Return to Transcripts main page
Early Start with Rahel Solomon
Trump To Hold White House Briefing Today On U.S. Airman's Rescue; Trump Warns Iran To Reopen Strait of Hormuz Or Face Dire Consequences; Astronauts Aboard Orion Prepare To Loop Around Moon. Aired 5:30-6a ET
Aired April 06, 2026 - 05:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL)
[05:31:00]
DANNY FREEMAN, CNN ANCHOR: We're learning new details on the daring rescue of the U.S. airman whose F-15 fighter jet was shot down over Iran. Satellite images released Sunday show a crater at the fighter jet's crash site. It's not yet clear what caused the crater. President Trump is set to brief reporters on the massive operation from the White House on Monday.
And CNN's Jim Sciutto has more on the effort to get that service member out from behind enemy lines.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JIM SCIUTTO, CNN ANCHOR AND CHIEF NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST: This was a daring and dangerous operation involving dozens of aircraft, hundreds of U.S. military intelligence personnel, but also the remarkable actions of this military pilot. The U.S. carried out multiple efforts at once -- of course, launching this search and rescue team.
But also, the CIA carrying out a disinformation campaign inside Iran to spread false information that both pilots had already been rescued by them. That, of course, wasn't true. The U.S. was searching desperately for the pilot. The CIA helped locate him. But the pilot himself went 7,000 feet up a ridgeline, hid inside that ridgeline as the CIA pinpointed the location, and then those aircraft and those commandos went in to get him out.
This all began on Friday when, of course, that F-15 went down. The U.S. got their first communication from him Friday night indicating he was injured. That, of course, added to the urgency of this. But very much a happy ending. That pilot on his way home -- a great relief to the U.S. military and also, of course, to his family and loved ones.
Jim Sciutto, CNN, Jerusalem.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FREEMAN: Yeah, a happy ending indeed, especially on Easter. Speaking of which, during his first Easter services as pontiff, Pope Leo XIV reiterated his calls for peace as he addressed thousands gathered in Saint Peter's Square and millions watching around the world. He once again urged world leaders to reject division and war and to seek dialogue and understanding instead, warning the world is becoming increasingly desensitized to the human cost of conflict.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
POPE LEO XIV (through translator): We are growing accustomed to violence, resigning ourselves to it and becoming indifferent. Indifferent to the deaths of thousands of people. Indifferent to the repercussions of hatred and division that conflict so. Indifferent to the economic and social consequences they produce, which we all feel.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FREEMAN: Pope Leo, the first American pontiff, has made peace a central theme of this papacy -- some say indirect reaction to the Trump administration's increasingly hawkish foreign police and more specifically the war with Iran.
And, of course, we'll have much more coverage on the war with Iran after a quick break. Still ahead, a closer look at how rising oil prices are trickling down to the gas pump.
(COMMERCIAL)
[05:38:25]
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back to EARLY START.
Here is where the U.S. futures stand ahead of the opening bell on Wall Street some hours from now after what was, of course, a holiday weekend. The Dow, Nasdaq and S&P are all slightly higher right now.
Checking on some of today's other business headlines.
And crude oil prices are slightly lower this hour, but they climbed after President Trump threatened to strike Iranian energy facilities. The price hikes have trickled down to the gas pump. The AAA auto association reports that the U.S. national average hovering around $4.11 on the gallon. That is up nearly 80 cents in the last month alone.
Well, eight OPEC+ countries have agreed to slightly boost their oil production in May. Amongst them, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, the UAE where I am, Kuwait, and Oman. The wider organization is warning that repairing damaged infrastructure is a costly and lengthy process underlining the potential longer-term disruption to energy supply.
And Hungary's prime minister warns a "severe energy crisis" is approaching because of the war in the Middle East. Viktor Orban is demanding the EU suspend its sanctions on Russian energy imports. That comment coming just a day before Serbian officials said they discovered two backpacks full of explosives near a Russian gas pipeline close to its border with Hungary.
[05:40:00]
Well, this coming in to CNN. The UAE Mission to the U.N. posting just moments ago, saying it "...joins Bahrain in urging Security Council action the Strait of Hormuz." The minister of foreign affairs emphasizing "This is no longer a regional issue. It is a direct threat to global stability, food and energy security, and international law." The post adds, "Each day without action brings the world closer to a broader crisis with global south countries facing the gravest consequences."
Bahrain, of course, at present has a draft resolution sitting on the table waiting to be voted on at the U.N. Security Council that will need support or at least a commitment by Russia and China not to vote against it as permanent members of the U.N. Security Council. We have been told by sources that vote may come today. Let's see.
For more on all of this let's bring in CNN's Eleni Giokos live from Dubai. There is a trickle of ships of sort of quite friendly nations which Iran is letting through --
ELENI GIOKOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yeah.
ANDERSON: -- the Strait of Hormuz.
Just get us up to speed on what we understand to be going on in those waters which are, of course, crucial to energy security -- global energy security at this point.
GIOKOS: Well, to make it clear, Iran still has de facto control of the Strait of Hormuz. And you're right to say there has been a trickle -- a little bit more activity over the last few days than we've seen in the previous few weeks, specifically in the beginning of the war.
And this is because Iran is clearly coordinating directly with certain shippers as well as countries to secure passage -- specifically, past Qeshm and Larak Islands. And frankly, we saw the first French-owned vessel multi-flagged passing through on Friday. What we also saw was potential exemptions for Iraqi oil to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. And then Iran might also be trying to create some kind of mechanism with Oman directly.
As you're now reporting Becky, the UAE joining Bahrain in the U.N. Security Council resolution that will perhaps find a way forward in terms of securing safe passage where it will basically entail that countries are allowed to take any defensive means necessary to secure safe passage.
This is why we see very harsh words and, you know, escalatory language from President Donald Trump. You had that social media post which frankly, I've been speaking to so many analysts and economists and they're saying it's absolutely shocking to see that language being used but perhaps it's also showing some kind of formal escalation.
And looking at the Brent crude price right now that's slightly softer and also seeing futures ticking up slightly there's also perhaps talk and, of course, hope that in the next day or so we might see a movement towards a deal or perhaps some kind of ceasefire agreement, or perhaps not making good on this, you know, threat to target frankly energy infrastructure as well as bridges. That's what President Trump says that he will do come Tuesday.
So I think we're trying to see sort of a settling of where this is headed but there's a lot of movement and momentum being built about what to do with the Strait of Hormuz for the United States. There's also this realization that President Trump has been saying the Strait of Hormuz is not something the U.S. needs to care about because the United States is energy independent. But gas prices, Becky, are telling a completely different story and it's a pressure point not only for the U.S. domestically but for the whole world.
ANDERSON: Eleni, good to have you. Thank you very much indeed.
You are up to speed on what we understand to be going on and what feels like a very consequential day today, expecting to hear from Donald Trump himself at a press conference at 1:00 p.m. Eastern time today. That'll be a number of hours after these markets in the U.S., of course, open. You'll get that here on CNN.
Ahead, we'll have the latest developments out of the U.S. -- sorry, out of the Middle East as President Trump ramps up his threats and sets a new timeline for Iran to open that Strait of Hormuz. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL)
[05:48:45]
ANDERSON: Welcome back wherever you are watching in the world. You are more than welcome. I'm Becky Anderson live from our Middle East programming headquarters here in Abu Dhabi in the UAE.
And here are some of the stories that we are watching for you today.
U.S. President Trump warns Iran will face severe military action if it does not open -- reopen the Strait of Hormuz by Tuesday. On Sunday, Mr. Trump once again postponed the deadline for Iran to lift its effective blockade of what is this vital waterway or else the U.S., he said, will target Tehran's power plants and key infrastructure.
Well, Iran has responded to Trump's threats in full, saying it will only "reopen the Strait of Hormuz" when financial damages from the war are "fully compensated." On a call with his Russian counterpart, Iran's foreign minister described Trump's threats as an admission of intent to commit a war crime. Tehran has previously said it will continue to charge fees for the passage of some of the tankers in this strait.
[05:50:00]
Well, sources tell CNN the now-rescued U.S. airman whose fighter jet was shot down over Iran evaded a capture for more than a day by hiding alone and scaling rugged terrain. Satellite images show a crater at the F-15 fighter jet's crash site. It's not yet clear was caused that crater. President Trump is expected to brief reporters on the mission -- the missing -- the mission later today.
Well, CNN's Julia Benbrook following developments for us and has more from the White House.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JULIA BENBROOK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to target Iranian power facilities if it does not fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz, that critical waterway where 20 percent of the world's oil typically passes through.
And he said over the weekend that time is running out. His deadline here has shifted multiple times. When he first made this threat late last month he set it at 48 hours, and then paused it for five days, then extended it for 10 more. Now he had said it was Monday. It appears that he is now pushing that to Tuesday.
And I do want to pull out a post that came this weekend with the warning that the language used here is jarring. It is filled with profanity, but I'll read it for you.
He said, "Tuesday will be power plant day and bridge day all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it! Open the..." -- and then he used profanity that I'm not going to read directly but it's there on your screen -- "strait, you crazy bastards or you'll be living in hell. Just watch! Praise be to Allah." He then signed it like he usually does, "Donald J. Trump."
Now in several brief phone interviews he repeated that Tuesday timeframe saying that he could take further action if a deal is not reached by then. In an interview with Axios he said that he could "blow up everything up over there."
Now, a senior Iranian official -- he has responded to Trump's recent ultimatum saying that it would only reopen the Strait of Hormuz if it is fully compensated for financial damages during the conflict.
Trump is expected to speak with reporters and field questions in the briefing room at 1:00 p.m. Eastern on Monday.
Julia Benbrook, CNN, the White House.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Well, the Artemis crew preparing for their lunar flyby of the far side of the moon later today. When we return an update on what is that amazing mission. That after this.
(COMMERCIAL)
[05:57:00]
FREEMAN: To space now. The Artemis II crew have entered the lunar sphere of influence. That's where the moon's gravitational pull is stronger than the Earth's. The crew is preparing for their historic flyby of the moon's far side later today.
CNN's Ed Lavandera has the latest from Houston.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ED LAVANDERA, CNN SENIOR U.S. NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The Artemis II crew is preparing for what will be the most momentous moment of this mission as they prepare for the flyby around the moon. And there has been a great deal of thought over -- as to what will happen over these hours to excruciating detail. NASA officials laid out what the plan will be and how this crew will maximize their time flying around the moon capturing the images and parts of the moon that have never been seen before. This is a moment that has not happened in more than 50 years.
And NASA officials say that the four-person crew will divide time taking pictures of the moon as they fly around it. There will be two astronauts at the windows at any given time taking pictures. The other two crew members will be inside preparing. They have a laundry list of the very spots and specific areas of the moon that they want to capture images of, and they have a detailed plan of when they will fly around each of those spots and a plan to be able to try to capture as many of these images as possible.
On top of that there will also be cameras on the solar panels that extend from the capsule looking down on the moon itself. So there should be some extraordinarily stunning images of the moon.
And what is very different is when this was done during the Apollo missions it was audio only. There was no visual inclination or no -- any visuals of what was actually happening. It wasn't until much later after the crew returned that we were able to see those images. Now they are going to be seen -- the video -- all of this in real time. But, of course, there will be a moment -- about 40 minutes -- where the crew loses all communications.
But this is the moment -- the most significant moment of the Artemis II crew mission to the moon.
Ed Lavandera, CNN, Houston, Texas.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FREEMAN: Such an exciting day in space.
All right, to sports now. UCLA has won its first NCAA women's basketball title. The Bruins dominated South Carolina 79-51 in Phoenix. All of their starters finished the game with double figures in scoring. The win capped a stellar season of 31 wins and one loss.
Michigan and UConn will face off for the men's championship tonight. The Wolverines are entering the title game with confidence and momentum after a dominant Final Four performance. But the UConn Huskies are hoping to win their third national championship in four years.
I have Michigan in my bracket winning it all, so we're hoping for the maize and blue.
All right, and to this now. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is leveling up and collecting coins at the box office. Take a look.
[06:00:00]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
Clip from Universal Pictures "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FREEMAN: The animated sequel pulled in about $372 million worldwide in its opening weekend despite mixed reviews from critics. Mario and his beloved companions powered up and raked in $131 million in North America alone over the Easter weekend. Audiences seemed to be responding more positively than critics, giving the movie a Rotten Tomato's popcorn meter score of 89 percent. I'll go see it.
All right, thank you so much for joining us here on EARLY START. I'm Danny Freeman in New York. "CNN THIS MORNING" starts right now.
