Return to Transcripts main page

Early Start with Rahel Solomon

Missiles Seen Overnight Above Israel & West Bank; Trump: Vance & Rubio Leading U.S. Negotiations With Iran; Iran Promises Safe Hormuz Passage For "Non-Hostile Vessels"; Markwayne Mullin Takes Over U.S. Homeland Security Department. Aired 5-5:30a ET

Aired March 25, 2026 - 05:00   ET

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

[05:00:29]

RAHEL SOLOMON, CNN ANCHOR: Warm welcome to our viewers in the U.S. and all around the world. I'm Rahel Solomon, live this morning in New York.

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Becky Anderson, live from our Middle East programming headquarters here in Abu Dhabi, in the UAE. We are nearly a month now into the U.S. and Israel's war with Iran.

And missiles were seen in the skies over Israel and the West Bank overnight.

Sources tell CNN about a thousand U.S. soldiers are now expecting to deploy to this region in the coming days.

This as U.S. President Donald Trump is expressing optimism that a deal with Iran may be in sight. He says Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, seen here, are leading negotiations with Tehran. Tehran, though, remains skeptical of any talks. An Iranian source says that Tehran is willing to --

SOLOMON: All right. We'll get back to Becky in just a moment.

But meanwhile, an Israeli official says that a deal, quote, "does not appear to be tangible right now".

Let's get to CNN's Jim Sciutto, who joins us live this morning from Tel Aviv.

Jim, good morning.

JIM SCIUTTO, CNN CHIEF U.S. SECURITY ANALYST: Hi, Rachel. There's a reason I'm in this stairwell right now, and that's because there are air raid warnings over Tel Aviv right now. We get these periodically. I was woken up in the middle of the night with another one, and this one is coming towards the Tel Aviv area. Just a few seconds ago, we heard what sounded like interceptions over the city.

But this is the rhythm of life in Tel Aviv right now. Even in the midst of this talk of peace negotiations, Iran continues to fire missiles towards Israel. Weve seen them multiple times over the last 24 hours. Some of those missiles have been able to get through Israels air defenses and cause some damage on the ground.

Yesterday, injuries, no deaths, but that's in part because the residents in Israel, including here in Tel Aviv, are listening to those air raid signals and going into shelters as they come through. For its part, Israel continues to fire towards Iran and the Israeli defense minister said yesterday that it would continue those attacks with full force. We're also seeing Israel attack and move further into southern Lebanon, laying the groundwork, it seems, for some more fixed ground operation there, perhaps claiming the southern part of the country up to the Litani River for an extended occupation.

So even as those peace discussions or discussions of peace discussions go on, the pace of the war of the conflict here has not slowed down, doesn't mean that if those negotiations go somewhere, that perhaps the shooting stops. I mean, that's the discussion of the potential for a ceasefire. But right now, the pace continues. And therefore, in a city like Tel Aviv, the danger continues.

ANDERSON: All right, Jim, thank you for that. And thank you, Rahel. We took a slight hit on the on the comms, but we are back. I say here, I mean that metaphorically, of course.

Iran says it will, quote, "absolutely keep charging countries and vessels a fee for passage through the Strait of Hormuz." This after Iran's foreign ministry sent a letter to the U.N. Security Council and the International Maritime Organization promising safe passage for, and I quote them here non-hostile vessels that coordinate with Iranian authorities. The effective closure of the vital waterway has, of course, halted global imports and exports in the region, including essential food, medicine and food -- fuel supplies.

The head of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company says choking the Strait of Hormuz is, quote, "economic terrorism against every nation".

Well, joining me now to do a deeper dive into all of this is the editor in chief of "Lloyd's List", Richard Meade, live from London.

You and I have spoken a number of times over the past month or so, Richard, and it's good to have you on again today. I mentioned the CEO of ADNOC, Dr. Sultan Al-Jaber there.

I just want to hear how he described this situation. Stand by.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SULTAN AHMED AL JABER, CEO, ADNOC: Let me be absolutely clear: Weaponizing the Strait of Hormuz is not an act of aggression against one nation.

[05:05:07]

It is economic terrorism against every nation. And no country should be allowed to hold Hormuz hostage. Not now, not ever.

(END VIDEO CLIP) ANDERSON: The fact is, the strait is being weaponized, so what can the world do about it? What further detail do we have on, for example, what an international coalition would look like at this point?

RICHARD MEADE, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, LLOYD'S LIST: Well, I mean, I think details are hazy on all sides is the -- is the headline here. We don't know yet whether naval escorts are going to be put in place. We know there are plans afoot. I think everybody is really focusing on one of the U.K.-France plans as the main operation, but that will only come into play after the hostilities have really ceased.

And in the meantime, what we're seeing is a small trickle of ships running through. I think it was interesting. The ADNOC heads comments there, in Houston this week as he was making those comments, one of his ships was passing through the strait. So, there are ships moving through, but they are moving through effectively under the control of Iran.

ANDERSON: Iran says non-hostile vessels will be allowed. Passage sort of on a high level. What have you seen passing through which countries do you see as gaining access at this point and why.

MEADE: So, I must stress that it is a trickle of vessels. So, on an average day you would expect to see 150 vessels. Weve seen 139 transits since the beginning of March. So that gives you some idea of how few vessels are actually moving through. But as you say, some are mainly bulk carriers, crude oil tankers, and they are flagged by Iran largely, but there are Greeks, there are Chinese vessels moving through.

And there is a process now, there is a process that is effectively, you know, a Tehran tollbooth that is in place that allows ships to come into Iranian territorial waters under a scheme that is being approved by the IRGC, ships are essentially seeking permission. They are exchanging information and in some cases, payments. And upon approach, there will be a VHF radio hail verification. There will be a patrol boat that clears them through one ship at a time.

But this is happening and I suspect it's going to happen slightly more frequently if we don't see some progress in terms of the negotiations. But as we speak right now, the shipping industry is effectively in paralysis.

ANDERSON: So, here's the Iranian foreign ministry spokesman on that process that you just described.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ESMAIL BAGHAEI, SPOKESMAN, IRANIAN MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS: What Iran is doing is just to make sure that the vessels belonging or related to the United States and Israel and other countries that are in any manner participating or helping the aggressors make any harm to Iran's national security. And I think that's -- that's based on international law. Again, I have to clarify that other states that have nothing to do with this, act of aggression against Iran can pass through the Strait of Hormuz after necessary coordination with Iranian authorities.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: When he references the -- and I quote him here, necessary coordination with Iranian authorities. He's talking, I guess, about that de facto toll that you just mentioned. "Lloyd's List" reported that at least two vessels, including a Chinese state owned feeder tanker, have paid Iran a fee in exchange for safe passage through the state. How will this impact the global economy?

MEADE: Until we see more ships moving through, it's difficult to know. We know that where fees are being paid, they're paid in yuan. And that's important because I think once all this is over, there is going to be a reckoning in terms of who has effectively paid what is still deemed by the U.S. to be a terrorist organization.

So, I think there are very hazy details for very good reasons. Nobody really wants to talk about the money exchanging hands and where that money is ending up. Not all ships are paying to move through this. I should stress that we've only had examples of two that we know where payments have gone through, and it was around the tune of about $2 million for a tanker.

But whether or not they're paying or not, they are essentially engaging with the IRGC. They are seeking permission. So, I think it really depends. You know, the Iranians, as you say, have effectively said, if you are not U.S. or Israel affiliated, then you can move through.

Right now, not enough of the shipping industry is trusting Iran not to hit their ships.

[05:10:03]

So, I think until there is a little bit more security and we see more ships moving through, this is still going to be a trickle.

ANDERSON: What are you seeing? In terms of sort of mitigation action at this point for the shipping industry effectively trying to avoid this strait.

MEADE: The knock-on consequences are starting to become clear. Obviously, there's a lot of ships that are stuck in the gulf that's having a consequence in terms of the other ships that are now deviating to other sources, to other trades. I think the bigger, more immediate consequence is the fact that we are seeing ships slow down. We are seeing ships reroute, and that's because bunker fuel for the ships, the fuel that they use has doubled in price. It's the availability that's the problem.

And what we are seeing now is a ripple effect through the supply chain, where bunker availability is going to start determining which ships can move where. We've already seen container lines pull a number of trades. Ships are slowing down. People are trying to start thinking about how they deal with turbulence that is rippling through all the supply chains now. But again, until we have some certainty in terms of what happens next, it's very difficult to start planning beyond the next day.

SOLOMON: Always good to have you, Richard. Thank you very much indeed. Your insights are so valuable for us as we continue to report on what is this developing story. Thank you.

Let's get you back to Rahel Solomon folks in New York.

SOLOMON: All right, Becky, we'll see you shortly. Thank you.

We have an update now on our breaking news north -- out of north London. British police have arrested two men in connection with Monday's arson attack. They're suspected of setting several ambulances on fire outside a synagogue, in the Golders Green neighborhood, which is home to London's largest Jewish community.

Surveillance video captured these images that you see here at the time of the attack, which suggests that at least three people were involved. The ambulances belong to a Jewish volunteer group. Authorities quickly labeled the incident an antisemitic hate crime. The two suspects, who are in their 40s, have not yet been identified, but police say that searches are underway at the London addresses where they were arrested.

And still to come for us, TSA agents and other Homeland Security employees are set to miss their second full paycheck this week. We'll bring you the latest on efforts to end the partial government shutdown and how it continues to affect airports. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:17:07]

SOLOMON: Welcome back. Time now is 5:16.

These are live pictures at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport in Atlanta, where at least from this vantage point, it also, it already looks like lines are starting to form long lines. Extended passenger wait times. Yeah, expected at some U.S. Airports already this morning. Well continue to watch it.

And Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport warns travelers may have to wait upwards of four hours there before catching their flights. TSA employees are set to miss now their second full paycheck this week. They haven't been paid since the partial government shutdown began, and union leaders say that they feel abandoned and they feel unvalued, especially as ICE agents who are getting a paycheck have stepped in to assist at select airports.

Officials say that more than 450 TSA agents have resigned as lawmakers go back and forth on a potential deal. More than 3,200 workers called out on Monday alone.

The embattled Homeland Security Department, meantime, has a new leader. Former Senator Markwayne Mullin was sworn in on Tuesday, and there are hopes that the DHS funding standoff could soon be resolved. But some heavy obstacles, well, they still remain. CNN's Priscilla Alvarez explains.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PRISCILLA ALVAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Markwayne Mullin started his new job as Department of Homeland Security secretary on Tuesday, taking the helm of a federal agency that is at the center of President Donald Trump's key domestic priority, cracking down on immigration.

Now, one of the first messages from the secretary is that the department that he now leads is bigger than any political party. That's according to a statement, but it's also a message that he conveyed after his swearing in in the Oval Office.

MARKWAYNE MULLIN, DHS SECRETARY: I made this very clear that I don't care what color your state is. I don't care if you're red or blue. At the end of the day, my job is to be secretary of homeland and to protect everybody the same. And we will do that.

ALVAREZ: Now, of course, those remarks come amid a standoff between Republicans and Democrats over funding of the Department of Homeland Security, which has been shut down, leaving thousands of employees going without pay, including TSA personnel, which has resulted in those hours long wait times at the nations airports. In addition to grappling with that, Secretary Mullin is also getting briefed on the department that he now leads and is expected to make personnel changes. He brought some of his senate staff over to the department, and more changes are anticipated.

But ahead of him taking this position, he had already been in touch with agency heads at the department and also having multiple conversations with White House. Border czar Tom Homan. And it is those conversations that Homeland Security officials say will lead to a reset for the department. Of course, then Secretary Kristi Noem and Tom Homan at the White House did not have a relationship, nor did they talk.

So, this new era of the Department of Homeland security so far has been a welcome one by homeland security officials that I have been speaking with. But they also caution that this does not mean that there will be a softening of the administration's immigration crackdown.

[05:20:07]

They anticipate that it is going to continue to be aggressive, but stylistically, it may look different. For example, targeted immigration enforcement as Homan has pushed for instead of broad immigration sweeps. But that is ultimately going to be the challenge for Secretary Mullin moving forward. Balancing the immense pressure that comes with the president's deportation campaign while also navigating the presidents ever shifting demands.

Priscilla Alvarez, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE) SOLOMON: Democrats are celebrating yet another victory in an off year election that proves that they can win in some very Republican districts. CNN projecting that Emily Gregory will flip the Florida state house seat representing Palm Beach. That is the district that includes President Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate, where he won by 11 points in the 2024 presidential election.

Gregory spoke with CNN's Randi Kaye.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You flipped this seat from red to blue. Now, since President Trump's term started more, the Democrats have flipped more than 20 legislative seats. You're just adding to that. How does that feel?

EMILY GREGORY, FLORIDA STATE HOUSE DEMOCRAT-ELECT: I think it's a real reaction to the current policies at the national and state level. And I think that is a clear indication from voters. It's the wrong track. And go ahead, Legislators. Go ahead, Representatives. Focus on property insurance, health care, education. Focus on the things that Floridians care about.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOLOMON: Trump had given his complete and total endorsement to the Republican candidate, Jon Maples. The president voted by mail in his home district, despite saying on Monday that mail in voting means mail-in cheating.

Still ahead, more U.S. forces are heading to the Middle East, even as President Trump touts talks with Iran. We'll have those details coming up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:26:22]

ANDERSON: Just before 1:30 in the afternoon here on Wednesday, I'm broadcasting from our headquarters here in Abu Dhabi. We are following developments here in the Middle East, where the U.S. and Israels war with Iran is now in its fourth week. Overnight, we saw missiles in the skies over Israel and the West Bank. Even as President Trump says negotiators are talking with Iran to end the conflict.

Meanwhile, about 1,000 U.S. soldiers with the Army's 82nd Airborne division are preparing to deploy to the Middle East in the coming days. Sources say the brigade will be the, quote, ready unit, which will be called upon if needed. The move will add to the growing military firepower in the region.

I'm joined now by Malcolm Nance. He's a retired U.S. naval intelligence officer and a national security expert.

Good to have you this morning, Malcolm. Thank you. Two sources tell CNN that approximately 1,000 U.S. Soldiers are now

preparing to deploy to be available for Iran operations, as it were. And you've listed some of the units and hardware that make up this force saying, quote, "this force is not leveraged". This is a commitment to take action.

What action do you expect at this point?

MALCOLM NANCE, U.S. NAVY INTELLIGENCE (RET.): Well, you know, we're talking about the 82nd Airborne Brigade sending out 1,000 troops out there. They are paratroopers or they're soldiers who are going to be lifted into whatever their objective are. The issue that's not being talked about is the 500 or more special operations soldiers that are being stationed in Jordan and Israel right now, who are an elite assault force.

So, whatever the Trump administration has planned, it is offensive. It is not defensive at all. The 82nd Airborne is a backup force for the spear tip units like Delta Force and SEAL Team Six that you know, objectives like Kharg island are just too small for that. That's something that one special forces unit can do. But they're bringing in Rangers, they're bringing in others.

Even taking the islands in the Strait of Hormuz, Larak, Hormuz. Qeshm, Hengam, Lesser Tunb, Greater Tunb, Abu Musa, Kish and Siri, that is still a massive force for this.

So, the question is, do they have multiple intent here? Take the Strait of Hormuz islands, take Kiche -- I'm sorry -- Kharg Island and then possibly a land operation somewhere in Iran. That's what this spells out. But it's really up to the White House to make clear why they need this force there if they're in in-state negotiations.

ANDERSON: Can you just game plan that for me slightly more? Just -- I'm really interested to learn from you very specifically what these forces that you describe are equipped to do.

NANCE: Right. Well, first, let's look at the marines in the Tripoli amphibious readiness group. That's about 2,500 marines. Their job is to do a forced landing on hostile shores or islands. A group like that could be used against, you know, Bandar-e-Jask, which is a large secondary oil pumping facility for Iran on the Indian Ocean, or to hazard their warships to go through the Strait of Hormuz and launch from ships and do an amphibious landing on like Larak, or Qeshm island.

That danger, they have helicopters they can do it with. They have landing craft. They can do it with, but it's easily mined and its easy narrow channel to attack with anti-ship missiles. Even if you have heavy air defenses, they could helicopter over the Musandam Peninsula and land on islands.