- 5 hours ago
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a midnight press conference addressing speculation about his death, declaring 'I am alive'. While, Iran's new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, remains unseen nearly 20 days after his father Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in an Israeli strike on February 28.
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00:04Hello and welcome. Good evening. You're watching Super 6 here on India Today. I'm Akshra Tananthi Gopal.
00:09Over the next one hour, we're getting you all the updates coming in on the West Asia Award.
00:13At midnight, we saw a press conference by the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.
00:18And the messaging was very clear. He came out of this press conference with one intent,
00:22to end all of the speculation over his death.
00:24So while all of the questions about where Netanyahu is, is he okay?
00:28Okay, that's come to an end. The question we're asking on the show is,
00:32what about Mujtaba Khamenei? Where is he? What is his condition?
00:36Why has there been no public appearance or even a statement with his voice?
00:40It's led to endless conspiracy theories. But away from that,
00:44we're also going to be asking that question about why he's shied away from making any statement so far.
00:51Let's begin with the headlines first.
01:20Another top Iranian official killed in Israeli strikes. Iran forces spokesperson General Ali Mohammed Naini,
01:28also killed in an airstrike launched by Israel.
01:37Israel contradicts U.S.'s no-ground offensive plan.
01:40After Trump rules out boots on ground, Netanyahu hints at a ground offensive in Iran,
01:44says Kant do a revolution from the air.
01:48It is often said that you can't win, you can't do revolutions from the air.
01:52That is true. You can't do it only from the air.
01:55You can do a lot of things from the air, and we're doing.
01:57But there has to be a ground component as well.
02:03U.S. allies remain at loggerheads over the Strait of Ormuz.
02:06Six nations ready for Ormuz peace, but only after ceasefire.
02:10Italy, France, Germany are sure of support, but only after a truce.
02:20Amid speculation over Mojtaba's health, Iran releases undated video of Mojtaba.
02:25No recent image of the new supreme leader fuels speculation.
02:36Explosions heard in Dubai.
02:38Missile alert sounded.
02:39UAE claims air defense is activated due to missile alert.
02:43Iranian missiles over Dubai intercepted by UAE.
03:00So at midnight India time, you had a press conference by the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu,
03:06where, yes, he declared the objectives of the war, spoke of what next in this conflict,
03:10but most importantly, sent out a message.
03:12I am alive. Why?
03:13Because there was endless speculation, rumors on social media,
03:17suggesting that Netanyahu had been killed off in an Iranian strike.
03:21And so he put an end to all of that speculation.
03:24But it's led to another question cropping up about Mojtaba Khamenei and his condition.
03:30Interestingly, you've had the Iranian media release for the first time any footage of Mojtaba Khamenei.
03:36We've had some images, and that's about it, to identify him.
03:39But for the first time, footage is available.
03:41But I will add this caveat that we don't know if this is a recent video.
03:46An undated video was released by Iran.
03:49So while on one hand, Netanyahu has put an end to all of the rumor speculation with that simple one
03:54-liner saying,
03:55I'm alive, why has Mojtaba Khamenei not done it?
03:59Has he been injured in strikes?
04:01Remember that there have been several claims by Israel, including that he has been badly injured.
04:06There have been claims that he's moved out of Iran for medical treatment,
04:09and some even suggesting he's in a coma.
04:12Ultimately, no answers, because Mojtaba Khamenei, yes, has been issuing statements, including one today.
04:17But none of it, even with his audio.
04:20Just a mere text statement, or sometimes being read out by a female newsreader.
04:30Khamenei, Rehbar, Rehbar
04:32Nearly 20 days have passed since Iran's former supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei died in an Israeli strike on February
04:4028.
04:42In the streets of Iran, people are still waiting for the new leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, to make an appearance.
04:49It may sound unbelievable, but the regime may now be running without a visible leader.
04:55As Mojtaba remains unseen, conspiracy theories are spreading fast.
05:05With no proof of life, speculation amounting.
05:09Some believe Mojtaba may have already died.
05:16Iran's opposition claims he's unconscious, unaware of his elevation, and evacuated for emergency treatment.
05:23Leaked audio and US intelligence hint at serious wounds.
05:28But no confirmation exists.
05:35U.S. officials suggest he's gravely injured and hiding underground.
05:39Iran counters, saying he's suffered only minor injuries.
05:48Some reports claim he may have left Iran for medical treatment.
05:52Viral images of cardboard cutouts addressing troops add fuel to the rumors.
05:57But none are verified.
06:03With key clerics and family members lost in the war, some suggest Mojtaba was imposed by military and regional factions
06:12to ensure aggressive control.
06:14Reports hint at a rushed assembly vote between March 3rd to 8th.
06:21Iranian media has now released a file video of Mojtaba Khamenei, who is now the supreme leader of Iran.
06:27In the video, Mojtaba is seen preaching sermons.
06:31But the truth is, Mojtaba Khamenei remains unseen.
06:35No public appearances, no verified proof of life.
06:39And as long as Iran's top leader remains missing, the world is left guessing who is really in control of
06:45the regime and the war.
06:56So let's put out some of those questions on Mojtaba Khamenei and where exactly he is.
07:01The biggest question is, why hasn't he ever been seen in public since the start of the war?
07:07Remember that his father was killed on day one of the strikes, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
07:13But since then, there's been no appearance at all by Mojtaba.
07:16You could cite security.
07:17But beyond that, even the addresses that have taken place.
07:21For example, there was, in fact, one that happened a week ago.
07:24It didn't even have Mojtaba Khamenei's voice.
07:26It was a lady reading out his statement.
07:29No recent picture, none of that, that's been released.
07:32The question then that will be asked is whether he's in some secure underground bunker
07:36and so security forces in Iran are not willing to take any chances whatsoever.
07:41Or is he in a hospital getting treated as U.S. and Israel have constantly indicated
07:47that he's been injured in the strike that had killed his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
07:52How serious then are his injuries?
07:54We've shown you some of those conspiracy theories from him being in a coma,
07:57to have lost a leg, to have also been moved out of Iran for treatment, airlifted out.
08:03There are all sorts of theories, but really no answers at this point.
08:08One of those theories suggests he's not even conscious.
08:11In which case, who's really taking the call in Iran?
08:14We've repeatedly spoken about the mosaic strategy in Iran,
08:16which means that even if the supreme leader is not conscious, is unable to take decisions,
08:21it still doesn't crumble because regional commanders in every pocket,
08:25they're capable, given the power, given the authority,
08:29to go ahead and take those decisions on how to defend Iran.
08:32So even if he's incapable of taking decisions, we will have no way of actually finding out.
08:38Iran so far has been putting out communications about leaders who've been assassinated,
08:44who've been killed, including their security chief, Ali Larijani,
08:47holding a massive funeral for him as well.
08:50So what stopped Iran from giving any information right now about Mojtabah Khamenei's health as well?
08:56If he's doing okay or not?
08:58If he could make some sort of public appearance?
09:01At this point, remember, there's one video that's been released,
09:04and that video is undated, specified by the Iranian media as undated.
09:09So can you really rely on these kind of images and videos during the rounds?
09:14Is it authentic? Is it recent?
09:16We don't know.
09:17Now, who really is calling the shots in this regime?
09:21Who is the actual supreme leader?
09:24If Mojtabah Khamenei is indisposed, is unwell, is injured,
09:29who then is calling the shots at this point,
09:32especially at a time of war, of conflict,
09:35and when U.S. and Israel are constantly hammering Iran?
09:41Now, as we speak about this, let's also talk about Netanyahu's address last night
09:46and the fact that he said very clearly that he's not going to rule out boots on the ground,
09:51direct contradiction to what Donald Trump said just hours before Netanyahu spoke.
09:57Donald Trump said we're not putting troops anywhere.
09:59What did Netanyahu say?
10:01He says we need a ground component as well,
10:04suggesting that the next phase of the war, of boots on ground,
10:07of troops being sent into Iran is very much a possibility.
10:11Donald Trump said Iran's leadership is gone.
10:14This war will end soon.
10:16That was ultimately the mission, the objective, regime change.
10:19And so Donald Trump says there's no need whatsoever to put boots on the ground.
10:23Mind you, there's huge domestic pressure.
10:24He cannot afford to have that happen.
10:26As far as Netanyahu's concerned, he says that if the revolution is what we want in Iran,
10:33it's not something that can happen from the skies, from the air.
10:35Again, endorsing that you need troops on the ground.
10:39So this is one more difference that's essentially emerged between the two leaders.
10:44I'm talking about the fact that Trump and Netanyahu
10:47clearly didn't see eye to eye over the Israeli strikes on the South Park's gas field.
10:51Trump called him out publicly on that, saying Israel cannot do something like this.
10:55We were not told about this operation.
10:58And now you have another difference, and very clearly again, in full public view,
11:02about whether troops should be sent into Iran or not.
11:06Donald Trump says no.
11:07Netanyahu has said it's very much possible.
11:15Allies on the same side, but not on the same page.
11:20The United States and Israel agree on their goal to decimate Iran.
11:24But as the conflict escalates, they now appear to be contradicting each other on one critical question.
11:31To send or not to send boots on the ground.
11:35Donald Trump has drawn a firm line and ruled out sending American troops into the conflict.
11:41Claiming that Iran's leadership has been severely weakened and is crambling for replacements,
11:46Trump has said the war will be over soon and the U.S. is not putting troops anywhere.
11:52No, I'm not putting troops anywhere.
11:56If I were, I certainly wouldn't tell you.
11:58But I'm not putting troops.
12:01Backing that stance, U.S. War Secretary Pete Hexeth has said that this will not be a forever war
12:07like that in Iraq or Afghanistan.
12:10Hexeth has maintained that Washington's objectives on Iran remain the same as they were on day one
12:16and asserted that the war will end on U.S.'s terms.
12:20Epic Fury is different.
12:21It's laser focused.
12:23It's decisive.
12:24Our objectives, given directly from our America first president,
12:29remain exactly what they were on day one.
12:34These are not the media's objectives,
12:36not Iran's objectives,
12:39not new objectives,
12:41our objectives.
12:43Unchanged,
12:44on target,
12:46and on plan.
12:48But while the U.S. seems to be exercising restraint after past mistakes,
12:53Israel has no such reason to be cautious.
12:56Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has taken a different position,
13:00making it clear that air power alone won't be enough.
13:05Netanyahu has said that they can't do a revolution from the air
13:08and need a ground component as well.
13:11While he stopped short of revealing details,
13:14he added that there are many possibilities for a ground component.
13:18It is often said that you can't win,
13:20you can't do revolutions from the air.
13:22That is true.
13:23You can't do it only from the air.
13:25You can do a lot of things from the air,
13:26and we're doing,
13:27but there has to be a ground component as well.
13:32While they are not in line with one another right now,
13:35Trump himself has frequently changed his position
13:37on whether or not he is open to deploying boots on the ground in Iran.
13:42So, Washington's long-term intent and the future direction of this war
13:47both remain ambiguous.
13:49Prekstra Jain for India Today.
13:54So, why is America very clear that they are not going to allow troops to be deployed in Iran?
14:00Because they've burnt their fingers several times.
14:03Donald Trump is learning from lessons, mistakes, many would argue, of the past.
14:08Let's take a look at what we're talking about.
14:10Iraq.
14:11Who can forget?
14:12From 2003 to 2011, America had deployed troops.
14:16Over 1,70,000 American troops were deployed in parts of Iraq.
14:21What happened ultimately?
14:23U.S., America also suffered huge casualties.
14:26Over 4,500 soldiers were killed in Iraq.
14:30Lacks of Iraqis, don't forget, also were killed.
14:33The human cost, as always, of a war of this nature.
14:36And ultimately, what was the end result?
14:38From 2003 all the way to 2011, you had U.S. troops on ground.
14:43And what was the result?
14:45Instability.
14:46A regime removed without any sort of transition.
14:49Iraq is paying the price even today for what happened years ago,
14:54for what happened decades ago.
14:56Vietnam, now 1965 to 1973.
14:59Again, a very prolonged conflict,
15:01which is the worry that that could happen in Iran.
15:04But in that prolonged conflict,
15:05the number of U.S. soldiers who were deployed was over 5,000,000.
15:09Over 5,000,000, 40,000 troops were deployed.
15:12And again, what that means is a whole number of casualties.
15:16Over 58,000 soldiers, American soldiers, were killed.
15:21So just imagine the domestic pressure
15:22that had built up on the U.S. government then,
15:25which is what Donald Trump is trying to avoid.
15:27But what ultimately happened?
15:29Yes, you saw the fall of Saigon.
15:32But a communist takeover happened right after U.S.'s exit.
15:37So again, as far as America was concerned,
15:39they didn't achieve anything much in Iraq, in Vietnam.
15:42And again, another prime example, Afghanistan.
15:452000 all the way up to 2021.
15:4921 years, you had boots on the ground,
15:52American boots on the ground.
15:54Over 1 lakh troops, multiple bases set up in Afghanistan.
15:58And so during that time where America decided
16:01to take on the Taliban,
16:03over 2,400 American soldiers were killed,
16:07many Afghanis as well.
16:08But what happened ultimately?
16:10Now fast forward to today, 2,2026,
16:13the Taliban is in power.
16:15It's a Taliban government in Afghanistan.
16:16So what was the point of those 21 years
16:18of American boots on ground?
16:21They had to step back after complete collapse,
16:24and then the Taliban took over all over again.
16:28So clearly, this is the reason why Donald Trump says
16:31there's no question of boots on the ground,
16:33because the domestic compulsions are huge.
16:36In each one of those cases, the U.S. government,
16:39the presidents then, faced massive backlash.
16:42But Trump is also facing pressure,
16:44not just within America, but outside as well.
16:47NATO allies, who previously did say
16:49that they're not going to get into a wider conflict,
16:52refuse to provide any military help in the Strait of Hormuz,
16:54seemed to make a U-turn by issuing a joint statement last night,
16:58where they suggested that they will help
17:01in going ahead and securing the Strait of Hormuz.
17:03But there are terms and conditions attached.
17:06Essentially, many of these countries,
17:08Italy, Germany, UK, France,
17:10they all said that, look,
17:12we are willing to secure the Strait of Hormuz,
17:14but the term and condition we're putting forward,
17:16the caveat we're attaching here,
17:17is that it must be when there is a truce,
17:20when there's a ceasefire that's announced.
17:37The United States and its NATO allies
17:40are now divided on how to respond
17:42to the escalating crisis in the Strait of Hormuz.
17:48Countries including the UK, Italy, Germany and France
17:52have expressed readiness to secure the route,
17:55but with a crucial condition.
17:57The NATO allies said,
17:59they are prepared to ensure safe passage through Hormuz.
18:02They are stepping up plans for maritime security,
18:05but any development will only follow a ceasefire,
18:09ruling out immediate military intervention.
18:12This marks a cautious shift from earlier hesitation,
18:16while underscoring a clear contrast
18:18with Washington's most assertive approach.
18:21French President Emmanuel Macron reiterated
18:24that France's role will remain strictly defensive.
18:30I reiterated France's position in this conflict.
18:33It is strictly defensive.
18:34It aims to protect our nationals and our interests,
18:38to support our regional allies,
18:40to preserve freedom of navigation and maritime security,
18:43and to do everything possible to help de-escalate.
18:49However, US President Donald Trump has criticized the allies,
18:53calling their response delayed and insufficient.
18:57We don't use the Strait.
19:00We're defending the Strait for everybody else,
19:03and then in the case of NATO,
19:06they don't want to help us defend the Strait,
19:08and they're the ones that need it.
19:10But now they're getting much nicer,
19:12because they're seeing my attitude.
19:13They're getting much nicer.
19:14But as far as I'm concerned, it's too late.
19:18On the waters of Hormuz,
19:20the United States is intensifying operations.
19:22The US has launched an air assault aimed at reopening the Strait.
19:26Its multi-pronged strategy targets Iran's boats,
19:30drones and missile systems.
19:31American fighter jets have struck fast attack vessels.
19:35Apache helicopters have intercepted and destroyed drones.
19:39Two-tonne bunker buster bombs have been used against underground storage facilities.
19:44Iran's coastal defense cruise missile systems have also been targeted.
19:50US media reports suggest that as many as 120 Iranian naval vessels
19:55have been neutralized in efforts to reopen the critical shipping lane.
20:04Even as divisions persist,
20:06a broader coalition including Britain, France, Germany, Italy,
20:11the Netherlands and Japan has strongly condemned Iran's actions,
20:16calling attacks on commercial vessels
20:18and any disruption of the Strait unacceptable.
20:22Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi
20:24has also called for safer navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
20:30Prime Minister Narendra Modi strongly condemned attacks on energy infrastructure
20:33and urged peace and stability in the region.
20:38With global trade at stake and tensions rising,
20:41the Strait of Hormuz is no longer just a maritime checkpoint.
20:44It has become a test of how far allies can align
20:48in a rapidly escalating conflict.
20:51Bureau Report, India Today.
21:01Now, after Besant, another Trump aide has dropped a big hint on Iranian oil.
21:07You've got the Energy Secretary of America
21:09saying that the US may soon remove sanctions on Iranian oil
21:14that's currently stranded on tankers at sea.
21:16And those supplies may be pushed towards Asian ports
21:19within the next three to four days.
21:21Does that suggest that there's also a lot of this oil
21:25that will be headed towards India's ports?
21:27The US Energy Secretary says that this oil
21:30from an unsanctioned Iran
21:32will be absorbed by the market within the next 30 to 45 days.
21:36This is America trying to ease up global pressures.
21:39Geeta Mohan is joining us with more details on this.
21:42So, Geeta, you've got essentially a suggestion from America
21:45that sanctions on Iranian oil,
21:46at least those out at sea,
21:48could be dropped.
21:49And that's something that will really help a lot of markets
21:51across the world, including India.
21:54Well, that's right.
21:55But then this is a temporary absorption,
21:57temporary reprieve, temporary relief.
22:00And the United States of America has to understand
22:03that this cannot continue for a longer period of time.
22:07We saw the IEA, that's the International Energy Agency,
22:10release more than 400 million barrels
22:13from their strategic reserves not so long ago.
22:16And now we're looking at the US Energy Secretary, right,
22:19saying that Asia requires oil.
22:21It's become critical.
22:22And therefore, they are going to release oil
22:25from their strategic petroleum reserve,
22:28which will occur over the next few months.
22:32So how much of it will come to India?
22:34How many days worth of oil will reach India
22:38is something we'll have to wait and see.
22:40And the other thing that they've done,
22:42which is huge again, you know,
22:43on the one hand you're fighting around,
22:45on the other, you've unsanctioned the oil
22:47that is already in the strait of Hormuz,
22:50including Iranian oil,
22:52is a mixed signal from the United States of America
22:56and in how they are dealing with the energy crisis
23:00that the world is now grappling with
23:03because of the war with Iran.
23:05All right, Geetha, thanks very much for joining us
23:07with those details.
23:09Now you've got America suggesting
23:11that Iranian oil that's already out in the seas,
23:14essentially oil that's been stranded
23:17in the strait of Hormuz and other locations,
23:19will be pushed towards the Asian ports.
23:22And that could provide relief to India as well.
23:25We'll track that very closely.
23:26But remember, this is long-term relief
23:28that we're talking about as well.
23:30Already we've been seeing premium petrol prices going up.
23:33But the government maintaining that petrol and diesel prices,
23:36regular petrol and diesel prices,
23:37will remain unchanged.
23:39But as I slip into a short break here on Super 6,
23:42I'll leave you with that viral moment
23:44of President Donald Trump
23:46responding to a reporter's question
23:48about why no heads-up was given
23:50to a Europe or an Asia
23:51about the strikes on Iran.
23:53And he draws a parallel
23:55between the US strikes on Iran
23:57and Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor decades ago.
24:00Essentially asking Japan,
24:02you didn't give us a heads-up then.
24:04Listen in to that moment.
24:06Why didn't you tell US allies
24:10in Europe and Asia, like Japan,
24:13about the war before attacking Iran?
24:15So we are very confused about the Japanese citizens.
24:19Well, one thing you don't want to signal too much.
24:21You know, when we go in,
24:22we went in very hard
24:24and we didn't tell anybody about it
24:26because we wanted surprise.
24:28Who knows better about surprise than Japan?
24:32OK, why didn't you tell me about Pearl Harbor?
24:35OK, right?
24:38He's asking me,
24:39though you believe in surprise,
24:42I think much more so than us.
24:44And we had a surprise, and we did.
24:47And because of that surprise,
24:49we knocked out,
24:50the first two days,
24:51we probably knocked out 50% of what we,
24:54and much more than we anticipated doing.
24:57So if I go and tell everybody about it,
24:59there's no longer a surprise.
25:01Right?
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