Iran Prepares for U.S. Ground Invasion

SPEAKER_1 (0:01)

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Luke Vargas (0:31)

Tehran recruits volunteers, including children, to defend against a possible US invasion. Plus, the Trump administration amps up its defense of prediction markets. We'll look at how AI agents could put your brokerage account on autopilot.

Hannah Erin Lang (0:46)

So, for example, this AI agent could be programmed or instructed to buy those protective puts whenever oil spikes, or it could sweep cash into a higher yielding asset whenever you have an excess amount in there.

Luke Vargas (0:58)

It's Friday, April 3rd. I'm Luke Vargas for The Wall Street Journal. And here is the AM Edition of What's News. The top headlines and business stories moving your world today.

China and Russia have opposed a UN Security Council resolution that would have allowed countries to use all necessary means to secure the passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz. The AP reports that the move has led Bahrain to water down its resolution to only permit defensive actions to protect ships in the Strait. Here was China's UN Ambassador Fu Zong heard via a UN translator.

SPEAKER_4 (1:36)

Authorizing member states to use force would amount to legitimizing the unlawful and indiscriminate use of force, which would inevitably lead to further escalation of the situation and lead to serious consequences.

Luke Vargas (1:53)

A vote on the resolution is expected tomorrow. Earlier this week, we reported that the United Arab Emirates was pushing for the US and other allies to open the Strait of Hormuz by force, an effort that revolved around a Security Council resolution authorizing such action.

Meanwhile, Iran is beefing up its defenses in anticipation of a potential ground assault by the US. Those preparations include reinforcing its Karg Island oil export hub by laying mines along its coastline and booby trapping facilities. As journal Middle East correspondent Benoit Faucon explained, launching a mass mobilization effort similar to one seen during the country's 1980s war with Iraq.

Benoit Faucon (2:35)

There's been sort of a nationalistic reaction in Iran with a recruitment drive for people that will be willing to sacrifice their lives to defend the country, its territorial integrity, which got 1.8 million people signing up within hours of being launched last weekend. And there's been also recruitment of children officially for cooking and potentially medical services but also mining checkpoints.

Luke Vargas (3:03)

To Cuba now.

Telus Demos (3:04)

Announce the Cuban government's decision to induce more than 2,000 prisoners.

Luke Vargas (3:10)

The island's communist government says it will release more than 2,000 prisoners from its jails in what it's calling a humanitarian and sovereign gesture as it carries out negotiations with the Trump administration. The release of prisoners is timed for Easter celebrations and comes after Pope Leo expressed concern about worsening conditions in the country where fuel shortages have exacerbated blackouts. Yesterday, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel and other officials watched as hundreds of people paraded along Havana's seafront to protest a US oil embargo, riding bicycles, scooters and electric three-wheelers that have become the country's main modes of transportation.

SPEAKER_4 (3:51)

Cuba is in a blockade.

Benoit Faucon (3:52)

It has been blocked.

Luke Vargas (3:54)

At the same time, Russia's energy minister says that Moscow plans to send a second oil tanker to Cuba after the US allowed a Russian tanker carrying more than 700,000 barrels of oil to dock in the country earlier this week. Coming up, we'll look at the rise of AI agents that can watch the markets and make trades for you, and we'll look at why your morning coffee is a lot more expensive these days. Those stories and more after the break.

SPEAKER_1 (4:24)

We'll be right back.

SPEAKER_4 (4:25)

It's so good.

Luke Vargas (4:26)

You can add protein cold foam to your favorite drink or try one of our new protein lattes or matcha. Try it today at Starbucks. Would you let an AI agent trade on your behalf? The Journal's Hannah Erin Lang reports that the technology exists to put your investment account on autopilot, and she joins me now to discuss how the privately held brokerage firm Public is making it happen. Hannah, online traders will know that for years, there have been tools that basically let you weight your portfolio against a target allocation. There's also been ways to set limit orders and all sorts of things. What's new exactly here?