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Iran: Eight Killed, Dozens Injured In Strike On Bridge; Diplomatic Push Underway To Reopen Strait Of Hormuz; Iran Claims Images Show Downed U.S. Fighter Jet. Aired 4-4:30a ET

Aired April 03, 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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ABBY PHILLIP, CNN ANCHOR: A special programming note. This weekend on CNN, there's competition on the court and an entirely different game on the sidelines. Money Madness: College Basketball at a Crossroads airs Sunday at 8:00 p.m. on CNN, or you can watch it on the CNN app.

And thank you for watching NewsNight. You can catch me anytime on your favorite social media, X, Instagram and TikTok. CNN's coverage continues next.

OMAR JIMENEZ, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome into our viewers joining us here in the United States and all around the world. I'm Omar Jimenez in New York.

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Becky Anderson live from our Middle East and Gulf programming headquarters here in Abu Dhabi in the UAE.

And we begin this hour with an exclusive report on the war with Iran. Three sources tell CNN that roughly half of Iran's missile launches are still intact, despite the daily attacks by the U.S. and Israeli military. This is according to recent U.S. intelligence assessments. You can see the damage from one of the latest missile strikes right there in central Israel.

The sources say thousands of one way attack drones remain in Iran's arsenal. One source says Iran is, "Still very much poised to wreak absolute havoc throughout the entire region." A Pentagon spokesperson calls CNN's reporting, "Completely wrong."

Well, President Trump is issuing a new threat to Iran, posting on social media that the U.S. military hasn't even started destroying what's left in Iran, bridges next, then electric power plants. Iran's new leadership knows what has to be done and fast, he wrote.

Well, let's bring in CNN's Paula Hancocks live here in Abu Dhabi. Paula, let's just get our viewers up to speed on what has been happening in Iran, in Israel and around this region over the past 12 hours or so.

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: So, Becky, let's start with Iran. And we have images of a bridge that was targeted just about 40 kilometers, 25 miles west of Tehran. This is a bridge that was still under construction. It was intended to link the capital with the city of Karaj.

Now, we understand from Fars News Agency that some eight people were killed, 95 injured in that strike. They say that they were civilian citizens that were out and about for nature day, which is the final day of the Persian New Year holiday.

Now, we have heard from the Israeli military. They say they're not aware of a strike on a bridge. We have reached out to the U.S. Central Command about this. But this is the images that the U.S. President was posting on social media when he posted that message saying much more to follow, bridges next, then electric power plants.

So, what we have heard from Iranian Red Crescent up until this point is that they believe more than 2,000 people have been killed and 21,000 injured. Now, CNN cannot independently verify those figures, but they also speak of the damage to homes and commercial units. About 140,000, they say, have been damaged.

Now, when it comes to what Iran has inflicted on the rest of the region, we saw a kindergarten in northern Israel was impacted. This was in the town of Nahariyya in northern Israel, which has been struck a number of times.

We see footage of the damage to that kindergarten as part of the roof caved in. We understand this was from the debris of an intercepted projectile. There were no casualties at that particular area. But we are also seeing across the Gulf further projectiles being fired.

Here in the UAE, there were three emergency alerts in the space of just one hour this morning. We have seen in Kuwait as well that there has been another impact at an oil refinery. So, in keeping with that U.S. intelligence assessment that Iran still has significant capability to terrorize its neighbors, that's certainly what we're seeing on the ground at this point.

Now, we also heard about the U.S. President saying that European powers should be pushing forward to open the Strait of Hormuz. We have had some pushback from that, as you might imagine. The French Prime Minister, Emmanuel Macron, criticizing Trump, saying that this is unrealistic. Let's listen to more of what he said.

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EMMANUEL MACRON, FRENCH PRESIDENT (through translator): This is not a show. We're talking of peace, of war. We're talking about the lives of men and women. And we want to be serious, we don't say each day the opposite of what we said the day before. Perhaps we don't need to speak every day.

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HANCOCKS: And here in the region, we know Bahrain also having emergency alerts this morning. Becky?

ANDERSON: Good to have you, Paula. Thank you very much, indeed.

All right. Well, on the Strait of Hormuz, more than 40 countries are vowing to use every possible measure to reopen it. The British Foreign Secretary hosting a virtual meeting about the vital shipping route, which has been effectively shut down by Iran since the start of the war. She says options include sanctions on Tehran and diplomatic pressure. About 20 percent of the world's oil passes through the Strait, and currently about 2,000 vessels are trapped inside the Persian Gulf.

For more now on what are these diplomatic efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, we're joined by Norway's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Espen Barth Eide. Thank you for joining us this morning. You attended that meeting hosted by the U.K. foreign minister. What came out of that in terms of forming a coalition to open the Strait, sir?

ESPEN BARTH EIDE, NORWEGIAN MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS: So, good morning, Becky, and thank you for having me. I attended that meeting. Indeed, I think it was a very good meeting organized by the United Kingdom Foreign Secretary, Yvette Cooper, and it had foreign ministers from literally all over the world, from all continents taking part.

This was a very wide range of countries that all agree that this blockade, the de facto blockade, or this closing for most ships of the Hormuz Strait is a global problem. We are seeing, as you mentioned, serious shocks to not only energy prices, but also to energy supply, but also fertilizer, which is important now for food production, and helium, which is important for semiconductors. So, we have a very serious problem.

And what we discussed was principally a joint diplomatic pressure on Iran to respect the key principle of UNCLOS, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas, which says that an international strait which connects two parts of the open ocean has to be respected, and pointing out to them that this affects a lot of countries that are not party to the conflict.

So, we're trying to build a global understanding, a global coalition to put that clear pressure on the warring parties, but principally, of course, here on Iran, which is a neighbor to the Strait, in order to have them gradually open for shipping again.

ANDERSON: Foreign Minister Yvette Cooper said, and I quote, we looked at diplomatic, economic, and security measures to restore safe passage, alongside working with the shipping industry. And she very specifically spoke to the E.U.'s Aspides naval mission, the naval mission run by the E.U., which, as she said, already assisted 1,700 ships in the Red Sea and must be scaled up. We cannot afford to lose another critical trade route.

So, very specifically, I get the economic importance. I understand the diplomatic sort of route being used here. What does that security look like? What does a naval mission look like? And who is prepared to offer support? BARTH EIDE: Well, as you correctly say, Aspides is relating to the Red Sea, and that is also an important strait. And the worry now is that through the Houthis, that might also be challenged, because the Houthis are closely connected to Iran. So, that's also a precautionary measure in order to ensure that we do not see another strait is closed.

When it comes to the Hormuz Strait, I think there is a broad understanding that there is a very limited interest in entering into a violent confrontation, taking part in the war while it's going on. But, you know, if we are able to come to a ceasefire, the straits were opened before the war. And the thing is, we need to then prepare for a quick opening after a ceasefire.

Before a ceasefire, the question is if it's possible to have some temporary limited opening, for instance, for certain products. And this is why this global coalition is very important. But I think we have to be very honest about taking direct military measures in which would, you know, lead to a participation in the war effort is not something anything anybody here in Europe is prepared to do as of now.

So, the military preparations is very much for a speedy deployment that could happen after a ceasefire to help ensure that the straits are then reopened. Before that, it will be diplomatic means. And remember, it's the straits, but it's also the risk of further destruction of energy infrastructure, which means in the long run, even if you do open the straits, there will be less to export. So, this is really part of the bigger picture. It's a global problem.

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ANDERSON: Right.

BARTH EIDE: There are three countries fighting, Iran, the U.S. and Israel, but it affects the entire planet and the economic consequences are already massive. And they will continue to be massive even if the war ends quickly.

ANDERSON: The U.S. President said, it's your problem, not mine, speaking to the rest of the world. So, what do you say to him at this point? Before you answer that question, here's what he said about NATO, for example, earlier this week.

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DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: So, I learned about NATO. NATO won't be there if we ever have the big one. You know what I mean by the big one? We ever have the big one, hopefully we won't. Relationships very good with the big one, better than with NATO.

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ANDERSON: So, as a founding member of the organization, what's Norway's reaction to that statement and also to the wider suggestion that the U.S. doesn't particularly need the Strait of Hormuz, for example, it's everybody else's issue, not his? BARTH EIDE: Well, frankly, I think it is everybody's problem, including the U.S., but it's everybody, meaning all countries on the planet, because this is such an important throughfare, it's such an important element of the world economy. It's about food, it's about energy, it's about key resources that we all need.

And, you know, even if countries like the U.S., like Norway, have our own oil and gas production, we will not have an energy shortage. The prices are global. So, you know, when there is shortage in the world, we also feel that the prices are going up. So, our consumers, Norwegian, American, everybody else will feel the consequences of this as long as the Strait remains closed.

And on NATO, we, as a founding member, as you said, a strongly transatlantic-oriented country, we very much believe in NATO, we need NATO. We also think that all allies, including the U.S., are much better off with NATO. But then you have to remember what NATO is about. When the U.S. was actually attacked in 9/11, we all stood up for the U.S. together, because one of our members were attacked, and there was no doubt in our mind that we would stand together on that.

Something else is when a member starts a war somewhere else of our own choice. That is not something that obliges NATO to participate. And there is no discussion of NATO participation, but individual NATO countries are coming together to see how we can help on the Hormuz Strait, as I just told you.

ANDERSON: Yes. NATO Chief Mark Rutte heading to D.C. next week. He is considered by some a Trump whisperer. What message will he carry and what do you expect him to achieve?

BARTH EIDE: Well, I expect that our Secretary General Mark Rutte, who is the Secretary General of the 32 members of NATO, he will speak up and remind the U.S. administration of the importance of NATO for things they care about. It is in their long-term interest, just like it is in our long-term interest to have this transatlantic alliance.

Even when we disagree on certain policy choices, we are the closest in the sense that we are sort of the predominant Western alliance and we share a lot of ideas, values and security interests. And I do think this is important to continue. And we have a history of, you know, the alliance has been around for 77 years. It has endured the Vietnam War, it's endured the Iraq War. That was not NATO wars, but we could handle differences while we stood together on the most important things.

And obviously for us here in Europe, we are also very preoccupied with maintaining a sufficient focus on the war in Ukraine, where our neighbor Russia attacked Ukraine and where we are standing up to help them in defending their security, their independence in the long run. And this is also a major NATO issue. So I expect Mark Rutte also to speak about those issues when he meets the President next week.

ANDERSON: Thank you. I just want to get back very specifically to the Strait of Hormuz and the impact that it's sort of closure and inverted commas is having on the global economy and very specifically on energy prices. Norway's exposure, I just want to discuss that. Oil and gas companies benefiting from higher prices, but the fishing industry facing an acute crisis in getting perishable seafood to markets in Asia.

Apologies for the sound. It is an alert going off in Abu Dhabi. We are safe where we are. What's the immediate and midterm impact for Norway? And you basically admitted that the coalition will not act before a ceasefire, but a ceasefire is nowhere in sight. So how bad could things get at this point?

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BARTH EIDE: First, let me say that this, I hope you're safe in Abu Dhabi, by the way. The ceasefire, you know, this coalition that we're speaking about will act immediately. It will act diplomatically. It will put pressure on Iran. It will look for all ways to work together to open as much as we can on the Hormuz Strait while the war is going on.

What I said is that there is no idea of entering the war as such, because if you try to force your way through, that will be met with significant Iranian resistance. And as we said earlier on the program, Iran retains a lot of capacity. They are masters of asymmetry. And we have to be realistic of what can be achieved militarily while the war is going on.

But there are other means. The military is not the only option. And we will definitely build a broad coalition with countries from across the world with different views on the war itself, but who agrees that Iran has to live up to its obligations under international law, which is to open international straits for traffic.

And we will also work with the IMO for the seafarers who are trapped, which includes some Norwegian ships which are still on the inside of that ship. When it comes to effects on us, I mean, the immediate effect is higher prices, but also even more exports of energy to Europe, because we are a major exporter to Europe of oil, gas and renewable electricity.

But we are also feeling the indirect costs, because when the world economy comes into trouble, that will affect any globally oriented economy, including ours here in Norway. But I have to say that our problems are minuscule compared to what I hear from colleagues in Asia, in the Pacific Asia, where you have rationing, where you close down schools and public services and where the social effects are already very alarming and where everybody who understands this market and also will tell you that the effects will continue even after the war is over and the Strait is open because of the disruption that has already happened.

And the longer this war continues, the longer the lingering consequences will also be. So we also need to work for the escalation of the conflict and for a speedy opening and for preventing any idea of tolling as the future source of income for Iran or for anybody else who are close to international straits like this. So this is what this coalition is all about. And I think it's a very worthwhile initiative. And I commend the U.K. administration and the U.K. government for starting this coalition.

ANDERSON: Understood. Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide, thank you very much indeed for joining us.

We have got some breaking news out of Iran. Let's just get you up to speed on that. State media have released images that they claim show the wreckage of a U.S. Air Force fighter jet. A series of photos shows only small pieces of an aircraft, which the Iranian report claims is an F-35 stealth fighter.

Analysts say the wreckage photos appear to be from a U.S. Air Force F- 15 jet. The pictures show a partial logo for U.S. Air Forces in Europe that appears on an F-15 tail fin and red and white striping from the top of the tail fin. U.S. Central Command says all U.S. fighter aircraft are accounted for. Iran's IRGC has made the same false claim at least half a dozen times.

Again, Iranian media releasing images purporting to show the wreckage of a U.S. Air Force fighter jet. Let's get you to Paula Hancocks, who is following this live from Abu Dhabi. Paula?

HANCOCKS: Well, Becky, these are a series of photos that we're seeing on a number of different state media at this point. We see in these photos, which have been analyzed by our teams and experts, that it does appear to be from an F-15 fighter jet, different to what the Iranian state media has claimed.

They do claim that it is a fighter jet, though, that was shot down by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Now, we have reached out to U.S. Central Command for comment on this particular claim by the Iranian state media. We have, though, as you mentioned, seen in the past that there have been earlier claims of having shot down fighter jets over the Strait of Hormuz was the earlier claim.

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U.S. Central Command in that particular case said that it is not true that that had happened and that Iran does often give these claims that then turn out to be false. So we're waiting to see if they have a response from this. It was earlier that the IRGC did claim that a different advanced enemy fighter jet was shot down.

So we are waiting to hear from U.S. Central Command at this point. But this is what the Iranian state media quoting the Revolutionary Guard is claiming at this point. Becky?

ANDERSON: Good to have you, Paula. Thank you very much, indeed.

All right, we will take a very short break at this point. Back after this.

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JIMENEZ: U.S. President Donald Trump has been doing some spring cleaning with his cabinet. First, getting rid of his Homeland Security Secretary, Kristi Noem, and now firing Attorney General Pam Bondi. The President praised her work in the Justice Department, calling Bondi a great patriot, but didn't provide a specific reason for her dismissal. CNN's Kristen Holmes has our report from the White House.

KRISTEN HOLMES, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: President Trump fired his Attorney General Pam Bondi on Thursday, saying that the Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche would be filling in during the interim period while they look for someone to fill that job permanently.

Now, in the lead-up to this actual firing, we have been told that President Trump had grown increasingly frustrated with Bondi over a number of issues, one being her handling of the Epstein files. Two, President Trump does not believe that Bondi has worked fast enough to prosecute some of his political enemies.

Now, President Trump first started talking about this idea of replacing Bondi back in January, and then it started to die down. Many people in the administration had thought that he had moved on from that until this week, when he started calling allies, saying that he wanted to replace her, floating different names.

And then it became increasingly clear he was likely to do so. Wednesday night, President Trump had a meeting with Bondi that one source described as tough. They talked about her future in the role, and President Trump made clear that she was probably going to get replaced, but did float the idea of a potential other job within the administration or even a judgeship, sources told us.

Now, here's what President Trump posted after firing Pam Bondi on Truth Social. He said, Pam Bondi is a great American patriot and a loyal friend who faithfully served as my attorney general over the past year. Then he says, we love Pam and she will be transitioning to a much-needed and important new job in the private sector to be announced at a date in the near future.

Now, this is critical, because as you'll remember, Pam Bondi is now the second cabinet member in the last month to get fired, the first being Kristi Noem, to whom he gave a soft landing as a special envoy. Clearly here, there is no soft landing for Pam Bondi as they move forward. Instead, she will be going into the, "private sector."

Now, Bondi thanked the President for service on social media and said that she would be in that job for the next month, helping with the transition. There are a number of names that have been floated to become the next attorney general. One of them considered the lead is now the current EPA administrator, Lee Zeldin, but nothing is final. President Trump is still thinking through various names he could put into this position.

Kristen Holmes, CNN, the White House.

JIMENEZ: All right, Kristen, thank you.

Meanwhile, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has told the Army's chief of staff to retire immediately. General Randy George held the position since September of 2023, and he previously served as a senior military assistant to former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. Now, experts say General George's ties to the Biden administration didn't sit well with Hegseth, who has already positioned one of his top deputies to fill the role.

And President Trump's sprawling White House ballroom project has gotten another green light to move forward as a board that oversees planning for federal buildings gave its approval to the plans. The National Capital Planning Commission is stacked with Trump loyalists at this point, who overruled more than 32,000 public comments overwhelmingly opposed to the project.

Meanwhile, the approval comes days after a federal judge ordered construction of the ballroom be halted until it's approved by Congress. Trump insists the privately funded ballroom isn't subject to any oversight and should move forward with no serious scrutiny.

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Still ahead for us, countries around the world grappling with surging fuel prices. We'll have a look at how the war with Iran is taking a toll on global oil and energy markets next. We'll take you back to the region.

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