Preliminary reports suggest attack on Iran’s oil hub on Kharg Island

[0:00] There's been extensive damage in Tehran and other parts of Iran as U.S. and Israeli attacks continue. [0:05] Several railway lines, bridges and power lines have been hit across the country. [0:10] One strike in a residential area in al-Bal's province west of Tehran killed at least 18 people. [0:16] President Donald Trump has set a deadline for early Wednesday morning Iran time [0:20] for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. [0:23] He's warned that the country will be left without any power plants or bridges [0:27] if they fail to make a deal. [0:29] The Israeli military has warned the public to stay away from Iran's trains and railways. [0:35] And there are reports of a U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran's Karg Island. [0:39] U.S. media suggests military locations were targeted. [0:43] The island is Iran's main hub for the country's oil exports. [0:47] Now this is the second time Karg Island has come under attack. [0:51] We're going to bring in Tohid Asadi now. He is in Tehran. [0:54] Obviously this is a significant development. [0:56] If true, Tohid, the U.S. [0:59] and Israel's strike in Karg Island once again. [1:02] Do we have any confirmation of that from the Iranian side? [1:07] So far we've got MeH news agency reporting about some explosions from the Karg Island. [1:14] Obviously this is not the first time that we received reports about such attacks. [1:19] We know that previously the island was targeted. [1:22] But still the reports were on the basis of the attacks on the military sites, [1:28] not the oil infrastructure. [1:31] To give you a picture of the significance of that island, [1:34] we know that when it comes to oil exports of Iran, [1:38] that is critically important and a huge proportion of oil export of the country [1:44] goes through the trajectory of Karg Island. [1:47] Obviously if that happens, that's going to be a very major development [1:51] as the Iranian side has already promised for a retaliatory strike [1:56] in case of attack on its oil infrastructure. [1:59] And this is one of the most important ones. [2:01] To be targeted. [2:03] But still speaking of the ongoing airstrikes by the Americans and Israelis, [2:07] and in particular about the recent warning that came from the Israeli side, [2:12] we've got reports about attacks happening targeting the railway station [2:18] as well as railways across the country. [2:21] We had it from the local authorities in the city of Mashhad and also in Khuzestan. [2:26] They have decided to suspend the scheduled trains. [2:31] So we've got this report from railways being targeted between Tehran and Karachi, [2:37] between Tabriz and Mianee. [2:40] Also in Khorramshahr, in Zanjan, in Qom and Kashan. [2:45] Also in the railway between Qom and Kashan, [2:48] it's reported that at least two people have been killed, [2:52] so this is coming after a direct warning by the Israelis [2:56] that asked the Iranian citizens to get away, [2:58] to not stay close to rail space. [3:01] railway stations and part and parcel of the attacks increasing attacks i would say on [3:07] iranian infrastructure we know that speaking of the infrastructure this is not the only place [3:13] the only location but we know that universities are also witnessing the continued campaign of [3:19] airstrikes the ministry of science research and technology says over 30 universities across the [3:25] country have been impacted over 700 schools have been targeted either directly or indirectly [3:32] and a couple of hours ago earlier in the morning i was in the campus of sharif university of [3:39] technology one of the most important technical universities or perhaps the most important i [3:45] would say known as iran's mit which was targeted yesterday the amount of damage and destruction [3:52] to several buildings on the campus was [3:55] massive the other day i was also in shahid bhd's campus again there we witnessed massive huge [4:01] amount of destruction as a result of these airstrikes again speaking of the infrastructure [4:07] we know that there is a longer list the red crescent says more than 100 000 civilian units [4:15] have been targeted some of them fully reduced to rubble some of them partially impacted but [4:21] this is a very i would say escalated [4:25] situation seeing the scope of these targeted areas getting broadened and getting extended [4:32] over the past two weeks we know that even the steel companies which are critically important [4:37] in terms of industry have been also impacted along with other industrial segments pharmaceutical units [4:44] and other industry related infrastructure well given that tohid uh you know the u.s and israel [4:50] expanding uh their targets is there any sign that iran is looking to make a deal now [4:55] with the u.s ahead of the deadline that is in less than 12 hours uh the gist of the matter [5:03] from the iranian side based on different statement that the statements actually that we hear [5:08] from iranian side is that they're saying they're not going to get engaged in any direct negotiation [5:14] with the united states also we know that there are mediated communication between the two [5:19] sides we know that americans have come up with a proposal iranians have come up with [5:24] another proposal and if you look at the public [5:28] from both sides it seems that washington and tehran at this point are pulls apart um actually [5:35] paving the way for less and less chance for any diplomatic settlement in this already intricate [5:41] situation and iran also says any sort of diplomatic settlement would be conditioned upon a ceasefire [5:48] or halting of the aggressions now getting into a broader scope and obviously seeing the very reality [5:56] on the ground which is indicative of the fact that iran is not going to be able to make a deal with [5:58] the united states and it's also indicative of the continuation of the air strikes by the americans [6:01] and israelis the chance for diplomatic engagement becomes less and less and of course added to that [6:08] is this contextual element the historical background that we have to keep in mind you know [6:13] it's not easy for iranians to talk with the us administration under president trump because [6:20] they were already um trying it not once but twice over the past 10 months i would say [6:28] uh and in both cases while they were expecting next round of talks they faced a campaign of all [6:34] of a sudden strikes targeting the country the gist of the matter here is that diplomatic engagement [6:40] could be possible iran is also engaged in uh let's say regional and internet international [6:47] interactions diplomatically part of that could be interpreted as attempt to de-escalate the [6:54] situation but there is this trust issue and it goes without saying it's clear [6:58] so clear that it's not going to be easy for iranians to trust the americans and that is [7:05] the vantage point that we hear and we see when it comes to the rhetoric that we hear from the [7:11] iranian side thanks so much that's toyota study for us there in tehran i just want to bring your [7:16] attention uh to some of the pictures that we've just received into our newsroom these uh rescue [7:23] workers search and rescue workers encourage iran we understand there have been multiple [7:28] attacks on railway lines which is exactly what israel and the united states had threatened earlier [7:36] in the day it certainly appears like they are following through now on those threats as i [7:42] mentioned these rescue workers taking away the injured from an attack on railway lines in karaj [7:49] in iran