Will UAE Nuclear Plant Strike Reignite Iran War? • #GoodMorningIndia

Added: 2026-05-25

[00:00:06]Deep sea secrets, deadly [music] ambush.

[00:00:09]Two agents, two nations, zero margin for error.

[00:00:13]Operation Bassem Souare.

[00:00:26]Namaskar. Hello and welcome to P Guru's channel. I'm your host Sri Iyer. Joining me today is General Shankar and this is Good Morning India. Good Morning India to everyone. Namaskar, sir. How are you?

[00:00:36]Good Morning India and Namaskar to everyone in India and abroad. It's just not India alone.

[00:00:42]And of course to Sri Iyer ji.

[00:00:46]Raring to go.

[00:00:48]We start.

[00:00:49]And we have some disturbing news. I wouldn't say disturbing news.

[00:00:54]Funny news from Iran. I mean from the Gulf where Iran has attacked the nuclear facility.

[00:01:03]So, let's start. We'll see where we go.

[00:01:06]Thank you, sir. And so, viewers, first as always, it's coming live to you from P Guru's and Ganesh shot. Please like this video and subscribe to our channels if you have not subscribed. So, viewers, this is the interesting twist in the latest hit in on the nuclear power plant in UAE.

[00:01:25]They said that the missile came from the west. Iran is north of UAE. So, if they say it came from the west, where did it come from? So, this was a confusion that was being placed.

[00:01:36]It could have been Iraq or it could have been somebody else. We don't know. At least I didn't check the latest latest.

[00:01:42]I think Shankar has the answer to this.

[00:01:44]General Shankar, sir, over to you. Talk us through what is happening here.

[00:01:48]Yeah. Thanks a lot. Look, Iran had to restart. Iran had gone into a you know, kind of a cold storage kind of a system.

[00:01:56]And a lot of attention focused away from, uh, you know, Iran and Israel and all that to the Trump-Xi Jinping discussion. That's over.

[00:02:08]Back. Where do you see I mean, we'll talk of this attack on this nuclear site and all, but that's only a small point to the story. So, and I am sure something is going to happen.

[00:02:19]Something has to give. There's no deal, there's no nothing. Even Project Freedom is called off, everything.

[00:02:25]Virtually.

[00:02:26]So, if this is the case, uh, we today what I'll do is we're I'll be back to a starting point. And this starting point, what is this starting point all about? Let's put all those uh, you know, cards on the deck so that we'll see when moves will take place, we can understand them because the past 1 week we've lost focus of what's happening here.

[00:02:49]So, my aim is to get the focus back. And like always, I get it back to you through a formal way because a formal way puts things in perspective.

[00:03:00]That's always been my, uh, thing. That's why I go with slides.

[00:03:04]Yeah, please, let's start.

[00:03:05]Yeah, we came to know yesterday that, you know, there's a drone strike, uh, which caused the, you know, uh, the electrical generator, uh, to short-circuit or something at the nuclear reactor, not at the nuclear power station, not the reactor, right?

[00:03:24]At the nuclear energy plant, and something happened, but it was controlled. It was not a major thing.

[00:03:29]But, the fact that a drone came and hit, this is important. Who's done that?

[00:03:36]Uh, the first finger goes to, of course, Iran. There's no doubt. If it's a drone, and the kind of a drone which they probably use, it would be Iran. Could it be any other place? Yes, it could be someone else, also. But, the chances are less.

[00:03:50]Okay. And it could also be Saudi Arabia.

[00:03:53]So, because of their internal problems within Saudis and UAE, it could be anyone. Even Turkey could have done it.

[00:04:01]And UAE has put out something saying that, "Look, we've intercepted three UAEs. It's not one, three."

[00:04:08]And he says, "Two UAVs were successfully intercepted while the third struck an electrical generator outside the inner perimeter of the Barakah nuclear power plant." So, that's it.

[00:04:19]And we'll come to know who's done it.

[00:04:20]It's a matter of time.

[00:04:22]In the meanwhile, Mr. Trump has put out this, "For Iran, the clock is ticking and they better get moving fast or there won't be anything left of them." "Time is of essence, DJT." Fine, this is what he's put out. So, he's very clearly signaling that a restart of the whole story is on the cards.

[00:04:39]And then, of course, today morning Al Jazeera says, "Trump threat and UAE reports a drone attack." But interestingly in this, he talks of they they talk of Saudi Arabia also reporting a drone attack.

[00:04:53]So, that is to be seen well where this whole thing goes, right? Is it a restart in a different manner?

[00:04:59]Uh Amidst all this, Iran is preparing for a new transit mechanism.

[00:05:05]It is formula- it is attempting to formalize the control over the strait with a formal professional mechanism.

[00:05:12]And they will collect the fees and all that and, you know, and of course, they have said only commercial vessels which are neutral to this whole thing will be allowed to go through. Anyone who's under the project freedom, uh all that will not be allowed. All that's fine. But the major thing is they are trying to control the Strait of Hormuz. They're They're formalizing it.

[00:05:32]And no one seems to be able to do anything about it.

[00:05:36]Okay. But in the long run, my own guess is this will backfire on Iran at the in the longer run.

[00:05:42]Okay.

[00:05:44]Now, Iran says, "We are ready for a deal, talk, and all that, but no with no compromise.

[00:05:53]We're not going to see."

[00:05:55]He says, "We're not going to get worried by what Trump says." All this is back and forth of the past 48 hours.

[00:06:01]And then an interesting fact which came out is that, you know, the Iran speaker Qalibaf he's been appointed as a special envoy to China, which signals that, "Look, there's a new move towards China."

[00:06:15]Iran.

[00:06:16]The thing is this, Iran-China the equations have not been very great in things China has not come forth on with Iran. China has its own game to play fully. So, obviously they want one to one between the, you know, the political thing here and there to bridge a gap. There's a gap and their diplomacy is not enough.

[00:06:38]So, just not Araqchi, they're trying to increase it and then so, we'll see how how this goes. This is all the thing which we need to keep in mind as things unfold in the next few days.

[00:06:50]Uh there's also this US intelligence which says that Iran retains substantial missile capabilities.

[00:06:57]And if you go as per this uh you know, report by New York Times, it's a full investigation.

[00:07:04]It's a full report. It says a lot of missiles are there with Iran.

[00:07:09]So, we'll see where this also goes. So, if there's a uh restart of strikes and all that how much will Iran get back? But, I do suspect this completely. I mean, I don't trust this report completely for the simple reason New York Times has its own axe to grind with the Trump administration and it's probably someone has paid them off.

[00:07:32]Also, it's possible if the New York Times is good for that.

[00:07:36]And here this clip tells you uh what's the problem within Iran. You have to understand when you're talking for all this, remember what's the problem with an Iran. Have a look. From meat and rice to oil and milk, food remains widely available across Iranian markets. But for many families, putting these items into their shopping basket is becoming more difficult. The Statistical Center of Iran says food inflation has sharply increased in recent months. In urban areas, prices of some essential goods have more than tripled compared to the same period last year. Solid vegetable oil recorded over 300% rise, while imported rice increased by over have also seen significant price hikes.

[00:08:23]Rising raw material costs are putting growing pressure on the supply chain, while consumers say their purchasing power continues to erode.

[00:08:33]Just last month, I was still able to afford some basic items, but now those same products are out of reach. Prices keep rising while salaries stay the same, and it's not only me. Many people across society are struggling.

[00:08:46]Before, three out of every five customers would order food. Now, only two do, and many of them share a single meal to cut costs. At the same time, we can't increase prices either.

[00:09:00]Prices are rising every day. I believe part of these increases is being driven by panic in the markets and speculation.

[00:09:06]Products like vegetables and meat are already far more expensive than they were just a few days ago.

[00:09:13]We've already adjusted our prices three times. The cost of liver alone is more than doubled. When we ask suppliers why, they blame shortages or say livestock is being exported. The truth is, there seems to be very little oversight.

[00:09:26]The government has tried to ease pressure on households through subsidies and price control measures.

[00:09:32]But many Iranians say wages are no No are they up with the rising cost of essentials, leaving lower-income families under growing strain.

[00:09:41]The US naval blockade has put a certain amount of negative impact on Iran's import, but added to that are soaring costs of production, high inflation, and devaluation of local currency, all contributing to the surge in the food prices. At the end of the day, it is very ordinary people who are paying the cost.

[00:10:00]So, internally, the conditions in Iran are not good, inflation. Right? And you know, it's not one that was the Al Jazeera clip, and this is from Washington Post.

[00:10:11]Uh which says Iran war has pushed inflation to the highest rate in nearly 3 years. So, internally, Iran is in a weak condition.

[00:10:20]How much more can uh it become? How much more will the people be able to, you know, take this uh you know, knock is a question mark. It's open. I mean, we don't know we don't understand this very easily. We'll see how this plays out.

[00:10:37]And it is not only this whole story, and if you see this of New York Times, this is about Qatar.

[00:10:44]So, Qatar also is going into a bad state. Qatar's economy is shrinking very fast.

[00:10:50]So, we'll the knock-on effect on smaller nations is going to be high. Maybe countries like UAE and uh Saudi, they have a way out because they have alternate pipelines, they have some oil going out. But not Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait. Kuwait also has out through Iraq in the north.

[00:11:10]Right? But what about these two small countries? Well, we'll see where it goes. It's going to be a problem.

[00:11:16]And uh you know, now let me see the from switch to the American viewpoint and see what's happening on this side.

[00:11:24]And uh you uh just listen to Rubio. Project Freedom Return, are we going to start bombing Iran again?

[00:11:30]>> The reason why Project Freedom stopped is at the request of Pakistan and they said the Pakistani said if you guys stop Project Freedom we think we can get to a deal. And and so in the interest of diplomacy the president would prefer to have a diplomatic solution to this problem with Iran. We went ahead and agreed to stop it. By the way, we agreed to stop it. We had destroyers inside the Persian Gulf. We said okay, we're going to stop. We're moving our destroyers out. They get fired upon by the Iranians and that's the activity you saw last week. So, I mean from this I can make out Project Freedom was stopped.

[00:12:01]Then nothing.

[00:12:02]And he's also saying that the destroyers which were inside the Gulf have come out.

[00:12:08]Right? So, you see the US has taken a step back here and then and the interesting part is they're depending on the Pakistanis to deliver. Which they will never deliver. Okay? And then there's also news emerging of the hits which USA has got. And this is Iran strikes to damage or destroy at least 228 structures or pieces of equipment across 15 US military sites in the Gulf. The damage was worse than most people understood.

[00:12:39]Some of these explosions were fairly massive. You see hangars blown out. You see barracks really destroyed one after another. In one case there's a huge crater at an airbase the UAE. In some of these cases the strikes are very small.

[00:12:51]So, we think that they were probably from drones. This is the first time that an adversary has been able to put out satellite imagery almost in real time of the damage that they're causing the United States. We ended up reviewing 128 images, filled in this gap left by US satellite imagery providers. So, I think this is significant not only because the Iranians are able to control or influence the information war to a greater degree than ever before by showing the rest of the world how much they are hitting US bases. It's also significant just because of the damage itself. This war went on perhaps longer than the administration thought it go on. The Iranians had better targeting, better satellite imagery, and better ability to strike US bases than people had understood.

[00:13:36]So, you see that, you know, Iran has caused lot of damage and that's coming out.

[00:13:41]And we should not, you know, think that Iran could do nothing. We knew We knew all the way that Iran had hit all the Gulf countries and everything.

[00:13:49]So, the thing is Yeah. Right.

[00:13:52]And you know, look at Robert Gates. This is Robert Gates. He was a defense minister earlier, I think during Clinton's time.

[00:14:00]And have a look at what he says. I mean, this is significant.

[00:14:05]And is he now?

[00:14:06]He told me all those things in July of 2009, and I told him then he was dead wrong.

[00:14:12]That he was underestimating the resilience of the Iranians, uh that I thought he had been This is a discussion, you know, on on Clash Report where he talks of I mean, I'll not go further. Uh yeah, we can take this thing off at this point of time.

[00:14:29]Uh where, you know, he talks of saying that Netanyahu had come to him and he in 2009 with the same kind of a plan.

[00:14:38]And uh selling the same soap story to US officials saying that, "Look, go hit them. They'll fall down. They'll knock off and they'll shatter and all that."

[00:14:50]And he didn't buy it then. The American system didn't buy it then. Why did they buy it now?

[00:14:56]I mean, that's the interesting part. Why did, you know, Netanyahu's story got get sold now and America find itself in this position? Is it because they felt America felt that, "Look, last year we carried out strikes. They got degraded militarily. And this time in the in January, uh the people came out in the streets. So, if we do something, people will come out in the streets and the whole thing will get overturned." So, this will get discussed as we go along.

[00:15:21]But obviously you know, to some extent I think because of this whole thing the way it has evolved, America has gone into this not with both eyes open.

[00:15:33]How many eyes were closed I will not say, but definitely not both eyes were not open.

[00:15:38]And they had not thought through this whole story. So, that is where it is. It is a case of missed or misjudgments on the part of Americans to a large extent where they are.

[00:15:49]And every time they did something they got into another cul-de-sac.

[00:15:54]Military cul-de-sac. And why they have got into it is because if this whole story was not planned properly from the beginning. Anyway, be that as it may, we are where we are.

[00:16:03]Right? I put the thing on the table as to what it is and how it is going.

[00:16:08]Um whether it will go whether it will restart, all that we'll see where it's going. Whether it will be go to negotiations, whether Pakistan will continue as a negotiator. Because there is problem. So, Pakistan also as a negotiator a lot of people are talking.

[00:16:24]And whether America is foolish enough to go with Pakistan.

[00:16:27]There is uh and there are reports emerging that within the American system there are two views about Pakistan as a negotiator. We heard Lindsey Graham saying already in the congressional hearing or the Senate hearing. He was grilling Pete Texel and Dan B.

[00:16:45]We uh we spoke of that last week. Where they're saying why is Pakistan a mediator? You can't trust that fellow.

[00:16:52]But on the other hand Trump said no, Pakistan and the favorite field marshal.

[00:16:57]And there are more funny things coming out of the story how Pakistan has managed you know, there's a the uh the cable which sacked uh Imran Khan is now out in the open. We'll discuss that separately because that I found it fascinating. The whole story how Pakistan has gone back into the uh Washington camp and left China in the cold. So, all those things we will discuss very later, maybe tomorrow, maybe day after.

[00:17:27]But, the fact is that this is where the thing starts. Will it go forward or not or what's going to happen?

[00:17:35]We'll see. But, logically, I mean, if I you ask me in my comment, is that USA has to do something. Iran is sitting happy.

[00:17:44]They're very happy with their position.

[00:17:46]They are calling the shots, right? They are controlling the street. Uh and they are going and making their statements. Their info war is going. They are making deals with China.

[00:17:57]They the prime the foreign minister came. When Trump was in China, the foreign minister was in BRICS and he's made a statement in BRICS. And they are gaining the brownie points. And the Gulf nations are worried that look, Iran, as it is, if anything has come out stronger politically. Physically, it is a different story. Whether they'll come everything we'll see. And my own guess is even if you the war stops now, you'll see a very unstable Iran as you go along because internally things are bad.

[00:18:30]That's what Al Jazeera tells you. That's what Washington Post tells you. I've been talking of this for quite some time. So, you're going to have a dominant Iran which is unstable.

[00:18:41]Because the power games within Iran will start after this, whenever this ends.

[00:18:45]So, which means the US influence and power on this region will reduce.

[00:18:53]That's the QED.

[00:18:54]Right? So, where does all this go? You also see funny things like, you know, new contracts coming. There's an attempt Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt that is failing at some level.

[00:19:06]There's a thing between Qatar, Turkey, Pakistan, and Egypt also coming up. That is failing at some another level.

[00:19:13]So, how things are going to happen, we'll see. And then there's of course this feud which is in the open between UAE and Saudi Arabia. And so UAE is checkmating Saudi Arabia at every turn, whether it's in Turkey or whether it's in Sudan or whether wherever.

[00:19:29]So, it's gone into a a model.

[00:19:33]In fact, it's a mess actually. It's not even a model. It's a complete mess. How US navigates through this we'll see or they accept defeat. Then Trump can say what it want, but the fundamental thing is you US will have no leg to stand on if they don't do anything. So, if that is the thing which I'm thinking, something has to break. And what will break, we'll see.

[00:19:54]Right? Uh in my way of like thinking, US has no choice but to uh start striking.

[00:20:02]Where will it strike is a different question.

[00:20:05]How will it strike? It'll be be it has to be complete intel based strikes. I'm sure by now they've collected some intelligence. After all, it's not a one-way thing that Iran has uh uh you know, prepared for in this break and USA has not. USA would have re-dealt their own options. And and also consulted Israel. I mean, they now are inseparable the way I look at it. So, I think some strikes will start and some negotiations will start. And we'll see who gives and who gives what and how much. Uh back to you Shri RG, your views on this and then I have [clears throat] an interesting uh you know, thing to talk. And that's about Russia-Pakistan growing ties, but that's a later. We'll first finish this.

[00:20:53]Yeah. Oh, back to you Shri RG, your views on this.

[00:20:56]>> So, from my viewpoint General Shankar, it looked like Trump was waiting for one leadership to emerge from Iran. They thought that there were multiple factions that some clarity will emerge.

[00:21:10]And if anything, yes, it has emerged, but but not what they wanted. If if you know, this guy, the speaker of the parliament is being shunted out to China. That's a less important position than being the speaker of >> shunted out to China. No, no, no, no.

[00:21:26]You don't understand.

[00:21:27]>> a Mhm. He's nominated as a special representative for China.

[00:21:32]He's actually been elected >> What does that mean?

[00:21:35]It means that he's the only one who will deal with China.

[00:21:38]On Oh, I see.

[00:21:40]Like our our NSA is the special representative of India on the between India and China on the border issue. And their foreign minister Deng Yi is the special representative.

[00:21:51]So, it is a single point contact. It's a very important thing.

[00:21:56]Yeah. So, maybe Ghalibaf is the person who's going to succeed because they're still saying Mojtaba is not going to survive for long, even if he's alive, assuming he's alive.

[00:22:04]We don't know.

[00:22:06]We don't know.

[00:22:06]>> So, that's what I think Yeah. So, that's what Trump was playing for that okay, even if you have to make a deal, it should be with somebody that the country can get behind. And there was a bit of a climb down on part of Iran after the first set of five uh you know, things came about. Iran said that okay, as far as our enrichment is concerned, um we will downgrade some part of it. The rest of it we will keep it in another country for store keeping, but not United States. United States insists that everything to be sent to United States.

[00:22:40]And and then nothing else. They still want reparations. US is saying no reparations. They want entire money locked up to be released. US is saying only 20%. These are the big picture thing. And Hormuz is another thing that both are, you know, sticking to their stance.

[00:22:56]Intractable the way it looks like at this point of time. And what is US waiting for? It could be even something like a tight information, sir. I don't know. I It It They expected it to happen like over this weekend because you know how Friday effect is. That has not happened. And it is expected that the stock market will fall tomorrow. Not because of this, but because the trip did not result in anything substantive, China trip.

[00:23:27]And that is rattling a little bit. And there is story coming around that China said that we don't need Nvidia's latest generation chips. So, that tells you two things. China is not desperate. B, China has found a replacement in its own company.

[00:23:42]And that It's It's a bit of a downer. If Nvidia falls, then all the AI chips will also fall. All the AI stocks will also fall.

[00:23:53]So, it's going to be an interesting situation. Let's wait and see. So, this is where things stand. Yeah.

[00:23:58]>> Yeah. Yeah. Well, before the call. Yeah.

[00:24:01]Yeah. You're right. Americans go for the money. You know, you As far as America is, everything is viewed through the prism of money. And so, the markets are important. And I think they've already fallen to some extent when, you know, it came out that only 200 Boeings were being negotiated and not 450 with to start with. I believe the Boeing stocks fell. And so, I Look, that that whole Trump-Xi exercise was a non-exercise. And that I've been saying Right. Right.

[00:24:30]>> that this on day one. There's nothing for them to discuss. There's no position they have taken.

[00:24:36]There's no thing The only thing which has happened, the only positive thing which has happened out of that negotiation is that certain guardrails have been built on the US-China relationship.

[00:24:49]That's all.

[00:24:50]Okay. But as far as Iran is concerned, well, things have gone back.

[00:24:56]The consolidation is seems to be better on the side of Iran.

[00:24:59]And look what Marco Rubio said. He says he's they're depending on Pakistan.

[00:25:05]Who has prospered by depending on Pakistan? And I think it's very foolish on the part of USA to even think of depending on Pakistan.

[00:25:15]Okay, you provide channels and all that, but after that you should have just said thank you to Pakistan. We're not interested in what you do. Let's get things going in a different manner.

[00:25:25]Well, they're learning the hard way.

[00:25:27]You know, the history repeats itself.

[00:25:30]And there's no fool like you know, how do I say?

[00:25:35]Uh, you know, after all it is Pakistan who let America down in Afghanistan. They'll let America down now and we've spoken about it earlier.

[00:25:43]So, I don't know but whichever way, I mean, we're going to We can say that America shouldn't depend on Pakistan. But Trump seems to be loving his favorite field marshal. So, let them go the way they want. We'll see how this whole story goes.

[00:25:58]At the end of the day, I get back to one fundamental thing.

[00:26:03]Do I gain from this war?

[00:26:06]The answer is yes.

[00:26:08]To me, that's more important. India, I keep saying what's my national interest.

[00:26:13]Yeah, there will be a problem with Iran.

[00:26:16]Iran will not go nuclear in a hurry, but their influence over the Gulf will increase. Fine.

[00:26:21]Okay, so I I've been saying this.

[00:26:23]There's no doubt about that. But let look at it from this. You have a a great relationship now with UAE which our Prime Minister has gone and done.

[00:26:32]Okay. You also you heard the foreign minister saying in BRICS that they want Chabahar to move ahead.

[00:26:42]Okay. So, Chabahar will move ahead in some manner if not now later.

[00:26:46]They want to keep the relations open and good.

[00:26:49]And they feel that India has helped them. India has helped them by not getting involved and siding USA. That itself is a great thing. By just staying neutral, you've done a great thing.

[00:27:01]Right? So, you are in a okay position between both sides of the Gulf.

[00:27:05]North and the South. So, you're okay.

[00:27:08]Over and above that, something significant happens happening today.

[00:27:13]Our Prime Minister is in uh you know, I think I was between Netherlands yesterday. He was in Sweden today. He must be going to Norway.

[00:27:20]So, what's happening there?

[00:27:21]Netherlands, what did you do? You went and dealt with oil and you dealt for ASML chips. You're going to get maybe the worst chips, the oldest generation of chips.

[00:27:32]28 nanometers, not the 3 nanometer. But, you don't need 3 nanometer. What India needs is 28 nanometers.

[00:27:39]And if you can get the first fab, right? And Tata's and ASML had a MOU.

[00:27:45]Well, these things take time. It might take 1 more year before the fab goes online. But, it'll go.

[00:27:52]One day it'll go online. There's no doubt about it. You know, that moment is happening. When that happens, you you don't have to import semiconductors from outside.

[00:28:02]You're already a non-fab power. With the some fab coming in, your value goes up.

[00:28:08]People, you know, I see a lot of people talking nonsense. But, a Prime Minister doesn't go all the way to Netherlands and you know, oversee a MOU between ASML and Tata's just for fun.

[00:28:19]Right? Right? And then what happened in yesterday in Sweden? You reaffirmed your you know, equation with Sweden.

[00:28:27]Remember, Sweden has a lot of technology which is they can't sell anywhere.

[00:28:32]You have to understand what's happening there.

[00:28:35]Why?

[00:28:36]Because all these while the NATO was taking over, US was taking over and all that and you know, they were the military sales, everything was there.

[00:28:44]All military technology in Europe which is resident in Europe was collapsing.

[00:28:49]Now you're going and reviving it.

[00:28:51]Why did we go to Sweden? What is the reason for our president to go our prime minister go to Sweden?

[00:28:57]Remember Bofors came from Sweden and when Bofors was made it was the best uh gun in the world and it has proven itself.

[00:29:04]We did the right choice by going to Bofors. Same thing. You revive. They'll be more than happy to come.

[00:29:12]I mean, there'll be a cost to pay. Fine, but they will be a and they were the ones who were prepared to do technology transfer.

[00:29:19]The original Bofors deal was of technology transfer and I've seen the original technology transfer papers which they give. They hid nothing from us.

[00:29:29]And that's why we were able to make a gun out of that 25 years later. Of course, certain things went out of equation. We had to reconstruct it and all that, but that's it. That's all.

[00:29:40]It Let me put it this way. That deal 25 years later delayed has made us atmanirbhar in artillery today.

[00:29:48]So this You revive that and Sweden will come on board. I'm very sure of that.

[00:29:54]And I've met a lot of my friends that gone to Sweden at that time and I couldn't go for personal reason.

[00:30:00]Right and uh So when I hear them what they said and all, they'll come back, right? We have dealt with Netherlands for ASML. Today we're going to deal with Norway and tomorrow with Italy. So things will move.

[00:30:15]I As far as I'm concerned, I'm okay on the south of Gulf of Hormuz, north of Gulf of Hormuz, Europe.

[00:30:21]USA will see and USA can't go ahead without us. There's no doubt. We'll talk of China and I've said yesterday yesterday in my talk uh on, you know, how dangerous will an overconfident China be?

[00:30:37]China's today overconfident without the fundamentals.

[00:30:40]It's overconfident and will it become dangerous? We'll have to manage this situation. So, overall, I'm okay.

[00:30:48]Are you okay? Is the question.

[00:30:50]Right?

[00:30:51]So, we have to be very careful in how we analyze this and not get carried away by the dynamics between USA and Iran.

[00:31:02]I find find a lot of people getting emotional that Iran is winning. I find a lot of people saying US is winning and Iran is going. I'm not interested in that polemic.

[00:31:12]I'm I'm interested only one polemic, that is India is winning.

[00:31:16]Uh back to you, sir. If you we have done with this, I wanted to talk about Russia-Pakistan growing ties.

[00:31:22]Uh a few minutes >> let's move on to Russia-Pakistan stuff.

[00:31:25]I think we've covered just about every possibility here. Over to you, sir.

[00:31:30]Yeah. Yeah, so, you know, why I took this thing, you know, of Russia-Pakistan growing ties is I got in lot of requests from people to say, "Look, why don't you talk of Russia-Pakistan growing ties?"

[00:31:44]So, I'm talking to you in response to that today on this.

[00:31:48]Uh the point is this. We've always considered Russia to be our trusted partner in everything. But, >> [snorts] >> in the business of nations, national interests come first.

[00:32:05]And when I look at it, why I I I view it this dis- passionately. Yes, Russia has been our trusted partner. We will do anything for them, they will do anything for us. That's all good.

[00:32:16]But, during Ops Hindu, they kept quiet.

[00:32:19]And I said then, "The silence of our friends was more hurting than the noise of our enemies."

[00:32:27]And Russia was silent.

[00:32:29]And you go back the time when Taliban was and you know, the fight between Taliban and USA and Afghanistan and Pakistan and Afghanistan settlement was being spoken in Doha and all that.

[00:32:45]Russia was involved in the talks and they made it a point to keep you India out.

[00:32:51]It was only in the latest stages then they said no no your India can come but initially they kept us out completely by design.

[00:33:01]And it was hurting.

[00:33:02]Many people don't remember this.

[00:33:05]So when it came in the recent past well they helped us tremendously during 1971 war no doubt. Recent past you see they have not helped us.

[00:33:15]On the other hand for the past four years we've been helping them in the Ukraine war.

[00:33:19]There's no doubt you Russia could not have survived without our purchase of their oil.

[00:33:26]Right so that is where it is. So when you talk of this we have to be very clear.

[00:33:32]And there's one more thing before I get to Russia and Pakistan.

[00:33:37]You see this is what two few days back the Russian ambassador to India says.

[00:33:44]Moscow wants Russia India China format resume. They keep harping on this.

[00:33:50]Russia India China. They know our relations with China.

[00:33:54]Right? Of course last year during that meet in Shanghai Cooperation Organization that famous picture of all three of us was also there.

[00:34:03]But that was it after that nothing has happened.

[00:34:06]But they want this to go forward. They want to form a block between Russia China and India.

[00:34:12]That is not detrimental to global geopolitics. That's detrimental to India.

[00:34:18]And that is you know handing the cake not to Russia but handing the cake to China.

[00:34:24]Can we do that?

[00:34:26]Russia knows it.

[00:34:27]But Russia pushes us keeps pushing us into it because it suits their purpose.

[00:34:33]So, Russia does things which suits their purpose. Their interaction with, you know, Pakistan and promoting Pakistan and assisting Pakistan is also there.

[00:34:45]This came comes out from Sputnik. You see the things coming out from Sputnik, RT, and all. Pakistan seeks to link Gwadar Port with Russia's international north-south transit port corridor.

[00:35:00]Okay. So, they're coming out with it.

[00:35:02]They want they're promoting this.

[00:35:05]The traditional thing is here, from Mumbai to, you know, Suez Canal and there's no, but the actual thing is what was agreed between India and Iran and of course, yeah, Russia was this.

[00:35:21]Go to go from Mumbai to Chabahar, Chabahar to through Iran, and it goes on to Central Asia and uh Russia. But now they're trying to route it through Gwadar.

[00:35:35]Same Zahedan and that route. And already Russia was the one which assisted Pakistan in opening those six routes to Iran.

[00:35:44]So, there is a new recent dynamic which is happening simultaneously.

[00:35:48]And you know, the second Russia-Pakistan conference happened in Kazan.

[00:35:56]When? Not far back, 2 months back.

[00:36:00]Right? So, people who have spoken there have started. So, there's some kind of a alignment taking place or a misalignment being reset, I don't know. But it's happening.

[00:36:10]And then Russian firm and its Pakistani partner, now they have a Pakistani partner also.

[00:36:17]They're trying to set up medical facilities.

[00:36:22]Right? In Pakistan.

[00:36:25]So, you see this cooperation increasing.

[00:36:28]Okay, and there are analysis coming out.

[00:36:31]This is from Friday Times. When was this? 15th May.

[00:36:35]When is 15th May? 3 days back.

[00:36:38]Russia with love. Time for Pakistan's strategic reset with Moscow.

[00:36:44]So, opinion is being built up in Pakistan for a strategic reset.

[00:36:48]Pakistan will be more than happy. And even there are indications, like I said, from Pakistan. You see in the the tone of the social media post coming out of official Russian, you know, media.

[00:37:03]They want a reset.

[00:37:05]The reason is simple.

[00:37:07]Pakistan, China, Russia. And I spoke of it few days back.

[00:37:12]That this will happen.

[00:37:14]I mean, we've been talking of it. Okay?

[00:37:17]So, this is a thing which is happening.

[00:37:19]And then, of course, again on May 15th, Russia supports incorporating Pakistan's Gwadar Port into the INSTC. The Deputy Prime Minister has said, So, and he says, "We've been long in talks with Pakistan about connecting the North-South Transport Corridor."

[00:37:40]This is Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk.

[00:37:44]He was asked a question, and he said this.

[00:37:46]And he stressed that the parties are discussing various options for connectivity between Russia and Pakistan, including railways.

[00:37:54]Correct? According to him, work with the North-South Transport Corridor despite conflicts in the region.

[00:37:59]So, you see this happening.

[00:38:03]Right? But, when all this is happening, don't forget what is Pakistan has got no money. They've gone to Russia China to issue panda bonds, which is weird, very high rates of interest. People will buy it. I don't know how Pakistan will repay it. That's a different thing.

[00:38:19]Pakistan wants to sell Eurobonds, everything, raise money. but where will they get money? We don't know. But that's the state of Pakistan. Yeah, thank you.

[00:38:27]Right, you can take this off with this a lot.

[00:38:31]So, if you see this whole story uh the there is a nudge between I won't say a mutual nudge between Pakistan and Russia happening.

[00:38:43]Should we be worried about it at this point of time?

[00:38:47]Not yet.

[00:38:49]Should we not be worried about it? No, we must be worried. We should be clear what they are dealing.

[00:38:55]Why Russia is dealing with all this.

[00:38:58]We might have a great relationship with Russia.

[00:39:01]But Russia is developing good equally good relations or attempting to go towards Pakistan.

[00:39:08]Russia has a good equation with Iran.

[00:39:10]Russia has a good equation with China.

[00:39:13]Russia has a good equation with Iran, North Korea. So, this whole story you know, it's not bricks So, might come up.

[00:39:24]So, let's not be very you know, altruistic in thinking that Russia is our great friend who'll you know, be with us forever to come. So, I thought I'll put this also in you know, focus and explain to all of you that we are if our national interest is prime we have to look to our interest. Whether it is Russia, China, USA or anything.

[00:39:49]Today why why am I saying this? Because there are a lot of thing in the social media that that one month has expired.

[00:39:57]Which you know, waiver was given for India to purchase Russian oil. And I think India is already in talks with thing for this waiver to continue and things like that.

[00:40:07]We'll see where it goes.

[00:40:09]Okay. So, this is where things are. I thought I'll put this up because we have to look to our interest.

[00:40:16]We have to look at the interest of our 1.5 billion people, not to US interest or Iranian interest or UAE interest or Russian interest or Chinese interest. Our people should have petrol at the pumps, food to eat, clothes to wear, and roads to drive on.

[00:40:34]That's my only interest in doing all this analysis. Ultimately, what does it mean for India? Back to you, sir. Your questions and or anything and then we'll take it forward.

[00:40:46]Thank you, sir. I'm I'm really, you know, racking my brains to understand what exactly does Russia see in Pakistan in order to have a closer working relationship. The only thing that I can think of is boots on the ground. Nothing else. I I really don't see anything else.

[00:41:01]And and it that will also confuse the hell out of United States and perhaps China that, you know, so you're going to have Pakistani troops on one side fighting Pakistani troops on the other side because both sides are getting paid.

[00:41:15]What exactly is the deal here? Or the generals are getting paid? Is that what the deal is? It It's really getting a little messy.

[00:41:25]I I don't see anything else that Pakistan can give Russia.

[00:41:30]And we'll see, sir. Let's go to some questions from our viewers.

[00:41:34]>> Sir, let me put it this way. Look, Pakistan is a deep actor. We must understand.

[00:41:40]Don't forget that, you know, when Imran Khan was the prime minister, so he won he was there in Moscow.

[00:41:47]It was a state visit when The day of invasion. Yeah. invasion.

[00:41:52]So, they were trying to reset that base from then. It's not new. We knew it.

[00:41:57]>> Right, right, right, right.

[00:41:59]It's there. Yeah.

[00:42:01]Akshay wants to know, sorry to digress, did Iran provide Cuba with drones to hit Florida? Times of India reports.

[00:42:09]Look, I am not I these reports will keep coming.

[00:42:13]Whether Iran has given them 200 or 300 drones or not, I don't know.

[00:42:20]My guess is this is, you know, kite flying.

[00:42:24]Uh 200 drones won't save Cuba. And why should America do anything with Cuba? I mean, they just have to let it go.

[00:42:32]And Cuba is sinking. That's why we did this day before day before yesterday we spoke of this Cuba and uh >> right, right, right, right. They don't have electricity. They don't have fuel.

[00:42:41]They don't have food to eat. It's a matter of time that Cuban government will fall.

[00:42:45]If the government doesn't fall, something will happen, yeah.

[00:42:49]Desi stand wants to know, Iran with this strike Iran proved they can make a pinpoint strike. Iran hit the diesel fuel storage requirement for the generator that kicks in to prevent a nuclear meltdown. New tech from Russia?

[00:43:01]Yeah, that tech can't be absorbed so fast, but in any case, please understand that uh Iran has been hitting lot of things with pinpoint accuracy. The targeting everything has been good. They got all the details from China before time only.

[00:43:16]You know, targeting and all tech tech tech tech transfer doesn't happen in this period.

[00:43:21]And targeting is a thing which they built up over a long time.

[00:43:25]You That's why I showed that clip on of the damage which has happened in to US bases.

[00:43:31]I think it's come out from Washington Post or someone. I don't remember who that >> Yeah, Washington Post, Washington Post, yeah.

[00:43:37]It's an official semi I would say it's a demi-official clip.

[00:43:41]Washington Post wouldn't have put out such a clip without you know, going into full details.

[00:43:47]Veracity of the deal.

[00:43:50]Okay. That's why I say, look, when you when I speak and I come to you and present you something, if that thing is unconfirmed, I'll tell you. But if I put a thing out, it'll be from a verified source.

[00:44:02]Yeah.

[00:44:04]Abhishek Trivedi says, "Thank you, Abhishek. Uh watching you reminds me of my great grandpa. Truly patriotic.

[00:44:11]He was freedom fighter and was with great Chandrashekhar Azad." Wow. Yeah, thanks a lot. Wow.

[00:44:18]Some lineage. Yes. Yes.

[00:44:21]Rajasekhar, thank you.

[00:44:23]Uh sir, Europe is 19% world GDP, motherland of theoretical physics. Is Trump by forcing Europe to spend on defense build its military, creating a Frankenstein monster he won't be able to control? Possible.

[00:44:37]Highly possible. Only thing is the European people have changed.

[00:44:41]And there's a lot of things happening in Europe. Maybe one day we'll talk about the demographic of Europe and everything. Whatever it is.

[00:44:48]Uh whether they will go back to that we don't know, but we'll see how it goes.

[00:44:54]Too early to tell what's going to happen. But the first part, you're right.

[00:44:59]They had that the technology is there.

[00:45:02]It's not only in Western Europe, even in Eastern Europe.

[00:45:07]Right? And they're very good at it.

[00:45:09]So, I let's see where it goes. Uh you have a very valid point. I must agree with you.

[00:45:15]Uh SS, thank you so much for your super sticker. And that brings us to a close of today's program.

[00:45:20]And uh please like, share, and subscribe to our channel. We'll be back again tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. Namaskaram, sir.

[00:45:26]We'll see you soon. Namaskaram. Thank you.

[00:45:29]Just stay back.

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