RPT: Iran assassination plot targets Trump

[0:00] Good morning everyone and welcome in here on Live Now from Fox. The time is 7.55 if you are joining [0:06] us over on the East Coast and 4.55 on the West Coast. My name is Josh Freslow and I'll be here [0:13] with you for the next several hours as we continue to cover all of your top stories and live events [0:19] from across the country and the world. A big thank you to my colleague Bowen Kudrovich. He has been [0:25] here with you doing the same for the past several hours. Right now on the right hand side of your [0:30] screen taking a live look over the Strait of Hormuz. Not as much activity as we saw just a few weeks ago [0:36] but things appear to be moving ever so slowly through the strait here. As we get to the latest [0:41] on the U.S.-Iran conflict I want to pop this up on your screen right here coming in from U.S. Central [0:48] Command as they say that they are disputing claims by the Iranian state media that Iran is [0:55] in control of the strait. CENTCOM posting this on social media it says claim Iranian state media [1:02] claims that transit through the Strait of Hormuz is only permitted through routes designated by [1:07] Iran. The truth Iran does not control the Strait of Hormuz. Since early May U.S. forces have helped [1:15] facilitate the successful transit of more than 800 commercial vessels and 380 million barrels of crude [1:23] oil through the vital international trade corridor. Now there's also other developments that are coming [1:29] into the newsroom here as we follow those. Take a look right here from the Wall Street Journal as they [1:35] say Israel has shared new intelligence with the U.S. that it said indicated a fresh Iranian plan to kill [1:43] President Trump. People familiar with that matter telling the Wall Street Journal about that and that [1:48] would of course mark an escalation in the war between the U.S. and Iran. Again there is always a lot to [1:55] discuss here so I do want to bring in our buddy Mark Chandler. He is of course with Coastal Carolina [2:00] University joining us live to break down all of the developments there out of the Middle East. Mark [2:06] thank you so much for taking the time to be here with us. You're welcome Josh and thanks for having me [2:11] your day. Of course and first off I want to start by talking to you about this Israeli intelligence as [2:17] again we are hearing from the Wall Street Journal other sources reporting this as well but essentially [2:23] saying that Israel had this intelligence that Iran had a new plot to assassinate President Trump. [2:30] Break down for me really the situation that's kind of been developing since the death there the killing [2:36] of Soleimani. That's when pretty much all of this really began. No and that's an excellent point that [2:43] you bring up there Josh. This dates back to 2020 when the U.S. killed Qasem Soleimani who was the head of [2:48] the IRGC in the Quds Force. So he really basically exported terrorism for Iran across the entire Middle East [2:56] and the U.S. took him out. So what we've seen is Iran vowed to kill the president President Trump since [3:03] that time and there have been renewed plots but I think what you're seeing develop now is is a [3:09] continuation but a re-emphasis based on the war with Iran currently. Now Israel what we would do in [3:17] intelligence is look at the sources and try to validate this. Israel has excellent access inside [3:23] Iran even to this date. So the Mossad's working there they're getting information they found it [3:28] credible enough to report to the United States and the United States is working through this and also [3:34] finds it credible. So that's those are key points that we need to bring out in evaluating this threat [3:40] to the president as a continuation but as a renewed emphasis to take out the president. If we recall he [3:47] was at the NATO summit in Turkey and Turkey doesn't have the best border security. So a small team could [3:54] easily infiltrate through Turkey bring some shoulder-fired SAMs that's easy to smuggle through [3:59] the mountain passes out there and attempt to go after Air Force One and I believe that's why you [4:04] saw the president take out the original Air Force fly out on the original Air Force One earlier this week. [4:10] It's got better defensive mechanisms I don't really want to go into here but but suffice to say more [4:16] secure to get him out there. Just because he's back here in America Josh doesn't mean he's you know completely [4:22] safe and the threat can be taken off the table. Iran will work through proxies or assets it has here in [4:29] the United States to continue this threat. And as you said here on U.S. soil you know that we have all [4:36] of that security around him, Secret Service, other agencies that are watching him constantly but [4:42] again there have been several assassination attempts against him not necessarily saying that Iran was [4:48] behind those but also important to note. Now I want to pop this up on your screen as well. This is [4:55] coming in from the New York Post and it says Israel ready for more war on Iran should Trump ask for [5:01] backup sources there telling the New York Post. So essentially what I'm gathering from this is that [5:08] Israel Netanyahu they have said that if the U.S. requests any kind of backup here they're ready to go [5:15] right back to war. No they are and Israel always maintains a war footing especially with the [5:21] threats from Iran. You know Iran is an existential threat to Israel so they they have the plans they [5:27] have the the professional military capability to be able to conduct those plans on very short notice. [5:32] And I'm sure that in last night's conversation between Netanyahu and President Trump that there this [5:39] was part of that conversation but if I go a little bit deeper we have to realize that Israel and United States [5:45] have a close military and intelligence partnership. You know I used to travel there several times [5:50] and we work closely together on plans but but what the president probably said last night is [5:56] we've got this under control right now we don't want you to attack and create an unnecessary escalation. [6:04] When we're ready to go bigger we will bring you in and I think that's that's part of working together [6:10] allowing Israel to further develop their plans but see what the United States is doing along while [6:17] we're sharing that that intelligence and some other plans out there. So Israel's ready to go [6:22] should the United States take this up an escalation ladder. And I'm going to pop this up once again coming [6:28] in from U.S. Central Command because I want to get your take on it. I read this off the top but the claim [6:33] Iranian state media claims that transit through the Strait of Hormuz is only permitted through routes [6:39] designated by Iran and the truth. CENTCOM says Iran does not control the Strait of Hormuz. [6:46] Since early May U.S. forces have helped facilitate the successful transit of more than 800 commercial [6:53] vessels and 380 million barrels of crude oil through the vital international trade corridor. [6:59] So who really does at this point control the Strait of Hormuz? Does anyone control it? [7:05] That's a great question Josh and and what I've got to say is control is in the eye of the beholder. [7:12] So when I start to look at this Iran has militarized the Strait of Hormuz and they've [7:18] created for them a strategic weapon to use against the United States and the West. So when we look at [7:24] this the fact that we're seeing traffic and from your your graphic you can see very little traffic is [7:31] actually moving through. We went from you know a high of about 40 vessels a day in the last few [7:36] weeks down to just a trickle that are working their way through. Iran's demanding that you have [7:41] to use the northern Iranian routes and the United States is trying to protect shipping going through [7:46] the southern right routes that are located along the Gulf of Oman or excuse me along the coast of Oman. [7:53] So when you look at that you can really see that while I don't like the use of the word control [7:59] because it kind of seeds the fact that we're allowing Iran to have control or saying that [8:05] they can control it. But the fact is the threats from Iran are stopping the commercial shipping [8:11] or slowing it drastically because one their insurance companies don't want to pay those prices [8:16] to the shipping companies don't want to put their ships in peril. So we we're really seeing a de facto [8:23] slow down and control by Iran of shipping going through the straits. I know what CENTCOM is saying [8:30] but the fact is we're just not seeing the traffic go through there. And right now you're looking at a [8:35] poll because we always want to hear from you at home work wherever you're watching us from and the [8:41] question we're asking about this is what should be the top priority for the U.S. amid the Iran conflict [8:47] there. If you want to sound off just scan that QR code top right hand side of your screen or go to [8:52] live now fox.com connect and your options here are protect U.S. forces pursue diplomacy work with allies [9:01] or protect global energy. Of course there are other possibilities as well but those are maybe the top [9:07] four here. So if you do want to sound off scan that QR code top right hand side of your screen [9:13] or go to live now fox.com connect and hit the vote now tab. Mark what do you think is going to be the [9:19] answer? I have to imagine that many people are going to want to make sure that the U.S. forces [9:24] are protected out there. Absolutely Josh and that's that's you lay out some some good points in your [9:31] poll there. So what I would say is yes we have to protect U.S. forces that's that's critical but but we [9:37] need to protect them also not just from defense through defensive operations but through strong [9:42] offensive operations take out the threats that Iran poses there. Now one thing I want to add I've been [9:49] in two wars in the Middle East I'm a strong believer in diplomacy and we need to pursue diplomacy as we work [9:55] our way through this process but we must realize that while we're pursuing it Iran is being disingenuous in [10:02] how it's negotiating. Iran has never made a deal that they follow through so while we can pursue it you [10:08] at least need to have a partner who's willing to be in honest and sincere negotiations and we don't [10:14] have that with Iran so we can continue that but it's really going to fall on deaf ears as we work our way [10:21] through that. Our allies we do need some allied support I hope that and and hope's not a plan but our [10:29] NATO allies especially when we look at UK we look at France they have some shipping capabilities that [10:34] can come out and help in the Strait of Hormuz they they need to come because they are benefiting from [10:40] what we're doing in the strait by getting the shipping going through there getting the oil flowing [10:45] but also by taking out the Iranian threat that's been a a major problem for 47 years so we are looking at [10:52] that and the side effect goes into the global energy because what we're doing and through 20% of the [10:59] the traffic and and the the globe's oil capability going through there we can look at that that has a [11:07] significant effect on that so you know the United States is interconnected through the globe and we [11:13] have to realize that there is some benefit through that global energy but we need some allies to come in [11:18] and help with that but I would definitely put protect US forces at the top but protect them [11:23] through strong offensive operations. And these are some interesting results because I would have [11:29] thought that protect US forces would be number one but fairly close by would be pursue diplomacy [11:35] talking about a potential deal here as those talks are apparently getting back underway and the [11:40] strikes appear at least to have been paused for now but that is actually in last place right now with [11:46] four percent work with allies six percent and protect global energy 15 percent if you do want to vote [11:53] just scan that QR code top right hand side of your screen or go to live now fox.com connect and hit that [12:00] vote now tab the question again what should be the top priority for the US amid the Iran conflict [12:06] we will continue of course to check on those results here on live now from Fox over the next hour or so [12:13] Mark I want to talk a little bit more about and we'll go back to the US and Iran but when we talk [12:19] about Israel and Hezbollah that has been a big situation that's been unfolding it's not getting [12:24] the same level of attention of course because we have the US and Iran so where do things stand as you [12:30] look at Israel and Hezbollah and the connection there over in Lebanon well first and foremost let's let's [12:37] remember that Hezbollah is the number one proxy for Iran Hezbollah does 90 percent of Iran's bidding [12:46] against Israel and also against the United States and there's been a bloody history of Hezbollah dating [12:53] back to the 1980s with attacks on US personnel marine barracks bombing so you can go back to all of what [13:00] Hezbollah has done responsible for killing hundreds Hezbollah alone hundreds of US military and civilian [13:07] personnel so you can look at that aspect of that what what they're doing Hezbollah has continued to [13:13] attack northern Israel actually they have rockets and missiles that can range further into Israel [13:19] and Israel has set up this buffer zone because there is no one who has had the ability to go into southern [13:25] Lebanon and clear Hezbollah out of there and and Israel's acting you're they're using the offense for [13:33] defensive purposes out there to create this buffer zone and remove Hezbollah out of the south and [13:39] protect Israeli citizens in the northern part of Israel so that's that's been working throughout the [13:44] background Hezbollah has said they're not part of this ceasefire they don't agree to a ceasefire against [13:50] Israel and they're going to continue to attack and they've been having small attacks against Israel so [13:56] you have to look at Hezbollah's intent Iran's trying to link them in and trying to take away the [14:02] offensive advantage of Israel or the defensive advantage of Israel to protect its own citizens [14:08] against Hezbollah strikes I think we've kind of pushed back on that a little bit now the Trump [14:13] administration has changed its tone by one trying to work with Lebanon to get Israel to get Hezbollah [14:20] to stop but also to say Israel yes you have a right to defend yourself and they're delinking what happens [14:27] with Hezbollah and Israel from the main Iran agreement Iran's going to try to loop that back [14:32] in there they're going to try to say their ceasefire violations but that's just not true because Hezbollah [14:37] is not agreeing to it in the first place so that's going to stay foremost for Israel for their self-defense [14:43] purposes we also know that now that President Trump has been over to Turkey there we know that he's back [14:50] home and it sounds as though Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is going to be traveling to the [14:56] U.S. to meet with President Trump so they can come face to face and have talks and of course this is [15:02] one of several trips that Netanyahu has made to DC to the White House specifically since really the start [15:10] of President Trump's second term so what I wanted to ask what do you expect to come from that does that [15:16] signal anything when you look at the fact that Netanyahu is traveling here yet again well I think [15:23] that just reinforces the partnership between the United States and Israel and the personal [15:28] relationship that President Trump Trump has with Prime Minister Netanyahu so that that kind of [15:33] reinforces that you know that there's been reporting a couple of times during the fighting starting [15:39] back on February 28th a couple of times where the United States has stopped fighting there's been a lot [15:43] of reports of tension between the President and the Prime Minister I think this is just kind of [15:48] re-engaging there are going to be spats between leaders all the time people have different opinions [15:54] different priorities as they work their way through this is a positive development but I think what we [16:00] we need to look at in the immediate term is the conversation the cordial conversation and sharing [16:06] of information in the phone call last night between Netanyahu and Trump that kind of laid the groundwork [16:11] so if Netanyahu's trip has to be delayed they're on a positive trend right now they're seeing things [16:18] I'm not going to say 100 percent eye to eye but truly aligning in what we need to do strategically [16:25] against Iran to stop Iranian control of the straits and Iranian persistent threat throughout the Middle [16:30] East so that's that I think is we're on a positive path right now and the trip will just reinforce that [16:37] all right so we have that poll up uh once again what should be the top priority for the U.S. or [16:43] amid the Iran conflict scan that QR code top right hand side of your screen or go to live now fox.com [16:49] slash connect and hit that vote now tab to cast your vote you just got to click the one button there [16:55] now this updates in real time and right now three quarters of you out there 75 percent say the answer is [17:03] protect U.S. forces five percent for pursue diplomacy eight percent for work with allies and 11 percent [17:10] for protect global energy again you can vote and we'll continue to show you these results as they come [17:17] in here live raw and unfiltered as we always do on live now from fox now as I leave this up here mark [17:24] I also want to ask you about a series of unclaimed airstrikes that apparently hit Iran after the U.S. [17:30] had said that it finished its attack so there are questions here about who else is targeting the [17:37] Islamic Republic whether it was the U.S. that did it exactly who was involved so uh do we have an [17:44] understanding at this point of who else could potentially be launching those strikes against [17:49] Iran because again Iran has not only been striking uh U.S. kind of locations there but also [17:55] uh they are targeting uh Bahrain Kuwait and other places that do house those U.S. locations [18:02] well the likely candidates for those unclaimed airstrikes obviously would be Israel they have [18:09] some precise capabilities that they can use against it but what a lot of reporting didn't go into until [18:14] well after it happened was what Saudi Arabia and UAE did against Iran because those states they don't want [18:22] to be too public about their attacks on Iran for fear of retribution which which is kind of odd when [18:28] you look at the fact that Iran attacked them first so you could see some localized attacks from Kuwait [18:36] or excuse me from UAE or Saudi Arabia they have the capability they go across the straight I mean across [18:43] the gulf and hit the coastal target so you could see some of those targets being taken out by them or at [18:50] least allowing them to get a little payback on Iran for the attacks they're doing they're going to keep [18:55] that in the background they don't want that to come out as I said because they don't want more [19:00] Iranian retaliation and that's just the way the Arabs trying to work with Iran or they've worked [19:05] with Iran since the Islamic regime came to power in 1979 so I think you're not going to see a lot of [19:11] claim of those strikes for some time to come and of course once again taking a live look over the [19:17] Strait of Hormuz as you mentioned there's a little bit of activity but not a whole lot that's coming [19:22] in from marine traffic we have been checking that over the course of the conflict there between the [19:28] U.S. and Iran since Operation Epic Fury began several months back of course that joint effort between [19:34] the U.S. and Israel all right Mark the big question here what are you going to be watching for over the [19:40] next several hours days weeks I always ask you and I mean we're watching all of this very closely [19:48] well that sums it up Josh we have to watch all of it but but what I would tell you is you know we had [19:53] two days of U.S. strikes and we increased that pressure the strikes were broader and one important [20:00] thing to note is we went deep into Iran this time and struck a key rail line that rail line was what Iran [20:07] was using throughout all the sanctions throughout the blockade to conduct trade and get resupplied [20:13] from Russia and China and that was sending a message that not only was it a strategic line [20:19] rail line that spans across Asia it was also in between Tehran and where they were bearing the [20:26] supreme leader so that was messaging and it was a strategic strike so I think we can look at how [20:32] the U.S. has the ability to go up what I would call an escalation ladder in other words we're doing [20:39] a tit for tat a retaliation against strikes against ships in the Hormuz straight of Hormuz but we're [20:45] going up a level and that that was that strategic strike against the rail line we can go higher up [20:52] that level and start striking into Tehran and go after the leadership which until we reinitiate those [20:59] type of offensive operations Iran's not going to truly negotiate you will see Iran come out because [21:06] they're going to say okay we want to talk and they're going to try to prolong this so that's just [21:10] another Iranian stalling tactic but I would look for Iran to do that and and create some momentum in [21:16] those technical talks that are taking place but that's not going to be sincere they're just trying to [21:21] delay the next round of strikes so look for Iran to continue to try to control the straight of Hormuz and [21:27] limit shipping and then look for the United States to escalate to get serious and apply and regain [21:34] that full military leverage against Iran with a climbing up that escalation ladder and of course [21:41] we'll see how it all plays out here we're watching it all very closely Mark Chandler thank you so much [21:46] for being here with us and breaking down the developments there in the Middle East anything we [21:50] missed that's worth kind of highlighting here before I let you go Josh I just want to say that while [21:57] I'm talking about the United States escalating and and coming up there that is not without risk and [22:03] so your poll points out protect the U.S. U.S. service members yes we need to and I and I say we protect [22:10] a good defense is a strong offense in this case so we need to have that but Iran has a full measure of [22:16] retaliation you look at that threat to the president but you know they're going to go after more ships in the [22:21] strait of Hormuz they're going to use drones against those U.S. military bases there that's what they've [22:26] been doing for the last couple of weeks in Bahrain in Kuwait and in Jordan so we start to look at how [22:32] they're they're going to attack they're going to use the Houthis I would be very careful with Iran [22:38] expanding the with the using the Houthis to go after the Bab al-Mandeb strait if we recall during the Israel-Hamas war [22:45] the Houthis hit that and they they threatened 16 percent of the world shipping so you've got to [22:51] look at how Iran still has its own way to retaliate and something we need to be prepared for and take [22:57] defensive action against Mark Chandler there at Coastal Carolina University as always thank you so [23:02] much for being here with us and I'm sure we'll have you back soon to break down all the developments [23:06] that happen between now and when we talk to you next thank you again thank you Josh I appreciate it