Iran: 100 Missiles & 200 Drones Fired | Trump Eyes Exit | GRAVITAS LIVE

0:02 For breaking news coming in right this point, the latest from the war zone,

0:06 the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has

0:09 launched its 89th wave of retaliatory strikes.

0:12 Now, it claims firing more than 100 heavy missiles and 200 kamikaze drones.

0:19 And according to the IRGC statements,

0:21 the operation as part of true promise four targeted

0:25 specific US [music] and Israeli military positions across the region.

0:31 Iran says the strikes focused on air

0:33 bases and intelligence hubs with reports of explosions

0:37 near Israeli infrastructure in the Negev

0:40 and US logistical sites in the Persian Gulf.

0:45 And according to the IRGC strikes targeted Tel Aviv, Bnei Brak.

0:51 Images [music] from central Israel, in fact, shown considerable damage.

0:56 They are showing considerable damage.

0:57 [music] Israel has meanwhile said that 14 people

1:00 were injured in the latest Iranian [music] attack.

1:16 IRGC also saying that a hidden and sheltered

1:19 gathering point of Americans outside the Fifth Fleet base in Bahrain was struck

1:24 by a swarm of explosive drones and ballistic missiles.

1:27 In fact, Iran also released a video alongside the announcement.

1:31 The footage showing multiple missiles being launched

1:34 and drones taking off in coordinated sequences.

1:39 It appears intended to demonstrate operational capability and scale.

1:44 And this also comes at a time when the US and Israel

1:46 are saying that their repeated targeted strikes have crippled Iranian military.

1:52 That's what they are saying.

2:15 Now, Israel and the US meanwhile continuing to launch attacks on Iran.

2:20 [music]

2:19 These attacks have targeted missile sites,

2:23 military infrastructure, and also production facilities.

2:28 Though the retaliatory strikes show Iran

2:30 continues to retain [music] operational capabilities.

2:33 In fact, Qatar now also saying that a tanker leased to its state-owned

2:37 energy company was struck by an Iranian

2:39 missile in the Gulf country's territorial waters.

2:42 While the Iranian forces are saying that a tanker belonging

2:44 to the Israeli entity [music] commercially

2:47 named Aqua One was precisely targeted.

2:51 That's not all.

2:52 The political messaging at this point also remains contradictory.

2:56 The US president, remember,

2:57 expected to address the nation in just a few hours from now,

3:00 and he has said that Iran is seeking a ceasefire.

3:04 Iran meanwhile rejecting that claim.

3:06 Iranian officials also saying there are no

3:09 talks with Washington and no negotiations underway.

3:12 So, what's really happening?

3:13 President Trump told Reuters hours before he was

3:16 scheduled to make that primetime address to the nation

3:19 that the US will be out of Iran pretty

3:22 quickly and could return for spot hits if needed.

3:27 The situation remains fluid right now with both

3:30 military activity and public statements continuing on parallel tracks.

3:35 So, a lot happening on that front.

3:52 [music] Let's also tell you about what's happening in Lebanon now,

4:06 where small lethal drones are slipping past Israeli defenses and striking

4:11 with precision for the first time since the war started.

4:15 Compact, low-cost drones are hitting Israeli armor on the front lines.

4:21 Videos released by Hezbollah showing a direct strike

4:25 on an Israeli Merkava main battle tank in southern Lebanon.

4:31 And in uh in another clip, meanwhile,

4:33 multiple kamikaze drones zeroing in on Israeli armored

4:37 units in the Lebanese town of Al Bayada.

4:46 The video suggests a major shift in Hezbollah's

4:49 tactics from sporadic fire to coordinated drone warfare.

4:53 And these are not ordinary drones, by the way.

4:56 As per reports, they carry RPG warheads

4:59 and are controlled via fiber optic cables,

5:02 making them largely immune to traditional jamming systems.

5:06 Which means Israel's electronic warfare defenses,

5:09 designed to disrupt GPS and radio signals, may not be enough.

5:15 So, that's significant.

5:17 Israeli tanks are reportedly equipped with the Trophy system,

5:21 a countermeasure meant to intercept incoming threats.

5:24 But the Hezbollah fire drones seem to be slipping through.

5:27 And experts are saying that their range, up to 5 or 6 km,

5:32 far exceeds that of conventional RPGs,

5:37 giving its operators a deadly advantage from a safe distance.

5:42 The human cost of the war is already visible.

5:45 The Israel Defense Forces saying that four soldiers have been killed,

5:48 three others injured in clashes with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.

5:52 Military analysts also saying that Hezbollah could

5:55 be attempting to create a kill zone, a strategy seen in Ukraine,

5:59 remember, where advancing forces are basically trapped

6:02 and systematically targeted using drones and anti-tank weapons.

6:07 As per Israeli officials, since the 2nd of March,

6:11 Hezbollah has fired nearly 5,000 missiles, rockets, drones into Israel.

6:17 And if traditional stockpiles thin out for Hezbollah,

6:21 analysts expect an even greater reliance on cheap, high-impact kamikaze drones.

6:31 Amid all of this, Israeli attacks in Beirut continue to intensify.

6:35 Explosions lit up the night sky over the Lebanese

6:38 capital as Israeli airstrikes pounded various parts of Beirut.

7:10 Emergency teams rushed through the rubble

7:13 searching for survivors as the strikes intensified.

7:36 The aftermath revealed widespread destruction, flattened structures,

7:40 shattered vehicles, streets stained with blood.

7:43 According to Lebanon's health ministry, at least seven people were killed,

7:46 21 injured in the latest wave of Israeli strikes.

7:50 And in Beirut's Jnah area, residents walk through the debris and the wreckage

7:55 trying to comprehend the scale of the damage.

8:00 It is a treacherous attack.

8:02 We don't know what happened.

8:03 There are martyrs, five martyrs.

8:05 There was fire.

8:06 As you can see, it is a civilian area.

8:09 Look, there are shrapnel everywhere in every

8:11 centimeter of We heard four missiles, but we can see three here.

8:19 Since the war started in Lebanon in early March,

8:22 as per the local health authorities,

8:24 over 1,300 Lebanese citizens have been killed, over 1 million displaced.

8:29 Israel saying it has killed a senior Hezbollah commander

8:32 and another top leader in separate strikes in Beirut.

8:35 And there is no sign of a pullback as of now.

8:38 Israeli defense minister, in fact, saying that the military plans to hold

8:41 ground inside Lebanon even after the war ends.

8:48 At the end of the operation, the IDF will establish itself in a security

8:51 zone inside Lebanon on a defensive line

8:54 against anti-tank missiles and will maintain security control

8:58 over the entire area up to the Litani.

9:05 Lebanon's military now saying it has pulled back from several border towns,

9:09 repositioning forces to avoid being cut off

9:12 as Israeli troops push deeper into the south.

9:16 The United Nations Security Council has convened an emergency

9:19 session warning that if the current trajectory continues,

9:23 southern Lebanon risks slipping into what

9:26 could effectively become an occupied zone.

9:37 Will he, won't he?

9:38 That's the question the world is staring at.

9:41 All eyes are on Donald Trump as he prepares to address

9:45 the nation amid the growing uncertainty over the escalating Iran war.

9:50 Will he declare an end to the war or will the tensions intensify,

9:54 especially with NATO allies already at odds with Washington.

9:59 Is Trump furious with allies who refuse to back the Iran offensive

10:04 or is he frustrated by the mounting global pressure and the economic fallout?

10:09 As the world waits, one speech could redefine America's

10:13 role in the war and its future in NATO.

10:16 Take a look.

10:19 [music] Ahead of his much-awaited speech,

10:24 President Donald Trump says US is going to be out of Iran pretty quickly.

10:28 [music] But he won't give a timeline.

10:36 [music] Trump also says he's absolutely considering withdrawing US from NATO.

10:42 [music] The defiance of the NATO nations, specially the UK, France,

10:45 [music] Spain, and Italy, has left the US president furious.

10:51 Trump [music]

10:52 expressed growing exasperation with NATO allies for not helping more,

10:56 even though the alliance collective defense clause

10:59 applies specifically to North America and Europe.

11:04 One thing we're very disappointed, I'll say it publicly,

11:06 we're very disappointed with NATO because NATO has done absolutely nothing.

11:12 And I've always said, 25 years ago,

11:14 I mean, I was somebody that wasn't a politician,

11:17 but I was always involved in politics or I understood politics.

11:21 I said 25 years ago that NATO is a paper tiger,

11:24 but more importantly that we'll come to their rescue,

11:27 but they will never come to ours.

11:33 [music]

11:32 Trump's disappointment was also echoed by his Secretary of State Marco Rubio,

11:36 who said US will [music] have to re-examine

11:39 its ties with the European security alliance.

11:42 Unfortunately, we are going to have to re-examine whether or not

11:47 this alliance that has served this country well for for a while

11:50 is still serving that purpose or is it now become a one-way

11:53 street where America is simply in a position to defend Europe,

11:56 but when we need the help of our allies,

11:58 they're going to deny us basing rights and they're going to deny us overflight.

12:04 Iran's strong defiance to US and Israeli

12:07 attacks have also left Trump frustrated.

12:10 Sustaining the military campaign has come at a cost.

12:14 This includes at least 13 US deaths, hundreds of injuries,

12:18 billions of dollars in damaged or destroyed equipment,

12:22 and about $1 billion a day in estimated operation expenditures.

12:29 According to a SIPRI study, US burns $10,300 a second in war.

12:35 It has burned 850 Tomahawk cruise missiles in 4 weeks

12:39 at a time when stockpiles are already well below target levels.

12:44 The war is exacting a steep political toll on Trump.

12:48 For the first [music] time in his second term,

12:51 Trump's average approval rating has sunk below 40%.

12:56 According to Pew Research,

12:58 more than 60% of Americans disapprove of Trump's handling of the conflict.

13:04 According to a YouGov Economist poll conducted between March 27th and 30th,

13:10 his approval amongst 2024 Trump voters has fallen

13:14 from 93% at the start of his term to 76%.

13:20 Reports suggest that Trump's own team admits [music] they

13:24 are just as confused as everyone else on Iran.

13:29 Even if Trump decides to end the war now,

13:32 the big question remains, will Israel do stop it [music] and what will Iran do?

13:38 The world will have to wait and Trump must

13:40 be [music] watched at the moment for his decisions.

13:44 You know report, Beyond World is One.

13:48 [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music]

14:25 Meanwhile, Israel is claiming that it will be able

14:28 to destroy Iran's military production industry in the coming days.

14:32 However, this is happening while the Israeli Prime Minister is facing the heat

14:36 from the opposition as missiles and drones

14:39 are increasingly piercing through Israel's defenses.

14:43 So, Israel's problems compounded as Iran-backed

14:46 Houthis say that it launched a salvo

14:49 of ballistic missiles against sensitive targets in southern

14:52 Israel in coordination with Iran and Hezbollah.

14:55 Earlier, four IDF soldiers were killed

14:58 in a clash with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.

15:01 Iran has also attacked several parts of central Israel.

15:05 And in this backdrop,

15:07 the leader of opposition accusing Netanyahu of virtual defeat

15:12 over his failure to win the West Asia war.

15:15 In fact, he mocked the Israeli

15:16 Prime Minister's inability to achieve regime change

15:20 in Iran and urged the people to acknowledge

15:23 that Netanyahu cannot achieve any strategic goal.

15:27 Lapid also raked up the IDF's admission

15:30 that it is short of thousands of soldiers.

15:33 He also cried foul over the allocation

15:35 of $255 million US dollars to ultra-Orthodox programs and institutions at a time

15:41 when Haredi men are exempt from conscription.

15:43 Listen to this.

15:45 Netanyahu and the Obama

15:48 Netanyahu delivered for the thousandth time the arrogant speech that says,

15:52 "I changed the Middle East." There was

15:55 one word missing from that speech, almost.

15:58 You almost changed the Middle East.

16:00 In the end, it always turns out that it hasn't changed.

16:06 On the other hand, Netanyahu signaling his intent to continue the war.

16:10 Even as Tehran's retaliatory attacks continue,

16:13 he claimed that the Iranian government is weaker than ever before.

16:17 So far, the IDF has claimed to have

16:19 conducted 10,000 strikes on 4,000 targets in Iran.

16:25 We will continue to crush the terror regime,

16:28 fortify the security belts around us, and achieve our goals.

16:34 The ground reality is stark, too.

16:36 During a cabinet meeting last week itself, remember,

16:39 the IDF chief reportedly raised 10 red flags in front

16:44 of Netanyahu and warned that the IDF will collapse.

16:49 As per Channel 13, he stated that the IDF will

16:52 not be ready for its routine missions in the near future.

16:56 And its reserve system will not last.

16:59 Israeli military spokesperson meanwhile revealing

17:01 that the IDF is short of 15,000 soldiers,

17:05 including 7,000 to 8,000 combat soldiers.

17:08 He said more forces are required in West Bank, Lebanon, Gaza, as well as Syria.

17:16 [music] [music] [music] The West Asia war is now in its 33rd day.

17:39 From the skies over Tehran to the waters of the Persian

17:42 Gulf from Israeli cities to strategic targets across the region,

17:47 the battlefield is only expanding, intensifying,

17:51 growing more complex by the day.

17:54 In fact, the battlefield is expanding as well.

17:57 Iran has unleashed what it calls the 89th wave of its operation,

18:01 a fresh barrage of missiles and drones targeting

18:05 US positions in Bahrain as well as Kuwait.

18:38 The war has hit Iran at its home as well.

18:41 Tehran was rocked by a fresh wave of explosions,

18:44 loud blasts echoing across the city.

18:47 Thick smoke rising from multiple parts.

18:50 US and Israeli airstrikes have returned,

18:52 striking targets in eastern as well as southern Tehran.

18:57 Several Iranians meanwhile gathered on the streets

19:00 of Iran to mourn the slain Revolutionary Guards commanders,

19:03 including the slain navy commander,

19:06 Tang Siri, who reportedly played a significant part

19:09 in Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz, remember, was killed by Israel.

19:21 [music] [music] The Iranian president and foreign minister

19:34 also joined the pro-government rallies in Tehran.

19:38 Greeting supporters as crowds gathered and waved Iranian flags.

19:53 By in my my This is now a war where no capital is out of reach in a week.

20:09 In Iran's Zanjan, the anger has been building up on the streets.

20:12 Hundreds of protesters have taken to the streets

20:15 after strikes damaged a key religious site.

20:38 Meanwhile, in Iraq, a drone strike igniting

20:41 a massive fire in the Kurdistan region.

20:44 Erbil, which is home to a major US consulate and military presence,

20:48 continues to be a repeat the target there.

20:51 Lebanon also has seen escalation with strikes near Beirut's main

20:54 airport road after Israel warned it would target Hezbollah facilities.

20:58 And on the diplomatic front,

21:00 signals have been rather mixed, and the tensions remain high.

21:05 The US president claiming that Iran has indicated a willingness for a ceasefire,

21:09 but Washington also has a key condition for that.

21:12 The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

21:16 However, Iran's Revolutionary Guards have rejected Trump's narrative strongly.

21:20 They say the strait is firmly under their control and will not

21:24 be reopened under what they call ridiculous displays by the United States.

21:30 Now, this back-and-forth also capturing the current diplomatic deadlock.

21:34 With Trump slated to make that crucial announcement

21:37 as a part of his address to the nation,

21:39 the costs of continuing this war are also mounting at the same time,

21:44 and that also brings us to how

21:48 the humanitarian toll and the numbers are also staggering.

21:52 In Iran, over 3,400 people, 3,400 people, have been killed.

21:58 Nearly 25,000 injured.

22:00 Lebanon has lost more than 1,200 lives.

22:03 In Israel, dozens have been killed, but thousands injured in repeated strikes.

22:08 Across Iraq, Kuwait, the UAE, Qatar, Syria, Oman,

22:12 Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the casualties continue to rise.

22:17 Those numbers on your screen.

22:19 In fact, even the US forces have suffered losses.

22:28 [music] On some breaking news coming in right this minute.

22:41 Big developments.

22:42 Iran now has denied claims by US President

22:46 Donald Trump that Tehran has asked for a ceasefire.

22:48 In fact, Tehran calling the assertion false

22:51 and baseless is what is emerging right now.

22:55 According to state television,

22:57 the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman has said Trump's

23:00 statements about a ceasefire request are completely untrue.

23:04 This also comes just hours ahead

23:06 of Trump's highly anticipated address to the nation.

23:10 Just a few hours from now.

23:13 And earlier, remember Donald Trump claimed that Iran

23:15 has indicated a willingness for a ceasefire,

23:18 but Washington also has that key condition like we said,

23:21 which is the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

23:23 However, Iran's Revolutionary Guards now

23:25 rejecting [music] Trump's narrative strongly.

23:29 They say the strait is firmly under their control and will not be

23:32 reopened under what they call ridiculous displays

23:36 by the United States, like we said.

23:46 [music] [music] [music] [music] Even if the guns fall silent, say tomorrow,

24:15 the shockwaves of this West Asia war will

24:18 continue to echo and ripple across the global economy.

24:23 A lasting gulf of insecurity, gulf of insecurity,

24:28 that will haunt markets, the supply chains, households for months to come.

24:32 The war in the region is not just a regional conflict after all.

24:36 It's a systemic economic disruption with global consequences, far-reaching ones.

24:43 Australia's Prime Minister has already warned

24:45 that the economic impact will be long-lasting.

24:47 He's not the only one.

24:49 From Europe to the Gulf, governments,

24:51 industries are preparing for a prolonged period of instability.

24:59 The months ahead may not be easy.

25:01 I want to be up front about that.

25:04 No government can promise to eliminate the pressures that this war is causing.

25:09 I can promise we will do everything we

25:12 can to protect Australia from the worst of it.

25:17 At the heart of this crisis lies one critical energy choke point.

25:22 The near halt in shipments through the Strait

25:24 of Hormuz has sent shockwaves through global energy markets.

25:28 Oil, natural gas, fertilizer prices have all surged sharply.

25:33 Leading to a rise in the cost of living around the world as well.

25:37 In fact, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, OECD,

25:42 estimating that inflation across G20 economies could be 1.2

25:46 percentage points higher in 2026 because of these disruptions.

25:52 And that is just the baseline scenario.

25:55 In a worst-case outcome where energy prices remain elevated for longer,

26:00 global growth could slow down further,

26:03 dropping by an additional 0.5 percentage points,

26:06 while inflation could climb even higher.

26:10 But then, the impact also goes far beyond energy, of course.

26:13 The Strait of Hormuz is not just an oil route after all.

26:16 It's a lifeline for global trade.

26:19 The disruption has choked the flow

26:21 of critical materials as well, like urea, ammonia,

26:25 that are essential for fertilizers, driving up the food costs and also

26:29 deepening the food insecurity in vulnerable nations.

26:33 The damage on the ground is also quite significant.

26:35 More than 40 energy assets across the region have been severely damaged.

26:41 Major producers have declared force majeure.

26:43 Production has been interrupted.

26:45 Exports of petrochemicals, raw materials, hit hard.

26:48 Even if shipping resumes, say tomorrow,

26:51 for example, the backlog, the infrastructure damage,

26:55 the loss of output will take months, if not longer, to recover.

27:00 Europe is already bracing for impact.

27:02 The European Union is considering emergency measures,

27:04 something that resembles the 2022 energy crisis response.

27:09 When Russia, remember, had shut out oil and gas supply,

27:14 these measures include cutting electricity taxes,

27:16 reducing grid costs, and even urging citizens to drive less,

27:20 fly less, and work from home.

27:23 Countries are delaying clean energy transitions,

27:26 reviving coal, and introducing industrial aid schemes.

27:30 But then, perhaps one of the most striking

27:32 consequences is in a less discussed critical helium market.

27:37 The war has severely disrupted global helium supply.

27:41 With major production hubs impacted, export routes blocked,

27:46 so this is a serious matter.

27:48 Helium, after all, is essential for medical imaging,

27:51 semiconductor manufacturing, advanced technologies,

27:54 including electric vehicles, aerospace systems.

27:58 Supply was tight even before this war started,

28:01 but now the shortage could last years.

28:05 Demand is expected to double by 2035,

28:09 but supply chains are now more fragile than ever.

28:13 What this also points to is a single sobering reality.

28:18 This war is not just a moment.

28:20 It is a multi-layered economic shock.

28:23 Even if peace returns quickly, even as quick as tomorrow,

28:27 when Trump is expected to make

28:29 a crucial announcement regarding the West Asia war,

28:32 if that happens, even if that happens,

28:35 the aftershocks will still continue to linger.

28:38 The Gulf may reopen, ships may sail again through the Hormuz,

28:42 but the sense of vulnerability in energy,

28:45 in trade, global interdependence will remain.

28:53 Also on the show for you tonight,

28:55 a Gravitas [music] special on the Everest scandal,

28:59 alleged scams that could put lives [music] at risk for profit.

29:03 You don't want to miss this.

29:08 [music]

29:17 Could an intense solar storm endanger fast astronauts on the NASA moon mission?

29:22 We get you the details.

29:26 [music] [music] Telling you all about the new

29:39 trend of finding love through PowerPoint presentations.

29:42 [music] From the US to Australia, Now,

29:45 telling you how singles seem to be ditching dating

29:48 apps and letting their friends pitch them with PowerPoint presentations.

29:53 All this and more coming up.

30:09 At a time when missiles are flying across the Strait

30:12 of Hormuz and airstrikes are lighting up the skies across West Asia,

30:16 a parallel battlefield has emerged far from the front

30:20 lines and this one is being fought with memes,

30:24 mockery, digital firepower.

30:28 Iran's embassies around the world are now taking on the United States online,

30:32 not with missiles, but with viral posts, sarcasm, sharp internet humor.

30:39 From South Africa to Afghanistan to London to Kuala Lumpur,

30:44 Iranian X handles waging this internet war seem

30:48 to be winning it right now at least.

30:50 One of the most striking posts coming from Iran's embassy in South Africa,

30:55 a visual that dramatically depicts Iran choking the US in the Persian Gulf

30:59 showing a direct reference to the strategic edge over the Strait of Hormuz.

31:04 Another post taking an even darker, more symbolic twist,

31:08 a coffin draped in US colors with a hand inside hammering the final nail itself.

31:16 The message, self-inflicted damage, a war of its own making, basically.

31:24 But that's not all.

31:25 In a sharply critical post on precision strikes,

31:28 the embassy sharing a split image.

31:30 On one side, a US aircraft dropping missiles with labels popping up,

31:34 schools, hospitals, houses, universities.

31:39 On the other, a counter claim of precision

31:42 portraying Iran strikes as targeted as well as controlled.

31:47 Iran's embassy in Malaysia, meanwhile, taking aim at US military narratives,

31:51 a video montage highlighting damaged US aircraft followed by a list

31:56 of explanations given by the US posing as sarcasm.

32:00 It reads, "Accidental incident, friendly fire,

32:05 technical malfunction." In another jibe,

32:09 they even take a dig at the USS Gerald R.

32:12 Ford, which retreated from the battlefield, you'll remember,

32:16 and is currently in the Mediterranean waters.

32:18 The post basically mocking its repairs as a symbol of weakness.

32:24 And then, a cartoon of the White House

32:26 exploding captioned "Cause friendly fire." Over in the UK,

32:33 meanwhile, the tone turns darkly humorous.

32:35 A post showing US fighter jets being grilled

32:38 on a barbecue with the caption "Iranians love kebab." In Tunisia,

32:43 the messaging takes a more ideological turn in a way.

32:46 An image of a military transport plane packed

32:48 with US troops was paired with a stark message.

32:53 When translated, it reads, "American soldiers are dying for Israel.

32:58 Iranian soldiers are martyred for the homeland.

33:01 Death without cause versus dignity in sacrifice." That's what the post says.

33:06 All this is surfacing on social media

33:09 as the world is waiting for what lies ahead

33:11 for the region and beyond and just hours

33:14 to go for Trump's address to the nation.

33:18 But at this point, Iran seems to be winning this internet war.

33:32 [music] We have a very historic [music] milestone this week, the NATO GDP.

33:43 [music] [music] And as the West Asia war has entered the fifth week now,

34:00 no end game in sight as of now for US President Donald Trump.

34:04 And while his address to the nation is highly awaited,

34:07 it's also clear that he is frustrated over the current

34:10 state of affairs and in a rush to declare victory.

34:14 Amidst all claims of military success by the US,

34:17 Iran launched its 89th wave of strikes

34:19 against Israel and US positions in West Asia.

34:22 In fact, the IRGC claimed to have targeted several Israeli cities and alleged

34:27 hideout of US forces in Bahrain and the US base in Kuwait.

34:33 As Israel, US, and other West Asia countries

34:35 continue to bear the brunt of Iran's retaliation, Trump has made a huge claim.

34:41 In a Truth Social post,

34:42 he said Iran's president reached out to the US for a ceasefire,

34:46 but Trump also asserted that the US will

34:48 agree to this only if Iran meets one condition.

34:51 He said, and I'm quoting,

34:53 "We will consider when Hormuz Strait is open, free, and clear.

34:58 Until then, the US will continue to bomb Iran." Iran's foreign ministry,

35:03 meanwhile, denied Trump's assertion as false and baseless.

35:08 Trump earlier hinted that the US will wrap up the war within a couple of weeks.

35:12 His frustration also coming to the fore

35:14 as he vowed to destroy key bridges in Iran.

35:17 Listen to this.

35:18 We just got a couple of nice bridges in mind,

35:22 uh but if they come to the table, that'll be good.

35:25 But it doesn't matter whether they come in there.

35:27 We've set them back.

35:29 It'll take 15 to 20 years for them to rebuild what we've done to them.

35:35 Trump's ceasefire claim coming at a crucial juncture

35:38 when the US is suffering military losses in billions

35:41 even as America's troop size in West Asia

35:43 has now crossed 50,000 with the arrival of commandos,

35:47 troops from the US Army's elite 82nd Airborne Division and USS Tripoli.

35:53 Iran has a stronger on-ground presence.

35:56 As per Iranian state media,

35:57 the country has close to 800,000 personnel across the army, IRGC, Basij.

36:03 That's what they claim.

36:04 This also raises a key question here.

36:07 Is domestic pressure finally hurting Trump?

36:11 American consumers, after all, are also feeling the pinch of what's happening.

36:16 The deep supply chain disruptions caused by the war, for example,

36:20 gas prices jumped past an average of 4 US

36:23 dollars per gallon for the first time since August 2022.

36:28 Public opinion against the war is also mounting.

36:31 As per the latest poll conducted by Reuters,

36:33 66% of Americans expressed their desire for a quick end

36:37 to the war even if the Trump administration's goals are not met.

36:43 66% of them.

36:46 Even among the Republicans, 40% favor the war ending quickly, very interesting.

36:52 Now, if Trump does announce a ceasefire, another question also rises.

36:57 Can he ensure that Israel will abide by his announcement?

37:02 While the IDF itself has admitted the shortage of thousands of troops,

37:05 the Israeli prime minister has also signaled

37:07 that his country will continue to target Iran.

37:11 With the Houthis and Hezbollah joining forces with Iran to pound Israel,

37:16 it remains to be seen if Tehran

37:18 will also adhere to a potential ceasefire announcement.

37:22 Iran has openly flagged a lack of trust in the US

37:25 and made it clear that no one can dictate terms to it.

37:32 They have tested us many times.

37:34 We do not accept deadlines.

37:37 What matters to us is safeguarding

37:39 the interests and rights of the Iranian people.

37:42 No one can impose a deadline on us.

37:48 With NATO allies refusing to get embroiled in the war,

37:51 it is quite apparent here that Trump will eventually seek

37:54 an off-ramp to try and wriggle out of the situation.

37:58 That's a major possibility.

38:06 Shifting focus now, India was merely minutes away

38:09 from a sea strike on Pakistan during last year's Operation Sindoor.

38:14 The Indian naval chief has said last year's Operation

38:17 Sindoor launched on May 7th following the Pulwama terror attack.

38:20 The operation targeted terrorist infrastructure,

38:23 remember, in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

38:27 The strikes eliminated over 100 terrorists and dismantled key infrastructure.

38:33 A brief war followed ending on the 10th of May following a ceasefire.

38:38 And while addressing the naval investiture ceremony in Mumbai,

38:42 the admiral said Indian naval units had

38:45 maintained swift deployment and readiness throughout Operation Sindoor,

38:49 adding that Pakistan requested for a halt before strikes were carried out.

38:55 We were just minutes away from striking Pakistan

38:59 from sea when they requested stoppage of kinetic action.

39:10 During last year's conflict in May, remember,

39:12 India had deployed several naval ships including a carrier

39:16 battle group led by INS Vikramaditya establishing dominance

39:19 in the northern Arabian Sea and effectively confining

39:23 the Pakistan Navy to its ports and the Makran coast.

39:27 And India has not stopped just there.

39:30 In a major step to boost its maritime strength,

39:33 the Indian Navy has inducted four new vessels

39:36 further expanding its operational capabilities across various domains.

39:40 And among the new ships, INS Dunagiri is among the standout editions.

39:46 This Nilgiri class stealth frigate is

39:48 equipped with BrahMos surface-to-surface missile system,

39:52 instantly transforming it into a high-impact strike warship.

39:56 With supersonic speed and precision targeting of nearly 290 km,

40:02 BrahMos potentially allows it to hit enemy

40:05 ships and land targets with devastating effect.

40:09 Now, this is also important because in modern naval warfare,

40:12 this crucial capability gives India a decisive edge,

40:16 like lethal accuracy and powerful deterrence.

40:21 Named after its predecessor that served for the Indian Navy for 33 years,

40:25 it has an array of weapons and key features,

40:28 including medium-range surface-to-air missile complex that can

40:32 basically neutralize aerial threats like fighter jets,

40:35 helicopters, missiles, drones, up to a range of 70 km,

40:40 multi-function search and target acquisition radar, 76 mm super rapid gun mount,

40:49 and a combination of 30 mm and 12.7 mm close-in weapon systems,

40:56 along with rockets and torpedoes for anti-submarine warfare as well.

41:01 The Indian Navy has also inducted

41:02 a specialized survey vessel equipped with advanced sonar,

41:06 underwater vehicles, modern data systems.

41:09 This ship will basically map coastal and deep sea regions,

41:12 supporting both defense preparedness as well as civilian maritime activities.

41:17 On the anti-submarine front, the Indian Navy has added Agray and Malvan.

41:23 Agray, part of Indian Navy's Arnala class series,

41:25 focusing on detecting and neutralizing underwater

41:28 threats using modern sonar and lightweight weapons,

41:33 while Malvan complements this role with a broader operational profile.

41:38 For surveillance, anti-submarine missions,

41:40 and low-intensity maritime operations,

41:43 along with mine-related tasks in coastal waters.

41:46 Together, these four inductions are expected to strengthen

41:50 India's coastal security and also enhance underwater warfare readiness.

42:04 What is the biggest danger at the world's highest peak?

42:09 Mount Everest.

42:12 Let's talk Let's now talk about how people in a way trust to guide you.

42:18 The climbing season also starting there in Nepal,

42:20 Nepalese authorities have reportedly uncovered what they describe

42:24 as a vast criminal network operating right on Everest.

42:29 This is not about avalanches.

42:31 This is about alleged scams that could put lives at risk for profit.

42:36 Nepalese investigators reportedly saying some guides, doctors,

42:40 helicopter operators are working together to stage fake medical emergencies.

42:46 Police reportedly claiming helicopter pilots have

42:49 billed for rescues that never actually happened.

42:52 While some doctors allegedly charged for treatments that were never performed.

42:57 Imagine that.

42:59 Even more shocking, there are claims that some

43:03 trekkers were deliberately made to fall sick.

43:06 According to Nepalese investigators,

43:08 substances like baking powder reportedly may have been mixed into food

43:13 or medicines misused to try and trigger symptoms resembling altitude sickness.

43:20 Everest today is far more accessible than

43:22 in the days of Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay,

43:25 the first climbers to have reached the Everest summit.

43:28 There is electricity up to the start of the trek.

43:31 Satellite phones are widely used.

43:33 Logistics have improved dramatically.

43:37 This year alone, nearly 500 climbers are

43:40 reportedly expected during the main spring window,

43:43 while thousands more will be trekking to the base camp.

43:46 But oversight reportedly remains a major challenge.

43:50 With poor communication, tight weather windows,

43:53 helicopter evacuations reportedly often approved before

43:57 the insurers can even verify the claims.

44:00 Police say this major loophole has now been exploited.

44:05 Between 2022 and 2025, more than 300 fake rescues were reportedly confirmed,

44:12 leading to fraud worth nearly 20 million dollars.

44:15 Nepalese authorities have reportedly filed 33 cases,

44:19 including charges linked to organized crime.

44:22 The alleged scam is quite simple.

44:24 Create or exaggerate illness, call a helicopter,

44:28 admit the tourist to a hospital, and file an inflated insurance claim.

44:35 In some cases, multiple trekkers were reportedly placed on a single flight,

44:40 but each billed the full cost.

44:44 Many trekkers at the base camp,

44:45 already at an altitude higher than most European mountains,

44:49 do of course experience sickness, [snorts]

44:52 but experts say most cases improve with rest and descent.

44:58 Instead, some were reportedly pressured into unnecessary evacuations.

45:03 This racket first surfaced in 2018,

45:06 but Nepal's Central Investigation Bureau saying the problem has only worsened.

45:11 Now, stricter rules are in place.

45:13 Every rescue must be officially reported to both

45:16 the tourism department and the tourist police.

45:19 For those heading to Everest,

45:20 the risks may no no longer come only from the mountain,

45:24 but from a system under growing scrutiny.

45:32 This sun could derail NASA's biggest return to the moon in over five decades.

45:38 Just hours before lift-off,

45:40 a powerful solar flare has triggered radio blackouts,

45:44 and now scientists are watching the skies worried about what comes next.

45:48 With astronauts strapped in, the countdown is underway.

45:51 The threat is no longer just technical, it's cosmic.

45:55 Take a look.

46:01 The wait is over.

46:04 We are going back to the moon.

46:08 After more than 50 years, NASA is embarking on an ambitious moon mission.

46:15 Four astronauts riding on the most powerful rocket NASA has ever launched.

46:22 Artemis 2 crew will carry the astronauts farther

46:26 from Earth than any human since Apollo 17 in 1972.

46:34 During the 10-day flyby around the moon,

46:37 scientists hope to unlock lunar mysteries.

46:42 The question I'm most interested in is are they going

46:44 to be able to see color on the lunar surface?

46:46 The very last mission to the moon,

46:48 the most recent mission to the moon I should say,

46:50 Apollo 17, crew members described subtle colors on the lunar surface.

46:55 We've asked the Artemis 2 crew to tell us what they see.

46:58 They may see different parts of the moon

47:00 than was seen by previous Apollo missions.

47:04 [music] The mission, first of its kind in more than [music] 50 years,

47:09 will see the first person of color,

47:11 the first woman, and the first non-American embark on a journey to the moon.

47:18 NASA forecast suggests the weather will be

47:21 80% favorable for launch within the 2-hour window.

47:26 But there is one different threat which could [music] cast an ominous shadow.

47:33 A powerful solar flare has already erupted this week,

47:38 unleashing bursts of radiation and high-energy

47:41 particles that can disrupt communications,

47:45 damage satellites, and most critically, can put [music] astronauts at risk.

47:50 And this may just be the beginning.

47:56 The flare originated from a growing cluster

47:58 of sunspots now rotating into direct view of Earth,

48:02 raising the risk of more eruptions [music] in the coming hours.

48:07 NASA says there is a 55% chance

48:11 of further low-level flares in the next 48 hours,

48:14 and a 10% chance of a full-blown X-class flare,

48:19 the most powerful category capable of triggering long-lasting radiation storms.

48:25 That's why scientists are closely monitoring the sun,

48:28 tracking every twist and turn of this unpredictable threat.

48:34 And here's the real concern.

48:36 Even if the rocket launches successfully, the danger doesn't end.

48:41 In space, there's no atmosphere to shield human life.

48:45 If a solar storm strikes during the mission,

48:48 the crew will have to take cover inside

48:50 a specially designated radiation shelter within the Orion capsule,

48:55 a critical safety drill built into the mission itself.

48:59 The countdown is underway.

49:02 For now, all eyes are on the clock and on the sun.

49:07 Bureau report, [music] Beyond World is One.

49:13 I'm speaking of that huge moment for human spaceflight,

49:16 for NASA, and for space fans around the world,

49:20 taking you live to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida,

49:23 where you can see Artemis 2 is all geared up and ready for the launch.

49:29 In fact, NASA has given the final go-ahead for the launch of the mission

49:34 following a series of technical reviews

49:35 and also weather assessments that were conducted.

49:38 And this mission is officially on track now for a historic lift-off.

49:44 This is going to be going to be taking place in roughly 6 hours from now.

49:48 Those latest images coming to you we're just

49:51 6 hours away from that historic mission taking off.

49:57 The mission rocket all geared up and ready.

50:00 This is the latest from the Kennedy Space Center.

50:13 [music] All right, so this is a huge milestone that historic mission that is

50:27 going to be setting that crucial benchmark coming in after 53 years.

50:34 That rocket is now being loaded with fuel is

50:37 the latest that we are getting in at this point.

50:39 And this of course is a milestone that has been highly anticipated

50:43 after NASA has now given the final go-ahead for this historic lunar journey.

50:58 [music] The latest [music] minute-by-minute updates coming in from NASA.

51:25 That historic lunar journey that is going to be taking off.

51:28 Remember, we just told you about the preparations

51:30 that have been underway about how this mission of course

51:33 comes at a crucial point with of course not

51:36 just a huge milestone for the space agency there,

51:39 but for all those who are going to be watching this unfold minute-by-minute.

51:44 It's a historical journey to say the least generations

51:47 of course have been looking at this moment coming up.

51:52 That's been reported widely about the preparations about how this is

51:56 going to be if successful a major mission, a major milestone.

52:04 [music] On that note, it's a wrap on this edition of Gravitas tonight.

52:11 This is me, Molly Gambhir, signing off.

52:13 Thanks for watching.

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