Marco Rubio LIVE: Trump Iran Decision? Rubio Speech and White House Briefing — WORLD NEWS LIVE

[0:00] with regards to Taiwan or anywhere in the Indo-Pacific and I think that's to [0:03] the mutual benefit of both the United States and the Chinese exact number is [0:10] but I know a number of those fast boats have now been targeted and will continue [0:14] to be if they pose a threat to our forces we'll shoot down drones we'll [0:16] shoot down missiles but it's defensive in nature this is defensive so if you [0:21] hear stories about attacks and launching of firing back and forth it's not back [0:24] and forth we are only responding if attacked first this is a defensive [0:28] operation and that's what's occurring here just about the importance of the [0:32] straits for a moment this is approximately a quarter of the world's oil trade along [0:36] with significant volumes of fuel and fertilizer that operate through the [0:40] straits of Hormuz the the Iranian regime cannot be allowed to dictate who uses [0:44] this vital waterway I don't think this is also being reported enough maybe you are [0:48] reporting I don't read everyone I don't make damn outlets here I don't know who [0:51] you all are but I mean I know who some of you are but but but I will say this [0:56] about it have people this is an international waterway this is an [1:00] international waterway and international law is very clear and I love it because [1:04] everybody always talks about international law and this international [1:06] law and this is very clear international waterways no country can control them [1:10] there is no international law that allows you to say I'm going to put mines in an [1:14] international body of water and I'm going to blow up ships that don't listen to [1:17] us and try to go through that's what Iran is doing this is a criminal act and [1:22] someone needs to do something about it something needs to be done it's [1:25] completely illegal completely illegitimate and completely unacceptable and that's [1:29] why the United States military is guiding stranded commercial ships safely [1:32] through the strait and is working to restore freedom of navigation and putting [1:36] an end to these efforts to glow to hold the global economy hostage so far as a [1:40] proof of concept and as a proof of function two u.s. flag merchant ships have [1:45] successfully transferred the Strait of Hormuz in the first stages of this [1:48] project and they're now safely on their way the US military is deploying the [1:53] necessary assets to extend this defensive umbrella over commercial shipping but [1:58] there should be no mistake and as I said this already this is a defensive [2:01] operation I want to reiterate that point this is important to understand if no [2:05] shots are fired at these ships and no shots are fired at us we're not firing [2:09] shots but if we're fired on we will respond and we will respond with lethal [2:13] efficiency the assets supporting this project by the way include guided missile [2:17] destroyers over a hundred land and sea based aircraft multi domain unmanned [2:22] platforms and 15,000 of the finest military service members on the planet [2:27] these forces have already destroyed as I told you earlier I thought it was six [2:30] it's seven Iranian fast boats that failed to heed our warnings and by fast [2:35] boats we're talking about you know some of these things look like Boston [2:37] whalers okay so these are not like Navy ships but nonetheless they come fast at [2:41] these boats try to swarm them try to harm them we're not going to let that happen so [2:44] seven of them now sit at the bottom of the sea along with by the way the rest [2:48] of Iran's Navy that's where you can find their Navy today and we're going to [2:51] continue to systematically clear this passageway through the straits to [2:55] restore freedom of navigation now while this project steadily progresses [2:59] operation epic fury economic fury I'm sorry continues to impose maximum pressure [3:05] on the Iranian regime and what remains of their already frail economy today [3:10] inflation in Iran is 70% and their currency is in total and complete free [3:15] fall the US sanctions enforcement is stepping up it's moving in lockstep with [3:19] the naval blockade to degrade Iran's capacity to generate to move and [3:24] repatriate revenue it directly targets the regime's primary revenue life [3:29] lifelines the blockade alone is costing Iran as much as 500 million dollars a day in [3:35] lost revenue ninety percent of total Iranian trade has been halted causing [3:40] permanent damage to Iran's oil infrastructure as wells are forced to [3:44] shut in again all of this is in response to their piracy okay it cannot be that you [3:49] have these straits and they blow up any ship that moves and the only ships to get [3:53] to go through where there's you can't have a situation in which the straits are [3:55] close to everyone else but they benefit from the piracy that can't happen [3:59] that's why the blockade is in place and that's why these sanctions are [4:02] crippling them any foreign financial and by the way Treasury is now identifying [4:07] and cutting off every dollar of revenue that's flowing to this regime and so [4:10] look any foreign financial institution or commercial actor that enables Iran [4:14] sanctions evasion is going to face secondary sanctions exposure and a loss [4:18] of access to the US financial system as President Trump has said and the facts [4:23] clearly bear out the United States of America holds all the cards there is no [4:28] scenario here in which if they decide to join a ladder of escalation they wind up [4:33] getting the last say but our preference is for these straits to be opened to the [4:37] way they're supposed to be open back to the way it was anyone can use it no [4:41] mines in the water nobody paying tolls that's what we have to get back to and [4:45] that's the goal here every day the conflict continues however our leverage on [4:49] Iran will continue to increase and their position will continue to weaken [4:52] especially as the blockade really begins to bite in conjunction with the [4:56] sanctions so look the times come for Iran to make a sensible choice and it's not [5:00] easy for them to do that obviously because they have a fracture in their [5:03] own leadership system and apart from that I mean the top people in that [5:07] government are to say the least you know they're insane in the brain and so we [5:14] need to address that and it's difficult because it's hard to get past that in [5:17] their system but it's important for them to make a sensible choice and the one [5:20] that's right for their people the president our president has proven time and [5:23] again that his preference is peace but Iran must accept the reality of the [5:27] situation and come to the negotiation table and accept terms that are good for [5:32] them but ultimately good for the world the diplomatic path if there's a real [5:35] diplomatic path I'm not always gonna be one but if there's a real diplomatic path [5:38] and we continue to explore it Steve and Jared are working on that very hard if [5:42] there is one there it could be one that leads them to reconstruction to [5:45] prosperity and to stability and to not posing a threat to the world the [5:49] alternative is growing isolation economic collapse and ultimately total defeat I [5:54] know what the right choices for Iran I hope that the people over there making [5:58] decisions will make the right one the last point I would make and it really is [6:01] important for them to understand this is they really shouldn't test the will of [6:04] the United States at least not under President Donald Trump he has proven [6:08] time and again that he will back up what he says and if they test him [6:11] ultimately they will lose the hard way the easy way the long way the short way they [6:16] will lose and without a it's time for your questions so that's why we can start [6:22] with you first secretary Rubio have you seen any recent indications that Iran is [6:29] willing to give up this nuclear weapons program that is credible verifiable and [6:33] that would lead to an immediate de-escalation well look this is a [6:39] long-standing problem for them right I mean they have wanted it they have always [6:42] said they don't want a nuclear weapon that's because they've always said that [6:45] they just don't mean it and why do you say well how do you know they don't mean [6:47] it well we don't mean it because they do all they're doing all the things and [6:50] historically have tried to do all the things that you do if you want a [6:53] nuclear weapons program for example they innovate and try to innovate long-range [6:57] delivery missiles that now in some cases are capable of reaching much of Europe [7:01] they and they build these large underground centrifuges to for enrichment [7:06] activity there are many there are countries in the world that are involved in [7:09] the enrichment business but these guys do it in mountains and in caves and in [7:12] hiding they've always had secret components of their nuclear program [7:16] undisclosed to the world and we know for a fact that they retain highly enriched [7:20] uranium at 60% that they and that they did so and that has no civilian use none [7:25] zero whatsoever so they have an opportunity here to agree to something [7:29] that will make it clear that they're that they are not interested in new one [7:32] thing is to say we don't want a nuclear weapon another thing is to do the [7:35] things that prove you don't want a nuclear weapon by the way if what Iran wants is a [7:38] civilian nuclear program for power plants and stuff like that there are a lot of [7:42] countries in the world that have that and they don't enrich that they import the [7:46] they import the enriched material you know they could have that if that's what they [7:49] wanted but they're not acting like that's what they wanted they're acting like they [7:52] want a military you know nuclear program that's unacceptable so that's the [7:57] process we're engaged in now to create that's the object of this diplomacy is to [8:02] come up with some level of understanding about what are the topics that they've [8:05] agreed to negotiate on we don't have to have the actual agreement written out and [8:08] one day this is highly complex and highly technical but we have to have a [8:12] diplomatic solution that is very clear about the topics that they are willing [8:16] to negotiate on and the extent and the concessions they're willing to make at [8:19] the front end in order to make those talks worthwhile that's what Steve and [8:22] Jared and the whole team is working on and I hope to have good news on it [8:25] that's the outcome we would prefer that's the outcome we would have preferred a [8:29] year ago that's the outcome I think most of us would have preferred a long time ago but [8:33] that's not the option they've given us given their activity all right can I [8:36] there's no way I can figure out who to call on I'm just gonna like press right [8:39] in the middle right there you right there yeah in the back row [8:42] thank you mr. president I'll go to you next [8:45] all right go ahead thank you secretary you're going right welcome to the White [8:50] House what's that talking to me sir yeah to you yes sir thank you I have two [8:54] questions on two separate issues that come do they get two questions for these two [8:58] questions there's one there's a lot of people in here that's all under your umbrella all right well I'll you answer it [9:03] you can ask me two questions I'll give you one answer thank you very much and I'll [9:06] pick the one I like better thank you mr. secretary the first has to do with the [9:10] blockade there are lawmakers from both parties who claim the blockade is an [9:15] act of war what do you say to that and my second question has to do with the fuel [9:20] embargo of Cuba how long mr. secretary will that last okay two things all right [9:26] good I'll answer both your questions because I like the second one too the [9:29] first one on the blockade and so why do we have a blockade we have a blockade because [9:32] they are shut down the straits so I don't know which members of Congress you're [9:35] talking to but here's what I would ask them I would ask everybody here it's [9:38] very simple these guys have shut down the straits of Hormuz this is what Iran is [9:42] saying we will shut down the straits no one can go through no country in the [9:45] world can go through unless we allow you to go through and you have to pay us but [9:49] our ships can go through meaning the Iranian ships as much as they want that's [9:53] crazy who would agree to that so how are we going to have a situation where they [9:56] get to close the straits to everybody and the only people who are allowed to go [9:59] through there a hundred percent without paying anything or the Iranians if you [10:02] do that they'll keep the straits closed forever they're trying to make this some [10:06] new normal okay under no circumstances can we ever allow them to normalize the [10:10] fact that they get to blow up commercial ships and put mines in the water so the [10:14] response to that is we're gonna blockade your ships if everyone's ships are not [10:18] getting out your ships are not getting out either that's not an active war that's a [10:21] defensive measure it's a counter to what they have decided to do you know [10:25] what is an active war putting mines in the water why don't the members of [10:28] Congress whoever it is is complaining about it they should be all over that [10:31] these guys put mines in the water that alone you mining in the water is illegal [10:36] period under any circumstances and they've done it but this is crazy stuff but [10:40] this is what they've done on Cuba oil blockade on Cuba there's no oil [10:45] blockade on Cuba per se here's what's happening with Cuba okay Cuba used to get [10:48] free oil from Venezuela used to give them a bunch of free oil they would take [10:52] like 60% of that oil and resell it for cash it wouldn't even go to benefit the [10:56] people so the only blockade that's happened is the Cubans have decided I [10:59] mean the Venezuelans have decided we're not giving you free oil anymore and you [11:02] can only imagine nowadays the way oil prices are no one's giving away free oil [11:06] much less to a failed regime so the problem of Cuba is worse okay their [11:11] economic model doesn't work doesn't work and the people who are in charge [11:15] can't fix it and the reason that I can't fix it is not just because they're [11:18] communists that's bad enough but they're incompetent communists though the [11:22] only thing worse than a communist is an incompetent one and that's what so [11:25] incompetent communists run that country they don't know how to fix it they [11:28] really don't and we have 90 miles from our shores a failed state that also [11:32] happens to be friendly territory for some of our adversaries so it's an [11:35] unacceptable status quo and we'll be addressing it but not today okay [11:38] all right let's go to the front right there [11:41] secretary rubio secretary rubio you are going to the Vatican to meet with the Pope [11:45] is this an attempt to smooth things over with the Pope given the rhetoric [11:50] between president Trump no I mean it's a trip we had planned from before and [11:53] obviously we had some stuff that happened and no look there's a lot to [11:57] talk about with the Vatican I'll give you one example the Pope just returned from [12:00] a trip to Africa where the church is growing very vibrantly and we have [12:03] shared concerns about religious freedom religious freedom in different parts of [12:08] the world we'd love to talk to them about that the topic of Cuba you know we [12:12] gave Cuba six million dollars of humanitarian aid but obviously they [12:14] won't let us distribute it we distributed it through the church we'd like to do [12:18] more we're willing to give more humanitarian aid to Cuba by the way [12:21] distributed through the church but the Cuban regime has to allow us to do it [12:24] they won't allow us to give their own people more humanitarian aid and we're [12:28] willing to do it through the church so there's a lot to talk about [12:30] and the president recently said that the Pope is endangering a lot of Catholics as a [12:35] result of his rhetoric around the Iran war is that sentiment well I don't think [12:39] that's an accurate description of what he said I think what the president [12:42] basically said is that Iran can't have a nuclear weapon because they would use it [12:44] against places that have a lot of Catholics and Christians and others for [12:47] that matter it goes back to the central point I think the president without [12:50] trying to speak for him but I think I can characterize it this way he doesn't [12:54] understand why anybody leave aside the Pope the president and I for that matter [12:58] I think most people I cannot understand why anyone would think that it's a [13:02] good idea for Iran to ever have a nuclear weapon look what they're doing [13:05] with the Straits right now they're holding the whole world hostage they have [13:08] these sailors you know on commercial ships that are gonna starve to death out [13:11] there they don't care they don't care that this is melting down the economies [13:15] around the world even of their own allies this is what they're doing with the [13:18] Straits what do you think they would do if they had a nuclear weapon they [13:21] would hold the world hostage with that nuclear weapon that's what they would do [13:25] they would do exactly to the world with a nuclear weapon what they're doing now [13:27] with the Straits and I think the president's point is how anyone cannot see [13:31] that as an unacceptable outcome and an unacceptable risk is beyond him it's [13:35] puzzling and someone has to do something about it the difference between this [13:38] president and like the six presidents that preceded him were that he's the [13:42] only one that's actually been willing to do something about it everyone says [13:44] Iran can't have a nuclear weapon but you got to do something about it at some [13:47] point and he's been willing to address that threat and that's what he [13:50] promised he would do when he got elected by the way has addressed threats [13:52] I'm with the media network okay mr. secretary the president has said multiple [14:09] times that weapons were provided to the Kurdish group is to pass on the Iranian [14:13] people however Kurdish political parties and the regional government says they [14:17] have not received such weapons even some claim these weapons remain in the US base [14:22] in the region can you clarify who those weapons were given to and whether you [14:27] intend to retrieve them or still want to pass to the Iranian people yeah look [14:31] ultimately what the president is expressing and I think has repeatedly is [14:34] he wished the Iranian people had you know look he's heartbroken by these images you [14:38] think about it you're an Iranian okay you're unhappy that your economy doesn't [14:42] work for you you don't have freedom you don't have an opportunity to express [14:45] yourself you know you've got friends that have been shot in the head because [14:48] they're out protesting and he just it's heartbreaking to him to see that these [14:52] people are abused in this way and have no measures to take against their own [14:55] government as a result of it by the way this goes back you guys remember the [14:58] protest in 2009 where they slaughtered people in the street this is a vicious [15:02] regime guys okay these are people that hang people from cranes in the town square [15:07] so everyone can see that they continue these executions of people and have done [15:11] continue to do so for over a decade and a half now and so I think what the [15:15] president is expressing is the desire that he wishes the Iranian people had an [15:20] ability to fight back against some of these things that are happening to them [15:22] and I would view that as distinct and separate from the specifics of this [15:26] operation that was ongoing before it concluded and certainly different from [15:31] the operation that's going on now [15:35] what are you doing with what are you doing no I got it I got the question so look [16:01] here's the challenge with Lebanon okay there's no problem between the Lebanese [16:05] government and the Israeli government Israel doesn't claim any land in Lebanon [16:08] belongs to them and by and large I think a peace deal between Lebanon and Israel [16:12] is imminently achievable and should be the problem with Israel and Lebanon is not [16:16] Israel or Lebanon it's Hezbollah Hezbollah operates from inside of Lebanese [16:20] territory they terrorize and attack Israelis but they also are inflicting [16:25] tremendous damage on the Lebanese people the reason why Lebanon gets attacked by [16:28] Israel is because of Hezbollah because Hezbollah is hiding in some house [16:32] launching rockets against Israelis and then they get hit so what you're seeing [16:36] now is Israeli responses to either attacks or perceived threats and this is [16:41] going to be this is not new this has been going on for a very long time what is [16:44] our hope our hope is to engage the Lebanese and Israeli governments under you [16:48] know our mediation at the table to achieve this and that is having Lebanese [16:54] armed forces in a Lebanese government not just with a willingness but with the [16:57] capability to begin to challenge Hezbollah and disarm them because the [17:01] Lebanese people are also victims of Hezbollah and by the way on the topic of [17:06] Hezbollah in Lebanon who is behind Hezbollah why do they exist they're an [17:10] agent of Iran if you go through that Middle East and you identify every problem [17:14] Hamas Hezbollah to some extent the Houthis obviously and others behind every [17:18] one of these groups is Tehran so apart from the nuclear weapons apart from all [17:22] these other things these guys are behind all the bad actors Hezbollah is a wing [17:26] it's an extension of Iranian desire to destabilize the region so we're very [17:31] committed to this process it's not going to be easy you're asking me a complex [17:33] question you know this has been going on for a very long time it's not going to be [17:36] easy we're going to do everything we can to make sure that both sides continue to [17:39] talk so the progress can be made on some sort of permanent ceasefire that isn't [17:45] constantly spoiled by Hezbollah and by Hezbollah violence right in the middle I'm just [17:50] I'm winging it guys okay you mentioned the two US ships that safely cross the Strait of Hormuz are [17:56] other ships being told it's safer to get back to regular levels or are we still going to see [18:00] limits in place while the foreseeable future for obvious reasons I'm not going to broadcast who [18:04] we're talking to or who we're telling them to move I mean we want these operations to be safe and [18:08] I think as it unfolds and ships get through we'll make those announcements after the fact just for [18:13] operational security purposes but the goal here is pretty simple establish a zone of transit that is [18:19] protected by a bubble the United States both naval and air assets and then allow ships who want to [18:24] move to move through there and get to market to begin to increase confidence in the ability to do [18:28] so that doesn't happen in 12 hours it takes time to set up that bubble and gain that confidence but [18:33] that's the goal we have been in touch we've been in touch I don't know with a bunch of different [18:36] liners about moving and we're hoping to continue to improve the security situation and we'll start to [18:43] see some of that movement and we'll announce it as it happens after the fact we're not going to be like [18:47] broadcasting hey tomorrow at 12 ship X is going to be coming through for obvious reasons because that [18:51] degrades the security but we feel confident we're going to be able to achieve that look it's not going [18:55] to solve the whole straits problem it's going to solve a lot of it but it's important to challenge [18:59] what Iran is doing now guys again I wonder if you take anything away today and I can't tell you [19:04] what to write but we Iran cannot be allowed to normalize this control of the straits it's completely [19:09] unlawful illegal uh it's outrageous and every country in the world should be joining us and condemning it [19:15] and doing something about it but the United States has stepped up and is trying to do something [19:18] regarding Colombia Mr. Secretary we've had several tourists I'm sorry I'm we'll see if we get to [19:25] Colombia today go ahead you guys have an election now why don't you wait to talk to your election [19:28] Mr. Secretary John Michael Ross with Daily Mail I was curious about your meeting with Southcom [19:31] earlier there was a picture a map of Cuba behind you what did you discuss with Southcom Southcom [19:37] about Cuba did you have any updates I'm not going to tell you what I discussed with Southcom but it [19:42] had to do something with Cuba no I was well I mean Cuba's in Southcom you know it's the closest part [19:46] and so the second point I was there our ambassadors were in from the whole western hemisphere I was [19:51] addressing them you know meeting the general who just took command of Southcom and there happened to [19:55] be a map of Cuba and I said it'd be good if we took a picture in front of that map because it's like the [19:59] closest thing in Southcom to the United States so there it is um we have maps of other countries uh but uh but but um but [20:07] uh huh no they didn't have that map in the red right there in the red okay can I ask you in [20:18] Spanish or can I yeah you can answer in Spanish but they'll have to translate for them what you [20:23] asked I'll say it in English and if you can answer in both languages today the web page of the State [20:29] Department and there's still a 25 million dollar bounty on your dollar cabello the secretary of [20:34] interior for drug trafficking and narco terrorism I was wondering if that has been put on hold or if [20:41] you're negotiating with president to turn him over okay yeah I don't have any updates for you on the [20:47] website is what it is and that's where it stands that policy hasn't changed but I you guys I mean [20:52] let's be mature here a little bit I'm not going to tell you about what we're talking about with the [20:55] leader of these countries the politics of the United States on that the policy of the United States on [21:11] that topic hasn't changed when it does you know obviously will inform you but I don't have any news [21:15] for you on that today right there in the green I'll get to you guys all the TV people I'm learning [21:26] I they gave me a little map I don't know where I put it of the people here some of you had like red [21:29] X's I'm kidding no you go ahead the average price of gas in the country right now is four dollars and [21:36] fifty cents do you have a thought on how long Americans are supposed to kind of accept this do [21:42] you think it will affect Republicans majorities in the midterm well I don't I'm not going to speculate [21:46] on the politics of it you can tell me I mean look it's obviously being driven by global events that [21:50] that was true during the Russia Ukraine war as well where you saw that come up it's one look we don't [21:55] benefit from the Straits as much as other countries I don't know you've seen what the gas prices are [21:58] like in other parts of the world that are really suffering big time so we're very fortunate that the [22:03] United States I believe right now is like the world's largest net exporter of oil and natural gas as a [22:08] result not because of this war because we have this capacity so we've been insulated to some degree [22:11] we're obviously still vulnerable to some extent to global prices and so but in the end I mean [22:16] we're more insulated than other countries even though that's not welcome news to Americans that [22:20] are paying more at the pump no doubt about it and and it certainly is one of the circumstances of it [22:25] there are people that we're predicting would be much higher at this point but we're not taking that [22:28] for granted suffice it to say that this is think about it this way everybody needs to think about [22:33] it this way if Iran had a nuclear weapon and they decided to close the Straits and make our gas prices [22:38] like nine dollars a gallon or eight dollars a gallon we wouldn't be able to do anything about it because they [22:42] have a nuclear weapon or and a nuclear armed Iran could do whatever the hell they want with the [22:47] Straits and there's nothing anyone would be able to do about it and that's one of the many reasons [22:52] apart from like the massive loss of life and a nuclear strike why Iran can never have a nuclear [22:56] weapon I mean so this is an example of if they had a nuclear weapon they closed the Straits and they [23:01] would tell the world what are you going to do about it we have a nuclear weapon we can attack you with [23:04] it that's the world none of us want to leave behind it won't happen under this president's watch but [23:09] some future president and future you know in the future Americans will have to deal with this so [23:12] just one more example why these guys can never be allowed to have a nuclear weapon where you know [23:22] right there you both are wearing black thank you she's closer no you don't have black you have blue [23:27] on I'm colorblind but I know right there yes ma'am no no you the first one I called on thank you this is [23:33] chaos guys go ahead welcome to the White House you've long been a leading voice on human rights [23:40] in China and so including religious persecution and forced organ harvesting so President Trump [23:45] prepares to meet Xi Jinping next week do you expect human rights concerns to be on the table well we [23:51] always raise those issues and they remain true and I think we've proven in some cases it's most [23:54] effective to raise them in the appropriate setting but we always raise those issues are important to [23:58] us among with others of course but those issues remain prominent in our view and in our [24:02] conversation about these things and and it will continue to raise them in the appropriate forums [24:07] all right let's get to the front these guys are gonna get mad go ahead I'm sorry you mentioned [24:14] earlier that some countries are privately and publicly indicated their willingness to help [24:18] with project freedom can you say how many have reached out to the u.s. with the offers of help [24:22] and what kind of capability well I mean thank you for your question it's a good question I mean [24:27] multiple countries have said we got to do something about it and fix it like dozens or single digits [24:31] or more than a hundred or I don't know I don't put a number on it I would just tell you that here's [24:35] what I would say about it the capabilities is the issue okay a lot of countries would love to do [24:40] something about it they don't have a navy right or they can't get there in time or they can't others [24:44] you know or less you know that some unfortunate do have a navy are saying oh we'll be involved but [24:49] we'll be involved after it's over well after it's over it's kind of like you know that makes sense so you know we'd like to have it now there may be some utility in a [24:56] maybe some utility in a post you know closure mission I'm not downplaying that but I think that's been the challenge but there are other ways they can help unique ways that they can help and I don't want to get into who these countries are for obvious reasons you know because they they are prepared to help us in certain ways but maybe don't want that publicly disclosed for no other reason than it impacted foreign policy it could have some domestic ramifications but ultimately I don't want to mislead you the primary responsibility for this project freedom is on the United States because we're the only country that can project power in that [25:26] part of the world the way we're doing now we're the only ones that can do it and we're going to do it as a favor to the world understand this this is a favor to the world because it's their ships that are stranded it's their fuel supplies that are stranded by the way it's their humanitarian [25:38] there's humanitarian aid destined for different countries in the world that's stranded in the Persian Gulf right now it's it's the fertilizer that they need for their food and crops that's stranded in the Persian not our fertilizer their fertilizer [25:50] so we want to be helpful and that's why the president stepped forward because we're the only ones that can frankly we're the only ones that can [25:55] on the rising oil and gas prices the president has said that this is a small price to pay for getting rid of a nuclear weapon but 10 weeks in are we any closer to getting rid of Iran's nuclear material [26:07] yeah but look here's the way to think about Iran and this is what I described at the very beginning of this what was Iran's plan you have to understand what their plan was their plan was they were going to build this conventional shield where they would have so many thousands of missiles and drones and rockets [26:19] that they couldn't be attacked and behind that conventional shield that they were trying to build they would then break out and do whatever they wanted with their nuclear program [26:26] they no longer have that conventional shield okay we told you guys from the very beginning and and and and we're very consistent in this messaging the operation that has concluded was going to destroy their navy they have no navy left they don't not a navy they have small boats in Boston [26:40] but they don't have a navy left they don't have an air force I challenge you when is the last time you read or heard about an Iranian jet flying anywhere they don't have an air force [26:48] their missile launching capability has been substantially degraded and their industrial base their defense industrial base has been severely severely damaged so their ability to build a shield behind which they could hide their nuclear program was wiped out that's a very substantial achievement and that was the purpose of this operation from day one [27:07] what do you have to get their nuclear material in order for this war to end [27:10] that's one of the topics that needs to be discussed I don't know about I think you're linking it the the the operation is over epic fury is a president notified Congress we're done with that stage of it [27:19] okay we're now on to this project of freedom as far as a negotiation is concerned I think the president's been clear that part of the negotiation process has to be not just the enrichment [27:28] but what happens to this material that's buried deep somewhere that they have still have access to if they ever wanted to dig it out that has to be addressed and that's being addressed [27:36] in the negotiation I'm not going to go further on what progress has been made on that topic because I don't want to endanger the negotiations but suffice it to say that the president and this entire team is aware of the centrality of that question and that will have to be addressed one way or the other [27:52] yes thank you thank you I have another two-part question for you okay first are you taking part in those negotiations that you just detailed there and then secondly presidential has made [28:04] it clear that the US doesn't rely on the straight-up hormones so why should Americans even care about project freedom and these ship shipping tankers going through well I think on the second point is the one I want to address first and that is why should Americans care why it matters to us because ultimately these things have an impact on the global [28:22] economy which ultimately has an impact on our economy in the long term that's number one number two because if we live in a world where a rogue state like this Iranian regime is allowed to claim as a new normal control over international shipping lane it will not be long before you see that happen in multiple shipping lanes around the world I can identify for you six or seven six or seven vital shipping lanes around the world that some countries can decide guess what if Iran was able to do it we're going to do it to work we're not going to start charging tolls and it'll get closer [28:52] closer and closer to us that's unacceptable we cannot live in a world there's a lot of time and energy been invested in behind the idea that international waters are free for the free flow of goods the stuff we make in this country and export has to go through international shipping lanes and for us to live in a world where a country can decide now we own the international shipping lane and you have to pay us if you want to use it that is a normal that we will never be able to accept and that's what the Iranians are trying to get us to do so we're doing two things about it and we haven't talked about the second one enough the second thing we're doing is we're going to the UN [29:22] everybody loves the UN right we're trying to go to the UN and we're saying okay countries of the world condemn this say that it is it is wrong for you to put mines there it is wrong for you to shoot at commercial vessels guys that's what we're talking about here these guys are bombing commercial vessels they're not bombing naval vessels they're bombing commercial tankers it's just outrageous that needs to stop and and and it needs to end and if it doesn't then the world should be diplomatically and economically isolating Iran as well [29:52] taken over by countries that'll have a direct impact on Americans in the short and the long term and we can't let it start by Iran doing it but and we're the only ones that can do anything about it [29:59] Mr. Secretary does the president intend to press Beijing on its Taiwan policy when he visits China next week [30:13] I'm sure Taiwan will be a topic of conversation it always is as you know we understand that the Chinese understand our position on that topic we understand theirs and I think both parties are got with the [30:24] without you know getting ahead of myself what will happen in the talks but I think both countries understand that it is neither one of our interests to see anything destabilize happen in that part of the world we don't need any destabilizing events to occur with regards to Taiwan or anywhere in the Indo-Pacific and I think that's to the mutual benefit of both the United States and the Chinese [30:42] exact number is but I know a number of those fast boats have now been targeted and will continue to be they pose a threat to our forces will shoot down drones will shoot down missiles but it's defensive in nature this is defensive so if you hear stories about attacks and launching of firing back and forth it's not back and forth we are only responding of attacked first this is a defensive operation and that's what's occurring here just about the importance of the Straits for a moment this is approximately a quarter of the world's oil trade along with significant [31:14] volumes of fuel and fertilizer that operate through the Straits of Hormuz the Iranian regime cannot be allowed to dictate who uses this vital waterway I don't think this is also being reported enough maybe you are reporting I don't read everyone I don't make damn outlets here I don't know who you all are but I mean I know who some of you are but I will say this about it [31:34] this is an international waterway okay this is an international waterway and international law is very clear and I love it because everybody always talks about international law and this international law and this international law and this is very clear international waterways no country can control them there is no international law that allows you to say I'm going to put mines in an international body of water and I'm going to blow up ships that don't listen to us and try to go through that's what Iran is doing this is a criminal act and someone needs to do something about it something needs to be done it's completely illegal completely illegitimate [32:04] and completely unacceptable and that's why the United States military is guiding stranded commercial ships safely through the strait and is working to restore freedom of navigation and putting an end to these efforts to glow to hold the global economy hostage so far as a proof of concept and as a proof of function two U.S. flag merchant ships have successfully transferred the Strait of Hormuz in the first stages of this project and they're now safely on their way the U.S. military is deploying the necessary assets [32:34] but there should be no mistake and as I said this already this is a defensive operation I want to reiterate that point this is important to understand if no shots are fired at these ships and no shots are fired at us we're not firing shots but if we're fired on we will respond and we will respond with lethal efficiency the assets supporting this project by the way include guided missile destroyers over a hundred land and sea based aircraft multi-domain unmanned platforms [33:05] and these forces have already destroyed as I told you earlier I thought it was six it's seven Iranian fast boats that failed to heed our warnings and by fast boats we're talking about you know some of these things look like Boston whalers okay so these are not like Navy ships but nonetheless they come fast at these boats try to swarm them try to harm them we're not going to let that happen so seven of them now sit at the bottom of the sea along with by the way the rest of Iran's Navy that's where you can find their Navy today [33:35] and while this project steadily progresses operation epic fury economic fury I'm sorry continues to impose maximum pressure on the Iranian regime and what remains of their already frail economy today inflation in Iran is 70 percent and their currency is in total and complete freefall the U.S. sanctions enforcement is stepping up it's moving in lockstep with the naval blockade to degrade Iran's capacity to generate to move and repatriate revenue [34:05] life life lifelines the blockade alone is costing Iran as much as 500 million dollars a day in lost revenue 90 percent of total Iranian trade has been halted causing permanent damage to Iran's oil infrastructure as well as are forced to shut in again all of this is in response to their piracy okay it cannot be that you have these straits and they blow up any ship that moves and the only ships to get to go through were theirs you can't have a situation in which the straits are close to everyone else but they benefit from the piracy [34:35] that can't happen that's why the blockade is in place and that's why these sanctions are crippling them any foreign financial and by the way Treasury is now identifying and cutting off every dollar of revenue that's flowing to this regime and so look any foreign financial institution or commercial actor that enables Iran sanctions evasion is going to face secondary sanctions exposure and a loss of access to the U.S. financial system as President Trump has said and the facts clearly bear out the United States of America holds all the cards there is no [35:05] scenario here in which if they decide to join a ladder of escalation they wind up getting the last say but our preference is for these straits to be opened to the way they're supposed to be open back to the way it was anyone can use it no mines in the water nobody paying tolls that's what we have to get back to and that's the goal here every day the conflict continues however our leverage on Iran will continue to increase and their position will continue to weaken especially as the blockade really begins to bite in conjunction with the sanctions [35:35] Iran and it's not easy for Iran to make a sensible choice and it's not easy for them to do that obviously because they have a fracture in their own leadership system and apart from that I mean the top people in that government are to say the least you know they're insane in the brain and so we need to address that and it's difficult because it's hard to get past that in their system but [35:55] it's important for them to make a sensible choice and the one that's right for their people the president our president has proven time and again that his preference is peace but Iran must accept the reality of the situation and come to the negotiation table and accept terms that are good for them but ultimately good for the world the diplomatic path if there's a real diplomatic path I'm not always going to be one but if there's a real diplomatic path and we continue to explore it Steve and Jared are working on that very hard if there is one there it could [36:25] to the threat to the world the alternative is growing isolation economic collapse and ultimately total defeat I know what the right choice is for Iran I hope that the people over there making decisions will make the right one the last point I would make and it really is important for them to understand this is they really shouldn't test the will of the United States at least not under President Donald Trump he has proven time and again that he will back up what he says and if they test him ultimately they will lose the hard way the easy way the long way the short way they will lose and with that it's time [36:56] for your questions so [36:58] I would start with you first [37:00] Hi Catherine Herrich I'm an independent journalist [37:02] Secretary Rubio have you seen any recent indications that Iran is willing to give up this nuclear weapons program that is credible verifiable and that would lead to an immediate de-escalation [37:13] Well look this is a long-standing problem for them right I mean they have wanted it they have always said they don't want a nuclear weapon that's because they've always said that they just don't mean it and why do you say well how do you know they don't mean it well we don't mean it [37:25] because they do all they're doing all the things and historically have tried to do all the things that you do if you want a nuclear weapons program for example they innovate and try to innovate long-range delivery missiles that now in some cases are capable of reaching much of Europe they they build these large underground centerfuges to for enrichment activity there are many there are countries in the world that are involved in the enrichment business but these guys do it in mountains and in caves and in hiding they've always had secret components of their nuclear program undisclosed to the world and we know [37:55] for a fact that they retain highly enriched uranium at 60% that they and that they did so and that has no civilian use none zero whatsoever so they have an opportunity here to agree to something that will make it clear that they're that they're not interested in new one thing is to say we don't want a nuclear weapon another thing is to do the things that prove you don't want a nuclear weapon by the way if what Iran wants is a civilian nuclear program for power plants and stuff like that there are a lot of countries in the world that have that and they don't enrich [38:22] they import the enriched material you know they could have that if that's what they wanted but they're not acting like that's what they wanted they're acting like they want a military you know nuclear program that's unacceptable so that's the process we're engaged in now to create that's the object of this diplomacy is to come up with some level of understanding about what are the topics that they've agreed to negotiate on we don't have to have the actual agreement written out and one day this is highly complex and highly technical [38:52] that's the extent that they're willing to negotiate on and the extent and the concessions they're willing to make at the front end in order to make those talks worthwhile that's what Steve and Jared and the whole team is working on and I hope to have good news on it that's the outcome we would prefer that's the outcome we would have preferred a year ago that's the outcome I think most of us would have preferred a long time ago but that's not the option they've given us given their activity all right can I there's no way I can figure out who to call on I'm just going to like press right in the middle right there you right there yeah [39:22] all right go ahead thank you thank you secretary you're going right welcome to the White House what's that you're talking to me sir yeah to you yes sir thank you I have two questions on two separate issues that come on do they get two questions for these two questions there's a lot of people in here that is all under your umbrella all right well you answer you can ask me two questions I'll give you one answer thank you very much and I'll pick the one I like better thank you Mr. Secretary the first has to do with the blockade there are lawmakers from both parties who claim [39:50] the blockade is an act of war what do you say to that and my second question has to do with the fuel embargo of Cuba how long Mr. Secretary will that last okay two things all right good I'll answer both your questions because I like the second one too the first one on the blockade and so why do we have a blockade we have a blockade because they are shut down the straits so I don't know which members of Congress you're talking to but here's what I would ask them I would ask everybody here it's very simple these guys have shut down the straits of Hormuz this is what Iran is saying we will [40:20] shut down the straits no one can go through no country in the world can go [40:23] through unless we allow you to go through and you have to pay us but our ships can go [40:27] through meaning the Iranian ships as much as they want that's crazy who would agree to [40:31] that so how are we going to have a situation where they get to close the [40:34] straits to everybody and the only people who are allowed to go through there a [40:37] hundred percent without paying anything or the Iranians if you do that they'll keep [40:41] the straits closed forever they're trying to make this some new normal okay under no [40:45] circumstances can we ever allow them to normalize the fact that they get to blow up [40:48] commercial ships and put mines in the water so the response to that is we're [40:53] going to blockade your ships if everyone ships are not getting out your ships are [40:56] not getting out either that's not an act or that's a defensive measure it's a [41:00] counter to what they have decided to do you know what is an act of war putting [41:03] mines in the water why don't the members of Congress whoever it is is complaining [41:07] about it they should be all over that these guys put mines in the water that [41:11] allow you mining in the water is illegal period under any circumstances and they've [41:15] done it but this is crazy stuff but this is what they've done on Cuba oil blockade [41:20] on Cuba there's no oil blockade on Cuba per se here's what's happening with Cuba [41:24] okay Cuba used to get free oil from Venezuela used to give them a bunch of [41:28] free oil they would take like 60% of that oil and resell it for cash it [41:32] wouldn't even go to benefit the people so the only blockade that's happened is [41:35] the Cubans have decided I mean the Venezuelans have decided we're not giving [41:38] you free oil anymore and you can only imagine nowadays the way oil prices are no [41:42] one's giving away free oil much less to a failed regime so the problem of Cuba is [41:47] worse okay their economic model doesn't work doesn't work and the people who are [41:52] in charge can't fix it and the reason that I can't fix it is not just because [41:55] they're communists that's bad enough but they're incompetent communists though the [41:59] only thing worse than a communist is an incompetent one and that's what so [42:02] incompetent communists run that country they don't know how to fix it they [42:05] really don't and we have 90 miles from our shores a failed state that also [42:09] happens to be friendly territory for some of our adversaries so it's an [42:12] unacceptable status quo I will be addressing it but not today okay all [42:17] right let's go to the front right there you are going to the Vatican to meet [42:21] with the Pope is this an attempt to smooth things over with the Pope given the [42:27] rhetoric between President Trump and the Pope no I mean it's a trip we had [42:30] planned from before and obviously we had some stuff that happened and no look [42:33] there's a lot to talk about with the Vatican I'll give you one example the Pope [42:36] just returned from a trip to Africa where the church is growing very vibrantly and we [42:40] have shared concerns about religious freedom religious freedom in different [42:45] parts of the world we'd love to talk to them about that the topic of Cuba you [42:49] know we gave Cuba six million dollars of humanitarian aid but obviously they [42:52] won't let us distribute it we distributed it through the church we'd like to do [42:55] more we're willing to give more humanitarian aid to Cuba by the way [42:59] distribute it through the church but the Cuban regime has to allow us to do it [43:02] they won't allow us to give their own people more humanitarian aid and we're [43:05] willing to do it through the church so there's a lot to talk about the president [43:08] recently said that the Pope is endangering a lot of Catholics as a [43:12] result of his rhetoric around the Iran war is that sentiment I don't think that's [43:16] an accurate description of what he said I think what the president basically said [43:19] is that Iran can't have a nuclear weapon because they would use it against [43:22] places that have a lot of Catholics and Christians and others for that matter it [43:25] goes back to the central point I think the president without trying to speak for [43:28] him but I think I can characterize it this way he doesn't understand why [43:32] anybody leave aside the Pope the president and I for that matter I think most [43:36] people I cannot understand why anyone would think that it's a good idea for [43:39] Iran to ever have a nuclear weapon look what they're doing with the straits [43:43] right now they're holding the whole world hostage they have these sailors you [43:46] know on commercial ships that are going to starve to death out there they don't [43:49] care they don't care that this is melting down the economies around the [43:53] world even of their own allies this is what they're doing with the straits what [43:56] do you think they would do if they had a nuclear weapon they would hold the [43:59] world hostage with that nuclear weapon that's what they would do they would do [44:02] exactly to the world with a nuclear weapon what they're doing now with the [44:05] straits and I think the president's point is how anyone cannot see that as an [44:08] unacceptable outcome and an unacceptable risk is beyond him it's puzzling and [44:12] someone has to do something about it the difference between this president and [44:16] like the six presidents that preceded him were that he's the only one that's [44:19] actually been willing to do something about it everyone says Iran can't have a [44:22] nuclear weapon but you got to do something about it at some point and he's [44:25] been willing to address that threat and that's what he promised he would do when [44:28] he got elected by the way has addressed threats like this [44:32] thank you so much thank you thank you put name tags on thank you so much mr. [44:39] secretary who are you with who are you with I'm with the media network okay mr. [44:45] secretary the president has said multiple times that weapons were provided to the [44:49] Kurdish group is to pass on the Iranian people however Kurdish political parties and [44:53] the regional government says they have not received such weapons even some claim [44:57] these weapons remain in the US base in the region can you clarify who those [45:02] weapons were given to and whether you intend to retrieve them or still want to [45:06] pass to the Iranian people yeah look ultimately what the president is [45:10] expressing and I think has repeatedly is he wished the Iranian people had you [45:13] know look he's heartbroken by these images you think about it you're an [45:16] Iranian okay you're unhappy that your economy doesn't work for you you don't [45:20] have freedom you don't have an opportunity to express yourself you know [45:23] you've got friends that have been shot in the head because they're out [45:25] protesting and he just it's heartbreaking to him to see that these people are [45:29] abused in this way and have no measures to take against their own government as [45:32] a result of it by the way this goes back if you guys remember the protests in [45:36] 2009 where they slaughtered people in the street this is a vicious regime guys [45:40] okay these are people that hang people from cranes in the town square so [45:44] everyone can see that they continue these executions of people and have done [45:48] continue to do so for over a decade and a half now and so I think what the [45:52] president is expressing is the desire that he wishes the Iranian people had an [45:57] ability to fight back against some of these things that are happening to them [46:00] and I would view that as distinct and separate from the specifics of this [46:03] operation that was ongoing before it concluded and certainly different from the [46:08] operation that's going on now [46:11] right there in Colombia Mr. Secretary [46:15] right behind you not Colombia right there yes ma'am [46:17] Mr. Secretary thank you so much on Lebanon [46:20] are we in a ceasefire or less fire and the second question do you think you would be able [46:27] to achieve an agreement between Lebanon and Israel without risking a civil war in Lebanon [46:33] what are you doing to risk with what are you doing to [46:36] no I got it I got the gist of your question so look here's the the challenge [46:39] with Lebanon okay there's no problem between the Lebanese government and the [46:42] Israeli government Israel doesn't claim any land in Lebanon belongs to them and [46:46] by and large I think a peace deal between Lebanon and Israel is imminently [46:50] achievable and should be the problem with Israel and Lebanon is not Israel or [46:54] Lebanon it's Hezbollah Hezbollah operates from inside of Lebanese territory they [46:58] terrorize and attack Israelis but they also are inflicting tremendous damage on the [47:03] Lebanese people the reason why Lebanon gets attacked by Israel is because of [47:07] Hezbollah because Hezbollah is hiding in some house launching rockets against [47:11] Israelis and then they get hit so what you're seeing now is Israeli responses to [47:16] either attacks or perceived threats and this is going to be this is not new this [47:19] has been going on for a very long time what is our hope our hope is to engage the [47:23] Lebanese and Israeli governments under you know our mediation at the table to [47:28] achieve this and that is having Lebanese armed forces and a Lebanese [47:32] government not just with a willingness but with the capability to begin to [47:36] challenge Hezbollah and disarm them because the Lebanese people are also [47:40] victims of Hezbollah and by the way on the topic of Hezbollah in Lebanon who is [47:45] behind Hezbollah why do they exist they're an agent of Iran if you go [47:49] through that Middle East and you identify every problem Hamas Hezbollah to some [47:52] extent the Houthis obviously and others safer to get back to regular levels are we [47:57] still gonna see limits in place well the foreseeable future for obvious reasons I'm [48:01] not gonna broadcast who we're talking to or who we're telling them to move I mean [48:04] we want these operations to be safe and I think as it unfolds and ships get [48:07] through we'll make those announcements after the fact just for operational [48:10] security purposes but the goal here is pretty simple establish a zone of [48:14] transit that is protected by a bubble the United States both naval and air [48:18] assets and then allow ships who want to move to move through there and get to [48:22] market to begin to increase confidence in the ability to do so that doesn't [48:26] happen in 12 hours it takes time to set up that bubble and gain that [48:29] confidence but that's the goal we have been in touch we've been in touch I don't [48:32] know with a bunch of different liners about moving and we're hoping to [48:37] continue to improve the security situation and we'll start to see some of [48:40] that movement and we'll announce it as it happens after the fact we're not going [48:44] to be like broadcasting hey tomorrow at 12 ship X is going to be coming through [48:47] for obvious reasons because that degrades the security but we feel confident [48:51] we're going to be able to achieve that look it's not going to solve the whole [48:53] Straits problem it's going to solve a lot of it but it's important to [48:56] challenge what Iran is doing now guys again I wonder if you take anything [49:00] away today and I can't tell you what to write but we Iran cannot be allowed to [49:04] normalize this control of the Straits it's completely unlawful illegal it's [49:08] outrageous and every country in the world should be joining us and condemning [49:12] it and doing something about it but the United States has stepped up and is [49:14] trying to do something regarding Colombia mr. [49:18] secretary I'm sorry I'm we'll see if we get to Colombia for [49:22] they go ahead you guys have an election now why don't we talk to you like mr. [49:25] secretary Michael Ross with daily mail I was curious about your meeting with [49:28] Southcom earlier there was a picture a map of Cuba behind you what did you [49:33] discuss with Southcom Southcom about Cuba and do you have any updates on [49:36] I'm not going to tell you what I discussed with Southcom but it had to do [49:39] something with Cuba no I was well I mean Cuba's in Southcom you know it's the [49:43] closest part and so the second point I was there our ambassadors were in from [49:47] the whole Western Hemisphere I was addressing them and I'm meeting the [49:50] general who just took command of Southcom and there happened to be a map of Cuba [49:53] and I said it'd be good if we took a picture in front of that map because it's [49:56] like the closest thing in Southcom to the United States so there it is we have [50:00] maps of other countries but but but but huh no they didn't have that map [50:09] in the red right there in the red [50:14] can I ask you in Spanish or can I have to translate for them what I'll say it in [50:21] English and if you can answer in both languages [50:24] the webpage of the State Department and there's still a 25 million dollar bounty [50:29] on Diosdado Cabello the Secretary of Interior for drug trafficking and [50:34] narco-terrorism I was wondering if that has been put on hold or if you're [50:38] negotiating with President Darcy Rodriguez to turn him over [50:42] yeah I don't have any updates for you on that the website is what it is and [50:46] that's where it stands that policy hasn't changed but I guys I mean let's be [50:49] mature here a little bit I'm not going to tell you about what we're talking about [50:51] with the leader of these countries [50:52] the policy United States on that topic hasn't changed when it does you know [51:10] obviously will inform you but I don't have any news for you on that today right [51:14] there in the green I'll get to you guys all the TV people go ahead I'm sorry go [51:21] I'm learning I they gave me a little map I don't know where I put it of the [51:25] people here some of you have like red X's I'm kidding no you go ahead the [51:31] average price of gas in the country right now is four dollars and fifty cents do [51:34] you have a thought on how long Americans are supposed to kind of accept this do [51:39] you think it will affect Republicans majorities in the midterm well I don't I'm [51:42] not going to speculate on the politics of it you can tell me I mean look it's [51:45] obviously being driven by global events that that was true during the Russia [51:48] Ukraine war as well where you saw that come up it's one look we don't benefit [51:52] from the Straits as much as other countries I don't know you've seen what [51:54] the gas prices are like in other parts of the world that are really suffering big [51:58] time so we're very fortunate that the United States I believe right now is like [52:01] the world's largest net exporter of oil and natural gas as a result not [52:05] because of this war because we have this capacity so we've been insulated to some [52:08] degree we're obviously still vulnerable to some extent to global prices and so [52:12] but in the end I mean we're more insulated than other countries even [52:15] though that's not welcome news to Americans that are paying more at the [52:17] pump no doubt about it and and it certainly is one of the circumstances of [52:22] it there are people that we're predicting would be much higher at this point but [52:24] we're not taking that for granted suffice it to say that this is think [52:28] about it this way everybody needs to think about it this way if Iran had a [52:31] nuclear weapon and they decided to close the Straits and make our gas prices [52:35] like nine dollars a gallon or eight dollars a gallon we wouldn't be able to do [52:38] anything about it because they have a nuclear weapon and a nuclear armed Iran [52:42] could do whatever the hell they want with the Straits and there's nothing [52:45] anyone would be able to do about it and that's one of the many reasons apart from [52:50] like the massive loss of life and a nuclear strike why Iran can never have a [52:53] nuclear weapon I mean so this is an example of if they had a nuclear weapon [52:57] they closed the Straits and they would tell the world what are you going to do [52:59] about it we have a nuclear weapon we can attack you with it that's the world [53:02] none of us want to leave behind it won't happen under this president's watch but some [53:06] future president and future you know in the future Americans will have to deal [53:09] with this so just one more example why these guys can never be allowed to have [53:12] a nuclear weapon [53:15] where you know right there you both are wearing black thank you she's closer no [53:23] you don't have black yet blue one I'm colorblind but I know right there yes [53:27] ma'am no no you the first one I called on thank you thank you this is chaos guys go [53:32] ahead welcome to the White House you've long been a leading voice on human [53:36] rights in China and so including religious persecution and forced organ [53:40] harvesting so President Trump prepares to meet Xi Jinping next week do you expect [53:45] human rights concerns to be on the table well we always raise those issues they [53:49] remain true and I think we've proven in some cases it's most effective to raise [53:52] them in the appropriate setting but we always raise those issues are important [53:55] to us among with others of course but those issues remain prominent in our view and in [53:59] our conversation about these things and and it will continue to raise them in [54:03] the appropriate forums [54:04] go ahead I'm sorry you mentioned earlier that some countries are privately and [54:13] publicly indicated their willingness to help with Project Freedom can you say [54:16] how many have reached out to the U.S. with their offers of help and what kind of [54:20] capabilities well I mean thank you for your question that's a good question I [54:23] mean multiple countries have said we got to do something about it and fix it [54:27] like dozens or single digits or more than a hundred I don't know I don't put a [54:31] number on it I would just tell you that here's what I would say about it the [54:34] capabilities is the issue okay a lot of countries are left to do something about [54:38] they don't have a Navy right or they can't get there in time or they can't [54:41] others you know unless you know that some unfortunately do have a Navy are [54:44] saying oh we'll be involved but we'll be involved after it's over well after it's [54:48] over it's kind of like you know that makes sense so you know we'd like to have it [54:52] now there may be some utility in a post you know closure mission I'm not [54:58] downplaying that but I think that's been the challenge but there are other ways [55:01] they can help unique ways that they can help and I don't want to get into who [55:04] these countries are for obvious reasons you know because they are prepared to [55:08] help us in certain ways but maybe don't want that publicly disclosed for no [55:11] other reason than it impacted foreign policy it could have some domestic [55:14] ramifications but ultimately I don't want to mislead you the primary [55:18] responsibility for this project freedom is on the United States because we're the [55:21] only country that can project power in that part of the world the way we're [55:24] doing now we're the only ones that can do it and we're going to do it as a favor [55:27] to the world understand this this is a favor to the world because it's their [55:31] ships that are stranded it's their fuel supplies that are stranded by the way [55:34] it's their humanitarian there's humanitarian aid destined for different [55:37] countries in the world that's stranded in the Persian Gulf right now it's the [55:41] fertilizer that they need for their food and crops that's stranded in the [55:45] Persian not our fertilizer their fertilizer so we want to be helpful and [55:48] that's why the president stepped forward because we're the only ones that can [55:51] frankly we're the only ones that can on the rising oil and gas prices the [55:56] president has said that this is a small price to pay for getting rid of a [55:59] nuclear weapon but ten weeks in are we any closer to getting rid of Iran's [56:03] nuclear material yeah but look here's the way to think about Iran and this is [56:07] what I described at the very beginning of this what was Iran's plan you have to [56:10] understand what their plan was their plan was they were going to build this [56:13] conventional shield where they would have so many thousands of missiles and [56:15] drones and rockets that they couldn't be attacked and behind that [56:19] conventional shield that they were trying to build they would then break out and [56:22] do whatever they wanted with their nuclear program they no longer have that [56:25] conventional shield okay we told you guys in the very beginning and it and and [56:29] we're very consistent in this messaging the operation that has concluded was [56:33] going to destroy their Navy they have no Navy left they don't not a Navy they [56:36] have small boats and Boston whalers but they don't have a Navy left they don't [56:40] have an Air Force I challenge you when is the last time you read or heard about an [56:43] Iranian jet flying anywhere they don't have an Air Force their missile [56:47] launching capability has been substantially degraded and their [56:50] industrial base their defense industrial base has been severely severely damaged so [56:55] their ability to build a shield behind which they could hide their nuclear [56:58] program was wiped out that's a very substantial achievement and that was the [57:02] purpose of this operation from day one nuclear material in order for this war [57:06] well that's one of the topics that needs to be discussed I don't know about I [57:09] think you're linking it the operation is over Epic Fury is a president notified [57:14] Congress we're done with that stage of it okay we're now on to this project of [57:18] freedom as far as a negotiation is concerned I think the president's been [57:21] clear that part of the negotiation process has to be not just the [57:25] enrichment but what happens to this material that's buried deep somewhere [57:28] that they have still have access to if they ever wanted to dig it out that has to [57:32] be addressed and that's being addressed in the negotiation I'm not [57:35] going to go further on what progress has been made on that topic because I don't [57:38] want to endanger the negotiations but suffice it to say that the [57:41] president and this entire team is aware of the centrality of that question and [57:45] that will have to be addressed one way or the other [57:48] right there [57:51] yes thank you thank you [57:52] secretary I have another two-part question for you okay first are you [57:56] taking part in those negotiations that you just detailed there and then [57:59] secondly presidential has made it clear that the US doesn't rely on the [58:04] straight up hormone so why should Americans even care about project freedom and [58:09] ship shipping tankers going through well I think on the second point is the one I [58:13] want to address first and that is why should Americans care why it matters to [58:16] us because ultimately these things have an impact on the global economy which [58:20] ultimately has an impact on our economy in the long term that's number one [58:23] number two because if we live in a world where a rogue state like this [58:28] Iranian regime is allowed to claim as a new normal control of our [58:31] international shipping lane it will not be long before you see that happen in [58:35] multiple shipping lanes around the world I can identify for you six or seven six [58:40] or seven vital shipping lanes around the world that some countries can decide [58:44] guess what if Iran was able to do it we're going to do it too we're not going [58:47] to start charging tolls and it'll get closer and closer to us that's [58:50] unacceptable we cannot live in a world there's a lot of time and energy been [58:54] invested in behind the idea that international waters are free for the [58:58] free flow of goods the stuff we make in this country and export has to go [59:02] through international shipping lanes and for us to live in a world where a [59:05] country can decide now we own the international shipping lane and you have [59:08] to pay us if you want to use it that is a normal that we will never be able to [59:11] accept and that's what the Iranians are trying to get us to do so we're doing [59:14] two things about it and we haven't talked about the second one enough the [59:17] second thing we're doing is we're going to the UN everybody loves the UN [59:20] right we're trying to go to the UN and we're saying okay countries of the [59:23] world condemn this say that it is it is wrong for you to put mines there it is [59:28] wrong for you to shoot at commercial vessels guys that's what we're talking [59:32] about here these guys are bombing commercial vessels they're not bombing [59:35] naval vessels they're bombing commercial tankers it's just outrageous that needs [59:40] to stop and and and it needs to end and if he doesn't then the world should be [59:44] diplomatically and economically isolating Iran as well but if we live in [59:48] a world where global shipping lanes can be taken over by countries that'll have a [59:51] direct impact on Americans in the short and the long term and we can't let it [59:54] start by Iran doing it but and we're the only ones that can do anything about it [59:58] Mr. Secretary does the president intend to press Beijing on its Taiwan policy when [1:00:10] he visits China next week after Taiwan will be a topic of conversation it always [1:00:13] is as you know we understand that the Chinese understand our position on that [1:00:18] topic we understand theirs and I think both parties I got without you know [1:00:22] getting ahead of myself what will happen in the talks but I think both [1:00:25] countries understand that it is neither one of our interests to see [1:00:29] anything destabilize happen in that part of the world we don't need any [1:00:32] destabilizing events to occur with regards to Taiwan or anywhere in the [1:00:36] Indo-Pacific and I think but that's to the mutual benefit of both the United [1:00:39] States and the Chinese exact number is but I know a number of those fast boats [1:00:46] have now been targeted and will continue to be they pose a threat to our [1:00:49] forces will shoot down drones will shoot down missiles but it's defensive in [1:00:53] nature this is defensive so if you hear stories about attacks and launching of [1:00:57] firing back and forth it's not back and forth we are only responding if attacked [1:01:01] first this is a defensive operation and that's what's occurring here just about [1:01:06] the importance of the Straits for a moment this is approximately a quarter of [1:01:09] the world's oil trade along with significant volumes of fuel and [1:01:12] fertilizer that operate through the Straits of Hormuz the the Iranian regime [1:01:16] cannot be allowed to dictate who uses this vital waterway I don't think this is [1:01:21] also being reported enough maybe you are reporting I don't read everyone I don't [1:01:24] make damn outlets here I don't know who you all are but I mean I know who some [1:01:27] of you are but but but I will say this about it this is an international waterway [1:01:34] this is an international waterway and international law is very clear and I [1:01:38] love it because everybody always talks about international law and this [1:01:40] international law and this is very clear international waterways no country can [1:01:44] control them there is no international law that allows you to say I'm going to put [1:01:48] mines in an international body of water and I'm going to blow up ships that don't [1:01:51] listen to us and try to go through that's what Iran is doing this is a [1:01:55] criminal act and someone needs to do something about it something needs to be [1:01:59] done it's completely illegal completely illegitimate and completely unacceptable [1:02:02] and that's why the United States military is guiding stranded commercial [1:02:06] ships safely through the strait and is working to restore freedom of [1:02:09] navigation and putting an end to these efforts to glow to hold the global [1:02:13] economy hostage so far as a proof of concept and as a proof of function to US flag [1:02:19] merchant ships have successfully transferred the Strait of Hormuz in the [1:02:22] first stages of this project and they're now safely on their way the US [1:02:26] military is deploying the necessary assets to extend this defensive umbrella [1:02:30] over commercial shipping but there should be no mistake and as I said this [1:02:34] already this is a defensive operation I want to reiterate that point this is [1:02:38] important to understand if no shots are fired at these ships and no shots are [1:02:42] fired at us we're not firing shots but if we're fired on we will respond and we [1:02:46] will respond with lethal efficiency the assets supporting this project by the [1:02:50] way include guided missile destroyers over a hundred land and sea based [1:02:54] aircraft multi-domain unmanned platforms and 15,000 of the finest military [1:02:59] service members on the planet these forces have already destroyed as I told [1:03:03] you earlier I thought it was six it's seven Iranian fast boats that failed to heed [1:03:07] our warnings and by fast boats we're talking about you know some of these [1:03:11] things look like Boston whalers okay so these are not like Navy ships but [1:03:14] nonetheless they come fast that these boats try to swarm them try to harm them [1:03:17] we're not going to let that happen so seven of them now sit at the bottom of [1:03:20] the sea along with by the way the rest of Iran's Navy that's where you can find [1:03:24] their Navy today and we're going to continue to systematically clear this [1:03:27] passageway through the straits to restore freedom of navigation now while [1:03:32] this project steadily progresses operation epic fury economic fury I'm sorry [1:03:37] continues to impose maximum pressure on the Iranian regime and what remains of [1:03:42] their already frail economy today inflation in Iran is seventy percent and [1:03:47] their currency is in total and complete freefall US sanctions enforcement is [1:03:52] stepping up it's moving in lockstep with the naval blockade to degrade Iran's [1:03:56] capacity to generate to move and repatriate revenue it directly targets the [1:04:01] regime's primary revenue life lifelines the blockade alone is costing Iran as [1:04:06] much as five hundred million dollars a day in lost revenue ninety percent of [1:04:12] total Iranian trade has been halted causing permanent damage to Iran's oil [1:04:16] infrastructure as well as are forced to shut in again all of this is in [1:04:20] response to their piracy okay it cannot be that you have these straits and they [1:04:25] blow up any ship that moves and the only ships to get to go through where there is [1:04:28] you can't have a situation in which the straits are close to everyone else but [1:04:31] they benefit from the piracy that can't happen that's why the blockade is in [1:04:34] place and that's why these sanctions are crippling them any foreign financial and [1:04:39] by the way Treasury is now identifying and cutting off every dollar of revenue [1:04:43] that's flowing to this regime and so look any foreign financial institution or [1:04:47] commercial actor that enables Iran sanctions evasion is going to face [1:04:50] secondary sanctions exposure and a loss of access to the US financial system as [1:04:56] President Trump has said and the facts clearly bear out the United States of [1:04:59] America holds all the cards there is no scenario here in which if they [1:05:04] decide to join a ladder of escalation they wind up getting the last say but [1:05:08] our preference is for these straits to be opened to the way they're supposed to [1:05:12] be open back to the way it was anyone can use it no mines in the water nobody [1:05:17] paying tolls that's what we have to get back to and that's the goal here [1:05:20] every day the conflict continues however our leverage on Iran will [1:05:23] continue to increase and their position will continue to weaken especially as the [1:05:28] blockade really begins to bite in conjunction with the sanctions so look the [1:05:32] times come for Iran to make a sensible choice and it's not easy for them to do [1:05:35] that obviously because they have a fracture in their own leadership system [1:05:38] and apart from that I mean the top people in that government are to say the [1:05:43] least you know they're insane in the brain and so we need to address that and [1:05:49] it's difficult because it's hard to get past that in their system but it's [1:05:52] important for them to make a sensible choice and the one that's right for their [1:05:55] people the president our president has proven time and again that his [1:05:58] preference is peace but Iran must accept the reality of the situation and come [1:06:03] to the negotiation table and accept terms that are good for them but [1:06:06] ultimately good for the world the diplomatic path if there's a real [1:06:09] diplomatic path I'm not always going to be one but if there's a real diplomatic [1:06:12] path and we continue to explore it Steve and Jared are working on that very [1:06:16] hard if there is one there it could be one that leads them to reconstruction to [1:06:20] prosperity and to stability and to not posing a threat to the world the [1:06:24] alternative is growing isolation economic collapse and ultimately total defeat I [1:06:28] know what the right choices for Iran I hope that the people over there making [1:06:32] decisions will make the right one the last point I would make and it really is [1:06:35] important for them to understand this is they really shouldn't test the will of [1:06:39] the United States at least not under President Donald Trump he has proven [1:06:42] time and again that he will back up what he says and if they test them [1:06:46] ultimately they will lose the hard way the easy way the long way the short way [1:06:50] they will lose and without a it's time for your questions so [1:06:56] me to start with you first I'm an independent journalist Secretary Rubio [1:07:00] have you seen any recent indications that Iran is willing to give up this [1:07:04] nuclear weapons program that is credible verifiable and that would lead to an [1:07:09] immediate de-escalation well look this is a long-standing problem for them right I [1:07:15] mean they have wanted it they have always said they don't want a nuclear weapon [1:07:18] that's because they've always said that they just don't mean it and why do you say [1:07:21] well how do you know they don't mean it well we don't mean it because they do all [1:07:23] they're doing all the things and historically have tried to do all the [1:07:26] things that you do if you want a nuclear weapons program for example they [1:07:29] innovate and try to innovate long-range delivery missiles that now in some cases [1:07:33] are capable of reaching much of Europe they in written they build these large [1:07:38] underground centrifuges to for enrichment activity there are many there are [1:07:42] countries in the world that are involved in the enrichment business but [1:07:44] these guys do it in mountains and in caves and in hiding they've always had [1:07:48] secret components of their nuclear program undisclosed to the world and we know for a [1:07:52] fact that they retain highly enriched uranium at 60 percent that they and that [1:07:57] they did so and that has no civilian use none zero whatsoever so they have an [1:08:01] opportunity here to agree to something that will make it clear that they're [1:08:05] that they are not interested in a new one thing is to say we don't want a [1:08:07] nuclear weapon another thing is to do the things that prove you don't want a [1:08:10] nuclear weapon by the way if what Iran wants is a civilian nuclear program for [1:08:14] power plants and stuff like that there are a lot of countries in the world that [1:08:17] have that and they don't enrich that they import they import the enriched material [1:08:22] you know they could have that if that's what they wanted but they're not [1:08:25] acting like that's what they wanted they're acting like they want a military you [1:08:28] know nuclear program that's unacceptable so that's the process we're [1:08:32] engaged in now to create that's the object of this diplomacy is to come up with [1:08:37] some level of understanding about what are the topics that they've agreed to [1:08:40] negotiate on we don't have to have the actual agreement written out and one day [1:08:43] this is highly complex and highly technical but we have to have a [1:08:46] diplomatic solution that is very clear about the topics that they are willing [1:08:50] to negotiate on and the extent and the concessions are willing to make at the [1:08:53] front end in order to make those talks worthwhile that's what Steve and Jared [1:08:57] and the whole team is working on and I hope to have good news on it that's the [1:09:00] outcome we would prefer that's the outcome we would have preferred a year ago [1:09:03] that's the outcome I think most of us would have preferred a long time ago but [1:09:07] that's not the option they've given us given their activity all right can I [1:09:10] there's no way I can figure out who to call on I'm just gonna like press right in the [1:09:14] middle right there you right there yeah in the back row thank you mr. [1:09:18] president I'll go to you next thank you secretary you're going right welcome to [1:09:24] the White House what's that yeah to you yes sir thank you I have two questions on [1:09:29] two separate issues that come they get two questions for these two questions there's [1:09:33] a lot of people in here all right well you answer it you can ask me two [1:09:38] questions I'll give you one answer and I'll pick the one I like better thank you mr. [1:09:42] secretary the first has to do with the blockade there are lawmakers from both [1:09:46] parties who claim the blockade is an act of war what do you say to that and my [1:09:52] second question has to do with the fuel embargo of Cuba how long mr. [1:09:58] secretary will that last okay two things all right good I'll answer both your [1:10:01] questions because I like the second one too the first one on the blockade and so [1:10:04] why do we have a blockade we have a blockade because they are shut down the [1:10:07] straits so I don't know which members of Congress you're talking to but here's [1:10:10] what I would ask them I would ask everybody here it's very simple these [1:10:14] guys have shut down the straits of Hormuz this is what Iran is saying we will [1:10:17] shut down the straits no one can go through no country in the world can go [1:10:20] through unless we allow you to go through and you have to pay us but our [1:10:24] ships can go through meaning the Iranian ships as much as they want that's crazy [1:10:27] who would agree to that so how are we gonna have a situation where they get to [1:10:30] close the straits to everybody and the only people who are allowed to go [1:10:33] through there a hundred percent without paying anything or the Iranians if you do [1:10:37] that they'll keep the straits closed forever they're trying to make this some [1:10:40] new normal okay under no circumstances can we ever allow them to normalize the [1:10:45] fact that they get to blow up commercial ships and put mines in the water so the [1:10:49] response to that is we're gonna blockade your ships if everyone's ships are not [1:10:52] getting out your ships are not getting out either that's not an act of war [1:10:55] that's a defensive measure it's a counter to what they have decided to do you [1:10:59] know what is an act of war putting mines in the water why don't the members of [1:11:03] Congress whoever it is is complaining about it they should be all over that these [1:11:06] guys put mines in the water that alone you mining in the water is illegal period [1:11:11] under any circumstances and they've done it but this is crazy stuff but this is [1:11:14] what they've done on Cuba oil blockade on Cuba there's no oil blockade on Cuba [1:11:20] per se here's what's happening with Cuba okay Cuba used to get free oil from [1:11:23] Venezuela used to give them a bunch of free oil they would take like 60% of that [1:11:27] oil and resell it for cash it wouldn't even go to benefit the people so the only [1:11:31] blockade that's happened is the Cubans have decided I mean the Venezuelans have [1:11:34] decided we're not giving you free oil anymore and you can only imagine [1:11:37] nowadays the way oil prices are no one's giving away free oil much less to a [1:11:41] failed regime so the problem of Cuba is is worse okay their economic model [1:11:46] doesn't work doesn't work and the people who are in charge can't fix it and the [1:11:51] reason that I can't fix it is not just because they're communists that's bad [1:11:53] enough but they're incompetent communists though the only thing worse than a [1:11:57] communist is an incompetent one and that's what so incompetent communists run [1:12:01] that country they don't know how to fix it they really don't and we have 90 miles from [1:12:04] our shores a failed state that also happens to be friendly territory for [1:12:07] some of our adversaries so it's an unacceptable status quo I will be [1:12:11] addressing it but not today okay right there you are going to the Vatican to [1:12:18] meet with the Pope is this an attempt to smooth things over with the Pope given [1:12:24] the rhetoric between President Trump no no I mean it's a trip we had planned from [1:12:27] before and obviously we had some stuff that happened and no look there's a lot to [1:12:31] talk about with the Vatican I'll give you one example the Pope just returned [1:12:34] from a trip to Africa where the church is growing very vibrantly and we have [1:12:37] shared concerns about religious freedom religious freedom in different parts of [1:12:42] the world we'd love to talk to them about that the topic of Cuba you know we [1:12:46] gave Cuba six million dollars of humanitarian aid but obviously they [1:12:49] won't let us distribute it we distributed it through the church we'd like to do [1:12:52] more we're willing to give more humanitarian aid to Cuba by the way [1:12:56] distributed through the church but the Cuban regime has to allow us to do it they [1:12:59] won't allow us to give their own people more humanitarian aid and we're willing [1:13:03] to do it through the church so there's a lot to talk about recently said that the [1:13:07] Pope is endangering a lot of Catholics as a result of his rhetoric around the Iran [1:13:12] war is that sentiment well I don't think that's an accurate description of what he [1:13:15] said I think what the president basically said is that Iran can't have a [1:13:17] nuclear weapon because they would use it against places that have a lot of [1:13:20] Catholics and Christians and others for that matter it goes back to the central [1:13:23] point I think the president without trying to speak for him but I think I can [1:13:26] characterize it this way he doesn't understand why anybody leave aside the [1:13:30] Pope the president and I for that matter I think most people I cannot [1:13:34] understand why anyone would think that it's a good idea for Iran to ever have a [1:13:38] nuclear weapon look what they're doing with the straits right now they're [1:13:40] holding the whole world hostage they have these sailors you know on commercial [1:13:44] ships that are gonna starve to death out there they don't care they don't care [1:13:47] that this is melting down the economies around the world even of their own [1:13:51] allies this is what they're doing with the straits what do you think they [1:13:54] would do if they had a nuclear weapon they would hold the world hostage with [1:13:57] that nuclear weapon that's what they would do they would do exactly to the [1:14:00] world with a nuclear weapon what they're doing now with the straits and I [1:14:03] think the president's point is how anyone cannot see that as an [1:14:06] unacceptable outcome and an unacceptable risk is beyond him it's puzzling and [1:14:10] someone has to do something about it the difference between this president [1:14:13] and like the six presidents that preceded him were that he's the only one [1:14:16] that's actually been willing to do something about it everyone says Iran can't have a [1:14:19] nuclear weapon but you got to do something about it at some point and he's been [1:14:22] willing to address that threat and that's what he promised he would do when he got [1:14:25] elected by the way is address threats like this [1:14:29] I wish I knew your names guys can you put name tags on [1:14:35] thank you so much mr. secretary who are you with who are you with I'm with [1:14:39] Rudow media network okay mr. secretary the president has said multiple times that [1:14:44] weapons were provided to the Kurdish group is to pass on the Iranian people [1:14:48] however Kurdish political parties and the regional government says they have not [1:14:52] received such weapons even some claim these weapons remain in the US base in [1:14:57] the region can you clarify who those weapons were given to and whether you [1:15:01] intend to retrieve them or still want to pass to the Iranian people yeah look [1:15:05] ultimately what the president is expressing and I think has repeatedly is [1:15:09] he wished the Iranian people had you know look he's heartbroken by these images [1:15:12] you think about it you're an Iranian okay you're unhappy that your economy [1:15:16] doesn't work for you you don't have freedom you don't have an opportunity to [1:15:19] express yourself you know you've got friends that have been shot in the head [1:15:22] because they're out protesting and he just it's heartbreaking to him to see [1:15:26] that these people are abused in this way and have no measures to take against [1:15:29] their own government as a result of it by the way this goes back you guys [1:15:32] remember the protest in 2009 where they slaughtered people in the street this is [1:15:36] a vicious regime guys okay these are people that hang people from cranes in the [1:15:40] town square so everyone can see they've they continue these executions of [1:15:44] people and have done continue to do so for for over a decade and a half now and so I [1:15:49] think what the president is expressing is the desire that he wishes the Iranian [1:15:53] people had an ability to fight back against some of these things that are [1:15:56] happening to them and I would view that as distinct and separate from the [1:16:00] specifics of this operation that was ongoing before it concluded and [1:16:04] certainly different from the operation that's going on now [1:16:06] the second question do you think you would be able to achieve an agreement [1:16:26] between Lebanon and Israel without risking a civil war what are you doing with what are [1:16:33] you doing no I got it I got the gist of your question so look here's the the [1:16:36] challenge with Lebanon okay there's no problem between the Lebanese government [1:16:39] and the Israeli government Israel doesn't claim any land in Lebanon belongs to [1:16:43] them and by and large I think a peace deal between Lebanon and Israel is [1:16:46] imminently achievable and should be the problem with Israel and Lebanon is not [1:16:51] Israel or Lebanon it's Hezbollah Hezbollah operates from inside of Lebanese [1:16:55] territory they terrorize and attack Israelis but they also are inflicting [1:16:59] tremendous damage on the Lebanese people the reason why Lebanon gets [1:17:02] attacked by Israel is because of Hezbollah because Hezbollah is hiding in [1:17:06] some house launching rockets against Israelis and then they get hit so what [1:17:10] you're seeing now is Israeli responses to either attacks or perceived threats and [1:17:15] this is going to be this is not new this has been going on for a very long time [1:17:18] what is our hope our hope is to engage the Lebanese and Israeli governments [1:17:22] under you know our mediation at the table to achieve this and that is having [1:17:27] Lebanese armed forces and a Lebanese government not just with a [1:17:30] willingness but with the capability to begin to challenge Hezbollah and disarm [1:17:35] them because the Lebanese people are also victims of Hezbollah and by the way on the [1:17:40] topic of Hezbollah in Lebanon who is behind like Hezbollah why do they exist [1:17:44] they're an agent of Iran if you go through that Middle East and you identify [1:17:47] every problem Hamas Hezbollah to some extent the Houthis obviously and others [1:17:52] behind every one of these groups is Tehran so apart from the nuclear weapons [1:17:56] apart from all these other things these guys are behind all the bad actors Hezbollah is a wing [1:18:00] it's an extension of Iranian desire to destabilize the region so we're very [1:18:05] committed to this process it's not going to be easy you're asking me a complex [1:18:08] question you know this has been going on for a very long time it's not going to be [1:18:11] easy we're going to do everything we can to make sure that both sides continue to [1:18:14] talk so the progress can be made on some sort of permanent ceasefire that isn't [1:18:19] constantly spoiled by Hezbollah and by Hezbollah violence [1:18:26] you mentioned the two US ships that safely cross the Strait of Hormuz are [1:18:30] other ships being told it's safer to get back to regular levels are we still [1:18:34] going to see limits in place well the foreseeable future for obvious reasons [1:18:38] I'm not going to broadcast who we're talking to or who we're telling them to [1:18:40] move I mean we want these operations to be safe and I think as it unfolds and [1:18:44] ships get through we'll make those announcements after the fact just for [1:18:47] operational security purposes but the goal here is pretty simple establish a [1:18:51] zone of transit that is protected by a bubble the United States both naval and [1:18:56] air assets and then allow ships who want to move to move through there and get to [1:19:00] market to begin to increase confidence in the ability to do so that doesn't [1:19:04] happen in 12 hours it takes time to set up that bubble and gain that [1:19:06] confidence but that's the goal we have been in touch we've been in touch I [1:19:10] don't know with a bunch of different liners about moving and we're hoping to [1:19:15] continue to improve the security situation and we'll start to see [1:19:17] some of that movement and we'll announce it as it happens after the fact we're [1:19:21] not going to be like broadcasting hey tomorrow at 12 ship X is going to be [1:19:24] coming through for obvious reasons because that degrades the security but [1:19:27] we feel confident we're going to be able to achieve that look it's not going to [1:19:30] solve the whole Straits problem it's going to solve a lot of it but it's [1:19:33] important to challenge what Iran is doing now guys again I wonder if you take [1:19:37] anything away today and I can't tell you what to write but we Iran cannot be [1:19:41] allowed to normalize this control of the Straits it's completely unlawful illegal it's [1:19:46] outrageous and every country in the world should be joining us and condemning [1:19:49] it and doing something about it but the United States has stepped up and is [1:19:52] trying to do something regarding Colombia mr. [1:19:56] secretary I'm sorry I'm we'll see if we get to Colombia today go ahead [1:20:00] you guys have an election now why don't we talk to you like mr. [1:20:02] secretary John Michael Ross with Daily Mail I was curious about your meeting with [1:20:05] Southcom earlier there was a picture a map of Cuba behind you what did you [1:20:10] discuss with Southcom Southcom about Cuba if you have any updates I'm not gonna [1:20:14] tell you what I discussed but it had to do something with Cuba no I was well I [1:20:18] mean Cuba's in Southcom you know it's the closest part and so the second point I [1:20:22] was there our ambassadors were in from the whole Western Hemisphere I was [1:20:26] addressing them meeting the general who just took command of Southcom and there [1:20:30] happened to be a map of Cuba and I said it'd be good if we took a picture in [1:20:32] front of that map because it's like the closest thing in Southcom to the United [1:20:35] States so there it is we have maps of other countries but but but but Tom no [1:20:43] they didn't have that map [1:20:47] in the red right there in the red [1:20:51] can I ask you in Spanish or can I have to translate for them when you say it in [1:20:58] English and if you can answer in both languages [1:21:01] the webpage of the State Department and there's still a 25 million dollar [1:21:06] bounty on the secretary of interior for drug trafficking and narco [1:21:11] terrorism I was wondering if that has been put on hold or if you're [1:21:15] negotiating with president to turn him over [1:21:19] I don't have any updates for you on that the website is what it is and that's [1:21:23] where it stands that policy hasn't changed but I guys I mean let's be mature [1:21:27] here a little bit I'm not going to tell you about what we're talking about with [1:21:29] the leader of these countries [1:21:32] the politics United States on that the policy United States on that topic hasn't [1:21:46] changed when it does you know obviously will inform you but I don't have any news [1:21:49] for you on that today right there in the green I'll get to you guys all the TV [1:21:55] people go ahead I'm sorry go I'm learning I they gave me a little map I [1:22:01] don't know where I put it of the people here some of you have like red X's I'm [1:22:04] kidding no you go ahead thank you mr. secretary the average price of gas in [1:22:09] the country right now is four dollars and fifty cents do you have a thought on [1:22:13] how long Americans are supposed to kind of accept this do you think it will [1:22:16] affect Republicans majorities in the midterm well I don't I'm not going to [1:22:20] speculate on the politics of it you can tell me look it's obviously being [1:22:23] driven by global events that that was true during the Russia Ukraine war as [1:22:26] well where you saw that come up it's one look we don't benefit from the Straits [1:22:30] as much as other countries I don't know you've seen what the gas prices are like [1:22:33] in other parts of the world that are really suffering big time so we're very [1:22:36] fortunate that the United States I believe right now is like the world's [1:22:39] largest net exporter of oil and natural gas as a result and not because of this [1:22:43] work because we have this capacity so we've been insulated to some degree we're [1:22:46] obviously still vulnerable to some extent to global prices and so but in the end I [1:22:50] mean we're more insulated than other countries even though that's not [1:22:53] welcome news to Americans that are paying more at the pump no doubt about [1:22:55] it and and it certainly is one of the circumstances of it there are people [1:23:00] that were predicting would be much higher at this point but we're not taking that [1:23:02] for granted suffice it to say that this is think about it this way everybody needs [1:23:07] to think about it this way if Iran had a nuclear weapon and they decided to [1:23:11] close the Straits and make our gas prices like nine dollars a gallon or eight [1:23:14] dollars a gallon we wouldn't be able to do anything about it because they have a [1:23:16] nuclear weapon and a nuclear-armed Iran could do whatever the hell they want [1:23:21] with the Straits and there's nothing anyone would be able to do about it and [1:23:25] that's one of the many reasons apart from like the massive loss of life and a [1:23:29] nuclear strike why Iran can never have a nuclear weapon I mean so this is an [1:23:32] example of if they had a nuclear weapon they closed the Straits and they would [1:23:36] tell the world what are you going to do about it we have a nuclear weapon we can [1:23:38] attack you with it that's the world none of us want to leave behind it won't [1:23:41] happen under this president's watch but some future president and future you know in the [1:23:45] future Americans will have to deal with this so just one more example why these [1:23:48] guys can never be allowed to have a nuclear weapon where you know right there [1:23:57] you both are wearing black she's closer no you don't have black you have blue on [1:24:01] I'm colorblind but I know yes ma'am no no you the first one I called on thank you [1:24:07] this is chaos guys go ahead [1:24:09] welcome to the White House you've long been a leading voice on human rights in [1:24:14] China and so including religious persecution and forced organ harvesting [1:24:18] so President Trump prepares to meet Xi Jinping next week do you expect human [1:24:23] rights concerns to be on the table or we always raise those issues and they [1:24:26] remain true and I think we've proven in some cases it's most effective to raise [1:24:30] them in the appropriate setting but we always raise those issues are important [1:24:32] to us among with others of course but those issues remain prominent in our view and in [1:24:36] our conversation about these things and and we'll continue to raise them in the [1:24:40] appropriate forums all right let's get to the fun you guys are gonna get mad go [1:24:45] ahead I'm sorry you mentioned earlier that some countries are privately and [1:24:50] publicly indicated their willingness to help with project freedom can you say how [1:24:53] many have reached out to the u.s. with the offers of help and what kind of [1:24:57] capabilities well I mean thank you for your question that's a good question I [1:25:01] mean multiple countries have said we got to do something about it and fix it [1:25:05] or single digits or more than a hundred I don't know I don't put a number on it I [1:25:09] would just tell you that here's what I would say about it the capabilities is [1:25:12] the issue okay a lot of countries would love to do something about they don't [1:25:15] have a Navy right or they can't get there in time or they can't others you know [1:25:18] or less you know that some unfortunately do have a Navy are saying oh we'll be [1:25:23] involved but we'll be involved after it's over well after it's over it's kind of [1:25:26] like you know that makes sense so you know we'd like to have it and there may be [1:25:30] some utility in a post you know closure mission I'm not downplaying that but I [1:25:36] think that's been the challenge but there are other ways they can help unique [1:25:39] ways that they can help and I don't want to get into who these countries are for [1:25:42] obvious reasons you know because they they are prepared to help us in certain [1:25:46] ways but maybe don't want that publicly disclosed for no other reason than it [1:25:49] impacted foreign policy it could have some domestic ramifications but [1:25:52] ultimately I don't want to mislead you the primary responsibility for this [1:25:56] project freedom is on the United States because we're the only country that can [1:25:59] project power in that part of the world the way we're doing now we're the only [1:26:02] ones that can do it and we're going to do it as a favor to the world understand [1:26:06] this this is a favor to the world because it's their ships that are [1:26:09] stranded it's their fuel supplies that are stranded by the way it's their [1:26:12] humanitarian there's humanitarian aid destined for different countries in the [1:26:15] world that's stranded in the Persian Gulf right now it's it's the [1:26:19] fertilizer that they need for their food and crops that's stranded in the [1:26:22] person not our fertilizer their fertilizer so we want to be helpful and [1:26:26] that's why the president stepped forward because we're the only ones that can [1:26:28] frankly we're the only ones that can on the rising oil and gas prices the [1:26:33] president has said that this is a small price to pay for getting rid of a [1:26:36] nuclear weapon but ten weeks in are we any closer to getting rid of Iran's [1:26:41] nuclear material yeah but look here's the way to think about Iran and this is [1:26:44] what I described at the very beginning of this what was Iran's plan you have to [1:26:47] understand what their plan was their plan was they were going to build this [1:26:50] conventional shield where they would have so many thousands of missiles and [1:26:53] drones and rockets that they couldn't be attacked and behind that [1:26:56] conventional shield that they were trying to build they would then break out and [1:26:59] do whatever they wanted with their nuclear program they no longer have that [1:27:02] conventional shield okay we told you guys from the very beginning and it and [1:27:06] and we're very consistent in this messaging the operation that has [1:27:09] concluded was going to destroy their Navy they have no Navy left they don't not a [1:27:13] Navy they have small boats in Boston Whale but they don't have a Navy left they [1:27:17] don't have an Air Force I challenge you when is the last time you read or heard [1:27:20] about an Iranian jet flying anywhere they don't have an Air Force their missile [1:27:25] launching capability has been substantially degraded and their [1:27:27] industrial base their defense industrial base has been severely severely damaged so [1:27:32] their ability to build a shield behind which they could hide their nuclear [1:27:35] program was wiped out that's a very substantial achievement and that was the [1:27:40] purpose of this operation from day one nuclear material in order for this war [1:27:44] well that's one of the topics that needs to be discussed I don't know about I [1:27:47] think you're linking it the operation is over Epic Fury is a president notified [1:27:52] Congress we're done with that stage of it okay we're now on to this project of [1:27:55] freedom as far as a negotiation is concerned I think the president's been [1:27:59] clear that part of the negotiation process has to be not just the [1:28:02] enrichment but what happens to this material that's buried deep somewhere [1:28:05] that they have still have access to if they ever wanted to dig it out that has to [1:28:09] be addressed and that's being addressed in the negotiation I'm not [1:28:12] going to go further on what progress has been made on that topic because I don't [1:28:15] want to endanger the negotiations but suffice it to say that the [1:28:18] president and this entire team is aware of the centrality of that question and [1:28:22] that will have to be addressed one way or the other [1:28:24] thank you [1:28:29] I have another two-part question for you okay first are you taking part in [1:28:34] those negotiations that you just detailed there and then secondly [1:28:37] President Trump has made it clear that the US doesn't rely on the Strait of Hormuz [1:28:42] so why should Americans even care about project freedom and these ship shipping [1:28:47] tankers going through well I think on the second point is the one I want to [1:28:51] address first and that is why should Americans care why it matters to us [1:28:54] because ultimately these things have an impact on the global economy which [1:28:57] ultimately has an impact on our economy in the long term that's number one [1:29:00] number two because if we live in a world where a rogue state like this Iranian [1:29:05] regime is allowed to claim as a new normal control over international shipping [1:29:09] lane it will not be long before you see that happen in multiple shipping [1:29:13] lanes around the world I can identify for you six or seven six or seven vital [1:29:18] shipping lanes around the world that some countries can decide guess what if [1:29:22] Iran was able to do it we're gonna do it too we're not gonna start charging [1:29:25] tolls and it'll get closer and closer to us that's unacceptable we cannot live in a [1:29:29] world there's a lot of time and energy been invested in behind the idea that [1:29:33] international waters are free for the free flow of goods the stuff we make in [1:29:37] this country and export has to go through international shipping lanes and for [1:29:41] us to live in a world where a country can decide now we own the international [1:29:45] shipping lane and you have to pay us if you want to use it that is a normal that [1:29:48] we will never be able to accept and that's what the Iranians are trying to [1:29:50] get us to do so we're doing two things about it and we haven't talked about the [1:29:53] second one enough the second thing we're doing is we're going to the UN [1:29:56] everybody loves the UN right we're trying to go to the UN and we're saying [1:30:00] okay countries of the world condemn this say that it is it is wrong for you to [1:30:04] put mines there it is wrong for you to shoot at commercial vessels guys that's [1:30:09] what we're talking about here these guys are bombing commercial vessels they're [1:30:12] not bombing naval vessels they're bombing commercial tankers it's just outrageous [1:30:16] that needs to stop and and and it needs to end that and if he doesn't then the [1:30:21] world should be diplomatically and economically isolating Iran as well but [1:30:24] if we live in a world where global shipping lanes can be taken over by [1:30:27] countries that'll have a direct impact on Americans in the short and the long [1:30:30] term and we can't let it start by Iran doing it but and we're the only ones that [1:30:35] can do anything about it mr. secretary does the president intend to press [1:30:45] Beijing on its Taiwan policy when he visits China next week I'm sure Taiwan [1:30:49] will be a topic of conversation it always is as you know we understand that the [1:30:54] Chinese understand our position on that topic we understand theirs and I think [1:30:57] both parties I got without you know getting ahead of myself of what will [1:31:01] happen in the talks but I think both countries understand that it is neither one [1:31:05] of our interest to see anything destabilize happen in that part of the [1:31:08] world we don't need any destabilizing events to occur with regards to Taiwan or [1:31:13] anywhere in the Indo-Pacific and I think but that's to the mutual benefit of [1:31:16] both the United States and the Chinese exact number is but I know a number of [1:31:23] those fast boats have now been targeted and will continue to be if they pose a [1:31:26] threat to our forces will shoot down drones will shoot down missiles but it's [1:31:29] defensive in nature this is defensive so if you hear stories about attacks and [1:31:34] launching of firing back and forth it's not back and forth we are only [1:31:37] responding if attacked first this is a defensive operation and that's what's [1:31:41] occurring here just about the importance of the straits for a moment this is [1:31:45] approximately a quarter of the world's oil trade along with significant volumes [1:31:49] of fuel and fertilizer that operate through the straits of Hormuz the the [1:31:53] Iranian regime cannot be allowed to dictate who uses this vital waterway I [1:31:57] don't think this is also being reported enough maybe you are reporting I don't read [1:32:01] everyone I don't make damn outlets here I don't know who you all are but I mean I [1:32:04] know who some of you are but but but I will say this about it this is an [1:32:10] international waterway okay this is an international waterway and international [1:32:14] law is very clear and I love it because everybody always talks about [1:32:16] international law and this international law and this is very clear [1:32:19] international waterways no country can control them there is no international [1:32:24] law that allows you to say I'm going to put mines in an international body of [1:32:27] water and I'm going to blow up ships that don't listen to us and try to go [1:32:30] through that's what Iran is doing this is a criminal act and someone needs to do [1:32:35] something about it something needs to be done it's completely illegal completely [1:32:38] illegitimate and completely unacceptable and that's why the United States [1:32:41] military is guiding stranded commercial ships safely through the [1:32:44] strait and is working to restore freedom of navigation and putting an end to [1:32:48] these efforts to glow to hold the global economy hostage so far as a proof of [1:32:53] concept and as a proof of function two US flag merchant ships have [1:32:57] successfully transferred the Strait of Hormuz in the first stages of this [1:33:00] project and they're now safely on their way the US military is deploying the [1:33:04] necessary assets to extend this defensive umbrella over commercial [1:33:08] shipping but there should be no mistake and as I said this already this is a [1:33:12] defensive operation I want to reiterate that point this is important to [1:33:16] understand if no shots are fired at these ships and no shots are fired at us [1:33:20] we're not firing shots but if we're fired on we will respond and we will [1:33:23] respond with lethal efficiency the assets supporting this project by the way [1:33:27] include guided missile destroyers over a hundred land and sea based aircraft [1:33:31] multi-domain unmanned platforms and fifteen thousand of the finest military [1:33:37] service members on the planet these forces have already destroyed as I told [1:33:41] you earlier I thought it was six it's seven Iranian fast boats that failed to [1:33:44] heed our warnings and by fast boats we're talking about you know some of [1:33:48] these things look like Boston whalers okay so these are not like Navy ships but [1:33:51] nonetheless they come fast that these boats try to swarm them try to harm them we're [1:33:55] not going to let that happen so seven of them now sit at the bottom of the sea [1:33:58] along with by the way the rest of Iran's Navy that's where you can find [1:34:01] their Navy today and we're going to continue to systematically clear this [1:34:05] passageway through the straits to restore freedom of navigation now while this [1:34:09] project steadily progresses operation epic fury economic fury I'm sorry [1:34:14] continues to impose maximum pressure on the Iranian regime and what remains of [1:34:19] their already frail economy today inflation in Iran is 70% and their [1:34:25] currency is in total and complete freefall the US sanctions enforcement is [1:34:29] stepping up it's moving in lockstep with the naval blockade to degrade Iran's [1:34:33] capacity to generate to move and repatriate revenue it directly targets the [1:34:39] regime's primary revenue life lifelines the blockade alone is costing Iran as [1:34:44] much as 500 million dollars a day in lost revenue 90% of total Iranian trade [1:34:50] has been halted causing permanent damage to Iran's oil infrastructure as well as [1:34:54] are forced to shut in again all of this is in response to their piracy okay it [1:35:00] cannot be that you have these straits and they blow up any ship that moves and [1:35:03] the only ships to get to go through where there's you can't have a situation [1:35:06] in which the straits are close to everyone else but they benefit from the [1:35:09] piracy that can't happen that's why the blockade is in place and that's why these [1:35:13] sanctions are crippling them any foreign financial and by the way Treasury is [1:35:17] now identifying and cutting off every dollar of revenue that's flowing to this [1:35:21] regime and so look any foreign financial institution or commercial actor that [1:35:25] enables Iran sanctions evasion is going to face secondary sanctions exposure and a [1:35:30] loss of access to the US financial system as President Trump has said and the [1:35:34] facts clearly bear out the United States of America holds all the cards there is no [1:35:39] scenario here in which if they decide to join a ladder of escalation they wind up [1:35:44] getting the last say but our preference is for these straits to be opened to the [1:35:49] way they're supposed to be open back to the way it was anyone can use it no [1:35:53] mines in the water nobody paying tolls that's what we have to get back to and [1:35:57] that's the goal here every day the conflict continues however our leverage on [1:36:00] Iran will continue to increase and their position will continue to weaken [1:36:04] especially as the blockade really begins to bite in conjunction with the [1:36:07] sanctions so look the times come for Iran to make a sensible choice and it's not [1:36:12] easy for them to do that obviously because they have a fracture in their [1:36:15] own leadership system and apart from that I mean the top people in that [1:36:18] government are to say the least you know they're insane in the brain and so we [1:36:25] need to address that and it's difficult because it's hard to get past that in [1:36:28] their system but it's important for them to make a sensible choice and the one [1:36:31] that's right for their people the president our president has proven time and [1:36:35] again that his preference is peace but Iran must accept the reality of the [1:36:39] situation and come to the negotiation table and accept terms that are good [1:36:43] for them but ultimately good for the world the diplomatic path if there's a [1:36:46] real diplomatic path I'm not always going to be one but if there's a real [1:36:49] diplomatic path and we continue to explore it Steve and Jared are working on [1:36:53] that very hard if there is one there it could be one that leads them to [1:36:56] reconstruction to prosperity and to stability and to not posing a threat to the [1:37:00] world the alternative is growing isolation economic collapse and [1:37:04] ultimately total defeat I know what the right choice is for Iran I hope that the [1:37:09] people over there making decisions will make the right one the last point I [1:37:12] would make and it really is important for them to understand this is they [1:37:15] really shouldn't test the will of the United States at least not under [1:37:18] President Donald Trump he has proven time and again that he will back up what [1:37:21] he says and if they test him ultimately they will lose the hard way the easy way the [1:37:26] long way the short way they will lose and without a it's time for your [1:37:31] questions so I want to start with you first I'm an independent journalist [1:37:36] secretary Rubio have you seen any recent indications that Iran is willing to give [1:37:41] up this nuclear weapons program that is credible verifiable and that would lead to [1:37:46] an immediate de-escalation well look this is a long-standing problem for them [1:37:52] right I mean they have wanted it they have always said they don't want a nuclear [1:37:55] weapon that's because they've always said that they just don't mean it and why do you [1:37:58] say well how do you know they don't mean it well we don't mean it because they do all [1:38:00] they're doing all the things and historically have tried to do all the [1:38:03] things that you do if you want a nuclear weapons program for example they [1:38:06] innovate and try to innovate long-range delivery missiles that now in some cases [1:38:11] are capable of reaching much of Europe they in re they build these large [1:38:15] underground centrifuges to for enrichment activity there are many there are [1:38:19] countries in the world that are involved in the enrichment business but [1:38:21] these guys do it in mountains and in caves and in hiding they've always had [1:38:26] secret components of their nuclear program undisclosed to the world and we [1:38:29] know for a fact that they retain highly enriched uranium at 60% that they and [1:38:34] that they did so and that has no civilian use none zero whatsoever so they [1:38:39] have an opportunity here to agree to something that will make it clear that [1:38:42] they're that they are not interested in new one thing is to say we don't want a [1:38:44] nuclear weapon another thing is to do the things that prove you don't want a [1:38:47] nuclear weapon by the way if what Iran wants is a civilian nuclear program for [1:38:52] power plants and stuff like that there are a lot of countries in the world that have [1:38:55] that and they don't enrich they import they import the enriched material you [1:39:00] know they could have that if that's what they wanted but they're not acting like [1:39:02] that's what they wanted they're acting like they want a military you know [1:39:05] nuclear program that's unacceptable so that's the process we're engaged in now [1:39:10] to create that's the object of this diplomacy is to come up with some level [1:39:14] of understanding about what are the topics that they've agreed to negotiate on [1:39:18] we don't have to have the actual agreement written out and one day this is [1:39:20] highly complex and highly technical but we have to have a diplomatic solution [1:39:24] that is very clear about the topics that they are willing to negotiate on and the [1:39:29] extent and the concessions are willing to make at the front end in order to make [1:39:32] those talks worthwhile that's what Steve and Jared and the whole team is [1:39:35] working on and I hope to have good news on it that's the outcome we would [1:39:38] prefer that's the outcome we would have preferred a year ago that's the outcome I [1:39:42] think most of us would have preferred a long time ago but that's not the [1:39:45] option they've given us given their activity all right can I there's no way I can [1:39:49] figure out who to call on I'm just gonna like press right in the middle right [1:39:51] there you right there yeah yeah in the back row thank you mr. president I'll go [1:39:56] to you next thank you thank you secretary you're going right welcome to the White [1:40:01] House what's that yeah to you yes sir thank you I have two questions on two [1:40:07] separate issues that come they get two questions for these two questions there's [1:40:11] a lot of people in here all right well you answer it you can ask me two [1:40:15] questions I'll give you one answer thank you very much and I'll pick the one I like [1:40:18] better thank you mr. secretary the first has to do with the blockade there are [1:40:22] lawmakers from both parties who claim the blockade is an act of war what do you [1:40:28] say to that and my second question has to do with the fuel embargo of Cuba how [1:40:34] long mr. secretary will that last okay two things all right good I'll answer [1:40:38] both your questions because I like the second one too the first one on the [1:40:41] blockade and so why do we have a blockade we have a blockade because they are shut [1:40:44] down the straits so I don't know which members of Congress you're talking to but [1:40:48] here's what I would ask them I would ask everybody here it's very simple these [1:40:51] guys have shut down the straits of Hormuz this is what Iran is saying we will [1:40:54] shut down the straits no one can go through no country in the world can go [1:40:58] through unless we allow you to go through and you have to pay us but our [1:41:01] ships can go through meaning the Iranian ships as much as they want that's crazy [1:41:05] who would agree to that so how are we going to have a situation where they get [1:41:08] to close the straits to everybody and the only people who are allowed to go [1:41:11] through there a hundred percent without paying anything or the Iranians if you do [1:41:14] that they'll keep the straits closed forever they're trying to make this some [1:41:18] new normal okay under no circumstances can we ever allow them to normalize the [1:41:22] fact that they get to blow up commercial ships and put mines in the water so the [1:41:26] response to that is we're going to blockade your ships if everyone's ships [1:41:29] are not getting out your ships are not getting out either that's not an act of [1:41:33] war that's a defensive measure it's a counter to what they have decided to do [1:41:36] you know what is an act of war putting mines in the water why don't the members of [1:41:40] Congress whoever it is is complaining about it they should be all over that these [1:41:43] guys put mines in the water that alone you mining in the water is illegal [1:41:47] period under any circumstances and they've done it but this is crazy stuff [1:41:51] but this is what they've done on Cuba oil blockade on Cuba there's no oil [1:41:56] blockade on Cuba per se here's what's happening with Cuba okay Cuba used to get [1:42:00] free oil from Venezuela used to give them a bunch of free oil they would take [1:42:03] like 60% of that oil and resell it for cash it wouldn't even go to benefit the [1:42:07] people so the only blockade that's happened is the Cubans have decided I mean the [1:42:11] Venezuelans have decided we're not giving you free oil anymore and you can [1:42:14] only imagine nowadays the way oil prices are no one's giving away free oil much [1:42:18] less to a failed regime so the problem of Cuba is worse okay their economic [1:42:23] model doesn't work doesn't work and the people who are in charge can't fix it and [1:42:28] the reason I can't fix it is not just because they're communists that's bad [1:42:31] enough but they're incompetent communists the the only thing worse than a [1:42:34] communist is an incompetent one and that's what so incompetent communists run [1:42:38] that country they don't know how to fix it they really don't and we have 90 miles from our [1:42:41] shores a failed state that also happens to be friendly territory for some of our [1:42:45] adversaries so it's an unacceptable status quo I will be addressing it but [1:42:49] not today okay all right let's go to the front right there you are going to the [1:42:55] Vatican to meet with the Pope is this an attempt to smooth things over with the [1:43:00] Pope given the rhetoric between President Trump and Pope Leo no I mean it's a trip we [1:43:04] had planned from before and obviously we had some stuff that happened and no look [1:43:08] there's a lot to talk about with the Vatican I'll give you one example the Pope [1:43:10] just returned from a trip to Africa where the church is growing very [1:43:13] vibrantly and we have shared concerns about religious freedom religious freedom [1:43:19] in different parts of the world we'd love to talk to them about that the topic of [1:43:23] Cuba you know we gave Cuba six million dollars of humanitarian aid but obviously [1:43:26] they won't let us distribute it we distributed it through the church we'd like [1:43:29] to do more we're willing to give more humanitarian aid to Cuba by the way [1:43:33] distributed through the church but the Cuban regime has to allow us to do it [1:43:36] they won't allow us to give their own people more humanitarian aid and we're [1:43:40] willing to do it through the church so there's a lot to talk about [1:43:42] and the president recently said that the Pope is endangering a lot of Catholics as a [1:43:47] result of his rhetoric around the Iran war is that a sentiment well I don't think [1:43:51] that's an accurate description of what he said I think what the president [1:43:53] basically said is that Iran can't have a nuclear weapon because they would use it [1:43:56] against places that have a lot of Catholics and Christians and others for that [1:43:59] matter it goes back to the central point I think the president without trying to [1:44:02] speak for him but I think I can characterize it this way he doesn't [1:44:06] understand why anybody leave aside the Pope the president and I for that matter [1:44:10] I think most people I cannot understand why anyone would think that it's a good [1:44:13] idea for Iran to ever have a nuclear weapon look what they're doing with the [1:44:17] Straits right now they're holding the whole world hostage they have these [1:44:19] sailors you know on commercial ships that are going to starve to death out [1:44:23] there they don't care they don't care that this is melting down the economies [1:44:27] around the world even of their own allies this is what they're doing with the [1:44:30] Straits what do you think they would do if they had a nuclear weapon they would [1:44:33] hold the world hostage with that nuclear weapon that's what they would do they [1:44:36] would do exactly to the world with a nuclear weapon what they're doing now [1:44:39] with the Straits and I think the president's point is how anyone cannot [1:44:42] see that as an unacceptable outcome and an unacceptable risk is beyond him it's [1:44:46] puzzling and someone has to do something about it the difference between [1:44:50] this president and like the six presidents that preceded him were that he's the [1:44:53] only one that's actually been willing to do something about it everyone says Iran [1:44:56] can't have a nuclear weapon but you got to do something about it at some point and he's been [1:45:00] willing to address that threat and that's what he promised he would do when he got [1:45:03] elected by the way is address threats like this [1:45:07] I wish I knew your name guys can you put name tags on [1:45:12] thank you so much mr. secretary who are you with [1:45:15] who are you with I'm with Ruda media network okay mr. secretary the president has [1:45:21] said multiple times that weapons were provided to the Kurdish group is to pass on [1:45:24] the Iranian people however Kurdish political parties and the regional [1:45:28] government says they have not received such weapons even some claim these [1:45:32] weapons remain in the US base in the region can you clarify who those with [1:45:36] this were given to and whether you intend to retrieve them or still want to pass to [1:45:41] the Iranian people yeah look ultimately what the president is expressing and I [1:45:45] think has repeatedly is he wished the Iranian people had you know look he's [1:45:48] heartbroken by these images you think about it you're an Iranian okay you're [1:45:52] unhappy that your economy doesn't work for you you don't have freedom you don't have [1:45:56] an opportunity to express yourself you know you've got friends that have been [1:45:58] shot in the head because they're out protesting and he just it's heartbreaking [1:46:02] to him to see that these people are abused in this way and have no measures to [1:46:06] take against their own government as a result of it by the way this goes back [1:46:09] you guys remember the protest in 2009 where they slaughtered people in the [1:46:12] street this is a vicious regime guys okay these are people that hang people [1:46:17] from cranes in the town square so everyone can see that they continue these [1:46:20] executions of people and have done continue to do so for over a decade and a [1:46:25] half now and so I think what the president is expressing is the desire [1:46:29] that he wishes the Iranian people had an ability to fight back against some of [1:46:33] these things that are happening to them and I would view that as distinct and [1:46:36] separate from the specifics of this operation that was ongoing before it [1:46:40] concluded and certainly different from the operation that's going on now [1:46:46] I think we've got in Colombia Mr. Secretary [1:46:50] right behind you not Colombia right there yes ma'am [1:46:52] Mr. Secretary thank you so much on Lebanon are we in a ceasefire or less fire and the [1:46:58] second question do you think you would be able to achieve an agreement between [1:47:04] Lebanon and Israel without risking a civil war in Lebanon what are you doing with what are you doing to [1:47:11] no I got it I got to just your question so look here's the challenge with Lebanon okay [1:47:14] there's no problem between the Lebanese government and the Israeli government [1:47:17] Israel doesn't claim any land in Lebanon belongs to them and by and large I think [1:47:22] a peace deal between Lebanon and Israel is imminently achievable and should be [1:47:25] the problem with Israel and Lebanon is not Israel or Lebanon it's Hezbollah [1:47:29] Hezbollah operates from inside of Lebanese territory they terrorize and attack [1:47:34] Israelis but they also are inflicting tremendous damage on the Lebanese people the [1:47:38] reason why Lebanon gets attacked by Israel is because of Hezbollah because [1:47:42] Hezbollah is hiding in some house launching rockets against Israelis and [1:47:46] then they get hit so what you're seeing now is Israeli responses to either attacks [1:47:51] or perceived threats and this is going to be this is not new this has been going on [1:47:54] for a very long time what is our hope our hope is to engage the Lebanese and [1:47:59] Israeli governments under you know our mediation at the table to achieve this and [1:48:03] that is having Lebanese armed forces in a Lebanese government not just with a [1:48:08] willingness but with the capability to begin to challenge Hezbollah and disarm [1:48:12] them because the Lebanese people are also victims of Hezbollah and by the way on [1:48:17] the topic of Hezbollah in Lebanon who is behind like Hezbollah why do they exist [1:48:21] they're an agent of Iran if you go through that Middle East and you identify [1:48:25] every problem Hamas Hezbollah to some extent the Houthis obviously and others [1:48:29] behind every one of these groups is Tehran so apart from the nuclear weapons [1:48:34] apart from all these other things these guys are behind all the bad actors [1:48:36] Hezbollah is a wing it's an extension of Iranian desire to destabilize the region [1:48:42] so we're very committed to this process it's not going to be easy you're asking [1:48:45] me a complex question you know this has been going on for a very long time it's [1:48:47] not going to be easy we're going to do everything we can to make sure that both [1:48:50] sides continue to talk so the progress can be made on some sort of permanent [1:48:55] ceasefire that isn't constantly spoiled by Hezbollah and by Hezbollah violence [1:48:59] right in there I'm just I'm winging it guys okay right there yes you mentioned [1:49:04] the two US ships that safely cross the Strait of Hormuz are other ships being [1:49:09] told it's safer to get back to regular levels are we still going to see limits in [1:49:12] place well foreseeable future for obvious reasons I'm not going to broadcast who [1:49:16] we're talking to or who we're telling them to move I mean we want these [1:49:18] operations to be safe and I think as it unfolds and ships get through we'll make [1:49:23] those announcements after the fact just for operational security purposes but the [1:49:26] goal here is pretty simple establish a zone of transit that is protected by a [1:49:31] bubble the United States both naval and air assets and then allow ships who want [1:49:35] to move to move through there and get to market to begin to increase confidence in [1:49:39] the ability to do so that doesn't happen in 12 hours it takes time to set up that [1:49:43] bubble and gain that confidence but that's the goal we have been in touch we've [1:49:46] been in touch I don't know with a bunch of different liners about moving and we're [1:49:52] hoping to continue to improve the security situation and we'll start to see some [1:49:55] of that movement and we'll announce it as it happens after the fact we're not [1:49:58] going to be like broadcasting hey tomorrow at 12 ship X is going to be [1:50:01] coming through for obvious reasons because that degrades the security but [1:50:05] we feel confident we're going to be able to achieve that look it's not going to [1:50:07] solve the whole Straits problem it's going to solve a lot of it but it's [1:50:10] important to challenge what Iran is doing now guys again I wonder if you take [1:50:14] anything away today and I can't tell you what to write but we Iran cannot be [1:50:18] allowed to normalize this control of the Straits it's completely unlawful [1:50:21] illegal it's outrageous and every country in the world should be joining us and [1:50:26] condemning it and doing something about it but the United States has [1:50:28] stepped up and is trying to do something [1:50:31] regarding Colombia Mr. Secretary I'm sorry we'll see if we get to Colombia today go [1:50:37] ahead you guys have an election now why don't we talk to you like Mr. Secretary John Michael Ross with Daily Mail [1:50:41] I was curious about your meeting with SouthCom earlier there was a picture a map of Cuba behind you [1:50:47] what did you discuss with SouthCom about Cuba and do you have any updates on Greenland [1:50:51] I'm not going to tell you what I discussed with SouthCom but it had to do something with Cuba [1:50:55] no I was well I mean Cuba's in SouthCom you know it's the closest part and so the second point [1:50:59] I was there our ambassadors were in from the whole western hemisphere I was addressing them [1:51:04] you know meeting the general who just took command of SouthCom and there happened to be a map of Cuba [1:51:08] and I said it'd be good if we took a picture in front of that map because it's like the closest thing [1:51:11] in SouthCom to the United States so there it is we have maps of other countries but but but but [1:51:18] but huh no they didn't have that map [1:51:21] in the red right there in the red [1:51:26] in the red okay can I ask you in Spanish or can I yeah you can answer in Spanish you can ask me and [1:51:33] they'll have to translate for them what you asked me I'll say it in English and if you can answer in [1:51:37] both languages today the web page of the State Department and there's still a 25 million dollar [1:51:43] bounty on the secretary of interior for drug trafficking and narco terrorism I was wondering [1:51:50] if that has been put on hold or if you're negotiating with president to turn him over [1:51:56] I don't have any updates for you on the website is what it is and that's where it stands that policy [1:52:01] hasn't changed but I guys I mean let's be mature here a little bit I'm not going to tell you about [1:52:05] what we're talking about with the leader of these countries [1:52:07] the policy United States on that the policy United States on that topic hasn't changed when it does [1:52:24] you know obviously we'll inform you but I don't have any news for you on that today [1:52:27] right there in the green I'll get to you guys right you guys all the TV people [1:52:32] all right go ahead I'm sorry go I'm learning I they gave me a little map I don't know where I [1:52:39] put it of the people here some of you have like red X's I'm kidding no you that's not true go ahead [1:52:43] thank you Mr. Secretary the average price of gas in the country right now is $4.50 do you have a thought [1:52:50] on how long Americans are supposed to kind of accept this do you think it will affect Republicans [1:52:54] majorities in the midterm well I don't I'm not going to speculate on the politics of it you can tell [1:52:59] I mean look it's obviously being driven by global events that that was true during the Russia Ukraine [1:53:03] war as well where you saw that come up it's one look we don't benefit from the Straits as much as [1:53:08] other countries I don't know you've seen what the gas prices are like in other parts of the world that [1:53:11] are really suffering big time so we're very fortunate that the United States I believe right now is like [1:53:16] the world's largest net exporter of oil and natural gas as a result not because of this work because we [1:53:21] have this capacity so we've been insulated to some degree we're obviously still vulnerable to some [1:53:25] extent to global prices and so but in the end I mean we're more insulated than other countries even [1:53:29] though that's not welcome news to Americans that are paying more at the pump no doubt about it [1:53:33] and and it certainly is one of the circumstances of it there are people that we're predicting would be [1:53:38] much higher at this point but we're not taking that for granted suffice it to say that this is [1:53:42] think about it this way everybody needs to think about it this way if Iran had a nuclear weapon [1:53:46] and they decided to close the Straits and make our gas prices like nine dollars a gallon or eight [1:53:51] dollars a gallon we wouldn't be able to do anything about it because they have a nuclear weapon [1:53:54] or and a nuclear armed Iran could do whatever the hell they want with the Straits and there's [1:53:59] nothing anyone would be able to do about it and that's one of the many reasons apart from like [1:54:05] the massive loss of life and a nuclear strike why Iran can never have a nuclear weapon I mean so this [1:54:10] is an example of if they had a nuclear weapon they closed the Straits and they would tell the world [1:54:14] what are you going to do about it we have a nuclear weapon we can attack you with it that's the world [1:54:17] none of us want to leave behind it won't happen under this president's watch but some future president and [1:54:21] future you know and the future Americans will have to deal with this so just one more example of why [1:54:25] these guys can never be allowed to have a nuclear weapon [1:54:28] where you know right there you know you both are wearing black she's closer no you don't have black [1:54:38] you have blue on I'm colorblind but I know blue and black right there yes ma'am no no you the first [1:54:42] one I called on thank you thank you this is chaos guys go ahead you've long been a leading voice on [1:54:51] human rights in China and so including religious persecution and forced organ harvesting so [1:54:56] president Trump prepares to meet Xi Jinping next week do you expect human rights concerns to be on the [1:55:02] table well we always raise those issues they remain true and I think we've proven in some cases it's [1:55:06] most effective to raise them in the appropriate setting but we always raise those issues are important [1:55:10] to us among with others of course but those issues remain prominent in our view and in our [1:55:14] conversation about these things and and we'll continue to raise them in the appropriate forums [1:55:19] all right let's get to the front these guys are going to get mad go ahead I'm sorry thank you [1:55:23] segment can the associated press you mentioned earlier that some countries are privately and publicly [1:55:28] indicated their willingness to help with project freedom can you say how many have reached out to [1:55:32] the U.S. with the offers of help and what kind of capabilities well I mean thank you for your [1:55:37] question that's a good question I mean multiple countries have said we got to do something about [1:55:41] it and fix it like dozens or single digits or more than a hundred I don't know I don't put a number [1:55:46] on it I would just tell you that here's what I would say about it the capabilities is the issue okay [1:55:50] a lot of countries would love to do something about they don't have a navy right or they can't get there [1:55:54] in time or they can't others you know or less you know that some unfortunate do have a navy [1:55:58] are saying oh we'll be involved but we'll be involved after it's over well after it's over it's kind of like [1:56:03] you know that makes sense so you know we'd like to have it now there may be some utility in a post [1:56:09] you know closure mission I'm not downplaying that but I think that's been the challenge but there are [1:56:15] other ways they can help unique ways that they can help and I don't want to get into who these [1:56:19] countries are for obvious reasons you know because they they are prepared to help us in certain ways [1:56:23] but maybe don't want that publicly disclosed for no other reason than it impacted foreign policy it [1:56:28] could have some domestic ramifications but ultimately I don't want to mislead you the primary [1:56:32] responsibility for this project freedom is on the United States because we're the only country [1:56:36] that can project power in that part of the world the way we're doing now we're the only ones that [1:56:40] can do it and we're going to do it as a favor to the world understand this this is a favor to the [1:56:45] world because it's their ships that are stranded it's their fuel supplies that are stranded by the [1:56:48] way it's their humanitarian there's humanitarian aid destined for different countries in the world [1:56:53] that's stranded in the Persian Gulf right now it's it's the fertilizer that they need for their food [1:56:58] and crops that's stranded in the Persian not our fertilizer their fertilizer [1:57:01] so we want to be helpful and that's why the president stepped forward because we're the [1:57:04] only ones that can frankly we're the only ones that can [1:57:06] on the rising oil and gas prices the president has said that this is a small price to pay for [1:57:13] getting rid of a nuclear weapon but 10 weeks in are we any closer to getting rid of Iran's nuclear [1:57:18] material yeah but look here's the the way to think about Iran and this is what I described at the [1:57:22] very beginning of this what was Iran's plan you have to understand what their plan was their plan was [1:57:26] they were going to build this conventional shield where they would have so many thousands of [1:57:29] missiles and drones and rockets that they couldn't be attacked and behind that conventional shield [1:57:34] that they were trying to build they would then break out and do whatever they wanted with their [1:57:37] nuclear program they no longer have that conventional shield okay we told you guys from the very [1:57:42] beginning and and and and we're very consistent in this messaging the operation that has concluded [1:57:47] was going to destroy their navy they have no navy left they don't not a navy they have small boats [1:57:52] and Boston whalers but they don't have a navy left they don't have an air force I challenge you when is the [1:57:56] last time you read or heard about an Iranian jet flying anywhere they don't have an air force their [1:58:01] missile launching capability has been substantially degraded and their industrial base their defense [1:58:06] industrial base has been severely severely damaged so their ability to build a shield behind which they [1:58:12] could hide their nuclear program was wiped out that's a very substantial achievement and that was the [1:58:17] purpose of this operation from day one nuclear material in order for this war to end well that's one of the [1:58:22] topics that needs to be discussed I don't know about I think you're linking it the the operation is over [1:58:27] epic fury is a president notified congress we're done with that stage of it okay we're now on to this [1:58:32] project of freedom as far as a negotiation is concerned I think the president's been clear that [1:58:37] part of the negotiation process has to be not just the enrichment but what happens to this material [1:58:41] that's buried deep somewhere that they have still have access to if they ever wanted to dig it out [1:58:46] that has to be addressed and that's being addressed in the negotiation I'm not going to go further on what [1:58:51] progress has been made on that topic because I don't want to endanger the negotiations but suffice [1:58:54] it to say that the president and this entire team is aware of the centrality of that question and [1:58:59] that will have to be addressed one way or the other right there thank you thank you [1:59:07] i have another two-part question for you okay uh first are you taking part in those negotiations that [1:59:13] you just detailed there and then secondly president trump has made it clear that the u.s doesn't rely [1:59:18] on the strait of hormones so why should americans even care about uh project freedom and these ship [1:59:24] shipping uh tankers going through well i think on the second point is the one i want to address first [1:59:29] and that is why should americans care why it matters to us because ultimately these things have an [1:59:33] impact on the global economy which ultimately has an impact on our economy in the long term that's [1:59:37] number one number two because if we live in a world where a rogue state like this iranian regime is [1:59:43] allowed to claim as a new normal control over international shipping lane it will not be long before you [1:59:49] see that happen in multiple shipping lanes around the world i can identify for you six or seven six [1:59:54] or seven vital shipping lanes around the world that some countries can decide guess what if iran was [2:00:00] able to do it we're going to do it too we're not going to start charging tolls and it'll get closer and [2:00:04] closer to us that's unacceptable we cannot live in a world there's a lot of time and energy been invested [2:00:09] in behind the idea that international waters are free for the free flow of goods the stuff we make in [2:00:14] this country an export has to go through international shipping lanes and for us to live in a world where [2:00:19] a country can decide now we own the international shipping lane and you have to pay us if you want [2:00:24] to use it that is a normal that we will never be able to accept and that's what the iranians are [2:00:27] trying to get us to do so we're doing two things about it and we haven't talked about the second one [2:00:31] enough the second thing we're doing is we're going to the un everybody loves the un right we're trying [2:00:36] to go to the un and we're saying okay countries of the world condemn this say that it is it is wrong for [2:00:41] you to put mines there it is wrong for you to shoot at commercial vessels guys that's what we're [2:00:46] talking about here these guys are bombing commercial vessels they're not bombing naval vessels they're [2:00:50] bombing commercial tankers it's just outrageous that needs to stop and and and it needs to end [2:00:57] and if he doesn't then the world should be diplomatically and economically isolating iran as [2:01:01] well but if we live in a world where global shipping lanes can be taken over by countries that'll [2:01:05] have a direct impact on americans in the short and the long term and we can't let it start by iran doing [2:01:10] it but and we're the only ones that can do anything about it all right right there in the [2:01:18] mr secretary does the president intend to press beijing on its taiwan policy when he visits china [2:01:25] next week i'm sure taiwan will be a topic of conversation it always is as you know we understand [2:01:31] the chinese understand our position on that topic we understand theirs and i think both parties [2:01:35] again without you know getting ahead of myself of what will happen in the talks but [2:01:39] i think both countries understand that it is neither one of our interests to see anything [2:01:43] destabilize happen in that part of the world we don't need any destabilizing events to occur with [2:01:49] regards to taiwan or anywhere in the indo-pacific and i think that's to the mutual benefit of both the [2:01:53] united states and the chinese exact number is but i know a number of those fast boats have now been [2:02:01] targeted and will continue to be if they pose a threat to our forces we'll shoot down drones we'll shoot [2:02:05] down missiles but it's defensive in nature this is defensive so if you hear stories about attacks [2:02:11] and launching of firing back and forth it's not back and forth we are only responding if attacked [2:02:16] first this is a defensive operation and that's what's occurring here just about the importance of [2:02:21] the straits for a moment this is approximately a quarter of the world's oil trade along with [2:02:25] significant volumes of fuel and fertilizer that that operate through the straits of hormuz the the [2:02:30] iranian regime cannot be allowed to dictate who uses this vital waterway i don't think this is [2:02:35] also being reported enough maybe you are reporting i don't read everyone i don't make damn outlets [2:02:40] here i don't know who you all are but um i mean i know who some of you are but but but i will say this [2:02:45] about it um this is an international waterway okay this is an international waterway and international [2:02:51] law is very clear and i love it because everybody always talks about international law and this [2:02:55] international law and this is very clear international waterways no country can control them there is no [2:03:00] international law that allows you to say i'm going to put mines in an international body of water and [2:03:04] i'm going to blow up ships that don't listen to us and try to go through that's what iran is doing [2:03:09] this is a criminal act and someone needs to do something about it something needs to be done it's [2:03:14] completely illegal completely illegitimate and completely unacceptable and that's why the united [2:03:18] states military is guiding stranded commercial ships safely through the strait and is working to [2:03:23] restore freedom of navigation and putting an end to these efforts to glow to hold the global economy [2:03:28] hostage so far as a proof of concept and as a proof of function two u.s flag merchant ships have [2:03:34] successfully transferred the strait of hormuz in the first stages of this project and they're now [2:03:39] safely on their way the u.s military is deploying the necessary assets to extend this defensive umbrella [2:03:45] over commercial shipping but there should be no mistake and as i said this already this is a defensive [2:03:50] operation i want to reiterate that point this is important to understand if no shots are fired at [2:03:55] these ships and no shots are fired at us we're not firing shots but if we're fired on we will respond [2:04:00] and we will respond with lethal efficiency the assets supporting this project by the way include [2:04:05] guided missile destroyers over a hundred land and sea based aircraft multi-domain unmanned platforms and [2:04:12] fifteen thousand of the finest military service members on the planet these forces have already [2:04:17] destroyed as i told you earlier i thought it was six it's seven iranian fast boats that failed to heed [2:04:22] our warnings and by fast boats we're talking about you know some of these things look like boston whalers [2:04:27] okay so these are not like navy ships but nonetheless they come fast at these boats try to swarm them [2:04:31] try to harm them we're not going to let that happen so seven of them now sit at the bottom of the sea [2:04:36] along with by the way the rest of iran's navy that's where you can find their navy today [2:04:40] and we're going to continue to systematically clear this passageway through the straits to restore [2:04:44] freedom of navigation now while this project steadily progresses operation epic fury economic fury i'm sorry [2:04:52] continues to impose maximum pressure on the iranian regime and what remains of their already frail [2:04:58] economy today inflation in iran is 70 percent and their currency is in total and complete freefall [2:05:05] the u.s sanctions enforcement is stepping up it's moving in lockstep with the naval blockade [2:05:09] to degrade iran's capacity to generate to move and repatriate revenue it directly targets the regime's [2:05:16] primary revenue life lifelines the blockade alone is costing iran as much as 500 million dollars a day [2:05:24] in lost revenue 90 percent of total iranian trade has been halted causing permanent damage to iran's [2:05:30] oil infrastructure as wells are forced to shut in again all of this is in response to their piracy [2:05:37] okay it cannot be that you have these straits and they blow up any ship that moves and the only ships [2:05:41] they get to go through were theirs you can't have a situation in which the straits are close to everyone [2:05:45] else but they benefit from the piracy that can't happen that's why the blockade is in place and [2:05:50] that's why these sanctions are crippling them any foreign financial and by the way treasury is now [2:05:55] identifying and cutting off every dollar of revenue that's flowing to this regime and so [2:05:59] look any foreign financial institution or commercial actor that enables iran sanctions evasion is going [2:06:04] to face secondary sanctions exposure and a loss of access to the u.s financial system as president trump [2:06:11] has said and the facts clearly bear out the united states of america holds all the cards there is no [2:06:17] scenario here in which if they decide to join a ladder of escalation they wind up getting the last say [2:06:23] but our preference is for these straits to be opened to the way they're supposed to be open back to [2:06:28] the way it was anyone can use it no mines in the water nobody paying tolls that's what we have to [2:06:33] get back to and that's the goal here every day the conflict continues however our leverage on iran will [2:06:38] continue to increase and their position will continue to weaken especially as the blockade [2:06:43] really begins to bite in conjunction with the sanctions so look the times come for iran to make a [2:06:47] sensible choice and it's not easy for them to do that obviously because they have a fracture in their [2:06:52] own leadership system and apart from that i mean the top people in that government are to say the least [2:06:59] you know they're insane in the brain and so we need to address that and it's difficult because it's hard to [2:07:05] get past that in their system but it's important for them to make a sensible choice in the one that's [2:07:09] right for their people the president our president has proven time and again that his preference is [2:07:13] peace but iran must accept the reality of this situation and come to the negotiation table and [2:07:19] accept terms that are good for them but ultimately good for the world the diplomatic path if there's a [2:07:23] real diplomatic path i'm not always going to be one but if there's a real diplomatic path and we continue [2:07:28] to explore it steve and jared are working on that very hard if there is one there it could be one that [2:07:33] leads them to reconstruction to prosperity and to stability and to not posing a threat to the world [2:07:38] the alternative is growing isolation economic collapse and ultimately total defeat i know what [2:07:44] the right choice is for iran i hope that the people over there making decisions will make the right one [2:07:48] the last point i would make and it really is important for them to understand this is uh [2:07:52] they really shouldn't test the will of the united states at least not under president donald trump [2:07:56] he has proven time and again that he will back up what he says and if they test him ultimately they [2:08:01] will lose the hard way the easy way the long way the short way they will lose and with that uh it's [2:08:07] time for your questions so secretary why don't we start with you first i'm an independent journalist [2:08:14] secretary rubio have you seen any recent indications that iran is willing to give up this nuclear weapons [2:08:20] program that is credible verifiable and that would lead to an immediate de-escalation well look um this is [2:08:28] a long-standing problem for them right i mean they have wanted they have always said they don't want [2:08:32] a nuclear weapon that's because they've always said that they just don't mean it and why do you say [2:08:35] well how do you know they don't mean it well we don't mean it because they do all they're doing all [2:08:38] the things and historically have tried to do all the things that you do if you want a nuclear weapons [2:08:42] program for example they innovate and try to innovate long-range delivery missiles that now in some cases [2:08:48] are capable of reaching much of europe they uh they build these large underground centerfuges to for [2:08:54] enrichment activity there are many there are countries in the world that are involved in [2:08:58] the enrichment business but these guys do it in mountains and in caves and in hiding they've [2:09:02] always had secret components of their nuclear program undisclosed to the world and we know for a [2:09:07] fact that they retain highly enriched uranium at 60 percent that they that they did so and that has no [2:09:13] civilian use none zero whatsoever so they have an opportunity here to agree to something that will [2:09:18] make it clear that they're that they are not interested in one thing is to say we don't want a nuclear [2:09:22] weapon another thing is to do the things that prove you don't want a nuclear weapon by the way [2:09:26] if what iran wants is a civilian nuclear program for power plants and stuff like that there are a lot [2:09:31] of countries in the world that have that and they don't enrich they they import they import the enriched [2:09:36] material you know they could have that if that's what they wanted but they're not acting like that's [2:09:40] what they wanted they're acting like they want a military you know uh nuclear program that's unacceptable [2:09:45] so that's the process we're engaged in now to create that's the the object of this diplomacy [2:09:50] is to come up with some level of understanding about what are the topics that they've agreed [2:09:54] to negotiate on we don't have to have the actual agreement written out and one day this is highly [2:09:58] complex and highly technical but we have to have a diplomatic solution that is very clear about [2:10:03] the topics that they are willing to negotiate on and the extent and the concessions they're [2:10:07] willing to make at the front end in order to make those talks worthwhile that's what steve and [2:10:11] jared and the whole team is working on and i hope to have good news on it that's the outcome we [2:10:15] would prefer that's the outcome we would have preferred a year ago that's the outcome i think [2:10:19] most of us would have preferred a long time ago but that's not the option they've given us given [2:10:23] their activity all right can i there's no way i can figure out who to call on i'm just going to [2:10:27] like press right in the middle right there you right there yeah yeah in the back row thank you mr [2:10:32] president i'll i'll go to you next all right go ahead thank you secretary you're going right welcome to [2:10:38] the white house what's that talking to me sir yeah to you yes sir thank you i have two questions on two [2:10:44] separate issues that do they get two questions for these two questions there's a lot of people in [2:10:49] here that is all under your umbrella all right well you answer you can ask me two questions i'll give [2:10:53] you one answer thank you very much and i'll pick the one i like better thank you mr secretary the first [2:10:58] has to do with the blockade there are lawmakers from both parties who claim the blockade is an act [2:11:04] of war what do you say to that and my second question has to do with the fuel embargo of cuba how long [2:11:12] mr secretary will that last okay two things all right good i'll answer both your questions because [2:11:16] i like the second one too the first one on the blockade and so why do we have a blockade we have [2:11:20] a blockade because they are shut down the straits so i don't know which members of congress you're [2:11:24] talking to but here's what i would ask them i would ask everybody here it's very simple these guys have [2:11:29] shut down the straits of hormones this is what iran is saying we will shut down the straits no one can [2:11:33] go through no country in the world can go through unless we allow you to go through and you have to pay us [2:11:38] but our ships can go through meaning the iranian ships as much as they want that's crazy who would [2:11:42] agree to that so how are we going to have a situation where they get to close the straits [2:11:46] to everybody and the only people who are allowed to go through there a hundred percent without paying [2:11:50] anything are the iranians if you do that they'll keep the straits closed forever they're trying to [2:11:54] make this some new normal okay under no circumstances can we ever allow them to normalize the fact that [2:11:59] they get to blow up commercial ships and put mines in the water so the response to that is we're going [2:12:04] to blockade your ships if everyone's ships are not getting out your ships are not getting out either [2:12:09] that's not an act of war that's a defensive measure it's a counter to what they have decided to do [2:12:13] you know what is an act of war putting mines in the water why don't the members of congress whoever it [2:12:18] is is complaining about it they should be all over that these guys put mines in the water that alone [2:12:23] mining in the water is illegal period under any circumstances and they've done it let's this is [2:12:28] crazy stuff but this is what they've done on cuba oil blockade on cuba there's no oil blockade on [2:12:34] cuba per se here's what's happening with cuba okay cuba used to get free oil from venezuela used to [2:12:39] give them a bunch of free oil they would take like 60 of that oil and resell it for cash it wouldn't [2:12:44] even go to benefit the people so the only blockade that's happened is the cubans have decided i mean [2:12:48] the venezuelans have decided we're not giving you free oil anymore and you can only imagine nowadays [2:12:53] the way oil prices are no one's giving away free oil much less to a failed regime so the problem [2:12:58] of cuba is is worse okay their economic model doesn't work it doesn't work and the people who are in [2:13:04] charge can't fix it and the reason i can't fix it is not just because they're communists that's bad [2:13:08] enough but they're incompetent communists the the only thing worse than a communist is an incompetent [2:13:13] one and that's what so incompetent communists run that country they don't know how to fix it [2:13:16] they really don't and we have 90 miles from our shores a failed state that also happens to be [2:13:21] friendly territory for some of our adversaries so it's an unacceptable status quo and we'll be [2:13:26] addressing it but not today okay uh all right let's go to the front right there you are going [2:13:32] to the vatican to meet with the pope is this an attempt to smooth things over with the pope given [2:13:38] the rhetoric between president trump and leo no i mean it's a trip we had planned from before and [2:13:42] obviously we had some stuff that happened and no look there's a lot to talk about with the vatican [2:13:46] i'll give you one example the pope just returned from a trip to africa where the church is growing very [2:13:50] vibrantly and we have shared concerns about religious freedom religious uh freedom in [2:13:56] different parts of the world we'd love to talk to them about that the topic of cuba you know we gave [2:14:01] cuba six million dollars of humanitarian aid but obviously they won't let us distribute it we [2:14:04] distributed it through the church we'd like to do more uh we're willing to give more humanitarian aid to [2:14:10] cuba by the way distribute it through the church but the cuban regime has to allow us to do it they won't [2:14:13] allow us to give their own people more humanitarian aid and we're willing to do it through the church so [2:14:18] there's a lot to talk about and the president recently said that the pope is endangering a lot [2:14:23] of catholics as a result of his rhetoric around the iran war is that a sentiment well i don't think [2:14:28] that's an accurate description of what he said i think what the president basically said is that [2:14:31] iran can't have a nuclear weapon because they would use it against places that have a lot of catholics [2:14:35] and christians and others for that matter it goes back to the central point i think the president [2:14:39] without trying to speak for him but i think i can characterize it this way he doesn't understand why [2:14:44] anybody leave aside the pope the president and i for that matter i think most people [2:14:48] i cannot understand why anyone would think that it's a good idea for iran to ever have a nuclear [2:14:52] weapon look what they're doing with the straits right now they're holding the whole world hostage [2:14:56] they have these sailors you know on commercial ships that are going to starve to death out there [2:15:00] they don't care they don't care that this is melting down the economies around the world even of their [2:15:05] own allies this is what they're doing with the straits what do you think they would do if they had a [2:15:09] nuclear weapon they would hold the world hostage with that nuclear weapon that's what they would do they [2:15:14] would do exactly to the world with a nuclear weapon what they're doing now with the straits [2:15:17] and i think the president's point is how anyone cannot see that as an unacceptable outcome and [2:15:21] an unacceptable risk is beyond him it's puzzling and someone has to do something about it the [2:15:26] difference between this president and like the six presidents that preceded him were that he's the [2:15:31] only one that's actually been willing to do something about it everyone says iran can't have [2:15:34] a nuclear weapon but you got to do something about it at some point and he's been willing to address [2:15:37] that threat and that's what he promised he would do when he got elected by the way is address threats like [2:15:41] this thank you so much mr secretary can you put name tags on thank you so much mr secretary who [2:15:51] are you with who are you i'm with rudow media network okay mr secretary the president has said multiple [2:15:58] times that weapons were provided to the kurdish group is to pass on the iranian people however [2:16:03] kurdish political parties and the regional government says they have not received such weapons even some [2:16:08] claim these weapons remain in the u.s base in the region can you clarify who those weapons were given [2:16:14] to and whether you intend to retrieve them or still want to pass to the iranian people yeah look ultimately [2:16:20] what the president is expressing and i think has repeatedly is he wished the iranian people had [2:16:25] you know look he's heartbroken by these images you think about it you're an iranian okay you're unhappy [2:16:29] that your economy doesn't work for you you don't have freedom you don't have an opportunity to express [2:16:34] yourself you know you've got friends that have been shot in the head because they're out protesting [2:16:38] and he just it's heartbreaking to him to see that these people are abused in this way and have no [2:16:42] measures to take against their own government as a result of it by the way this goes back you guys [2:16:46] remember the protest in 2009 where they slaughtered people in the street this is a vicious regime guys [2:16:52] okay these are people that hang people from cranes in the town square so everyone can see they [2:16:57] they continue these executions of people and have done continue to do so for for over a decade and a [2:17:02] a half now and so i think what the president is expressing is the desire that he wishes the [2:17:08] iranian people had an ability to fight back against some of these things that are happening to them [2:17:11] and i would view that as distinct and separate from the specifics of this operation that was ongoing [2:17:17] before it concluded and certainly different from the operation that's going on now [2:17:25] regarding colombia mr secretary right behind you not colombia right there yes ma'am [2:17:29] mr secretary thank you so much on lebanon are we in a ceasefire or less fire and the second question [2:17:37] do you think you would be able to achieve an agreement between lebanon and israel without [2:17:43] risking a civil war in lebanon what are you doing with what are you doing no i got it i got the [2:17:49] just your question so look here's the challenge with lebanon okay there's no problem between the [2:17:53] lebanese government and the israeli government israel doesn't claim any land in lebanon belongs to them [2:17:58] and by and large i think a peace deal between lebanon and israel is imminently achievable and [2:18:02] should be the problem with israel and lebanon is not israel or lebanon it's hezbollah hezbollah operates [2:18:08] from inside of lebanese territory they terrorize and attack israelis but they also are inflicting [2:18:14] tremendous damage on the lebanese people the reason why lebanon gets attacked by israel is because of [2:18:19] hezbollah because hezbollah is hiding in some house launching rockets against israelis and then they get [2:18:23] hit so what you're seeing now is israeli responses to either attacks or perceived threats and this is [2:18:29] going to be this is not new this has been going on for a very long time what is our hope our hope is [2:18:34] to engage the lebanese and israeli governments under you know our mediation at the table to achieve this [2:18:40] and that is having lebanese armed forces and a lebanese government not just with a willingness but [2:18:45] with the capability to begin to challenge hezbollah and disarm them because the lebanese people are also [2:18:51] victims of hezbollah and by the way on the topic of hezbollah in lebanon who is behind hezbollah [2:18:57] why do they exist they're an agent of iran if you go through that middle east and you identify every [2:19:02] problem hamas hezbollah to some extent the houthis obviously and others behind every one of these groups [2:19:08] is tehran so apart from the nuclear weapons apart from all these other things these guys are behind [2:19:13] all the bad actors hezbollah is a wing it's an extension of iranian desire to destabilize the region [2:19:19] so we're very committed to this process it's not going to be easy you're asking me a complex [2:19:22] question you know this has been going on for a very long time it's not going to be easy we're [2:19:26] going to do everything we can to make sure that both sides continue to talk so that progress can [2:19:30] be made on some sort of permanent ceasefire that isn't constantly spoiled by hezbollah and by hezbollah [2:19:36] violence right in the middle i'm just i'm winging it guys okay right there yes you mentioned the two u.s [2:19:42] ships that safely crossed the strait of hormuz are other ships being told it's [2:19:47] safer to get back to regular levels or are we still going to see limits in place for the foreseeable [2:19:51] future for obvious reasons i'm not going to broadcast who we're talking to or who we're [2:19:54] telling them to move i mean we want these operations to be safe and i think as it unfolds and ships get [2:19:59] through we'll make those announcements after the fact just for operational security purposes but the [2:20:04] goal here is pretty simple establish a zone of transit that is protected by a bubble the united [2:20:09] states both naval and air assets and then allow ships who want to move to move through there and get to [2:20:14] market to begin to increase confidence in the ability to do so that doesn't happen in 12 hours [2:20:19] it takes time to set up that bubble and gain that confidence but that's the goal we have been in touch [2:20:23] we've been in touch i don't know with a bunch of different uh liners about moving and uh we're hoping [2:20:29] to continue to improve the security situation and we'll start to see some of that movement and we'll [2:20:33] announce it as it happens after the fact we're not going to be like broadcasting hey tomorrow at 12 ship x is [2:20:38] going to be coming through for obvious reasons because that degrades the security but we feel confident [2:20:43] we're going to be able to achieve that look it's not going to solve the whole straits problem it's [2:20:46] going to solve a lot of it but it's important to challenge what iran is doing now guys again i [2:20:51] wonder if you take anything away today and i can't tell you what to write but we iran cannot be allowed [2:20:56] to normalize this control of the streets it's completely unlawful illegal uh it's outrageous and [2:21:01] every country in the world should be joining us and condemning it and doing something about it but [2:21:05] the united states has stepped up and is trying to do something regarding colombia mr secretary we've had several [2:21:11] i'm sorry i'm i we'll see if we get to colombia today go ahead you guys have an election why don't [2:21:16] we talk to you like this for secretary john michael ross with daily mail i was curious about your [2:21:19] meeting with south com earlier there was a picture a map of cuba behind you what did you discuss with [2:21:25] south com south com about cuba and do you have any updates i'm not going to tell you what i've discussed [2:21:30] but it had to do something with cuba no i was well i mean cuba's in south com you know it's the closest [2:21:35] part and so the second point i was there our ambassadors were in from the whole western hemisphere i was [2:21:40] addressing them you know meeting the general who just took command of south com and there happened [2:21:44] to be a map of cuba and i said it'd be good if we took a picture in front of that map because it's [2:21:48] like the closest thing in south com to the united states so there it is um we have maps of other [2:21:52] countries uh but uh but but um but huh no they didn't have that map [2:22:02] in the red right there in the red in the red okay can i ask you in spanish or can i yeah you can [2:22:08] answer his family you can ask me but they'll have to translate for them what you asked me [2:22:12] i'll say it in english and if you can answer in both languages today the webpage of the state [2:22:18] department and there's still a 25 million dollar bounty on the secretary of interior for drug [2:22:25] trafficking and narco terrorism i was wondering if that has been put on hold or if you're negotiating [2:22:30] with president to turn him over yeah i don't have any updates for you on that the website is what it is [2:22:37] and that's where it stands that policy hasn't changed but i guys i mean let's be mature here [2:22:41] a little bit i'm not going to tell you about what we're talking about with the leader of these [2:22:44] countries the policy united states on that the policy united states on that topic hasn't changed [2:23:01] when it does you know obviously will inform you but i don't have any news for you on that today [2:23:04] right there in the green i'll get to you guys all the tv people [2:23:12] all right go ahead i'm sorry go i'm learning they gave me a little map i don't know where i put it [2:23:16] of the people here some of you have like red x's i'm kidding no it's not true go ahead thank you mr [2:23:21] secretary the average price of gas in the country right now is four dollars and fifty cents do you [2:23:26] have a thought on how long americans are supposed to kind of accept this do you think it will affect [2:23:31] republicans majorities in the midterm well i don't i'm not going to speculate on the politics of it [2:23:36] you can tell me look it's obviously being driven by global uh events that that was true during the [2:23:40] russia ukraine war as well where you saw that come up it's one look we don't benefit from the straits as [2:23:45] much as other countries i don't know you've seen what the gas prices are like in other parts of the [2:23:48] world that are really suffering big time um so we're very fortunate that the united states i believe [2:23:52] right now is like the world's largest net exporter of oil and natural gas as a result not because [2:23:57] of this world because we have this capacity so we've been insulated to some degree we're obviously [2:24:01] still vulnerable to some extent to global prices and so but in the end i mean we're more insulated [2:24:06] than other countries even though that's not welcome news to americans that are paying more at the pump [2:24:10] no doubt about it um and and it certainly is one of the circumstances of it there are people that [2:24:14] we're predicting would be much higher at this point but we're not taking that for granted suffice it to [2:24:18] say that this is think about it this way everybody needs to think about it this way if iran had a nuclear [2:24:23] weapon and they decided to close the straits and make our gas prices like nine dollars a gallon or [2:24:28] eight dollars a gallon we wouldn't be able to do anything about it because they have a nuclear weapon [2:24:33] and a nuclear-armed iran could do whatever the hell they want with the straits and there's nothing [2:24:37] anyone would be able to do about it um and that's one of the many reasons apart from like the massive [2:24:42] loss of life and a nuclear strike why iran can never have a nuclear weapon i mean so this is an example [2:24:47] of if they had a nuclear weapon they closed the straits and they would tell the world what are you going to [2:24:51] do about it we have a nuclear weapon we can attack you with it that's the world none of us want to [2:24:55] leave behind it won't happen under this president's watch but some future president and future you [2:24:59] know and the future americans will have to deal with this so just one more example of why these [2:25:02] guys can never be allowed to have a nuclear weapon right there in the black right you in the black [2:25:08] yes ma'am thank you mr secretary where are you no right there you you i'm sorry you both are wearing [2:25:13] black thank you she's closer no you don't have black you have blue on i'm colorblind but i know blue and black [2:25:18] right there yes ma'am no no you the first one i called on thank you this is chaos guys go ahead [2:25:24] welcome to the white house uh you've long been a leading voice on human rights in china and so [2:25:30] including religious persecution and forced organ harvesting so uh president trump prepares to meet [2:25:35] xi jinping next week do you expect human rights concerns to be on the table well we always raise those [2:25:40] issues and they remain true and i think we've proven in some cases it's most effective to raise them in [2:25:44] the appropriate setting but we always raise those issues they're important to us among with others [2:25:48] of course but uh those issues remain prominent in our view and in our conversation about these things [2:25:53] um and and we'll continue to raise them in the appropriate forums all right let's get to the [2:25:58] front these guys are going to get mad go ahead i'm sorry thank you segment can the associated press [2:26:02] you mentioned earlier that some countries have privately and publicly indicated their willingness to help [2:26:06] with project freedom can you say how many have reached out to the u.s with the offers of help and what kind of [2:26:12] capabilities well i mean that no thank you for your question that's a good question i mean [2:26:16] multiple countries have said we got to do something about it and fix it like dozens or single digits or [2:26:21] more than 100 i don't know i don't put a number on it i would just tell you that here's what i would [2:26:25] say about it the capabilities is the issue okay a lot of countries would love to do something about [2:26:29] they don't have a navy right or they can't get there in time or they can't others you know or less you [2:26:33] know that some unfortunately do have a navy are saying oh we'll be involved but we'll be involved after [2:26:38] it's over well after it's over it's kind of like you know that makes sense so you know we'd like to [2:26:44] have it now there may be some utility in a post you know closure mission i'm not downplaying that but [2:26:51] i think that's been the challenge but there are other ways they can help unique ways that they can [2:26:54] help and i don't want to get into who these countries are for obvious reasons you know because [2:26:58] they they are prepared to help us in certain ways but maybe don't want that publicly disclosed for no other [2:27:03] reason than an impact of foreign policy it could have some domestic ramifications but ultimately i don't [2:27:07] want to mislead you the primary responsibility for this project freedom is on the united states [2:27:12] because we're the only country that can project power in that part of the world the way we're doing [2:27:16] now we're the only ones that can do it and we're going to do it as a favor to the world understand [2:27:20] this this is a favor to the world because it's their ships that are stranded it's their fuel supplies [2:27:25] that are stranded by the way it's their humanitarian there's humanitarian aid destined for different [2:27:29] countries in the world that's stranded in the persian gulf right now um it's it's the fertilizer that [2:27:34] they need for their food and crops that's stranded in the person not our fertilizer their fertilizer [2:27:39] so we want to be helpful and that's why the president stepped forward because we're the [2:27:42] only ones that can frankly we're the only ones that can [2:27:45] mr secretary on the rising oil and gas prices the president has said that this is a small price [2:27:50] to pay for getting rid of a nuclear weapon but 10 weeks in are we any closer to getting rid of [2:27:55] iran's nuclear material yeah but look here's the the way to think about iran and this is what i [2:27:59] described at the very beginning of this what was iran's plan you have to understand what their plan was [2:28:03] their plan was they were going to build this conventional shield where they would have so [2:28:06] many thousands of missiles and drones and rockets that they couldn't be attacked and behind that [2:28:11] conventional shield that they were trying to build they would then break out and do whatever they [2:28:14] wanted with their nuclear program they no longer have that conventional shield okay we told you guys [2:28:18] from the very beginning and and and we're very consistent in this messaging the operation that has [2:28:24] concluded was going to destroy their navy they have no navy left they don't not a navy they have small boats [2:28:29] in boston wayland but they don't have a navy left they don't have an air force i challenge you when [2:28:33] is the last time you read or heard about an iranian jet flying anywhere they don't have an air force [2:28:38] their missile launching capability has been substantially degraded and their industrial base their defense [2:28:43] industrial base has been severely severely damaged so their ability to build a shield behind which they [2:28:49] could hide their nuclear program was wiped out that's a very substantial achievement and that was the purpose of [2:28:55] this operation from day one nuclear material in order for this war to end well that's one of the [2:28:59] topics that needs to be discussed i don't know about i think you're linking it the the operation is over [2:29:04] epic fury is a president notified congress we're done with that stage of it okay we're now on to this [2:29:09] project of freedom as far as a negotiation is concerned i think the president's been clear that part [2:29:14] of the negotiation process has to be not just the enrichment but what happens to this material that's buried [2:29:19] deep somewhere that they have still have access to if they ever wanted to dig it out that has to be [2:29:24] addressed and that's being addressed in the negotiation i'm not going to go further on what [2:29:28] progress has been made on that topic because i don't want to endanger the negotiations but suffice it to [2:29:32] say that the president and this entire team is aware of the centrality of that question and that will [2:29:37] have to be addressed one way or the other right there yes thank you thank you secretary i have another [2:29:45] two-part question for you okay uh first are you taking part in those negotiations that you just [2:29:50] detailed there and then secondly president trump has made it clear that the u.s doesn't rely on the [2:29:56] strait of hormones so why should americans even care about uh project freedom and these ship shipping [2:30:02] uh tankers going through well i think on the second point is the one i want to address first and that [2:30:06] is why should americans care and why it matters to us because ultimately these things have an impact [2:30:10] on the global economy which ultimately has an impact on our economy in the long term that's number one [2:30:15] number two because if we live in a world where a rogue state like this iranian regime is allowed [2:30:21] to claim as a new normal control over international shipping lane it will not be long before you see [2:30:26] that happen in multiple shipping lanes around the world i can identify for you six or seven six or [2:30:32] seven vital shipping lanes around the world that some countries can decide guess what if iran was able [2:30:37] to do it we're going to do it too we're not going to start charging tolls and it'll get closer and [2:30:41] closer to us that's unacceptable we cannot live in a world there's a lot of time and energy been [2:30:46] invested in behind the idea that international waters are free for the free flow of goods the [2:30:51] stuff we make in this country and export has to go through international shipping lanes and for us to [2:30:55] live in a world where a country can decide now we own the international shipping lane and you have to [2:31:00] pay us if you want to use it that is a normal that we will never be able to accept and that's what [2:31:04] the iranians are trying to get us to do so we're doing two things about it and we haven't talked about the [2:31:08] second one enough the second thing we're doing is we're going to the un everybody loves the un [2:31:12] right we're trying to go to the un and we're saying okay countries of the world condemn this [2:31:17] say that it is it is wrong for you to put mines there it is wrong for you to shoot at commercial [2:31:22] vessels guys that's what we're talking about here these guys are bombing commercial vessels they're not [2:31:26] bombing naval vessels they're bombing commercial tankers it's just outrageous that needs to stop and and [2:31:33] and it needs to end the and if it doesn't then the world should be diplomatically and economically [2:31:37] isolating iran as well but if we live in a world where global shipping lanes can be taken over by [2:31:42] countries that'll have a direct impact on americans in the short and the long term and we can't let [2:31:46] it start by iran doing it but and we're the only ones that can do anything about it all right go ahead [2:31:57] mr secretary does the president intend to press beijing on its taiwan policy when he visits china next week [2:32:03] i'm sure taiwan will be a topic of conversation it always is as you know we understand that the [2:32:08] chinese understand our position on that topic we understand theirs and i think both parties [2:32:13] i got without you know getting ahead of myself of what will happen in the talks but i think both [2:32:17] countries understand that it is neither one of our interests to see anything destabilize happen in [2:32:22] that part of the world we don't need any destabilizing events to occur with regards to taiwan or anywhere [2:32:27] in the indo-pacific and i think that's to the mutual benefit of both the united states and the chinese [2:32:32] exact number is but i know a number of those fast boats have now been targeted [2:32:39] and will continue to be if they pose a threat to our forces we'll shoot down drones we'll shoot down [2:32:43] missiles but it's defensive in nature this is defensive so if you hear stories about attacks [2:32:48] and launching of firing back and forth it's not back and forth we are only responding if attacked [2:32:53] first this is a defensive operation and that's what's occurring here just about the importance of [2:32:58] the straits for a moment this is approximately a quarter of the world's oil trade along with significant [2:33:03] volumes of fuel and fertilizer that that operate through the straits of hormuz the the iranian [2:33:08] regime cannot be allowed to dictate who uses this vital waterway i don't think this is also being [2:33:13] reported enough maybe you are reporting i don't read everyone i don't know many damn outlets here i [2:33:17] don't know who you all are but um i mean i know who some of you are but i don't know all of you are [2:33:21] but but but i will say this about it um this is an international waterway okay this is an international [2:33:27] waterway and international law is very clear and i love it because everybody always talks about [2:33:31] international law and this international law on this is very clear international waterways [2:33:35] no country can control them there is no international law that allows you to say i'm going to put mines [2:33:40] in an international body of water and i'm going to blow up ships that don't listen to us and try to go [2:33:44] through that's what iran is doing this is a criminal act and someone needs to do something about it [2:33:50] something needs to be done it's completely illegal completely illegitimate and completely unacceptable [2:33:55] and that's why the united states military is guiding stranded commercial [2:33:58] ships safely through the strait and is working to restore freedom of navigation and putting an [2:34:02] end to these efforts to glow to hold the global economy hostage so far as a proof of concept and [2:34:08] as a proof of function two u.s flag merchant ships have successfully transferred the strait of hormuz [2:34:13] in the first stages of this project and they're now safely on their way the u.s military is deploying [2:34:19] the necessary assets to extend this defensive umbrella over commercial shipping but there should be no [2:34:25] mistake and as i said this already this is a defensive operation i want to reiterate that point [2:34:29] this is important to understand if no shots are fired at these ships and no shots are fired at us [2:34:34] we're not firing shots but if we're fired on we will respond and we will respond with lethal efficiency [2:34:40] the assets supporting this project by the way include guided missile destroyers over 100 land and [2:34:45] sea-based aircraft multi-domain unmanned platforms and 15 000 of the finest military service members on the [2:34:52] planet these forces have already destroyed as i told you earlier i thought it was six it's seven iranian [2:34:57] fast boats that failed to heed our warnings and by fast boats we're talking about you know some of [2:35:02] these things look like boston whalers okay so these are not like navy ships but nonetheless they come fast [2:35:07] at these boats try to swarm them try to harm them we're not going to let that happen so seven of them [2:35:11] now sit at the bottom of the sea along with by the way the rest of iran's navy that's where you can find [2:35:16] their navy today and we're going to continue to systematically clear this passageway through the straits [2:35:21] to restore freedom of navigation now while this project steadily progresses operation epic fury [2:35:27] economic fury i'm sorry continues to impose maximum pressure on the iranian regime and what remains [2:35:34] of their already frail economy today inflation in iran is 70 percent and their currency is in total and [2:35:41] complete freefall the u.s sanctions enforcement is stepping up it's moving in lockstep with the naval [2:35:46] blockade to degrade iran's capacity to generate to move and repatriate revenue it directly targets [2:35:53] the regime's primary revenue life lifelines the blockade alone is costing iran as much as 500 [2:36:00] million dollars a day in lost revenue 90 of total iranian trade has been halted causing permanent [2:36:07] damage to iran's oil infrastructure as wells are forced to shut in again all of this is in response [2:36:13] to their piracy okay it cannot be that you have these straits and they blow up any ship that moves [2:36:18] and the only ships they get to go through were theirs you can't have a situation in which the [2:36:21] straits are close to everyone else but they benefit from the piracy that can't happen that's why the [2:36:26] blockade is in place and that's why these sanctions are crippling them any foreign financial and [2:36:31] by the way treasury is now identifying and cutting off every dollar of revenue that's flowing to this [2:36:36] regime and so look any foreign financial institution or commercial actor that enables iran sanctions [2:36:41] evasion is going to face secondary sanctions exposure and a loss of access to the u.s financial [2:36:47] system as president trump has said and the facts clearly bear out the united states of america holds [2:36:52] all the cards there is no scenario here in which if they decide to join a ladder of escalation they [2:36:58] wind up getting the last say but our preference is for these straits to be opened to the way they're [2:37:04] supposed to be open back to the way it was anyone can use it no mines in the water nobody paying tolls [2:37:10] that's what we have to get back to and that's the goal here every day the conflict continues however [2:37:14] our leverage on iran will continue to increase and their position will continue to weaken especially [2:37:19] as the blockade really begins to bite in conjunction with the sanctions so look the times [2:37:24] come for iran to make a sensible choice and it's not easy for them to do that obviously because they [2:37:28] have a fracture in their own leadership system and apart from that i mean the top people in that [2:37:33] government are to say the least um you know um they're insane in the brain and so we need to [2:37:40] address that and it's difficult because it's hard to get past that in their system but it's important [2:37:44] for them to make a sensible choice and the one that's right for their people the president our [2:37:48] president has proven time and again that his preference is peace but iran must accept the [2:37:53] reality of this situation and come to the negotiation table and accept terms that are good for them but [2:37:58] ultimately good for the world the diplomatic path if there's a real diplomatic path [2:38:02] i'm not always going to be one but if there's a real diplomatic path and we continue to explore it [2:38:06] steve and jared are working on that very hard if there is one there it could be one that leads [2:38:10] them to reconstruction to prosperity and to stability and to not posing a threat to the world [2:38:15] the alternative is growing isolation economic collapse and ultimately total defeat i know what [2:38:21] the right choice is for iran i hope that the people over there making decisions will make the right one [2:38:26] the last point i would make and it really is important for them to understand this is uh they really [2:38:30] shouldn't test the will of the united states at least not under president donald trump he has proven [2:38:34] time and again that he will back up what he says and if they test him ultimately they will lose the [2:38:40] hard way the easy way the long way the short way they will lose and with that uh it's time for your [2:38:45] questions so secretary i want to start with you first i'm an independent journalist secretary rubio have [2:38:52] you seen any recent indications that iran is willing to give up its nuclear weapons program [2:38:58] that is credible verifiable and that would lead to an immediate de-escalation well look um this is a [2:39:05] long-standing problem for them right i mean they have wanted they have always said they don't want [2:39:09] a nuclear weapon that's because they've always said that they just don't mean it and why do you say [2:39:12] well how do you know they don't mean it well we don't mean it because they do all they're doing all [2:39:16] the things and historically have tried to do all the things that you do if you want a nuclear weapons [2:39:20] program for example they innovate and try to innovate long-range delivery missiles that now in some cases are [2:39:25] capable of reaching much of europe they uh they build these large underground centerfuges to for [2:39:31] enrichment activity there are many there are countries in the world that are involved in the [2:39:35] enrichment business but these guys do it in mountains and in caves and in hiding they've always [2:39:40] had secret components of their nuclear program undisclosed to the world and we know for a fact that [2:39:45] they retain highly enriched uranium at 60 percent that they that they did so and that has no civilian use [2:39:51] none zero whatsoever so they have an opportunity here to agree to something that will make it clear [2:39:56] that they're that they're not interested in one thing is to say we don't want a nuclear weapon another [2:40:00] thing is to do the things that prove you don't want a nuclear weapon by the way if what iran wants is a [2:40:05] civilian nuclear program for power plants and stuff like that there are a lot of countries in the world [2:40:09] that have that and they don't enrich they they import they import the enriched material you know they [2:40:15] could have that if that's what they wanted but they're not acting like that's what they wanted they're [2:40:18] acting like they want a military you know nuclear program that's unacceptable so that's the process [2:40:23] we're engaged in now to create that's the the object of this diplomacy is to come up with some [2:40:29] level of understanding about what are the topics that they've agreed to negotiate on we don't have to [2:40:33] have the actual agreement written out and one day this is highly complex and highly technical but [2:40:37] we have to have a diplomatic solution that is very clear about the topics that they are willing to [2:40:42] negotiate on and the extent and the concessions they're willing to make at the front end in order to make those [2:40:47] talks worthwhile that's what steve and jared and the whole team is working on and i hope to have [2:40:51] good news on it that's the outcome we would prefer that's the outcome we would have preferred a year [2:40:55] ago that's the outcome i think most of us would have preferred a long time ago but that's not the [2:41:00] option they've given us given their activity all right can i there's no way i can figure out who [2:41:04] to call on i'm just going to like press right in the middle right there you right there yeah in the back [2:41:08] road thank you thank you mr president i'll i'll go to you next all right go ahead thank you [2:41:14] secretary you're going right welcome to the white house what's that talking to me sir yeah to you [2:41:19] yes sir thank you i have two questions on two separate issues that come they get two questions for [2:41:24] these two questions there's a lot of people in here all under your umbrella all right well you answer [2:41:29] you can ask me two questions i'll give you one answer thank you very much and i'll pick the one i like [2:41:33] better thank you mr secretary the first has to do with the blockade there are lawmakers from both [2:41:38] parties who claim the blockade is an act of war what do you say to that and my second question has [2:41:45] to do with the fuel embargo of cuba how long mr secretary will that last okay two things all [2:41:52] right good i'll answer both your questions because i like the second one too the first one on the [2:41:55] blockade and so why do we have a blockade we have a blockade because they are shut down the straits [2:42:00] so i don't know which members of congress you're talking to but here's what i would ask them i would [2:42:03] ask everybody here it's very simple these guys have shut down the straits of hormuz this is what iran [2:42:08] is saying we will shut down the straits no one can go through no country in the world can go [2:42:12] through unless we allow you to go through and you have to pay us but our ships can go through meaning [2:42:17] the iranian ships as much as they want that's crazy who would agree to that so how are we going [2:42:21] to have a situation where they get to close the straits to everybody and the only people who are [2:42:25] allowed to go through there 100 without paying anything are the iranians if you do that they'll keep [2:42:29] the straits closed forever they're trying to make this some new normal okay under no circumstances can [2:42:35] we ever allow them to normalize the fact that they get to blow up commercial ships and put mines in [2:42:39] the water so the response to that is we're going to blockade your ships if everyone's ships are not [2:42:44] getting out your ships are not getting out either that's not an act of war that's a defensive measure [2:42:48] it's a counter to what they have decided to do you know what is an act of war putting mines in the [2:42:53] water why don't the members of congress whoever it is is complaining about it they should be all over [2:42:57] that these guys put mines in the water that alone you mining in the water is illegal period under any [2:43:03] circumstances and they've done it let's this is crazy stuff but this is what they've done on cuba [2:43:08] oil blockade on cuba there's no oil blockade on cuba per se here's what's happening with cuba okay [2:43:13] cuba used to get free oil from venezuela used to give them a bunch of free oil they would take like [2:43:18] 60 percent of that oil and resell it for cash it wouldn't even go to benefit the people so the only [2:43:23] blockade that's happened is the cubans have decided i mean the venezuelans have decided we're not [2:43:27] giving you free oil anymore and you can only imagine nowadays the way oil prices are no one's giving away free [2:43:32] oil much less to a failed regime so the problem of cuba is is worse okay their economic model [2:43:38] doesn't work doesn't work and the people who are in charge can't fix it and the reason i can't fix [2:43:44] it is not just because they're communists that's bad enough but they're incompetent communists [2:43:47] the the only thing worse than a communist is an incompetent one and that's what so [2:43:51] incompetent communists run that country they don't know how to fix it they really don't and [2:43:55] we have 90 miles from our shores a failed state that also happens to be friendly territory for [2:43:59] some of our adversaries so it's an unacceptable status quo i will be addressing it but not today [2:44:04] okay uh all right let's go to the front right there secretary rubia uh you are going to the vatican [2:44:10] to meet with the pope is this an attempt to smooth things over with the pope given the rhetoric between [2:44:17] president trump no i mean it's a trip we had planned from before and obviously we had some stuff that [2:44:21] happened and no look there's a lot to talk about with the vatican i'll give you one example the pope just [2:44:25] returned from a trip to africa where the church is growing very vibrantly and we have shared concerns [2:44:30] about religious freedom religious uh freedom in different parts of the world we'd love to talk to [2:44:35] them about that the topic of cuba you know we gave cuba six million dollars of humanitarian aid but [2:44:40] obviously they won't let us distribute it we distributed it through the church we'd like to do more [2:44:45] we're willing to give more humanitarian aid to cuba by the way distributed through the church but the [2:44:49] cuban regime has to allow us to do it they won't allow us to give their own people more humanitarian aid [2:44:54] and we're willing to do it through the church so there's a lot to talk about the president recently [2:44:58] said that the pope is endangering a lot of catholics as a result of his rhetoric around the iran war is [2:45:04] that a sentiment well i don't think that's an accurate description of what he said i think what [2:45:07] the president basically said is that iran can't have a nuclear weapon because they would use it against [2:45:11] places that have a lot of catholics and christians and others for that matter it goes back to the [2:45:15] central point i think the president without trying to speak for him but i think i can characterize it this way [2:45:20] he doesn't understand why anybody leave aside the pope the president and i for that matter i think [2:45:25] most people i cannot understand why anyone would think that it's a good idea for iran to ever have [2:45:29] a nuclear weapon look what they're doing with the straits right now they're holding the whole world [2:45:33] hostage they have these sailors you know on commercial ships that are going to starve to [2:45:37] death out there they don't care they don't care that this is melting down the economies around the [2:45:42] world even of their own allies this is what they're doing with the straits what do you think they [2:45:46] would do if they had a nuclear weapon they would hold the world hostage with that nuclear weapon [2:45:50] that's what they would do they would do exactly to the world with a nuclear weapon what they're [2:45:53] doing now with the straits and i think the president's point is how anyone cannot see [2:45:57] that as an unacceptable outcome and an unacceptable risk is beyond him it's puzzling and someone has to [2:46:02] do something about it the difference between this president and like the six presidents that [2:46:06] preceded him were that he's the only one that's actually been willing to do something about it [2:46:10] everyone says iran can't have a nuclear weapon but you got to do something about it at some point [2:46:14] and he's been willing to address that threat and that's what he promised he would do when he [2:46:17] got elected by the way is address threats like this thank you so much can you put name tags on [2:46:27] thank you so much mr secretary who are you with i'm with rudow media network okay [2:46:33] mr secretary the president has said multiple times that weapons were provided to the kurdish group is to [2:46:38] pass on the iranian people however kurdish political parties and the regional government [2:46:43] says they have not received such weapons even some claim these weapons remain in the u.s base in the [2:46:49] region can you clarify who those weapons were given to and whether you intend to retrieve them or still [2:46:55] want to pass to the iranian people yeah look ultimately what the president is expressing and [2:46:59] i think has repeatedly is he wished the iranian people had you know look he's heartbroken by these [2:47:04] images you think about it you're an iranian okay you're unhappy that your economy doesn't work for you [2:47:09] you don't have freedom you don't have an opportunity to express yourself you know you've got friends that [2:47:13] have been shot in the head because they're out protesting and he just it's heartbreaking to him [2:47:17] to see that these people are abused in this way and have no measures to take against their own [2:47:21] government as a result of it by the way this goes back if you guys remember the protest in 2009 where [2:47:26] they slaughtered people in the street this is a vicious regime guys okay these are people that hang [2:47:31] people from cranes in the town square so everyone can see they've they continue these executions of [2:47:36] people and and have done continue to do so for for over a decade and a half now and so i think [2:47:41] what the president is expressing is the desire that he wishes the iranian people had an ability [2:47:46] to fight back against some of these things that are happening to them and i would view that as [2:47:50] distinct and separate from the specifics of this operation that was ongoing before it concluded and [2:47:56] certainly different from the operation that's going on now right there in the [2:48:01] regarding colombia mr secretary right behind you not colombia right there yes ma'am mr secretary thank [2:48:08] you so much on lebanon are we in a ceasefire or less fire and the second question do you think you would [2:48:15] be able to achieve a an agreement between lebanon and israel without risking a civil war in lebanon what [2:48:22] are you doing with what are you doing no i got it i got the just your question so look here's the the [2:48:28] challenge with lebanon okay there's no problem between the lebanese government and the israeli [2:48:32] government israel doesn't claim any land in lebanon belongs to them and by and large i think a peace [2:48:37] deal between lebanon and israel is imminently achievable and should be the problem with israel [2:48:42] lebanon is not israel or lebanon it's hezbollah hezbollah operates from inside of lebanese territory [2:48:47] they terrorize and attack israelis but they also are inflicting tremendous damage on the lebanese [2:48:52] people the reason why lebanon gets attacked by israel is because of hezbollah because hezbollah's [2:48:58] hiding in some house launching rockets against israelis and then they get hit so what you're [2:49:02] seeing now is israeli responses to either attacks or perceived threats and this is going to be this [2:49:08] is not new this has been going on for a very long time what is our hope our hope is to engage the [2:49:12] lebanese and israeli governments under you know our mediation at the table to achieve this and that is [2:49:18] having lebanese armed forces and a lebanese government not just with a willingness but with [2:49:23] the capability to begin to challenge hezbollah and disarm them because the lebanese people are [2:49:28] also victims of hezbollah and by the way on the topic of hezbollah in lebanon who is behind hezbollah [2:49:35] why do they exist they're an agent of iran if you go through that middle east and you identify every [2:49:39] problem hamas hezbollah to some extent the houthis obviously and others behind every one of these groups [2:49:45] is tehran so apart from the nuclear weapons apart from all these other things these guys are behind all [2:49:50] the bad actors hezbollah is a wing it's an extension of iranian desire to destabilize the region so [2:49:56] we're very committed to this process it's not going to be easy you're asking me a complex [2:50:00] question you know this has been going on for a very long time it's not going to be easy we're [2:50:03] going to do everything we can to make sure that both sides continue to talk so that progress can be [2:50:07] made on some sort of permanent ceasefire that isn't constantly spoiled by hezbollah and by hezbollah [2:50:13] violence i'm just i'm winging it guys okay right there yes you mentioned the two u.s ships that [2:50:20] safely cross the strait of hormuz are other ships being told it's safer to get back to regular levels [2:50:26] or are we still going to see limits in place well for the foreseeable future for obvious reasons i'm [2:50:30] not going to broadcast who we're talking to or who we're telling them to move i mean we want these [2:50:33] operations to be safe and i think as it unfolds and ships get through we'll make those announcements [2:50:38] after the fact just for operational security purposes but the goal here is pretty simple establish a [2:50:43] zone of transit that is protected by a bubble the united states both naval and air assets [2:50:49] and then allow ships who want to move to move through there and get to market to begin to [2:50:53] increase confidence in the ability to do so that doesn't happen in 12 hours it takes time to set [2:50:57] up that bubble and gain that confidence but that's the goal we have been in touch we've been in touch i [2:51:01] don't know with a bunch of different uh liners about moving and uh we're hoping to continue to improve [2:51:07] the security situation and we'll start to see some of that movement and we'll announce it as it happens [2:51:12] after the fact we're not going to be like broadcasting hey tomorrow at 12 ship x is going [2:51:15] to be coming through for obvious reasons because that degrades the security but we feel confident [2:51:20] we're going to be able to achieve that look it's not going to solve the whole straits problem it's [2:51:23] going to solve a lot of it but it's important to challenge what iran is doing now guys again i [2:51:28] wonder if you take anything away today and i can't tell you what to write but we iran cannot be [2:51:33] allowed to normalize this control of the streets it's completely unlawful illegal uh it's outrageous [2:51:38] and every country in the world should be joining us and condemning it and doing something about it [2:51:42] but the united states has stepped up and is trying to do something regarding colombia mr [2:51:47] secretary i'm sorry we'll see if we get to colombia today go ahead you guys have an election [2:51:53] now why don't we talk to you like mr secretary john michael ross with daily mail i was curious about [2:51:57] your meeting with south com earlier there was a picture a map of cuba behind you what did you discuss [2:52:02] with south com south com about cuba and do you have any updates on i'm not going to tell you what i [2:52:06] discussed with south com but but it had to do something with cuba no i was well i mean cuba's [2:52:11] in south com you know it's the closest part and so the second point i was there our ambassadors were [2:52:15] in from the whole western hemisphere i was addressing them you know meeting the general who just took [2:52:20] command to south com and there happened to be a map of cuba and i said it'd be good if we took a picture [2:52:24] in front of that map because it's like the closest thing in south com to the united states so there it is [2:52:29] um we have maps of other countries uh but uh but but um but huh no they didn't have that map [2:52:36] them in the red right there in the red in the red okay can i ask you in spanish or can i yeah you [2:52:46] can answer in spanish you can ask me they'll have to translate for them what you asked i'll say it [2:52:50] in english and if you can answer in both languages today the webpage of the state department and there's [2:52:56] still a 25 million dollar bounty on the secretary of interior for drug trafficking and narco terrorism [2:53:04] i was wondering if that has been put on hold or if you're negotiating with president desi rodriguez [2:53:10] to turn him over yeah i don't have any updates for you on that the website is what it is and that's [2:53:15] where it stands that policy hasn't changed but i guys i mean let's be mature here a little bit i'm [2:53:19] not going to tell you about what we're talking about with the leader in these countries [2:53:22] el departamento de estado sigue considerando a diosgado cabello un narcoterrorista y un narcotraficante [2:53:28] the politics of the united states on that the policy united states on that topic hasn't changed [2:53:38] when it does you know obviously will inform you but i don't have any news for you on that today [2:53:43] right there in the green i'll get to you guys are you guys all the tv people [2:53:47] all right go ahead i'm sorry go i'm learning i they gave me a little map i don't know where [2:53:53] i put it of the people here some of you have like red x's i'm kidding no it's not true go ahead [2:53:58] thank you mr secretary the average price of gas in the country right now is four dollars and 50 cents [2:54:03] do you have a thought on how long americans are supposed to kind of accept this do you think it [2:54:08] will affect republicans majorities in the midterm well i don't i'm not going to speculate on the [2:54:12] politics of it uh you can tell me look it's obviously being driven by global uh events that that was [2:54:17] true during the russia ukraine war as well where you saw that come up it's one look we don't benefit [2:54:21] from the straits as much as other countries i don't know you've seen what the gas prices are [2:54:24] like in other parts of the world that are really suffering big time um so we're very fortunate that [2:54:29] the united states i believe right now is like the world's largest net exporter of oil and natural gas [2:54:34] as a result not because of this world because we have this capacity so we've been insulated to some [2:54:37] degree we're obviously still vulnerable to some extent to global prices and so but in the end i mean [2:54:42] we're more insulated than other countries even though that's not welcome news to americans that are paying [2:54:46] more at the pump no doubt about it um and and it certainly is one of the circumstances of it there [2:54:51] are people that we're predicting would be much higher at this point but we're not taking that for granted [2:54:55] suffice it to say that this is think about it this way everybody needs to think about it this way if [2:55:00] iran had a nuclear weapon and they decided to close the straits and make our gas prices like nine dollars [2:55:05] a gallon or eight dollars a gallon we wouldn't be able to do anything about it because they have a [2:55:08] nuclear weapon or and a nuclear armed iran could do whatever the hell they want with the straits [2:55:14] and there's nothing anyone would be able to do about it um and that's one of the many reasons [2:55:19] apart from like the massive loss of life and a nuclear strike why iran can never have a nuclear [2:55:23] weapon i mean so this is an example of if they had a nuclear weapon they closed the straits and they [2:55:27] would tell the world what are you going to do about it we have a nuclear weapon we can attack you with it [2:55:31] that's the world none of us want to leave behind it won't happen under this president's watch but some [2:55:35] future president and future you know and the future americans will have to deal with this so just one more [2:55:39] example of why these guys can never be allowed to have a nuclear weapon right there in the black [2:55:45] right you in the black yes ma'am thank you mr secretary where you no right there you [2:55:49] oh me i'm sorry you both are wearing black thank you she's closer no you don't have black you have [2:55:53] blue on i'm colorblind but i know blue and black right there yes ma'am no no you the first one i called [2:55:57] on thank you thank you this is chaos guys go ahead welcome to the white house uh you've long been a leading [2:56:05] voice on human rights in china and so including religious persecution and forced organ harvesting [2:56:10] so uh president trump prepares to meet xi jinping next week do you expect human rights concerns to [2:56:15] be on the table well we always raise those issues and they remain true and i think we've proven in [2:56:20] some cases it's most effective to raise them in the appropriate setting but we always raise those [2:56:23] issues they're important to us among with others of course but those issues remain prominent in our [2:56:28] view and in our conversation about these things um and and we'll continue to raise them in the [2:56:32] appropriate forums all right let's get to the front these guys are going to get mad go ahead i'm [2:56:37] sorry thank you so much in the associated press you mentioned earlier that some countries are [2:56:41] privately and publicly indicated their willingness to help with project freedom can you say how many [2:56:46] have reached out to the u.s with the offers of help and what kind of capabilities well i mean [2:56:51] thank you for your question that's a good question i mean multiple countries have said we [2:56:55] got to do something about it and fix it like dozens or single digits or more than a hundred [2:56:59] i don't know i don't put a number on it i would just tell you that here's what i would say about [2:57:02] it the capabilities is the issue okay a lot of countries would love to do something about they [2:57:07] don't have a navy right or they can't get there in time or they can't others you know or less you [2:57:11] know that some unfortunately do have a navy are saying oh we'll be involved but we'll be involved [2:57:16] after it's over well after it's over it's kind of like you know that makes sense so you know we'd like [2:57:21] to have it now there may be some utility in a post you know closure mission i'm not downplaying that but [2:57:28] i think that's been the challenge but there are other ways they can help unique ways that they [2:57:31] can help and i don't want to get into who these countries are for obvious reasons you know because [2:57:35] they they are prepared to help us in certain ways but maybe don't want that publicly disclosed [2:57:40] for no other reason than it impacted foreign policy it could have some domestic ramifications [2:57:44] but ultimately i don't want to mislead you the primary responsibility for this project freedom [2:57:49] is on the united states because we're the only country that can project power in that part of the [2:57:52] world the way we're doing now we're the only ones that can do it and we're going to do it as a favor [2:57:56] to the world understand this this is a favor to the world because it's their ships that are [2:58:01] stranded it's their fuel supplies that are stranded by the way it's their humanitarian there's [2:58:04] humanitarian aid destined for different countries in the world that's stranded in the persian gulf right [2:58:09] now um it's it's the fertilizer that they need for their food and crops that's stranded in the [2:58:14] person not our fertilizer their fertilizer so we want to be helpful and that's why the president [2:58:18] stepped forward because we're the only ones that can frankly we're the only ones that can [2:58:21] on the rising oil and gas prices the president has said that this is a small price to pay for [2:58:27] getting rid of a nuclear weapon but 10 weeks in are we any closer to getting rid of iran's nuclear [2:58:33] material yeah but look here's the the way to think about iran and this is what i described at the very [2:58:37] beginning of this what was iran's plan you have to understand what their plan was their plan was they [2:58:41] were going to build this conventional shield where they would have so many thousands of missiles and [2:58:44] drones and rockets that they couldn't be attacked and behind that conventional shield that they were [2:58:49] trying to build they would then break out and do whatever they wanted with their nuclear program [2:58:53] they no longer have that conventional shield okay we told you guys from the very beginning [2:58:57] and and and we're very consistent in this messaging the operation that has concluded [2:59:02] was going to destroy their navy they have no navy left they don't not a navy they have small boats [2:59:06] and boston whalers but they don't have a navy left they don't have an air force i challenge you [2:59:10] when is the last time you read or heard about an iranian jet flying anywhere they don't have an air force [2:59:16] their missile launching capability has been substantially degraded and their industrial [2:59:20] base their defense industrial base has been severely severely damaged so their ability to build a shield [2:59:26] behind which they could hide their nuclear program was wiped out that's a very substantial achievement [2:59:31] and that was the purpose of this operation from day one nuclear material in order for this war to end [2:59:36] well that's one of the topics that needs to be discussed i don't know about i think you're linking it [2:59:40] the operation is over uh epic fury is a president notified congress we're done with that stage of it [2:59:45] okay we're now on to this project of freedom as far as a negotiation is concerned i think the [2:59:50] president's been clear that part of the negotiation process has to be not just the enrichment but what [2:59:55] happens to this material that's buried deep somewhere that they have still have access to if they ever [2:59:59] wanted to dig it out that has to be addressed and that's being addressed in the negotiation i'm not [3:00:04] going to go further on what progress has been made on that topic because i don't want to endanger the [3:00:08] negotiations but suffice it to say that the president and this entire team is aware of the [3:00:12] centrality of that question and that will have to be addressed one way or the other right there [3:00:20] yes thank you thank you i have another two-part question for you okay uh first are you taking [3:00:26] part in those negotiations that you just detailed there and then secondly president trump has made it [3:00:30] clear that the u.s doesn't rely on the straight-up hormones so why should americans even care [3:00:36] about uh project freedom and these ship shipping uh tankers going through well i think on the second [3:00:42] point is the one i want to address first and that is why should americans care why it matters to us [3:00:46] because ultimately these things have an impact on the global economy which ultimately has an impact [3:00:50] on our economy in the long term that's number one number two because if we live in a world where [3:00:56] a rogue state like this iranian regime is allowed to claim as a new normal control over international [3:01:01] shipping lane it will not be long before you see that happen in multiple shipping lanes around the world [3:01:06] i can identify for you six or seven six or seven vital shipping lanes around the world that some [3:01:12] countries can decide guess what if iran was able to do it we're going to do it too we're not going [3:01:16] to start charging tolls and it'll get closer and closer to us that's unacceptable we cannot live in a [3:01:21] world there's a lot of time and energy been invested in behind the idea that international waters are [3:01:26] free for the free flow of goods the stuff we make in this country and export has to go through [3:01:31] international shipping lanes and for us to live in a world where a country can decide now we own the [3:01:36] international shipping lane and you have to pay us if you want to use it that is a normal that we [3:01:40] will never be able to accept and that's what the iranians are trying to get us to do so we're [3:01:43] doing two things about it and we haven't talked about the second one enough the second thing we're [3:01:47] doing is we're going to the un everybody loves the un right we're trying to go to the un and we're [3:01:51] saying okay countries of the world condemn this say that it is it is wrong for you to put mines there [3:01:57] it is wrong for you to shoot at commercial vessels guys that's what we're talking about here these [3:02:02] guys are bombing commercial vessels they're not bombing naval vessels they're bombing commercial [3:02:06] tankers it's just outrageous that needs to stop and and and it needs to end and if it doesn't then [3:02:13] the world should be diplomatically and economically isolating iran as well but if we live in a world [3:02:17] where global shipping lanes can be taken over by countries that'll have a direct impact on americans [3:02:21] in the short and the long term and we can't let it start by iran doing it but and we're the only ones [3:02:26] that can do anything about it all right go ahead mr secretary does the president intend to press [3:02:37] beijing on its taiwan policy when he visits china next week i'm sure taiwan will be a topic of [3:02:42] conversation it always is as you know we understand that the chinese understand our position on that [3:02:47] topic we understand theirs and i think both parties i got without you know getting ahead of myself of [3:02:52] what will happen in the talks but i think both countries understand that it is neither one of our [3:02:57] interests to see anything destabilized happen in that part of the world we don't need any [3:03:01] destabilizing events to occur with regards to taiwan or anywhere in the indo-pacific and i think [3:03:06] that's to the mutual benefit of both the united states and the chinese [3:03:13] exact number is but i know a number of those fast boats have now been targeted [3:03:16] and will continue to be if they pose a threat to our forces we'll shoot down drones we'll shoot down [3:03:20] missiles but it's defensive in nature this is defensive so if you hear stories about attacks and [3:03:26] launching of firing back and forth it's not back and forth we are only responding if attacked first [3:03:31] this is a defensive operation and that's what's occurring here uh just about the importance of [3:03:36] the straits for a moment this is approximately a quarter of the world's oil trade along with [3:03:40] significant volumes of fuel and fertilizer that that operate through the straits of hormuz the [3:03:45] the iranian regime cannot be allowed to dictate who uses this vital waterway i don't think this is [3:03:50] also being reported enough maybe you are reporting i don't read everyone i don't have any damn [3:03:54] outlets here i don't know who you all are but um i mean i know who some of you are but but but i [3:03:59] will say this about it um this is an international waterway okay this is an international waterway [3:04:05] and international law is very clear and i love it because everybody always talks about international [3:04:09] law and this international law on this is very clear international waterways no country can control [3:04:13] them there is no international law that allows you to say i'm going to put mines in an international [3:04:18] body of water and i'm going to blow up ships that don't listen to us and try to go through [3:04:22] that's what iran is doing this is a criminal act and someone needs to do something about it [3:04:27] something needs to be done it's completely illegal completely illegitimate and completely unacceptable [3:04:32] and that's why the united states military is guiding stranded commercial ships safely through [3:04:36] the strait and is working to restore freedom of navigation and putting an end to these efforts to [3:04:40] glow to hold the global economy hostage so far as a proof of concept and as a proof of function two [3:04:47] u.s flag merchant ships have successfully transferred the strait of hormuz in the first stages of this [3:04:52] project and they're now safely on their way the u.s military is deploying the necessary assets to [3:04:58] extend this defensive umbrella over commercial shipping but there should be no mistake and as i [3:05:03] said this already this is a defensive operation i want to reiterate that point this is important to [3:05:07] understand if no shots are fired at these ships and no shots are fired at us we're not firing shots [3:05:13] but if we're fired on we will respond and we will respond with lethal efficiency the assets supporting [3:05:18] this project by the way include guided missile destroyers over a hundred land and sea based [3:05:23] aircraft multi-domain unmanned platforms and 15 000 of the finest military service members on the [3:05:30] planet these forces have already destroyed as i told you earlier i thought it was six it's seven [3:05:34] iranian fast boats that failed to heed our warnings and by fast boats we're talking about you know some [3:05:40] of these things look like boston whalers okay so these are not like navy ships but nonetheless they come [3:05:44] fast at these boats try to swarm them try to harm them we're not going to let that happen so seven of them [3:05:48] now sit at the bottom of the sea along with by the way the rest of iran's navy that's where you can [3:05:53] find their navy today and we're going to continue to systematically clear this passageway through the [3:05:57] straits to restore freedom of navigation now while this project steadily progresses operation epic fury [3:06:05] economic fury i'm sorry continues to impose maximum pressure on the iranian regime and what remains [3:06:11] of their already frail economy today inflation in iran is 70 percent and their currency is in total and [3:06:18] complete free fall the u.s sanctions enforcement is stepping up it's moving in lockstep with the [3:06:23] naval blockade to degrade iran's capacity to generate to move and repatriate revenue it directly targets [3:06:30] the regime's primary revenue life lifelines the blockade alone is costing iran as much as 500 million [3:06:38] dollars a day in lost revenue 90 percent of total iranian trade has been halted causing permanent damage [3:06:44] to iran's oil infrastructure as wells are forced to shut in again all of this is in response to their [3:06:50] piracy okay it cannot be that you have these straits and they blow up any ship that moves and the only [3:06:56] ships they get to go through were theirs you can't have a situation in which the straits are close to [3:06:59] everyone else but they benefit from the piracy that can't happen that's why the blockade is in place [3:07:04] and that's why these sanctions are crippling them any foreign financial and by the way treasury is now [3:07:10] identifying and cutting off every dollar of revenue that's flowing to this regime and so [3:07:14] look any foreign financial institution or commercial actor that enables iran sanctions evasion is going [3:07:19] to face secondary sanctions exposure and a loss of access to the u.s financial system as president trump [3:07:26] has said and the facts clearly bear out the united states of america holds all the cards there is no [3:07:32] scenario here in which if they decide to join a ladder of escalation they wind up getting the last say [3:07:37] but our preference is for these straits to be opened to the way they're supposed to be open back to the [3:07:43] way it was anyone can use it no mines in the water nobody paying tolls that's what we have to get back [3:07:48] to and that's the goal here every day the conflict continues however our leverage on iran will continue [3:07:53] to increase and their position will continue to weaken especially as the blockade really begins to [3:07:58] divide in conjunction with the sanctions so look the times come for iran to make a sensible choice and it's [3:08:03] not easy for them to do that obviously because they have a fracture in their own leadership system [3:08:08] and apart from that i mean the top people in that government are to say the least um you know um [3:08:15] they're insane in the brain and so we need to address that and it's difficult because it's hard to [3:08:20] get past that in their system but it's important for them to make a sensible choice and the one that's [3:08:23] right for their people the president our president has proven time and again that his preference is peace [3:08:29] but iran must accept the reality of this situation and come to the negotiation table and accept terms [3:08:35] that are good for them but ultimately good for the world the diplomatic path if there's a real [3:08:38] diplomatic path i'm not always going to be one but if there's a real diplomatic path and we continue [3:08:42] to explore it steve and jared are working on that very hard if there is one there it could be one that [3:08:47] leads them to reconstruction to prosperity and to stability and to not posing a threat to the world [3:08:53] the alternative is growing isolation economic collapse and ultimately total defeat i know what the right [3:08:59] choices for iran i hope that the people over there making decisions will make the right one [3:09:03] the last point i would make and it really is important for them to understand this is uh [3:09:07] they really shouldn't test the will of the united states at least not under president [3:09:10] donald trump he has proven time and again that he will back up what he says and if they test him [3:09:15] ultimately they will lose the hard way the easy way the long way the short way they will lose [3:09:20] and with that uh it's time for your questions so secretary i think we can start with you first [3:09:26] hi katherine harich i'm an independent journalist secretary rubio have you seen any recent [3:09:31] indications that iran is willing to give up this nuclear weapons program that is credible verifiable [3:09:37] and that would lead to an immediate de-escalation well look um this is a long-standing problem for them [3:09:44] right i mean they have wanted they have always said they don't want a nuclear weapon that's because [3:09:47] they've always said that they just don't mean it and why do you say well how do you know they don't mean [3:09:51] it well we don't mean it because they do all they're doing all the things and historically have tried to do all [3:09:55] the things that you do if you want a nuclear weapons program for example they innovate and try to [3:09:59] innovate long-range delivery missiles that now in some cases are capable of reaching much of europe [3:10:05] they uh they build these large underground centrifuges to for enrichment activity there are many there [3:10:11] are countries in the world that are involved in the enrichment business but these guys do it in [3:10:14] mountains and in caves and in hiding they've always had secret components of their nuclear program [3:10:20] undisclosed to the world and we know for a fact that they retain highly enriched uranium [3:10:24] at 60 percent that they that they did so and that has no civilian use none zero whatsoever so [3:10:30] they have an opportunity here to agree to something that will make it clear that they're [3:10:34] that they are not interested in one thing is to say we don't want a nuclear weapon another [3:10:37] thing is to do the things that prove you don't want a nuclear weapon by the way if what iran wants [3:10:42] is a civilian nuclear program for power plants and stuff like that there are a lot of countries [3:10:46] in the world that have that and they don't enrich they they import they import the enriched material [3:10:51] you know they could have that if that's what they wanted but they're not acting like that's what [3:10:54] they wanted they're acting like they want a military you know uh nuclear program that's unacceptable [3:11:00] so that's the process we're engaged in now to create that's the the object of this diplomacy [3:11:05] is to come up with some level of understanding about what are the topics that they've agreed [3:11:09] to negotiate on we don't have to have the actual agreement written out and one day this is highly [3:11:13] complex and highly technical but we have to have a diplomatic solution that is very clear about the topics [3:11:19] that they are willing to negotiate on and the extent and the concessions they're willing to make at the [3:11:23] front end in order to make those talks worthwhile that's what steve and jared and the whole team is [3:11:27] working on and i hope to have good news on it that's the outcome we would prefer that's the outcome [3:11:31] we would have preferred a year ago that's the outcome i think most of us would have preferred a long time [3:11:36] ago but that's not the option they've given us given their activity all right can i there's no way i can [3:11:41] figure out who to call on i'm just going to like press right in the middle right there you right there yeah [3:11:44] yeah in the back row thank you mr president i'll go to you next all right go ahead thank you [3:11:51] secretary it's going right welcome to the white house what's that talking to me sir yeah to you yes [3:11:56] sir thank you i have two questions on two separate issues that come on do they get two questions for [3:12:01] these two questions there's a lot of people in here that's all under your umbrella all right well you [3:12:06] answer you can ask me two questions i'll give you one answer thank you very much and i'll pick the one [3:12:10] i like better thank you mr secretary the first has to do with the blockade there are lawmakers from [3:12:15] both parties who claim the blockade is an act of war what do you say to that and my second question [3:12:22] has to do with the fuel embargo of cuba how long mr secretary will that last okay two things all right [3:12:29] good i'll answer both your questions because i like the second one too the first one on the blockade [3:12:33] and so why do we have a blockade we have a blockade because they are shut down the straits so i don't [3:12:38] know which members of congress you're talking to but here's what i would ask them i would ask everybody [3:12:41] here it's very simple these guys have shut down the straits of hormuz this is what iran is saying [3:12:46] we will shut down the straits no one can go through no country in the world can go through unless we [3:12:50] allow you to go through and you have to pay us but our ships can go through meaning the iranian ships as [3:12:55] much as they want that's crazy who would agree to that so how are we going to have a situation where [3:12:59] they get to close the straits to everybody and the only people who are allowed to go through there [3:13:03] a hundred percent without paying anything are the iranians if you do that they'll keep the straits [3:13:07] closed forever they're trying to make this some new normal okay under no circumstances can we [3:13:12] ever allow them to normalize the fact that they get to blow up commercial ships and put mines in [3:13:17] the water so the response to that is we're going to blockade your ships if everyone's ships are not [3:13:21] getting out your ships are not getting out either that's not an active war that's a defensive measure [3:13:25] it's a counter to what they have decided to do you know what is an active war putting mines in the [3:13:30] water why don't the members of congress whoever it is is complaining about it they should be all over [3:13:35] that these guys put mines in the water that alone you mining in the water is illegal period under any [3:13:40] circumstances and they've done it but this is crazy stuff but this is what they've done on cuba oil [3:13:46] blockade on cuba there's no oil blockade on cuba per se here's what's happening with cuba okay [3:13:51] cuba used to get free oil from venezuela used to give them a bunch of free oil they would take like 60 [3:13:56] of that oil and resell it for cash it wouldn't even go to benefit the people so the only blockade that's [3:14:01] happened is the cubans have decided i mean the venezuelans have decided we're not giving you free [3:14:05] oil anymore and you can only imagine nowadays the way oil prices are no one's giving away free oil [3:14:10] much less to a failed regime so the problem of cuba is is worse okay their economic model doesn't work [3:14:17] doesn't work and the people who are in charge can't fix it and the reason i can't fix it is not just [3:14:21] because they're communists that's bad enough but they're incompetent communists the the only thing [3:14:26] worse than a communist is an incompetent one and that's what so incompetent communists run that country [3:14:30] they don't know how to fix it they really don't and we have 90 miles from our shores a failed state [3:14:35] that also happens to be friendly territory for some of our adversaries so it's an unacceptable status [3:14:39] quo i will be addressing it but not today okay uh all right let's go to the front right there [3:14:46] you are going to the vatican to meet with the pope is this an attempt to smooth things over [3:14:51] with the pope given the rhetoric between president trump and boblia no i mean it's a trip we had planned [3:14:56] from before and obviously we had some stuff that happened and no look there's a lot to talk about [3:15:01] with the vatican i'll give you one example the pope just returned from a trip to africa where the church [3:15:05] is growing very vibrantly and we have shared concerns about religious freedom religious freedom in [3:15:11] different parts of the world we'd love to talk to them about that the topic of cuba you know we gave cuba [3:15:16] six million dollars of humanitarian aid but obviously they won't let us distribute it we distributed it [3:15:20] through the church we'd like to do more uh we're willing to give more humanitarian aid to cuba by the way [3:15:25] distributed through the church but the cuban regime has to allow us to do it they won't allow us to [3:15:29] give their own people more humanitarian aid and we're willing to do it through the church so there's [3:15:33] a lot to talk about and the president recently said that the pope is endangering a lot of catholics as [3:15:39] a result of his rhetoric around the iran war is that a sentiment well i don't think that's an accurate [3:15:43] description of what he said i think what the president basically said is that iran can't have a nuclear [3:15:47] weapon because they would use it against places that have a lot of catholics and christians and others for that [3:15:51] matter it goes back to the central point i think the president without trying to speak for him but [3:15:55] i think i can characterize it this way he doesn't understand why anybody leave aside the pope the [3:16:00] president and i for that matter i think most people i cannot understand why anyone would think that it's [3:16:05] a good idea for iran to ever have a nuclear weapon look what they're doing with the straits right now [3:16:09] they're holding the whole world hostage they have these sailors you know on commercial ships that are [3:16:14] going to starve to death out there they don't care they don't care that this is melting down the economies [3:16:19] around the world even of their own allies this is what they're doing with the straits what do you think [3:16:23] they would do if they had a nuclear weapon they would hold the world hostage with that nuclear [3:16:27] weapon that's what they would do they would do exactly to the world with a nuclear weapon what [3:16:30] they're doing now with the straits and i think the president's point is how anyone cannot see that as [3:16:35] an unacceptable outcome and an unacceptable risk is beyond him it's puzzling and someone has to do [3:16:40] something about it the difference between this president and like the six presidents that preceded him [3:16:44] were that he's the only one that's actually been willing to do something about it everyone says iran [3:16:48] can't have a nuclear weapon but you got to do something about it at some point and he's been willing to address that [3:16:52] threat and that's what he promised he would do when he got elected by the way is address threats like [3:16:56] this thank you so much can you put name tags on thank you so much mr secretary who are you with [3:17:07] who are you i'm with rudow media network okay mr secretary the president has said multiple times [3:17:13] that weapons were provided to the kurdish group is to pass on the iranian people however kurdish political [3:17:19] parties and the regional government says they have not received such weapons even some claim [3:17:24] these weapons remain in the u.s base in the region can you clarify who those weapons were given to [3:17:29] and whether you intend to retrieve them or still want to pass to the iranian people yeah look ultimately [3:17:35] what the president is expressing and i think has repeatedly is he wished the iranian people had [3:17:39] you know look he's heartbroken by these images you think about it you're an iranian okay you're unhappy [3:17:44] that your economy doesn't work for you you don't have freedom you don't have an opportunity to express [3:17:48] yourself you know you've got friends that have been shot in the head because they're out protesting [3:17:53] and he just it's heartbreaking to him to see that these people are abused in this way and have no [3:17:57] measures to take against their own government as a result of it by the way this goes back you guys [3:18:01] remember the protest in 2009 where they slaughtered people in the street this is a vicious regime guys [3:18:07] okay these are people that hang people from cranes in the town square so everyone can see they [3:18:11] they continue these executions of people and have done continue to do so for for over a decade and a [3:18:17] half now and so i think what the president is expressing is the desire that he wishes the [3:18:22] iranian people had an ability to fight back against some of these things that are happening to them [3:18:26] and i would view that as distinct and separate from the specifics of this operation that was ongoing [3:18:31] before it concluded and certainly different from the operation that's going on now [3:18:36] right there in colombia right there yes ma'am mr secretary thank you so much on lebanon are we in a [3:18:47] ceasefire or less fire and the second question do you think you would be able to achieve an agreement [3:18:56] between lebanon and israel without risking a civil war in lebanon what are you doing with what are you [3:19:02] doing no i got it i got the gist of your question so look here's the the challenge with lebanon okay [3:19:07] there's no problem between the lebanese government and the israeli government israel doesn't claim any [3:19:10] land in lebanon belongs to them and by and large i think a peace deal between lebanon and israel is [3:19:16] imminently achievable and should be the problem with israel and lebanon is not israel or lebanon it's [3:19:21] hezbollah hezbollah operates from inside of lebanese territory they terrorize and attack israelis but [3:19:27] they also are inflicting tremendous damage on the lebanese people the reason why lebanon gets attacked [3:19:32] by israel is because of hezbollah because hezbollah is hiding in some house launching rockets against [3:19:37] israelis and then they get hit so what you're seeing now is israeli responses to either attacks [3:19:43] or perceived threats and this is going to be this is not new this has been going on for a very long [3:19:47] time what is our hope our hope is to engage the lebanese and israeli governments under you know our [3:19:52] mediation at the table to achieve this and that is having lebanese armed forces and a lebanese [3:19:59] government not just with a willingness but with the capability to begin to challenge hezbollah and [3:20:04] disarm them because the lebanese people are also victims of hezbollah and by the way on the topic [3:20:09] of hezbollah in lebanon who is behind hezbollah why do they exist they're an agent of iran if you go [3:20:15] through that middle east and you identify every problem hamas hezbollah to some extent the houthis [3:20:19] obviously and others behind every one of these groups is tehran so apart from the nuclear weapons [3:20:25] apart from all these other things these guys are behind all the bad actors hezbollah is a wing [3:20:30] it's an extension of iranian desire to destabilize the region so we're very committed to this process [3:20:35] it's not going to be easy you're asking me a complex question you know this has been going [3:20:38] on for a very long time it's not going to be easy we're going to do everything we can to make [3:20:42] sure that both sides continue to talk so that progress can be made on some sort of permanent [3:20:46] ceasefire that isn't constantly spoiled by hezbollah and by hezbollah violence right in there [3:20:52] i'm just i'm winging it guys okay right there yes you mentioned the two u.s ships that safely [3:20:58] across the strait of hormuz are other ships being told it's safer to get back to regular levels or are [3:21:03] we still going to see limits in place for the foreseeable future for obvious reasons i'm not [3:21:07] going to broadcast who we're talking to or who we're telling them to move i mean we want these [3:21:10] operations to be safe and i think as it unfolds and ships get through we'll make those announcements [3:21:15] after the fact just for operational security purposes but the goal here is pretty simple [3:21:20] establish a zone of transit that is protected by a bubble the united states both naval and air [3:21:25] assets and then allow ships who want to move to move through there and get to market to begin to [3:21:30] increase confidence in the ability to do so that doesn't happen in 12 hours it takes time to set [3:21:34] up that bubble and gain that confidence but that's the goal we have been in touch we've been in touch i [3:21:39] don't know with a bunch of different uh liners about moving and uh we're hoping to continue to improve [3:21:45] the security situation and we'll start to see some of that movement and we'll announce it as it [3:21:49] happens after the fact we're not going to be like broadcasting hey tomorrow at 12 ship x is going [3:21:53] to be coming through for obvious reasons because that degrades the security but we feel confident [3:21:57] we're going to be able to achieve that look it's not going to solve the whole straits problem it's [3:22:00] going to solve a lot of it but it's important to challenge what iran is doing now guys again i [3:22:05] wonder if you take anything away today and i can't tell you what to write but we iran cannot be allowed [3:22:10] to normalize this control of the streets it's completely unlawful illegal uh it's outrageous and every [3:22:16] country in the world should be joining us and condemning it and doing something about it [3:22:19] but the united states has stepped up and is trying to do something regarding colombia mr [3:22:25] secretary for me i'm sorry we'll see if we get to colombia for that go ahead you guys have an [3:22:30] election now why don't you talk to your election mr secretary john michael ross with daily mail i was [3:22:33] curious about your meeting with south com earlier there was a picture a map of cuba behind you what did [3:22:39] you discuss with south com south com about cuba do you have any updates i'm not going to tell you what i [3:22:43] discussed but it had to do something with cuba no i wasn't well i mean cuba's in south com you [3:22:49] know it's the closest part and so the second point i was there our ambassadors were in from the whole [3:22:54] western hemisphere i was addressing them you know meeting the general who just took command of south [3:22:58] com and there happened to be a map of cuba and i said it'd be good if we took a picture in front of [3:23:02] that map because it's like the closest thing in south com to the united states so there it is um we have [3:23:07] maps of other countries uh but uh but but um but uh huh no they didn't have that map [3:23:17] in the red right there in the red in the red okay can i ask you in spanish or can i [3:23:23] yeah you can answer in spanish you can ask me and they'll have to translate for them what you asked me [3:23:26] i'll say it in english and if you can answer in both languages today the webpage of the state [3:23:32] department and there's still a 25 million dollar bounty on the secretary of interior for drug [3:23:39] trafficking and narco terrorism i was wondering if that has been put on hold or if you're negotiating [3:23:45] with president dentsy rodriguez to turn him over yeah i don't have any updates for you on that the [3:23:51] website is what it is and that's where it stands that policy hasn't changed but i guys i mean let's [3:23:55] be mature here a little bit i'm not going to tell you about what we're talking about with the leader [3:23:58] of these countries the politics of the united states on that the policy of the united states [3:24:15] on that topic hasn't changed when it does you know well obviously we'll inform you but i don't have [3:24:18] any news for you on that today right there in the green i'll get to you guys are you guys all the tv [3:24:24] people all right go ahead i'm sorry go i'm learning i they gave me a little map i don't know where i [3:24:30] put it of the people here some of you have like red x's i'm kidding no you go ahead thank you mr [3:24:36] secretary the average price of gas in the country right now is four dollars and fifty cents do you [3:24:41] have a thought on how long americans are supposed to kind of accept this do you think it will affect [3:24:46] republicans majorities in the midterm well i don't i'm not going to speculate on the politics of it [3:24:50] you can tell me look it's obviously being driven by global uh events that that was true during the [3:24:55] russia ukraine war as well where you saw that come up it's one look we don't benefit from the straits [3:24:59] as much as other countries i don't know you've seen what the gas prices are like in other parts [3:25:02] of the world that are really suffering big time um so we're very fortunate that the united states i [3:25:07] believe right now is like the world's largest net exporter of oil and natural gas as a result not [3:25:12] because of this work because we have this capacity so we've been insulated to some degree we're [3:25:15] obviously still vulnerable to some extent to global prices and so but in the end i mean we're [3:25:20] more insulated than other countries even though that's not welcome news to americans that are [3:25:23] paying more at the pump no doubt about it um and and it certainly is one of the circumstances of it [3:25:28] there are people that we're predicting would be much higher at this point but we're not taking that for [3:25:31] granted suffice it to say that this is think about it this way everybody needs to think about it this [3:25:37] way if iran had a nuclear weapon and they decided to close the straits and make our gas prices like [3:25:42] nine dollars a gallon or eight dollars a gallon we wouldn't be able to do anything about it because they [3:25:45] have a nuclear weapon or and a nuclear-armed iran could do whatever the hell they want with the [3:25:50] straits and there's nothing anyone would be able to do about it um and that's one of the many [3:25:55] reasons apart from like the massive loss of life and a nuclear strike why iran can never have a [3:26:00] nuclear weapon i mean so this is an example of if they had a nuclear weapon they close the straits [3:26:05] and they would tell the world what are you going to do about it we have a nuclear weapon we can attack [3:26:08] you with it that's the world none of us want to leave behind it won't happen under this president's [3:26:11] watch but some future president and future you know and the future americans will have to deal with this [3:26:15] so just one more example of why these guys can never be allowed to have a nuclear weapon [3:26:20] right there in the black right you in the black yes ma'am thank you mr secretary where you no right [3:26:26] there you you i know you both are wearing black thank you she's closer no you don't have black you [3:26:30] have blue on i'm colorblind but i know blue and black right there yes ma'am no no you the first one i [3:26:34] called on thank you thank you this is chaos guys go ahead welcome to the white house uh you've long been a [3:26:42] leading voice on human rights in china and so including religious persecution and forced organ [3:26:47] harvesting so uh president trump prepares to meet xi jinping next week do you expect human rights [3:26:52] concerns to be on the table well we always raise those issues and they remain true and i think we've [3:26:57] proven in some cases it's most effective to raise them in the appropriate setting but we always raise [3:27:00] those issues they're important to us among with others of course but those issues remain prominent in [3:27:05] our view and in our conversation about these things um and and we'll continue to raise them in the [3:27:10] appropriate forums all right let's get to the front these guys are going to get mad go ahead i'm [3:27:14] sorry thank you so much in the associated press you mentioned earlier that some countries have [3:27:19] privately and publicly indicated their willingness to help with project freedom can you say how many [3:27:23] have reached out to the u.s with the offers of help and what kind of capability well i mean that [3:27:28] thank you for your question that's a good question i mean multiple countries have said we got to do [3:27:32] something about it and fix it like dozens or single digits or more than a hundred i don't know i don't put a number [3:27:38] on it i would just tell you that here's what i would say about it the capabilities is the issue [3:27:42] okay a lot of countries would love to do something about they don't have a navy right or they can't [3:27:46] get there in time or they can't others you know unless you know that some unfortunately do have a [3:27:50] navy are saying oh we'll be involved but we'll be involved after it's over well after it's over it's [3:27:55] kind of like you know that makes sense so you know we'd like to have it now there may be some utility in [3:28:00] a post you know closure mission i'm not downplaying that but i think that's been the challenge but there are [3:28:07] other ways they can help unique ways that they can help and i don't want to get into who these [3:28:11] countries are for obvious reasons you know because they they are prepared to help us in certain ways [3:28:15] but maybe don't want that publicly disclosed for no other reason than it impacted foreign policy it [3:28:19] could have some domestic ramifications but ultimately i don't want to mislead you the primary [3:28:24] responsibility for this project freedom is on the united states because we're the only country that [3:28:28] can project power in that part of the world the way we're doing now we're the only ones that can do it [3:28:32] and we're going to do it as a favor to the world understand this this is a favor to the world [3:28:37] because it's their ships that are stranded it's their fuel supplies that are stranded by the way [3:28:41] it's their humanitarian there's humanitarian aid destined for different countries in the world [3:28:45] that's stranded in the persian gulf right now um it's it's the fertilizer that they need for their [3:28:50] food and crops that's stranded in the person not our fertilizer their fertilizer so we want to be [3:28:54] helpful and that's why the president stepped forward because we're the only ones that can frankly we're the [3:28:58] only ones that can mr secretary on the rising oil and gas prices the president has said that [3:29:03] this is a small price to pay for getting rid of a nuclear weapon but 10 weeks in are we any closer [3:29:09] to getting rid of iran's nuclear material yeah but look here's the the way to think about iran [3:29:13] and this is what i described at the very beginning of this what was iran's plan you have to understand [3:29:17] what their plan was their plan was they were going to build this conventional shield where they [3:29:20] would have so many thousands of missiles and drones and rockets that they couldn't be attacked and [3:29:25] behind that conventional shield that they were trying to build they would then break out and do [3:29:28] whatever they wanted with their nuclear program they no longer have that conventional shield okay [3:29:32] we told you guys from the very beginning and and and and we're very consistent in this messaging [3:29:37] the operation that has concluded was going to destroy their navy they have no navy left they don't [3:29:42] not a navy they have small boats and boston whalers but they don't have a navy left they don't have an [3:29:46] air force i challenge you when is the last time you read or heard about an iranian jet flying anywhere [3:29:51] they don't have an air force their missile launching capability has been substantially degraded [3:29:56] and their industrial base their defense industrial base has been severely severely damaged so their [3:30:01] ability to build a shield behind which they could hide their nuclear program was wiped out that's a very [3:30:07] substantial achievement and that was the purpose of this operation from day one nuclear material in [3:30:12] order for this war to end well that's one of the topics that needs to be discussed i don't know about [3:30:15] the i think you're linking the the operation is over uh epic fury is a president notified congress [3:30:21] we're done with that stage of it okay we're now on to this project of freedom as far as a negotiation [3:30:26] is concerned i think the president's been clear that part of the negotiation process has to be [3:30:31] not just the enrichment but what happens to this material that's buried deep somewhere that they have [3:30:35] still have access to if they ever wanted to dig it out that has to be addressed and that's being [3:30:39] addressed in the negotiation i'm not going to go further on what progress has been made on that topic [3:30:44] because i don't want to endanger the negotiations but suffice it to say that the president and this [3:30:48] entire team is aware of the centrality of that question and that will have to be addressed one [3:30:52] way or the other right there thank you thank you secretary i have another two-part question for you okay [3:31:02] first are you taking part in those negotiations that you just detailed there and then secondly [3:31:07] president trump has made it clear that the u.s doesn't rely on the strait of hormones so why should [3:31:12] americans even care about uh project freedom and these ship shipping uh tankers going through well [3:31:18] i think on the second point is the one i want to address first and that is why should americans care [3:31:22] and why it matters to us because ultimately these things have an impact on the global economy which [3:31:26] ultimately has an impact on our economy in the long term that's number one number two because if we [3:31:31] live in a world where a rogue state like this iranian regime is allowed to claim as a new normal [3:31:37] control over international shipping lane it will not be long before you see that happen in multiple [3:31:42] shipping lanes around the world i can identify for you six or seven six or seven vital shipping [3:31:48] lanes around the world that some countries can decide guess what if iran was able to do it we're [3:31:52] going to do it too we're not going to start charging tolls and it'll get closer and closer to us that's [3:31:57] unacceptable we cannot live in a world there's a lot of time and energy been invested in behind the [3:32:02] idea that international waters are free for the free flow of goods the stuff we make in this country and [3:32:07] export has to go through international shipping lanes and for us to live in a world where a [3:32:12] country can decide now we own the international shipping lane and you have to pay us if you want [3:32:16] to use it that is a normal that we will never be able to accept and that's what the iranians are [3:32:19] trying to get us to do so we're doing two things about it and we haven't talked about the second one [3:32:23] enough the second thing we're doing is we're going to the un everybody loves the un right we're trying [3:32:28] to go to the un and we're saying okay countries of the world condemn this say that it is it is wrong for [3:32:33] you to put mines there it is wrong for you to shoot at commercial vessels guys that's what we're [3:32:38] talking about here these guys are bombing commercial vessels they're not bombing naval vessels they're [3:32:42] bombing commercial tankers it's just outrageous that needs to stop and and and it needs to end [3:32:49] and if it doesn't then the world should be diplomatically and economically isolating iran as [3:32:53] well but if we live in a world where global shipping lanes can be taken over by countries that'll [3:32:57] have a direct impact on americans in the short and the long term and we can't let it start by iran doing it [3:33:03] but and we're the only ones that can do anything about it all right right there go ahead [3:33:11] mr secretary does the president intend to press beijing on its taiwan policy when he visits china [3:33:17] next week i'm sure taiwan will be a topic of conversation it always is as you know we understand [3:33:22] the the chinese understand our position on that topic we understand theirs and i think both parties [3:33:27] again without you know getting ahead of myself of what will happen in the talks but [3:33:31] i think both countries understand that it is neither one of our interests to see anything [3:33:35] destabilize happen in that part of the world we don't need any destabilizing events to occur with [3:33:41] regards to taiwan or anywhere in the indo-pacific and i think that's to the mutual benefit of both the [3:33:45] united states and the chinese exact number is but i know a number of those fast boats have now been [3:33:53] targeted and will continue to be if they pose a threat to our forces we'll shoot down drones we'll shoot [3:33:57] down missiles but it's defensive in nature this is defensive so if you hear stories about attacks [3:34:03] and launching of firing back and forth it's not back and forth we are only responding if attacked [3:34:08] first this is a defensive operation and that's what's occurring here just about the importance of [3:34:13] the straits for a moment this is approximately a quarter of the world's oil trade along with [3:34:17] significant volumes of fuel and fertilizer that that operate through the straits of hormuz the the [3:34:22] iranian regime cannot be allowed to dictate who uses this vital waterway i don't think this is [3:34:27] also being reported enough maybe you are reporting i don't read everyone i don't many damn outlets [3:34:31] here i don't know who you all are but um i mean i know who some of you are but but but i will say [3:34:37] this about it um this is an international waterway okay this is an international waterway and [3:34:43] international law is very clear and i love it because everybody always talks about international [3:34:46] law and this international law and this is very clear international waterways no country can control [3:34:51] them there is no international law that allows you to say i'm going to put mines in an [3:34:55] international body of water and i'm going to blow up ships that don't listen to us and try to go [3:34:59] through that's what iran is doing this is a criminal act and someone needs to do something about it [3:35:04] something needs to be done it's completely illegal completely illegitimate and completely unacceptable [3:35:09] and that's why the united states military is guiding stranded commercial ships safely through the [3:35:14] strait and is working to restore freedom of navigation and putting an end to these efforts to [3:35:18] glow to hold the global economy hostage so far as a proof of concept and as a proof of [3:35:24] function two u.s flag merchant ships have successfully transferred the strait of hormuz in the first [3:35:28] stages of this project and they're now safely on their way the u.s military is deploying the necessary [3:35:34] assets to extend this defensive umbrella over commercial shipping but there should be no mistake [3:35:40] and as i said this already this is a defensive operation i want to reiterate that point this is [3:35:44] important to understand if no shots are fired at these ships and no shots are fired at us we're not [3:35:49] firing shots but if we're fired on we will respond and we will respond with lethal efficiency [3:35:55] the assets supporting this project by the way include guided missile destroyers over a hundred [3:35:59] land and sea-based aircraft multi-domain unmanned platforms and 15 000 of the finest military service [3:36:06] members on the planet these forces have already destroyed as i told you earlier i thought it was six [3:36:11] it's seven iranian fast boats that failed to heed our warnings and by fast boats we're talking about you [3:36:17] know some of these things look like boston whalers okay so these are not like navy ships but nonetheless [3:36:21] they come fast at these boats try to swarm them try to harm them we're not going to let that happen [3:36:25] so seven of them now sit at the bottom of the sea along with by the way the rest of iran's navy [3:36:30] that's where you can find their navy today and we're going to continue to systematically clear this [3:36:34] passageway through the straits to restore freedom of navigation now while this project steadily progresses [3:36:40] operation epic fury economic fury i'm sorry continues to impose maximum pressure on the iranian [3:36:47] regime and what remains of their already frail economy today inflation in iran is 70 percent [3:36:54] and their currency is in total and complete free fall the u.s sanctions enforcement is stepping up [3:36:59] it's moving in lockstep with the naval blockade to degrade iran's capacity to generate to move [3:37:05] and repatriate revenue it directly targets the regime's primary revenue life lifelines the blockade [3:37:11] alone is costing iran as much as 500 million dollars a day in lost revenue 90 percent of total iranian [3:37:19] trade has been halted causing permanent damage to iran's oil infrastructure as wells are forced [3:37:25] to shut in again all of this is in response to their piracy okay it cannot be that you have these [3:37:30] straits and they blow up any ship that moves and the only ships they get to go through were theirs you [3:37:34] can't have a situation in which the straits are close to everyone else but they benefit from the [3:37:38] piracy that can't happen that's why the blockade is in place and that's why these sanctions are [3:37:43] crippling them any foreign financial and by the way treasury is now identifying and cutting off every [3:37:49] dollar of revenue that's flowing to this regime and so look any foreign financial institution or [3:37:53] commercial actor that enables iran sanctions evasion is going to face secondary sanctions exposure [3:37:59] and a loss of access to the u.s financial system as president trump has said and the facts clearly [3:38:04] bear out the united states of america holds all the cards there is no scenario here in which if they [3:38:11] decide to join a ladder of escalation they wind up getting the last say but our preference is for [3:38:16] these straits to be opened to the way they're supposed to be open back to the way it was anyone can use it [3:38:22] no mines in the water nobody paying tolls that's what we have to give back to and that's the goal here [3:38:27] every day the conflict continues however our leverage on iran will continue to increase [3:38:31] and their position will continue to weaken especially as the blockade really begins to [3:38:35] divide in conjunction with the sanctions so look the times come for iran to make a sensible choice [3:38:40] and it's not easy for them to do that obviously because they have a fracture in their own leadership [3:38:44] system and apart from that i mean the top people in that government are to say the least um you know [3:38:52] they're insane in the brain and so we need to address that and it's difficult because it's hard to [3:38:57] get past that in their system but it's important for them to make a sensible choice and the one that's right for [3:39:01] their people the president our president has proven time and again that his preference is peace but [3:39:06] iran must accept the reality of the situation and come to the negotiation table and accept terms that [3:39:12] are good for them but ultimately good for the world the diplomatic path if there's a real diplomatic path [3:39:16] i'm not always going to be one but if there's a real diplomatic path and we continue to explore it [3:39:21] steve and jared are working on that very hard if there is one there it could be one that leads them [3:39:25] to reconstruction to prosperity and to stability and to not posing a threat to the world the alternative [3:39:31] is growing isolation economic collapse and ultimately total defeat i know what the right [3:39:36] choice is for iran i hope that the people over there making decisions will make the right one [3:39:40] the last point i would make and it really is important for them to understand this is uh [3:39:44] they really shouldn't test the will of the united states at least not under president donald trump [3:39:48] he has proven time and again that he will back up what he says and if they test him ultimately they [3:39:53] will lose the hard way the easy way the long way the short way they will lose and with that uh it's time for [3:39:59] your questions so why don't we start with you first i'm an independent journalist secretary rubio have [3:40:07] you seen any recent indications that iran is willing to give up this nuclear weapons program [3:40:12] that is credible verifiable and that would lead to an immediate de-escalation well look um this is a [3:40:20] long-standing problem for them right i mean they have wanted they have always said they don't want a [3:40:24] nuclear weapon that's because they've always said that they just don't mean it and why do you say well [3:40:27] how do you know they don't mean it well we don't mean it because they do all they're doing all the [3:40:30] things and historically have tried to do all the things that you do if you want a nuclear weapons [3:40:34] program for example they innovate and try to innovate long-range delivery missiles that now in some cases [3:40:40] are capable of reaching much of europe they uh they build these large underground centerfuges to for [3:40:46] enrichment activity there are many there are countries in the world that are involved in the enrichment [3:40:50] business but these guys do it in mountains and in caves and in hiding they've always had secret [3:40:55] components of their nuclear program undisclosed to the world and we know for a fact that they retain [3:41:00] highly enriched uranium at 60 percent that they that they did so and that has no civilian use [3:41:06] none zero whatsoever so they have an opportunity here to agree to something that will make it clear [3:41:11] that they're that they are not interested in one thing is to say we don't want a nuclear weapon [3:41:14] another thing is to do the things that prove you don't want a nuclear weapon by the way [3:41:18] if what iran wants is a civilian nuclear program for power plants and stuff like that [3:41:23] there are a lot of countries in the world that have that and they don't enrich they they import [3:41:27] they import the enriched material you know they could have that if that's what they wanted but [3:41:31] they're not acting like that's what they wanted they're acting like they want a military [3:41:34] you know uh nuclear program that's unacceptable so that's the process we're engaged in now [3:41:39] to create that's the the object of this diplomacy is to come up with some level of understanding about [3:41:45] what are the topics that they've agreed to negotiate on we don't have to have the actual agreement [3:41:49] written out and one day this is highly complex and highly technical but we have to have a diplomatic [3:41:53] solution that is very clear about the topics that they are willing to negotiate on and the extent and [3:41:59] the concessions they're willing to make at the front end in order to make those talks worthwhile [3:42:02] that's what steve and jared and the whole team is working on and i hope to have good news on it [3:42:06] that's the outcome we would prefer that's the outcome we would have preferred a year ago that's [3:42:10] the outcome i think most of us would have preferred a long time ago but that's not the option [3:42:14] they've given us given their activity all right can i there's no way i can figure out who to call [3:42:19] on i'm just going to like press right in the middle right there you right there yeah right in the back [3:42:23] row thank you mr president i'll i'll go to you next all right go ahead thank you secretary you're going [3:42:29] right welcome to the white house what's that talking to me sir yeah to you yes sir thank you i have two [3:42:35] questions on two separate issues that come do they get two questions for these two questions there's a lot [3:42:40] of people in here that's all under your umbrella all right well you answer it you can ask me two questions [3:42:44] i'll give you one answer thank you very much and i'll pick the one i like better thank you mr [3:42:49] secretary the first has to do with the blockade there are lawmakers from both parties who claim [3:42:54] the blockade is an act of war what do you say to that and my second question has to do with the fuel [3:43:01] embargo of cuba how long mr secretary will that last okay two things all right good i'll answer both [3:43:07] your questions because i like the second one too the first one on the blockade and so why do we have [3:43:11] a blockade we have a blockade because they are shut down the straits so i don't know which members [3:43:16] of congress you're talking to but here's what i would ask them i would ask everybody here it's very [3:43:19] simple these guys have shut down the straits of hormuz this is what iran is saying we will shut down [3:43:24] the straits no one can go through no country in the world can go through unless we allow you to go [3:43:28] through and you have to pay us but our ships can go through meaning the iranian ships as much as they [3:43:33] want that's crazy who would agree to that so how are we going to have a situation where they get to [3:43:37] close the straits to everybody and the only people who are allowed to go through there a hundred [3:43:41] percent without paying anything or the iranians if you do that they'll keep the straits closed forever [3:43:46] they're trying to make this some new normal okay under no circumstances can we ever allow them to [3:43:50] normalize the fact that they get to blow up commercial ships and put mines in the water [3:43:55] so the response to that is we're going to blockade your ships if everyone's ships are not getting out [3:43:59] your ships are not getting out either that's not an act of war that's a defensive measure it's a counter [3:44:04] to what they have decided to do you know what is an act of war putting mines in the water why don't the [3:44:09] members of congress whoever it is is complaining about it they should be all over that these guys [3:44:12] put mines in the water that alone you mining in the water is illegal period under any circumstances [3:44:18] and they've done it but this is crazy stuff but this is what they've done on cuba oil blockade on [3:44:24] cuba there's no oil blockade on cuba per se here's what's happening with cuba okay cuba used to get free [3:44:29] oil from venezuela used to give them a bunch of free oil they would take like 60 of that oil and resell it [3:44:35] for cash it wouldn't even go to benefit the people so the only blockade that's happened is the cubans [3:44:39] have decided i mean the venezuelans have decided we're not giving you free oil anymore and you can [3:44:43] only imagine nowadays the way oil prices are no one's giving away free oil much less to a failed [3:44:48] regime so the problem of cuba is is worse okay their economic model doesn't work doesn't work and the [3:44:55] people who are in charge can't fix it and the reason i can't fix it is not just because they're [3:44:59] communists that's bad enough but they're incompetent communists the the only thing worse than a [3:45:03] communist is an incompetent one and that's what so incompetent communists run that country they [3:45:07] don't know how to fix it they really don't and we have 90 miles from our shores a failed state that [3:45:12] also happens to be friendly territory for some of our adversaries so it's an unacceptable status quo [3:45:17] and we'll be addressing it but not today okay uh all right let's go to the front right there [3:45:23] you are going to the vatican to meet with the pope is this an attempt to smooth things over [3:45:29] with the pope given the rhetoric between president trump and no no i mean it's a trip we [3:45:33] had planned from before and obviously we had some stuff that happened and no look there's a lot to [3:45:37] talk about with the vatican i'll give you one example the pope just returned from a trip to [3:45:41] africa where the church is growing very vibrantly and we have shared concerns about religious freedom [3:45:46] religious uh freedom in different parts of the world we'd love to talk to them about that [3:45:51] the topic of cuba you know we gave cuba six million dollars of humanitarian aid but obviously they [3:45:55] won't let us distribute it we distributed it through the church we'd like to do more uh we're willing [3:46:00] to give more humanitarian aid to cuba by the way distributed through the church but the cuban [3:46:04] regime has to allow us to do it they won't allow us to give their own people more humanitarian aid [3:46:08] and we're willing to do it through the church so there's a lot to talk about and the president [3:46:12] recently said that the pope is endangering a lot of catholics as a result of his rhetoric around [3:46:18] the iran war is that sentiment well i don't think that's an accurate description of what he said i think [3:46:22] what the president basically said is that iran can't have a nuclear weapon because they would use it [3:46:25] against places that have a lot of catholics and christians and others for that matter it goes back to the [3:46:29] central point i think the president without trying to speak for him but i think i can characterize it [3:46:34] this way he doesn't understand why anybody leave aside the pope the president and i for that matter [3:46:39] i think most people i cannot understand why anyone would think that it's a good idea for iran to ever [3:46:44] have a nuclear weapon look what they're doing with the straits right now they're holding the whole world [3:46:47] hostage they have these sailors you know on commercial ships that are going to starve to death out there [3:46:52] they don't care they don't care that this is melting down the economies around the world even of their own [3:46:57] allies this is what they're doing with the straits what do you think they would do if they had a [3:47:01] nuclear weapon they would hold the world hostage with that nuclear weapon that's what they would [3:47:05] do they would do exactly to the world with a nuclear weapon what they're doing now with the straits [3:47:09] and i think the president's point is how anyone cannot see that as an unacceptable outcome and an [3:47:13] unacceptable risk is beyond him it's puzzling and someone has to do something about it the difference [3:47:19] between this president and like the six presidents that preceded him were that he's the only one that's [3:47:23] actually been willing to do something about it everyone says iran can't have a nuclear weapon [3:47:26] but you got to do something about it at some point and he's been willing to address that threat [3:47:30] and that's what he promised he would do when he got elected by the way is address threats like this [3:47:35] thank you so much can you put name tags on thank you so much mr secretary who are you with who are [3:47:45] i'm with rudow media network okay mr secretary the president has said multiple times that weapons [3:47:51] were provided to the kurdish group is to pass on the iranian people however kurdish political [3:47:56] parties and the regional government says they have not received such weapons even some claim [3:48:01] these weapons remain in the u.s base in the region can you clarify who those weapons were given to [3:48:07] and whether you intend to retrieve them or still want to pass to the iranian people yeah look ultimately [3:48:12] what the president is expressing and i think has repeatedly is he wished the iranian people had [3:48:16] you know look he's heartbroken by these images you think about it you're an iranian okay you're unhappy [3:48:21] that your economy doesn't work for you you don't have freedom you don't have an opportunity to [3:48:25] express yourself you know you've got friends that have been shot in the head because they're out [3:48:29] protesting and he just it's heartbreaking to him to see that these people are abused in this way and [3:48:34] have no measures to take against their own government as a result of it by the way this goes back [3:48:38] you guys remember the protest in 2009 where they slaughtered people in the street this is a vicious [3:48:43] regime guys okay these are people that hang people from cranes in the town square so everyone can see [3:48:48] they've they continue these executions of people and have done continue to do so for for for over [3:48:53] a decade and a half now and so i think what the president is expressing is the desire that he wishes [3:48:59] the iranian people had an ability to fight back against some of these things that are happening to [3:49:03] them and i would view that as distinct and separate from the specifics of this operation that was ongoing [3:49:09] before it concluded and certainly different from the operation that's going on now right there in the [3:49:16] right behind you not colombia right there yes ma'am mr secretary thank you so much on lebanon [3:49:24] are we in a ceasefire or less fire and the second question do you think you would be able to achieve [3:49:32] an agreement between lebanon and israel without risking a civil war in lebanon what are you doing [3:49:39] what are you doing no i got it i got the gist of your question so look here's the the challenge [3:49:43] for lebanon okay there's no problem between the lebanese government and the israeli government [3:49:47] israel doesn't claim any land in lebanon belongs to them and by and large i think a peace deal between [3:49:52] lebanon and israel is imminently achievable and should be the problem with israel and lebanon is not [3:49:57] israel or lebanon it's hezbollah hezbollah operates from inside of lebanese territory they terrorize [3:50:02] and attack israelis but they also are inflicting tremendous damage on the lebanese people the reason [3:50:07] why lebanon gets attacked by israel is because of hezbollah because hezbollah is hiding in some house [3:50:13] launching rockets against israelis and then they get hit so what you're seeing now is israeli responses [3:50:19] to either attacks or perceived threats and this is going to be this is not new this has been going [3:50:23] on for a very long time