Trump Says 'Iran Begging For Deal' | PM Modi Reaches Italy | US | Iran War | Strait of Hormuz

Indexado: 2026-05-19

[00:00:07][music] >> Joining me now is Pranay Upadhyay.

[00:00:12]Pranay, how should these threats and negotiations be seen?

[00:00:17]You know, it's 80 days into the war and perhaps there's no end in sight.

[00:00:24]You're absolutely right, Maria. I think President Donald Trump is actually in a in a quagmire what Iran is referring to and in fact there is the entire diplomatic negotiation, everything is in a stalemate condition and I think President Donald Trump is also under pressure on certain from from certain section of his advisers in Trump administration who are asking President Donald Trump to finish the job, to go for for the final blow against Iran. But it's a very difficult proposition Maria.

[00:00:57]Why? Because a it is very difficult to change go for any regime change by merely bombing and if United States has to commit boots on ground, it is going to be all together all together a different ballgame and that is actually stopping President Donald Trump. But that's why President Donald Trump is putting and giving, you know, these deadlines with every now and then he comes up with another deadline. He is trying to threaten and what he's doing is exercising his extreme pop, you know, pressure policy against Iran. He want Iran to capitulate. He want Iran to come to negotiating table and give him a document, an agreement with which is sellable to his domestic audience because all President Donald Trump needs is a deal which is better than the JCPOA deal did by one deal which he can sell, he can he can he can show as a trophy to his moderate support base and go to midterm elections.

[00:01:53]But but Pranay, when President Trump says that Iran is begging for a deal, certainly it won't go down well with the Iranians given you know if in many ways Pranay, Iran has the leverage here in this war because of the Strait of Hormuz. For him to say that Iran is begging for a deal, who in Iran will be listening to this?

[00:02:21]Or will they choose to just ignore it?

[00:02:23]You know, peculiar No, I don't think so that they're going to ignore it. That's why if you see whatever rhetoric both these parties are you know exercising and practicing. But on the reasonable and the and the rationality on the ground of rationality, both are engaging with each other and recently Iranians have also confirmed that they have sent a fresh proposal. Recently Pakistani interior affairs minister Mosin Nakvi was in Tehran and there are back channels which are still on and that's why President Donald Trump said that you know they are talking some rational things. I want to give them you know few days, maybe like Friday, Saturday or maybe before that.

[00:02:59]So so he want to keep all the cards open for in his hand. But certainly they both are engaging. Nobody is taking each other lightly and that's why they are engaging with each other. But the but the reality remains that the Strait of Hormuz is still closed even after 77 days. Mhm, that's an important point there Pranav. Pranav continue to be with us because we'll be shifting focus now to Prime Minister Modi's five nation tour because his five nation tour is in the last leg as he will be arriving in Italy shortly. It comes at a time of mounting global uncertainty with the West Asia conflict continuing to fuel concerns over energy security supply chains and also rising food and fuel prices. The visit underlines India's push to deepen strategic partnerships particularly in technology, defense, green energy and critical trade sectors while also diversifying into global alliances beyond traditional power centers. Here's a report.

[00:04:14]With no end in sight for the West Asia war and with fuel and food prices surging all eyes have been on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's tour of five nations.

[00:04:27]With the last leg ending on May 19th as he visits Italy.

[00:04:36]Prime Minister Modi's visit to United Arab Emirates the Netherlands Sweden Norway and Italy signify a change in India's foreign policy where India is trying to look forward to strengthening technology and ensuring supply chain security.

[00:05:00]The first stop was UAE where he held talks with President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan a country which has been the target by Iran since the beginning of West Asia war.

[00:05:12]Modi condemned the attack on UAE and said India stood shoulder to shoulder with the country while emphasizing that the Strait of Hormuz should be free, open and safe.

[00:05:25]free open >> The stop was less than 3 hours during which both the countries agreed on a framework for the strategic defense partnership and signed pacts on strategic defense cooperation, petroleum reserves and supply [music] of liquefied petroleum gas.

[00:06:14]Modi then traveled to Netherlands during which both the countries elevated bilateral ties to a full-fledged strategic partnership announcing 17 major agreements spanning semiconductors, >> [music] >> green hydrogen, defense cooperation, mobility, critical minerals and emerging technologies. One of the major deals was between Tata Electronics and Dutch semiconductor firm ASML.

[00:06:38]ASML makes specialized machines without which modern chip fabrication is essentially impossible.

[00:06:51]Modi's visit to Sweden aimed at targeting electronics, deep tech manufacturing, AI green energy, infrastructure, mobility, urban transformation, health care and life sciences. Modi also addressed the European Round Table for industry in Gothenburg. [music] Modi's next destination was Norway.

[00:07:22]Where he held bilateral talks with his Norwegian counterpart focused on green energy, maritime cooperation, Arctic engagement, trade and investment. In fact, Modi's visit to Norway is the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the Nordic country in 43 years. India and Norway signed a series of agreements covering climate action, maritime cooperation, digital development, healthcare, science, technology, and renewable energy.

[00:07:51]Which delivers Bharat or European Free Trade Association K a historic trade and economic partnership agreement lagu kiya.

[00:08:04]Your agreement Bharat or Norway K beach shared progress or prosperity sunischit karne ka blueprint hai.

[00:08:16]Is agreement mein agle pandrah varsh mein Bharat mein 100 billion dollar investment or 1 million jobs create karne ka lakshya hai.

[00:08:35]Nordic countries are global leaders in green technologies, sustainable urban planning, innovation ecosystems, and clean energy transitions. India's need to enhance its advanced technology in hydrogen energy, climate resilience, smart manufacturing, and digital governance has prompted this engagement.

[00:08:53]This is also being seen by many as a subtle balancing of geopolitical equations by diversifying partnership and reducing dependency on China and the US.

[00:09:04]With Mahashweta Lala, Bureau Report, India Today.

[00:09:10]From strategic ties to viral moments, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Italy is once again putting the spotlight on his much-discussed camaraderie with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, popularly dubbed as Melodi by social media users. The chemistry between the two leaders has transcended diplomacy and become a global internet sensation. But beyond the selfies, smiles, and viral videos, lies a deepening India-Italy partnership which is focused on trade, technology, and strategic cooperation.

[00:09:44]Hello from the Meloni team.

[00:09:48]It is not just about diplomatic association, rather one of the most talked about friendships in global politics, Meloni.

[00:10:00]Modi's visit to [music] Italy from May 19th to 21 at the personal invitation of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni comes at a moment when the India-Italy relationship is quietly but decisively acquiring strategic depth.

[00:10:16]But beyond strategy, it is their personal bond that has [music] captured imaginations worldwide.

[00:10:24]Interestingly, Prime Minister Modi has written the foreword for the Indian edition of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's memoir titled [music] "I'm Giorgia, My Roots, My Principles."

[00:10:42]Prime Minister Meloni and Prime Minister Modi have often caught the internet's eye for the [music] camaraderie.

[00:10:50]They first met in November 2022 on the sidelines [music] of G20 Summit in Bali.

[00:10:59]But what fueled the internet was Meloni's arrival in India in March 2023 for bilateral meet [music] with Prime Minister Modi.

[00:11:07]Many Indians began to pour their love for Meloni on her Instagram posts.

[00:11:15]>> [music] >> What really created the sensation was the chemistry between both leaders >> [music] >> at the G20 Summit in New Delhi.

[00:11:24]The smiles and the handshake between the two world leaders became the talk of the town.

[00:11:29]>> [music] >> Hello from the Meloni team.

[00:11:36]>> [laughter] >> Months [music] later, another video went viral.

[00:11:41]Hello from team Meloni at the G7 Summit broke the internet [music] and racked up over 40 million views, instantly becoming a social media sensation.

[00:11:54]In September last year, the duo had a productive meeting in Johannesburg on the sidelines of the G20 Summit.

[00:12:03]Each Modi-Meloni meeting deepens a friendship that [music] is as personal as it is powerful.

[00:12:10]Most importantly, the cordial question between the two leaders is not without substance.

[00:12:18]India-Italy bilateral [music] trade has reached nearly 16.77 billion dollars, making Rome New Delhi's [music] fourth largest trading partner in the European Union.

[00:12:31]From summits to book prefaces, Modi and Meloni camaraderie is [music] fast becoming one of the defining diplomatic friendships in our times. With Atisha Jain, Bureau Report, India Today.

[00:12:45]>> [music] [snorts] >> Shifting focus to another key diplomatic development, four days, that's all it took for Beijing to go from hosting US President Donald Trump to welcoming now Vladimir Putin. Two of the world's most powerful leaders, one coming in from China's historical adversary and another from its most vital ally. Together, the back-to-back visits reveal more than just diplomacy, they reveal where global power is shifting and at a time when wars are raging in Ukraine and West Asia, when oil routes through the Strait of Hormuz are under threat, and when the US-Iran conflict risks spiraling further, China is positioning itself at the center of every major geopolitical conversation. Here's a report.

[00:13:35]Less than 4 days after Donald Trump left Beijing, Chinese President Xi Jinping has rolled out the red carpet [music] for another guest of honor. And this time, it's not an adversary, but an ally.

[00:13:51]Russian President Vladimir Putin is visiting the Chinese capital for a state visit [music] clearly calibrated to show Beijing and Moscow's alignment in the face [music] of global geopolitical upheaval.

[00:14:06]In a message before leaving for his tour, Putin said Russia-China [music] relations have reached a truly unprecedented level.

[00:14:19]Today, Russia-China relations have reached a truly unprecedented level.

[00:14:24]Their special nature is reflected in the atmosphere of mutual understanding and trust, a commitment to pursuing win-win and equitable cooperation, conducting respectful dialogue, and supporting each other on matters affecting the core interests of both the countries, including protection of sovereignty and state unity.

[00:14:48]This is the Russian President's 25th [music] visit to China.

[00:14:52]Putin and Xi, who refer to each other as dear or old friends, have met [music] more than 40 times.

[00:15:00]This time around, the two leaders are expected to discuss the wars in Ukraine and West Asia, Russia-China cooperation across energy, trade, and security, as well as Xi's recent meeting with Trump.

[00:15:13]Putin's visit comes at a time when both Beijing and Moscow are navigating shifting relationships with the US under Trump and weighing their role in the US Iran war.

[00:15:24]Russia is already China's biggest crude supplier and the ongoing oil crisis due to the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz could push China to depend even more on Russian energy.

[00:15:36]But crude prices are not the only reason why the conflict in Iran will likely loom large in Putin's [music] talks with Xi.

[00:15:44]China and Russia are both key backers of Tehran. Putin's visit raises the question of whether Beijing and Moscow now want to go beyond backing Iran and position themselves as power brokers in any future peace process.

[00:15:59]Remember, during his visit Trump sought common ground with Xi on preventing Iran from going nuclear and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, reinforcing China's importance in the current geopolitical scenario.

[00:16:15]The back-to-back visits [music] from the American and Russian leaders signal that China is fast emerging as the focal point of global diplomacy. Preksha Jain [music] for India Today.

[00:16:29]And let me go back to Pranay who's joining us. Pranay, two key leaders, all of them landing in Beijing for meeting with Xi Jinping. Uh is this some kind of realignment which is happening in the backdrop of two life conflicts?

[00:16:46]Absolutely, Maria. No doubt about it because if two powerful people, two powerful and more important and most important leaders uh landed in Beijing and President Xi Jinping received both President Donald Trump and now he he will be receiving Russian President Vladimir Putin tomorrow, then this clearly shows that the the balance of power is shifting towards Beijing. But we have to see that if President Donald Trump's visit to Beijing was more more about optics, uh this visit of President Vladimir Putin to Beijing will be more about substantive agenda. You know, if I tell you about the length and breadth and the size of the delegation accompanying President Vladimir Putin, he's also he's accompanied by his five deputy prime ministers and eight key ministers including Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. He was received by by the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

[00:17:38]And as you Piyush in your recent report that President Vladimir Putin had been to to to China 40 times. And if you see the volume of bilateral trade which has grown manifold in recent years that Russia and China bilateral trade has gone up to 240 billion dollars and most of the trade is being done in yuan and and ruble. So, this clearly shows that both leaders are trying to give a shape to an alternative system. And in fact, this is one of the important agenda which is confirmed by a close aid of President Vladimir Putin, Yuri Ushakov. And he said that both the leaders will be discussing you know, substantive agenda. Around 40 agreements are likely to be signed during this visit of President Putin. All right, Pranay. Really appreciate your time.

[00:18:24]Thank you for joining us. And what else is making news across the globe? Take a look at World at a Glance. I'm leaving you with this. Thanks so much for watching.

[00:18:44]Qatar's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Majed al-Ansari says US-Iran negotiations [music] need more time.

[00:18:50]This comes after United States President Donald Trump says [music] he has postponed a planned attack on Iran at the request of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab [music] Emirates. Meanwhile, UAE Defense Ministry says it has detected and dealt with six drones in the past 48 [music] hours. It also said drones that targeted Barakah Nuclear Power Plant came from Iraqi territory.

[00:19:15]According to the WHO, six tons of medical supplies [music] to fight Ebola are set to arrive in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

[00:19:23]The WHO says there have been at least 500 suspected [music] cases and 130 suspected deaths from Ebola, which has also spread to neighboring Uganda.

[00:19:33]Meanwhile, Rwanda has stepped up health screening >> [music] >> at its border crossings with the Democratic Republic of Congo as authorities seek to prevent the spread of Ebola.

[00:19:47]Finnish divers recovered the bodies of two of the four remaining Italians who died deep inside an underwater cave in an atoll in Maldives. The bodies were located on Monday when searches resumed after being suspended following the death of a local military diver during a perilous mission trying to [music] reach them. Five Italian divers went missing on Thursday with one of the bodies recovered earlier.

[00:20:15]The head of Starbucks Korea has been fired after [music] a marketing campaign sparked public outrage and boycott calls for evoking painful memories of a brutal military crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in 1980.

[00:20:28]Song Jeong-hoon's dismissal came hours after Starbucks launched its tank day campaign, which referred to hundreds [music] of people who had died or had gone missing when the troops and tanks were deployed to crack down on the protest.