Secretary of State Antony Blinken
00:00:03
Good night everybody.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in Israel the opposite day, his seventh journey for the reason that Hamas assaults on October seventh. And he stated it seems Israel is making good on a promise to get extra humanitarian support vans into Gaza.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken
00:00:20
They went by means of Erez, for the primary time at this time. And that is crucial as a result of that is direct entry to the north of Gaza.
The new land crossings are being opened. In addition, that floating pier being constructed by the U.S. is greater than half completed. But the tales of starvation we’re listening to out of Gaza, they do not actually replicate that optimism.
Spending hours a day to get by means of a checkpoint isn’t adequate. Being in a position to solely use checkpoints for a brief interval of the day isn’t adequate. We have sufficient meals. It’s do we’ve got sufficient entry.
This little one says, I have never been given a meal for a month as a result of the kitchen workforce was struck. We solely had canned meals.
It’s scenes like these which have outraged leaders within the area least of which being Iran, no buddy to Israel in the perfect of occasions. But its assault on Israel final month was completely different.
We’re following main breaking information over the skies of Israel. A widescale aerial assault is happening proper now, with waves and waves of drones and missiles streaming in from Iran, immediately from Iran. Our workforce on the bottom.
Even although Israel’s navy says 99% of the projectiles have been shot down, this was a direct assault. And there’s actual concern about what would occur if tensions have been to flare once more.
The different factor that the Iranians have stated is that they did not truly ship their most trendy missiles and drones.
Today, CNN’s Fred Pleitgen takes us contained in the Iranian capital of Tehran. From CNN, that is Tug of War. I’m David Rind.
So evidently cooler heads have type of prevailed after that tit for tat between Iran and Israel. And as we sit right here on Wednesday, there was no extra motion since Israel’s restricted strike inside Iran about two weeks in the past now. But because you’re now within the nation, does it really feel on the streets like the warmth has been sufficiently turned down?
I believe that lots of people are nonetheless fairly nervous, and I believe that lots of people right here, the inhabitants of Iran, nonetheless really feel that the scenario typically has escalated as a result of I believe one of many issues that we noticed when issues have been nonetheless actually heated up was that the Iranians stated that the complete equation had modified for them now within the Middle East, that, if Israel does something anymore, if there’s any extra actions from Israel, that the Iranians would hit again exhausting. And in fact, that is a fairly large promise to make on this area, particularly with so many US troops additionally on this area, however in fact, additionally with the navy that Israel has. But the Iranians, they definitely are fairly bullish at this level about their navy capabilities.
Can you present me the warhead? It’s by no means seen the Shahed warhead earlier than.
So we bought, truly fairly good entry, to an Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps base. This is principally their most elite power that they’ve. And one of many issues that is been crucial for the Iranians have been growing their missile program and their drone program, as a result of Iran is underneath large sanctions. So they can not actually purchase trendy navy gear. So they develop lots of stuff of their very own, proper? And missiles and drones actually play a giant function for them to try to undertaking their energy. So we noticed lots of.
Accurate. Less than 5 meters.
Less than 5 meters to focus on.
They have a wide selection of missiles, and lots of them actually appear like, you understand, the type of NASA rockets from the 70s and 80s, you understand, like massive, very tall rockets with actually massive payloads additionally. The Iranians say that a few of these can fly about, you understand, a thousand miles, perhaps longer. So they principally appear like area rockets. There’s some which might be smaller that kind of appear like, you understand, the type of ballistic missiles that we’re used to. And then there’s cruise missiles that type of appear like little planes with, with, with actually quick wings. The factor that basically me lots was, their drone program. Also, they gave us some perception into that. There’s a few of the drones that truly appear like stealth bombers. But there’s different actually low cost ones known as the Shahed. 136 that the US additionally alleges that the Iranians have given to the Russians to be used in Ukraine, which the Iranians deny. But, you understand, these look actually low cost. It’s very they give the impression of being they’re massive, however in addition they they give the impression of being fairly gentle. And they can not land. So they’re they’re a method drones for for suicide mission.
I believe it is vital to recollect for folks. Right. These aren’t just like the little pastime drones that you just’re sending up on the park. No, these these appear like little planes, proper?
They appear like. They appear like little planes. And in some case, massive planes. I imply, a few of them are simply the scale of, like, a Cessna and even larger. Wow. And a few of them, the Iranians can say, say, you understand, they’ll fly for like 24 hours. So they, they’ve gotten lots higher so far as their drone capabilities are involved. And the Iranians have stated that through the years they’ve turn into much more, correct so far as the missiles are involved. They’ve been in a position to hit additional, larger payloads and naturally, even have turn into extra deadly. And I believe, you understand, one of many issues once they did that strike towards the Israelis, even supposing the Israelis within the US. So they took just about all these drones, missiles down. The Iranians nonetheless suppose that that was successful for them to simply present the type of energy that they’ve.
Well, I used to be going to say, as a result of, you understand, the Revolutionary Guard, they needed to point out these items off to you. But like, did the overall you have been speaking to realized that, like, 99% of those projectiles bought shot down like, this did not truly work?
Well, I imply, I believe that from their perspective, work and work is are relative phrases right here within the Middle East. I believe for the Iranians, the principle factor that they needed to point out was that they’ll hit exhausting. And one of many issues that we’ve got to bear in mind, clearly, you understand, if we are able to consider everyone on all sides, speaking and all this, they’re clearly all politicians. Yeah. That the Iranians did say that they gave lots of warning to all of the nations within the area, which then clearly would have instructed Israel and the United States about it. And you probably did have the US Air Force, the Israeli Air Force, the Jordanian Air Force, the British Air Force and the French Air Force, all within the skies taking this stuff down. And the opposite factor that the Iranians have stated is that they did not truly ship their most trendy missiles and drones over right here. They declare that they’ve completely different stuff. So for them, I believe it was extra about making an attempt that basically nice line between displaying that you’ve got a giant stick and on the identical time not kicking off a giant all out conflict.
Like, perhaps subsequent time we can’t offer you all that warning and we’ll ship it anyway, after which we’ll see what occurs.
And we’ll ship the actual stuff over. Because they stated that the that the stuff that they despatched now’s kind of older stuff.
This is tug of conflict. I’m chatting with CNN’s Fred Pleitgen, who’s in Tehran.
As we wait and see if Israel will go into Rafah. I notice the complete Muslim world has actually been galvanized by what’s going on in Gaza. So what does that anger appear like in Iran?
I believe in Iran, the anger is projected very a lot by the management of this nation. One of the issues that was actually shocking for us. Is how the management of this nation has kind of taken up this trigger and is making an attempt to kind of push it. The president of the nation, the overseas minister of the nation, lots of the navy are the leaders of the nation, haven’t solely clearly ripped into Israel and the United States and what’s been happening in Gaza, but additionally what’s been happening in US campuses is an actual massive deal right here as nicely. It’s one thing that lots of politicians.
Oh, big. Absolutely. There’s been demos by conservatives, by exhausting liners.
Here at Tehran University and different universities as nicely.
That’s all proclaiming solidarity with the protesters, you understand, calling out the US authorities, saying, look, you guys are purported to be the beacon of free speech. And now look what is going on on in America. Yeah, it is a it is an enormous deal for the federal government right here.
American college students additionally got here out. It’s nice. We did not we did not suppose that they might come out. But the truth that they got here out reveals that, you understand, we’re combating for a similar factor.
Well, it is fairly wealthy, although, that Iran could be like these protests. Great job. U.S. one their very own protests. They crack down more durable than nearly anyplace on this planet.
Yeah. I imply, there’s there’s a few of that, definitely. But the way in which that the Iranians try to border it’s they are saying, look, you retain lecturing us about what is going on on in our nation and lots of different nations as nicely. And now, look, what is going on on in America is basically kind of the message that they are that they, you understand, they’re so making an attempt to painting and, you understand, it truly is all ranges of the federal government that which have taken this on. If you take a look at a few of the Twitter feeds, a few of the kind of massive politicians right here on this nation, they they share of the type of imagery lots.
And we speak lots about Iran and the ability they exert within the area with these proxy teams. But I notice that Western journalists do not get a ton of entry into the nation itself. So what’s it like reporting within the nation?
So reporting within the nation is definitely not simple. You know, you want particular permissions to go to sure locations, however it’s doable. And I believe one of many issues that individuals would discover in the event that they have been in a position to come right here is the Iranians themselves are very nice folks, like the parents on the road. I’ve by no means seen folks, you understand, say something unhealthy to us. Never seen folks be aggressive. Tehran itself is a is a really subtle metropolis in some ways. Especially the north of Tehran is definitely fairly rich. And yeah, they’re very hospitable folks. The meals is wonderful. But on the identical time, in fact, you understand, there’s lots of that rigidity that you just really feel within the Middle East additionally right here within the society as nicely, you understand, the place folks notice that they’re at loggerheads with lots of nations within the area, and naturally, additionally with Israel and, and that and the entire standoff with the US, in fact, is one thing that is been happening for such a very long time, that that is actually ingrained in, in, in giant components of life right here.
Well, yeah, I used to be going to say, as a result of lots of the occasions we see these photographs getting back from Iran of individuals chanting and shouting, Death to America. But like, how widespread is that amongst the overall inhabitants versus the hardliners within the authorities that clearly hammer that arduous?
I believe that that is a factor that the hardliners actually tried to painting. But among the many normal society, I believe they’re now, I would not say laid again about it, however however clearly not as on the market as lots of the hardliners, are. And a few of the issues that that bought projected, particularly at Friday prayers and typically, I believe that most individuals right here on this nation need higher relations with the United States. But I believe in addition they need that on their very own phrases, like they do. They don’t need to be instructed what to do with it. It is it’s fairly fascinating to see the Iranians definitely are, you understand, very good, clearly very impartial. Also individuals who need to stay that method right here within the Middle East.
Yeah. Like we noticed these protests over the dying of Mahsa Amini. Plenty of points for girls and naturally simply financial issues everyday.
Fascinating perspective. Thanks, Fred.
Tug of War is a manufacturing of CNN Audio. This episode was produced by Paola Ortiz and me, David Rind. Our senior producer is Haley Thomas. Dan Dzula is our technical director. And Steve Lickteig is the manager producer of CNN Audio. We get help from Alex Manasseri, Robert Mathers, John Dianora, Leni Steinhart, Jamus Andrest, Nicole Pesaru, and Lisa Namerow. Special due to Caroline Paterson, Zarah Ullah and Katie Hinman. We’ll be again subsequent week on Wednesday. In the meantime, head over to CNN.com or the CNN app for the very newest. I’ll speak to you later.