- 3 hours ago
As the US-Iran war enters its 33rd day, President Donald Trump has indicated openness to a ceasefire, conditional on Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
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00:00Good evening. Is the war in West Asia set to escalate or end?
00:05There are conflicting signals coming from Washington, D.C.,
00:08especially U.S. President Donald Trump.
00:10President Donald Trump has just said that the new leadership in Iran wants a ceasefire
00:15and that U.S. has told Iran they will consider a ceasefire
00:19once the Strait of Hormuz is opened and free.
00:23And then there is a threat for Iran.
00:26President Trump writes,
00:28Till the Strait of Hormuz is not opened,
00:30the U.S. will continue blasting away Iran into oblivion
00:34or, as they say, back to the stone ages.
00:38President Trump believes Iran has a new regime president.
00:43Does he mean a new president or a new Ayatollah?
00:47Because Ayatollah Mujtava Khamenei is the new Ayatollah
00:52and President Masood Dizishkian has been president since July 2024.
00:59Now, he believes that the new leadership of Iran is much less radicalized
01:04and far more intelligent than his predecessors.
01:07And they have asked U.S. for a ceasefire.
01:10Iran, however, has rejected Donald Trump's claims.
01:13Iran's Foreign Minister, Sayyad Abbas Araki,
01:15He says Tehran has put no request for a ceasefire.
01:19There is no proposal for a ceasefire.
01:21And that there is a five-point plan.
01:24It's mere speculation.
01:25There is no five-point plan.
01:26He's also warned that the war will continue
01:29until the aggressor is punished
01:31and full compensation is paid to Iran.
01:35Reports also indicate President Masood Dizishkian
01:38may not be in full control of Iran.
01:40A report filed by Iran International Citing Sources
01:43claims that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps or the IRGC
01:47has taken de facto control over key institutions in Iran,
01:52especially when it comes to governance
01:54and that they're obstructing presidential decisions.
01:57The president is not free to appoint his key leaders.
02:02The report claims that a recent attempt by President Pazishkian
02:06to appoint a new intelligence minister failed
02:08because IRGC objected to it.
02:11But then look at the conflicting signals
02:13that are coming from the United States.
02:15President Trump initially indicated
02:16that the U.S. may pull out of West Asia
02:20in the next two to three weeks.
02:23But reports just a couple of hours ago
02:26say 18, at least 18, A-10 Warthogs.
02:31Those are the aircraft that you see on your television screen.
02:33And these Thunderbolt 2s are specialized
02:35closed-air support aircraft
02:37and they're specifically designed
02:39for low-altitude and high-survivability ground attack.
02:43They have landed in the UK
02:44before being dispatched to West Asia.
02:47Not one, not two, not three.
02:4918 today, six yesterday.
02:52These aircraft can survive a man-pad
02:55or a man-portable surface-to-air missile attack.
02:57The way they're built,
02:59you know, the hull can survive a surface-to-air missile.
03:04It fires 30mm cannons
03:06and those cannons can target
03:08whether it's small, fast-attack crafts
03:11or tanks or jeeps.
03:13And they've been used very extensively.
03:15They're a warhorse.
03:16They've been used extensively by the United States.
03:19So does this indicate U.S. wants to pull out
03:21or the U.S. is sending in additional resources?
03:24In the Kurdistan region,
03:26Iran has targeted British interests.
03:28Reports show that British Castrol motor oil company Arbal
03:32was hit by at least two Iranian Shahid drones
03:35early Wednesday
03:36and that caused a massive fire.
03:38Fortunately, there were no casualties that were reported.
03:41We can also tell you Iran and its proxies
03:43launched attacks hitting
03:45the Kuwait International Airport fuel storage facility
03:48and we'll show you images of the fuel storage facilities on fire.
03:52Fortunately, no casualties were reported.
03:55An oil tanker of Qatar was targeted.
03:57It was hit by two projectiles.
03:59One, fortunately, unexploded.
04:02Additional strikes targeted U.S. positions in the Gulf.
04:05The IRGC has just claimed that they targeted
04:07the residences of U.S. pilots in Saudi Arabia.
04:12There are multiple reports of air raids
04:14and loud blasts and explosions coming in
04:16from the northern part, eastern part,
04:18in the central part of Tehran and Isfahan.
04:22So, both the United States and Israel continue to pound.
04:25They're carrying out precision strikes deep inside Iran.
04:30They claim multiple IRGC structures have been taken down.
04:34The IRGC on its part claims
04:36it's launched a massive salvo of rockets, missiles and drones
04:41targeting both Israel and U.S. interests in the region.
04:46So, a lot of developments taking place.
04:49But what is the impact on home front?
04:51News just coming in. Breaking news coming in.
04:53Prime Minister Narendra Modi is chairing
04:55the Cabinet Committee on Security meeting
04:58to discuss the fallout of the West Asia war on India.
05:03This is a high-level security meeting
05:05that's currently underway in New Delhi.
05:08And this is, incidentally, the third CCS meeting
05:13that's happening.
05:14These are images that have just come in.
05:16This is the first image of that CCS Cabinet Committee
05:20on Security meeting.
05:21And if you see the several ministers who are here,
05:25whether it's the Foreign Minister,
05:27the Defence Minister, the Finance Minister,
05:29you can also see Petroleum Minister in these images.
05:33And this is extremely significant
05:35because the fallout of this war,
05:37the impact on India and Indian interests.
05:41Defence Minister Rajnath Singh,
05:43Union Home Minister Amit Shah,
05:44Union Finance Minister Nirvala Sitaraman,
05:46External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jai Shankar.
05:49You can see them all in this image.
05:51This is the first image of that CCS meeting.
05:56I want to quickly cut across to Aishwarya Paliwal
05:58who joins us with the latest on this.
06:00Aishwarya, the third CCS,
06:03but perhaps the most crucial right now
06:06given concerns about Indian interests in West Asia,
06:10the fallout of that war and energy security.
06:14Well, definitely, you know, Gaurav,
06:15one of the things that the government has been looking at
06:17since the day the war began
06:18is to make sure that our country and our citizens,
06:21we are safe and there are safeguards
06:23that are being put in place.
06:25That's the reason when, you know,
06:27you did see how from day one,
06:28Prime Minister Modi has been personally speaking
06:30with all the leaders in the Gulf nation.
06:33The government has made sure, Gaurav,
06:34that there is no crisis of any sort.
06:36What to do next?
06:37That is something that this meeting will decide.
06:39The course of action that the government
06:40now needs to take place
06:42and that's the reason why you are seeing
06:43a gamut of ministers
06:44because this is not just one ministry
06:46or one person who can deal with this.
06:48We need the entire system
06:49working in favour of our country.
06:51What needs to be done next,
06:52if there is any kind of rationing
06:53that needs to be done,
06:54that is something that will be decided
06:56in this meeting.
06:57But yes,
06:58the focal and the focus point of the meeting
07:00is to make sure
07:00that there is no crisis of any sort
07:02and the kind of rumour-mongering,
07:04Gaurav, unfortunately,
07:05that we have seen over the past few days,
07:06that is also something
07:07that needs to be curved down.
07:09Rumour-mongering politics on that subject
07:12on a very critical national security issue
07:14because whether it's energy security,
07:17maritime security,
07:18or national security,
07:20now they're all very closely interlinked.
07:22Let me also bring in
07:23India Today's Foreign Affairs editor,
07:25Geeta Mohan,
07:26joining us on this broadcast,
07:28also with me, Sandeep Unnithan,
07:29because there are so many dimensions
07:31to talk about, Geeta.
07:32When it comes to foreign relations
07:36at this very critical juncture,
07:38there are lots of developments
07:39that are taking place.
07:40How is India handling
07:42this fast-paced,
07:43such rapidly changing world equation,
07:46whether it's Trump's equation
07:47with NATO countries,
07:49with Europe,
07:50with what's happening closer
07:51in our neighbourhood,
07:52and India's energy security?
07:54Well, India's engaged,
07:56India's engaged with its allies,
07:58partners,
07:59partner nations,
08:00neighbourhood countries,
08:03Tehran included, of course.
08:05But this was a very important meeting.
08:07It is the Cabinet Committee on Security,
08:10which is the core group
08:13of the Prime Minister's Cabinet,
08:15meets when there is
08:17an emergency-like situation.
08:19The one that we are faced with right now
08:22is one such situation, Gaurav,
08:25where all aspects are discussed.
08:26So this is not just a meeting
08:29that was discussing the crisis
08:31that India will have to manage
08:33should this war continue.
08:34Of course,
08:35that was one of the most important
08:38and focus area of the conversation,
08:40but it also had to do with security,
08:43securing one's energy interests,
08:45securing one's economic interests,
08:48securing one's security interests as well.
08:51We do know that there are problems
08:53that India could face at the borders.
08:56There are alerts,
08:58and that also has to be looked at
08:59from the prism of the Pakistan faction,
09:04where if Pakistan is called in to help,
09:07there could be trouble on our border
09:09to evade any such assistance to Saudi Arabia.
09:13That's a very critical point
09:14that Gita Mohan brings out.
09:16Pakistan has a security agreement with Saudi Arabia.
09:19If Pakistan is called to help Saudi Arabia,
09:22and Pakistan doesn't want to go,
09:24it's chickened out,
09:25it doesn't want to go because if it goes,
09:27there'll be trouble with Iran.
09:28Pakistan shares a border with Iran,
09:31and that border will burn the Balochistan border,
09:34and apart from that,
09:35the 20% Shia population within Pakistan,
09:37they're already very angry
09:39with their field marshal,
09:41Asim Munir,
09:42and his links with the United States.
09:44They think he's too close
09:45to the President of the United States,
09:47and he's doing a sajda to the US,
09:50compromising Pakistan's interests
09:52with fellow Muslim countries,
09:53and especially with Iran.
09:55But I also want to bring in Sandeep Unnithan,
09:57because Sandeep,
09:57what's extremely critical,
09:59you know,
09:59I was interviewing Admiral Swaminathan,
10:02FOCNC,
10:02Western Naval Command,
10:03he said,
10:05our maritime security,
10:06energy security,
10:07and national security,
10:08they are now intricately linked
10:10to the Strait of Hormuz,
10:11and in this situation.
10:13Absolutely, Gaurav.
10:14And you know,
10:14it is situations like this
10:15that wake us up to the,
10:17you know,
10:18the importance of our
10:19sea lanes of communication.
10:20We mention them very often,
10:23slogs,
10:24sea lanes of communication,
10:25but in the last
10:26two and a half years,
10:28we have become acutely aware
10:29of how India's economy
10:31depends on the seas,
10:33on the safety of the sea lanes
10:34of communication.
10:35The fact that
10:36the Houthis were the first
10:37to target,
10:38you know,
10:39merchant ships
10:40in the Bab el-Mandab
10:41beginning in 2023,
10:42and that is when
10:43we were acutely aware
10:45of the fact that
10:4690% of our cargo
10:47was being shipped
10:49on foreign vessels,
10:50foreign flag vessels,
10:51and our shipbuilding
10:52was just 1%
10:53of the global shipbuilding
10:54output.
10:55So that is when
10:56the government began
10:57to, you know,
10:58put in new policies
10:59in place.
10:59And now this big
11:00oil shock,
11:02if you can call it that,
11:03this is the biggest
11:03oil shock the world
11:04has faced
11:05since the 1973
11:07oil shock.
11:08So this is,
11:09you know,
11:09a wake-up call
11:10for not just India,
11:12but several countries
11:13in the world
11:13which have,
11:14you know,
11:14very heavily on
11:15the safety of
11:17energy security
11:18from the Middle East,
11:20particularly the
11:21Strait of Hormuz,
11:22this very narrow
11:23path,
11:24you know,
11:25Strait.
11:25Yes,
11:26both Strait of Hormuz
11:27and Babal Mandab
11:28are directly
11:29in play right now.
11:30Sandeep,
11:31stay with me,
11:31Gita,
11:31stay with me
11:32because all eyes
11:33now on the
11:34US President
11:35Donald Trump,
11:36he is to address
11:36his nation
11:37which will be
11:386.30 a.m.
11:40Indian Standard
11:41Time tomorrow.
11:42So tomorrow morning
11:436.30,
11:44we'll know what
11:45President Trump
11:45wants to do.
11:46Does he want to
11:46escalate this further?
11:48Does he want to
11:48de-escalate?
11:49Does he want to
11:49end it?
11:50What are his
11:50options?
11:51Will he look at
11:52a quiet exit
11:53or further escalation?
11:54Let me take you
11:55through some
11:55of the possibilities.
11:56He may talk
11:58of drawing down
11:59of US soldiers
12:00for the moment,
12:01perhaps reduce
12:03military action.
12:04Is that an option
12:05for now?
12:06Prices are rising,
12:07this is an unpopular
12:08war even within
12:10the United States
12:10of America,
12:11but then wouldn't
12:12that be loss
12:13of face because
12:14none of his war
12:15aims clearly have
12:17been met enough
12:18for the world's
12:19biggest superpower
12:20taking on a weaker
12:23country in asymmetric
12:24warfare and hasn't
12:26been able to meet
12:26all his war aims.
12:27He could perhaps
12:28signal a pullback
12:29claiming US objectives
12:30have been met
12:31but would that
12:32actually be true?
12:33Will it align with
12:34his recent remarks
12:35suggesting that the
12:35war could end in
12:36the next 2-3 weeks?
12:37There's another
12:38possibility.
12:39Perhaps a backdoor
12:40deal with Iran.
12:42Officially, Iran
12:42says there's no
12:43conversation happening,
12:44there is no deal
12:45that's likely,
12:46but Trump has been
12:47saying that they
12:48are in touch both
12:49directly with Tehran
12:50and also indirectly
12:52through intermediaries.
12:53He could announce
12:54US and Iran have
12:55reached some kind
12:56of an agreement,
12:57one that's acceptable
12:57to all sides and
12:58perhaps open the
13:00door for future
13:01possibility.
13:02Possibility number
13:03three, US pull out
13:06and pull back
13:07from the region and
13:08then leave this to
13:10NATO members,
13:11UK.
13:11UK, for example,
13:12wants to have a
13:13meeting of 35
13:15countries and they
13:16will decide how
13:16best to keep this
13:17open.
13:18Is that a possibility?
13:20Because President
13:21Trump says different
13:22things at different
13:23times of the day.
13:24Yesterday he said,
13:25I may pull out,
13:26I don't care what
13:27happens to the
13:27Strait of Hormuz,
13:28those who take oil
13:29from the Strait of
13:29Hormuz, it's their
13:30responsibility, they
13:31want to keep it open,
13:32they can keep it open.
13:33And now he says,
13:34either Iran opens
13:35the Strait of Hormuz
13:36or he'll bomb Iran
13:37to Stone Age.
13:39Possibility four,
13:41will the United
13:42States, and don't
13:43go by what is
13:45being said, look at
13:46what's happening on
13:47ground, is the
13:48President of United
13:49States indicating
13:51when he sends in
13:53more troops into
13:54the region, 7,000
13:56to 8,000 additional
13:57troops are being
13:58mobilized.
13:59There's a third
13:59aircraft carrier
14:00strike group that's
14:01moving there.
14:02Of course, one is
14:03moving out for
14:04repairs, but then
14:05you have the
14:06Marine Strike
14:07units, two marine
14:09expeditionary units
14:10are being sent to
14:12this region.
14:12One is in the
14:13AOR or area of
14:14responsibility,
14:15another on route
14:16and the A10
14:17warthogs.
14:18Let me tell you
14:19about the A10
14:20warthogs in just a
14:21moment, but let me
14:22quickly bring in
14:22Sandeep and
14:24Geetha quickly into
14:25this conversation.
14:26Sandeep, will
14:27President Trump
14:28indicate a drawdown
14:29or escalation?
14:32Gaurav, you
14:33know, everything
14:33on ground points
14:34to an escalation.
14:35You don't move
14:36warthogs in if
14:37you're planning to
14:38de-escalate and
14:38move out of the
14:40area of
14:41responsibility because
14:42the warthog has
14:43no other task but
14:44to hit ground
14:45targets and that
14:46is a, you know,
14:47it's a close air
14:47support weapon.
14:49It is meant to
14:50support ground
14:50troops and this
14:51is exactly the
14:52kind of aircraft
14:53that you would
14:54need in theatre if
14:55you were going to
14:56send in ground
14:56troops.
14:57They need a flying
14:58tank like the A10
14:59is it's designed
15:00to take, as you
15:01mentioned, you
15:02know, direct hits
15:02from missiles.
15:03It can withstand
15:04even 23mm, you
15:06know, armor-piercing
15:07rounds.
15:07It's built like a
15:08tank.
15:09It's built around
15:10a 30mm cannon
15:12which fires milk
15:13bottle-sized rounds.
15:14I mean, that is
15:15the kind of firepower
15:16that the US is
15:16bringing into theatre.
15:17This doesn't
15:18suggest...
15:18And that's the
15:18aircraft that you
15:19see on your
15:19television screen.
15:20Those are the
15:21aircraft, the
15:21warthogs that are
15:23just landing in the
15:24United Kingdom.
15:2418 of them.
15:25Six have already
15:26landed.
15:27There are some
15:27reports that seem
15:28to indicate there
15:29were some already
15:29in the region.
15:31So, Sandeep, if
15:32there are between
15:3220 to 24
15:33warthogs that are
15:35being primed to
15:36be in the area of
15:38responsibility of
15:38central command,
15:39what does that
15:40indicate?
15:40Well, you know,
15:41the warthog, as I
15:42was saying, Gaurav,
15:43has no other task
15:44but to destroy
15:45forces on the
15:46ground and to, you
15:47know, fly in support
15:48of your own
15:49forces.
15:50It's a CAS
15:51aircraft.
15:52It's a closed-air
15:52support aircraft.
15:53It's probably the
15:54most heavily armed
15:56CAS aircraft in the
15:57world.
15:57It's got titanium
15:58armor around the
16:00pilot's cockpit.
16:01It's almost half a
16:02ton of titanium
16:03armor which can
16:04withstand that kind
16:05of, you know,
16:05shelling.
16:06And like I was
16:06saying, it has a
16:0730mm cannon.
16:08It's built around
16:09a 30mm cannon that
16:11fires milk bottle
16:12size rounds of,
16:13you know, various
16:13high explosive
16:14depleted uranium
16:16rounds.
16:16This was an
16:17aircraft, this is
16:18almost 50 years
16:18old, this aircraft.
16:19It was designed
16:20during the Cold
16:21War to destroy
16:22masses of Soviet
16:23tanks.
16:23In fact, this
16:24could well be the
16:25swan song of
16:27this aircraft.
16:27And we'll talk
16:28about this in
16:28greater detail.
16:29But, okay, just
16:31if we were to
16:31talk for a moment
16:32about what
16:32President Trump
16:33will say at
16:346.30 tomorrow
16:35morning, Indian
16:35Standard Time.
16:36Geeta, what's
16:37your reading?
16:38Drawdown or
16:38build up?
16:39Escalation or
16:40end the war?
16:41Well, I think
16:42what Trump is
16:43really doing is
16:44and how Pete
16:46Hexed put it
16:47yesterday saying
16:48that, you know,
16:48what America is
16:50doing is being
16:50unpredictable in
16:51this war and
16:52that's what is
16:53keeping them
16:53going.
16:53I think what
16:54America is
16:55doing is keeping
16:56all her options
16:57open.
16:58What President
16:59Trump is doing
16:59is ensuring that
17:00should they need
17:01to stay for a
17:02bit longer, that
17:03they have the
17:04wherewithal and
17:04the means to
17:05stay in the
17:06war.
17:07But the
17:08messaging that
17:09we are seeing
17:10clearly shows
17:11that they do
17:11want an exit,
17:13but an exit that
17:14also declares
17:15victory for
17:16Trump.
17:16And that's the
17:17reason why he
17:18now has been
17:19insisting that
17:20he's in talk
17:21with the new
17:22leadership, the
17:23quote-unquote
17:24less radicalized
17:25new leadership
17:26and president
17:27in Iran and
17:28also mentioning
17:29that they want
17:30But who is that
17:30less radicalized
17:31leader?
17:32Iran has been
17:33president since
17:342024.
17:35Iran foreign
17:36ministry just put
17:37out a statement
17:38saying that the
17:38claims are all
17:39false.
17:40And actually the
17:41consulate in
17:42India has
17:43again trolled
17:45President Trump
17:46by saying that
17:46there's no change
17:51that we are seeing
17:52in the leadership
17:54in Iran and
17:55nobody knows
17:56what Trump is
17:56really talking
17:57about.
17:58So they're
17:59trolling Trump,
18:00they are creating
18:01memes of
18:02President Trump,
18:03and they certainly
18:04are rejecting all
18:05claims that are
18:05being made.
18:06So yes, the fact
18:07that President
18:07Trump has spoken
18:08of ceasefire
18:09clearly shows that
18:10he wants one
18:11for sure, but
18:13America not
18:14leaving any
18:15stone unturned
18:16to ensure that
18:17there is a win
18:18either militarily
18:20or through
18:21conversations that
18:22are taking place
18:24through countries,
18:26the back channel
18:26talks that are
18:27open.
18:28So let's wait and
18:28see what really
18:29happens.
18:29But the focus
18:30certainly is going
18:31to remain Iran.
18:32And I'm sure he's
18:33going to also
18:34speak about the
18:36impact of war
18:37back home with
18:38oil prices going
18:39up.
18:39He needs to
18:40address that as
18:41well.
18:41So part of the
18:42conversation and
18:43the address will
18:44also focus on his
18:45own domestic
18:46audience, his
18:48MAGA base.
18:48Okay.
18:49Okay.
18:50Does President
18:51Trump intend to
18:53draw down troops?
18:54Does he intend to
18:55move troops away
18:56from the battle
18:57zone?
18:57Is he saying,
18:58okay, we've
18:59bombed them to
18:59Stone Age, exact
19:01words that they've
19:02used.
19:02They said, of
19:03course, if you
19:03don't open the
19:04Strait of Hormuz,
19:04we will bomb you
19:06further to the
19:08Stone Ages.
19:09But is he
19:10actually escalating
19:12or preparing to
19:13escalate?
19:14Look at these
19:14reports and I
19:15want you to look
19:15at that aircraft.
19:1718 of those
19:19Fairchild Republic
19:20A-10 Thunderbolt 2,
19:22known as the
19:22Warthogs, they are
19:24now being deployed
19:25in the area of
19:26responsibility,
19:27currently in the
19:28United Kingdom.
19:28They've just landed
19:30in United Kingdom.
19:31Now, these are
19:32dedicated close air
19:33support aircraft.
19:34That's the aircraft
19:35that you see on your
19:36television screen,
19:38designed specifically
19:39for the U.S.
19:41Air Force to
19:42provide close air
19:43support to U.S.
19:44ground forces as
19:45they advance.
19:46Now, they were
19:47first inducted in
19:491976.
19:51They're likely to
19:52be phased out
19:54very soon.
19:54In fact, there are
19:55reports from the
19:55United States say
19:56that this very
19:58trustworthy war
19:59horse of the
20:00United States Air
20:01Force, this could
20:02be the swan song
20:03for this aircraft.
20:05These are heavily
20:06armored, but they're
20:07highly maneuverable.
20:08They're built around
20:09that massive 30mm
20:12Avenger Rotary
20:13Cannon.
20:14Now, you know,
20:14it's almost like you
20:15press the trigger and
20:16the cannon just
20:17keeps firing.
20:18Indiscriminate 30mm
20:19rounds, as Sandeep
20:20put it, milk bottle
20:22size rounds that
20:23just go and decimate
20:24the adversaries.
20:26Tanks, armored
20:26personal carriers,
20:28their vital assets,
20:29vital points, their
20:29ships, their fast
20:30attack crafts, and
20:31they're designed to
20:32destroy ground targets
20:33and armored vehicles.
20:35At least 18 of
20:36these jets, they've
20:37already landed in
20:38United Kingdom.
20:39There are six
20:39more that are
20:41already positioned
20:42or are in the
20:43process of being
20:44positioned.
20:45There is a strong
20:46belief that these
20:47aircraft are heading
20:48to West Asia to
20:49provide cover to
20:50ground troops.
20:50Now, does that
20:52then indicate that
20:53ground troops that
20:55are being positioned
20:55there will be used
20:57in operations?
20:58Now, what is the
20:59purpose of these
21:00A-10s?
21:01They're designed to
21:01protect troops on
21:02ground and destroy
21:03enemy armor.
21:04The heart of this
21:05aircraft is its
21:06most feared weapon,
21:08a massive 30
21:09millimeter Avenger
21:10gun.
21:11A gun that can
21:12fire close to
21:134,000 rounds a
21:15minute and it can
21:16just tear through
21:17tanks.
21:17It can tear through
21:18armor.
21:19It can tear through
21:20bunkers or
21:21fortified positions
21:21with devastating
21:23precision.
21:25What sets this
21:26warthog apart?
21:27This aircraft that
21:28you see and just
21:29take a look at the
21:29aircraft when it
21:31comes in to land
21:31in the United
21:32Kingdom, the
21:33aircraft is built
21:34like a flying
21:35tank, titanium
21:37armor shell that
21:38protects the
21:39pilot.
21:39Now, it's called a
21:40bathtub shaped
21:42cockpit.
21:43It can absorb
21:44heavy damage.
21:45Even if it loses
21:46a part of a wing
21:49or one engine, it
21:50can limp back, it
21:51can fly back to
21:52base.
21:53Sandeep, this is
21:55truly, truly
21:56important.
21:57And Sandeep, give
21:57me a moment, I'm
21:58coming to you about
21:59the warthog.
21:59Breaking news just
22:00coming in.
22:01And US President
22:01Donald Trump has
22:02directed Vice
22:03President J.D.
22:04Vance to
22:05communicate privately
22:08that he's open to
22:10a ceasefire as
22:11long as certain
22:13US demands are
22:14met, including
22:15reopening the
22:16Strait of Hormuz.
22:17That's information
22:17that's coming in.
22:19J.D.
22:19Vance apparently
22:20has delivered
22:22this stern message
22:23that President
22:24Trump is now
22:26impatient and he's
22:28warned of growing
22:29pressure on
22:30Iranian
22:31infrastructure.
22:33That could be
22:35targeted unless
22:36Iranians make
22:38a deal and
22:39now.
22:40US Vice
22:41President J.D.
22:42Vance has been
22:43talking to
22:43intermediaries about
22:45the Iran conflict
22:46and as recently as
22:47Tuesday, sources who
22:49were briefed on that
22:50matter, they were
22:51told.
22:52There were initial
22:53reports that seemed
22:53to indicate that
22:54J.D.
22:55Vance was in touch
22:56with certain elements
22:57in Pakistan, who
22:59were in touch with
23:00some elements in
23:01Iran.
23:02But Geeta, let me
23:02quickly bring you
23:03in.
23:04Donald Trump is
23:05telling J.D.
23:06Vance to tell the
23:07intermediaries that
23:08he's getting
23:08impatient.
23:09He wants a deal
23:10immediately or there
23:11will be consequences.
23:12Now Trump has said
23:12so openly also.
23:13So, what does this
23:14indicate?
23:15Well, like I was
23:16saying earlier,
23:17Gaurav, and I stick
23:18to what I was saying
23:19in terms of reading
23:21President Trump's
23:22post, that he really
23:24is looking for a
23:25ceasefire now.
23:27And what's ironic
23:28over here is that
23:29from the conditions
23:30of regime change
23:32to decimating
23:33nuclear ambitions,
23:35to decimating the
23:36army, navy,
23:36military, to now
23:38saying that
23:39conditions of opening
23:40up the Strait of
23:41Hormuz should be
23:42met, which before
23:43the war, might I
23:44just remind, was
23:46open, free for all,
23:48the passage was
23:49open for anybody
23:50and all the GCC
23:51countries were
23:52trading from that
23:53and through that
23:54strait, which now
23:55he insists that
23:57is a condition
23:58to end the war.
24:00Before the war,
24:01that strait never
24:02had a problem.
24:03So it's quite
24:04ironic, but it
24:05seems like this
24:06is a very
24:09desperate act,
24:10but not one
24:12where they're
24:12not, that
24:13they're militarily
24:14weak.
24:14I'm not saying
24:15that, Gaurav.
24:15I'm just saying
24:16that they have
24:16all their options
24:17open, but the
24:18one option that
24:19they're really
24:20looking for is
24:21a win and
24:22out.
24:22That's exactly
24:23what they're
24:24looking for.
24:24A win and
24:24out and a win
24:25and out that
24:26Iran just
24:26refuses to give
24:29America.
24:29Sandeep Iran
24:30refuses to roll
24:31over and play
24:31dead.
24:32You know, Gaurav,
24:34we've been here
24:35before and we've
24:36been talking about
24:36how Trump wants
24:37that win so
24:38desperately.
24:39He needs that
24:39photograph to
24:40show that the
24:41US exited
24:43honorably, they
24:43planted a flag
24:44somewhere, but
24:45clearly Iran is not
24:46obliging him with
24:47that.
24:48And I'm sure
24:49that the kind
24:50of criticism that
24:51he had for
24:52President Joe
24:53Biden for
24:53withdrawing from
24:54Afghanistan in
24:55August 2021 must
24:57weigh very heavily
24:57on President
24:58Trump's mind at
24:59this moment as
25:00if the reports
25:02are believed that
25:02he plans to
25:03withdraw, he
25:04needs, you
25:05know, an off
25:06ramp now, that
25:07that would be
25:08pretty unlike
25:10President Trump
25:10not to leave on
25:12a high note,
25:12Gaurav.
25:13Because if
25:14America were to
25:15withdraw at this
25:16stage, Sandeep,
25:17can America claim
25:18victory, that
25:19they've decapitated
25:20the leadership,
25:21they've destroyed
25:22a major part of
25:24Iran's war
25:25fighting capability
25:26in terms of
25:27manufacturing and
25:29launch capabilities.
25:30They claim 90%.
25:31We still don't
25:32know because
25:33Iran, till a
25:34couple of hours
25:35back, was
25:35launching rockets
25:36and missiles.
25:37They're successfully
25:37targeting Erbil,
25:39which is of
25:39course next door.
25:40But Kuwait,
25:41Qatar, United
25:42Arab Emirates,
25:44US interests in
25:45the region,
25:45including destroying
25:47an AVAX in
25:48Saudi Arabia a
25:49couple of days
25:50ago.
25:50So Iran's war
25:51fighting capabilities
25:52remain intact and
25:53they've blockaded
25:54the Strait of
25:55Hormuz despite the
25:56United States
25:56claiming they've
25:57sunk 150 ships,
25:58Sandeep.
25:59Yeah, absolutely
25:59Gaurav.
26:00And you know,
26:00if you look at
26:01the pre-February
26:022028 demands
26:04that the US had
26:04made of Iran,
26:06the regime,
26:07that is the first
26:08is to stop their
26:09missile program,
26:10to roll back the
26:12nuclear program,
26:13cap the nuclear
26:13program, hand over
26:14the nuclear-enriched
26:16uranium and
26:17fourthly, to
26:18stop the support
26:20for the proxy
26:21actors.
26:22Now, Iran
26:23has walked away
26:24from all of
26:25these four at
26:25the moment.
26:26So if the
26:26United States
26:27claims that
26:28they've destroyed
26:29the Iranian
26:29war-fighting
26:31capability,
26:31they've destroyed
26:32their navy and
26:33their air force,
26:34they've hit 16,000
26:35targets as they're
26:36claiming, they
26:37can walk away
26:38from this,
26:38Gaurav.
26:39But it still
26:39does not meet
26:40those four
26:41original demands
26:42that the US
26:43had made of
26:44Iran before
26:45February 28th.
26:46And Iran lives
26:48to fight another
26:48day, Gaurav.
26:49Yes, and
26:50Geetha, there is
26:50no way that
26:51President Trump
26:52can claim victory
26:53at this stage
26:54because does
26:55anything indicate
26:56victory?
26:58Strait of Hormuz,
26:59Iran's blockaded
27:00it.
27:00Each time he
27:01says, let's
27:02have a ceasefire,
27:02Iran says, no,
27:03we don't want it.
27:04Iran's asking for
27:05money, Iran now
27:06wants money for
27:07ships to cross
27:07the Strait of
27:08Hormuz.
27:09Everything would
27:09indicate Iran's
27:10emerging as a
27:11victor and not
27:12the United States
27:13of America.
27:15Like on the
27:1628th of February
27:17and after,
27:18you know,
27:19Sandeep, you
27:19and I, we
27:20were all
27:20discussing this
27:21and we said
27:22he can actually
27:23claim victory
27:24today and
27:25exit, which
27:26is the death
27:27of Khamenei.
27:28And we've
27:29moved past
27:30that assassination
27:32to so many
27:33other assassinations
27:34that have taken
27:34place after.
27:35So there were
27:36moments where
27:37they could have
27:37said, this is
27:38my moment
27:39and declare
27:40victory.
27:42Gaurav, it's
27:42not about whether
27:43if I think
27:44America has won
27:45or not.
27:46But I do
27:47know for a
27:47fact that he
27:48is going to
27:49define his
27:50victory and
27:51claim it.
27:51And there's
27:52nothing that
27:53anybody is going
27:53to do about
27:54it or question
27:55it.
27:55Because everybody
27:56will now only
27:57heave a sigh of
27:58relief saying,
27:59okay, at least
28:00the war has
28:00ended and it
28:01will take us a
28:02long time before
28:03global prices come
28:05back to normal
28:05or stabilize.
28:07But everybody
28:08wants the war
28:09to end.
28:10So nobody is
28:11going to question
28:11it should he
28:12then think that,
28:14okay, if they're
28:15not believing
28:15this, should I
28:16stay in?
28:17We want
28:18America to
28:19exit.
28:19We want
28:20America to
28:21define victory
28:22and take it
28:23and leave.
28:24Okay, he
28:24would claim
28:25tactical victory
28:26but look at
28:27the security
28:27architecture in
28:28the region.
28:29The Gulf
28:30countries that
28:30relied on US
28:31security.
28:32Maybe the only
28:33country, Gaurav,
28:33that would not
28:34want it is
28:35Israel.
28:35Let me just
28:36put it out
28:36there, yeah.
28:37What about
28:37Saudi Arabia?
28:38What about
28:39United Arab
28:40Emirates?
28:40I don't think
28:40anybody is okay
28:41with Bab al-Manda
28:42being shut.
28:43So you're
28:43talking Strait of
28:44Hormuz but
28:44the second
28:45front is more
28:46important over here,
28:47Gaurav.
28:47If the entire
28:48Arab Peninsula
28:49is shut with
28:51Strait of Hormuz
28:52and if you have
28:52a map and we
28:53can put that
28:53out, Strait of
28:54Hormuz on
28:55one end of
28:56the Arab
28:56Peninsula and
28:57on the other
28:57end Bab al-Manda
28:58being controlled
28:59by Houthis,
29:00I don't think
29:00that's something
29:01that Saudi Arabia
29:02also wants.
29:03So either way,
29:04Sandeep, that
29:04would indicate
29:05Iran was on
29:08top of the
29:08escalation ladder.
29:09All through
29:10Gaurav.
29:10I mean, we've
29:11not seen a
29:11single instance
29:12in the last
29:13one month or
29:14so where Iran
29:15appeared to
29:15have been
29:15defeated or
29:16cowed down.
29:17Their messaging,
29:18their signaling
29:19has been pretty
29:20clear.
29:20You know,
29:21despite being
29:22hammered so
29:23heavily for the
29:24last month or
29:24so, they've
29:25managed to stay
29:26on the
29:26escalation ladder
29:27and communicate
29:28very clearly
29:29and precisely.
29:30Their war
29:31aims, their
29:32war objectives
29:33haven't changed.
29:34In fact, they
29:35would possibly
29:36be the only
29:36country in the
29:3721st century
29:37to ask the
29:39US to exit
29:40a region after
29:41targeting the
29:42United States,
29:42military infrastructure
29:43and personnel.
29:45So this is
29:45going to be a
29:46very big, you
29:47know, loss of
29:48face for the
29:49United States,
29:50Gaurav, in a
29:50way that we've
29:50not seen.
29:51It wasn't so
29:52bad even in
29:53Afghanistan in
29:54August 2021
29:55because let's
29:55not forget,
29:56they'd already
29:56planned to exit
29:57from Afghanistan.
29:58It was only a
29:59matter of how
29:59that exit actually
30:00played out.
30:01It was shocking
30:02in the last
30:03couple of hours
30:03the way, how
30:04swiftly the
30:05government collapsed
30:05but the US
30:06always planned
30:07to withdraw
30:08from Afghanistan.
30:09Now this is a
30:09war that they
30:11never really
30:12intended to, you
30:13know, fight for
30:14a month, four
30:15weeks, six
30:15weeks.
30:16They thought it
30:16was going to
30:16be a quick in
30:17and a quick out
30:18but Iran clearly
30:19has disproved
30:20Trump, Gaurav.
30:21But is that a
30:22presumption and
30:23an assumption
30:24based on bits
30:25of what Trump
30:26says that they
30:27want to pull out
30:28because look at
30:29what's also
30:29happening on
30:30ground.
30:30Washington DC
30:31is deploying
30:33additional
30:33assets to
30:34West Asia.
30:35Take for
30:36example, the
30:37USS Gerald
30:38Ford, the
30:38most advanced
30:39aircraft carrier
30:40in the US
30:40Navy.
30:41Now, of
30:42course, that's
30:43seen some
30:44damage, not
30:45really in
30:46action but
30:47what is
30:48happening, USS
30:49Abraham Lincoln
30:50that's in the
30:51Arabian Sea
30:52strategic position.
30:53It allows
30:54quick access
30:55should straight
30:55of Hormuz
30:56open to
30:56Persian Gulf.
30:57then significant
30:59air power
30:59around Iran
31:01but now
31:01you have
31:02USS George
31:03W.
31:04Bush, that's
31:05the third
31:05aircraft carrier
31:06strike group
31:06that's being
31:07deployed to
31:07the region.
31:09Of course,
31:10Gerald R.
31:10Ford then
31:11moves out
31:12for repairs.
31:13It will be out
31:13of action for
31:14some time.
31:15But look at
31:16the number of
31:16destroyers, the
31:17cruisers, the
31:18nuclear-parts
31:19submarines and
31:20nuclear-attack
31:20submarines that
31:21all form a part
31:22of this powerful
31:24strike group.
31:24nearly 50,000
31:26troops already
31:27deployed across
31:29West Asia, various
31:30air bases and
31:31naval facilities
31:32and now you
31:32have an additional
31:337,000 troops
31:35that are being
31:35moved in to
31:37this region.
31:37Take for
31:37example, the
31:39Tripoli Amphibus
31:40Ready Group.
31:41So built around
31:42the USS Tripoli
31:43along the 31st
31:45Marine Expeditionary
31:45Unit that's
31:46already in position
31:48in the AOR of
31:50CENTCOM, Area
31:50of Responsibility
31:51of the US
31:52Central Command.
31:53Alongside that,
31:54the Boxer
31:55Amphibus Ready
31:56Group that's
31:57centred around
31:57USS Boxer and
31:59the 11th Marine
32:00Expeditionary
32:00Unit that is
32:02also en route.
32:03Together, these
32:05amphibus groups
32:06bring in close
32:07to over 4,500
32:08to 5,000 US
32:10Marines, sailors,
32:11Specialized Rapid
32:12Coastal Assault
32:13Teams, Crisis
32:14Response Teams and
32:15this is where the
32:17expeditionary warfare
32:18of the United
32:20States would be
32:20seen in action.
32:21now read this
32:22with the A-10
32:23Warthogs that
32:24are being moved
32:25into this area.
32:262,000 troops
32:27from the 82nd
32:28Airborne Division,
32:29they are being
32:30deployed.
32:30Again, US
32:31military's premier
32:32Rapid Response
32:33Forces, 2,000
32:35being deployed,
32:36another 2,000 on
32:37standby according to
32:38reports in the
32:38United States of
32:39America.
32:40Now, these troops
32:41are trained for
32:42swift insertion into
32:44conflict zones.
32:45So the moment they
32:45get the order,
32:46in 18 hours,
32:48less than 24 hours,
32:49they're in battle
32:50zone, ready to
32:51launch airborne
32:51assault within
32:52hours and then
32:53their task is to
32:55secure vital assets,
32:56vital points,
32:57those critical nodes
32:59that are required
33:00for larger operations.
33:01So the 82nd
33:02Airborne goes in,
33:03the paratroopers
33:04go down,
33:05they take control
33:06of all the vital
33:06assets, vital points,
33:07the critical security
33:08nodes and then the
33:09amphibious assault
33:10takes place.
33:11Now, another
33:1210,000 troops
33:13under consideration.
33:15So while President
33:16Trump is talking
33:17about moving out,
33:18while he may claim
33:19I don't care what
33:20happens to the
33:20Strait of Hormuz,
33:21there are an
33:22additional 10,000
33:23troops that are
33:23under consideration
33:25to be deployed.
33:26So when you put
33:27boots on ground,
33:28you need reinforcements
33:29and these reinforcements
33:31are being talked
33:31about already.
33:33120 aircraft,
33:35they've already been
33:35deployed since early
33:36February,
33:38fighter jets,
33:38bombers,
33:39surveillance aircraft,
33:40electronic warfare
33:41aircraft together.
33:43Does this indicate
33:44that the US
33:45plans to escalate
33:46and not de-escalate?
33:48Because look at
33:48the numbers,
33:49the EA-37B
33:51compass called
33:52electronic warfare
33:53aircraft,
33:53they're good for
33:54jamming,
33:56intelligence,
33:56surveillance,
33:57George W. Bush
33:58we've spoken of,
33:59USS Canberra,
34:01USS Tulsa,
34:02USS Santa Barbara,
34:03USS Tripoli,
34:05USS Boxer,
34:06Sandeep,
34:07all of this would
34:07indicate additional
34:09forces either being
34:11mobilized or already
34:12in CENTCOM area
34:13of responsibility.
34:14Well, you know,
34:14Gaurav,
34:15what you've just
34:15outlined,
34:16they're just pieces
34:17of a giant chessboard
34:19which the US
34:20seems to be assembling
34:21in the theater
34:22currently.
34:23All of these assets,
34:24whether it's the
34:25amphibious ready group,
34:27the marine expeditionary
34:28units on those ARGs,
34:32the additional
34:33airborne troops
34:34that are being brought
34:34in,
34:35the special forces
34:35that are already there,
34:36the A-10s that are
34:37coming there,
34:37all of this points
34:38to one giant chessboard
34:41that's being assembled
34:43possibly for escalating.
34:44It could well be
34:45that this is just
34:46an option to,
34:47you know,
34:48force Iran to talk,
34:49to negotiate.
34:50But the other side
34:51is, of course,
34:52that these could well
34:53go into combat
34:54to try and,
34:55as we've discussed
34:55in the last couple of days,
34:57they could be used
34:57to capture islands,
34:59Iran's strategic islands
35:00at the mouth
35:01of the Strait of Hormuz
35:02like, you know,
35:03Larna,
35:03Kashim,
35:04Hormuz,
35:05those islands
35:05could be captured.
35:07Kharg, of course,
35:08remains a possibility.
35:09That's been on
35:09the US radar,
35:11incidentally,
35:11since 1979,
35:13Gaurav.
35:13So they've had
35:14a long time
35:14to go over
35:15those plans.
35:16There could be plans
35:17for, you know,
35:18airborne forces,
35:19special forces
35:19to go in
35:20and seize
35:21highly enriched uranium
35:22that Iran has,
35:23so 444 kgs.
35:25You know,
35:25that's another
35:26high-risk mission.
35:27But, you know,
35:27Gaurav,
35:28there are no easy way
35:30out of this.
35:31A hard solution
35:32like this,
35:33you know,
35:33a kinetic solution
35:35like this
35:35is going to carry
35:36enormous risk.
35:38It's not going to be
35:39any easy walkover.
35:40Iran is certainly
35:41not giving the United States
35:42any walkover,
35:43which explains the kind of,
35:45you know,
35:46high-impact firepower
35:47that's being flown
35:47into theater,
35:48Gaurav.
35:48How do you read
35:50China and Russia
35:52through this conflict,
35:53Geetha?
35:53Because look at
35:54what the Americans
35:55are saying.
35:56They suspect
35:56Russia is not only
35:58giving missile technology
36:00to Iran,
36:00but also giving them
36:01critical intelligence.
36:03So is China
36:04in America's perception.
36:06Well,
36:08it's a very interesting
36:10partnership,
36:11Gaurav.
36:12One,
36:12you can't just read
36:13in saying,
36:14this is an alliance,
36:15this is a blog,
36:16they have to come
36:17support each other
36:18like, you know,
36:20a NATO blog does,
36:21which again
36:22has fallen apart.
36:24With China,
36:25Russia,
36:25and Iran,
36:26it's been very,
36:27very different.
36:27One,
36:28is that the China
36:29and Russia pieces
36:30are very,
36:31very important.
36:32Secondly,
36:33yes,
36:33Russia most probably
36:35is supporting Iran
36:37with all the intelligence,
36:39satellite images,
36:41real-time intelligence
36:42on movement,
36:43so on and so forth.
36:44But Iran continues
36:46to maintain
36:46that they do not want
36:48anybody's help
36:49and support
36:49and that they're not
36:50seeking help
36:51from anyone.
36:52Keeping everybody safe
36:53in terms of their friends
36:55from sanctions,
36:56international sanctions,
36:57ensuring that they
36:58do not fall
36:59into that entire
37:00Western trap
37:01of being sanctioned
37:02because they helped Iran.
37:04So officially,
37:05Iran says
37:06they've not given help.
37:08Officially,
37:09Russia and China
37:09say they're not helping.
37:11Okay.
37:11But we do know
37:12that the understanding
37:13and the relationship
37:15is so deep,
37:16so tied in,
37:17that Iran would not
37:19have been able
37:20to survive
37:20had they not had
37:21the support
37:22of Russia and China
37:24when it comes
37:25to missile technology,
37:26when it comes
37:27to the missiles
37:29and how they
37:30manufactured
37:31the raw materials,
37:33so on and so forth.
37:34And also,
37:35more importantly,
37:36now at a time
37:37when they really needed
37:38intelligence
37:39and real-time
37:40intel gathering.
37:42Okay,
37:42there's more breaking
37:43news coming in.
37:43There are reports
37:44that suggest
37:45that discussions
37:45are taking place
37:46about a possible
37:48ceasefire,
37:48breaking news coming
37:50in a possible
37:50ceasefire
37:51between US
37:52and Iran
37:53in return
37:54for reopening
37:55the Strait of Hormuz
37:56that was opened
37:57anyways
37:58before the 28th
38:00of February.
38:01More breaking news
38:02coming in.
38:04This seems to indicate
38:05that a ceasefire
38:07is on the cards.
38:09It could happen
38:10any time.
38:11US-Iran ceasefire,
38:13perhaps just a matter
38:14of time,
38:15according to
38:16the latest input
38:17that's coming in
38:17from the United States
38:18of America.
38:19If Iran opens
38:21the Strait of Hormuz,
38:23free and open
38:24for all ships
38:25to come in
38:26and go out,
38:27perhaps except warships,
38:28this time Iran
38:29won't permit
38:30USS aircraft carrier
38:31strike groups
38:32to operate
38:33in the Persian Gulf,
38:34but there could be,
38:36there could be
38:36a ceasefire.
38:38Sandeep,
38:39should this be
38:40the only condition
38:41right now?
38:42Just open the
38:42Strait of Hormuz.
38:43It was anyways open
38:44on the 28th of February
38:45or before the 28th of February.
38:47Would this be
38:48a total loss
38:49of face for America?
38:50It would be,
38:51Gaurav,
38:51but then you know,
38:52you look at
38:53what the US achieves
38:54by reopening
38:55the Strait of Hormuz.
38:56You know,
38:57all the tankers
38:58that are stuck over there,
38:59there are literally
38:59hundreds of ships
39:01that are bottled up
39:02in the Persian Gulf.
39:04There are tens of thousands
39:05of crewmen on board.
39:07There's, you know,
39:08so much of oil,
39:09gas,
39:09everything that's
39:10stuck over there.
39:11If the Strait of Hormuz
39:12is unclogged,
39:13you know,
39:14the global economy
39:15comes back online
39:15because,
39:16Gaurav,
39:17you know,
39:17we are on the 1st of April,
39:18today.
39:19And there are
39:19every indication
39:20that suggests
39:21that if this conflict
39:22continues for another
39:22two weeks,
39:23after the 15th of April,
39:25you're heading
39:26into uncharted territory
39:27because then,
39:28you know,
39:29nobody knows
39:29which way this
39:30war is going to go.
39:31The economy
39:32is going to tank.
39:33We've already been
39:34told that this is
39:35the worst energy crisis
39:37the world has faced
39:38since 1973.
39:39That's over 50 years ago.
39:41That's how intense
39:42this, you know,
39:44energy blockade
39:45has been.
39:46And everything
39:46has been affected
39:47by this.
39:48I mean,
39:48right down to AI chips,
39:50the helium that
39:50comes out of Iran,
39:52Qatar's plants,
39:54Rastanav plants
39:56fuels the AI revolution.
39:57So, you know,
39:58I don't think
39:59the US...
40:00Fertilizer?
40:00Just ahead of the
40:01sowing season,
40:02you would desperately
40:03need the fertilizers
40:04that come out of the
40:05region,
40:05So, Gita...
40:06The second,
40:06third and fourth order
40:07effects of this
40:08will continue
40:09for several months
40:10even if the
40:11Strait of Hormuz
40:12is reopened,
40:13Gaurav.
40:13This is something
40:13that the US
40:14has been completely
40:16blindsided.
40:16they did not
40:17anticipate this
40:18level of response
40:20from Iran.
40:20But that would be
40:21very poor commentary
40:22on the CENTCOM chief
40:23because that's
40:24his only task
40:25to keep an eye
40:26on Iran
40:27and ensure that
40:28the Strait of Hormuz
40:29is open.
40:30If even that is
40:30something that
40:31they did not
40:32wargame,
40:33that would reflect
40:34very poorly.
40:35And the 82nd
40:36airborne,
40:36their naval forces,
40:37their marine
40:38expeditionary units,
40:39they wargamed this
40:40like you said
40:41since the 1970s,
40:43you know,
40:44taking control
40:44of Khark Island
40:45and Scott Pesson
40:46seem to indicate
40:47that they may
40:47take control
40:48of Khark Island
40:49and control
40:4990% of Iranian
40:50oil unless
40:52that was just
40:52loose talk
40:53but it's not
40:54just America
40:55that decides.
40:56Would Iran
40:57be willing
40:57to go in
40:58for a ceasefire
40:59the way that
40:59country has been
41:00pounded relentlessly
41:01for 33 days
41:02and counting?
41:03Well,
41:04to your question
41:05to Sandeep Gaurav,
41:06I don't think
41:06they were taking
41:07advice.
41:08I don't think
41:09Trump's core team
41:10was taking advice
41:12from every quarter
41:13that they needed to
41:14and they should have.
41:15including Dan Kane
41:16who initially
41:17was very hesitant
41:18on the operation
41:20that was carried out.
41:21So it is actually
41:23quite a scenario
41:25that we'll have to
41:26have a lot of answers
41:28later and I'd be
41:29interested in knowing
41:30who they were
41:31taking advice from.
41:32Did they pay heed
41:33to the advice at all?
41:34Because the CENTCOM chief
41:36I don't think
41:37would have advised
41:38them to just go in
41:39without gaming
41:40that entire region
41:41and gaming the war
41:42should there be
41:43a horizontal
41:45escalation.
41:47But what was
41:48your question
41:49to me,
41:49Gaurav?
41:50So my question
41:51to you very specifically
41:52was what about Iran?
41:54Would Iran be open
41:55to an idea of a
41:56ceasefire at this stage?
41:57Iran has been
41:58very clear
41:59that the ceasefire
42:00will only happen
42:01if America retreats.
42:03There is no other way.
42:05You stop,
42:06we stop
42:06is what Iran
42:07has been saying
42:08and they've been
42:09maintaining that
42:09from day one.
42:11They're saying
42:12that all their action
42:13has been retaliatory
42:14in nature
42:15and not offensive.
42:18Not one where
42:19they are carrying out
42:21offense actions
42:22but defensive
42:24and retaliatory
42:25in nature.
42:25So if America
42:26retreats,
42:27they stop.
42:28But America
42:29will have to retreat
42:29after declaring victory
42:31and I need to see
42:33how they're going
42:33to define victory
42:34over here.
42:35Look at the way,
42:35Iran is now mocking
42:36the American president.
42:37If the benchmark,
42:38Gaurav is opening
42:39the Strait of Hormuz.
42:41Right,
42:42but it was open
42:43before 28th of February.
42:44What was this war
42:45all about
42:46in case
42:48all the American war
42:50aims are now
42:50restricted to opening
42:51the Strait of Hormuz?
42:52What does this mean
42:54for Benjamin Netanyahu,
42:55the Israeli Prime Minister,
42:56the Israeli forces?
42:58Will this embolden
42:59not just Iran further
43:01but all forces
43:03across the region
43:04that the United States
43:06had to back down?
43:07One of the key reasons
43:10why Iran
43:10and much of the world
43:11remain deeply skeptical
43:13of reports
43:15that are emerging
43:15from the United States
43:16or even what
43:17American president
43:17is saying
43:18because there's a lot
43:19of mixed messaging.
43:20He says one thing
43:21on Monday,
43:22another thing on Tuesday,
43:23sometimes one thing
43:24in the morning,
43:24the other in the evening.
43:26Take for example,
43:27a signal of pullback
43:28that the Americans
43:30may pullback
43:31in the next two to three weeks.
43:32Two weeks,
43:33three weeks maximum.
43:34On the other hand,
43:35he says unless
43:36the Strait of Hormuz
43:37is open,
43:38we'll bomb Iran
43:39into oblivion.
43:40We're bombing Iran
43:41into oblivion,
43:42we'll bomb them
43:42to stone ages
43:43and escalation
43:45on ground
43:45in terms of
43:46troops being amassed
43:47and ships and aircraft
43:49being brought
43:50into the central command
43:50area of responsibility.
43:52Trump says
43:52the war could end
43:53and then he's deploying
43:55a third aircraft
43:56carrier strike group.
43:57The president
43:57is forcing,
43:59in a way,
44:00putting up a lot of pressure
44:01on Iran
44:02to sign a deal
44:03but then
44:04is it just pressure tactics
44:05showing the whole world
44:07the A-10 warthogs
44:08landing in the United Kingdom
44:11en route
44:11to the CENTCOM
44:12area of responsibility.
44:14Trump has of course
44:15acknowledged prices
44:16of oil,
44:17they're rising
44:17across the world.
44:18He suggested
44:19it could come down,
44:21it could just come
44:22crashing down
44:23very soon
44:23but contrast those remarks
44:25with what
44:25Secretary of War
44:26Pete Hexeth is saying.
44:27He's saying
44:28there is need
44:29for more bombs,
44:32bigger bombs,
44:33that's what fighters
44:33on ground are saying,
44:35give us more bombs
44:36so that
44:37they can complete
44:38the task.
44:39What is that task?
44:40So all of this
44:41rhetoric,
44:43one part may hint
44:44at de-escalation,
44:45the other
44:45may indicate
44:47that's just deception
44:48for a further
44:49build-up.
44:51Sandeep,
44:52what does
44:52all of this,
44:53now when you look
44:54at the situation
44:54right now,
44:56will it escalate?
44:58Will it de-escalate?
44:59Gaurav,
45:00it's very hard
45:01to tell the kind
45:01of mixed messaging
45:02that's coming out
45:03of the United States.
45:04This is absolutely
45:05bizarre.
45:06This is one
45:06of the most
45:07bizarre conflicts
45:08that we've seen
45:09in the 21st century.
45:10As you said,
45:11you went in
45:13at a time
45:14when the Strait of Hormuz
45:15was closed
45:16and now you're
45:17asking that same
45:18country to reopen
45:19a strait
45:20that was already
45:20open before
45:22the 28th of February.
45:23You know,
45:24the war aims,
45:24the war objectives
45:25have been constantly
45:26changing over the
45:27last couple of days.
45:28You know,
45:29from regime change
45:30to decapitation strikes
45:32to, you know,
45:33curtailing the
45:34nuclear ambitions.
45:35All of this
45:36was going on
45:37before the 28th of February.
45:38What was it that
45:39drove the United States
45:41to launch these
45:41attacks on Iran
45:42and plunge this
45:43entire region
45:44into this crisis?
45:46I mean,
45:46this is something
45:47that even Trump's
45:48most hardcore allies,
45:49external allies,
45:50the NATO allies,
45:51the European allies
45:52are, you know,
45:53absolutely befuddled
45:55and you can see
45:56their responses
45:56in the way that
45:58country after country
45:58is now shutting
45:59their airspace
46:00to US aircraft
46:01because they realize
46:02that this war
46:03could singe them
46:04as well.
46:05No, but does this
46:06actually mark
46:06the end of NATO,
46:08Gita?
46:08You know,
46:10what is NATO
46:11all about?
46:12One for all
46:12and all for one.
46:14And it's an alliance
46:15that's held
46:16except now.
46:18The British Prime Minister
46:19says,
46:19not our war.
46:20The French President,
46:22American President
46:22is very angry with him.
46:23He's not getting
46:24overflight.
46:25Spain says,
46:26not us.
46:26You know,
46:26can't even fly over
46:27our territory.
46:28Now,
46:28West Asia war
46:29and let me just
46:30give our viewers
46:31some details
46:31of what's happening.
46:32This rift
46:33between US President
46:34Donald Trump
46:35and NATO allies.
46:36President Trump
46:37is saying,
46:38now he's just saying
46:39that he's seriously
46:39considering pulling out
46:41of the North Atlantic
46:42Treaty Organization.
46:43America will not be
46:44a part of NATO.
46:44That's what he's indicating.
46:45He's dismissed
46:47the alliance
46:47as being paper tigers.
46:49He's doubling down
46:50on his criticism
46:51of NATO.
46:52He's told NATO,
46:54he requested them,
46:55he urged them
46:56to be a part
46:57of the operation
46:57to open the Hormuz Strait.
46:59When they didn't join,
47:01he said,
47:01fine,
47:02secure your own supplies
47:03from the Strait of Hormuz.
47:04Washington may no longer
47:05step into direct response
47:07as a direct response
47:09to all the reluctance
47:09that's coming in
47:10from there.
47:11Why is Trump so angry?
47:13Key NATO nations
47:14have refused
47:15getting either directly
47:16or even indirectly involved.
47:18And how is that action
47:20reflecting?
47:20Take a look at France,
47:21for example.
47:22France shut its airspace
47:24for jets carrying
47:25military equipment
47:26headed in the direction
47:27of Israel.
47:28The United Kingdom
47:29and Keir Starmer
47:30went on record
47:31to say,
47:31not our war,
47:32we are not getting involved.
47:33Refused to get directly
47:34involved in this
47:34West Asia war.
47:35Italy,
47:36Italy is denied
47:37landing rights
47:37to US warplanes.
47:39Spain,
47:39Spain shut down
47:41its airspace
47:41to US jets
47:42that are linked
47:43to this conflict.
47:44And that is why
47:45President Trump
47:45is threatening NATO.
47:47Germany,
47:48led by Frederick Merz,
47:49has rejected
47:50US coals
47:51to help
47:52reopen the
47:53state of Hormuz.
47:54So,
47:54let me quickly
47:56get you reaction
47:56of President Trump
47:57and reactions
47:59that are coming
47:59in from NATO.
48:00We'll get you
48:00more on the story
48:01because NATO partners
48:02are saying,
48:03we're a defensive alliance.
48:04We are not going
48:05into an offensive role.
48:07But listen in
48:08to President Trump.
48:09Listen in
48:09to Keir Starmer.
48:13First,
48:15let me say
48:16once again,
48:18this is not
48:19our war.
48:20We will not be drawn
48:22into the conflict.
48:24That is not
48:25in our national interest.
48:28And the most effective way
48:30we can support
48:31the cost of living
48:32in Britain
48:33is to push
48:34for de-escalation
48:35in the Middle East
48:37and a reopening
48:38of the Strait of Hormuz,
48:40which is such
48:41a vital route
48:42for energy.
48:44I think there's
48:44no doubt,
48:45unfortunately,
48:46after this conflict
48:47is concluded,
48:48we are going
48:49to have to re-examine
48:50that relationship.
48:51We're going
48:51to have to re-examine
48:52the value of NATO
48:53and that alliance
48:53for our country.
48:54Ultimately,
48:54that's a decision
48:55for the president
48:56to make,
48:56and he'll have to make it.
48:58We're going
48:58to finish the job here.
48:59As I said,
48:59we're very, very close
49:00to achieving our objectives
49:01on all of these things
49:02that I've outlined.
49:03But I do think,
49:04unfortunately,
49:05we are going
49:05to have to re-examine
49:06whether or not
49:08this alliance
49:09that has served
49:09this country well
49:10for a while
49:11is still serving
49:12that purpose
49:13or is it now
49:13become a one-way street
49:14where America
49:15is simply in a position
49:16to defend Europe
49:17but when we need
49:18the help of our allies,
49:20they're going to deny
49:21us basing rights
49:21and they're going
49:22to deny us overflight?
49:25Geeta,
49:26NATO essentially
49:26is a defensive alliance
49:28while it has helped
49:29America in Afghanistan
49:31and Iraq
49:31but a lot of mobilization
49:33was done
49:34to convince partners.
49:35Is this the end
49:37of NATO
49:38as we know it?
49:39As we know it,
49:40yes,
49:41but I don't think
49:41it's the end of NATO.
49:42It's a NATO-sance America.
49:44It'll last
49:45because the others
49:46are all aligned.
49:48They have not shifted
49:49and moved their policies
49:51when it comes to NATO
49:52or NATO member states,
49:53their partners.
49:54So that will stay
49:56and we've seen America
49:57with Trump
49:58jumping in and out
50:00of agreements
50:00whether it's JCPOA,
50:02Paris,
50:02WTO,
50:03many of the other
50:05agreements that America
50:06was a part of
50:06and now is not.
50:08So post-Trump,
50:10things could look different.
50:11For now,
50:12I think it's not
50:12the end of NATO.
50:13I think it's the beginning
50:14of a NATO-sance America.
50:16Okay.
50:17Sandeep,
50:17how do you look at it?
50:18End of NATO
50:19as we know it?
50:19But it's a temporary problem,
50:21Gaurav.
50:22I tend to agree
50:22with what Gita said.
50:24Look,
50:24NATO has been through
50:25one of its worst crises
50:26this year in 2026
50:27where you saw
50:28the biggest partner
50:30of NATO
50:30threaten to invade
50:32another NATO country's
50:33territory.
50:34This has never happened
50:35in 80 years
50:37and this is what
50:38NATO has been through.
50:39So this is a minor
50:40speed bump,
50:41Gaurav.
50:42And I think
50:43NATO will be looking
50:44at a presidency
50:45after President Trump
50:46to kind of repair
50:48and rebuild
50:48that broken,
50:50fractured
50:50North Atlantic
50:51Treaty Organization.
50:53Lailo for now
50:54and revive the alliance
50:56post-Trump.
50:57Gita and Sandeep,
50:58many thanks for joining me.
50:59I'll come back to you
51:00for more on the story.
51:01We now have a video
51:03of a grenade blast
51:04that has taken place
51:05outside the Punjab BJP office
51:06in Sector 37
51:07in Chandigarh.
51:09This incident took place
51:10around 5 in the evening
51:11but look at that image
51:12on your television screen.
51:14That's a blue-coloured
51:15grenade and you can
51:16see the person,
51:18he removes the pin,
51:19there,
51:20he's removing the pin
51:21and then he hurls
51:22the grenade in the
51:23direction of the BJP
51:25office and this
51:26triggered massive panic
51:28in the region.
51:29According to initial
51:29reports,
51:30there are two
51:31individuals,
51:32they're unidentified
51:33because you can't
51:34see their face
51:35but you can see
51:35some,
51:36you can see their
51:37hand movement,
51:37you can see a blue-coloured
51:38grenade.
51:39They arrived on a
51:41two-wheeler,
51:42hurled this grenade
51:43or an improvised
51:45explosive device
51:46and fled the scene.
51:47There are police teams
51:48that have rushed to the spot,
51:49there's a bomb disposal
51:50team that's there
51:51to identify,
51:53forensic experts
51:53have also been called in,
51:56shrapnel fragments
51:57have been recovered
51:58from this site
51:58and this video,
51:59as you can very clearly see,
52:01it reveals the blue-coloured
52:03grenade.
52:04Now, remember,
52:05in the past,
52:06blue-coloured grenades
52:07have been recovered
52:08live.
52:09Pakistan uses drones
52:11to drop them
52:12on the Indian side.
52:14There's several
52:15of these grenades
52:16that have been dropped
52:16on the Indian side
52:17from the Pakistani side
52:20of the Punjab province,
52:21that side to Punjab here
52:23via drones.
52:24I quickly want to cut across
52:26to my colleague
52:27Aseem Bassi
52:28who joins us
52:29from outside the BJP office
52:31in Chandigarh.
52:32Aseem,
52:32what more can you tell us?
52:33What are initial
52:35investigations indicating?
52:40Well, this incident happened
52:41around 5 p.m.
52:42in Sector 37
52:43of Chandigarh.
52:43First of all,
52:44let me show you,
52:45this is the BJP's office.
52:46This is Punjab BJP's
52:47headquarter
52:47in Sector 37
52:49of Chandigarh.
52:50And this side,
52:51on my right,
52:52this is the place
52:53where this is the parking area
52:54outside the BJP office
52:55and here,
52:55this grenade was lopped.
52:57Well,
52:58this video which you're
52:59talking about,
52:59this video has emerged
53:00wherein a blue-coloured
53:01grenade is seen
53:03in the hand of the suspect.
53:04The suspect pulls off
53:05the pin
53:05of the grenade
53:06and lobs it
53:07and it basically,
53:08it lands in the parking area
53:11damaging a couple of vehicles.
53:12Fortunately,
53:12there is no loss of life,
53:14no injuries
53:14to any human being.
53:15But this is very glaring
53:17that how,
53:18in a broad daylight
53:19around 5 p.m.,
53:20this BJP's office
53:22of the Punjab
53:23has been targeted
53:24and some Sukhjinder Singh
53:26other CCTV camera
53:27images in the region,
53:29have they been able
53:30to capture the faces
53:31of these individuals
53:32who came on a two-wheeler?
53:33Aseem,
53:34keep tracking that story.
53:34I will come back
53:36to you for more.
53:37There's more breaking news
53:38coming in
53:38and that's a big statement
53:39that's coming in
53:40from the Chief of Naval Staff.
53:43Chief of Naval Staff
53:44Admiral Dinesh Tripathi
53:46has made a statement
53:47on Operation Sindhu
53:48saying Indian Navy's retaliatory action
53:52against Pakistan
53:53following that barbaric
53:55Pahalgaam terror attack
53:56was about to take place.
53:59Now, India was about
54:00to target Pakistan from sea.
54:03The Chief of Naval Staff
54:04said India was just minutes away
54:07from striking Pakistan from sea
54:09but did not go through with it
54:11because Islamabad requested Delhi
54:14for a ceasefire.
54:16The Pakistani DGMO contacted
54:18the Indian DGMO.
54:19Let's listen in
54:20to Admiral D. K. Tripathi
54:22on Operation Sindhuur.
54:27It is now not a hidden fact
54:30that we were just minutes away
54:33from striking Pakistan from sea
54:37when they requested
54:40stoppage of kinetic action.
54:44Through swift and resolute actions
54:47actions,
54:48during Office of Sindhuur,
54:50the Indian Navy reinforced
54:52the nation's confidence
54:54and trust in its capabilities.
54:58It is now not a hidden fact
55:01that we were just minutes away
55:03from striking Pakistan from sea
55:08when they requested
55:11stoppage of kinetic action.
55:14Through swift and resolute actions
55:18during Office of Sindhuur,
55:21the Indian Navy reinforced
55:22the nation's confidence
55:24and trust in its capabilities.
55:29That's a very significant statement
55:31that's being made
55:32by the Chief of Naval Staff.
55:33In fact,
55:34when you look at the current war
55:35in West Asia
55:36and Operation Sindhuur,
55:39India was constantly on top
55:41of the escalation ladder.
55:43India not only hit
55:45nine terror targets,
55:47India then took out
55:48Pakistani radars
55:49that hit 11 air bases.
55:50Pakistan shot a ceasefire
55:52because Pakistan realized
55:53Indian Navy was going to hit Karachi
55:55and was going to hit
55:57multiple other vital assets
55:58and vital points in Pakistan
56:00and Pakistan shot a ceasefire.
56:03America is desperately
56:04trying to get Iran
56:05to accept a ceasefire
56:07and seek a ceasefire.
56:09That's not happening.
56:10Also keep in mind,
56:10India had a very clear
56:12exit strategy.
56:13Mission accomplished,
56:15India accepted the ceasefire.
56:17The big difference
56:18between Operation Sindhuur
56:19and Operation Epic Fury.
56:21Of course,
56:21we'll track that story
56:22very closely.
56:23It's on being on top
56:24of the escalation ladder
56:25and a clear exit strategy
56:27once mission's war aims
56:29are achieved.
56:31That is all I have for you
56:31on India First this evening.
56:33Many thanks for watching.
56:34News and updates
56:34continue on India Today.
56:35Stay with us.
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