fail.
ABEL: Sanam, you're kind of laying out a picture of what may remain of Iran moving forward. Leading on your expertise, when this conflict does come to a conclusion, depending on where Iran sits in terms of its leadership and its capabilities. What comes next for the country and the region?
VAKIL: Well, first of all for the country, but specifically for Iranians that were, you know, very divided people. Some cheering the war, some, of course, strongly opposing the war. There is a sort of silent middle that are very much fearing the day after.
[04:35:16]
I think that they feel very frustrated by this war that might very well leave in place a hardened, militaristic, inward looking regiment. And so, the prospects of political change, political freedom or openness are very grim. The United States promised in January that help is on its way and that is clearly not manifesting at all.
So I think that's problematic and for the region, particularly for Gulf Arab states that have borne inordinate cost as a result of this war. They lobbied against this war, and now are very worried that President Trump is going to cut and run, and leave them with a wounded and still very hostile Iran. This is a difficult position.
Their economies have been compromised. Their security has been equally, of course, exposed. So they really do want somehow for the Strait of Hormuz to be opened and so that Iran is not in control of the Strait of Hormuz. So there are no easy options here.
And frankly speaking, the diplomatic negotiations or discussions that are underway are very important, but they don't have enough momentum. The US and Iran are very far apart in terms of demands. And so for me, it looks like we are moving towards this escalatory scenario which comes with so many risks, and could lead to further boots on the ground and what President Trump promised to avoid, which is a forever war.
ABEL: All right. Sanam Vakil, really appreciate your insights to giving us some perspective of the lay of the land. Thank you.
VAKIL: Thank you very much.
ABEL: Pope Leo tells CNN he hopes President Trump is looking for an off ramp to end the war with Iran. Speaking to CNN's Vatican correspondent Christopher Lamb, the pontiff called on world leaders to engage in dialogue to reduce the violence in the Middle East.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LEO XIV, POPE: I'm told that President Trump recently stated that he would like to end the war. Hopefully he's looking for an off ramp. Hopefully he's looking for a way to decrease the amount of violence, of bombing, which would be a significant contribution to removing the hatred that's being created and that's increasing constantly in the Middle East and elsewhere.
So I would certainly continue to give this call to all leaders of the world to say, come back to the table to dialogue. Let's look for solutions to the problems. Let's look for ways to reduce the amount of violence that we're promoting and that peace, especially at Easter, might reign in our hearts.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ABEL: And we turn now to deadly gang violence against civilians that's surging in Haiti. The latest attacks, which began on Sunday, have mainly targeted the west of the country, and they come ahead of the expected arrival of an international gain suppression force this coming month. CNN's Rafael Romo has the latest in this report which does contain some disturbing images.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RAFAEL ROMO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The streets have emptied in this farming village and gunshots break the silence, as violent gang attacks surge in western Haiti. These and other videos verified by CNN show gang members launching attacks across Artibonite, Haiti's major agricultural region, where armed groups stormed communities, opened fire on civilians and set homes ablaze. So far, dozens of civilians have been killed, according to estimates by local rights groups.
Many more have been displaced as gang members moved in. Footage shows civilians fleeing across farmland, some with children in tow. One clip shows large plumes of smoke emanating from Jean-Denis, one of the villages targeted. The extent of damage remains unclear, but heat signatures analyzed by CNN show large fires across at least three communities in the region, each appearing just hours after armed men were seen there.
STEPHANE DUJARRIC, SPOKESPERSON FOR THE UN SECRETARY-GENERAL: This attack underscores the gravity of the security situation faced by the Haitian population. He urges Haitian authorities to conduct a thorough investigation.
ROMO: Just four miles east, additional footage shows a familiar scene as gang members swept through more nearby villages. Young men armed with rifles fire indiscriminately into the air, standing in the center of the town.
HAROLD ISAAC, INDEPENDENT JOURNALIST IN HAITI: This has been really the culprit of the gang issue in Haiti is the firepower, where essentially you're washed with arms smuggling in Haiti, which has led to increased firepower on the side of the gangs, which is creating really a challenge even especially for legitimate authorities that are really struggling to quell this surge of violence.
[04:40:24]
ROMO: Now, these farming communities far from Haiti's capital are left to deal with rising gang violence in anticipation of a new UN-backed security force. But previous efforts to fight the gangs have failed. For now, dozens of families are left to mourn and remain exposed as attacks continue. Rafael Romo, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ABEL: Rafael, thank you. The hits just keep coming for Kristi Noem. Just weeks after she was fired from President Trump's cabinet, photos have emerged of her husband that show him wearing fake breasts. Why these images are raising security concerns?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[04:45:40]
ABEL: March was a rough month for Kristi Noem. She was ousted as head of the US Homeland Security Department, and now she's getting blowback from published photos of her husband wearing some questionable attire, and that's causing concern over potential blackmail attempts. CNN's Tom Foreman explains.
TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This news about Bryon Noem is ricocheting all over DC and so are the pictures as they appeared in the Daily Mail, which show him dressed in costumes with extremely large breasts. This is the husband of Kristi Noem, who less than a month ago was fired from her job as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security for President Donald Trump.
She's now a special envoy appointed by Trump as part of a security initiative aimed at combating drug cartels. The New York Post says a representative for the Noem said, Kristi Noem is devastated by this news and her family was blindsided by it. There is no indication that this had anything to do with her dismissal from Homeland Security.
And the Mail says Trump told them he is surprised by the family's statement about Bryon's behavior. They confirmed it, the Mail says. Trump said, wow. Well, I feel badly for the family if that's the case. That's too bad. I haven't seen anything. I don't know anything about it. That's too bad, but I just know nothing about it.
Of course, this is precisely the kind of matter that security experts have long said must be ferreted out during the confirmation process for cabinet members because it presents such an obvious target for bad actors who might want to blackmail or leverage that information against Kristi Noem. Undoubtedly, there will be a lot of questions from Congress now about why the White House seemingly knew nothing about this, or if it did know why it went ahead with Noem's confirmation in the first place.
CNN has reached out to Bryon Noem for comment and has not heard back.
ABEL: Tom Foreman reporting there. Tiger Woods had been attempting another comeback, but that's now on hold after his latest crash. We will have the details on the charges he's facing and a statement he released coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[04:52:14]
ABEL: New details are being released about Tiger Woods latest car wreck. The golf superstar has pleaded not guilty to driving under the influence. And he also released a statement saying he understands the seriousness of the situation, and will be stepping away for a period of time to seek treatment and focus on his health. He also asked for privacy. CNN's Isabel Rosales has our report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ISABEL ROSALES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Golf legend Tiger Woods had prescription painkillers in his pocket, bloodshot eyes and was lethargic when he failed field sobriety tests, according to the arrest affidavit released today by the Martin County Sheriff's Office. The 50-year-old, 82 time PGA Tour winner was attempting another comeback after years of health setbacks. Before he rolled over his Land Rover near his Florida home on Jupiter Island last Friday afternoon.
JOHN BUDENSIEK, MARTIN COUNTY SHERIFF: Mr. Woods did a breathalyzer test, blew triple zeros, but when it came time for us to ask for a urinalysis test, he refused. And so, he's been charged with DUI, with property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test.
ROSALES: On Tuesday, Woods pleaded not guilty and demanded a jury trial. He's no stranger to high profile crashes, the latest one marking his fourth in a turbulent history. In 2009, he wrecked right outside his driveway. In 2017, he pleaded guilty to reckless driving after police found him asleep at the wheel in a parked car, which he later blamed on a bad reaction to prescription medications.
And in 2021, his most serious crash in Southern California, another rollover that left him with a shattered leg that he said he almost had to have amputated, according to the police report. The arresting deputy wrote that Woods said he was looking down at his cell phone and changing radio stations, and didn't notice a truck in front of him had slowed down.
Officers found two white pills inside his pant pocket. Hydrocodone, the prescription opioid used to treat chronic pain. While speaking to Woods, I observed him sweating profusely, the sheriff's deputy wrote in the arrest affidavit. I observed his pupils to be extremely dilated. I asked Woods if he consumed any prescription medication, to which he stated, I take a few.
BUDENSIEK: He is cooperative, but he was not trying to incriminate himself.
ROSALES: When deputies noticed Woods limping and stumbling, he told them he had seven back surgeries and more than 20 operations on his leg. Because of his physical limitations, his field sobriety tests were conducted while he was seated on the bumper of a sheriff's car. Woods made multiple errors, according to the affidavit, such as starting exercises before being instructed to do so and not counting steps correctly.
The golf star is dating the ex-wife of Donald Trump Jr., Vanessa Trump. And President Trump, told the New York Post today he spoke with Woods after his arrest, saying he lives a life of pain due to existing physical injuries but is doing great.
[04:55:07]
And we're expecting the Martin County Sheriff's Office to release soon body camera footage of that DUI investigation which would presumably show those failed field sobriety tests. Now, Woods has been charged with driving under the influence with property damage and also refusing to submit to a lawful test, although it'll ultimately be up to the district attorney to decide which charges to proceed with and how to handle this high profile case moving forward.
In the meantime, the golf icons driver's license has been suspended. Isabel Rosales, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ABEL: Isabel, thank you. And thank you all for joining us. I'm Brian Abel here in Washington. I'll be back for another hour of EARLY START right after this. [05:00:00]
