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Isa Soares Tonight
U.S. President Trump Ramps Up Pressure on Allies to Help with the War on Iran; U.S.-Israel-Iran War Enters its Third Week; Israel Says it's Expanding Ground Operations in Southern Lebanon as More Than a Million People Get Displaced; Cuba's Power System Suffers a Total Collapse; Trump: Media is Unpatriotic, Has "No Credibility". Aired 2-3p ET
Aired March 16, 2026 - 14:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[14:00:00]
ISA SOARES, HOST, ISA SOARES TONIGHT: A very warm welcome to the show, everyone, I'm Isa Soares. Tonight, U.S. President Donald Trump is ramping
up the pressure on allies to help with the war on Iran, but NATO is standing firm. We'll speak to a former U.S. ambassador to NATO to get her
reaction.
Then, as the war enters its third week, fresh strikes continue to rattle the region. We are live in Kuwait with the very latest for you. Plus,
Israel says it's expanding ground operations in southern Lebanon as more than 1 million people have been displaced by the war. That, and much more
ahead.
But first, tonight, Donald Trump is stepping up the pressure on other nations to help with security in the Strait of Hormuz. That key waterway as
we've been showing you has largely been shut down by threats from Iran.
Despite that, Iran says it is willing to let friendly nations go through. In recent days, we have seen several Chinese as well as Indian ships have,
traversing the Strait. Now, the U.S. President is calling for quote, "a team effort to reopen the waterway to all ships."
He is urging NATO to step up and nations that get gall -- oil -- pardon me, from the gulf like China, should also join the operation.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Numerous countries have told me they're on the way. Some are very enthusiastic about it and some aren't.
Some are countries that we've helped for many years. We've protected them from horrible outside sources, and they weren't that enthusiastic.
And the level of enthusiasm, it matters to me. We have some countries where we have 45,000 soldiers, great soldiers, protecting them from harm's way,
and we have done a great job and well, we want to know, do you have any minesweepers?
Well, we'd rather not get involved, sir. And I said for -- you mean, for 40 years, we're protecting you and you don't want to get involved in something
that is very minor?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Well, Donald Trump adds the bombing campaign against Iran is not slowing down. He said the U.S. has been targeting Iran's missile and drone
manufacturing. I want to get right to two of our key locations for all this.
White House and CNN's Alayna Treene and CNN's Jeremy Diamond is in Tel Aviv in Israel. Alayna, let me go to you. First, we heard President Trump, you
know, repeating a couple of times that he wants allies to come and help us.
And he even said the level of enthusiasm matters to me. What is he looking for, and how likely are allies to heed his call here?
ALAYNA TREENE, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Yes, well, Isa, when you talk to Trump administration officials, they say that they are relatively confident
that they will be able to get other countries involved on this. But a question, of course, is who these countries will actually be and what they
are actually going to commit to.
And that remains open questions on both of those fronts. You've mentioned this, but we've heard from a number of allies, you know, including the
United Kingdom, Germany and Japan, who, I should note their leader is actually going to be here at the White House later this week to meet with
the President.
All of them very cautious and not wanting to commit to sending warships through that key waterway in the Persian Gulf, in the Strait of Hormuz.
And, you know, this is something we've also heard from people in the Pentagon and other top administration officials that, to have these types
of -- you know, whether it's the Navy or other warships try to escort these tankers through the Strait.
It's very dangerous and it's a high-risk operation. And that's something you've heard now from many of these different countries.
But one of the arguments you've been hearing the President try to make in recent days, particularly in the last 24 hours, that he essentially argues
that the United States is not as reliant on some of the oil that passes through the Strait of Hormuz as some of these other countries that he's
calling to help keep that waterway open as much as they are.
And he essentially is saying -- and he said it, quote, "should have been a team effort to try and reopen the Strait." But I do want to put some
context here around all of this as well, Isa, because one, you know, this is really the first time we've kind of heard the President show any sort of
eagerness to try to involve other countries in this war.
I'd remind you that when the United States first, you know, launched those strikes into Iran alongside Israel, a lot of these countries said that they
weren't consulted beforehand, and that they were surprised when they first learned of this.
[14:05:00]
And so, I'd keep that in mind as we're gauging all of this reaction, but it's definitely something the President has said, you know, kind of issued
what I would argue was an ominous warning to some of these countries, saying, we will remember if you do not help us right now.
SOARES: Indeed, it did sound ominous indeed. Let me go to Jeremy, who I believe is in Tel Aviv. Jeremy, we've heard the Trump administration also
say, officials, I should say, say they expect the war to end within weeks or even sooner.
Give us a sense of whether this is aligned with Israel's goals. Give us a sense of what you're hearing at your end.
JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT: Well, certainly, in terms of several more weeks of conflict that does seem to be the case on both sides,
I think the United States, though, is leaning a bit into the three weeks or sooner, whereas Israel is in the three weeks or longer kind of category
here.
We heard from Israel's top military spokesman over the weekend telling us that Israel has thousands more targets to strike a decisive plan for the
next three weeks, and even deeper plans for three weeks.
Beyond that, he also said that Israel's military campaign in Iran is not going to be set by a stopwatch, but rather based on conditions on the
ground and the objectives being met. That being said, I think there's a very clear acknowledgment and understanding in Israel, that the United
States has been carrying out the majority of the strikes in Iran.
That its assistance in terms of refueling capacity is critical for Israel, and that this campaign cannot go on in the fullest sense of the term
without continued U.S. support and involvement. I do think ultimately, this issue of the Strait of Hormuz is going to be critical to determining how
long the United States remains involved in this.
Because we're seeing that every single day that, that Strait remains closed, the price of oil is going up by a few dollars additional per
barrel, and the more that goes on, the more the price at the pump goes up in the United States, and President Trump's calculus could ultimately
change.
I do think that a key point to make here is that, President Trump, you know, did not seek the support of U.S. allies or its -- or to kind of form
a broad coalition before going to war with Iran. And now in the middle of it -- because it seems his administration did not anticipate the extent to
which Iran would use the Strait of Hormuz as leverage.
He's now looking for the support of those allies. And so far, it doesn't seem like he's getting much of a response at all.
SOARES: Indeed, thanks, Jeremy. Let me pick up with Alayna, Jeremy Diamond there for us in Tel Aviv. Let me just pick up on that. I wonder then, given
what we're seeing, Alayna, in the Strait of Hormuz, exactly what Jeremy was saying, this oil prices shooting up.
Not just oil, you know, natural gas too, also spiking, and the pressures that is putting on the American people. I wonder, what was your assessment
from what you heard from the President as to how long this could go on for?
Because he said, you know, we've had a powerful military campaign, literally obliterated Iran. What was your assessment from what we heard
from him on what regards Iran here?
TREENE: Yes, look, I think that's such a tough question, one that this administration has been carefully trying to avoid and side-step every time
you hear, you know, top Pentagon officials to top people here in the White House or in the West Wing, whenever they've gone and speak public about
this, they are -- they're trying not to put a specific definitive timeline on when they expect this to end.
And from my conversations with people here in this building, has been essentially that they do not want to box themselves into something, as much
as you've heard the President -- and I am told that many of his advisors, not only inside the White House, Isa, but also outside of the White House
and the administration are urging him to be more clear and articulate what an end date would look like.
As much as they're trying to do that, they recognize they can't box themselves in. And of course, what's happening in the Strait of Hormuz is
going to be a key calculus to this, and also, a key calculus for how this is actually going to play out long-term.
And when actually the Trump administration, the President will declare, you know, the U.S.' role in this as over, those are all open questions. But I
think the longer this goes on, of course, and as Jeremy laid out very clearly, the longer you're going to see, you know, the volatility with oil
prices, the gas pumps here in the United States.
Those rising, creating a lot of fears, not only among Trump administration officials, but I'd remind you, a lot of Republicans who have an eye on the
November Midterm elections, who are worried about this war dragging out, what it could mean for them politically.
So, there are so many questions, but really, it is, I think the Strait of Hormuz is going to be critical to how long the United States needs to be
involved in this.
I think that's also why you're seeing, you know, so much urgency from this administration, specifically, a lot of pressure, an enormous amount of
pressure that the President is putting on U.S. allies right now to try and get involved, to reopen it.
SOARES: Yes, it doesn't seem like they are coming to -- that are heeding this call right now, but we'll see. Alayna, good to see you, thank you very
much for laying it all out for us. Well, Germany, as Alayna, was saying, is firing back in response to President Trump's threats.
A spokesperson for German Chancellor Friedrich Merz says this is not NATO's war.
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They added participation has not been considered before this war, and is not being considered now. Which is very much what we heard from our Jeremy
Diamond. Ministers from the European Union met today to discuss how to make it safe for traffic, especially ships transporting oil to use the Strait of
Hormuz.
Again, the EU's Foreign Policy Chief, Kaja Kallas, says the Strait is out of NATO's area of action. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KAJA KALLAS, CHIEF OF FOREIGN POLICY, EUROPEAN UNION: EU already has naval operations in place. We have Aspides that plays a key role in safeguarding
the freedom of navigation. There was in our discussions, a clear wish to strengthen this operation.
But for the time-being, there was no appetite in changing the mandate of the Operation Aspides for now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Let's get more on this. I want to welcome in Julianne Smith; the former U.S. Ambassador to NATO. Julianne, thank you very much for joining
us, coming on the show. Let me get your reaction to what not only we've been hearing from President Trump just in the last, in fact, two hours,
calling for countries to help out, to help, you know, come forward to secure the Strait of Hormuz.
And normally, we see this plea, we hear this plea before, right? Before starting a war not after. And so far, not many are running to his aid. I
want to bring a graphic up just to show our viewers some of the comments we've been hearing mentioned, Merz, just a moment ago.
Germany, it's not NATO's war, Italy, Italy is not part of the conflict, the U.K. say we'll not be drawn into wider war, Australia, we won't be sending
a ship to the Strait of Hormuz. What do you make of this pressure or threat coming from the U.S. President, Julianne?
JULIANNE SMITH, FORMER U.S. AMBASSADOR TO NATO: Well, I think it hasn't gone over particularly well with our closest allies in Europe. They have
been frustrated that they were not brought in at the beginning of this war.
There weren't any consultations with our closest allies in Europe, and they've essentially been watching it on live TV unfold and reading about it
in the -- in the newspapers. So, now the United States is putting out this call for assistance to open up the Strait.
And it really puts Europe in a difficult position. On the one hand, they're frustrated that they've been left out in the cold for this entire
operation, and they still don't fundamentally understand what the U.S. objectives are.
They've heard different versions in recent weeks. On the other hand, while they are frustrated with the United States over not only how this war has
been handled, but say how the Greenland incident was handled --
SOARES: Yes --
SMITH: Some months ago. They're also recognizing that they need the Strait to be open. And so, for them, it's a dilemma. Do they help the United
States get that Strait open because it really affects their bottom-line and their economies in many ways more than the U.S. economy, or do they stand
their ground and refuse to help the United States right now?
And I don't think we've heard the final verdict from all the leaders --
SOARES: Yes --
SMITH: In Europe and in the Indo-Pacific, and we'll know more in the days ahead.
SOARES: Yes, I suppose it depends how long this drags on for, what the calculus is from the United States and also from Iran. We did hear the
President also in the last two hours or so, Julianne, basically say that the level of enthusiasm coming from these countries come from NATO allies.
He was referring to matters to me, which to me sounds like he's expecting them to be lining up, right? So, talk us through the risk for these NATO
allies as they weigh this up, as you were just outlining there for us.
SMITH: Well, it's tough. A lot of them have contentious relationships with the U.S. President. They've been arguing over tariffs over the last year.
They've had the incident where the U.S. was talking about taking Greenland.
We've argued over assistance to Ukraine, and whether or not the U.S. would provide any security assistance. And of course, that's not happening
anymore. But they don't want to make a bad situation that much worse.
And so, they're really trying to calculate, again, their interest in getting their economies humming along, getting the Strait open. So, it will
have positive developments for the global economy with their -- I think legitimate grievances against the U.S. administration in the way in which
they've been treated.
A lot of the European leaders will tell you that they don't feel like they've been treated like a close ally, that they're not being brought in
at the top, that they've been accused of civilizational decline, has been one of the accusations.
So, it's -- they're in a bit of a tough spot. And I think what you're going to see is kind of mixed, a mixed reaction. There will be a couple of
European countries, and perhaps a few in the Indo-Pacific that might lend a hand, and I think there will be plenty that will take a pass.
SOARES: Yes, and it does like you said, Julianne, put them in a very difficult situation because while they don't approve of the war against
Iran or, you know, the way it was handled, the pressure, as we have seen, is growing not just in the oil prices but gas prices, fertilizer prices.
[14:15:00]
And Europe more than United States is likely to feel the squeeze here since, of course, we've detached ourselves from Russia, from Russia's oil.
So, it puts them in a crunch, of course. But let me just ask you, when Kaja Kallas, the EU's Foreign Policy chief said the Strait is out of NATO's area
of action.
What does that mean from a -- from a logistical point of view, could NATO go in and help out?
SMITH: Well, this isn't really a NATO mission. NATO --
SOARES: Yes --
SMITH: Is focused primarily on the Euro-Atlantic area. So, I have no expectation that the NATO alliance is going to have some proper mission
here. I would be surprised if we moved in that direction, because you would need all 32 members of the alliance to agree to it.
I do believe you could have a small coalition of countries coming together, but I don't think it will be either the European Union or the NATO
alliance. And I think some countries also question what the President said about this being relatively simple and easy.
SOARES: Yes --
SMITH: Most European leaders are of the mind that this could be a long- standing commitment, and could require long-term engagement from Europe.
SOARES: Yes, indeed. And I've got -- I think we've got a clip from President Trump because he says -- he says, we really want their help, but
at the same time, he says we don't need anybody's help. I think we've got that clip. If we have it, can we play it?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: We don't need anybody. We're the strongest nation in the world, we have the strongest military by far in the world. We don't need them. But
it's interesting -- I'm almost doing it in some cases not because we need them, but because I want to find out how they react.
Because I've been saying for years that if we ever did need them, they won't be there. Not all of them --
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: So, we hear this, Julianne, and then we hear in the interview for the "Financial Times", he says if there's no response or if it's a negative
response, I think will be very bad for the future of NATO. And like you said, alienating allies on tariffs -- on Greenland. And to me, that sounds
pretty ominous. This line from the "FT". What is -- how do you interpret it?
SMITH: It sounds to me like a test. And I think the Europeans want to know the truth. Does the United States need the assistance of its partners and
allies around the world to open the Strait, or is this just kind of a test where the President can gauge any individual country's commitment to this
partnership?
But I think a lot of European allies would answer back, does the U.S. really believe in this partnership at all? The President has belittled the
NATO alliance. He has talked about how these allies don't have anything to offer.
And I think the mixed messaging actually doesn't help our case here. I think what needs to happen is behind closed doors. The President needs to
have an honest conversation with our closest partners and allies and lay out the goals, the objectives, and what the United States is asking for.
It can be a test of loyalty. That's not what the Europeans are up for right now. This is a serious matter, and it requires immediate consultations.
I know many of them are coming to Washington soon, and I think that will be a good time for them to sit around the table and really flesh this out and
not have some sort of hypothetical loyalty test that really --
SOARES: Yes --
SMITH: Doesn't get us anywhere closer to opening the Strait.
SOARES: Such great analysis. Great to have you on the show, Julianne, Julianne Smith joining us there from Washington D.C., appreciate it. Well
meantime, fresh strikes continue to rattle the region, all as Iran warns of imminent attacks on U.S.-linked industrial sites.
Israel says it has destroyed Iran's Space and Satellite Center in central Tehran. It also says it bombed more than 200 Iranian targets in one day
over the weekend, targeting ballistic missile capabilities and air defense systems.
Several airstrikes rocked Beirut's southern suburbs overnight as Israel announced limited as well as targeted ground operations against Hezbollah.
Multiple attacks were also reported across southern Lebanon.
In Dubai, a fuel tank fire disrupted air traffic after a drone-related incident early Monday. Separately, at least, one person was killed in Abu
Dhabi when a missile landed on a vehicle. And then in Iraq, two drones struck the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad over the weekend but caused no injuries
to U.S. personnel.
Rockets also hit areas in and around Baghdad International Airport, wounding five people. Our Nic Robertson is live for us in Dubai and Kuwait
City, pardon me, with the latest. And Nic, we're seeing, of course, a continuation of Iran striking the gulf.
I just wonder what -- from a diplomatic perspective, what you are hearing. This is not a homogenous group, of course. Are they working together at
all, Nic?
[14:20:00]
To try and find an off-ramp here, diplomatic solution. Give us a sense on the diplomacy front.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Yes, look, I think that -- that's been happening, and it's been happening at a fairly quick pace.
Early on, you had Bahrain at the GCC putting forward -- at the U.N. Security Council putting forward a common position from the GCC, calling
Iran out on breaching international humanitarian law through its attacks.
Reminding Iran in a large part that these countries here are not being used as bases to attack them merely for defensive purposes. So, they've come
together to sort of put their position to Iran. There's certainly been a lot of diplomatic conversations going on.
Foreign Ministers at leadership level around the GCC. If you look at just Saudi Arabia yesterday, the Foreign Minister was briefing not only
counterparts in the GCC, but counterparts from Latin America, from Asian countries as well.
So, they're sort of trying to inform their economic and other sort of partners and allies around the world about their position. Is there a
direct or some sort of contact going on between any of the gulf countries and Tehran?
I think most people here were sort of -- look to Oman for that, but there's nothing that really appears to be in the public domain that's gaining
traction. And the message from Iran is not one of diplomacy. That sort of came a week and a half ago when the President of Iran apologized to the
gulf states for attacks.
And then what the gulf leaders saw and what they've endured since then is an uptick in strikes around critical infrastructure, particularly
associated with U.S. bases. You know, we look at Saudi Arabia just in the past few hours, 11 drones intercepted in the area of a large Saudi military
air base outside of the capital that's used by the U.S. Air Force.
The Kuwaitis here have just reported six drones incoming, three intercepted, one fell in open ground and two fell close to something that
appeared to have impact, but didn't cause structural damage. We don't know what those impacted.
But the -- but the bottom-line is, Iran's punch is still being felt here. And significant, as you say, diplomatic channels really haven't been opened
up. There's a -- there's a lot of signaling, but it doesn't appear that there's a -- to the gulf at the moment that there's a willing partner on
the other side ready to listen or even who that person will be.
Is it the new supreme leader? It certainly isn't the President, or rather will -- or rather figures within the IRGC who are really sort of pushing
the narrative at the moment.
SOARES: Key questions there. Nic Robertson for us there in Kuwait City, good to see you, Nic. Thank you. And still to come tonight, the war with
Iran has pushed oil prices to their highest level since 2022. Our Richard Quest joins me in the studio to discuss the massive ripple effect is
expected to have on the world's economy. That is next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:25:00]
SOARES: Well, disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz are sending oil prices some of their highest levels since Russia launched its full-scale invasion
of Ukraine in 2022.
Traffic through the Strait, which is a fifth of the world's oil output normally flows, is severely curtailed as we've been telling you in the
show, at least, 16 vessels in the region have been struck by drones or indeed other weapons, with Iran claiming responsibility for some of the
attacks.
And it's not just oil being impacted by the way, it's gas prices, too. Gas prices in the U.S. have risen to just under $3.72 a gallon on average, that
is according to AAA, and that is just for context, the highest price since October the 7th, 2023.
Richard Quest joins me now to put it all into perspective for us, Richard - -
RICHARD QUEST, CNN BUSINESS EDITOR-AT-LARGE: Oh, yes --
SOARES: A lot of fluctuation, a lot of movement --
QUEST: Well, let's --
SOARES: Give us a sense -- give us a sense of where it's at --
QUEST: Yes, so, let's look at this, let's look at that. So, that's the sort of crude price that we've been seeing so far. Just notice the volatility
that you're seeing. It's very difficult to know at any given moment what's going to be the factor.
Because, you know, when you look at a price and you take today's crude price down 5 percent, someone said to me, why is it down 5 percent? Well,
because it's not up 5 percent. There is no obvious reason per se, because the way this is moving, it's going to give you an idea.
The way it's moving is so ephemeral --
SOARES: Yes --
QUEST: Compared to -- compared to what's actually happening. You get a few more ships hit, that will go down, you get a few ships going through that,
you get the idea.
SOARES: Right, but I can see why they would ask you why it's down. If you give us the map of the Strait of Hormuz, the reality is that not many are
actually moving.
QUEST: Correct.
SOARES: So, shouldn't that be going up if oil is not coming out?
QUEST: Yes, some is getting through --
SOARES: Some?
QUEST: And don't forget, it's all about the prospect of what might get through.
SOARES: Right.
QUEST: So, the price at the moment is what's happening now, but the price even in a sense, looking forward is what do we expect to happen? How much
more can we actually have of that sort of activity?
SOARES: Right --
QUEST: How wide can it get before you're starting to say, this is -- this is also being increased possibilities?
SOARES: Yes, right. So, if you're an investor, if --
QUEST: Yes --
SOARES: You own a tanker, if you are airline, you look at this picture, how do you prepare for that, Richard? What are you -- what are you hearing --
QUEST: OK --
SOARES: From investors in terms of confidence here?
QUEST: What I'm hearing is that it's all pretty grim out there. For example, the number of areas that are actually being affected. This is the
reality by the way. This is actually what's happening, the various prices.
Let's take jet fuel. I was talking to Tony Fernandes; he is the Chief Executive, as you know, of AirAsia, ex -- I think he's got some -- he
basically is the Chairman and CEO of the company, the holding company.
And I asked Tony Fernandes, AirAsia, largest low-cost carrier in Asia and southeast Asia, how this is all playing out, bearing in mind they've had to
put up prices dramatically because of fuel surcharges.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TONY FERNANDES, CEO, AIRASIA: Right now, while this isn't something anyone wants, it is the ability to still fly, the ability to create demand is far
greater than what we went through in COVID, where we just didn't know when it was going to end.
So, you know, yes, prices have gone up, yes, I think the elasticity is there. What's patently clear in my 23 years is that flying is almost a
necessity.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Almost a necessity, but it does seem to be impacting investor confidence, right --
QUEST: Right --
SOARES: Richard?
QUEST: But look at this. I want to finish, in a sense, on this map. The --
SOARES: Yes --
QUEST: UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and now Saudi Arabia, they are -- they have billed themselves as the aviation hubs because I think something like two-
thirds of the world's population is within six hours flying or seven hours flying from them.
When you can no longer access those, and it is largely because of the Straits of Hormuz, the Red Sea, these areas which are causing such
difficulties, then you start to understand why aviation fuel is going up, why just about every aspect of the way in which we live our lives with
petroleum-based products is being affected.
SOARES: Richard, you're up-to-date, with the very latest from our Richard Quest. Thank you very much, Richard.
[14:30:04]
And still to come tonight, Israel is expanding ground operations in Lebanon and seizing more territory. What is the end game? We'll get some
perspective from a former Israeli government adviser, that is next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SOARES: Well, let's get a check on some of the latest developments in the war with Iran. U.S. President Donald Trump is repeatedly calling for U.S.
allies to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Just a short time ago, Mr. Trump told reporters, numerous countries have told me they're on the way,
but he decline to actually name any.
Israeli officials tell CNN Israel is planning to strike thousands of targets in Iran over the next three weeks. A sign that its military
operation isn't going to end anytime soon. Flights were temporarily suspended at Dubai International Airport after a drone strike on a nearby
fuel tank sparked a fire.
Israel says it's expanding ground operations meanwhile in Southern Lebanon. That video in Southern Lebanon coming from the IDF, this expanded operation
comes amidst a new round of airstrikes that we have seen in Beirut. Israel's defense minister says, the thousands who have been evacuated in
Lebanon should not return until the safety of those in southern -- in Northern Israel, pardon me, is assured.
Officials in Lebanon say at least 886 people have been killed, and more than 1 million people displaced since Israel began its strikes.
Let's get more from columnist Gideon Levy, a well-known face here on the show. He's also the former adviser to Shimon Peres. Gideon, good to see
you. So, we were just mentioning that this expand -- limited and target ground operations in -- against Hezbollah in Southern Lebanon, more than a
million we've heard just at the top of the show have been displaced. Give us a sense of our viewers, a sense of what the end goal is from Prime
Minister Netanyahu and whether that's being communicated with Israeli people.
[14:35:00]
GIDEON LEVY, COLUMNIST, HAARETZ NEWSPAPER AND FORMER ADVISER TO SHIMON PERES: So, first of all thank you, Isa, for having me again, always a
pleasure. Let's zoom out for a second and look at the entire region. Right now, there are over 6 million people in the Middle East who are displaced
from their homes by Israel, by force, by military force. Part of them lost their homes forever. 2 million in Gaza, almost 1 million in Lebanon, 3
million in Iran. This by itself is unacceptable.
Now, let's see, Israel launched a war against Iran, justified or not, but it was a war of choice, no doubt about it. It was very clear it will bring
to another round with Hezbollah, with Lebanon. This is after two and a half years of very ugly war in Gaza with 70,000 victims with 1,000 babies
killed.
Now, where does all this lead to? Instead of joining the lesson from two and a half years in Gaza, Hamas is not Iran, Gaza is not Iran, and Israel
did not replace Hamas. Hamas is alive and kicking with all the horrible price that Gaza paid, nothing was achieved really. Why would we think that
in Iran will it be achieved?
Now, you ask about communicating with the Israeli public opinion. In Israel there is a strange tendency to always support both, especially in the
beginnings. It's much easier in Israeli public opinion to accept a war rather than any kind of peace treaty. 93 percent, Isa, can you believe it,
this is the North Korean figure, 93 percent of the Israeli Jews support this war in Iran. First of all, it tells something about Israeli society.
But yes, Israel supports this war and people are suffering, also in Israel.
SOARES: Well, let me give viewers, Gideon, a sense of how Prime Minister Netanyahu is communicating this vis-a-vis Iran. Let's have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER (through translator): We are also operating to advance yet another goal, to prepare the conditions for
the Iranian people so that they can remove the brutal regime that has been a dictator to them for decades now. And we are striking forceful strikes at
the IRGC, both on the streets and roadblocks. And we are still in full momentum.
And I am saying to the Iranian people, once you can embark on a new path of liberty, this moment is now closer than ever. We are standing beside you.
We are helping you. But at the end of the day, it is up to you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: So, Israel's slightly been clear, more clear than we have heard from the Trump administration talking about regime change. We've seen a
fluctuation from President Trump on this. But Trump officials, Gideon, have also said they expect war to end within weeks or even sooner. I mean, is
this aligned with Israel's goals? And if, what happens really if the U.S. pulls out sooner than Israel expects? Where does this leave Israel, you
think?
LEVY: First of all, if the U.S. pulls out from Iran, Israel has no other choice but to stop the war in Iran. There's no chance that Israel will
continue. It might continue in Lebanon. But let me say, Isa, that to hear Benjamin Netanyahu speaking about tyranny and dictatorship and human rights
of the Iranian people is a kind of hypocrisy which is almost crossing any border. I mean, Israel is having one of the most brutal tyrannies in the
world, in the West Bank and Gaza. And Israel is fighting for rights of another people. This is really touching.
But if Benjamin Netanyahu really cares about human rights, why not to start with the West Bank? Why not to start with the only people in the world who
doesn't even possess citizenship? Nothing else but citizenship. The only people in the world without citizenship. So, he can't sell it, Netanyahu.
He has a big, solid camp of supporters who will take anything he does and support him blindly.
And he's at -- the other camp, which does not suggest an alternative, but is always against whatever Netanyahu does.
SOARES: That's interesting. I'm glad you mentioned that, because I was going to ask you, Gideon, how much this war, you know, Iran, Hezbollah, how
much this has boosted Prime Minister Netanyahu's numbers? Because I read, I'm going to quote you what I read today. The military campaign against
Iran has not significantly altered Israel's public political landscape or meaningfully boosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's re-
election prospects. This is from Tal Shalev in CNN. And this is according to a series of polls published this week in Israeli media. So, it hasn't
really moved too much.
[14:40:00]
LEVY: This is true, but this is for the short run. Netanyahu is a magician. The fact that he's still prime minister after the 7th of October is by
itself a kind of magic or spell. You can choose it. But no other politician would have survived the fiasco of the 7th of October and stay in power two
and a half years later. So, let this war continue and see where does it lead us.
But right now, you see the support to the war. This support to the war, this massive support to the war in Iran might be translated by Netanyahu
also into support for him in the coming elections, trusting that he will know how to use it.
SOARES: Very important context that you just offered there, Gideon, as always. Great to see you. Gideon Levy for us there. Appreciate it.
And still to come tonight, a top Trump administration official, Brendan Carr, is making new threats against American broadcasters -- broadcasters,
pardon me. Details for you just ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SOARES: And we have some news coming in just now to CNN. Those pictures you're looking at from Havana, we are learning in the last few moments that
around 10 million people are without power in Cuba at this hour after the country's national electric grid collapsed earlier. This is according to
the grid's operator there.
It is the first nationwide blackout in recent years and the first since the U.S. effectively shut off the flow of oil to Cuba. The blockade has
crippled the island's already ailing system as we've been telling you here on the show.
We have been trying to get in contact to our man in Cuba, of course, Patrick Oppmann, but unfortunately, we have not been able to connect for
this very reason.
We had heard on Sunday President Trump say that Cuba wanted to make a deal. We've also heard from Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel saying just last
Friday, if you remember on the show, we were talking about this, that the country had held talks with U.S. president -- with U.S. officials, and
we've heard U.S. presidents say that Cuba is going to fall pretty soon.
And the reason that the power system is suffering a collapse is because it doesn't have any petrol, it doesn't have any gas. That was taken away
following, of course, the campaign we saw by the United States in Venezuela when Nicolas Maduro was capturing his home.
[14:45:00]
And now, we have Nancy -- Delcy Rodriguez, in charge of Venezuela and President Trump put a blockade on that oil. So, Cuba very much stranded
with no energy. We have heard from Patrick Oppmann who has been in Havana for years now saying that schools have been closed, hospitals failing, some
of the machinery, many people, of course, food going off because fridges obviously have no power.
So, really, Cuba looking like very much it's on its knees. We will try to connect with our Patrick Oppmann who is in Havana as soon as we've got
through to him. We, of course, bring that to your attention, but this just coming into us, around 10 million people without power in Cuba after the
country's national electric grid collapsed earlier.
Well, I'm going to go to the United States and President Trump is attacking American news media's coverage of the Iran war. I want you to listen to
some of his recent comments on Air Force One.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: I actually think it's pretty criminal because our media companies who have no credibility whatsoever are putting out
information out that they know is false.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Well, this comes after the U.S. president's defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, insulted major news outlets, including CNN, by the way, during
Friday's Pentagon press briefing. And Hegseth is not the only U.S. official criticizing wartime reporting. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr made the following
threat on social media. I'm going to, quote, "Broadcasters are running hoaxes and news distortions, also known as the fake news, have a chance now
to correct course before their license renewals come up."
Let's discuss this with our media analyst -- our chief media analyst, Brian Stelter, and that is quite the threat. Not the first time we've heard this
threat from Brendan Carr. Just put into context for us.
BRIAN STELTER, CNN CHIEF MEDIA ANALYST AND AUTHOR, "NETWORK OF LIES": No, but it's the most explicit that we've ever seen from the FCC chair, and
it's unheard of in modern American history.
Normally, licensing is kind of a boring process in Washington. These licenses are renewed every eight years, pretty much a pro forma process. A
license has not been denied for decades. I think the only time I can remember in my lifetime was a small radio station because the owner was
convicted of bribery.
So, the point is, this was not a political playing field, but the Trump administration is making it a political playing field because President
Trump himself has repeatedly called for networks to lose their licenses. Well, networks are not licensed and cable channels like CNN are not either,
but local TV and radio stations are licensed. And that is the pressure point that's being exploited here.
What we see is part -- I think this is part of a multi-pronged pressure campaign by the Trump administration to try to discredit and discourage
independent reporting about the war. Whether it's Hegseth at the podium the other day insulting CNN, whether it's President Trump railing against the
New York Times and the Washington and other outlets, or whether it's Brendan Carr threatening broadcasters, it's all of a piece. It's all
related.
And it seems to reflect some anxiety on the part of the Trump administration, whether that's anxiety about how the war is going or
anxiety about the unusually low public approval ratings for the war in the U.S., hard to say. But certainly, this pressure campaign against the press
taking many forms, what we've heard from journalists in the last few days is they're not going to be deterred. They're just going to keep working,
keep reporting, keep asking the questions.
But it is notable in the case of the FCC, you have Brendan Carr coming out with a public threat and basically calling into question whether the
licensing system that was apolitical will be weaponized and politicized in the future.
SOARES: And not only, like you said in your reporting, repeating Trump's talking points here, Brian, but doing so from Trump's club.
STELTER: Yes. I spotted him at the airport in Florida yesterday. He was at Mar-a-Lago on Saturday, hanging out with the president. And then he was
flying home on Sunday morning. That's when I spotted him.
Listen, from Carr's point of view, he believes the America he says, he says the American media needs to be reshaped, needs to be reformed. And he's
trying to use what is frankly the limited power of his office in order to do so. But we've heard from many, many critics, including Democratic
lawmakers, but also free speech activists and advocates and civil liberties groups saying what he's doing is unconstitutional and is authoritarian in
nature.
Widespread criticism of these attempts to to really exert retribution. And it's coming at a time when President Trump keeps rallying against the wider
news coverage of the war. It is clear having watched President Trump up close for a decade, what he wants is a more propagandistic, pliant press.
And he's simply not going to get it in the U.S. So, what he can do is he can call the press on Patriotic. He used the word treason last night. These
insults still are meaningful, even though he spews them quite frequently and people get numb to it.
In the case of the word treason, he was complaining about A.I.-generated videos from the war zone.
[14:50:00]
And that's a real problem. But news outlets are trying to fact check and debunk those. Trump is claiming news outlets are part of the problem when
actually news outlets are trying to be part of the solution when it comes to those A.I.-generated fakes from the war zone.
SOARES: Such important context. Brian, good to see you, my friend. Brian Stelter there. I'm going to take a short break. We'll see you on the other
side.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SOARES: Well, five members of the Iranian women's football team have withdrawn their requests for asylum in Australia and returned to Iran. That
leaves just two Iranian women who are still in Australia on humanitarian visas. Seven members of the team were originally granted refugee visas by
Australia earlier this month after competing, if you remember, in the Women's Asian Cup. The team was in Australia before the U.S. and Israel
launched airstrikes on Iran.
CNN's World Sports Don Riddell has more on that and other sporting events that have been affected by the U.S.-Israel war with Iran.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DON RIDDELL, CNN WORLD SPORT: The war in the Middle East is starting to really impact the international sports calendar. Over the weekend, numerous
events had to be cancelled. Formula One scrap races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia next month. Both countries have been sucked into the violence after
the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran two weeks ago. There will now be a five- week gap between the F1 races in Japan and Miami.
Qatar has also been impacted. Next month's World Endurance Championship has been postponed and MotoGP has decided to reschedule their race that had
been due to be held on the weekend of April 10th. They've announced a new date in November, with the CEO of MotoGP, Carmelo Ezpeleta, saying the
priority is the safety and well-being of everyone involved in the sport.
But scheduling hasn't been possible with football's Finalissima, so the much-anticipated meeting between European champion Spain and Copa America
winners Argentina has been cancelled. The game on March 27th was meant to see a return to the Lusail Stadium in Qatar, the scene of Lionel Messi's
epic World Cup final triumph.
But the organizers, UEFA, have said that with the political current situation and with the football calendar in a World Cup year, finding an
alternative date has just not been possible. So, that's the situation. And of course, there is still no resolution about the situation regarding the
Iran football team heading to the FIFA World Cup in the United States this summer, or the Iraq team who are struggling to travel to their World Cup
qualifier in Mexico later this month. The longer this war goes on, the more complications there will be. Back to you.
[14:55:00]
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOARES: And our thanks to Don Riddell for that. And finally, tonight, a filmmaker who has been a Hollywood darling for generations finally got his
big prize on Sunday. Paul Thomas Anderson, who had been nominated for 11 Academy Awards without even getting a win, came out on top at the Oscars.
He won Best Picture, Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay for "One Battle After Another." I still have not seen it.
"Sinners," which I have, which has been one battle's big awards for a season rival, also had a strong showing, winning four Oscars, including
Best Actor for star Michael B. Jordan.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAEL B. JORDAN, ACTOR, "SINNERS": I stand here because of the people that came before me. Sydney Poitier, Denzel Washington, Halle Berry, Jamie
Foxx, Forest Whitaker, Will Smith. And to be amongst those giants, amongst those greats, amongst my ancestors, amongst my guys. Thank you, everybody
in this room and everybody at home for supporting me over my career.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Congratulations to all the winners. That does it for us for tonight. Do stay right here. "What We Know" with Max Foster is up next. And
he'll have much more, of course, on that breaking news out of Cuba.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[15:00:00]
END
