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Iran & Proxies Launch New Strikes On U.S. Allies In The Gulf; Israel Strikes Iran As Trump Warns "Big Wave" Yet To Come. Aired 4:30- 5a ET

Aired March 03, 2026 - 04:30   ET

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

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[04:30:31]

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN ANCHOR: Well, an update now on the war which is reverberating through the Middle East as Iran and its proxies and the U.S. and Israel trade back and forth attacks. The U.S. State Department has ordered the mandatory evacuation of nonemergency American government personnel and their family members from key countries in this region where I am and I'm broadcasting from our Middle East programming headquarters here in the UAE. They include UAE, Jordan, Bahrain, Iraq, Qatar and Kuwait, places where there is a high risk of ongoing attacks. Several days after the assassination of Iran's supreme leader, no successor has emerged, and that could be a serious problem. It's unclear who in Iran is actually calling the shots and who might eventually decide to pursue an off ramp, if indeed that is still an option.

Joining me now is Shashank Joshi, who is the defense editor at the Economist. And it's good to have you this morning. Your perspective, extremely important.

SHASHANK JOSHI, DEFENCE EDITOR, THE ECONOMIST: Good morning.

ANDERSON: This was a big military operation at its outset, of course, on Saturday. It has been threatened for weeks. The first wave leadership targets what are known as decapitation strikes. Where do you believe the next phase for the U.S. and Israel will be? What sort of targets do you envision at this point?

JOSHI: I thought it was very interesting that in those press conferences we heard yesterday from Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Pete Hegseth, Marco Rubio, and then, of course, Trump himself. The war aims were framed not as President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu framed them three days ago in terms of setting the stage for the Iranian people to rise up and sweep away this regime. But they framed them much more narrowly in terms of Iran's missile capabilities, above all, including missile capabilities eventually the U.S. feared would be capable of reaching the United States. And so what I expect to see is now that the decapitation phase has finished, we -- Israel has killed 48, 49 leaders, the Iranian navy has been suppressed, which limits its ability to conduct action in the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf. We will see a sustained effort to go after not just Iranian missiles and Iranian missile launches, but also, and this is very important, the supply chain for those missiles.

So the explosives production, the guidance systems, all of those things necessary for the missiles program downstream.

ANDERSON: What sort of capabilities do you believe Iran still has?

JOSHI: I think Iran still has a lot of missiles. You know, they went into this conflict with perhaps 2,000, 2,500 missiles of all ranges. That doesn't all mean capable of reaching Israel, but lots of them capable of reaching the Persian Gulf and the Gulf Arab states. And it still has lots of those, I think. You know, it's fired a few hundred.

But the stockpile isn't the problem. The stockpile is just one aspect of this. It's also their ability to get their launches out into open areas to fire them without being detected, tracked and destroyed by Israeli and American jets. So I think the Iranians still have the capability, but the ability to use it is still quite a serious problem.

In terms of air defense, I think most of their air defense is completely gone. There was very little to begin with, of course, which is why Israel and America were capable of mounting daylight raids with very, very little need to suppress these air defenses in the first instance.

ANDERSON: The Gulf region has been successful in intercepting this barrage of strikes. UAE some -- more than 90 percent success in intercepting these missiles and drones. The DCC is a -- is significant here for the United States. A lot of military capabilities here. I just wonder at this point, how long do you believe these Gulf nations can see sustain this deterrence?

JOSHI: So I must emphasize here, we don't know exactly how big the interceptor stockpiles of these countries were to begin with, which is -- which is of course the way they want it. Because if you knew, Iran would be able to calculate precisely how many missiles it would take and how long it would take to overwhelm them in ways that would be devastating for their cities. So we are guessing here. But my supposition is that after about sort of another week of this, we would begin to see very, very serious shortages, particularly of the most high end interceptor munitions. And of course that means the THAD interceptors.

[04:35:24]

The THAD is the Terminal High Altitude Air Defense System. The UAE operates it, others operate it. And the other one is the SM3 interceptors fired by American warships within the Aegis system in the region. I think after about, you know, running to the end of this week, at the current rate of salvos by Iran, we'd see a real problem. But of course that's offset by the fact that America and Israel are suppressing those Iranian launches.

And so the hope is that before the problem becomes acute, Iran's capacity to launch would be suppressed. That is the gamble that's going on here this week.

ANDERSON: Take a listen to Secretary Hegseth, his comments on U.S. allies and their reaction to these strikes. This was yesterday of course, at the press conference.

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PETE HEGSETH, U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY: Capable partners are good partners, unlike so many of our traditional allies who wring their hands and clutch their pearls hemming and hawing about the use of force.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Gulf nations have been dragged into this war, they say not of their making. Collectively they've issued a statement reserving the right to respond. European allies throwing their support behind that right to self-defense. What are the Gulf nation's options at this point?

JOSHI: Well they have a few. One of them would be to open up their airspace and their air bases, which mostly have been out of limits for America, for the American war effort. And that would have the advantage of course of giving America launch pads right across the Persian Gulf. If you look at a map you can see how close to Iran it is. And that would give their American planes more time for each given sortie and a higher rate of sorties over Iran.

Of course it would also put American planes within reach of more Iranian missiles. The other option Gulf States have is also to directly join the conflict and go after Iranian assets in retaliation. So if Iran hits Saudi Arabian oil infrastructure, Saudi Arabia has the option of hitting Iranian oil infrastructure. And we know Saudi Arabia, the Emiratis, the others, they have large, well equipped, well-armed air forces. Doesn't mean they're very experienced, but they have some experience from operations in Yemen in recent years.

But for now I think it still seems that it's a difficult call for these countries to make because they know Iran can still escalate further, for example, hitting desalination plants, which would be really devastating for the region.

ANDERSON: And we continue to monitor any decisions made by this region as we speak to sources around the Gulf region. Thank you, Shashank. It's good to have you. Shashank Joshi, with us this morning.

Well, it is Tuesday. World markets once again reacting to this war with Iran. Five hours ahead of the opening bell on Wall Street, U.S. Futures, which are indicative of the way that these markets will open, all looking lower. European stocks are seeing similar declines. In fact, the U.S. markets will take a lead from those European markets. Joining me now here in Abu Dhabi is our Eleni Giokos.

And just looking at these markets, the European markets, of course, have been open for -- you know, certainly the U.K. market open for about an hour and a half. And we are seeing, you know, some significant declines there, particularly here on the U.K. market.

ELENI GIOKOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely. And it's a handover from what we saw in Asia and, you know, deep losses there as well. It really pertains to the uncertainty within the oil and energy markets. And that really is feeding through into the negative sentiment. It's the uncertainty. So let's go through this triple threat that we're seeing that is plunging, you know, a lot of issues within this industry.

You've got the Strait of Hormuz and we've spoken about this before, it's an important choke point. You know, 20 percent of oil and gas supplies go through this region and mostly to oil importing countries and most of them in Asia. So that is now being constrained. And I've got a map for you, Becky. And you can see at the mouth of the Strait of Hormuz, you've got this major traffic and not actually going through pick up, you know, oil and gas reserves, but importantly also trapped there on the other side.

This is pretty indicative, the amount of traffic impact that we've seen. And, you know, analysts are saying about 80 percent of traffic has been impacted. It is anticipated that we are going to see further disruptions. The other big shock is the LNG facility in Qatar that was struck by a drone. Force majeure there.

[04:40:02]

No gas that is going to be produced at this moment in time. To compensate for that liquefaction is very difficult because a lot of the global capacity cannot make up for the losses there. You've got Saudi Aramco facility being targeted. We saw something similar in Kuwait as well. And it's really plunging.

This big concern about how much capacity is going to be taken out of the market and importantly the supply demand dynamics. OPEC Plus coming in and saying, you know, let's increase supply. But at the end of the day, this is the, you know, the hub of oil producing nations in the world. And it's a big concern, of course for Donald Trump and the U.S. administration --

ANDERSON: Yes.

GIOKOS: -- what happens to inflation and oil prices and how that's going to impact.

ANDERSON: And let's have a look at those oil prices, this thing sound at the moment. Brent trading just shy of 80 bucks on the barrel. WTI at just shy of 75. We saw a significant increase in these on Monday. A less significant decrease actually on the -- on the stock market yesterday.

But it does look as if these --

GIOKOS: Yes.

ANDERSON: -- U.S. markets are fit for a decline on the open today. We'll keep a keen eye on what's going on in these European markets and indeed as we look towards the opening on Wall Street.

Eleni, thank you for joining us.

Still to come here on CNN, we're going to get you live to Doha for more on how U.S. Gulf allies have been fending off these strikes from Iran. And indeed, as Eleni suggested, the closure of that LNG production hub in at Qatar, a very significant story out about 15 hours ago and the fallout from that already being seen across these LNG markets. Stay with us.

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ANDERSON: Iran's strikes continue to hit this region of the Gulf, striking urban centers, infrastructure, airports and hotels, as well as U.S. military bases across the region. Qatar says it shot down two Iranian bomber aircraft on Monday and that they have intercepted more than 100 missiles and a couple of dozen drones.

[04:45:01]

This video, taken by CNN producers on the ground shows objects falling from the sky early this Tuesday morning after one such intercept. For more, I want to bring in senior producer Bijan Hosseini joining us live from Doha.

Just for our viewers around the world, kind of sort of lay of the land, it is quarter to two in the afternoon here on Tuesday. It is quarter to one with you. It has been a very noisy night around this region and a very worrying one, of course, for citizens and residents who live in this region. The interception of these -- of missiles and drones, of course, has been significant, some 90 percent here in the UAE in similar numbers across this region, including in Doha.

Bijan, just get us up to scratch on what it is that you have seen over the past 24 hours or so and what authorities are saying there about how they are ensuring the safety and security of their citizens.

BIJAN HOSSEINI, CNN SENIOR PRODUCER: Yes, Becky, let's start with those numbers four days of Iran's retaliation here. The government coming out overnight saying that included three cruise missiles, 101 ballistic missiles, 39 drones and two Su-24 aircraft. What you said, you know, most of those successfully intercepted. But it's that number at the end, those two Su-24 aircraft, that is extremely significant and a huge escalation. It's the first confirmed case that we have heard of a Gulf country shooting down an Iranian aircraft, those bombers that you had mentioned earlier.

And we have heard from Qatari ministers over the last four days that they reserve that right, that right to respond to Iran's aggression. And we clearly saw that play out overnight. The country's media office also putting out a statement not too long ago talking to rumors of their air defense systems running out. They say those rumors or any suggestions of that is completely false and that their Patriot air defense systems remain well stocked.

And the latest update we have in terms of injuries, we're at 20. That came from an interview yesterday with Dr. Majed al-Ansari on your show. And also 8,000 people that we believe are stranded that were transiting through Doha, through Doha's Hamad International Airport. Becky.

ANDERSON: Bijan, good to have you. Bijan Hosseini is on the ground there in Qatar, in Doha. We are reporting from across this region with staff around the Gulf, of course, in Israel reporting on the Israeli strikes on Lebanon as well as this war around the region expands. I'm Becky Anderson in Abu Dhabi. I want to send it back now to my colleague Erica Hill who is in New York.

Erica.

HILL: Becky, thanks so much.

Still ahead here this hour, we are following developments out of this deadly mass shooting in Austin over the weekend learning now that shooting has claimed another life. Authorities continuing to investigate the possible motive of the Iran war in this shooting attack. We'll have the latest on that for you after this break.

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HILL: Anti-war protests erupting across the United States on Monday as demonstrations ramp up in response to the military operations in Iran. You're looking at images from a number of different cities around the U.S. Madison, Wisconsin, Boston, Chicago, New York City, where protesters were also questioning the administration's motives for launching the war.

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LAYAN FULEIHAN, PROTESRTER: We know Trump is -- doesn't care what we think. We know that he does not have the well-being of the American people in his mind right now. He has the pockets of his rich billionaire friends at the forefront. But we do believe that we can put pressure.

LUKE THOMPSON, PROTESTER: Protests like this are all the more important to show the U.S. State that we're not just going to take whatever insane international policy they decide on the chin and not say a word.

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HILL: Now across the city in Times Square, other demonstrators rallying in favor of U.S. strikes on Iran, saying the Iranian people want democracy and they deserve self-determination and freedom from the Islamic regime.

Authorities are investigating whether a mass shooting in Austin, Texas over the weekend was inspired by this weekend's attacks on Iran. Two college students were killed in that attack. It happened in the early hours of Sunday morning. We've also learned now that a third victim have died after being taken off of life support. CNN's Ed Lavandera filed this report before ward of that third fatality.

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ED LAVANDERA, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Sirens and blasts of gunfire cut through the early Sunday morning hours on 6th Street near the University of Texas in Austin.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Active shooter, 600 Rio Grande, got multiple victims.

LAVANDERA (voice-over): It was just before closing time in this popular entertainment district, thousands of people were headed home for the night.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh my God. What is going on?

LAVANDERA (voice-over): Nathan Comeaux was standing across the street. He and his friends had just left one of the bars when the shots exploded.

NATHAN COMEAUX, WITNESS/SENIOR, UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS: Was sitting down, eating on a picnic table when all of a sudden we heard 15, 20 loud bangs. And it wasn't clearly a shooting at first. No one around me realized what was happening. The cop showed up a few minutes later at around 2:02 and at that point people started running towards us saying there was a shooting. And the police got out of their vehicles and started running down the streets.

LAVANDERA (voice-over): Comeaux said he took cover once gunfire erupted again realizing the suspect was still shooting.

COMEAUX: On the far left of the screen, you see the shooter, he is walking towards me. He's walking towards Beeford's where hundreds of college students are holed up. He pulls his gun out, points at the police and then right here, there, he lifts it, fires. The cops are between these two cars. They fire back at him and then within about one second, two seconds, he goes down.

LAVANDERA (voice-over): The gunman was shot and killed by police. According to law enforcement, the suspect is 53-year-old Ndiaga Diagne. Investigators say he rolled down the window of his car while driving down the street and unleashed a volley of gunshots on bar patrons. Then got out of his SUV and shot people walking by. His clothing one factor prompting law enforcement officials to say they are investigating the incident as a potential act of terrorism.

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CHIEF LISA DAVIS, AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT: We're, you know, looking at the totality of this and we see those indicators. We see, you know, the second shirt with the Iran and the picture of the shawl on that T- shirt as well. You know, we're thinking about events and what's occurring. We're calling in those federal partners to take a look at that as well.

LAVANDERA (voice-over): The suspected gunman, originally from Senegal, entered the U.S. on a tourist visa according to the Department of Homeland Security. He married a U.S. citizen and became a lawful permanent resident in 2006 and was naturalized as a U.S. citizen in 2013. Law enforcement officials say the guns used by the suspect were purchased legally and they are pouring through thousands of hours of video and other evidence to determine his motive in the targeted shooting. Sixteen people were shot by the gunman. Two have died.

DAVIS: I cannot imagine the grief, pain, and loss these families are feeling today. And my heart is with them. Savitha Shan and Ryder Harrington.

LAVANDERA (voice-over): At least a dozen are still hospitalized.

DAVIS: I believe one patient will be taken off life support sometime today, and then two other patients are still critical.

LAVANDERA (voice-over): Flowers sit under the heart shaped entrance to one of the bars. Bar walls riddled with bullet holes, crime scene tape, and a single black high heeled shoe left behind during the rampage, the snapshots of the shooting's aftermath on 6th Street.

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HILL: And our thanks again to Ed Lavandera for that report.

Thanks to all of you for joining us this hour. I'm Erica Hill. I'll see you right back here with Early Start after this quick break.

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