- 11 hours ago
As tensions escalate in West Asia, the United States has deployed 10,000 additional troops to enforce a naval blockade in the Gulf of Oman.
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00:00Good evening, you're watching India First. I'm Gaurav Savant.
00:03Iran has threatened to expand the third theater of war if the United States continues to block the Strait of
00:10Hormuz.
00:11Iranian military says it will see this as a retaliatory measure if trade is blocked.
00:19And not just in the Persian Gulf, but also the Sea of Oman and expanded to the Red Sea if
00:26US naval blockade continues.
00:28Major General Ali Abdullahi, the commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters of the Iranian Armed Forces has just
00:38issued a statement saying if the blockade creates insecurity for Iran's merchant and oil tanker vessels, then Tehran will consider
00:47it a breach of the ceasefire.
00:49And in that case, the Iranian Armed Forces will not permit any export or imports to continue in the Persian
00:59Gulf, in the Sea of Oman and in the Red Sea.
01:03He's just been quoted by Tasneem News Agency.
01:06The United States, incidentally, is planning to escalate matters in order to force Iran into submission.
01:13The United States is reportedly sending thousands of additional soldiers to West Asia in an attempt to pressure Iran into
01:21a deal to end the war.
01:23This, according to a report filed by the Washington Post, citing U.S. officials, the newspaper reports that 6,000
01:31troops are on board.
01:33The U.S. aircraft carrier USS George W. Bush, the aircraft carrier strike group and several other warships, they would
01:41be in this region very soon.
01:44Another 4,200 sailors, soldiers and commandos would join them towards the end of the month and that's around the
01:5122nd of April.
01:54Remember, that's the time that the ceasefire also comes to an end.
01:57So, the Americans will have 10,000 additional soldiers in the region.
02:02The move is to coincide with the two-week ceasefire ending on the 22nd of April.
02:07The Pentagon, incidentally, according to reports, is considering additional strikes against Iran or even ground operations on Iranian soil, according
02:17to officials quoted,
02:19including mission to extract Iranian nuclear material.
02:23Should the agreement not work out in the next round of talks, they mail land marines on coastal areas to
02:29protect the state of Hormuz
02:31and take control of Kharga Island, a small Iranian outpost used as Iran's main oil export terminal.
02:39There still is no clarity on if and when the next round of talks will take place and where Iranian
02:45media claims
02:46that a very high-level Pakistani delegation will arrive in Tehran shortly to deliver the new message of the United
02:54States of America
02:55regarding upcoming talks and the agenda and on common ground between Iran and the United States.
03:04Iranian media is claiming Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir will arrive in Iran's capital, Tehran,
03:13to narrow the gap between Tehran and Washington, D.C.
03:16The Wall Street Journal reports that the U.S. and Iran have agreed to meet,
03:21but a date and venue are yet to be decided.
03:24It could well be Pakistan.
03:26President Trump yesterday had indicated that negotiations could resume in the next 48 hours in Islamabad.
03:35Amidst all this, there's another major statement that's come from U.S. President Donald Trump
03:39as ties between United States and China
03:43nose-dive on the issue of the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
03:47On Truth Social, U.S. President has posted and I quote,
03:53China is very happy that I'm permanently opening the Strait of Hormuz.
03:58I'm doing it for them and the world.
04:02This situation will never happen again.
04:06They have agreed not to send weapons to Iran.
04:09President Xi will give me a big fat hug when I get there in a few weeks.
04:14We are working together smartly and very well.
04:18Doesn't that beat fighting?
04:20But remember, we are very good at fighting if we have to.
04:24Far better than anyone else.
04:27Unquote.
04:28Earlier, China had very strongly condemned President Trump's decision to block the Strait of Hormuz,
04:33calling it dangerous and irresponsible.
04:36Beijing had also rejected reports that China had provided weapons to Iran,
04:42warning Washington, D.C. that it is ready to counter U.S. tariffs with countermeasures,
04:50should U.S. impose tariffs on this subject of providing weapons and support to Iran.
04:56Ahead of President Trump's proposed visit to Beijing,
05:00mid-May, Chinese officials have reportedly held consultations
05:03on limiting the export of solar equipment to the United States,
05:07risking the trade truce between the two sides that was reached last year.
05:11In fact, Reuters reports that Chinese officials have held initial talks with solar panel providers
05:17as they consider restricting exports of the most advanced technology to the United States.
05:23The Hormuz blockade is alienating Trump from his allies as well.
05:27And that's another big story that's coming in, this time from Europe,
05:30after U.S. President's outburst against Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
05:37The opposition in Italy has come out in full support of Giorgia Meloni,
05:42calling Trump's remarks against her as unacceptable.
05:46The controversy erupted after Donald Trump criticized Giorgia Meloni,
05:50saying he was shocked she was unwilling to support the U.S. stance in the conflict involving Iran.
05:57His comments followed Meloni's sharp response to his reaction over Pope's position opposing the war.
06:05I'll get you much more on this story, but I want to continue getting you the latest developments from the
06:11Strait of Hormuz
06:12and the effects of the U.S. Hormuz blockade is now being felt.
06:18A sanctioned Chinese tanker that claimed to have evaded the Hormuz blockade
06:24has effectively made a U-turn.
06:27That is being reported just now.
06:29The vessel, identified as part of a network accused of helping Iran bypass sanctions,
06:37initially cleared the strategic waterway.
06:40It cleared the Strait of Hormuz, entered the Gulf of Oman.
06:45Now we are being told it has since made a U-turn after it was challenged by U.S. naval
06:53enforcement.
06:53And that is the image that we are providing you, just to explain that ships from the Persian Gulf
07:02and especially this ship was part of a black fleet tanker, a dark fleet tanker.
07:11It managed to cross the Strait of Hormuz, came into the Gulf of Oman,
07:16but that is where the U.S. is blockading all ships exiting the Strait.
07:21The moment they are asked to identify themselves,
07:25whether they are coming from the Iranian ports, any of the eight Iranian ports,
07:29or they are making, or they are coming from any of the other ports,
07:32whether of Saudi Arabia or Qatar or Kuwait or Iraq,
07:36should they be coming from any other port, they are permitted to cross.
07:40In case they have touched any of the ports off the coast of Iran,
07:45then they are sent back and that is exactly what has happened.
07:47The U.S. Navy has deployed a number of warships, surveillance aircraft,
07:53and now close to 10,000 personnel to enforce the blockade across the Gulf of Oman.
08:01In the first phase of enforcement, multiple commercial vehicles,
08:04they were intercepted, checked, and then directed to turn back
08:08with at least six ships complying without escalation.
08:13That's the information that is coming in.
08:16But then this brings us to another aspect of China telling the United States
08:20what it is doing is irresponsible, irrational,
08:26and it will lead to an escalation of words to that effect.
08:30In case China decides to directly get involved in this conflict
08:34because their energy supplies are being impacted,
08:37it's important to understand how the capabilities of the two countries stack up against each other,
08:43especially at sea and in the air where modern wars are being decided.
08:48Not that it will lead to an escalation to that level, at least not just as yet,
08:53but there are many who argue that this entire mission undertaken by the United States
08:59is part of a larger plan.
09:01First, take control of Venezuela oil.
09:04Remember, Venezuela amongst the largest suppliers of oil to China
09:08and then Iran.
09:10Again, China is the largest customer of Iranian oil.
09:13Is that the wider game plan as some analysts argue?
09:17That America is trying to choke oil supplies to China in the long run.
09:23Look at how the military balance is.
09:26Total military personnel, they stand at 3.17 million for China
09:30compared to 2.13 million for the United States of America.
09:33But it's unlikely to be a ground scenario where troops would face off.
09:37Ground forces, China has a numerical advantage,
09:40but future wars, like we've seen,
09:43they're more about air power, naval power, and missile power.
09:47China's military personnel at 2.5 million,
09:51the double of the United States, 1.17 million.
09:56If we were to talk about self-propelled artillery,
09:58China again leads with nearly 3,000 systems.
10:02The US can field about 1,500.
10:04However, this is not a war on ground.
10:07At sea, this military balance shifts.
10:10This is where the capability gap also becomes far more complex.
10:14The US Navy is 11 aircraft carrier strike group Navy,
10:19the largest in the world.
10:20China is at three.
10:22And again, the capabilities are not the same.
10:26The US Navy has about 6 lakh personnel,
10:29much more compared to China's 3.8 lakh.
10:32Also, the difference in capabilities.
10:34China may have larger number of naval assets,
10:37about 800 vessels versus 465 for the United States of America.
10:42But it's the higher naval power
10:44where the United States has a clear technological
10:47and operational advantage.
10:49The United States operates 11 nuclear-powered aircraft carrier strike group
10:55compared to three that China has,
10:57but only two are operational
11:00and only one seen as fully operational.
11:04And of course, they're conventional aircraft carriers.
11:07Each US carrier strike group is backed by its
11:11Alec-Burg-class missile cruisers or destroyers,
11:16nuclear submarines, carrier-based air wing,
11:18giving it a global strike capability.
11:20The destroyers, the US fields are over.
11:22They have 80 advanced guided missile destroyers,
11:26many equipped with the latest combat system,
11:29the Tomahawk cruise missiles.
11:30China has about 50 destroyers,
11:33though the newer ones, the Type 55 or the Type 52D,
11:37are increasingly modern and better armed.
11:40The submarine strength, again, a very key factor in combat
11:43and especially in international waters.
11:46United States operates around 70 submarines,
11:48nuclear-powered, including ballistic missile submarines,
11:51the SSBNs and the attack submarines or the SSNs.
11:55China has a larger fleet, perhaps numerically,
11:5870 submarines, but a significant portion
12:01are diesel-electric, smaller number,
12:03advanced nuclear submarines.
12:05AIRPA, again, the United States continues
12:07to hold a decisive edge, both in scale and in technology.
12:12The US Air Force, apart from 7 lakh personnel,
12:15compared to 4 lakh in Chinese Air Force,
12:17the PLA Air Force, the US also leads
12:19in total number of aircraft, 13,000,
12:23nearly 4,000 the numbers compared to,
12:274 times the number, China has 3,500 plus.
12:32Plus, the strategic bombers that America has,
12:35the B-52 bombers, the B-1B,
12:37the stealth bombers, B-2 bombers,
12:40giving the US long-range strike capability
12:42across continents, a segment where China
12:44has much smaller and lesser-proven fleet.
12:48The fighter jet gap is narrower,
12:50but favors Washington effectively,
12:531,790 for the US versus 1,400 odd for China.
12:58But there is a qualitative difference
12:59and that is significant.
13:01The US operates modern fifth-generation
13:05stealth fighter jets,
13:06whether it's the F-22 Raptor
13:08or the F-35 Lightning II,
13:10in substantial numbers.
13:11You've seen them in operations
13:13in several countries, including Iran recently.
13:16The Chinese fifth-generation aircraft
13:19are really not battle-tested as effectively.
13:23The US has a larger fleet of AVAX,
13:25the airborne early warning command and control system,
13:28mid-air refueling tankers,
13:30electronic warfare aircraft,
13:31enabling long-duration,
13:34sustained global operations.
13:35China, of course, is expanding in these areas,
13:37but trails in global reach,
13:40most important,
13:42in combat experience
13:43and integrated air operations.
13:46The situation, as of now,
13:49does indicate the United States has an advantage.
13:52But China, using its satellites,
13:56has been able to guide Iran effectively
13:59to checkmate the United States of America.
14:02And this is where this story
14:05becomes extremely interesting.
14:07The United States actually warned China
14:09that sanctions will be imposed on China
14:13should it continue to arm Iran.
14:16Whether it's man-portable SAM,
14:18surface-to-air missiles,
14:19or even with other surface-to-air missile defense systems,
14:24China says they are not doing so,
14:26but will not be threatened
14:27by the United States either.
14:28But what's the situation on ground
14:30right now in Iran?
14:33Professor Syed Zameer Abbas Jafri
14:35is a very well-respected professor
14:37at the Al-Mustafa International University,
14:40joins us from Iran.
14:43Professor, welcome.
14:44Your reading of the situation,
14:47has the American blockade in the Gulf of Oman
14:51effectively checkmated Iran's strategy
14:54to choke the Strait of Hormuz, sir?
14:59Thank you very much for having me on the show.
15:01The Reuters reported yesterday
15:03that the blockade was actually effectively no blockade.
15:09All the ships were passing through,
15:11so there was no actual blockade,
15:14which America was not able to block any ships at all.
15:1990% of the oil which was passing from Iran
15:22was Chinese ships,
15:23and America would never dare to attack the Chinese ships.
15:26That was very, very clear.
15:28So, it was self-evident right from the beginning
15:31that this is a flop show from Trump
15:33as it has been from attacking Khark Island
15:37and, you know, having the,
15:40what you call the Abraham Lincoln
15:43and all these, I mean,
15:45so you can add this one more
15:47to the failure of American military.
15:50Okay.
15:51And the decline of American Titanic,
15:54this will add one more point to it.
15:59We are told that Pakistan's army chief Aasem Munir
16:03may be flying into Tehran
16:05later tonight or early tomorrow.
16:08The next round of talks are also likely to be held
16:10in Pakistan or perhaps wherever else they are held.
16:14Has Iran agreed to giving up
16:17its nuclear enrichment program,
16:20hand over its enriched uranium
16:22either to the United States
16:24or maybe to Russia?
16:36Go on, sir.
16:37Yes.
16:38Can you hear me?
16:39Now I can.
16:40Go on, sir.
16:40So, I'm seeing Aasem Munir
16:44has already reached Iran.
16:47Can you hear me?
16:48Yes, I can.
16:49Go on, sir.
16:51Yes.
16:52Secondly, regarding the enrichment program,
16:56Abbas Arachi, the foreign minister of Iran
16:59has clearly stated this.
17:01The enrichment is the right of Iranian nation
17:04and we are not going to submit to any nation
17:08regarding gaining the trust of America
17:11that we are not making a nuclear bomb.
17:13We can make a committee of Iran,
17:16America and Saudi Arabia
17:18and they can together monitor the enrichment of Iran
17:22but there is no way that Iran is going to
17:25give away its nuclear right
17:27which it is legally allowed to do so
17:30and it is very important for Iran
17:33to have its sovereignty and independence
17:36which is a non-negotiable point for Iran.
17:40That's a very interesting point you make
17:42that Iran will retain the right to enrich
17:45whether it enriches or not
17:47or to the level to which it can enrich
17:502%, 3% for energy security,
17:54for medical use.
17:55That there can be a debate or discussion on
17:58but it will not be enriching it to weapons grade
18:01and it will not make a bomb
18:04which was perhaps also decided
18:06if I remember correctly
18:07in the talks that Oman was mediating.
18:10But tell me this, Iran's central commander
18:16has just threatened that if the blockade continues
18:19then Iran will expand it to Bab al-Mandab
18:23and the Red Sea.
18:25Now, is this a threat for domestic audience
18:28or is this to tell America to back off
18:30and remove the blockade?
18:33Well, Donald Trump has clearly announced
18:35that the blockade has ended.
18:37So, this question becomes irrelevant
18:41because Donald Trump has clearly stated
18:43that there is no blockade anyways.
18:45For the Chinese, we have opened it.
18:47This is a clear submission of Donald Trump
18:49to the Chinese
18:50because what happened was
18:52when Donald Trump announced
18:53that we are going to have a blockade
18:54and a CENTCOM announced
18:56within 10 minutes
18:57the Defense Ministry of China
18:59which is very important.
19:01It's not a normal diplomatic statement.
19:04The Defense Minister of China
19:05put out a clear statement
19:07stating that we have an agreement
19:09with Hormuz, on Hormuz with Iran
19:11and we have, our ships are coming
19:14and no third party should get involved.
19:16This is a clear threat to America
19:18and America responded by saying
19:20no, no, no, Iran is our friend
19:22China is our friend
19:23and we have friendship with China
19:25which is clear submission of China
19:27of America
19:28to the present situation.
19:30Let's accept the fact
19:31that America is declining
19:33the Titanic is sinking
19:34and the world needs to
19:36world needs to look at a world
19:38beyond America
19:39and beyond American domination
19:41and hegemony
19:42and Iran has proven to the world
19:44that America is not the power
19:46it was supposed
19:48and people thought that it was
19:50before February 28th.
19:54America has declined
19:55and America's global dominance
19:57has declined.
19:58What has happened?
19:59Look at it very clearly.
20:00Saudi Arabia,
20:01the foreign minister of Saudi Arabia
20:03spoke to Iranian foreign minister.
20:05It clearly stated
20:06the shift of Saudi Arabia.
20:08There is a conflict
20:09between Saudi Arabia and UAE.
20:12The crown prince of Abu Dhabi
20:14went to China
20:15to meet the Chinese president.
20:20UAE is meeting China.
20:22Saudi is talking to Iran.
20:23This is a clear shift
20:25that the GCC countries
20:27have realized
20:28that there is a world
20:29beyond America
20:30and there is a world
20:31beyond American domination
20:33and we,
20:33the GCC countries,
20:35need to look beyond America
20:36and this is the new world order
20:39that we are entering into.
20:40Sir,
20:41but if that is the new world order,
20:43the American president
20:44is also indicating
20:45that he will ensure
20:46that the state of Hormuz
20:48can never be blocked again
20:49or words to that effect
20:51and he thinks
20:51the Chinese president
20:53will give him a big hug
20:54when they meet next.
20:56Now,
20:56while those may be words,
20:58how do you read
20:5910,000 additional
21:02American soldiers,
21:03ships and sailors
21:04arriving in West Asia
21:06by the 22nd of April?
21:09You know,
21:10sweet words,
21:12talk of a ceasefire,
21:13but should that negotiation
21:14not succeed,
21:15then there is the threat
21:17that Iran may be targeted
21:18once again?
21:20Well,
21:21Iran will welcome them.
21:23They are waiting for them
21:24very clearly,
21:25very confidently.
21:27Just for an argument's sake,
21:29okay,
21:30we say there are
21:3160,000 American troops
21:32in West Asia.
21:34Iran has
21:35950,000 trained soldiers.
21:38So,
21:39there is no comparison.
21:40The ground
21:41and the terrain
21:42is Zagros Mountains,
21:45which has
21:47clear advantage
21:48for Iran.
21:50When you put boots
21:51on the ground,
21:52it's not important
21:53how many soldiers you get,
21:54but what is even
21:55more important
21:56is deployment
21:57and reinforcement,
21:59which is not possible
22:00for America to do so.
22:03And all the American
22:04military experts
22:05have clearly said
22:06that this is a kill box.
22:07And if America
22:09tries to enter
22:10into
22:12Iranian territory,
22:13that will be
22:14worse than Vietnam.
22:16Because in Vietnam,
22:17they lost more than
22:1740,000 soldiers.
22:19They'll lose much more
22:19in Iran.
22:20Because Iran is a
22:21very big country,
22:221.6 million
22:25square kilometers,
22:27half of India.
22:28That is Iran.
22:29Mountains are there.
22:31Yes.
22:31It's completely…
22:34Okay.
22:34I see that big smile
22:36on your face,
22:36Professor Jafri.
22:38Okay.
22:38So, you are confident,
22:40in fact,
22:40U.S. media is also
22:41just reporting
22:42that U.S. and Iran
22:43are moving towards
22:45end of this war.
22:47We heard the Iranian
22:48side.
22:49We've heard the American
22:50side.
22:50Equally important,
22:52other Russians,
22:54what are they thinking?
22:55Will Russia take
22:57control of that
22:58450 kilograms of
22:59enriched uranium
23:00for safekeeping?
23:02That's an aspect,
23:03Professor Jafri.
23:03Many thanks for
23:04joining me.
23:08As tensions
23:09surrounding the
23:10Iran war escalate,
23:11the risk of a
23:12broader regional
23:13and potentially
23:13global conflict
23:14is growing.
23:15Russia has emerged
23:17as a key voice
23:18urging restraint
23:19while maintaining
23:20close ties with
23:22Tehran and navigating
23:23strained relations
23:24with the West.
23:25Joining us in an
23:27exclusive conversation
23:28is Dmitry Peskov,
23:29spokesperson for
23:30the Kremlin
23:31and press secretary
23:32to President Putin.
23:33Mr. Peskov,
23:34thank you so much
23:35for being with us
23:35and doing this.
23:37Thank you for
23:38having me.
23:39The most important
23:40meeting that took
23:41place on the
23:42current war situation
23:43was in Beijing
23:44and that was
23:45between the
23:46foreign minister
23:46of Russia
23:47and the foreign
23:47minister of China.
23:49What is the role,
23:50Mr. Peskov,
23:51that Russia and
23:51China are likely
23:52to play in a
23:53scenario where
23:54the Strait of Hormuz
23:55could be shut
23:56for a prolonged
23:57period?
23:59Well, actually,
24:00I would like to
24:00remind that
24:02Russia and China
24:03were two countries
24:05that have been
24:06warning about
24:07very negative
24:08potential,
24:09very negative
24:09consequences
24:10in case
24:12the solution
24:13of Iran
24:14problem
24:14goes into
24:16a war direction.
24:17From the very beginning
24:19we've been warning
24:19about that,
24:20and we were
24:21insisting
24:21that war
24:24would lead
24:26to very,
24:27very negative
24:28and severe
24:29consequences,
24:30not only for
24:31regional
24:32security
24:33and predictability,
24:34but for the
24:35global one
24:36and, of course,
24:37for global economy.
24:38And, actually,
24:39this is what we're
24:40seeing and
24:41monitoring every day,
24:42every hour,
24:43and every minute
24:43right now.
24:44The situation
24:45is really very
24:46grave.
24:48We thank God
24:49there is no
24:50battle anymore.
24:51There is a pause
24:54in the battle
24:55on the ground,
24:56no bombing.
24:58We hope
24:59that it will last
24:59and we hope
25:00that it will
25:01never return back.
25:03But, meanwhile,
25:04the negative
25:05consequences
25:06for global economy
25:07are going on.
25:09And, of course,
25:11also,
25:12both
25:13Moscow and
25:14Beijing
25:16are standing
25:17for international
25:18law
25:19and standing
25:20for not
25:23neglecting
25:24international
25:24law.
25:25You know that
25:26international law
25:27currently have been
25:28very, very
25:29vulnerable
25:30and very
25:31fragile substance,
25:32unfortunately.
25:34Okay,
25:34talking about
25:35international law,
25:36Mr. Peskov,
25:37talking about
25:37international law,
25:38the fact that
25:39there has been
25:40a naval blockade
25:41that still is in place,
25:42although there is
25:43no war,
25:44active war,
25:45that is ongoing,
25:46and the
25:47meetings took place.
25:48Iran is a very
25:49important partner
25:50for India,
25:50but also a strategic
25:52ally for China
25:53and for Russia.
25:54Could Russia and China,
25:56and I'm only asking you
25:57this,
25:57deploy in the Arabian Sea
25:59as a counter
26:00to the U.S.
26:01naval blockade?
26:03Well,
26:04actually,
26:04of course,
26:05we are,
26:07well,
26:07we stay in contact
26:09with Iran.
26:10Iran is a partner
26:11of Russia
26:12and a strategic
26:13partner of Russia,
26:14and we have
26:15very profound
26:16relationship
26:16in different spheres,
26:18in different spheres,
26:19in economy,
26:20in mutual investments,
26:21in technologies,
26:23in very sensitive fields,
26:25and, of course,
26:26we are determined
26:26to continue
26:27those relationships.
26:29And we,
26:30so we condemn
26:32the aggression
26:33against Iran,
26:35we're condemned,
26:36and Iran wasn't
26:37the country
26:37who launched
26:38this aggression.
26:40So,
26:41but, of course,
26:42now we're calling
26:43for all sides
26:44for a balanced approach
26:46to be restrained,
26:49and, of course,
26:50to ensure,
26:50to ensure a freedom
26:52of commercial maritime
26:56in the Gulf
26:57that is vitally important
26:59not only for the Gulf countries,
27:01but also for the rest
27:01of the world,
27:02and for countries
27:03like India,
27:05like Russia,
27:05and like China.
27:06But at the same time,
27:08I beg your pardon,
27:10but at the same time,
27:11I would like to tell you
27:13that
27:15in this
27:16very,
27:16very negative circumstances,
27:19Russia is continuing
27:20to be
27:21a very reliable supplier
27:23of energy sources
27:25for all the countries
27:27with whom
27:27we are continuing
27:28our cooperation.
27:30We will talk about that
27:32because it's a very important
27:34question for India.
27:36Having said that,
27:37again,
27:38you know,
27:38coming back to Iran,
27:39the biggest sticking point
27:41between U.S. and Iran
27:42was the enriched uranium.
27:45Now,
27:45Russia has,
27:46in some reports we see,
27:48proposed taking custody
27:49of Iran's highly enriched uranium
27:51as a way
27:52to reduce nuclear risk.
27:53Is this a serious
27:54diplomatic initiative
27:56that Russia is willing
27:57to take on?
27:59Yes,
28:00and it's not a new one,
28:01actually.
28:01President Putin
28:04initiated this proposal
28:06quite a time ago,
28:08and he said that
28:09Russia was ready,
28:10was ready to take,
28:12to take enriched uranium
28:14on its soil.
28:15And this actually
28:16could have been
28:17a very good solution,
28:18but unfortunately
28:18the American side
28:21rejected this proposal,
28:23and then now,
28:24now it's not
28:25on the table
28:25of negotiations.
28:27Although,
28:27although President Putin
28:29is ready,
28:30is ready to return
28:31to this initiative
28:32should it be needed
28:33for the country's concern.
28:35Maybe in this context,
28:37there is a sense
28:38in recalling
28:39the very beginning
28:40of the story
28:41in the Gulf.
28:43This is a very important question,
28:45sir.
28:45I just need to ask you this.
28:47For our viewers,
28:48for the world,
28:50you're saying
28:51that Russia
28:52had put this
28:53as an offer
28:54long ago,
28:55and U.S. rejected it.
28:56Iran was okay with it.
28:59Yes,
29:00Iran was okay with it.
29:01Iran was okay.
29:02Well,
29:03you know that we have
29:04cooperation with Europe.
29:06And you're a P5.
29:06You're a P5.
29:08Why would U.S. object to this?
29:11Well,
29:12they have their own,
29:13they have their own demands,
29:15they have their own interests.
29:20The question is to unite
29:23demands
29:24and interests
29:26of all the parties concerned
29:27in order to reach
29:29the agreement,
29:29to make a deal,
29:30as Washington says.
29:32I would like you
29:33to remind
29:35the very beginning
29:36of this story.
29:37It's very important.
29:38We have cooperation
29:39with Iran
29:40in the field
29:41of nuclear energy.
29:42So we're constructing
29:44a nuclear plan there,
29:45Bush Air.
29:47And we're heavily involved
29:49in terms of bringing
29:50peaceful nuclear energy
29:53technologies to Iran,
29:54creating a separate
29:56sector of economy
29:58in this country.
29:59The same project
30:01is underway in India.
30:03And from the very beginning,
30:05Americans kept saying
30:08that Iran was aiming
30:09at doing a nuclear arms.
30:11But Iran was insisting
30:13that they were not doing that.
30:15and that they had
30:16no goals
30:17to create
30:17any nuclear arms.
30:19Besides,
30:20Iran has been
30:22one of the
30:23most heavily
30:25inspected countries
30:27by IAEA,
30:29the only
30:30responsible
30:32international body
30:33in this field.
30:34And IAEA
30:35never acknowledged
30:37any attempt
30:38of Iran
30:39to make
30:40a nuclear arms.
30:41This is very important
30:43not to forget
30:44about that.
30:45Because,
30:46yes,
30:48because a regional plan
30:49for Iran
30:49to make nuclear arms
30:51was presented
30:53as a pretext
30:54for aggression.
30:56This is very important.
30:58Should you have
31:00the uranium?
31:01Should this be
31:01an offer
31:02that the Trump
31:03administration accepts?
31:04Would you be open
31:06to UN oversight
31:06of Iranian
31:07enriched uranium?
31:11I beg your pardon.
31:12Could you repeat that?
31:14Would you be okay
31:15with the IAEA
31:16coming and inspecting
31:17the enriched uranium
31:18of Iran
31:18in Russia,
31:20on Russian soil?
31:21We are in full dialogue
31:22and we are in full
31:25cooperation
31:26with IAEA.
31:28And as a responsible
31:29member of Nuclear Club,
31:31we are doing
31:31whatever is needed
31:34to be open
31:35and transparent
31:36for 100%
31:37for IAEA.
31:39How damaged
31:41is the Bushair
31:42power plant?
31:43Because it's
31:43a Russia project
31:44as well.
31:45And how much
31:46of a loss
31:47or damage
31:47has Russia suffered?
31:50Well,
31:51you know
31:51that there was
31:52a shelling
31:53of territory
31:54next to Bushair
31:56station
31:56and to power
31:57to power block.
31:59This actually
32:00this was very,
32:01very potentially
32:03very dangerous
32:04situation.
32:05Thanks God.
32:07Thanks God.
32:08No consequences.
32:09No negative
32:09consequences.
32:11We also know
32:12that IAEA
32:13also expressed
32:18well it's feeling
32:20towards the dangerous
32:21situation
32:22in that sense.
32:23Now
32:24it is not damaged
32:26so the power plant
32:28itself
32:28is not damaged.
32:30The majority
32:31of our personnel
32:32they have been
32:33evacuated
32:34from the site
32:35and only
32:37personnel
32:37responsible
32:38for
32:40taking care
32:41of the territory
32:42and not letting
32:43it
32:44let's say
32:45be
32:46invaded
32:47by someone
32:48from outside
32:49not to endanger
32:53very sophisticated
32:54technology
32:55over there.
32:56So some
32:57personnel
32:57are still
32:58performing
32:58their duties.
32:59So the plant
33:01is not damaged
33:02thanks God
33:04and now
33:05we have
33:07to wait
33:07and we have
33:08to understand
33:09what is going
33:10to be next.
33:11We have to wait
33:11for the deal
33:12and we hope
33:13that there won't
33:14be any bombing
33:14anymore.
33:16Iran
33:16as every
33:18country
33:18in the world
33:19should have
33:20a right
33:21and an
33:21unquestionable
33:22right
33:23for peaceful
33:24nuclear energy.
33:25Absolutely.
33:27Absolutely.
33:27But I also
33:28always ask
33:29this question
33:30to most
33:30of the leaders
33:31I interview
33:34why are
33:35the standards
33:36and terms
33:36different
33:37for Israel
33:38and for Iran?
33:39There are so
33:39many countries
33:40who actually
33:40confirm
33:41and Israel
33:42keeps denying it
33:43but Iran
33:44says that
33:45they're fighting
33:45two nuclear
33:46powers
33:46Israel
33:46and America.
33:48So why
33:48is the same
33:49standard
33:49not held
33:50for Israel
33:50as it is
33:52for Iran?
33:54Well
33:55we are
33:55living in a
33:56world full
33:56of double
33:57standards
34:00and
34:01this double
34:02standards
34:03approach
34:03unfortunately
34:04can be met
34:05anywhere in the
34:06world.
34:07This is
34:07unfortunately
34:08the modern
34:09reality
34:09that we have
34:10to face.
34:11This is
34:12number one.
34:12all the
34:13countries
34:14of the
34:14region
34:14including
34:15Israel
34:16Iran
34:17Lebanon
34:18Palestine
34:19they have
34:21to ensure
34:23and they have
34:24to have
34:24their security
34:25guaranteed
34:27but security
34:28of one
34:29country
34:29cannot be
34:31guaranteed
34:33for the
34:34sake of
34:35another
34:35country
34:36thus
34:36endangering
34:37another
34:37country.
34:38So this
34:39is a
34:39very important
34:40a very
34:41complicated
34:41task
34:42to be
34:43solved
34:43when
34:45looking
34:46for the
34:46deal
34:46in the
34:47region.
34:47I hope
34:48that countries
34:50involved in
34:50the negotiations
34:51and countries
34:52who are
34:53facilitating
34:53those
34:54negotiations
34:54and we
34:55do appreciate
34:56very much
34:57the role
34:58of those
34:59countries
34:59that they
35:01will keep
35:02in mind
35:02how complicated
35:04this task
35:05is.
35:06is Russia
35:07providing
35:07any form
35:08of military
35:08intelligence
35:09or logistical
35:10support
35:11to Iran
35:11at this
35:12stage
35:12or at
35:13any stage
35:13have you
35:14done it
35:14because there
35:14are reports
35:15that suggest
35:15that although
35:17there have
35:17been denials
35:17from Moscow
35:18from your
35:18office.
35:20Russia is not
35:21taking part
35:21in this
35:22is not a
35:23participant
35:24of this
35:24war affair.
35:26It's not our
35:27war.
35:29It's not your
35:30war but you
35:31do or you
35:32are now playing
35:33an important
35:34role in
35:35navigating
35:36the diplomacy
35:37of how to
35:39bring about
35:40peace sir.
35:41How do you
35:42see and how
35:42do you propose
35:43this happen?
35:44Has this war
35:45exposed America's
35:48military weakness
35:49Arab world's
35:51vulnerabilities
35:52and shown
35:54Iran's
35:55resilience?
35:58Well listen
35:58I think it
35:59will be
35:59logic to
36:02underestimate
36:03the military
36:04in economic
36:05power of the
36:06United States.
36:07it's the most
36:08powerful country
36:09in the world
36:11military wise
36:12economically wise
36:13and then we
36:14have to keep
36:14it in mind.
36:18But this is
36:19a very
36:19complicated
36:20region with
36:22lots of
36:23contradictions
36:23between countries
36:24who have been
36:25living shoulder
36:26to shoulder
36:27for ages
36:28and who will
36:30continue to
36:30live shoulder
36:32to shoulder
36:32for ages.
36:34And you have
36:35to be very
36:35careful when
36:36touching this
36:37region.
36:37And you have
36:38to be very
36:39very careful
36:40in making
36:41any steps
36:42even tiny
36:43steps
36:43in this
36:46very fragile
36:47region.
36:48So this
36:48should be kept
36:49in mind
36:49and we're
36:50convinced in
36:51that.
36:51We are
36:52keeping our
36:53relationship
36:54with all the
36:55countries involved
36:55with all the
36:56countries concerned
36:57and Russia is a
36:58responsible country
36:59and a responsible
37:00member of global
37:01community is ready
37:02to present any
37:06efforts that
37:08will be wanted
37:09for finding the
37:10solution.
37:11President Trump
37:12calls his actions
37:13as peace through
37:14strength.
37:14How does Moscow
37:15view it?
37:16At a time when the
37:17Arab world is the
37:18most affected,
37:19oil supplies are
37:21disrupted, is this
37:23peace through
37:25strength?
37:27Well, you know,
37:28the situation is
37:29still, in my
37:30understanding, quite
37:31unclear.
37:34So United States
37:36is blockading the
37:37coast of Iran,
37:39Iran is blockading
37:40the Gulf as a
37:42whole, and we don't
37:44know exactly who is
37:45blockading what, and
37:47we don't know yet
37:48what the consequences
37:49are going to be,
37:51but we do hope
37:53that negotiations
37:54will resume, and
37:56we do hope that
37:57it will be
37:58resulted in a
38:00certain agreement.
38:02It is necessary
38:03for all the
38:04countries.
38:04It is necessary
38:05for the countries
38:06of the Gulf who
38:08are suffering from
38:09that war, who are
38:10suffering from that
38:11war.
38:11It is necessary
38:12for a global
38:13economy who is
38:14suffering from that
38:15war, and the
38:16consequences will
38:17be felt quite for
38:19a long time, quite
38:21for a long time.
38:22It will not
38:22disappear immediately,
38:23this shortage of
38:24oil, and this
38:25shortage of
38:26commercial cargoes
38:28that cannot be
38:29delivered due to
38:31this situation.
38:32It will be felt
38:33quite for a long
38:34time.
38:35We will talk
38:35about oil, but
38:36before that, you
38:37just spoke about
38:37mediation.
38:38How do you view
38:39Pakistan's role in
38:40playing mediator, and
38:42could Moscow also be
38:43looking at parallel
38:44negotiations, back
38:45channels?
38:45Have you opened
38:46those talks and
38:47channels with
38:48Washington?
38:48what does it
38:50look like?
38:51Listen, we are
38:53very grateful to
38:54Pakistan, and we
38:55do appreciate the
38:56role of Pakistan
38:57in creating the
39:01atmosphere and
39:02creating the
39:03environment for
39:05those negotiations,
39:06and we hope that
39:07that will be
39:08resultful at the
39:09end.
39:10So as for us, we
39:13are ready to do
39:14whatever is needed.
39:17we are not going to
39:18force anyone with
39:20our presence, but
39:22we are ready to do
39:23whatever is needed for
39:24peace, stability, and
39:25predictability in the
39:26region.
39:27Well, your presence can
39:28be felt even if you
39:29don't want to.
39:30We are seeing the
39:31Russia-China engagement.
39:32There are important
39:33conversations.
39:34You are a
39:35stakeholder.
39:36With Iran's oil
39:37supply, Shatsa, how
39:39much can Russia really
39:40fill that gap?
39:40And what is your
39:41reading on the
39:42global economic oil
39:43situation?
39:44You just said that
39:45it's going to get
39:45worse.
39:46Can Russia fill that
39:47gap, especially for
39:49India?
39:53So, you know,
39:54President Putin is
39:54in permanent contact
39:56and in permanent
39:57dialogue with the
39:58leaders of the Gulf
39:59countries, with the
40:00president of Iran,
40:03with the Israelis.
40:06as we are in
40:08contact with
40:09Washington, we have
40:11certain channels of
40:12communication, and
40:14that gives us a
40:15possibility to at
40:17least to express our
40:19position, our
40:20position, to explain
40:21our position, and to
40:22call for peace for
40:24everyone.
40:25This is number one.
40:27Now, what comes to
40:28oil?
40:29Well, you know that
40:33one-third of the
40:35Gulf production of
40:36oil is out of the
40:37market.
40:38So, and then the
40:40global market of
40:42oil is very, very,
40:44again, fragile and
40:46vulnerable.
40:48And, of course,
40:50well, minus of that
40:51significant amount
40:55leads to a very
40:56negative effort.
40:57And it cannot be
40:58compensated overnight.
41:00It will take time to
41:02rebalance, to
41:03rebalance the oil
41:04market.
41:04So, we'll see
41:08negative consequences
41:10of those situations
41:13in the Gulf.
41:15Russia.
41:16Russia is facing
41:18illegal, in terms of
41:20international law,
41:21illegal sanctions.
41:22But despite that, we are
41:24overcoming those
41:25sanctions, and we are
41:27supplying different
41:29countries with oil, with
41:31liquid gas, and we will
41:34continue to do that.
41:35And we are ready to
41:37increase supplies, should
41:39it be needed for the
41:40countries.
41:40In this context, India is
41:42a very important partner
41:44of us.
41:44We have cooperation.
41:46Our companies have
41:47cooperation with India in
41:49this sphere.
41:50And it's a very
41:51sophisticated, it's not
41:53only shipments of oil.
41:54So, we have very
41:56sophisticated cooperation
41:57with India, and we do
41:59hope that we'll only
42:00enlarge the scale of this
42:01cooperation in the future.
42:03Has this war, in a way,
42:05sir, has this war, in a way,
42:08given at least Russia a
42:09breather, with the oil no
42:11longer sanctioned and
42:13being allowed, countries are
42:15being allowed to buy Russian
42:16oil again?
42:17Is this a breather for
42:18Russia?
42:19Well, it shouldn't be
42:20over-exaggerated.
42:22There are lots of rumors
42:23about that right now on the
42:25news market, but it
42:26shouldn't be over-exaggerated.
42:29Yes, we have some humble
42:31surplus, but it's not of
42:34vital importance for our
42:35budget, and it's not of
42:38vital importance for our
42:40economy as a whole.
42:43But, of course, we have a
42:45certain surplus of this
42:46situation financially.
42:49If this blockade continues,
42:51can Iran sustain itself, or
42:53are we looking at a
42:54strategic partner and ally
42:55of Russia and China really
42:57crumbling?
43:00Well, potentially it's very
43:01difficult.
43:02We don't know what the
43:05regime of this embargo,
43:07of this ceiling of the
43:10coast of Iran is going to
43:12be.
43:12We don't know how it is
43:13going to work, and I think
43:15that no one knows.
43:16No one knows, because now we
43:20see lots of contradictory
43:23news in the media saying that
43:28it is sealed for 100%.
43:30Then you open another
43:31newspaper or TV channel, it
43:33says that four or five or six
43:36vessels approached the coast or
43:38left the coast and now going to
43:40Arabia and see.
43:41You don't know what is truth and
43:43what is not.
43:44Well, of course, special
43:46services of certain countries
43:48are monitoring the situation
43:50very carefully, and they know
43:51what is going on in reality.
43:55So let's wait and see.
43:57Let's wait and see.
43:57Iran is a big country.
43:59Iran is a powerful country.
44:02It's an ancient nation that is
44:05going to live forever.
44:06That is going to live forever.
44:10And then, of course, now they
44:12are having lots of hardship
44:14against this aggression.
44:16And then, so let's wait and
44:19see.
44:19But Iran is going to continue
44:21to be our partner.
44:23So you do not subscribe to
44:25President Trump's remarks when
44:26he said end over civilization.
44:33I would rather keep myself from
44:36commanding publications of
44:38President Trump in social media.
44:41Okay.
44:42I'll respect that.
44:44But optics is half the battle
44:46won in diplomacy, many say.
44:48Will there be a meeting between
44:49President Putin and his Chinese
44:52counterpart?
44:53Is he likely to travel to Beijing
44:55sooner than later, or at least
44:57before the big Trump visit to
44:59Beijing?
45:00Well, preparations for the
45:02summit are underway.
45:04We're getting prepared for these
45:05contacts on the highest level.
45:07And President Putin will visit
45:11Beijing and they will have
45:12negotiations with President Xi.
45:17Will announce the dates of
45:21these visits in a due time and
45:24in a due course, simultaneously
45:26with Beijing, you know that China is
45:29also our strategic partner.
45:31And then we have a very, very
45:34developed relationship in every
45:36possible field with China.
45:38So and then this development will
45:40continue.
45:41Okay.
45:41Speaking of visits, is President
45:43Vladimir Putin expected to attend
45:45the upcoming BRICS summit in person,
45:47which India is hosting?
45:51I hope so.
45:53I hope so.
45:55Anyway, he will be taking part.
45:57Anyway, he will be taking part.
46:01So but I cannot tell you for 100%
46:05right now.
46:06But I have no doubt that President
46:08Putin will be there.
46:11All right.
46:12Will be there.
46:12I mean, taking part in different formats.
46:16It's possible in different formats.
46:18All right.
46:19Mr.
46:20Beskob, I have to ask you this because
46:22this is a very important it's a very
46:24important time for world and how
46:26geopolitics is shifting and changing.
46:29What are the red lines for Russia
46:31when it comes to Iran?
46:32I mean, they've already bombed the
46:34daylights out of Iran, but there
46:37still has to be a red line for Russia
46:39and China to say thus far and no further.
46:42What's that red line?
46:46Well, lots of red lines are
46:50have been erased.
46:52Unfortunately, they have been erased.
46:57A leader of a country should not be
46:59killed by another country.
47:03A country should not be bombed by
47:05another third or fourth country.
47:10Those are doings that are contradicting
47:15with international law and international
47:18law should not be forgotten and should
47:21not be neglected.
47:23So saying this, I'm trying to show that
47:26there are lots of red lines are simply
47:28erased.
47:30And this is the job that we have to do
47:32all together.
47:33Moscow, New Delhi, Beijing, we have to
47:38restore international law globally.
47:41We have to help United Nations to
47:44restore its role and to play a visible
47:47and feelable role in global affairs.
47:49This is what we have to work for all
47:52together.
47:54All right.
47:55That's a very important message.
47:56I hope the world is watching and
47:58listening.
47:58But just shifting focus to a very
48:01important election result that came
48:03about.
48:04And I heard your comments and comments
48:06that came from Russia.
48:07But Viktor Orban's defeat, is that a blow
48:11to Russia in a way?
48:13The fact that the Hungarian government
48:16and its leadership is changing, is Russia
48:19losing one of its or has Russia lost one
48:22of its closest allies inside the European
48:25Union?
48:27Well, Mr.
48:28Orban was never a Russian ally in the
48:31European Union.
48:32He was an ally of his own people, of
48:35people of Hungary.
48:37And he served his people for quite a
48:40period, for a number of years, and he did
48:43it very, very successfully.
48:45Time came for him to give his power to
48:50another person.
48:51And we don't know whether it is a loss
48:54for us or whether it is not.
48:57We know one thing that was important
48:59for us.
49:00We had lots of disagreements with
49:02Hungary and because Hungary is a part
49:04of EU.
49:05And by the way, Hungary is a country that
49:08have been supported sanctions against
49:11Russia.
49:13So Hungary is one of the countries that is
49:16in the list of non-friendly countries that
49:19was created in Moscow.
49:21So it's a non-friendly country because
49:23they are implementing sanctions against
49:26our country.
49:27But there was very important difference
49:30for Mr.
49:31Orban in comparison with the with the
49:34other leaders of EU countries.
49:36He was talking to us and having problems.
49:40He preferred to talk, not to keep silence.
49:45And quite a few people in the EU are
49:49capable of that.
49:50So we don't know whether his successor
49:56will do the same.
49:58If he does the same, we'll appreciate that.
50:02And it will help us to solve the problems and
50:06to respond better to vital interests of the
50:11people of Hungary and the people of Russia.
50:14Final question, Mr. Peskov.
50:16The fact that we are looking at Iran, we've
50:20looked, we've seen Venezuela, there are threats
50:23to Cuba, there are threats to acquiring
50:26Greenland, there are threats to Colombia.
50:29What, according to you and your intelligence
50:31community's assessment is when it comes to
50:34President Trump and his next move?
50:37We're looking at Russia's outreach to Cuba
50:40and it does appear that Russia is going back
50:42to that Cuba outreach.
50:45And is it a counter to Washington's
50:48strategy globally?
50:50What's your reading on what's next for Mr.
50:52Trump?
50:55So we are continuing our relationship with
50:57the leadership of Venezuela.
51:01We have lots of common projects on the agenda
51:04and we do hope that we'll see continuation
51:06of those projects.
51:10And we do hope for
51:19competition, for good competition, for good terms
51:22competition, in that sense, between companies
51:25who are on Venezuela's market.
51:27Our companies have been there quite for a long time.
51:33Cuba is an outstanding partner of Russia,
51:36our good friend.
51:39And we would not like to see any countries
51:44invading Cuba or pushing Cuba or sealing Cuba
51:49from outside, not letting any single medicine
51:52to come to Cuban children.
51:54The children in Cuba.
51:57Children in hospitals are dying without electricity
52:00and without medicine.
52:02It's not good.
52:03It's not good.
52:04And for geopolitical aims and goals of the United States,
52:11I think you'd better ask President Trump himself.
52:13He is extremely open for press
52:17and then he is very detailed in his explanations.
52:22Okay.
52:23On that note, we hope, you know,
52:25White House is also listening to you
52:27so they entertain our requests.
52:30But Dmitry Peskov,
52:32thank you so much for joining us over here
52:34and breaking down exactly how Moscow is looking
52:37at the current situation,
52:39the flare-ups, the counter-moves
52:42and how important Iran is in all of this
52:45expressing and showing resilience.
52:47Thank you so much.
52:50It was my pleasure.
52:51Goodbye.
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