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One World with Zain Asher
Trump Urges Allies to Help Secure Strait of Hormuz; Strikes Rock Middle East with Iran War in Third Week; Israel Expands Ground Operation in Southern Lebanon; Israeli Continues to Target Hezbollah in Beirut & Southern Lebanon; Trump Acknowledges U.S. & Israeli War Goals May Not Be Identical; Oscars Honor This Year's Biggest Films and Top Talents. Aired 11a-12p ET
Aired March 16, 2026 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[11:00:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BIANNA GOLODRYGA, CNN HOST, ONE WORLD: Hello, everyone. Live from New York. I'm Bianna Golodryga.
ZAIN ASHER, CNN HOST, ONE WORLD: And I'm Zain Asher, you are watching "One World". All eyes right now on the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. President Donald
Trump now warning NATO allies could face a quote, very bad future if they do not send water, warships rather, to help reopen the critical waterway.
Earlier British Prime Minister Keir Starmer --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KEIR STARMER, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: We have to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to ensure stability in the market. That is not a simple task. So,
we're working with all of our allies, including our European partners, to bring together a viable collective plan that can restore freedom of
navigation in the region as quickly as possible.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: Today, EU Energy Ministers are gathered in Brussels to discuss how to curb rising energy costs. This comes as the price of oil rises to its
highest level since July 2022. The average cost of diesel in the U.S. just shies of $5 per gallon.
GOLODRYGA: We're also tracking new disruptions in air travel. On Sunday, the Dubai International Airport had to suspend flights for several hours
after a nearby fuel tank caught on fire during a drone related -- Southern Lebanon -- Israel says it is expanding its ground offensive.
Their defense minister says hundreds of thousands of people have been or are currently evacuating. As this war stretches into its third week, many
Iranians are feeling intense strain from the U.S. and Israeli assault on their country. Some Tehran citizens tell CNN that they live in both fear
and despair.
Let's begin our coverage in Israel with Jeremy Diamond, who is live in Tel Aviv, as we have noted. Jeremy, Israel widening its offensive there in
southern Lebanon, responding to Hezbollah entering this war and the constant bombardment there, concerns among Lebanese there what it means for
civilians.
And there had been some diplomacy over the weekend, or at least attempt at diplomacy in mediating this. What is the very latest?
JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, it's a very active and dynamic situation, Bianna. The latest is that indeed, the Israeli military
is expanding its ground operation inside of Southern Lebanon. The Israeli military already had a presence there.
Had been conducting a series of targeted raids. We know that they also have control of multiple positions, you know, right along the Israel Lebanon
border. Inside of Lebanon, this expansion means that Israeli troops will go somewhat deeper into Lebanon, but by no means is this a ground operation to
seize control of every area in Southern Lebanon, south of the Litani River, which is about as far as 25 kilometers away from the Israeli border.
So certainly, an intensification of this operation, which the Israeli Defense Minister says is aimed at protecting Israel's northern residents,
dismantling Hezbollah infrastructure in several additional villages close to the Israeli border. We know, of course, that this has already resulted
in enormous displacement of Lebanese civilians.
You know, some 800,000 Lebanese civilians have been displaced from both Southern Lebanon as well as from those southern suburbs of Beirut known as
the Dahieh as the Israeli military, beyond its ground operations, has also been conducting severe air strikes in the Lebanese capital.
Hezbollah has fired some 100 rockets per day at Israel, according to an Israeli military official, some days we've seen those attacks coordinated
with Iranian ballistic missile attacks as well. And as you noted, there is diplomatic effort underway to try and resolve this issue, but no real
traction as of yet.
We know that the Israeli Prime Minister has tapped his Former Strategic Minister, Ron Dermer to lead this file. Should there be direct negotiations
with Lebanon, which the Lebanese are seeking with the Israelis. Ron Dermer would be the man to handle those negotiations.
But as of yet, there is no agreement on at least beginning those talks. A lot of different plans are circulating, but a lot of it ultimately stems on
Israel's desire to see Hezbollah completely disarmed, and questions about whether the Lebanese government and its military can actually achieve that
without international support, Bianna.
ASHER: Jeremy, over the weekend, Donald Trump talked about this idea that, according to him, at least Iran is willing to make some kind of deal, but
the U.S. isn't ready to go down that route just yet. Iran is, of course, denying that, but just the idea and just the possibility that the U.S.
could be just the fact that President Trump is even intimating this.
The U.S. could be willing at some point later down the road to possibly make a deal with Iran. Where would that leave Israel, just in terms of them
having to go this alone?
[11:05:00]
DIAMOND: I think a lot of that depends on what the outcomes of those direct negotiations would actually be, and it's important to note that while the
president indicated an openness to it, there's really no indication that that's happening. The Iranians have indicated that they are not seeking
ceasefire negotiations at this moment.
Instead, what we're really seeing is Iran kind of leaning on this asymmetric warfare advantage that they have. Meaning even though they are
getting absolutely pummeled from a military perspective. A lot of their military capabilities have been disabled or dismantled or destroyed.
But still, they retain enough ability to disrupt the global economy to an enormous degree, partially through their continued blockade of the Strait
of Hormuz, which again, requires very little kind of military capabilities for Iran to be able to dissuade commercial ships from actually passing
through that strait.
And also, of course, through these kinds of limited attacks that they've been conducting on Israel and on these Gulf countries, using drones as it
relates to the Gulf, and, you know, just a few ballistic missiles per day that they're firing on Israel, increasingly using these cluster munitions
that are causing damage, albeit not any serious casualties or fatalities, at least not in recent days.
But still the ability to kind of disrupt life, to continue to keep both of these countries on a war footing, and ultimately, to really disrupt the
economy and to send prices at the pump in the United States, continuing to go up. All of that factoring into the calculus of the President of the
United States as he considers how much longer he's willing to stay in this fight.
Again, the indications we've had from both U.S. and Israeli officials is that there is at least several more weeks here of military confrontation.
But again, on think a lot of those hinges on the president's capacity to kind of -- the impact that this is having on the markets, on gas prices, on
oil prices.
And all of that could, of course, drive his thinking to change, perhaps even sooner than the achievements of those objectives as laid out by the
U.S. and Israel.
GOLODRYGA: Yeah, publicly, the president has said that it will be up to him and Prime Minister Netanyahu to decide when this war comes to an end. I
think most experts would agree that the final say will be coming from President Trump alone. Jeremy Diamond, thank you.
ASHER: Thank you, Jeremy. All right, as we mentioned earlier, President Trump is calling on American allies and even China to help secure the
Strait of Hormuz and he said the U.S. has had some positive responses according to the President.
GOLODRYGA: Yeah, Trump told the "Financial Times" that he would prefer to know Beijing's position before deciding if he's going to delay the high
stakes summit with Chinese Leader Xi Jinping that is planned in a few weeks. And this was the president's threat overnight to countries that
don't help secure the strait.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: He said we'd like to send our aircraft carriers. I said I don't want them after we win the
war, I want them before. So, whether it's -- whether we get support or not, but I can say this and I said it to them, we will remember.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: Trump has also called on other countries to join a team effort to help reopen the waterway. Japan's Prime Minister told parliament today
that the country is not currently planning to send warships to Hormuz.
ASHER: Australia's Transport Minister said Canberra would not be sending ships either, and ahead of EU Foreign Ministers meeting, Policy Chief Kaja
Kallas said the EU members will discuss how exactly to reopen the strait. CNN's Senior White House Reporter Kevin Liptak joins us live now from
Washington.
So, this puts a lot of American allies in a tough bind, this idea that the president is pressuring them to assist the U.S. in reopening the Strait of
Hormuz. Obviously, that is going to be a perilous endeavor for any nation to embark on. You think about allies like, for example, Japan.
The Japanese Prime Minister considers herself a friend of Donald Trump. She's only been on the job for less than six months. And Japan has passes
pacifism, neutrality, this idea of not engaging in war, especially after what happened with World War Two, they have that written into their
constitution. So, this does put a lot of American allies in a bit of a bind, Kevin.
KEVIN LIPTAK, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Yeah, it does. And Sanae Takaichi, the Japanese Prime Minister, is actually going to be at the White
House on Thursday. So, she will be the first one to sort of experience this bind in person, as the president almost assuredly tries to twist her arm
and agree to some sort of military intervention in the strait.
You know, when you talk to administration officials, they do seem relatively confident that they will be able to announce a coalition
sometime soon. But when you listen to these foreign leaders, it's not at all clear who that coalition will consist of, or what precisely they're
committing to here.
You know, I think White House officials who have been, you know, along with the president himself on the phone all weekend trying to get some sort of
commitments here.
[11:10:00]
They're not necessarily looking for specifics. They're not looking for these leaders to say we're going to send this number of ships at this time
to defend the strait. They're really looking for some kind of political commitment so that the president can come out and say that he has created
this coalition to help reopen the strait.
In a lot of ways, it's the first time that the president has demonstrated any eagerness to get other countries on board with what he's doing in the
Middle East, there was virtually no effort at getting their buy in before the war started, and many of them said that they were caught by surprise
when the war began two weeks ago.
Now the president is saying, quote, this should have always been a team effort. You know, when it comes to China, as you mentioned, the president
has been planning, and is still, you know, ostensibly planning to be in Beijing in two weeks' time. Of course, China is the number one purchaser of
Iranian oil.
Now he seems to be putting the pressure on Xi Jinping to come to the defense of vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz. At the same time, you
know, Scott Bessent, the Treasury Secretary, other White House officials are saying that this question of whether the summit might be delayed
actually has nothing to do with the Strait of Hormuz itself.
It has to do with the president's desire to remain in Washington while this war is going on. Listen to what Karoline Leavitt, the Press Secretary, said
about this earlier today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KAROLINE LEAVITT, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: I don't think the meeting is in jeopardy, but it's quite possible the meeting could be delayed. These
are leader to leader conversations that are currently taking place. It's really just a matter of the timing.
Of course, the president's utmost responsibility right now as commander-in- chief is to ensure the continued success of operation, epic fury, as he's doing, 24/7 here at the White House and here at home. So, we'll look
forward to announcing those dates very soon.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LIPTAK: Now, when it comes to the president's sort of ominous warning to the NATO allies, that quote, we will remember whether or not they helped
the U.S. in the Strait of Hormuz. A lot of them, I think, are taking that pretty seriously. This is, of course, a president who has openly threatened
to withdraw support for NATO in the past.
I think their real fear, and actually their real expectation, when you talk to European officials, is that the president is ultimately just going to
declare victory here and leave the Europeans to try and pick up the pieces.
ASHER: All right. Kevin Liptak, live for us there. Thank you so much.
GOLODRYGA: General Wesley Clark is a Former NATO Supreme Allied Commander and Retired U.S. Army General, and he joins us now for more. General, it's
always good to see you. So, to pick up on what the president said in that interview with "Financial Times".
He also said that NATO faces a quote, very bad future if European allies don't send minesweepers and commandos to the Strait of Hormuz. He also
downplayed any sort of military threat, suggesting that by the U.S. and Israel really taking out Iran's navy, that there's not much threat posed to
European allies for stepping in now.
Your analysis and how do you, as a Former NATO Ally Supreme Commander, view this threat from the president.
GENERAL WESLEY CLARK, FORMER NATO SUPREME ALLIED COMMANDER: Well, first, let's look at the Strait of Hormuz. And we have attacked some sites in the
strait and on the North Coast of the Persian Gulf, but we know that there are tunnels there. There is underground -- underwater exits.
They've got a lot of capacity with mines, anti-ship missiles, drones, cruise missiles, to bring attacks against these vessels. So, it seems
unlikely that you can succeed by just escorting ships. You may have to put people on the ground at key locations and control the ground and the air
overhead.
You've got high ground along much of the northern side of the Persian Gulf, and that high ground probably has to be controlled. Also, maybe you can do
it from the air. But I'd be surprised if you can eliminate all the threats just with air power and escorting ships. And that means, and I think our
people see it too.
That's why the mew has been activated. You've got the islands there, the large island occasion, you've got four or five smaller islands that are
fortified probably need to be occupied. So, I think there's still a military operation there. Now the NATO allies, some of them, have some mine
sweepers, but they're not going to be able to do much.
And if you invite China into this, the cure is liable to be worse than the disease. So, I think the United States is has got a couple of weeks to work
this. We're releasing oil from the strategic petroleum reserves. Look as far as NATO is concerned, it isn't strictly a NATO problem.
[11:15:00]
Individual allies may want to help. It's great that the UK Prime Minister says this, but the truth is, Bianna, look, he's made so many nasty
statements to the Europeans that the leaders understand it, they see it. But the populations in Europe, they don't support President Trump.
And so, it's a tough, tough political move for these European leaders to bring the kinds of support to the president that he's asking for. They're
asking European leaders to really mortgage their political futures. And the real risk here is and a larger risk is Ukraine and what the president and
Putin are going to do with Ukraine.
The president is still bashing President Zelenskyy. And to the Europeans, the success of the defense in Ukraine is the success of the defense of
Europe. They cannot afford to lose Ukraine. So, if they come in and help President Trump, they'll probably strike a hard bargain with him on
Ukraine.
ASHER: That is such an interesting aspect of all of this. You know, the Ukraine element really can't be forgotten. I mean, especially because
Zelenskyy himself sent specialists to the region to assist the U.S. President with this particular war. I do want to talk about the fact that,
yes, of course, Strait of Hormuz continue to be a thorn in the president's side, but as it pertains to just dealing with Iran, specifically, the U.S.
President is between a rock and a hard place.
On the one hand, yes, of course he could continue this war with Iran. But I think that it's becoming very clear to this administration that regime
change is going to be very difficult. Making sure Iran never gets his hand on nuclear weapon is also going to be very difficult.
But if the president finds an excuse to exit now, failure to deliver on the two most important factors, especially given the promises he made to the
Iranian people, that's also going to likely cost him, potentially domestically, politically as well. You know, Americans were dragged into a
war that they didn't really want to be dragged into, and what was it for nothing.
So which way do you anticipate the president is going to go here, this idea of continuing fighting to no avail, potentially, or pull out as soon as you
possibly can?
CLARK: I think it's a mistake to think that you can pull back before you get the nuclear materials. You've got to do that now. Maybe we've already
got people in there looking for them. I don't know, and we wouldn't know, and we shouldn't know this, but Israel demands that we get those nuclear
materials.
We've taken down the ballistics. They've still got some drone capability, fine, but the nuclear material is the critical function in the Middle East
for Israel. And I think it's going to be very difficult for the president to accept any agreement that would see a cessation of hostilities without
getting a hold of those nuclear materials.
You're right. He's in a difficult position. But also, I would tell you this, it's the nature of military operations and air campaigns, and I know
because I did one in Kosovan, people are always impatient. When is this going to end? How is it going to end? Why can't you tell us?
And of course, the enemy always has a vote on this, and the enemy wants to attack someone, they get pretty hard headed and stubborn. So, I think this
is not going to end quickly. And I just hope it ends successfully, because we have to ultimately look at the Straits of Hormuz, and it's probably
going to take ground troops in there to assure safe passage.
And the sooner we can do this, and the sooner we can protect our friends in the Gulf and get the nuclear materials, that's when Iran has to throw in
the towel. So, we've got a way to go on this, and I know it's unpleasant and it's difficult, and there's a lot of political heat on this.
But it's just the nature of military operations, especially air campaigns, they start with a bang usually, and everybody's really excited about it,
and it looks like it's going to be over quickly. But when you're bombing people and you're hurting them. They get pretty tough, tough minded in
response.
So, it's going to take a lot more to persuade Iran that it's over. It's got to stop this a lot more. And it may not ever happen, but we've got to at
least get the nuclear materials out.
GOLODRYGA: Yeah, some 440 kilograms of highly enriched uranium that is said to be underground there in the country now. I keep going back to something
that Karim Sadjadpour said last week, very poignantly, saying that the best asset or ally, ironically, that Iran has at this point, given that they
have completely abandoned any allies they have had in the region by attacking their GCC neighbors is the U.S. public.
[11:20:00]
And that is given the pressure that the prices at the pump and the cost of lives here are putting on this president right now to bring this war to an
end. But as you note, objectives still need to be met. General Wesley Clark, always good to see you. Thank you so much.
CLARK: Thank you.
GOLODRYGA: Well, the fighting in the Middle East has pushed oil prices to their highest level since 2022. Ahead the massive ripple effects that it's
expected to have on the global economy.
ASHER: Plus, Donald Trump urges allies, as we've been talking about, to help secure the Strait of Hormuz. We'll tell you how they're reacting next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ASHER: All right, the disruption in the Strait of Hormuz is sending oil prices soaring to their highest level since 2022. And the White House is
suggesting the U.S. war with Iran could last several weeks.
GOLODRYGA: Let's take a look at Brett Crude, the international benchmark right now, and see where prices are this morning. We can pull up the chart.
ASHER: Told it's coming --
GOLODRYGA: Meantime -- here's WTI down at 95.48 down about over 3 percent and do we have. Do we have Brent now?
ASHER: We do have Brent is coming up.
GOLODRYGA: I have faith. OK.
ASHER: There we go.
GOLODRYGA: Over $100 a barrel -- Yes, $102 a barrel.
ASHER: CNN's Anna Cooban joins us live now from London with more. I mean, Anna, I mean, this is the new normal, essentially. I mean, we had the
energy secretary here in the U.S. saying that oil prices could remain elevated for quite some time. And this is despite these oil reserves being
released onto the market.
We are in a in a bind, especially because it looks like this war is showing no signs of abating, Anna.
ANNA COOBAN, CNN BUSINESS & ECONOMICS REPORTER: You're right, Zain. I think oil traders are really gearing up for quite a protracted conflict. We've
already seen in the past three weeks, things escalate quite dramatically. Mines in the Strait of Hormuz, at least 12 vessels have been attacked.
And now we've got Iran saying that there are special conditions to move through the strait. Basically, some countries can move through what others
can't. It sort of seems that the situation really has kind of run away from the Trump Administration. And it's not just the very short-term impact of
not allowing a single vessel through it.
[11:25:00]
It's also the infrastructure. Just over the weekend, we saw an oil terminal in the UAE gets damaged because of falling debris from an intercepted
Iranian drone. I mean, that's going to take time to rebuild the infrastructure that supply is now offline, and that's true across the
region.
There are alternatives. We've talked about this pipeline that's gone through the eastern side of Saudi Arabia to the west to the Yanbu terminal
in the Red Sea. But if you remember, just a couple years ago, this wasn't exactly a risk-free zone. We had container traffic, oil traffic around the
world avoids this part this red sea because of attacks by Houthi militants in that region.
And I was speaking to some analysts earlier, and they were saying that this is something that shipping companies, oil companies, are also gearing up
for potentially a resurgence of that violence in the Red Sea.
ASHER: All right, Anna Cooban, live for us there. Thank you.
GOLODRYGA: In addition to Europe, President Trump is asking countries in Asia to help oil flow through the Strait of Hormuz as well.
ASHER: Yeah. CNN's Hanako Montgomery has more from Tokyo.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TRUMP: -- nice to have other countries police that with us, and we'll help. We'll work with them.
HANAKO MONTGOMERY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: U.S. President Donald Trump is calling on France, the UK, China, South Korea and Japan, to send ships to
help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most important shipping lanes on the planet. But that's easier said than done.
SANAE TAKAICHI, JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER: As we have not yet received any such request. It is difficult for us to respond to hypothetical matters.
MONTGOMERY: So far, Tokyo has deflected Trump's request.
MONTGOMERY (voice-over): Japan's pacifist constitution limits overseas military action. And Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said last week, there
are no plans to deploy minesweepers.
MONTGOMERY: Trump's request puts Japan in an awkward position, though, ahead of a key summit this Thursday, where Trump will likely raise the
issue again.
MONTGOMERY (voice-over): South Korea is also being cautious, saying it's still weighing its options. Then there's China, which is least likely to
help. Beijing maintains close ties with Iran, and joining a U.S.-led effort could strain that relationship. Iran is also considering allowing some oil
tankers through the strait if the oil is traded in Chinese yuan.
MONTGOMERY: That potentially lets China secure supplies without confronting Tehran. And after years of building crude stockpiles and expanding EVs,
renewables and coal, Beijing is better prepared than most for an oil shock, but Trump continues to apply pressure warning he could delay a planned trip
to China later this month if Beijing refuses to cooperate. Hanako Montgomery, CNN, Tokyo.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ASHER: All right, still to come, what one European country is saying about NATO and its potential involvement in the Iran conflict. We're speaking to
a former U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, next.
GOLODRYGA: Plus, Russia's response to the Iran conflict and What the Ukrainian President is saying about the latest intelligence that he's
received. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:30:00]
ASHER: All right. Welcome back to "One World". I'm Zain Asher.
GOLODRYGA: And I'm Bianna Golodryga. You hear some of the headlines we're watching today. The U.S. and Israeli war in Iran have now entered its third
week. And President Trump is calling on help from China and U.S. allies to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. He is warning that it will be very bad for the
future of NATO if they don't help.
Right now, no countries have committed to sending warships. And Germany has responded by saying it's not NATO's war.
ASHER: Oil prices have hit their highest level since 2022. Friday's U.S. attacks on Iran cause Iran's Kharg Island have raised fears about the oil
supply. Most of Iran's oil ships from that island.
GOLODRYGA: In Southern Lebanon, Israel is expanding its ground operation. Their defense minister says hundreds of thousands of people have been or
are currently evacuating. The Lebanese Health Ministry says at least 850 people have been killed since the conflict in the Middle East began.
ASHER: Earlier, thick plumes of smoke were seen rising over Iran's capital, Tehran as this war stretches into a new week, many Iranians are feeling
intense strain from the U.S. and Israeli assault on their country. Some inhabitants of Iran tell CNN that they live in both fear and despair.
GOLODRYGA: Members of the international community are trying to help restore global order as they respond to the Iran conflict started by the
U.S. and Israel. Ministers from the European Union are meeting today to discuss how to make it safe for traffic, especially ships transporting oil
to use the Strait of Hormuz again.
ASHER: Yeah, the EU's Foreign Policy Chief says she's been in contact with the U.S.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KAJA KALLAS, EU FOREIGN POLICY CHIEF: Now it is in our interest to keep the Strait of Hormuz open, and that's why we are also discussing what we can do
in this regard from the European side. We have been in touch with the U.S. colleagues on different levels on this but of course, the situation is very
volatile.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: Ukraine is also concerned about losing the Americans as global attention shifts towards the Iran conflict. Our colleague Fareed Zakaria
spoke with President Zelenskyy, who says that he is worried about constant Russian attacks on Ukraine and its relationship with Iran on drones and
intel sharing.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE: We saw intelligence shared with us some details, and it was Russian details in these Iranian drones, they
said the first. And the second point is, my intelligence told me next, that they think that they share information intelligence with Iranian regime,
they help them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: Those revelations have intensified scrutiny and pressure on the White House, especially after President Trump eased sanctions temporarily
on Russian oil just last week to fight surging gasoline prices. One Republican lawmaker called the move a reward for the Russian President.
Germany says that NATO should not play a role in securing the Strait of Hormuz.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHANN WADEPHUL, GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER: I don't see that NATO has made any decision in this direction or could assume responsibility for the
Strait of Hormuz. If that were the case, then the NATO bodies would address it accordingly. We will discuss this question together today.
And of course, everyone has an interest in ensuring freedom of navigation that applies to the Red Sea, and that is -- mandate, just as it is for the
Strait of Hormuz.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: That comment comes after Donald Trump sent a harsh message to European allies over the weekend, warning that they either help secure the
critical waterway, or NATO will face a quote, very bad future.
GOLODRYGA: In an interview with the "Financial Times", the U.S. President said that it's only appropriate that people who are beneficiaries of the
strait will help make sure that nothing bad happens there. If there's no response, or if it's a negative response, it will be very bad for the
future of NATO.
ASHER: Asking what type of assistance he is seeking, Trump said, whatever it takes, including minesweepers.
[11:35:00]
Joining us live now is Heather Conley, a Non-resident Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and Former U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of
State. Heather, thank you so much for being with us. So just walk us through what allies' risk by assisting Donald Trump on this particular
mission.
And actually, whether or not under NATO charter, this would really qualify as an appropriate mission for NATO. I mean, under Article Five, whether it
would qualify, but also the fact that Donald Trump actually started this war without necessarily, some would argue an imminent threat, at least to
the United States. Give us your take on that.
HEATHER CONLEY, FORMER U.S. DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE: Yeah. I mean, you're absolutely right. I mean, we the United States, is now, I
think, fully understanding when you don't build a greater and more durable global coalition, when you undertake a major operation like we are
undertaking in Iran, we are now seeing the implications of that.
I think what you're hearing across the board from our European NATO allies is that they clearly don't support the Iranian regime, and they support
freedom of navigation, but there was no international mandate for this. There was no U.N. mandate. And so, it's very hard for any country,
particularly if their government, their coalition, requires an international mandate.
And of course, parliaments have to approve this. So, it's not just scrambling for the forces, the minesweepers, that you need to do the
operation. They need a government a democratic mandate to do that. So, this is why it's just going to be a very painful process. The United States
didn't plan well in advance for this type of operation.
And our allies are going to really scramble to find the domestic justification to put their forces in play in the Middle East.
GOLODRYGA: Well, one blaring justification could be the huge spike in oil and gas prices. Not only that, Americans are feeling but I would say even
more directly, Europeans who are more reliant on oil from this region and in the Gulf there, and they're put in a position now by cutting off being
dependent on Russian oil and gas too.
So, while it may benefit European leaders to publicly speak out against President Trump and being blindsided by aid this war beginning, but then
now being forced and threatened to help open or reopen the Strait of Hormuz. At some point, is this not going to be another pressure point for
these very same diplomats and leaders from their own constituents who are paying more at the price at the pump.
CONLEY: Yeah, know, you're absolutely right, and Europe is going to really feel this squeeze, because after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in
2022, they diversified into Middle East energy as well as the U.S. And so, you have that squeeze, in addition, as the Trump Administration
contemplates, I think the full lifting, or at least the temporarily lifting of sanctions against Russian energy, they're getting that squeeze play.
As we know, high energy prices are going to continue to fuel the Russian war machine, which makes Europe more insecure. So, you're absolutely right.
But again, there's just the logistics and military challenge of a, you know, a hot war, and introducing European naval vessels, they would be then
part of that war, potentially.
And again, you would need the force protection. This would require a huge effort, and I just don't believe right now there is public support for this
in Europe. I think governments are calculating the risk of what this is going to do to cost of living and inflation. I mean, this is the ripple
effects across the global economy are going to be felt, not just for energy.
But I think one thing that's getting a little lost as we focus on the price of energy, is agriculture, fertilizers, the spring planting, and this could
set up food insecurity for the next several months. So, you're absolutely right, and this is going to, I think, be the squeeze play for European
governments.
Do they have to do something to start lowering prices? Are they prepared to enter a war that they did not, you know, have agreement or support as the
United States and Israel took steps over three weeks ago to attack Iran.
ASHER: And just in terms of President Donald Trump's threat, you know, if NATO doesn't come to our aid, they will face very bad consequences.
Obviously, the United States does have outside leverage with NATO, because of military dominance, because of budgetary contributions. What might the
U.S. President do if it's crickets from NATO?
[11:40:00]
CONLEY: Yes, I mean, well, certainly we're familiar with President Trump's views about NATO, although he just said last year at The Hague NATO Summit,
you know, the alliance is the most successful because of his leadership. As I said, I think Europe, in some ways, is doing what many senior Trump
Administration officials have asked it to do.
Focus on Ukraine, continue to increase their defense spending. They're doing that. And I would also note that it has been NATO that has protected
Turkey from three ballistic missiles from Iran. It is doing its essential duty, collective defense, defending NATO's territory.
And look, we have an upcoming NATO Summit in July in Turkey. So, you know again, we want this to be successful. We want our European allies to
increase defense spending make important contributions to protecting NATO's eastern flank, increasingly its southern flank in Turkey.
So, I hope the Trump Administration is careful and learns an important lesson, that when the United States is in trouble, we turn to our allies.
You do that in the beginning, not in the end. And hopefully this is a better lesson for the importance of America's allies when we do big,
important missions like the war in Iran.
GOLODRYGA: I'm not sure that's how the president, at least publicly, is viewing it. With his interview in the FTSE over the weekend, he used this
as justification for his comments that he thinks that it's not the United States that would abandon NATO, but NATO that would abandon the United
States.
And is using this as a prime example. Heather, I do want to ask you of what could be perhaps a worst-case scenario in just dragging this conflict out
without resolution, and that is sort of a splintered approach. You have Keir Starmer saying that he is working with allies to come up with a
cohesive plan collectively in response to the closure of the strait or the inability for ships to pass through, for cargo ships.
But at the same time, you have India negotiating directly with Iran as well in a bilateral fashion. So, what happens if we start to see countries pick
and choose if they want to be in an alliance, or if they want to speak directly to India? I am sorry to Iran?
CONLEY: Well, I think -- yeah, know, I think this is, this is Iran strategy, and I think it's beginning to bear some fruit, particularly on
energy. So, the Iranian regime, with apparently the Trump Administration's approval, is allowing select tankers to go to China, to India, to Pakistan,
potentially to allies.
But any ships that have an association with the United States or with Israel, they may be under harm's way, so that splintering is absolutely
part of the strategy. This is why it's so important. And I agree with you, sure the White House doesn't necessarily see my perspective.
But this is exactly where they're going to begin to understand when America is isolated, when it takes more very strong international efforts and gets
into some trouble to back into bringing those allies on board, is a more fraught and difficult situation, because they haven't been brought along
from the very beginning.
So splintering is absolutely a strategy. I think we have to wait to see if any attacks begin to happen in the Red Sea, which is where most of the
energy now is being diverted. The EU does have anti-piracy mission, but that's a completely different mission than envoy, you know, convoy
protection, if you will.
So again, will the European militaries be able to provide that naval protection as their ships? I think it's a big question mark, but this is
clearly part of the Iranian government strategy. If the United States is OK with letting that division happen, and if energy prices really begin to
impact economies, you may see that splintering moves forward.
That's why, rather than attacking allies, we need to work with them and keep everybody on the side of the United States, if we can. But we're
talking about a lot of damage that's been done over the last 12 months that the U.S. with earnest, perhaps they could lift tariffs, perhaps they could
give our allies relief to help support. but that's not the conversation you're hearing right now.
ASHER: Right. Heather Conley live for us. Thank you so much. Appreciate it.
GOLODRYGA: Thank you. And still to come for us, Americans react to President Trump's decision to go to war with Iran. The latest polling
numbers and what they mean for the U.S. President? That's up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:45:00]
ASHER: Right, some of the latest polling shows Americans are divided over President Trump's decision to go to war with Iran. CNN's Chief Data Analyst
Harry Enten breaks down the numbers for us.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HARRY ENTEN, CNN CHIEF DATA ANALYST: Yeah, why don't we just talk about President Trump, first of all? Right, I've heard a lot of the president's
critics, you know, say, hey, this is going to basically bring the President Trump's second term to an end. He won't be able to do anything more.
But here's the thing, President Trump is liked as much now as he was before the war started. I mean, just take a look here. Americans who approve of
Trump in late February, just before the war started, it was 41 percent and now it's the exact same 41 percent. There has been no movement in the
average poll.
And I have to say, this doesn't really surprise me very much, because President Trump's approval rating has been just so consistent over his term
that even a war in the Middle East can't seem to move it at least a little bit. OK, so let's talk beyond just the fact that President Trump's approved
rating has been so static, right?
Why don't we talk about how Americans feel about the war itself? And this is where it gets really interesting, because there are a lot of different
polls, and they say a lot of different things. OK, this is the net approval the U.S. military action in Iran. This is the seven most recent national
polls, the net approval rating and percentage points.
Look at this, you can find polls where it's negative, minus 14, minus 13, minus 12, minus 11, minus 11. But then you can also find two recent polls
that where you'll actually see that Americans are either equally divided or actually slightly more likely to approve than disapprove, as is the case in
the most recent "Washington Post" poll.
So, the bottom line is this, while there are plenty of people who dislike the war, there are polls that actually show that Americans are evenly
divided, or slightly more likely to actually favor the war than oppose it, and therefore it's not really much of a surprise that Trump's numbers
haven't moved because the American people seem to be fairly evenly divided.
This, to me, is probably the most fascinating part of this segment, right? Because there are a lot of Americans who really do care, and there are a
lot of people who, of course, have family in the Middle East that really care. But take a look here, OK, Americans who say they care about a lot
about the U.S. economy, 84 percent.
How about the Iranian situation? It's just 45 percent of Americans who say they care a lot about the Iranian situation. So, I would expect that number
to climb if, in fact, gas prices go up and there's an effect on the U.S. economy. But at this point, for a lot of Americans, they simply put, don't
actually care that much.
So, it's not much, that much of a surprise that, in fact, you're not seeing President Trump's numbers move, because at this point, the thing that the
Americans care about is the U.S. economy. They don't necessarily care that much about a situation overseas.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GOLODRYGA: Our thanks to CNN's Harry Enten, hopefully that will be one of few taped reports that he leaves for us. We prefer him live
[11:50:00]
ASHER: -- back on the show Harry, live.
GOLODRYGA: All right. Still to come for us, Hollywood's big night. Who won, who cried, who told the best jokes, all the best moments from the Academy
Awards, when we come back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ASHER: All right, the Academy has spoken the best, the brightest of the film industry were crowned on Sunday night at the Oscars.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: "One Battle After Another".
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: And that was the big winner. Paul Thomas Anderson's "One Battle After Another".
GOLODRYGA: Yet another movie I did not watch. Won six awards, including, but that's me, not the film, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best
Adapted Screenplay. It also raked in a win for Sean Penn as Best Supporting Actor. Ryan Coogler's "Sinners" came into the night with a record breaking
16 nominations, and it won.
It did well last night. It won for Best Original Screenplay, Best Original Score and Best Cinematography.
ASHER: Yes, "Sinners" also took the Best Actor Oscar as Michael B. Jordan won for his role as twin brothers smoke and stack in the film. And more on
that in just a moment. Jessie Buckley won Best Actress for her really emotional performance as a grieving mother in "Hamnet", becoming the first
Irish winner of a Best Actress Oscar.
GOLODRYGA: And with more highlights from Hollywood's big night. Here's CNN's David Daniel.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Michael B. Jordan.
DAVID DANIEL, CNN SENIOR PRODUCER (voice-over): A heavenly night for "Sinners" as Michael B. Jordan won the Academy Award for Best Actor.
MICHAEL B. JORDAN, OSCAR WINNER FOR BEST ACTOR: Everybody at home who supported "Sinners" who went to go see the movie, once, twice, 3, 4, 5
times. Thank you, because you guys made this movie what it is. I love you. I love you. I love you.
DANIEL (voice-over): Ryan Coogler was recognized for the film's original screenplay, and Autumn Durald Arkapaw became the first woman to win an
Oscar for cinematography.
AUTUMN DURALD ARKAPAW, OSCAR WINNING FOR BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY: Whenever I say thank you to Ryan, he replies and says, no, thank you. Thank you for
believing in me and thank you for trusting me. And that's the kind of guy that I get to make films with.
DANIEL (voice-over): The 98th Oscars included music from "Sinners", which won for best score and "KPop Demon Hunters", winner for Best Song and Best
Animated Feature.
MAGGIE KANG, CO-DIRECTED OSCAR-WINNING ANIMATED FILM, "KPOP DEMON HUNTERS": And for those of you who look like me, I'm so sorry that it took us so long
to see us in a movie like this, but it is here.
[11:55:00]
AMY MADIGAN, OSCAR WINNER FOR BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: This is great.
DANIEL (voice-over): Amy Madigan was delighted to accept the Best Supporting Actress trophy for "Weapons".
JESSIE BUCKLEY, OSCAR WINNER FOR BEST ACTRESS: This is really something --
DANIEL (voice-over): As was Jessie Buckley named Best Actress for "Hamnet".
BUCKLEY: Mom, Dad, thank you for teaching us to dream and to never be defined by expectation, but to carve from your own passion.
DANIEL (voice-over): Sean Penn was not there to accept Best Supporting Actor for "One Battle After Another", but the film's casting director,
Cassandra Kulukundis gleefully accepted the first ever Academy Award for casting.
CASSANDRA KULUKUNDIS, OSCAR WINNER FOR BEST CASTING: -- and for the casting directors that fought tirelessly to make it happen, despite everything in
their way. I dedicate this to you and to the casting directors who never got a chance to get up here.
one battle after another.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: "One Battle After Another" --
DANIEL (voice-over): Paul Thomas Anderson was up there plenty the "One Battle After Another" filmmaker won his first three Oscars, Best Adapted
Screenplay, Best Director and Best Picture of the Year.
PAUL THOMAS ANDERSON, OSCAR WINNER FOR BEST DIRECTOR: What a night, you guys. Let's have a martini. This is pretty amazing. Hot. Cheers. Thank you
very much. Thank you.
DANIEL (voice-over): In Hollywood, I'm David Daniel.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GOLODRYGA: We'll have more on the Oscars in our next hour. Do stay with us. We'll have more "One World" after the break, including more on the war with
Iran.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
