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One World with Zain Asher
Dan Caine: Iran has Attacked U.S. Forces 10 Plus Times During Ceasefire; Top Two Gubernatorial Candidates in June California Primary to Face-Off in November; Intel Report: Kremlin Tightens Security Around Putin; UAE: Air Defenses Responding to New Missiles from Iran; President Trump Takes Questions in the Oval Office on Iran; Protesters Target Bezos' Sponsorship of this Year's Event. Aired 11a-12p ET
Aired May 05, 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)
ZAIN ASHER, CNN HOST, ONE WORLD: Coming to you live from New York. I'm Zain Asher. This is "One World". New escalation in the Middle East. The UAE now
says its air defenses are for the second day in a row responding to missiles from Iran. The scope of this new attack is not yet clear.
It comes one day after Iran reportedly launched a missile and a drone attack causing a fire at a major oil port. Meantime, the U.S. Iran
ceasefire is coming under severe strain. Both countries acknowledged they'd been in combat. Monday, as the U.S. operation to try and safeguard shipping
got underway.
U.S. officials calling the project mission Project Freedom. U.S. Central Command says that two American flagships passed safely through the Strait,
though Iran's IRGC denies that. U.S. forces under fire and Iranian boats blown up. But it doesn't mean the ceasefire is dead.
One day after President Trump refused to say whether the temporary truce with Iran was over, the Pentagon is giving us a clearer answer. A short
time ago, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth insisting the ceasefire is still in force. He says the U.S. is looking to protect shipping in the critical
Strait of Hormuz Iranian aggression.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PETE HEGSETH, U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY: We're not looking for a fight, but Iran also cannot be allowed to block innocent countries and their goods
from an international waterway. Iran is the clear aggressor, harassing civilian vessels, threatening mariners from every nation indiscriminately
and weaponizing a critical choke point for its own financial benefit, at least trying to.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: Zachary Cohen is standing by for us in Washington. But first, let's go straight to our Eleni Giokos, live from Dubai. Eleni, the breaking news
where you are is that the UAE is effectively, actively engaging with its air defenses, missiles and drones from Iran. We saw this yesterday. We
talked about this.
There are at least four separate alerts issued warning residents about this, and then sometime in the afternoon, our time, a little bit later in
the evening, your time, you guys, were given the all clear. Now it's happening again. Just explain to us Iran's strategy here. What message are
they trying to send?
ELENI GIOKOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, and it's a good question, because we're 24 hours later, and you know, we actually received an alert on your
show yesterday, Zain, and we're hearing this now from the Ministry of Defense. They posted on X around 45 minutes ago. They said they're dealing
with missile and drone attacks coming from Iran, and also saying that any sounds that you might hear are results of ongoing engaging of missiles and
UAVs.
And I just want to remind you, yesterday, the UAE had to deal with 12 ballistic missiles, three cruise missiles, as well as four UAVs. Now one of
those UAVs, all those drones struck Fujairah Oil Port terminal, and its really important infrastructure, energy infrastructure. It's a release
valve for the UAE.
This is circumventing the Strait of Hormuz, and it's one of the most important export points for oil out of the country that was struck. And
when you ask about the messaging from the Iranian side. This really just pertains to project freedom. They were saying that this is a violation of
the ceasefire.
They had struck some vessels yesterday, an ad knock vessel, as well as a South Korean vessel. And it's just showing escalation in the seas. And then
seeing this messaging again about the UAE dealing with strikes from Iran just a short while after we heard from Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth
saying the ceasefire is still holding.
There's a lot of questions about the fragility of this. But he also wanted to make a point of how distinctly different Operation Fury is to a Project
Freedom is. He says the one was, of course, military efforts in Iran to decimate capabilities there, but also now, what we're seeing in the Strait
of Hormuz is a humanitarian gesture to help vessels guided through the Strait to open up the Strait once again.
You mentioned those two U.S. vessels that crossed the Strait yesterday, Kepler Data showing that there was no AIA status, so you could -- couldn't
track those vessels but a lot of these vessels are actually turning off any transponders, so they're moving sort of part of the Dark Fleet.
What is also important to note is today, we have not seen any movement as yet. We're waiting to see if some vessels have again turned off their
transponders to cross through the Strait. But there is a lot happening, and the undercurrent is that Iran wants to send a clear message. They want to
still keep control over the Strait of Hormuz.
[11:05:00]
ASHER: Yes, exactly right. Eleni Giokos, thank you so much. Let's bring in Senior National Security Reporter Zachary Cohen, joining us live now from
DC. So, Zachary just in terms of that news conference that Pete Hegseth Defense Secretary held just a few hours ago.
One of the things he touched upon, along with Dan Caine, was this idea that, according to the U.S., the Iranians have violated the cease fire at
least 10 times, but that does not necessarily reach the threshold, according to the U.S. to terminate the ceasefire and resume conflict. Walk
us through what are the headlines came out of that conference?
ZACHARY COHEN, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Yes Zain, and to your point, both Hegseth and General Dan Caine both making clear that
despite the U.S. and Iran trading fire, despite the U.S. allegation that Iran has effectively violated the ceasefire on multiple occasions since it
was put into place.
That ultimately the threshold to determine the status of the ceasefire, whether it is still in place or not falls to one man, and that's President
Donald Trump, who, as you mentioned earlier, side stepped a question yesterday about whether or not the ceasefire was still in place.
Ultimately, Pete Hegseth today answering more clearly that yes, as of now, that ceasefire is still holding. But take a listen to what General Dan
Caine described as sort of the Iranian violations of the ceasefire, and the Iranian exchange of fire with U.S. forces in the Strait of Hormuz since the
ceasefire took place.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEN. DAN CAINE, U.S. JOINT CHIEFS CHAIRMAN: Since the ceasefire was announced, Iran has fired at commercial vessels nine times and seized two
container ships. And they've attacked U.S. forces more than 10 times, all below the threshold of restarting major combat operations at this point.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COHEN: So, Caine described the types of fire as low harassing fire from these Iranian vessels, these small attack boats that we've heard repeatedly
both Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth acknowledge, remain a threat to vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
And it is how Iran is effectively maintaining some level of control over this key waterway, which has become really the defining factor in Donald
Trump's conflict with Iran, one that still doesn't appear to be anywhere close to a negotiated resolution, but also, based on the messaging today
from the Pentagon and what we've heard from the president recently, does not seem that it will imminently restart into a full scale war once again.
So, we're sort of in this weird holding pattern at the moment where both sides do not really look eager to budge or move, but the Iranians still
maintaining this key leverage point, which is threatening ships in and out of the Strait of Hormuz.
And I want to say one more thing, because Admiral Cooper, who runs U.S. Central Command, told reporters yesterday that this pathway that Eleni was
talking about, that the U.S. Navy says it has cleared in the Strait of Hormuz trying to encourage commercial vessels to start transiting the
waterway, is only a one-way path.
Right now, it's only a pathway that U.S. ships can help guide commercial vessels out of the strait. But as of now, there is no two-way traffic going
on in the Strait of Hormuz, which obviously indicates that traffic has not returned to any semblance of normalcy as of right now.
ASHER: All right. Zachary Cohen, live for us. Thank you so much. All right, let's bring in Senior Politics Reporter Stephen Collinson, joining us, live
now from Washington. So, Stephen, one of the things that I think is important to note is that we've got six months out until the midterms.
This war remains extremely unpopular, whichever way you look at it, both in terms of the actual conflict itself and how the administration has tried to
justify it to also the economic impact. We talk about gas prices on this show, pretty much every single day, a lot of Americans actually voted for
Trump hoping that he would make their lives financially easier.
And by all accounts, he's done pretty much for a lot of Americans, exactly the opposite. And when it comes to the sort of stated goals of this
administration, with this conflict, ensuring Iran doesn't ever have a nuclear weapon or regime change, that was the initial goal, both those
things seem very elusive and very, very difficult in terms of how to seal the deal on both fronts. So why is the administration hell bent on staying
in this conflict Stephen?
STEPHEN COLLINSON, CNN POLITICS SENIOR REPORTER: I think you summed up the dilemma that Trump is in and has made for himself very well. I think the
administration would like to get out of the conflict, but the problem is, first of all that it can't get out.
It has tried to extricate itself through military action, through diplomacy and now through this operation in the Strait of Hormuz. And it doesn't seem
to be able to do so, or to get out in a way that will be politically palatable for the president.
So, he has a lot of international reputation to worry about, but growing political problems at home. There was a poll that came out of the weekend
that showed, to your point, that 76 percent of Americans disapprove of President Trump's handling of the cost of living.
This is an extraordinary number in a country as polarized as the United States, where things generally tend to split down the middle.
[11:10:00]
It does suggest that some Republicans are also starting to support Trump less intensely. I think I would put it that way, instead of necessarily
saying that his support among Republicans is ebbing. But I spent the last few days driving across the country, to your point about gas prices, and
most of the places were $4.50 for gas.
Now, I'm sure a lot of our European viewers would consider that a bargain, but go back to before the war, and a lot of these places were below $3. And
I think there's a lot of very good analysis that suggests that gas prices could top $5 very soon in the United States, per gallon, if this doesn't
change.
So massive political pressure. The problem here is that unless you live in a city you don't have much public transport, you have no alternative but to
drive to get to work, to shop, to get your kids to school. So, this is an exceedingly powerful leverage on the, you know, well, being of normal
Americans, and that is why it translates to political anger rather quickly when gas prices rise. So, the president has a lot of domestic pressure as
he tries to extricate himself out of this conflict.
ASHER: And Stephen just in terms of, obviously, we're talking mid-terms in politics. We've got the Indiana State Senate races, and one of the things
that a lot of you have been talking about with this particular race is the fact that the Trump Administration has been focused on trying to oust the
Republicans who voted against a redistricting plan that his administration proposed.
For this administration, once again, it's very sort of in line with the brand here. It's once again, all about vengeance, all about revenge, as
opposed to figuring out how to ensure that Democrats don't win. It's about how could I punish the Republicans that voted against me?
COLLINSON: Exactly. It's all about Trump, his perception that he was insulted that Republicans are disloyal towards him personally. It's unheard
of for a president to be worried about the state primary results in a very red Republican state that you know there's no chance that Democrats will
ever get control of that state in the near term.
But it is Trump feels that he has faced a personal insult. And what he tried to do was remake the Congressional map because he knew that
Republicans were in trouble in the midterm elections in six months. And some state lawmakers, Republicans in Indiana bolt at the federal
interference into elections, which is a state matter according to the constitution.
It's going to be very interesting to see whether the president is able to oust some of the state lawmakers if they lose the Republican nomination for
November's elections. What I've been hearing is that at least several of them are likely to survive, and that might be taken as a barometer of the
president's waning power, not just nationally, but perhaps within some sectors of the Republican Party and the MAGA movement itself.
ASHER: And just finally, we've got the California Governor debate here on CNN tonight. And just in terms of, you know, the best angle for Democrats
who are vying for the top job of Governor. I mean, obviously one approach is to try to be as anti-Trump as possible. That's a strategy that's worked
for Gavin Newsom, of course.
But another strategy is to really focus on some of the day-to-day issues that affect Californians. How do they strike that balance? How do the
candidates walk that fine line between the two?
COLLINSON: Yeah, this is a fascinating debate, because it has Republicans and Democrats in it, because California has what they call a jungle primary
system in which the last two candidates stand and go through to the general election. So, in a state that's as liberal as California, you could
conceivably see two Democrats running off for the governorship.
Yes, Democrats are absolutely itching to take on Donald Trump in this election, and in November, they plan to run hard against Donald Trump. It
makes a lot of sense, given his unpopularity, given perceptions of the economy.
But in California, Democrats also have a complication. They have enjoyed almost complete monopoly power in the state, in the legislatures and in the
governor's mansion for 16 years. Yet California has got some of the most expensive prices.
Gas prices there are well above $5 a gallon already because of the extra taxes and regulations in the state. There is a great deal of concern that
climate legislation, for example, at least according to Republicans, is stopping building of homes which Californians desperately need.
Prices there are very high. There's a big homelessness problem in California. So even as they try to attack Donald Trump, they are going to
be haunted, I think, by some of the inconsistencies and failures of their own record in the state.
[11:15:00]
And what I think it does point to is that although Republicans and Donald Trump are very unpopular and they look like they're on a very difficult
position as they head into November's mid-term elections. That doesn't mean that Americans generally have any great faith in the Democratic Party.
That party is still very unpopular following the Biden Administration, and I think that perhaps is appointed to why we may see many outsider and
insurgent candidates, populists on both sides of the political aisle trying to go in that lane during November's elections, because both parties and
the political system in the United States is seen to be failing by millions of voters.
ASHER: Stephen Collinson, live for us. Thank you so much. All right, don't miss the California Governor Debate here on CNN. Our Caitlin Collins and
Alex Michaelson are the moderators. CNN's coverage live from California starts at 09:00 p.m. Eastern, 06:00 p.m. on the West Coast. You can also
watch it on the CNN app.
All right. Shots fired in the Strait of Hormuz means another roller coaster ride in the global oil and gas markets. Matt Egan is here to break it down
for us. I think, though, the one sort of silver lining is the fact that, by all accounts, especially just listening to Pete Hegseth and Dan Caine
earlier, you know, there is an intention by the U.S. to ensure that this ceasefire holds, at least for the time being. So that's good news for the
markets.
MATT EGAN, CNN SENIOR REPORTER: Yes Zain, it is good news. And I think you really hit the nail on the head. I think there's relief right now in world
oil markets that, yes, despite all those attacks in the last 36 hours or so, the very shaky ceasefire between the United States and Iran does appear
to be holding.
And that is easing fears in the market that there would be some sort of a new round of escalation. So, I do think that explains why oil futures right
this is WTI, the U.S. benchmark, it down 4 percent on the day, giving back those gains from yesterday. Now, obviously not cheap, right, at almost $102
a barrel, but going down on the day.
When you look at the trend, this is roughly when the war started, and you can see that oil prices were around $60 and now they've been consistently
above 90, 95 and even $100 a barrel. Now, S&P put out some new research really explaining the historic nature of this energy crisis.
They found that there's been a record setting decline in demand during this current crisis. The biggest they've ever seen outside of COVID-19, when the
world economy was basically shut down. And that reflects the fact that prices are so high that some businesses and consumers they just can't
afford to buy energy right now, also the fact that in some regions, supplies are so scarce that there's been fuel rationing.
Now, at the same time, S&P says there's been a historic decline in inventories. Now that's something that cannot last forever. Inventories and
emergency reserves, they're supposed to act like shock absorbers, but they're going down at the fastest pace on record.
And S&P also found that even after the Strait of Hormuz reopens, they think it's going to take at least seven months before upstream production in the
region can return to normal, and that's only if there was no permanent damage to energy infrastructure in the region. So, they're saying, look,
the longer that the Strait of Hormuz remains shut down, the greater the risk that this stretches into late this year or even early next year.
Now, meanwhile, gasoline prices, as you were just talking to Stephen about, they continue to go higher, right? $4.48, a gallon. That's the new national
average here in the U.S., the highest level in nearly four years, and exactly $1.50 above the level before the war started.
Now, keep in mind that during President Trump's first term, gasoline prices were never above $3 a gallon. Now they're well above four, and some
analysts fear that $5 a gallon could become a reality if the Strait of Hormuz does not reopen soon.
In some parts of the country, especially the middle part, because of some refinery issues, they're experiencing even bigger price increases in Ohio,
$1.09 a gallon more expensive than just a month ago, nearly $1 more expensive in Indiana and Michigan as well. And so, look, Zain, the clock is
ticking right. The longer that the supply crisis lasts, the greater the damage to economies around the world. Back to you.
ASHER: All right. Matt Eagan, live for us. Thank you. As you just heard U.S. gas prices have soared since the Iran war began, now averaging $4.48
per gallon. The rest of the world is also paying a high price as well. Let's take a look at Latin America and Mexico converted from Pasos, the
average today is $5.15 a gallon. In Chile, drivers are paying a whopping $6.06 while in Brazil, the average right now is equivalent to $5.11 a
gallon.
[11:20:00]
All right, still to come, security around the Russian President is tightened with the Kremlin said to be on high alert for attempts to
assassinate Vladimir Putin. Details on that after the break. Plus, researchers have a scary revelation about a disease outbreak on a cruise
ship. The latest on the HANTAVIRUS after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ASHER: All right, Russia and Ukraine are both talking about short term ceasefires, but on different days. Russia's Defense Ministry has announced
a ceasefire to take effect on Friday and Saturday around Moscow's Annual Victory Day Parade, which marks the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in
World War II.
Preparations for a scaled back parade are underway, as you see here. Meantime, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has announced his own unilateral
ceasefire starting on Wednesday. He also criticized Putin's proposal, saying it was, quote, not serious.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT: A one-day ceasefire, but killing our people beforehand, to put it mildly, is simply not fair to stop the
missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian cities and communities one day before the parade and say, let's have a 24-hour ceasefire. That is not
serious.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: As Vladimir Putin's four-year war in Ukraine drags on this evidence that he's becoming more paranoid about threats to his presidency and to his
life. CNN's Nick Paton Walsh brings us the details.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT (voice- over): It is a rare, pointed insight into one of the stock of secrets in Russia President Vladimir Putin's security protocols. And it a detailed
intelligence report given to CNN by a source close to a European intelligence agency portrays, predictably, a Kremlin in deep crisis.
Cooks, bodyguards and photographers working with Putin must have surveillance systems installed in their homes it says. Putin has stopped
visiting military sites this year entirely, it says, in contrast to last year, often spending time in fortified bunkers and keeping clear of some of
his main lavish residences, like Valdai.
A tactic aided by many of his appearances and he is in the media a lot being pre-recorded. His staff cannot use smartphones or public transport
the report adds visitors must be searched twice.
[11:25:00]
WALSH: Not all of this information is new, some of it rumored or evident before, but the massive detail is striking, as is the decision by a
European intelligence agency to release a report like this clearly an information salvo designed to stoke strife and paranoia at a time of
perceived weakness in the Kremlin.
WALSH (voice-over): The -- also suggests something staggering that the measures may be designed to protect Putin from a potential coup, something
he had a narrow miss with in June 2023 when mercenary boss and former chef to Putin Yevgeny Prigozhin led a failed march on Moscow.
The risk of a coup, it says now is from another former confidant, Sergei Shoigu, once his minister of defense, but now Secretary of the Security
Council. He retains significant influence when in the military high command, it says. The report says a coup is more likely after Shoigu's
former deputy and close associate, Ruslan Tsalikov, was arrested in March, which it calls, quote, a breach of the tacit protection agreements among
elites.
But the report doesn't provide any evidence or explain why it has made this risk public warning the Kremlin. It claims the new security measures came
after a series of assassinations among the Russian top brass, likely by Ukraine. At an urgent meeting last year after the killing of Lieutenant
General Fanil Sarvarov in Moscow on December the 22nd.
The release of the report has convenient timing, four years into Russia's invasion of Ukraine at a time when doubts about Russia's ability to sustain
its war effort and its economic impact are growing, of major internet blackouts, growing internal criticism of Putin himself and continued
successful Ukrainian bombardment of targets deep inside Russia.
Especially ahead of the May 9th Victory Day Parade scaled back dramatically this year for security. There are plenty of reasons European intelligence
would seek to destabilize the Kremlin, and much of this is hard to corroborate. But it is rare detail and a confident presentation of a
Kremlin in crisis that matches a moment of peaking criticism of Putin internally, Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ASHER: The World Health Organization now believes that some human-to-human transmission may have happened on board the cruise ship hit by a HANTAVIRUS
outbreak. The illness has claimed at least three lives and several other people are ill. The virus typically spreads through the droppings of
infected rodents, not person to person.
The ship remains off the Coast of West Africa with nearly 150 people on board and not able to dock, not able to go ashore. Let's bring in our Nada
Bashir. Nada, this is an important point to note about transmission, because previously we had thought that the main way that this virus was
transmitted was through particles from rodents, so mice, rats aerosolized droplets from potentially the urine of mice and rats.
And now we're hearing that human-to-human transmission is indeed a little bit more possible than we previously thought. Walk us through what has
changed. What more do we know?
NADA BASHIR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, that is the latest update Zain from the World Health Organization as to -- as they continue to carry
out their own investigation trying to ascertain and understand how exactly that transmission occurred when that outbreak took place?
This stage, the working assumption, according to the World Health Organization, is that the Dutch couple, who are among the three now who
have died as a result of this virus, are believed to have contracted the virus and been infected off of the ship, perhaps while visiting another
country, including potentially Argentina, and that is the working assumption.
But of course, this now news about the potential for person-to-person transmission is a concern. At this stage, the World Health Organization has
said that they believe that the risk to the general public remains low, that this is not a virus which spreads as rapidly or as easily as perhaps
the flu, or, for example, as COVID.
But of course, there are still many questions and many lines of inquiry and investigation by the World Health Organization as they continue to gain
more information. Of course, investigate the current status of those passengers on board the ships on 150 people believed to still be on board.
And of course, there are two cases now confirmed where they do understand they believe they have contracted this virus. And of course, there are
others who are presenting symptoms as well, and these symptoms begin very much like flu symptoms, so that may lead to some confusion among those who
are perhaps dealing with similar symptoms but can, of course deteriorate quite rapidly. Take a listen to this quick snippet from that World Health
Organization update.
[11:30:00]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARIA VAN KERKHOVE, W.H.O. DIRECTOR FOR EPIDEMIC AND PANDEMIC PREPARDNESS: Right now, our focus is on treating the patients and keeping the remaining
passengers and crew safe. At the same time, we are working with authorities to understand the source of exposure through epidemiological investigations
and doing contact tracing to identify any further cases. Laboratory tests are also ongoing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BASHIR: Now, of course, there are seven cases of believed HANTAVIRUS on board that vessel at this stage, two, as I've mentioned, are believed to be
confirmed cases. And the focus, according to the World Health Organization, at this stage and the priority, is trying to safely evacuate those two
cases.
ASHER: All right. Nada Bashir live for us. Thank you so much. All right, still to come, what satellite images reveal about the true state of Iran's
nuclear sites and the links in its nuclear supply chain after recent strikes that story next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ASHER: Welcome back to "One World". I'm Zain Asher in New York. Here are some of the headlines we are watching for you today. This hour, tensions
rising in the Middle East for the second day in a row. The UAE says its air defenses are responding to a missile threat from Iran.
On Monday, a drone attack caused a fire at a major Emirates oil form. It comes as Iran accuses the U.S. of violating their fragile ceasefire. At a
pentagon briefing a short while ago, the U.S. Defense Secretary addressed the state of the ceasefire, saying it is still holding. Pete Hegseth also
said that Project Freedom, the U.S. mission to guide commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz is temporary. It's also separate from the U.S.
military's ongoing operations in the region.
Authorities in China are investigating what caused a massive explosion at a fireworks plant on Monday, it happened in central China's Hunan Province.
At least 26 people are dead and dozens are injured. Hundreds of rescuers were deployed to search for survivors, along with 18 drones and several
robots.
And this disturbing video out of Brazil shows the moment a small plane crashed into a residential building.
[11:35:00]
The pilot and co-pilot were killed, and a passenger later died at hospital that's according to the state government. Two other passengers are said to
be hospitalized in stable condition.
All right, I want to return now to our top story. The Middle East on a knife edge between diplomacy and open warfare with air defenses in the UAE
again, inaction today, responding to an Iranian missile threat. On Monday, we had reports of the first Iranian missile and drone attacks on the UAE
since the ceasefire began, sparking a fire at a major oil terminal.
Three Indian nationals were injured in the attack. World leaders are denouncing the strikes. Tehran's foreign ministry is justifying its actions
as self-defense. It comes as the U.S. operation to try to safeguard shipping in the Strait of Hormuz gets underway.
Let's analyze these developments with Retired Rear Admiral Andrew Loiselle. He's had a 35-year career in the Navy with extensive experience in the
Middle East. He's now a Member of the Military Consulting Firm Fozzie Miller Group. Thank you so much, Admiral.
I think my first question to you is going to be about what we're seeing happening in the UAE. I'm curious about Iran's strategy here. You have the
ceasefire technically still holding, despite multiple violations, the fact that obviously the beginning of the war, the UAE was the regional power
that was struck the most by Iran, but the last time they've had any sort of attempted strikes was back on April 8th.
Now, in the middle of all of this, the sort of debate over the Strait of Hormuz and technically the ceasefire still holding. The U.S. is guiding
vessels out of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran is now deciding that it's going to focus its -- on the UAE again. What is the strategy? What is the
thinking behind it?
REAR ADM. ANDREW LOISELLE (RET.), MEMBER, FOZZIE MILLER GROUP: Well, there are several factors at play here with the UAE. First off, both the UAE and
Saudi Arabia anticipated these events, with the Strait of Hormuz and Iran trying to exert control, and both of those countries, built pipelines that
will allow them to fill oil tankers outside of the Persian Gulf, the Arabian Gulf.
And to be able to continue to have oil flowing in the event that Iran were to take these types of actions. So, Iran, I'm sure, believes that if they
can target the Fujairah Port, then they will be able to stop that flow of oil and then potentially get UAE more closely aligned with their desires,
which is to you know, have the Strait of Hormuz under Iran control.
And that their primary goal. There's a proximity factor. UAE is pretty close to Iran, certainly closer than others. And so, when you look at the
damage that's been done to Iran thus far with their missile inventory, it's possible that their longer-range missile systems, they are so low on
inventory at this point in time that they're simply choosing targets that are closer, because it's what they have left.
ASHER: That is an important point. And then, just in terms of Tehran as the sort of tit-for-tat the battle wages on for control over the Strait of
Hormuz. Tehran is warning that it has additional ways beyond just controlling, beyond just controlling, the Strait of Hormuz has additional
ways to complicate matters for the United States. What does it mean by that?
LOISELLE: Well, I mean, bottom line is, what they're really looking to do is to sow confusion throughout all the entirety of the Gulf region. Because
the reality is shipping companies and insurance companies have to gain confidence in the United States' ability to protect vessels that decide to
make this transit.
And it's that confidence that Iran seeks to reduce. And so, when they say that they've got these secretive measures that might be effective in
closing the Strait of Hormuz that that's really what they're trying to do, whether or not they actually have those capabilities.
Frankly, if they had them, they'd have used them. And so, I don't really believe that they're doing it. They're trying to do everything that they
can now, because the Strait of Hormuz is really the last, you know, last piece that they have on the chess board, and they are doing everything they
can to control it.
Because we have to remember that it's very unlikely that there would ever be a peaceful transition of power in Iran, and if these folks in the regime
can't hold on to power, it's very likely that their future would be pretty grim.
ASHER: Just in terms of the cease -- this sort of very fragile, shaky ceasefire still holding. We had the sort of news conference from Pete
Hegseth and Dan Caine. And essentially what both men, especially Caine, was saying was that the ceasefire has been violated roughly about 10 times on
the Iranian side.
This is according to the Americans. But that that does not lead, that will not lead to the sort of abandonment of the ceasefire.
[11:40:00]
OK, I'm so sorry, Rear Admiral. President Trump is actually taking questions about Iran and about the ceasefire. We have to listen in at the
White House. Let's go there.
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: You'll find out, because I'll let you know. They know what to do, and they know what to do.
They know what not to do more importantly, actually. And you know, they fire them in little boats with pea shooters, you know, the pea shooters,
little boat with little you know why?
Because they don't have any boats anymore. Their Navy is comprised of they call them little boats. And they're fast, yeah, they're so fast that they
had eight of them, and they're all gone. And they're fast, but they're not fast like a missile. A missile is slightly faster. They're all gone.
So, they're looking around for little boats to try and compete with our great navy. We have a navy that's unbelievable. You know, we set up a
blockade, as you know very well. Not one ship, a couple tried, and they got their engine shot out. You remember, I think it was one of the it was a
great display.
A ship wanted to go through break the blockade. They were warned not to. And then they were warned again by a young Annapolis Captain of the ship
with a great look central casting. These people are central casting, I'll tell you. And he said, don't do it. Then he said, evacuate your engine room
with this unbelievable loud speed speaker that goes over water.
He said, you have 10 seconds eBay. And then from four miles with one bullet, it went right into the engine. And Gary the ship stopped very
quickly. They hit the engine with one shot. It wasn't a missile. They don't want to waste a missile. It's too easy.
And we had another one of 2001 of the biggest ships in the world. They were warned. And he said, go back now. Go back right now you will be shot at
within 10 seconds. Yes, yes, I am going back to Iran. I am going back. And that was the end of that, right? He went, it takes it took him 10 miles to
the ship was so big, but they respect us.
They didn't used to respect us, but they respect us more than we've ever been respected. Our country now is the hottest country anywhere in the
world. We had a country that was dead when we had that group of people that ran this country with their open borders, letting anybody come in from the
Congo, from countries all over the world.
They came in from prisons and mental institutions. We had a country that would have been a dead hit if they won the election, this country would
have been a dead country. Now we have the hottest country anywhere in the world. Go ahead.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you, Mr. President. You said recently that if Iranians were armed, they could take over their regime. Do you plan to arm
them soon?
TRUMP: Well, I don't want to say that. But yeah. I mean, people say, why aren't they protesting? They want to protest, but they don't have any guns.
So, you could have 200,000 people protesting, and have five or six sick people with guns, and when they start shooting them right between the eyes,
and you see a guy fall and another one fall, and you have no guns.
Very few people would be able to stand there and do it. I mean, I understand. I tell them not to. Don't forget, they killed 42,000 people
last month, 42,000 unarmed protesters that had no guns. So, they had a 250,000 people crowd, and they had snipers. They had, like, four or five
snipers in buildings up high.
And you're standing there, and all of a sudden, the guy on your left goes down and somebody that's what happened with a woman protest. They had
200,000 women protesting a year ago, and everyone thought that was the end of Iran. And then all of a sudden, a woman dropped dead with a bullet right
there, always right there.
Then another woman dropped, and then the word started to spread, and then there was panic, and then they ran. And, you know, so I don't want that to
happen. We don't need that, you know, we don't need it. But the only reason they want to protest so badly, but they don't have weapons. Yeah.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you, Mr. President. Next week, you have a very important meeting with President Xi in Beijing. Secretary Bessent has said
that a top priority on the agenda will be Iran. What do you hope to achieve with President Xi as it relates to Iran?
TRUMP: Well, I have a very good relationship with President Xi. I find it to be a tremendous guy, and we get along well. And you see how we do? We do
a lot of business, which I am making a lot of money. We're making a lot of money. It's different than it used to be.
But I'll be talking about that will be one subject. But he's been very nice about this. You know, in all fairness, he gets like 60 percent of his oil
from Hormuz, and he's been -- I think he's been very respectful. We haven't been challenged by China. They don't challenge us. And he wouldn't do that.
I don't think he'd do that because of me.
[11:45:00]
But I think he's been very respectful. And we've offered, you know, if he wants to send the ships to the United States. I think one of the big things
that's happened is I made a statement, send you, send your ships to Texas. It's not that much further. Send your ships to Louisiana. Send your ships
to Alaska. Alaska is actually very close to a lot of the Asian countries.
People don't realize it. You know, Japan is back and forth. It's like it doesn't seem it, but it's a very short route, two days shorter than almost
any other route. We're making tremendous big deals with South Korea and with Japan. But I said, send your ships all of a sudden. I don't know if
you saw the graph today, and this is Space Force, which I created.
Space Force has -- they just sent out some photos of the ships that are lined up all the way down the ocean, like it's a highway. It looks like the
Long Island Expressway for ships. And they're all heading to Texas, Louisiana. We've made up this, and that's why, when I -- when I decided
that I have to do this for the good of the world, not just the United States, in a way, we would have been in less trouble than a lot of other
places.
Certainly, the Middle East would have been blown up. There wouldn't be a Middle East anymore. They would have control. They would have taken over
the Middle East. Now they're trying to survive, and they won't be successful unless they make a deal. Oh, they don't make a deal, they won't
be successful.
They'll go very quickly and methodically, believe me, very easy. But we have so many alternatives. It's amazing. And nobody knew this, you know,
because, as an example, Japan got 90 percent of their oil, most of their energy, but most of their oil from the Hormuz Strait. South Korea got 43
percent of it.
By the way, their ship was shot at. They were not in the cavalcade of ships they had. They decided to go it alone, and their ship got the hell knocked
out of it yesterday. But they didn't shoot the ships that were guarded by us. I'll tell you that we knocked down a lot of missiles. So, what happens
is that we have a situation where we have total control.
As you know, the blockade has been amazing. It's like a piece of steel. Nobody's going to challenge the blockade. And I think it's working out very
well. We're going to see. I can say this; Iran wants to make a deal. What I don't like about Iran is they'll talk to me with such great respect, and
then they'll go on television. They'll say, we did not speak to the president.
We did not -- I just spoke to. We did not speak to the president. So, they play games. But let me just tell you, they want to make a deal. And who
wouldn't when your military is totally gone, we could do anything we wanted them who wouldn't?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: -- filibuster Mr. President. You posted a lot about wanting to --
ASHER: All right, you just been listening to President Trump taking questions on the war with Iran at the Oval Office. I want to go straight
back to our guest, Retired Rear Admiral Andrew Loiselle. So Rear Admiral, just one of the things he touched upon there was this idea of regime change
in Iran.
He talked about the fact that, you know, according to him, you know, it would -- yes, it would be great if people initiated some kind of uprising.
But from his perspective, he says that the U.S. doesn't necessarily need that.
He also talked about how difficult it would be for Iranians to rise up. Obviously, many thousands of Iranians have been killed by this regime. It
would be an incredibly difficult and dangerous thing to do. But this idea that the U.S. doesn't necessarily need Iranians to initiate any kind of
uprising in order to sort of instigate some kind of regime change. What do you make of that?
LOISELLE: Well, the regime has been incredibly clear in all of their negotiations thus far that they are not going to give up their nuclear
material. And so, as long as it remains their position that they are inflexible in that singular demand, then I don't see a way forward for a
settlement here without regime change.
They've said very clearly, we're going to keep our nuclear material, and the president has been very, very clear in the fact that they will not. And
one side is going to have to bush. So, we're either going to come up with a deal that allows them to keep their nuclear material or they're going to
give it up. And I don't see a real way forward there.
ASHER: All right. Retired Rare Andrew Loiselle, thank you so much. We appreciate it. Be right back with more after the short break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:50:00]
ASHER: All right. Fashions finest came out for this year's Met Gala. The theme was costume art. Attendees were encouraged to express their own
relationship to fashion as an embodied art form. But the evening took place amid protests against billionaire Jeff Bezos and his wife Lauren Sanchez
Bezos, they were the main sponsors of the Gala. CNN's Jason Caroll has more on the controversy surrounding the event.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You look fabulous.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you.
JASON CAROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's one of the biggest nights in fashion. The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Met Gala themes in the
past have focused on religion or sleeping beauties, and while the official theme this year is costume art, some say it should be boycott.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No one for a second believes that the reason he's been made to chair the Met Gala is his fashion sense.
CAROLL (voice-over): Messages projected on New York's Iconic Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building Sunday night targeting Amazon
Billionaire Jeff Bezos and his wife Lauren Sanchez Bezos co-sponsors and honorary co-chairs of this year's Gala.
CAROLL: What do you really hope to accomplish by doing what you're doing?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, like millions of people across the world, I used to enjoy the Met Gala, or I used to enjoy the fashion and things like that,
but like millions of people across the world, I'm also seeing how much prices are rising? How much wages are low?
CAROLL (voice-over): The co-founders of the underground group everyone hates Elon, referring to Elon Musk, who do not want us to show their faces
say, while Amazon workers fight for better pay and safer working conditions, the Bezos are trying to buy their way into culture.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, we've been meeting with Amazon workers this week. We met with a 72-year-old woman who was literally in tears as she told us
about some of the conditions that she's facing.
CAROLL (voice-over): The anti-billionaire group has posted its messages across the city, subways and bus stops. The message may have already
reached City Hall. This year, the city's new Mayor, Zohran Mamdani, who ran a campaign on affordability, has declined to attend.
It should be noted; Bezos and Sanchez actually made their debut at the Gala back in 2024 without all the fallout. But the couple's critics say that was
before Bezos ruffled political circles on the left by cozying up to President Trump attending the inauguration last week's state dinner before
Amazon paid $40 million for the rights to a film featuring the First Lady.
The Met's Director telling CNN, this is not a show on Amazon. This is not a show on Lauren Sanchez' dresses. One needs to be really clear that what our
donors are supporting is the program of the Met and support they have. This year the Met says it has raised a record amount more than $42 million up
from 31 million last year.
[11:55:00]
Thanks to efforts made by Anna Wintour Vogue's Former Editor-in-Chief, and the fundraising force behind the Gala. Despite Anna Wintour support, online
chatter has swirled about celebrities bowing out this year and trouble selling tickets.
AMY ODELL, AUTHOR, "ANNA": That's something I'm very curious to see on Monday night, is who goes and who poses with Lauren Sanchez and Jeff Bezos?
CAROLL (voice-over): Amy Odell is Author of "The New York Times" best- selling book titled "Anna".
ODELL: What I'm hearing behind the scenes is that people are kind of surprised. I think there's some disgust, but then there's also a segment of
the fashion industry that is completely fine with this. I think that Lauren Sanchez represents kind of the archetype of the luxury customer today who's
not afraid to buy expensive stuff, to wear it and to flaunt it.
CAROLL (voice-over): Jason Caroll, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ASHER: All right, stay with CNN. There is much more "One World" with my colleague and friend Bianna Golodryga, after this short break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
