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One World with Zain Asher

Iranian State Media: Strait Will Close If U.S. Naval Blockade Continues; Oil Drops Sharply After Iran Said Strait of Hormuz Would Open; Pakistani Mediators In Third Day Of Talks In Tehran; Displaced Lebanese Return Home After Ceasefire Deal; Sources: Trump Administration Considering Unfreezing $20B In Iranian Assets As Part Of Ongoing Negotiations With Tehran; Cuba Marks Failed Invasion Attempt Amid New Tension With U.S.; Reports: New Jersey Transit May Charge $150 For Rides To World Cup Matches; Exact Location Of Shakespeare's London Home Finally Found; Aired 12-1p ET

Aired April 17, 2026 - 12:00   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[12:00:35]

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is CNN Breaking News.

BIANNA GOLODRYGA, CNN ANCHOR: All right. Live from New York, I'm Bianna Golodryga. You are watching the second hour of "One World."

And we start with breaking news. Just hours after it's said the Strait of Hormuz was open, Iran is adding new conditions.

Moments ago, Iranian state media said Tehran would close the strait again if the U.S. continues its naval blockade of Iranian ports.

Now, that comes after the Iranian foreign minister said earlier that vessels could pass through the strait for the remainder of the ceasefire,

appearing to refer to Israel and Lebanon's 10-day truce.

President Trump had welcomed that development, but added that the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports would remain in place for now.

Now, this strait has been a major obstacle in negotiations between Iran and the U.S. before the war and estimated 20 million barrels of oil flowed

through every day.

Sources tell CNN that Trump administration is considering unfreezing $20 billion in Iranian assets as part of the negotiations with Tehran.

The U.S. president says Washington could see the next round of talks happen as soon as this weekend. Even hinting that he could travel to Pakistan to

sign any deal.

Senior White House reporter Betsy Klein joins us now from Las Vegas. And, Betsy, that is where the president is and has been tweeting nonstop and

posting on social -- on his Truth Social all morning.

We're getting conflicting reports as I just laid out now from Iranian officials saying that the blockade must end. The president saying the

blockade will stand. And it doesn't seem that -- that any vessels have been going through, despite this announcement that the Strait of Hormuz is

indeed open. So -- so, what is the state of play right now?

BETSY KLEIN, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Well, I think one very interesting sign of that is that we had seen President Trump posting

through this, issuing about 13 posts on his Truth Social platform this morning as this was rapidly progressing in Iran, announced that they would

be reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

The president welcoming that news, but contending as you just laid out, that it would remain, the blockade would remain in place until a full deal

was secured.

But the president over the last hour, as there are those questions, has gone quiet. We haven't heard from him on social media. So, it could be a

sign that he is getting briefed in real time on these developments and perhaps they are trying to work out where to go from here.

But we are learning, according to two sources familiar with the matter, that the U.S. is considering unfreezing $20 billion in Iranian assets as

part of these negotiations.

I want to read to you from one of the president's posts earlier this morning. He wrote, quote, "The USA will get all nuclear dust created by our

great B2 Bombers. No money will exchange hands in any way, shape, or form.

Of course, this idea of Iran potentially -- potentially benefiting financially from this type of deal, even if no money is exchanged, is

something that could open President Trump up to criticism. This is an area where he had been critical of the Obama era Iran nuclear deal.

But officials are hoping that a broader deal to end this conflict with Iran could be worked out as soon as this weekend. And they are watching those

talks in Iran very closely between Iranian and Pakistani officials for signs of progress to see whether they might convene in Islamabad as soon as

tomorrow.

Of course, there are still some major sticking points here, including how long Iran will agree to suspend uranium enrichment as well as retrieval of

Iran's nuclear materials. That is what President Trump is referring to as, quote, nuclear dust.

But all of this comes after President Trump yesterday announced that 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon. Officials said that they really

viewed that as a key sign of progress here.

Of course, the reopening of the Strait is also a major step forward. Oil prices dropping. Stock market is up today already. And it comes as

President Trump is here in Las Vegas trying to refocus his message on the economy ahead of those critical midterm elections just about seven months

away from now.

But people I have talked to here are really feeling the crunch from this conflict. So, we'll have to see how this goes this weekend, whether they

can reach a lasting deal, Bianna.

GOLODRYGA: Yes. And president also making some pretty stunning statements on Truth Social. I don't recall any U.S. president commanding another

sovereign country as to what they can and can't do militarily, but the President just did that, saying that Israel will not be bombing Lebanon any

longer. They are prohibited from doing so by the USA. How is that being received?

[12:05:19]

KLEIN: Well, we're waiting to see the reaction from Prime Minister Netanyahu to that post to other Israeli officials, but obviously, the

president has used his social media accounts in the past with these very hot incendiary rhetoric as kind of a starting point for negotiations.

You might recall, it was just a couple of days ago that the president warned of the potential end of civilization in Iran if they couldn't make

progress in those talks. Obviously, that got them closer to that eventually announced ceasefire deal.

So, we'll have to see how Israel reacts here, but they had been very optimistic following those -- that ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon

really setting the stage for where we are now. Some really rapidly progressing developments here.

GOLODRYGA: Yes. The missing component on all of this is Hezbollah. They obviously -- the terrorist group has agency in this as well.

Betsy Klein, thank you.

Well, oil prices are trading at their lowest level in five weeks following the earlier announcement by the Iranian Foreign Minister.

Let's discuss with Richard Quest, CNN business editor-at-large and anchor of "Quest Means Business."

So, Richard, we're seeing this significant drop in prices. But as they say in the real world, what's changed?

RICHARD QUEST, CNN BUSINESS EDITOR-AT-LARGE: Oh, I think quite a lot has changed. The sentiment has changed.

If you look at the developments, over the course of the day, there is a view that there is more of a willingness to move forward towards peace.

Now, I -- I get the point that you're making what's changed factually, of course, nothing. And that's why, although I say the willingness and the

trend and the mood has changed, this fall that we're looking at, at the screen is entirely justifiable and predictable, and it is equally

reversible if the trend does not continue, if the mood movement doesn't change, if, for example, the blockade remains and no oil flows out.

That's the reality here. It's going to be a case of wait-and-see if the ships actually move. Talk on your like. We want to see the ships.

GOLODRYGA: We want to see the ships and you have Maersk, one of the largest shipping companies saying that they've noticed Iran's announcement on the

Strait of Hormuz, and then they go on to say the safety of our crew vessels and customers cargo remains our top priority. That doesn't signal that they

are ready to set sail, all things being back to normal.

QUEST: No, and they won't be. And they -- however many ships they've got caught in the upper gulf, they will remain there.

But let's just say the Iranians start to give exactly those guarantees. No, you can go forward, no toll. Let's just say I'm speculating. You can go

forward. But you've still got the Americans in the -- in the Iranian gulf outside. You've still got them waiting with their blockade to move things

forward.

So, and the -- the price that you're looking at now is predicated on actual real oil ships moving. If they don't, that price will go back up again.

As for the longer term, how much of the economic crisis is baked in? Is the cake actually rising now, inflation? How much damage has been done? We

don't really know. It'll be a few more weeks before we can quantify that. Certainly an element of damage.

But the -- the -- the -- the better news is that things are looking better. Now they've got to actually prove it.

GOLODRYGA: Yes. And it's pretty clear that the president is wanting this war to come to an end --

QUEST: Oh, yes. Oh, yes. Yes, yes.

GOLODRYGA: -- rather quickly as well. He sees all of these economic numbers.

QUEST: Yes.

GOLODRYGA: CNN's -- thank you so much. Really appreciate, Richard Quest. Thank you for joining us.

QUEST: Yes. Thank you.

GOLODRYGA: And CNN's Nic Robertson is joining us now from Islamabad, amid hope that Pakistan could host a second round of U.S. Iran talks.

Nic, I'd like to read for you a post on X from Yaroslav Trofimov from "The Wall Street Journal," who's been closely following and an expert on the

region for -- for years.

And he said, to sum it up, the Strait of Hormuz is still not open until vessels go through the Iranian toll booth, the U.S. naval blockade of Iran

continues, and the dramatic decline in oil prices has caused not by the changing reality on the ground, but market expectations, as we heard there

from Richard. Possibly over-optimistic that the U.S. and Iran will strike a nuclear deal in the foreseeable future.

So, if it comes down to the nuclear element here, where are we in talks?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL EDITOR: It's very fluid right now. Iranian state media is reporting that the Iranians are reacting to the sort

of public diplomacy that President Trump is employing here through Truth Social.

[12:10:07]

The Iranians seem to be having a negative reaction to the fact that President Trump said that the U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz would

remain in place. It appears as if the Iranian leadership had expected when they put down that it would rip -- that they would open it, not for

military vessels, only for commercial vessels.

As you say, only through their sanctioned channels, which are the northern routes, which are close to the Iranian coastline, it appears now as if the

Iranians may be hardening their position again.

If they're hardening them over this, they're already tough position about wanting what they see as a strategic, military, theological, diplomatic

ambiguity that they've always maintained around their nuclear ambitions. It appears that that is going to be an even tougher nut to crack, if you will.

Now, President Trump has said again that he believes that Iran is willing to have no nuclear weapons ambitions, not build a nuclear bomb, and also

hand over what he calls a nuclear dust, that highly enriched uranium that was bombed into underground caverns last summer.

And the core questions around that, from my sources has been, who would go in and get it? How would it be done? And what country would that material

be taken to?

Third countries seem to be a possibility, but if it was to end up in the United States, that might be a step too far.

So, what are the optics around this? What are the details in - in all of this?

And, of course, we've heard from our own colleagues at the White House that there is apparently $20 billion that's been put up to answer Iranian

questions for relief from sanctions to get access to frozen assets, and as well, they want war reparations damaged. Now, it appears that the White

House is rejecting that narrative, as they did last week, entering the talks.

So, your question is the absolute opposite question. And it's been a seesaw in the past few hours for where the momentum is.

The Pakistani delegation that's been inside of Iran is still there at this time. The nego -- the -- the mediation team is a top-level team. They've

met with the foreign minister, the speaker of parliament, the leader of the Iranian negotiating team.

They've met with the president. They've also met with military leaders. At this stage, they must have a pretty good sense of where the Iranian's end

positions are.

And it does seem, according to Pakistan's foreign minister, he says 80 percent of the deal has been done, which, as you and I can both tell, is 20

percent remaining. And I think we're both experienced enough at doing this to understand that 20 percent is the toughest. And it is likely around the

nuclear issue.

GOLODRYGA: Yes, no doubt.

Nic, do we know that if indeed there would be talks this weekend, who would be representing the United States?

ROBERTSON: It's not clear. And what I can say, in reference to that, is there does appear to be a tightening of security in the capital. There does

appear to be some level of preparation on -- on the Pakistan administration side.

We certainly know that it would take them several days to prepare for a top-level delegation. One would anticipate if that was president versus

vice president, that preparation time might take a bit longer.

GOLODRYGA: All right. Nic Robertson reporting from Islamabad, Pakistan. Thank you so much.

And still to come on "One World."

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(CHEERING)

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GOLODRYGA: Fireworks and celebrations in Lebanon after the announcement of a 10-day ceasefire with Israel.

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[12:15:36]

GOLODRYGA: All right. A 10-day U.S.-brokered ceasefire in Lebanon appears to be holding. Many displaced residents in Lebanon are returning home

despite warnings from both Israeli and Lebanese officials, not to risk it.

Lines of vehicles crossed the Litani River on a bridge that was apparently repaired after Israeli strikes.

Just hours into the truce, the Lebanese army accused Israel of firing on several villages in the south.

We're joined now by Bilal Saab, senior managing director at TRENDS U.S. He's also a former Pentagon official with the first Trump administration.

Bilal, welcome back to the program.

So earlier this month when we had you on, you said that there was really not much of a glimmer of hope in your view in Lebanon, unless Hezbollah is

disarmed.

Now, we have this last-minute ceasefire that President Trump announced, even before the Israelis had signed off on it yesterday that did not

include Hezbollah's ceasefire -- taking away and disarming. At least that wasn't the top priority here in terms of the ceasefire.

So, how do you -- how are you interpreting it? Are you directly linking it to the war in Iran?

BILAL SAAB, SENIOR MANAGING DIRECTOR, TREND U.S.: There's no doubt there are obvious linkages. I mean, formally speaking, the two tracks are

separate. And I think the Trump administration has made that very clear.

But I mean, you got to recognize that the entity that is of war with Israel is being supplied with arms and money by Iran. So, we can, you know, wish

away linkages between the two as much as we want, but the reality states otherwise.

Look, we -- we got to welcome this ceasefire. Any halt to Israeli bombing of Lebanese state infrastructure, which has led to hundreds of casualties

displaced more than 1.3 million people, that's just welcome news. But the reality is, of course, the very core issue remains. And I think I stand by

what I said.

The only way this is going to be long-lasting is by the Lebanese government demonstrating its commitment to at least gradually disarming Hezbollah. And

that's a commitment that it has signed on to through multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions, including the 2024 ceasefire, in

addition to this currency's fire.

GOLODRYGA: So, is the president, either underestimating Iran's determination to continue funding, arming, and maintaining Hezbollah as one

of its strongest and last remaining proxies? Or do you think he's put Iran in a box or weakened Iran enough to where he can make this announcement

also state that leaders from both countries will be meeting next week in Washington? And that, by the way, it looks like we have a deal soon in

Iran.

SAAB: I'm guessing you're talking about the American president.

GOLODRYGA: Yes, U.S. President Trump. Yes.

SAAB: So in that case -- yes. So, I think the Iranians are doing everything they can to claim credit for the ceasefire in Lebanon.

And they're saying that, you know, we are reopening the Strait of Hormuz in large part because of the ceasefire in Lebanon, which tells you, I mean, to

put it in less diplomatic terms, that we still hold the cards in Lebanon. And that we have a vested interest in the very status and well-being of

Hezbollah.

Except that the president of the United States, President Trump, is just lending some serious weight to the negotiations that are about to take

place between Lebanon and Israel. That's important. That's an important investment that shouldn't be under emphasized. I mean, last time, there was

U.S. involvement in Lebanon, Israel was a very, very long time ago.

[12:20:13]

But no matter what, I think that, once again, the -- the most important kind of homework that needs to be done is to be done by the Lebanese

government.

The more they do to demonstrate their commitment, I think the more incentivized the Americans are going to be to push harder on the issue of

the Iranians giving up the card of Hezbollah as difficult as that might be.

Because I agree with you, the Lebanon issue clearly is part of a much broader negotiating package between the Americans and the Iranians. So at

some point, the Iranians are going to have to give up some, right?

It may not be a top priority for the Americans, the Lebanon issue. I think the nuclear stuff is far more important. The Strait of Hormuz also is far

more important. But I am -- I am, I'd say personally excited about U.S. involvement. And I think we need that kind of involvement to try to, you

know, help a country that essentially really is the inferior party in these negotiations with the Israelis.

GOLODRYGA: Right. And there is a lot of help that -- that is needed for this Lebanese government. It is noteworthy that despite the threats from

Hezbollah leaders not to come to the U.S. and not to have this meeting earlier this week between representatives from both countries, they ignored

that threat and they showed up.

But you've also worked with this particular president in his previous administration. Do you think there's a commitment to actually doing the

work in investing longer term in this Lebanese government?

SAAB: I -- look, I'm comforted by the fact, once again, that there is U.S. auspices here, you know, with the participation of top American leadership

with also the secretary of state, you know, hosting and sharing the meeting in the State Department this week.

Whether there's going to be commitment, I don't know. I mean, you know that the attention span of the president is not exactly stellar.

So, I'm -- I'm -- I'm banking much more on what, frankly, the Lebanese government needs to do to keep that momentum, to keep this excitement and

interest on the part of the Americans and to really seize a very historic opportunity here with the help, not just of the Americans, but also some

major Arab stakeholders who might have invested interest also on this, who could also lend their support to the Lebanese.

And I'm speaking specifically here of Saudi Arabia, right? I think that the Lebanese government would do quite be well advised, frankly, to coordinate

and to seek the support of the Saudis in this and try to sort of put all this under the broader Arab diplomatic umbrella, as opposed to just going

alone with the Israelis.

GOLODRYGA: Yes. It's fair to say that there hasn't been a situation like this where Iran's proxies have been in such a weakened position with an

opportunity for real change. And your -- your hope is that many of these players will seize upon this change.

Bilal Saab, thank you.

SAAB: It's a pleasure.

GOLODRYGA: All right. Still to come for us.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KEIR STARMER, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: Not only was I not told, no minister was told, but I'm absolutely furious about that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GOLODRYGA: There's new controversy over former British ambassador to the U.S., Peter Mandelson, and it's putting the prime minister back on the hot

seat.

Also ahead, Cuba puts on a show to mark the Bay of Pigs anniversary in the midst of an economic crisis and renewed tensions with the U.S.

And later, if you thought World Cup tickets were expensive, wait until you hear what it costs just to get to the stadium. The biggest rivalry may be

off the pitch. We'll explain, up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[12:25:58]

GOLODRYGA: All right. Welcome back to "One World." I'm Bianna Golodryga.

A reminder of our breaking news this hour, world leaders are welcoming the announcement by Iran that the Strait of Hormuz has now reopened. Tehran

says, the waterway is open to all commercial vessels.

However, a short time ago, Iranian state media said Tehran would close the Strait again if the U.S. continues its naval blockade of Iranian ports.

I'm joined by CNN political and global affairs analyst Barak Ravid who has broken some news of his own this morning.

And, Barak, your latest reporting outlines a potential deal releasing some $20 billion in frozen assets in exchange for Iran giving up its 2,000

kilograms or close nearly 2,000 kilograms of highly enriched uranium.

President Trump is sort of disputing some of these details in multiple posts on Truth Social and in interviews, but just walk us through what your

sources are telling you.

BARAK RAVID, CNN POLITICAL; AND GLOBAL AFFAIRS ANALYST: Yes, Bianna. Just an update of really the last few minutes, I spoke to President Trump and he

told me that he thinks a deal with Iran on ending the war could take place within the next day or two.

President Trump told me that the Iranians asked to meet. He says that a meeting between Iran and the U.S. will probably take place this weekend.

And he thinks that during that meeting, a deal will be sealed.

The president also told me that when it comes to the blockade on Iran, the naval blockade, he's going to keep imposing it until a deal with Iran is

reached. He's not going to lift it before he thinks that this blockade was actually a crucial part in getting Iran to make concessions.

He already said that he thinks that the deal being discussed at the moment is going to be a good deal. He also said he thinks it's going to be a deal

that makes Israel safer and the world safer.

And he also said that he expects Israel to stop completely all of its attacks in Lebanon. He says they need to stop blowing up buildings. I will

not allow this to continue. These are the main points that he made in the short phone call that we had just a few minutes ago.

GOLODRYGA: Yes. So really breaking --

RAVID: When it comes --

GOLODRYGA: I was going to say, really breaking news there. He expects this -- this war to potentially end by this weekend, even?

RAVID: Yes. That's what the president said, that he thinks that in the next day or two, during this weekend, U.S. and Iran will hold a second meeting

and will seal the deal.

GOLODRYGA: Can you talk us through more of your reporting and some of the details here about what the United States would potentially be willing to

give Iran in return for their nuclear stockpile?

Because rightly or wrongly, a lot of this is being now compared to the JCPOA, which the president completely trashed and got out of immediately

when he came into office during his first term. Walk us through the details.

[12:30:04]

RAVID: So, from what I understand, the issue of the stockpile of the enriched uranium stockpile is a key issue in this deal. We're talking about

2,000 kilograms of enriched uranium that Iran has, 450 kilograms from those 2,000 are 60 percent highly enriched uranium, which is very close to what

you need to make a nuclear bomb.

As far as I understand, during the negotiations, the U.S. and Iran discussed a deal that will unblock $20 billion of Iranian money in bank

accounts in Qatar and in Iraq so that the Iranians will be able to use this money to buy food, to buy medicine, and for other supplies.

In return, they will give up on their enriched uranium stockpile. Some of it will be removed completely from the country. I think most of it will be

removed from the country and other parts of it will be downblended inside Iran.

This thing, as far as I understand, hasn't been concluded yet. It's very close to being agreed on, but it hasn't been concluded.

And when President Trump said today, wrote on Truth Social, he wrote, "No money is exchanging hands." He was not wrong. He was telling the truth,

because this is not money that the U.S. or any other country is giving Iran. It's Iranian money that is in frozen bank accounts that what will

happen is that the U.S. Treasury Department will just allow Iran to have access to this money in those bank accounts, which means that no money will

exchange hands, but Iran will be able to use money that until now it was not able to.

GOLODRYGA: So, three quick follow-ups there, because, as you know, Barak, the details are important here.

In terms of where that enriched uranium would be sent, do we know which countries that could possibly be?

And two, what are the enforcement mechanisms that would be in place, for example, even the downgrading of the remaining uranium in Iran with the

United States have a role in that?

And then lastly, was there any conversation about those $20 billion going to then fund its proxies?

RAVID: Well, so to the first question, I don't know where this uranium is going to be shipped. President Trump claims it will be shipped to the U.S.

I -- I don't know if that's the case or not.

And about the money, the Iranians are not going to get -- it's not -- it's not cash that they will be able to use for any purpose they want. It will

be money that, as far as I understand, they will be able to use only for buying food, buying medical supplies, and buying other humanitarian

supplies, which means that, obviously, it will free up other money to -- for other purposes. But this specific money, they will not be able to take

it as cash and use it to whatever they want.

GOLODRYGA: One of the criticisms of the JCPOA, under President Obama, was the sunset clause provision. Would there be one here? Would Iran, at some

point in the future, be allowed to restart their nuclear program and uranium enrichment?

RAVID: So, I don't know. The last I know is that during the negotiations, the U.S. proposed a 20-year moratorium on uranium enrichment by Iran. The

Iranians did not agree to a 20-year moratorium. They proposed a five-year moratorium. Then they said five years plus five-year extension, possible

extension.

I don't know where this thing landed at the end or where this thing is right now. As far as I know, this -- there are still gaps on this issue.

President Trump said in several interviews, over the last, and in -- in Truth Social posts that Iran will stop enriching uranium completely. And

without any sunset clause, I think we'll -- we'll even see in the next day or two where this thing lands.

GOLODRYGA: Yes. And then to your earlier point about Trump stating that Israel will not be bombing Lebanon any longer.

Do you ever recall that a sitting U.S. president would publicly state that Israel is prohibited from striking against Hezbollah targets inside Iran?

RAVID: Yes. I think this is definitely a -- an unprecedented statement by President Trump. I know the Israelis freaked out about it. They've been

trying to figure out what exactly the president meant by that, because allegedly, the Israelis got assurances from the U.S. that if they see an

imminent threat from Hezbollah during the ceasefire, they have the right to try and take it out. From what the president wrote on Truth Social, they're

prohibited from doing that.

[12:35:22]

So, I think both sides will have to do some discussions, have some discussions on what exactly the rules of engagement are under the

ceasefire.

GOLODRYGA: Barak Ravid, breaking news for us once again, which you have been doing nonstop throughout this war, Barak. President Trump telling

Barak Ravid that he believes this war could come to an end over the next day or two.

Thank you so much for joining us, Barak. It's good to see you.

All right. Well, Britain's prime minister is again facing pressure to resign as details emerge that former U.K. ambassador to the U.S., Peter

Mandelson, had failed security vetting before his appointment as envoy.

Mandelson was dismissed from his role in September over his ties to the late sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein.

Now, Starmer's political foes are claiming it's unlikely the prime minister was unaware that Mandelson had failed security checks. The prime minister

denies this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STARMER: That I wasn't told that Peter Mandelson had failed security vetting when he's appointed is staggering. That I wasn't told that it

failed security vetting when I was telling Parliament that due process had been followed is unforgivable.

Not only was I not told, no minister was told. And I'm absolutely furious about that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GOLODRYGA: Well, now opposition politicians are contending whether Starmer knowingly misled parliament by reassuring lawmakers that Mandelson had

completed security vetting.

Cuba is marking 65 years since the start of the Bay of Pigs invasion, the failed U.S.-backed attempt to oust then leader Fidel Castro.

This year's commemorations come at a time of renewed tension with the U.S. CNN's Patrick Oppmann has more from Havana.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PATRICK OPPMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: In the middle of one of our economic crises in human history, increasing scarcity, they're putting on a show of

public support for the Cuban government. This is the 65th anniversary of the beginning of the U.S.'s Bay of Pigs failed invasion of Cuba.

Also, when Fidel Castro, for the first time, declared that his revolution was socialist, setting up for the alliance that he had for decades with the

Soviet Union.

So, this is an incredibly symbolic moment for the Cuban government at an incredibly precarious time, because, of course, there is an oil blockade of

this island that has been going on for months with the exception of one Russian ship that has come in.

The government feels increasingly Trump administration's push for them to open up economically and politically could lead to invasion.

We've heard President Donald Trump say that Cuba could be next, that U.S. forces could attack this island. So, people are very much on edge right

now. And the government wants to show that they are not bending, that they are not backing down, that while they're willing to talk to the United

States, they are not willing to make major concessions, not willing to change the leadership of this island.

So, as each day goes by, you feel more and more tension, and also amongst government supporters, more resistance to new U.S. threats to this island.

Patrick Oppmann, CNN, Havana.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[12:40:17]

GOLODRYGA: Oil prices have plunged after Iran's foreign minister said the Strait of Hormuz is now completely open to commercial vessels.

This is how Brent Crude, the global benchmark is trading now down a little over 10 percent. The WTI also down at 10.5 percent. Off of their lows for

today. They were down some 12 percent at the start of our program.

I'm going to bring in CNN's global economic analyst, Rana Foroohar. She's is also associate editor in global business columnist at the "Financial

Times."

Rana, I don't know if you just heard, but Barak Ravid was on, who said that he had just spoken with President Trump, who told him that this war could

come to an end and a deal could be announced within the next two or three days, perhaps even this weekend.

How are markets responding to news like that?

RANA FOROOHAR, CNN GLOBAL ECONOMIC ANALYST: Yes, Bianna. And for starters, we've heard a lot about how this war is going to be short. It's going to be

solved in the next day or two. So, I think we should all take a deep breath and just wait and see.

But in terms of how markets are responding cautiously optimistic, you know, we saw oil prices now dip down below $100 a barrel.

But, you know, we don't see a lot of hoopla yet. And there's still a tremendous trepidation, I would say, amongst market participants about

risk. That's because oil literally isn't something that you just turn on and off.

You know, when you think about where we are right now from the time that the war began, takes about 45 days for a tanker to travel from the Straits

into wherever it's going with the oil. Those are just pulling in.

So, if we don't start to see some -- some real success, over the weekend and really a true resolution by early next week, you're going to then start

to feel the knock-on pain, supply chain tightening, not just with energy, but with any kind of petroleum products, you know, things like helium,

which come from the Gulf that are crucial for making chips.

So, this is really not just about, hey, we're going to make a deal and everything's going to be fine in 24 hours. This is about weeks, months,

even years of -- of, you know, disturbance, distraction to -- to the global economy that's going to have to be made up.

GOLODRYGA: Yes. And shipping giant Maersk had said that they've noted Iran's announcement on the opening of the Strait of the Hormuz. They said

the safety of our crew, vessels, and customer's cargo remains our priority. And that was end of statement, not followed by. And thus, we will continue

now to once again resume as business as usual.

From a global supply perspective, doesn't open straight actually mean anything if the shipping industry is still too spooked to restart?

FOROOHAR: Absolutely -- absolutely not. And you've hit the nail on the head. And the Maersk -- Maersk statement, what's behind that are -- is two

things. One, the price of insurance in the Strait has skyrocketed. I mean, you can't even get insurance in some cases to go into this area because the

insurers are spooked.

Secondly, there's still a lot of uncertainty about mines. You know, just general safety the U.S. Navy has warned carriers that it's -- it's really

uncertain. They don't have a grip on the mine -- underwater mine situation yet.

So, you know, I just think the idea that the White House is putting out that, oh, we're going to make a deal and it's going to be fine is really

panglossian, you know. And this -- this is a big deal and it's going to go on.

I think even if we were to get a resolution, let's say next week, which personally I don't think is going to happen, the fallout will continue for

months, if not years.

GOLODRYGA: And what about the factor that while very much hurt and damaged, economically and militarily, and from their infrastructure perspective as

well, and isolated really from even some of their former partners, Iran has proven that they can hold a point of leverage here with the Strait of

Hormuz.

FOROOHAR: Right.

GOLODRYGA: So, what message does that send? I mean, it's the same question I asked the previous guest. The United States can't have the -- the forced

posture indefinitely that we have right now in the region.

[12:45:11]

FOROOHAR: Yes.

GOLODRYGA: So, what happens if Iran, all of the sudden, does the same thing and holds the Strait hostage?

FOROOHAR: Yes. Well, you know, I think that what this war has shown Iran is that, wow, we have something potentially even more important than a nuclear

weapon, which is this incredible global choke point through which 20 percent of the world's energy flows that is geographically in our favor to

hold.

The Iranians, as we all well know, have been -- have been using cheap drones to take out with a lot of precision, in some cases relying on

intelligence from other countries, you know, to take out billions of dollars worth of military equipment.

This is the changing nature of war, and this is -- this is a real change point, I think, in how we look at security in the gulf, how we look at

energy markets.

And I think the final point that I would make is I'm not sure that this White House understood they were not -- when they went into Iran, they're

not on the other side of some market participant, some hedge funder or banking guy that's looking to make a deal. They're on the other side of an

ideology.

And, you know, there's -- there was -- there's a -- a saying in, you know, that the Taliban used to use actually that, you know, you have the watches,

we have the time. I think that that would apply to Iran as well.

GOLODRYGA: Rana, when -- let's -- let's take the president his word that -- that a deal could be announced imminently over the next few days. That

would obviously be welcome news. If the Strait is open, fantastic news.

But in terms of when consumers, here in the United States, but also around the world, because obviously this is a globally traded market, when would

they be able to start to feel some relief?

FOROOHAR: Well, the U.S., ironically, has always been somewhat cushioned relative to Asia or Europe. The -- the real pain and it's already being

felt is in Asia.

You've also seen some -- some price hikes in Europe, more so than in the U.S. You're seeing governments struggling all over the world around whether

or not to increase energy subsidies, which tend to be problematic, policy- wise, they often lead to budgetary issues, which is a, you know, another economic fallout from this -- this war.

So, the U.S. has been relatively insulated. You are seeing prices coming down in various states. It's a fragmented market in the U.S. because of

regulatory issues.

But I don't think that you're going to see, you know, in the next few weeks or months or maybe during -- you know, even during the summer travel

season, oil going back down to post or sorry, pre-war levels, and that, in and of itself, is going to have an impact on the summer travel season,

holidays, leisure, et cetera.

GOLODRYGA: It was interesting to see the energy secretary acknowledge as much, that at least over the summer, prices would still remain pre-war

levels. And the president even revealing in an interview that by the midterms, prices could still be higher.

Rana Foroohar, thank you so much for joining us. Really appreciate it. Have a good weekend.

Well, New Jersey's governor wants FIFA to pay for fans to get to this year's World Cup matches. Mikie Sherrill criticized the state's deal with

FIFA saying that the football governing body should foot the bill for transporting fans to the games. FIFA hit back saying that no other event

makes the organizers pay for fan transportation.

Patrick Snell explains.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PATRICK SNELL, CNN WORLD SPORT: Well, early this month, we learned the top ticket prices for the World Cup final in New Jersey will be just under

$11,000.

And now it seems that even just to get to that venue, it's also going to cost funds more than a pretty penny or two.

This week, "The Atlantic" reporting that New Jersey transit discussed charging around $150 for train tickets to shuttle fans between New York

City's Penn Station and the MetLife Stadium, which is being branded as the New York-New Jersey Stadium during the tournament. Compare that to the

standard fare of just under $13.

Now, New Jersey's governor is calling on tournament organizers, FIFA, to contribute towards the spiraling transit security costs.

In a statement earlier this week, Mikie Sherrill saying, "FIFA is charging fans up to $10,000 for a single ticket to the final. They're charging over

$200 for premium parking at the American Dream Mall while eliminating parking at MetLife Stadium. They're set to make $11 billion off of the

World Cup overall, but New Jerseyans should foot a $48 million bill for transportation costs? Not happening. FIFA should pay for the rides. But if

they don't, I'm not going to let New Jersey get taken for one."

Well, FIFA had this response to CNN on Thursday. "We are quite surprised by the New Jersey governor's approach on fan transportation. The original FIFA

World Cup 2026 Host City Agreement signed in 2018 required free transportation for fans to all matches. FIFA is not aware of any other

major event previously held at New York, New Jersey Stadium, including other major sports, global concert tours, et cetera, where organizers were

required to pay for fan transportation."

[12:50:11]

Now, when asked about the general high pricing around the World Cup, FIFA's president, Gianni Infantino, have this to say at a conference in

Washington, D.C.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GIANNI INFANTINO, FIFA PRESIDENT: The main, and so far the only revenue generating event for FIFA, is the World Cup.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right.

INFANTINO: The World Cup takes place one month every four years. So, we generate money in one month. The 47 other months, until the next World Cup,

we spent that money.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SNELL: The New Jersey venue will host eight World Cup games in total, including the final on July the 19th. The tournament opened a meantime,

that's on June the 11th in Mexico City.

And with that, it's back to you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GOLODRYGA: All right. Well, just ahead for us, Shakespeare scholars often fret that little is known about the great playwright, but a big mystery

about his London life has finally been solved.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GOLODRYGA: William Shakespeare may be one of the greatest playwrights who ever lived, but he also managed to do something else that inspires all. He

got on the property ladder in London. And the mystery surrounding his home's location has finally been solved.

But this is no ordinary tale of celebrity real estate, as we hear from CNN's James Frater.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JAMES FRATER, CNN PRODUCER (voice-over): It's long been known that Shakespeare owned a home in London, but where exactly has kept academics

guessing for centuries. That is until now.

FRATER: It's generally believed that somewhere between the river and St Paul's Cathedral here in Blackfriars, in these narrow streets, that his

property used to be.

FRATER (voice-over): This modest blue plaque cautiously declares that the playwright purchased lodgings near this site.

FRATER: But in new research by Lucy Munro at London's King's College, this plaque is actually spot on. This is exactly where Shakespeare lived at 5 St

Andrews Hill.

FRATER (voice-over): So, what did his house actually look like?

FRATER: Munro says the property was L-shaped, not massive, but relatively substantial.

FRATER (voice-over): And it would have sat above the gateway to a 13th century friary that used to stand here.

17th century Blackfriars would have been a lively mix of people, gentry rubbing shoulders with an increasing number of trace people according to

Munro.

[12:55:01]

FRATER: In her research, there were tennis courts nearby, there was a bowling alley and many, many other entertainment venues. But also, there

was the pub just next door where perhaps the bard enjoyed a drink or two.

FRATER (voice-over): Crucially for Shakespeare, it was less than a five- minute walk from the Blackfriars playhouse and just across the river from the famous Globe Theater.

The original house didn't survive the Great Fire of London in 1666. And it is one of the reasons why the exact location has remained such a mystery.

But at long last, no plague upon any houses, as we now know exactly where his house stood.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GOLODRYGA: All right. Mystery solved.

Well, that does it for this hour of "One World." I'm Bianna Golodryga. Thanks so much for watching. "Amanpour" is up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

END