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Early Start with Rahel Solomon

Trump Vows To Destroy Iran's Power Plants, Bridges If No Deal; Oil Prices Remain High As Trump Threatens Iran Over Hormuz; Artemis II Crew Returning To Earth After Lunar Fly-By. Aired 5-5:30a ET

Aired April 07, 2026 - 05:00   ET

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

[05:00:28]

ERICA HILL, CNN ANCHOR: Hello and welcome to our viewers in the United States and around the world. Five a.m. here in New York. I'm Erica Hill.

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Becky Anderson, live from our middle headquarters here in Abu Dhabi.

And we begin with U.S. President Donald Trump's deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz today, or cut a deal. President Trump is warning the entire country could be taken out in one night, but adds that he would rather not strike Tehran.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The last thing we want to do is start with power plants, which are among the most expensive thing and bridges. Do I want to destroy their infrastructure? No, it will take them 100 years to rebuild.

Right now, if we left today, it would take them 20 years to rebuild their country, and it would never be as good as it was.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, the IDF has issued an urgent warning to Iranians not to use trains and to stay away from railway lines for the next several hours this Tuesday. The IDF issued the warning on its Farsi language account on X, which, like the rest of Western internet, is actually blocked across Iran.

Meanwhile, in Israel, the IDF says medical teams are on their way to several impact sites after an Iranian cluster munitions attack. These weapons release dozens or hundreds of smaller explosives across a wide area. Iran has increasingly been used cluster munitions to evade Israeli air defenses.

Eleni Giokos continuing to monitor the global economic fallout. We'll get to you in a moment.

First, I want to start with Paula Hancocks, who is in Abu Dhabi ahead of that deadline by Donald Trump, which is some 15 hours away at this point.

What is happening both militarily and on the diplomatic front, Paula?

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Becky, there has been plenty of response from Iranian officials to the press conference that President Trump gave on Monday, most of it rejecting the threats that he had had uttered. Also, the deadline that is coming up, on Iranian security source tells CNN that Iran believes that they have dealt Trump a strategic defeat, also saying they believe that the U.S. president has lost control of this war, saying Iran wants the war to end, but not in the way or on the timeline that Trump is seeing.

Now, we also had a Revolutionary Guard response to what Trump said. Let's listen to the spokesperson

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

EBRAHIM ZOLFAQARI, SPOKESPERSON, ISLAMIC REVOLUTIONARY GUARDS CORPS (through translator): The rude rhetoric, arrogance and baseless threats of the delusional U.S. president arising from the deadlock he faces aimed at justifying the repeated defeats of the U.S. military will have no effect on the continuation of offensive and crushing operations by the fighters of Islam against U.S. and Israeli enemies, and will not repair the humiliation of the United States in West Asia.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HANCOCKS: Now, Iran's deputy minister of youth and sports has also issued a declaration that there's going to be a human chain of young people around power plants at some point on Tuesday. This is a call from this -- this minister, power plants. Obviously, the one of the key parts of infrastructure that that the U.S. president has threatened if this deadline comes to fruition. Of course, this deadline has been pushed back a number of times already.

We're hearing from Israel as well, the Israeli military, according to two Israeli sources, has actually updated their target list. Should there be a contingency plan needed and they will target energy infrastructure if this deadline passes and the attacks intensify -- Becky.

ANDERSON: Good to have you, Paula. Thank you.

Let's get to Eleni who is live from Dubai, for more on how these global markets are reacting to President Trump's fast approaching deadline -- Eleni.

ELENI GIOKOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, what we saw in early trade in Europe was negative territory. That has now been reversed. European markets across the board are looking pretty good. Youve got the DAX up around 7/10 of a percent. The FTSE is up a quarter of a percent. And then your U.S. futures also looking positive after showing a day of negativity across the board.

[05:05:00] Interestingly, I've been checking to see what oil is doing. And Brent crude is oscillating between positive and negative territory but still holding below $110 a barrel. WTI, the U.S. benchmark, Becky, has been consistently in positive territory. It's now sitting at around $112 a barrel, and it really shows the scramble for any available crude oil that is available in the international markets versus what we see in the United States, which, of course, is far easier to get your hands on.

This is all really framed around opening up the Strait of Hormuz. And when President Trump was asked about the toll fee that Tehran is charging for the passage of vessels through the strait, he said it comes down to who has ultimate control, and he's open to the United States getting a toll fee.

Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REPORTER: Are you willing to end this conflict with Iran charging tolls for passage through the strait?

TRUMP: Us charging tolls?

REPORTER: Iran.

TRUMP: What about us charging tolls?

REPORTER: Is that something you're considering?

TRUMP: I'd rather do that than let them have them, right? Why shouldn't we? We're the winner.

We won. Okay? They are militarily defeated.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GIOKOS: So, whoever wins gets their hands on the Strait of Hormuz basically controls the Strait of Hormuz. We're very far away from that. But I think what markets are telling us today, Becky, very directionless. Another thing that I'm going to be focusing on Friday is the CPI, the inflation figure that is going to be released in the United States. It's touted to be one of the highest since Russia invaded Ukraine, in 2022.

That's going to be very telling in terms of the way this war has now escalated into a global pressure point on oil prices and how it's affecting everyone at this stage -- Becky.

HANCOCKS: It is, Eleni. Thank you.

Well, joining us now is Danny Citrinowicz. He's a senior researcher in the Iran and Shiite Axis Program at the Institute for National Security Studies. Also, the former head of the Iranian branch in the Israeli Defense Intelligence. It comes to us from Rehovot in Israel.

Good to have you this morning.

Can you just give us a sense of where you believe Israel stands at present? We heard a lot over the weekend and yesterday from Donald Trump. We are some 15 hours away from a deadline self-imposed by Donald Trump.

We have seen the Iranians knock back a ceasefire proposal by the country of Pakistan, amongst others. Danny, where does Israel stand at this point?

DANNY CITRINOWICZ, SENIOR RESEARCHER, IRAN PROGRAM, INSTITUTE FOR NATIONAL SECURITY STUDIES: Again, thank you, Becky, for inviting me. And I have to say that we're in front of a dramatic -- less than 24 hours that actually will decide where this campaign is going between escalation and maybe some sort of understanding that unable to stop this war.

Regarding to Israel, definitely. Israel is hoping that the negotiation will collapse and we move to the next stage of the -- of the war, meaning attacking civilian infrastructure for Israel. It's all about preventing Iran from becoming a strategic threat to the state of Israel. And to do so, Israel is willing to hit hard on the civilian, but also the military infrastructure.

So, we are definitely hoping that in this moment in time, again, the Israeli government hoping that this moment in time, the gaps between Iran and the U.S., it looks very, very big right now. You know, the maximum of Iran is not getting close to the minimum that the U.S. expects. We hope that in terms of Israel, hoping that this will lead to collapse of the negotiation and moving further into this war.

ANDERSON: Do you see the U.S. and Israel aligned today, this Tuesday, some 15 hours away from this deadline for all hell to break loose for the entire country to be taken out? And I'm paraphrasing Donald Trump here, but that's effectively what he said

CITRINOWICZ: Well, I think that there is no alignment in terms of the fact that Donald Trump, President Trump, I think that really tried to reach an agreement. The problem is the fact that his expectations are different. He thinks that he is winning. But the Iranians also think that they are winning. So, the gaps of position expectation does not allow the parties to reach an agreement.

But I think in general terms, unlike Israel, Donald Trump really is intent to negotiate with this current regime, a regime that he tried to topple in the beginning of this war. So, there is a gap. But this gap will be closed if Donald Trump will decide to go to with the -- with Israel and attack the civilian infrastructure. So, we have to wait and see what will happen in the next couple of hours.

HILL: You posted this morning and I follow you. It's insightful stuff. So thank you for your thoughts both online and sharing with us here on CNN.

You said, as we approach a potential escalation and with deadlines and ultimatums looming, it's worth returning to a very basic question. You say that should have been asked from the outset.

[05:10:00]

What is the objective of this war?

Danny, do you believe that that is still unclear?

CITRINOWICZ: Definitely, it's unclear. It's unclear. After, you know, the war started. And we all know in a way to try to create the conditions to topple this regime did that actually didn't materialize. We know that for sure. So, the question is what we're doing now in the war of attrition. I'm really asking myself, okay, let's assume that Mr. Trump decides to attack the infrastructure. What will happen then?

The Iranians are not going to capitulate for them in the in the junction between, uh, continuing the war or capitulating to the U.S., they will continue this war. So, I don't understand exactly what we are trying to achieve. Even if we attack the infrastructure, what will happen next rather than just we all know what will happen to the international economy and the influence of all of us as human beings living on this planet.

So the real question we will need to be decided and think of is really what were trying to do. And I don't really know what the what is the purpose? Because the Iranians are not going to capitulate, even if the U.S. will strike the infrastructure, the civilian one. And even more than that, there is -- this regime is not going to be toppled from it. On the contrary, what will have will have the Iranians gathering around the flag, I think because at the end of the day, the regime is telling them that this war is not against the regime. It's against Iran in specific.

So, I think that, again, I don't understand where it goes, especially when I don't think that the Iranians will give the enriched uranium, the 460 kilos, after this kind of strike. On the contrary, maybe they will think about rushing into a bomb because of that.

ANDERSON: Let's get really hyper-focused as we close this out. Then as we understand it, it appears Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are involved in working through closing these gaps between the U.S. and Iran at present. Where do you believe they need to focus their efforts?

CITRINOWICZ: Well, the basic question is about and the issue is about the guarantees. The Iranians want to see this war ending, and they have zero trust in President Trump and his administration. So, I think it all comes about how the mediators, especially Pakistan and Egypt and Turkey, will actually will be able to give these guarantees, to Iran, saying that, yes, it's a ceasefire, but actually the war is ended.

If they can find some sort of a silver bullet, some sort of a response for that, the solution for that, then we might see a cease of escalation and then study on negotiation, probably headed by the deputy or the vice president, J.D. Vance. But until then, this is the main issue we cannot discuss now nuclear,

Hormuz, things like that. We need to be focused on stopping the war. If they want to stop the war. And the basic thing is guarantees, making sure that the Iranians will assume that the war is ending while its only ceasefire. This is, I think, will be the magic solution to bridge for now between the parties.

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

And I will be back later in the hour with more Iran coverage from our Middle East programing hub here in Abu Dhabi, in the UAE.

For the time being. Let's get you back to Erica, who is in New York for you.

HILL: Becky, thanks.

Still ahead here, the Artemis II crew is now on their way back to earth. We'll take a closer look at their historic view of the moon, one of many firsts for humans on this mission.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:17:58]

HILL: The four Artemis II astronauts are heading back to Earth after traveling the farthest from Earth that any other human has, and also witnessing sites no human has seen before the naked eye. They completed their lunar flyby on Monday, circling around the far side of the moon, taking pictures of its previously unseen surface. They also experienced an hour-long solar eclipse, offering them a brilliant look at the sun's outer atmosphere and the glow of earth. The crew also spent 40 minutes in an expected communications blackout, where they fully lost contact with earth.

Pilot Victor Glover described those moments.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VICTOR GLOVER, ARTEMIS II PILOT: I said a little prayer, but then I had to keep rolling. I was actually recording scientific observations of the far side of the moon. You know, that is actually the time when we were the farthest and the closest to the moon. And so, we were really able to make some of our most detailed observations of the far side of the moon up close. And so, we were busy up here working really hard. And I must say it was actually quite nice

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HILL: Actually quite nice. Maybe to have a little break. Not the break from the work though, as you heard, as the astronauts began their return trajectory.

They also received a call from President Trump who congratulated them and also invited them to visit the oval office, telling them the U.S. would invest more in its space program. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: Your mission paves the way for America's return to the lunar surface very soon. We're going all out. We're doing everything we can. We'll plant our flag once again, and this time we won't just leave footprints. We'll establish a permanent presence on the moon, and we'll push on to mars

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HILL: Dr. David Wolf is a former NASA astronaut. He's the chief technology officer of Voxel Systems and joins us now from Houston.

It's great to have you with us this morning.

I mean, we are now on day seven. A little bit of a rest day, although obviously they still have some work to do. I'd love to just get your sense now as were more than halfway through this mission of what it means and what we've seen in terms of accomplishments

DR. DAVID WOLF, FORMER NASA ASTRONAUT & MISSION SPECIALIST: Where humans fit in the -- in the whole celestial sphere, in our whole cosmology is the most age-old questions that humans have ever had. They draw me, I stare at the sky every night. We are finding out where we belong. And at the same time moving out as a -- as a humanity, moving out into space permanently. And these are the early steps. These are fantastic times.

HILL: Were you -- we had heard some of the -- some of the reflections from the crew, especially on seeing some parts of the moon that have never really been seen with the human eye before. Certainly not this close.

Commander Reid Wiseman describing it as very three dimensional and so dynamic. They got to see five meteors slam into the lunar surface, is -- I see you smiling there.

Is a lot of what they have observed, what you were expecting?

WOLF: Well, you know, it really kind of in a sense is when I first looked at Earth, my first mission, I was amazed at the three dimensionality. And that's what Reid noticed. And I was also in space during a Perseid meteor shower, watching hundreds and thousands of meteors come in below us, which meant they had to pass us to get there. And, it's just amazing what you see out there in -- when you're part of the celestial environment.

HILL: There's been so much excitement around this mission. It's been really, I think here in the United States. It's a unifying moment over the last several days. We know the NASA administrator has said this is just the start to a great journey.

Walk us through what this means for you, too. I mean, you were integral in so much during your time at mission for NASA, rather four different missions, seven spacewalks, you really played a critical role in the construction of the International Space Station. Artemis is set to speak to the folks at the ISS later today.

Just put this in perspective about what it means in terms of igniting interest as well in the space program moving forward.

WOLF: I remember as a young boy, I would -- I had a riding lawn mower and cut some neighbors lawns. And I loved how the machine worked and that I could drive it and control it. And I liked the human and the machine interface.

And now, we're dealing with that with artificial intelligence, interfacing with humans. And in space. It's the -- it's the maximum of human machine interfacing that has to go perfectly. Human factors are crucial. And it just is an incredible environment for finding out what we can pull off, what we really can do as humans.

HILL: This planned communications blackout -- Victor Glover described it as actually quite nice. Do you think it was sort of a nice break? I mean, they are so connected. Really, this crew in terms of the way that they're interacting not just with NASA, but frankly, with all of us as we're, you know, watching every moment probably was a nice break.

WOLF: Well, I had a complete power failure on the Mir space station. Three of them, in fact, which were each lasted 48 hours. And that was 48 hours of no comm except a ham radio. And this was beautiful to be in space, really alone has -- it's a certain risk, a certain fear and a certain beauty that is all mixed together as you resolve the problems.

They're resolving problems quite well. These are expected level problems. Nits, I call them, the spacecraft's doing great.

These -- space is a hard place to learn to operate. And the -- it's a hard place for machines to operate and for humans. And we do it together here

HILL: Yeah. One more I will say unifying moment when the crew requested to name two craters, one Integrity, and one for Carroll, Reid Wiseman's late wife. That's really something that is, I know, resonated with so many people down here on Earth.

Dr. David Wolf, thank you so much for your time this morning.

WOLF: My pleasure.

HILL: Much more ahead here on EARLY START. We'll go back to Becky Anderson in Abu Dhabi for more on the latest in the war with Iran ahead, including new strikes in central Israel.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:28:48]

ANDERSON: Israel and Iran are trading new strikes as President Trump's deadline for Tehran draws closer. Trump is vowing to destroy Iran's power plants and bridges if they don't cut a deal or the Strait of Hormuz is not opened by 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time tonight, and Israel is warning Iranians today to avoid trains and railway lines.

Meanwhile, Israel's emergency service is responding to several sites in the central part of the country, where they say Iranian cluster munitions exploded. Iran has used the projectiles to evade Israeli air defenses. There is no word as yet on casualties.

Well, let's take you to Kuwait at this point. I want to bring in Bader Al-Saif. He's a professor at Kuwait University and a fellow at Chatham House.

Let's start with what you -- what you made of President Trump's press conference last night.

BADER AL-SAIF, PROFESSOR, KUWAIT UNIVERSITY: Becky, this was a cinematic portrayal of the rescue operation. The amount of imagery, the amount of numbers, statistics, even at one point divulging too much information was just quite clear that they're trying to continue selling the operation, not only to the American public, but even beyond.