- 5 hours ago
The West Asia conflict enters a critical phase as contradictory signals emerge from Washington. President Donald Trump suggests the war could end within weeks, yet the US is executing its largest military buildup in the region since 2003.
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00:01Hello and welcome. You're watching Five Live. I'm Sonal Mehrotra Karpoor.
00:04Now, there are growing signals that the war could be approaching a decisive phase.
00:09With talks of possible exits, back-channel diplomacy and global pressure for de-escalation.
00:15But even as the hopes of an endgame actually emerge, the ground realities that are all giving us mixed signals.
00:24They remain volatile, to say the least.
00:27All eyes now are on what Donald Trump will say in his address to the nation.
00:32That comes in at 7.30 in the morning, tomorrow.
00:36So we'll of course be cutting across all through details.
00:39But today on the programme, we try and understand.
00:42In fact, the time is 6.30 here, India time.
00:45While that happens, today on the programme, we try and see which way is this actually headed.
00:50Is there going to be an exit? Or is there going to be an escalation?
00:54We'll look at that, but first up, all the top 10 news about the war that you need to know
00:59at 5 o'clock today.
01:01US President Donald Trump says that Iran war could end within two to three weeks,
01:05signalling a possible wind-down of military action.
01:08Trump insists that the US will exit very soon, with or without a deal,
01:11as long as Iran is neutralised and incapable of building a nuclear weapon.
01:17The operative here word being, with or without a deal.
01:21Number two, Iran is escalating its response.
01:24Warning of strikes on the US-linked tech and infrastructure sites.
01:28Tehran has issued a public alert, even urging civilians to evacuate nearby areas.
01:33This after several companies in Iran were stuck in Israel attacks.
01:39All eyes also now on Donald Trump's major address, scheduled at 6.30 tomorrow morning.
01:44Like I said, along with him, UK President Starmer has also expected to speak,
01:49fuelling speculation of a major policy shift or announcement that could mark a turning point in the war.
01:56Also, US, meanwhile, is reinforcing its military posture,
02:00deploying the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush, along with multiple destroyers.
02:06With over 6,000 personnel on board, this signals readiness of sustained or escalated operations in the region.
02:16Meanwhile, conflict is spilling across borders.
02:18Tankers near Doha have been struck.
02:21Fuel tanks in Kuwait have been hit by drones and fires.
02:25have been reported in Bahrain.
02:27These sort of multi-country incidents point to a widening theater of conflict
02:32with critical energy infrastructure now under threat.
02:37Trump has also, meanwhile, shifted pressure onto global allies,
02:40saying it's up to them to secure the state of Hormuz.
02:43He has criticized Europe for not stepping up,
02:46even telling nations to get your own oil,
02:49deepening fractures within NATO, within the Western alliance.
02:55Talking about partners, UK Prime Minister there, Mr. Starmer has made it very, very clear.
03:02His stand very, very clear.
03:03This is not our war, he said just today.
03:06Meanwhile, France, Italy, Spain have denied military support
03:10and even airspace access to US strikes.
03:13NATO unity appears strained, to say the least.
03:17And with allies now prioritizing national interest over collective action.
03:25Meanwhile, in a dramatic escalation,
03:27Trump has said that US is strongly considering exiting NATO,
03:31calling the alliance a paper tiger.
03:33He has questioned its credibility,
03:34a move that could fundamentally reshape global security architecture.
03:40China and Pakistan have jointly proposed a five-point ceasefire plan,
03:46calling for immediate de-escalation,
03:48protection of civilian infrastructure,
03:50and also restoration of shipping through Hormuz,
03:53positioning themselves as key diplomatic players.
03:57And in shocking development,
03:59American journalist Shelley Hilton has been abducted in Baghdad in broad daylight.
04:05Iraqi forces have launched a manhunt,
04:07arresting one suspect,
04:09but the incident underscores growing instability
04:12beyond just the active war zones.
04:16So what does it tell you?
04:17In the end, that the conflict is possibly
04:22looking at a very complicated end,
04:25if at all that is an end.
04:27But we'll, of course,
04:28all eyes are going to be on that address
04:30that Donald Trump makes tomorrow morning.
04:32So those were the headlines.
04:33War headlines at this hour.
04:35Let's look at what else is making news across the country.
04:38We start with Prime Minister Modi
04:40sounding the poll bugle in Assam.
04:41He visited the tea gardens,
04:44plugged leaves,
04:45and also interacted with workers
04:47during a rally in Gogaamook.
04:49He has also sort of taken a dig at Rahul Gandhi,
04:52calling him Rajkumar,
04:54asserting that the upcoming polls
04:55would not only cement a third term for BJP,
04:57but would also mark a century of defeats
05:00for the Congress's self-proclaimed prince.
05:06The Centre has put a hold on the FCRA bill
05:10that protects in the, you know,
05:12after protests in the Parliament complex
05:15and concerns expressed about it.
05:17The opposition has called the bill draconian
05:19and has accused the Centre
05:21of giving itself sweeping powers
05:23over NGOs and minority-run institutions.
05:25The proposed bill was scheduled
05:27to be taken up for discussion today.
05:33TVK and DMK escalates in poll-bound Tamil Nadu.
05:38TVK versus DMK, that is.
05:41The TVK leader there has claimed
05:43that a glass bottle was thrown at him
05:45during a rally.
05:46He also said that the DMK leaders
05:47are conspiring to kill him.
05:49The party has now written to Home Minister
05:51Amit Shah, seeking security arrangement
05:53for parties' future rallies.
05:58Meanwhile, in big development today,
06:00government has cushioned the fuel price hit.
06:02Jet fuel sees only an 8.5% rise
06:05for domestic airlines,
06:07while foreign carriers face a steep
06:09114.5% hike.
06:11At the same time, commercial LPG
06:13becomes costlier with 195 rupees per cylinder,
06:17but no change for domestic LPG,
06:19at least so far.
06:21And all of these developments
06:23meant that markets ended on a high note.
06:26Indian indices rallied on hopes
06:27of easing the US-Iran tension
06:30with Sensex up 1,186 points
06:33and Nifty closing above 22,600.
06:36This also, as Donald Trump said,
06:38that he will leave Iran soon.
06:46All right, a series of rapid-fire statements
06:49from top US leadership
06:51is now raising some serious questions
06:53about which way is the war really headed
06:56and whether Washington itself
06:58is on the same page.
07:00It began around 5.30 IST
07:03right here on this program
07:04when we were speaking just yesterday,
07:05when the US Defense Secretary Pete Hexet
07:08struck a hardline tone,
07:10warning that upcoming days
07:12will be decisive,
07:13signaling escalation,
07:15and also doubling down
07:16on the use of more bombs,
07:18bigger bombs,
07:19those were his words,
07:20to finish the mission.
07:22A clear message that a war effort
07:24is far from over.
07:26But then what happened?
07:28Like it's often been the case,
07:30a massive twist,
07:31just an hour earlier,
07:34around 4.30,
07:35US President Donald Trump
07:36appeared to signal
07:37the exact opposite,
07:39suggesting that the war
07:41could end within two to three weeks,
07:43with the US preparing
07:44to exit Iran very soon,
07:45even without a deal.
07:48Trump also claimed
07:49that Iran is now
07:50begging for a deal framing.
07:52The conflict is as close
07:56to being over.
07:58That was the impression
07:59that one got
08:00from what Donald Trump
08:02had put out
08:02on his social media post.
08:03Then at 7.30,
08:05US Secretary of State
08:07Marco Rubio
08:08added another layer
08:09to this conversation,
08:10saying that we can see
08:12the finish line
08:13and that while the endgame
08:14might not be imaged,
08:17US military objectives
08:19are close to being achieved.
08:21So what exactly
08:23is happening here?
08:23Is it escalation?
08:25Is it exit?
08:25Is it endgame?
08:27Or is it really
08:28all throttle in?
08:31All of this, remember,
08:32all these statements
08:33have come in the span
08:34of just a few hours.
08:36These contradictory signals
08:38are now fueling uncertainty
08:40over US strategy.
08:41Is Washington preparing
08:42to intensify the war?
08:44Or is it ready
08:45to wrap it up?
08:47All eyes now,
08:48like we said,
08:49we hope at least
08:50the clarity
08:51will come
08:52with Donald Trump
08:53making that big address
08:55tomorrow at 6.30.
08:57Will the US end the war?
08:59Will it escalate it further?
09:01Here's the report
09:02to take you through
09:03all those details.
09:12war in West Asia
09:13has entered the second month.
09:17The impacts
09:18are visible globally,
09:19but the United States
09:20has been sending mixed signals
09:22about the fate
09:23of this war.
09:25Donald Trump has completely
09:26changed his stance.
09:28Before his all-important
09:30addressal to US citizens,
09:32US president said
09:33that the war in West Asia
09:35could end
09:35in two to three weeks.
09:40All I have to do
09:41is leave Iran,
09:42and we'll be doing
09:43that very soon,
09:44and they'll become
09:44tumbling down,
09:45and stock prices
09:47were up today
09:47almost to a record
09:51because they
09:52know two things.
09:54Number one,
09:54we have a safe country.
09:55We had to take
09:56a little detour
09:57because we had
09:58a madman named
09:59Khomeini
10:00who sadly
10:00is no longer with us,
10:02and we had
10:03regime change already.
10:05We've knocked out
10:05one regime,
10:06then we knocked out
10:07the second regime.
10:08Now we have a group
10:08of people that's very,
10:10that are very different.
10:11They're much more reasonable,
10:12I think much more,
10:13much less radicalized.
10:15It's a,
10:15we've had regime change.
10:18Trump has made it clear
10:19Washington is prepared
10:21to wind down
10:21the month-long war.
10:24One goal,
10:26they will have
10:26no nuclear weapon,
10:27and that goal
10:28has been attained.
10:29They will not have
10:30nuclear weapons,
10:32but we're finishing
10:33the job,
10:34and I think within
10:36maybe two weeks,
10:37maybe a couple of days
10:37longer to do the job,
10:40but we want to knock out
10:41every single thing
10:42they have.
10:42Now it's possible
10:43that we'll make a
10:44deal before that
10:46because we'll hit bridges,
10:47and we've hit some,
10:48we'll hit some bridges.
10:49We've got a couple
10:50of nice bridges in mind,
10:52but if they come
10:53to the table,
10:54that'll be good,
10:55but it doesn't matter
10:56whether they come
10:57or not.
10:57We've set them back.
10:59It'll take 15 to 20 years
11:01for them to rebuild
11:02what we've done to them.
11:04This flip-flop suggests
11:05that Hormuz siege
11:07no longer remains
11:08a major bone of contention
11:09in the conflict.
11:12We'll be leaving
11:13very soon,
11:14and if France
11:15or some other country
11:16wants to get oil
11:18or gas,
11:20they'll go up
11:21through the strait
11:23and the Hormuz strait.
11:25They'll go right up there
11:26and they'll be able
11:27to fend for themselves.
11:28I think it'll be
11:29very safe, actually,
11:29but we have nothing
11:31to do with that.
11:32U.S. Secretary of State
11:34Marco Rubio
11:35has echoed
11:35a similar tone,
11:36suggesting he could
11:38see a finish line
11:39in the West Asia war.
11:41As the situation diffuses,
11:43Rubio asserted
11:44that U.S. will have
11:45to re-examine ties
11:46with NATO
11:47after the conflict.
11:50I think there's no doubt,
11:51unfortunately,
11:52after this conflict
11:53is concluded,
11:54we are going to have
11:55to re-examine
11:56that relationship.
11:57We're going to have
11:57to re-examine
11:58the value of NATO
11:59and that alliance
12:00for our country.
12:00Ultimately,
12:01that's a decision
12:01for the president to make,
12:02and he'll have to make it.
12:05U.S. troops
12:06are still assembling
12:07in West Asia,
12:08and U.S. Secretary of War
12:10Pete Hexert
12:10made a secret Gulf visit.
12:14The Secretary of War
12:15disclosed details
12:16of a covert visit,
12:18saying American troops
12:19on the ground
12:20are calling for more powerful
12:21and larger bombs.
12:25What Americans said to me,
12:27young and old,
12:28officer and NCO,
12:30male and female,
12:31black and white,
12:32was,
12:33let's finish the mission.
12:35Get us even more bombs,
12:37bigger bombs,
12:38more targets.
12:39Let us finish this.
12:42Meanwhile,
12:43Iran's president,
12:44Masood Bezeshkian,
12:45and Foreign Minister
12:46Abbas Arachi
12:47were seen moving
12:48through crowds in Tehran,
12:49openly mingling
12:50with supporters,
12:52clicking selfies
12:53in an act of defiance
12:54to the U.S.
12:58With the United States
13:00eagerly looking
13:01for an exit route,
13:02can the mixed signaling
13:03result into peaceful
13:04resolution of the conflict,
13:06or merely complicate
13:07the situation?
13:09Bureau Report,
13:10India Today.
13:19All right,
13:20cutting across
13:21to some more updates
13:21coming in,
13:22and this is
13:23an interesting one
13:24because for the first time
13:25we seem to be getting
13:27two different positions
13:28from within Iran.
13:29Iranian forces
13:30versus the
13:31Pazeshkian
13:32amid the
13:33West Asia war
13:34is what we are hearing.
13:35If reports are to go by,
13:36the IRGC has taken
13:38the de facto control
13:40of Iranian government
13:42amid deepening
13:44power struggle.
13:46Also,
13:46the report goes on
13:47to say that
13:47rising tensions
13:48between the
13:49Pazeshkian administration
13:50and Iran's
13:51military leadership
13:52has pushed
13:53the president
13:54into a complete
13:56political deadlock,
13:58with the
13:59Revolutionary Guard
13:59effectively assuming
14:01control over
14:03the key
14:04state functions,
14:06informed sources,
14:08it says,
14:09to Iran
14:10international.
14:12Okay,
14:13so the IRGC
14:14has blocked,
14:16according to this report,
14:18presidential
14:18appointments as well
14:20and decisions
14:21while erecting
14:22a security
14:23sort of perimeter
14:24around the core
14:26of powers,
14:27you know,
14:27effectively sidelining
14:29the government
14:29from executive
14:30control as well.
14:32So,
14:32this is a report
14:34that has come
14:34as per Iranian
14:35media,
14:36which is,
14:37which,
14:37Gaurav,
14:38I have to say,
14:38is the first
14:39we are hearing
14:40of something like this.
14:42So,
14:43if this is true,
14:44the Americans
14:44will be very happy
14:45because the Americans
14:46desperately want to see
14:47power struggle
14:48within Iran.
14:48But,
14:49as of now,
14:50I mean,
14:50just yesterday,
14:51you had
14:52President Masood
14:53Pazeshkian
14:54and Foreign Minister
14:55Sayyad Abbas Agrahi
14:56who came out
14:57on the streets
14:58and they met people
14:59and they celebrated
15:00with people.
15:01But,
15:01because of fear
15:02of American airstrikes,
15:03there wasn't anything
15:04out in the open
15:05in terms of
15:06whether they were
15:07flanked by
15:08all sorts of
15:09security forces,
15:10personnel,
15:10or whether they were
15:10in control
15:11or not in control.
15:12As of now,
15:13every bit of information
15:14seems to indicate
15:16after 33 days
15:17of conflict,
15:18Iran retains
15:19C2 command
15:20and control
15:22militarily responding
15:23to this conflict
15:23and for administration
15:24to function.
15:25But,
15:25the Americans
15:26have repeatedly said
15:27and especially
15:28if you heard
15:28Secretary of War
15:29Pete Hexit,
15:30he did say
15:31or indicate
15:32that there were
15:32desertions happening
15:33in the army,
15:35command and control
15:36was being impacted,
15:37generals weren't
15:38coming into the
15:38battlefield,
15:40soldiers weren't
15:40getting effective
15:41instructions or words
15:42to that effect.
15:43The Americans
15:43are indicating
15:45that 33 days
15:46of bombing,
15:47Iran seems
15:48to be coming apart.
15:49But,
15:49the images yesterday,
15:51in fact,
15:51some of the images
15:52that we just played out
15:53in the previous report
15:54of President Pazishkian
15:55and Foreign Minister
15:56Araqchi
15:57out on the streets
15:58celebrating,
16:00you know,
16:01the anniversary
16:01of the formation
16:02of the Islamic Republic,
16:04some kind of a
16:05republic day for them.
16:06They celebrated it
16:07on the streets
16:08with people.
16:09Right.
16:09I have Pranay Upatia
16:10also joining us
16:11live from Tel Aviv.
16:12Pranay,
16:13we are just bringing
16:13the news to our viewers
16:14that there seems
16:15to be some reports
16:16which have come
16:16from Iranian media,
16:18mind you,
16:18which goes on
16:19to say that
16:19there seems to be
16:20some kind of a
16:21power tussle
16:21going on
16:22between the
16:23administrative government
16:24and the IRGC
16:26over there.
16:26At this point,
16:28how seriously
16:28are we to take
16:29these reports?
16:30Is that even possible?
16:32Not very long ago
16:33when you were in India,
16:34you were explaining
16:34to me how the
16:36entire structure
16:36of Iran
16:37is really built.
16:38They are very
16:39institution heavy
16:40and people don't
16:41really matter,
16:42which is why
16:42they've survived
16:43all this while.
16:44But is this,
16:44do you think,
16:45the first time
16:46we are seeing
16:46a crackdown
16:48or perhaps a breakup
16:49in conversation
16:50of sorts?
16:51And do you think
16:52this report
16:52is to be believed
16:53at all?
16:55So,
16:55if you are referring
16:56to Iran International's
16:57report,
16:58we have to keep
16:58it in mind
16:59that this is
16:59a London-based
17:00organization
17:01which track
17:01Iranian development
17:02and developments
17:03in Iran
17:03and largely
17:04been run
17:04by people,
17:06those who are
17:06out of Iran.
17:08So,
17:08we have to take
17:09it with a pinch
17:09of salt
17:10that what exactly
17:11and how true
17:12those reports are.
17:13But even if you
17:13go by those reports,
17:15this is not for the
17:15first time
17:16the difference
17:16have emerged.
17:17Let me help
17:19you recall
17:19the statement
17:20put out
17:21by the Iranian
17:23President Masood
17:23Pazashkan
17:24on 7th of March
17:25wherein he said
17:25that now onwards
17:27Iran won't attack
17:28any neighbor
17:29and which was
17:30overruled
17:31by the IRGC
17:32and we know
17:33in last 20 days
17:35or last 30 days
17:36what has happened
17:37that, you know,
17:38Iran repeatedly
17:39targeted all the
17:40neighbors
17:41across the Gulf
17:42of Persia
17:42and this clearly
17:43shows that,
17:44you know,
17:44who is in charge,
17:45who is in control
17:46of affairs in Iran
17:48and one knows
17:49that it's the IRGC.
17:50IRGC,
17:51emergency leadership
17:52is controlling
17:53and if you go by
17:55some of the experts
17:56here in Israel
17:57and in other places
17:58as well,
17:59those who track
17:59developments in Iran,
18:01they are saying
18:02that it's not
18:04Mustafa Khomeini
18:04but the IRGC,
18:07Iranian Revolutionary
18:08Guard leadership
18:08is controlling
18:09the affairs
18:11and in fact,
18:12they want,
18:13you know,
18:14Mustafa Khomeini
18:15to be a figurehead
18:15and so that
18:16they can run
18:17the affairs
18:17rather than
18:18Mustafa Khomeini
18:19giving them instruction
18:20rather they are
18:21dictating the terms
18:23and the entire
18:24operation there
18:25in Iran.
18:26Okay.
18:27Okay, Pranay,
18:28stay back with us
18:28because I want to
18:29come to you
18:29with a follow-up question.
18:30We have Gaurav
18:32also in the studio
18:32and we opened
18:33the show today
18:34to ask a very
18:35simple question.
18:37What exactly
18:38will the 6.30
18:39announcement
18:39tomorrow morning
18:40of Donald Trump
18:40look like?
18:41Are we looking
18:41at an escalation
18:43of war
18:43or are we looking
18:44at an exit?
18:45Gaurav clearly
18:46believes and if
18:47we can have Pranay
18:48also, you know,
18:49listen in to what
18:49Gaurav is actually
18:50saying at this
18:51entire point.
18:52Gaurav believes
18:53that this war
18:54is far from over
18:56but if I am to
18:57look at the
18:58statement so far
18:59and I am tracking
19:00the markets
19:01to get the mood
19:01at the moment,
19:03if I am tracking
19:04the markets
19:05and the sentiment
19:05there at the
19:07moment,
19:07it seems like
19:10something of a,
19:11if not an end
19:12of the war,
19:13clearly a massive
19:15de-escalation
19:16is expected
19:18tomorrow
19:18because for the
19:20first time
19:20we are seeing
19:21things like
19:21with or without
19:22a deal,
19:23with or without
19:24NATO,
19:25we will sort of
19:26do this.
19:26We are looking
19:27at sort of a
19:28shift in the way
19:29even US is
19:30approaching this.
19:32So Gaurav to you
19:32first and then I'll
19:33go to Pranay to
19:34understand which
19:35way he thinks
19:35this is actually
19:36going.
19:37So when it comes
19:38to President Trump
19:40and the United
19:41States of America
19:42right now,
19:43don't take what
19:44he says at face
19:45value,
19:46see what he
19:47does on ground
19:48and what's
19:49happening on ground.
19:50There are
19:50additional military
19:52warplanes that
19:53are heading towards
19:54Central Command
19:55area of operations.
19:56There's a report
19:57that's just been
19:58put out that
19:59talks of A-10
20:01warthogs.
20:01Now these are jets
20:04for anti-ship
20:05warfare,
20:06for taking down
20:10very crucial
20:11vital assets,
20:12vital points
20:12in combat.
20:14Perhaps the
20:14Strait of Hormuz
20:15or perhaps
20:16coastal batteries.
20:17So dozens of
20:19A-10 warthogs
20:20in the past
20:21four days
20:22they are heading
20:23to West Asia.
20:24There are additional
20:24KC-135
20:25strato tankers
20:26that are moving.
20:27The EA-37B
20:29compass called
20:30electronic warfare
20:31fighter jets
20:32they are being
20:32mobilized.
20:33You just reported
20:35a short while back
20:35of course it may
20:36just be replacement
20:37but US deploys
20:38George W. Washington
20:39aircraft carrier
20:41with its
20:41Ale-Burg class
20:42destroyers
20:43which will take
20:43another two weeks
20:44to get to the
20:45battle zone.
20:46Let me then tell you
20:47so far
20:48what you've seen
20:48was mid-January
20:50and just see
20:50the movement
20:51of the operations.
20:53Mid-January
20:53you had USS
20:54Abraham Lincoln
20:55that's CBN-72
20:56that's the
20:57carrier strike
20:59group 3
20:59that moved in
21:00mid-January
21:01to end-January
21:02February
21:02you had USS
21:03Gerald R. Ford
21:03that's carrier
21:04strike group 12
21:05now you have
21:06the third
21:06carrier strike
21:07group
21:07but that's
21:07not all.
21:08Watch what's
21:09also in the
21:10battle zone now.
21:10USS Canberra
21:11USS Tulsa
21:12USS Santa Barbara
21:13But that could
21:14just be deterrence
21:15no?
21:16That could just
21:16be deterrence
21:17to say that
21:17Brown forces
21:18as deterrence
21:19Marines
21:20as deterrence
21:21they indicate
21:23they seem
21:24to indicate
21:24look if you
21:25had between
21:2540,000 to 50,000
21:27troops so far
21:28in West Asia
21:29and now if
21:30that number
21:30is going up
21:31to 55,000 to 60,000
21:32and others
21:33could be on
21:34stand too
21:35what does
21:36this indicate?
21:37All of this
21:37indicates that
21:38there's a build-up
21:39there are reports
21:40that saying
21:40this is the biggest
21:41build-up
21:41since 2003
21:42there's nobody
21:43moving out
21:44of that battle zone
21:45they're just
21:46being realigned
21:47moved here
21:48and there
21:48for safety
21:49but they could
21:49still be deployed
21:50Pranay
21:51your thoughts
21:52do you think
21:53this is
21:54anywhere close
21:55to an endgame?
21:57Certainly
21:58it has to come
21:58to an endgame
21:59because you know
22:00after all
22:00President Donald
22:01Trump is a
22:01politician
22:02and he will
22:03never let
22:03this conflict
22:04damage his
22:06politics
22:06and especially
22:07the prospect
22:08of Republican
22:09Party
22:09for the
22:10midterm election
22:11and you have
22:11heard him
22:12saying that
22:13these upcoming
22:14midterm elections
22:15are very crucial
22:16and we have to
22:16win these
22:17elections
22:17and you have
22:18seen consecutively
22:19with every
22:20statement
22:20how he is
22:21drifting away
22:22from that
22:23endgame
22:24or the
22:24initially set
22:25objectives
22:25and
22:26his forthcoming
22:27or his
22:30address to
22:31nation
22:31which he is
22:32likely to
22:32deliver in
22:33few hours
22:34that should
22:35be seen
22:35in conjunction
22:36with the
22:37latest
22:38statement
22:38or the
22:39address to
22:39nation
22:40given by
22:40Israeli
22:41Prime Minister
22:42Benjamin
22:42Netanyahu
22:43wherein he
22:43has said
22:44in as many
22:45words
22:45that we have
22:46achieved
22:47almost 10
22:48things
22:4810 big
22:49achievements
22:49which Israel
22:51has set
22:52for it
22:53and in fact
22:53we are doing
22:54certain more
22:56things
22:56and that's
22:57it
22:57so clearly
22:59this should
22:59be seen
23:00because these
23:00are the two
23:01important
23:01stakeholders
23:02for this
23:02entire process
23:03and now
23:04we have to
23:05factor in
23:06that all
23:07these countries
23:08including Israel
23:09and United States
23:10and especially
23:10in United States
23:11it has its
23:12engagement
23:13across the globe
23:14it has stakeholders
23:15allies
23:15partners
23:16everywhere
23:17and they
23:18are also
23:18asking
23:19you cannot
23:19let this
23:21conflict
23:22go on
23:22forever
23:23it has to
23:24change
23:24and that's
23:25why you
23:25have to
23:26take it
23:26the legality
23:28of the US
23:28constitution
23:29as well
23:29beyond 6
23:30weeks
23:30beyond 7
23:31weeks
23:31it has to
23:32get the
23:32congressional
23:33approval
23:34it's a
23:34military
23:34operation
23:35he did not
23:36get the
23:36war authorization
23:37for that
23:38yes
23:39alright
23:39so both
23:41sides have
23:41very believable
23:43opinions at this
23:44point
23:44and both
23:45indications
23:46let me put it
23:46like that
23:47indications on both
23:48sides seemed
23:48really solid
23:49but at the end
23:50of the day
23:50only Donald Trump
23:51knows what
23:52Donald Trump
23:52has to do
23:53so I guess
23:54we have to
23:54wait for all
23:55of that
23:55clearly all of us
23:56have our alarm
23:56clocks aligned to
23:57what he's going
23:58to say
23:58and we'll be
23:59watching out for
23:59what he says
24:00as well
24:00for the moment
24:00Gaurav and
24:01Pranay
24:02thank you so
24:02much for
24:03joining us
24:03with all
24:04that perspective
24:08meanwhile as
24:09the war continues
24:09the human cost
24:11is becoming
24:11impossible to
24:12ignore
24:12especially for
24:13civilians
24:14living under
24:15constant threat
24:16as the war
24:17grinds on
24:17the people in
24:18Israel continue
24:19to live under
24:19the shadow
24:20of relentless
24:20Iranian strikes
24:22with sirens
24:23shelters and
24:24uncertainty now
24:25part of daily
24:25life
24:26missiles targeting
24:27residential areas
24:28have left
24:29civilians injured
24:30displaced
24:31and deeply
24:32shaken up
24:32but amid the
24:33destruction
24:34there is also
24:35resilience
24:35our colleague
24:36Pranay is on
24:37the ground
24:37tracking how
24:38communities are
24:39coming together
24:40in the aftermath
24:41of these attacks
24:42not just to
24:43survive but to
24:45rebuild and at
24:46what speed
24:46from clearing up
24:48the debris to
24:48sort of salvaging
24:49what remains
24:50residents are
24:51working shoulder
24:52to shoulder
24:52determined to
24:53restore a sense
24:54of normalcy
24:56there is also
24:57a sort of
24:58systemic effort
24:59underway
24:59collecting evidence
25:00from these
25:01strike sites
25:02documenting damage
25:03and ensuring that
25:04authorities have
25:06what they need
25:07to respond
25:08repair
25:09and rebuild
25:13let me show you
25:14the impact
25:15site first
25:15I am in the
25:16city of Tel
25:16Aviv and not
25:17very far from
25:17my hotel
25:18not very far
25:19from the
25:19Indian embassy
25:20in Tel
25:20Aviv and not
25:21very far from
25:21the branch of
25:22the US embassy
25:23here in Tel
25:24Aviv a missile
25:25fragment landed
25:26here and you can
25:27very well see the
25:27impact of this
25:28missile that how
25:30much damage it has
25:30caused in fact a
25:32big crater is
25:33created in fact they
25:34have bound this
25:35entire area we were
25:36first one to reach
25:37here but they
25:38have bound this
25:39area for you
25:40know for anyone
25:41to access this
25:42region and in
25:43fact the police
25:44and forensic teams
25:45are at the
25:46scene they are
25:47trying to collect
25:48all the evidences
25:49in fact they have
25:49cordoned off this
25:50entire area but a
25:51big crater is there
25:53in the road and
25:55this has created
25:56you can very well
25:57see this this
25:59missile fragment
25:59missile piece which
26:00landed here caused
26:02this much of impact
26:03road road surface
26:05is got peeled off
26:06in fact a crater
26:07some feet deep is
26:09created at this
26:11very site
26:11successively second
26:13impact in the same
26:14vicinity yesterday
26:15also a missile piece
26:16landed in this in
26:17this similar area
26:18and probably US
26:20you know embassy
26:21could be on target
26:22because not very far
26:24from the place where
26:25I am standing right
26:26now down the road
26:27is US embassy
26:29and on the other
26:30side there is Indian
26:31embassy as well so
26:32you can very well
26:33imagine that how
26:33sensitive this area
26:34is missile batteries
26:35the air defense
26:37batteries of Israel
26:39are working around
26:40the clock to
26:41neutralize all these
26:43incoming projectiles
26:44and we heard a lot
26:46of boom sounds
26:47around so probably
26:48this could have been
26:49a larger missile or
26:50could be a cluster
26:51ammunition which
26:52managed to sneak
26:54into managed to get
26:55in the you know
26:56to manage to get
26:58inside the missile
26:59defense system and
27:00in fact could
27:01penetrate it and
27:02therefore you know
27:04this has become a
27:05bigger challenge
27:05a larger challenge
27:06security guys are
27:08collecting those
27:08evidences and on
27:09the other side
27:10it's people are
27:11back to their
27:12normal routine
27:12people are back to
27:13their morning
27:15schedule and
27:16see this is how
27:18the action site
27:20is looking right
27:21now
27:24wow 33 days
27:26that's how the war
27:27every day gets
27:28built up and
27:29gets built back
27:30all this while
27:31here that was a
27:32report by my
27:33colleague Pranay
27:34coming to us
27:34from Tel Aviv
27:35but let's move on
27:36now to the
27:37economic cost of
27:38the war which
27:39now is spiraling
27:40and the impact
27:41is no longer
27:41regional it's
27:42global
27:42according to the
27:44latest assessment
27:44by the United
27:45Nations Development
27:46Programme the
27:47conflict could deal
27:48a staggering
27:49$194 billion
27:50blow to the
27:51global economy
27:52with ripple effects
27:53already being felt
27:54across markets
27:55a report also
27:56warns of a
27:57potential 6%
27:59contraction in
28:00regional GDP
28:02driven by severe
28:03disruption to
28:04trade energy
28:05flows and also
28:06critical shipping
28:06routes
28:07the state of
28:08Hormuz
28:08the key global
28:09energy artery
28:10has seen traffic
28:11collapse by over
28:1270%
28:14pushing crude
28:15prices sharply
28:17high with
28:17oil now
28:18nearing $120
28:20a barrel
28:21so beyond
28:23all of this
28:24let's look at
28:25the markets
28:26the human cost
28:26is just as
28:27stark up to
28:28sort of 4
28:29million more
28:30people could be
28:31pushed into
28:32poverty while as
28:33many as 3.6
28:34million jobs are
28:35at risk hitting
28:36the most vulnerable
28:37the hardest and
28:38on the ground the
28:39crisis is deepening
28:40with nearly 1
28:41million people
28:42already displaced
28:43by the ongoing
28:44conflict the war
28:45has begun at
28:47that actually did
28:48begin earlier on
28:49as a military
28:49confrontation is
28:50now fast turning
28:51into a full-blown
28:52economic and
28:54humanitarian crisis
28:55and the ripple
28:56effects of this
28:56war are now being
28:57felt right here
28:59in India
29:00especially in
29:01your and my
29:02kitchen and
29:03especially in the
29:04business costs
29:05gas has gotten
29:07volatile that's the
29:08big headline in the
29:09national capital
29:10commercial LPG
29:11prices have surged
29:13sharply a 19 kg
29:14cylinder that
29:15costed earlier
29:16about 1,883 is
29:18now 2,078 a steep
29:21jump of nearly
29:22195 rupees
29:24commercial cylinder
29:25remember this hike
29:26is directly linked
29:27to rising global
29:28energy prices and
29:29disrupted supply
29:30chains triggered by
29:31the conflict as
29:32well however there
29:33is some relief that
29:34has come to
29:35households domestic
29:36LPG prices remain
29:37unchanged for now
29:39at 913 rupees for
29:43a 14.2 kg
29:44cylinder in Delhi
29:46but the warning
29:47signs they get
29:49very very clear
29:50if global oil and
29:52gas volatility
29:53continues the
29:54pressure on domestic
29:55fuel prices would
29:57intensify hitting
29:58businesses hitting
30:00inflation and
30:01eventually you're in
30:03my household budgets
30:16it's been over a
30:18month since the
30:18West Asia war
30:19began and the
30:22brunt is being
30:23felt across the
30:24globe especially
30:25with shaken and
30:26disrupted energy
30:27supplies
30:30on Wednesday
30:31Indian oil
30:32companies announced
30:32a significant hike
30:34in the prices of
30:3519 kg commercial
30:36cylinders and
30:375 kg mini
30:38cylinders
30:40prices for 5 kg
30:42mini cylinders have
30:42risen by 51
30:44rupees while 19 kg
30:45commercial cylinders
30:46saw a steeper hike
30:47ranging from
30:48195 rupees to
30:50218 rupees
30:51depending on which
30:53state the consumer
30:54stays
30:56after the revision of
30:57rates the price of
30:58a 19 kg commercial
31:00LPG cylinder now
31:01stands at 2078
31:03rupees in Delhi
31:03and 2031 rupees in
31:06Mumbai
31:06both cities witnessed
31:08a surge of
31:09rupees 195
31:13but for business
31:14owners big or
31:15small the concern is
31:17about the availability
31:17of commercial LPG
31:21from crunch in Mumbai
31:24owner of ladu samrad has
31:26spoken to earlier as well
31:27and who has been saying
31:28that how commercial LPG
31:30because of the unavailability
31:31of it has hurt the business
31:33quite a lot
31:33as far as the price rise is
31:35concerned it is not going
31:36to effect effect in that
31:39proportion because the amount
31:40is small and how 200 rupees
31:44is going to affect the per plate
31:46price nothing
31:47but then availability is
31:49something
31:49it is very important
31:52to shortfall in Kolkata
32:05in Chennai eateries have
32:08stopped serving meals that
32:09consume large amounts of LPG
32:11for all those food items that
32:13would consume a lot of LPG
32:15and gas they have cut down
32:17that particular venue for
32:18example Chinese or North
32:20Indian dishes like naan and
32:22gravy which actually consume a
32:23lot of gas they have cut down
32:25all those food items and only
32:27those food items that consume
32:29low to medium amount of gas
32:31it's that kind of varieties are
32:33still operational
32:35amid this India continues to get
32:37LPG reprieve with more ships
32:40arriving through treacherous
32:42Strait of Hormuz
32:47BWTYR the first gas tanker
32:49Indian flag gas tanker to reach
32:51the Mumbai port reach Mumbai
32:55anchorage last evening it's
32:57anchored at the Mumbai
32:59anchorage off Mumbai coast and
33:03it has brought in propane and
33:05butane gas which is which will be
33:06supplied to the BPCL refinery in
33:10Mumbai meanwhile the US is also
33:13feeling the heat of the war US
33:16media claim that the US is
33:17gracing for a never before oil
33:19price hike and a potential oil
33:21spike to 150 dollar can India
33:26stay immune or bleed
33:27economically with Divesh Singh
33:30Anika Keshav Anirban Sinha Roy and
33:32Vidya Bureau Report India Today
33:38and now for the first time in this
33:40conflict the cost of war is
33:41actually hitting the common man
33:42directly through soaring fuel prices
33:45this time in aviation jet fuel or
33:47ATF has been seeing a sharp
33:50volatility driven by global crude
33:51spikes and also supply disruptions
33:53linked to the war the government's
33:55tax structure remains significant with
33:575% basic custom duty 11% additional
33:59customs and 11% excise continuing to
34:02shape the final prices over there but
34:04there is some cushioning that's what
34:07happened this morning ATF prices
34:08which had surged dramatically earlier
34:10in the day right in the morning if you
34:12saw it it was 2 lakh per kiloliter in
34:14some cities have now been revised
34:16downward in a second correction you
34:18see that morning revised and what it
34:20was earlier in March as well in Delhi
34:23prices have been brought down to around
34:251 lakh 2 over 2 lakh earlier similar
34:29corrections have been seen in cities like
34:31Kolkata Mumbai and Chennai as well now
34:33despite this rollback prices remain
34:35elevated compared to the March levels of
34:37course highlighting just how volatile the
34:39entire situation has begun this is a
34:42report from business today for more
34:51the stage was set a month ago but when the
34:55script rolled this morning many hoped it
34:58was an April fool's joke a post on the
35:01Indian oil website at around quarter past
35:04seven left the country shocked jet fuel
35:08prices which had been held steady for the
35:10entire March despite crude oil prices
35:12shooting up had been jacked up by 115
35:15percent to over the 2 lakh rupee level
35:18for the first time there had been talk of
35:21a fuel shock for airlines with analysts
35:24emphasizing the huge differential between
35:26global jet fuel prices and that in
35:28India but only a few believe the
35:31government would take the plunge just a
35:34couple of hours later there was a new
35:36post with prices slashed by more than a
35:39lakh rupees there was also a clarification
35:42while the new jet fuel prices were over
35:44two lakh rupees per kilowattreter domestic
35:47airlines would be charged a subsidized rate
35:49to ensure the air travelers were
35:51cushioned the high trades would only be
35:54applicable on overseas flights as well as
35:56chartered non-scheduled and ad-hoc
35:58domestic flights the petroleum ministry
36:01agreed that while a more than 100% hike
36:03was expected in ATF prices in April only a
36:07partial burden had been passed to airlines
36:09but that burden would rise in the coming
36:11days the ministry for the first time also
36:15revealed the financial pain being borne by
36:17the state-owned oil marketing companies
36:19arising from the crude oil surge in the
36:21past one month according to the ministry
36:24the companies are losing more than 24 rupees a
36:27meter on patrol and a whopping 105 rupees a
36:31liter on diesel if the oil marketing companies
36:35are allowed to pass on these under recovery to
36:37consumers then in Delhi price of patrol would
36:40rise to 119 rupees a liter and diesel would be at an
36:44unimaginable 193 rupees the only burden passed on to the
36:49Ahmad me for now a fuel surcharge in flights hiking commercial LPG cylinders
36:54and an increase in the prices of premium fuels but this absorption
36:59capability of the government will be tested if the hostilities in West Asia
37:03do not end soon bureau report business today TV
37:10kinder today continues to track the cures caused by the ongoing war in Gulf and the
37:14resulting shortage of crude oil and gas worldwide our team actually went
37:18undercover to show how at several locations in Delhi where LPG cylinders
37:23were being hoarded and sold in black worse we also exposed how gas was being
37:29sort of furred from cylinders booked by genuine customers and sold for a profit
37:34here's an investigation
37:48the india today's special investigation team received a tip-off that just a few meters away from Alipur police station
37:57in outer Delhi
37:58the india today's special investigation team received a tip-off that just a few meters away from Alipur police station
38:05in outer Delhi
38:05we reached the shop where the alleged black marketing was taking place
38:18here
38:23yeah
38:23yeah
38:30so basically young kid was selling an LPG cylinder for nearly
38:34five times the normal price
38:36the LPG shortage in the country has created a vast black market where agents
38:42like Ankit are running illegal operations of refilling smaller cylinders using
38:49domestic LPG and selling them for high margins
38:53on the same路
38:54What are the other things they wanted to do?
39:01How did you get the most of the stories?
39:02what does our metric be, right?
39:04How does our metric be?
39:05What does our metric be?
39:06Where do our metric be?
39:06how does our metric be?
39:17So the metric be is what we want to look at
39:21an empty cylinder and tried to purchase a domestic LPG cylinder from the black market.
39:27At this same shop, a poor labourer was seen paying 4,300 in cash for a cylinder.
39:38Since we had an empty cylinder of Indane and Ankit was dealing in Hindustan petroleum cylinders,
39:44he charged an extra 200 rupees for the exchange.
39:48That pushed the price to 4,500 rupees.
40:07Interestingly Ankit even weighed the cylinder before handing it over to us, making the illegal
40:13sale look genuine.
40:16We then paid him 4,500 rupees through UPI.
40:32We asked Ankit if he could arrange for two more cylinders the next day.
40:37He readily agreed, indicating a steady and organised supply chain.
40:55Our investigation then moved to the cake chalk area, where another LPG black market operator,
41:02Sita Ram, said he could help us out.
41:06When asked for two cylinders, he quoted 4,000 rupees per cylinder.
41:25Sita Ram immediately activated his network.
41:29He called the man named Sanjay and arranged the cylinders for us, indicating a well connected
41:36network.
41:41Sita Ram.
41:43Sita Ram.
41:48Sita Ram.
41:58Sita Ram.
42:02Sita Ram.
42:03Sita Ram.
42:04Sita Ram.
42:04Sita Ram.
42:04Sita Ram.
42:04Sita Ram.
42:05Sita Ram.
42:07Sita Ram.
42:08Sita Ram.
42:10Sita Ram.
42:17Sita Ram.
42:20Sita Ram.
42:27Sita Ram.
42:28I am coming for 10 hours and I will take my car.
42:34I will take my car and I will take my car.
42:39I will take my car for 10 hours.
42:41I will take my car.
42:46I will take my car.
42:52From outer Delhi, the India-to-Dethi moved to Mojpur in East Delhi,
42:57where black marketing of LPG cylinders was being carried out openly in small shops.
43:05This is a stationery shop run by Sanjay Jain.
43:09Initially he refused, but after making a phone call,
43:13he agreed to arrange a cylinder in the black market for Rs 3,400.
43:21Do you have a cylinder?
43:23Yes.
43:25Yes.
43:25Yes.
43:27No.
43:28Yes.
43:28Yes.
43:29Yes.
43:30Yes.
43:30Yes.
43:32Yes.
43:33Yes.
43:35Yes.
43:37Yes.
43:40Yes.
43:45Yes.
43:46You want help?
43:51I'm the singles, but I don't get scared of it?
43:53No.
43:54What about my которой?
43:57It won't involve people attending the university?
44:02These things have spent two months after the hosted-club television-제로 optical事情.
44:07And now it's a big time from opinious you too.
44:08Maybe a minute ago I якобы
44:19This shop sells and repairs cooking stoves.
44:24But here too, LPG cylinders are arranged illegally, if you are willing to pay the price.
44:58From Outer Delhi to East Delhi, this investigation exposes a widespread and organized network
45:05of LPG black market operating in plain sight.
45:18And as the black market booms, there are more devastating aspects that we must look at
45:22from West Asia to Mumbai.
45:23The distance may be thousands of kilometers, but the impact is now uncomfortably close.
45:29Signs are subtle, but they are stark.
45:31Queues are getting longer, patience is running thinner and survival is also getting harder.
45:36When the stove goes cold, people begin to move.
45:40From Mumbai to Rajasthan, railway stations are now filling up, not with travelers, remember,
45:44but with people forced to leave.
45:47Chasing affordability, chasing survival.
45:50This is an India Today exclusive.
46:04This is not a war zone, but look closer.
46:08India is feeling the heat of a war thousands of kilometers away.
46:13There are no big signs in factories or construction sites.
46:17But at Mumbai's railway stations, the crisis is impossible to miss.
46:25Prices have surged sharply.
46:28LPG cylinders that once cost under Rs. 1000 are now selling for up to Rs. 3000 in the black
46:36market.
46:37Even after paying, there is no guarantee of supply.
46:54At Lokmanya Tilak terminus, these are not travelers, but people leaving out of desperation.
47:18The situation is as grim across in Rajasthan.
47:23Migrant workers are now jobless and heading home.
47:46A distant war is now visible on India's streets.
47:50From empty cylinders to businesses getting hit.
47:55And stations teeming with migrants returning home.
48:00If supplies do not stabilize soon, the crisis could worsen.
48:08The war may be far away, but its cost is now being paid by ordinary Indians.
48:13One empty kitchen at a time.
48:18With Mohammed Ajaz Khan in Mumbai and Sharad Kumar in Jaipur.
48:23Bureau Report, India Today.
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