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U.S. Prisoners Freed in Swap; U.S., E.U. Remove Economic Restrictions on Iran; Israel to Monitor Iran's Nuclear Activity; Iran Gains Access to Global Banking System; Obama Declares Emergency over Toxic Water; Iran Nuke Deal Facilitates U.S. Prisoner Release; Three Days of Mourning for Victims of Siege; Indonesians Defiant in Face of Terrorism; Taiwan Elects First Female President. Aired 5-6a ET

Aired January 17, 2016 - 05:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[05:00:00]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN KERRY, SECRETARY OF STATE: Today marks the first day of a safer world.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE HOWELL, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): The U.S. secretary of state welcomes a reduction of Iran's nuclear capability and the lifting of sanctions against a longtime foe. But not everyone is celebrating.

Plus, an attack in West Africa felt around the world; 18 countries report victims from Friday's hotel siege in Burkina Faso.

And with the election of Taiwan's first female president, Beijing feels the slight jab from a new thorn in its side.

From CNN World Headquarters in Atlanta, welcome to our viewers here in the United States and around the world. I'm George Howell. CNN NEWSROOM starts right now.

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HOWELL: And a good day to you. We begin with a major milestone for Iran, sanctions now lifted by the United States and the European Union. This comes after the International Atomic Energy Agency announced that Tehran has met its obligations to restrict its nuclear program. Israel's prime minister and some Republicans in the United States say that the move is premature. They insist that Iran is still intent on building nuclear weapons.

Iran's president praised the deal -- listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HASSAN ROUHANI, IRANIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): As far as JCPOA is concerned, all the parties are happy, with the exception of designists and the warmongers and those who are causing disunity amongst Islamic omah (ph) and also the American hardliners and extremists.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOWELL: Meanwhile, the U.S. secretary of state John Kerry announced an additional sign of warming relations between Iran and the U.S.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KERRY: Very happy to say that, as we speak, that we've received confirmation that five Americans who have been unjustly detained in Iran have been released from custody and they should be on their way home to their families before long, shortly.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOWELL: Four of those Americans were released in exchange for seven Iranians that were held by the United States for sanctions violations. A fifth American was freed as part of a separate deal.

We're covering this major story from all angles this day. Our Oren Liebermann joins us live from Jerusalem with reaction from Israel.

But first, we start with Nic Robertson, live in Vienna, with what is next to come in this deal, so much has happened, Nic.

Let's talk first about Iran and the implications. Iran now gets access to at least $50 billion in assets that were frozen; it can now sell its oil on the world's markets. Talk to us about what this means for Iran.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Well, one of the things it also means, beyond there's a stimulant for their economy and a vital invigoration of cash to renovate and repair their oil facilities and the opportunity to increase their output at a time when oil prices around the world are at long-time low, it provides them with the cash to do that. This is much needed. They've been waiting a long time for it.

But what it also provides, what the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which is what the next phase of this nuclear deal that was struck and hammered out in the summer in the hotel behind me here, for the next phase, it really does mean a lot of compliance and inspection for the Iranians.

The director general at the IAEA, the International Atomic Energy Agency, is today expected to leave for Tehran; he's talked about the inspections that will come, the new phase of the relationship between the IAEA and Iran.

So, on the one hand, Iran does get this infusion of frozen assets, large amounts of cash that it desperately needs. But, at the same time, they've got this oncoming commitment to honor the nuclear deal.

And this is something that Secretary Kerry talked about; they essentially closed down two of the pathways that Iran could use to make a nuclear weapon by virtue of the reduction of enriched uranium, the reduction of centrifuges, the closing of some potentially nuclear facility plants, a heavy water plant, a research facility as well.

But also, now, as part of the inspection system, cameras and monitoring equipment 24/7; they will be placed on storage facilities and placed on production facilities.

The third pathway that Secretary Kerry that Iran could make a weapon is a covert facility. So the new IAEA inspection system --

[05:05:00]

ROBERTSON: -- will have oversight over uranium mines, the mills where the uranium is taken to to refine it in preparation for the next phase, the enrichment facilities. So all the way down the process chain there will now be IAEA oversight. Of course, that is going to put a burden on the manpower resources and the technical skills and capacity of the IAEA going forward -- George.

HOWELL: Nic, I remember you standing in front of that building for many, many days following the touch-and-go negotiations that led to this deal, certainly a historic deal for Iran.

But let's talk about the other side of this, what does this deal mean within the region?

What does it mean for the tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran and what does it mean for the ongoing proxy wars throughout the region?

ROBERTSON: Well, certainly if we look at the couple of days leading up to where we are today, Secretary Kerry, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry was in London, he was meeting with Adel Jubeir, the Saudi foreign minister.

They had two days of talks there; of course there are vital talks coming up regards the peace process in Syria that are expected to take place in Geneva beginning a week from tomorrow.

The fact that Secretary Kerry was able to sit with the Saudi foreign minister, perhaps be able to bring him up to speed with how this deal was progressing; the Saudis have been vehemently opposed to Iran brokering and being part of this nuclear deal.

Their real concern is they feel is a growing influence of Iran in the region and Iran's long-term intentions, that's a concern for the Saudis.

So in some part, if Iran ups its oil production, has greater access to money and cash reserves, then the -- potentially the tensions in the region can build. That's a potential.

What the long-term goal of both Saudi Arabia and Iran is going to be is to maintain a significant market share of oil sales. That doesn't have to come at the expense of lives and the expense of war in the region. However, the tensions that exist -- that's the central point. So, going forward, it's certainly the oil production of both of these countries and how they negotiate it and how, at a time when there's low oil prices, how that plays out, how they respond to each other is going to be critical. But it does change the dimension and the dynamic in the region. However, everyone has known that this was coming, has seen it was coming, has registered their disapproval on the sum parts of the Saudis and others -- other Arab nations -- George.

HOWELL: Nic Robertson, live for us in Vienna. Nic, thank you so much for the context.

And now let's turn to Oren Liebermann, who joins us in Jerusalem.

Oren, so given the initial reactions from the prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, when this deal was being negotiated, he made no bones about it. He disliked this deal. But now, we're hearing a much more measured response.

OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Right, up until now, essentially we'd heard some very strong criticism and some very strong rhetoric against this deal. And now as you pointed out, it does seem to be a little more measured, not outright criticism of the deal.

But Prime Minister Netanyahu essentially issued a warning after the IAEA statement that Iran is in compliance. His warning was the powers and the IAEA now need to very closely monitor what's happening in Iran, which Prime Minister Netanyahu says Israel will do as well to make sure that Iran is in compliance. And to hold Iran responsible if they're not in compliance with the agreement.

He does go on to say Israel will do what is necessary to maintain its own security and defend itself. That could be a reference to when he said earlier in the -- last year that Israel has all of its options on the table in terms of perhaps even a strike if Israel deems that it's necessary.

But this statement, as you said, more measured than his previous statements. Essentially pointing out to the international community that now they have to monitor what Iran does. He says that Iran is still trying to develop nuclear weapons. Just as that's a concern for the Saudis, it is very much a concern for the Israelis as well -- George.

HOWELL: And we're hearing, you know, obviously that from the prime minister.

But what is the overall reaction would you say from people across Israel about what has happened?

LIEBERMANN: Well, they're still very much opposed to this deal, they were from the very beginning, seeing Iran's proxy wars, seeing Iran supporting Hezbollah just in the northern border of Israel.

So, there is that threat and there is that concern that has always been there here.

So criticism against this deal has been very widespread. The vast majority of Israelis oppose this deal. But now as Netanyahu pointed out in a press conference he held just a few days ago, that the deal is a fact, the deal is in place. Now it's up to the international community to hold Iran responsible to that deal.

The deal doesn't in any way, nor does implementation day in any way change the opposition to the deal. And that will be up to the Israeli government and Israelis to see where this deal and how this deal moves forward. Some other Israeli politicians much more critical of implementation day, saying it allows Iran --

[05:10:00]

LIEBERMANN: -- to continue destabilizing the region. A member of Knesset, Yair Lapid, a leader of one of the political parties in the opposition, says that this will allow Iran to continue to spread its -- the global spread of terrorism -- George.

HOWELL: Oren Liebermann, thank you so much for your reporting.

And Nic Robertson as well.

Gentlemen, thank you.

For more context on this story, let's bring in Fawaz Gerges, live in our London bureau. He is the chair of contemporary Middle East studies at the London School of Economics, also the author of "The New Middle East: Protest and Revolution in the Arab World." And Mr. Gerges joins us live.

Sir, thanks for your time. Let's start with what this means for the Iranian economy.

FAWAZ GERGES, DIR. MIDDLE EAST CENTER, LONDON SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS: Well, George, last night, President Rouhani, the Iranian president, really summarized what's in the deal for Iran. He said this injects between $50 billion and $100 billion in the economy.

This could be a -- opening a page in the golden renewal of the Iranian economy and society. It integrates Iran into the world economic market. Iran is back in the banking -- in the international banking system. This would basically -- the Iranian leadership would like to have between 8 percent and 9 percent annual growth rate.

Unemployment in Iran, George, is between 20 percent and 30 percent. The Iranian leadership and President Rouhani says that they hope that this particular deal could basically bring down the unemployment rate.

And that's why President Rouhani has made it very clear that this is a victory for the new leadership of Rouhani and Zarif and they're really hoping that by integrating Iran into the world economy, they would basically help the middle class that has been decimated by more than three decades of economic sanctions on Iran.

HOWELL: Let's talk also about, again, what this means for the present leadership in Iran against the hardliners in that country, who may not have wanted to see this deal come to fruition. GERGES: George, if it was not for the supreme leader, Ali Khamenei,

this particular deal would not have taken place. But the supreme leader is the commander in chief, even though he's not elected; even though President Rouhani was elected by a majority of the Iranian public, he does not have the final say.

So the fact is that the supreme leader has empowered Rouhani and Zarif to go ahead with the deal is a testament that basically the Iranians has a vested interest in opening a new page with the United States, in ending the state of isolation, in breaking basically the cycle of more than three decades of hostility with the United States.

So all and all, even though the hardliners and the Revolutionary Guards would like to maintain a kind of a position of resistance against the United States, they realize that Iran needs to be integrated into the world economy, that Iranian society and the middle class have been decimated by the sanctions.

So all in all, you have really a balance of power between the new leadership, Rouhani and Zarif, and their allies and the Revolutionary Guards.

And I think this is -- the balance itself shows that Iran receptive to being integrated into the world economy. This does not mean that Iran and the United States are best friends. This does not mean that their interests in the region does not reverse by vote.

We know they are divergent interests between the United States and Iran in the region and Syria and Iraq and Yemen and Lebanon and Israel.

But the reality is, the new leadership basically has been able to have this particular deal and to begin the process of opening a new page of relation with the United States and the international community.

HOWELL: Fawaz Gerges, with context live for us in London, Fawaz, thank you so much for your context there.

And we will have more on the talks that freed the U.S. prisoners later on this broadcast.

Plus you'll hear from Republicans running for the president here in the U.S. who are not so happy about it.

Plus, a water crisis in the U.S. has people in the state of Michigan demanding for accountability and now Washington, D.C., is getting involved. Stay with us.

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HOWELL: Welcome back.

More on our top story this hour; the United States and E.U. are lifting some economic sanctions against Iran, this after the International Atomic Energy Agency verified that that nation has fulfilled the steps needed to curb its nuclear program as part of an agreement that was reached with world powers.

This announcement came as Iran released five American prisoners, four of them were exchanged for seven Iranians held in the United States and a fifth American was freed as part of a separate deal.

Our global affairs correspondent Elise Labott gives us a closer look at the talks that led to the release of the U.S. prisoners.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ELISE LABOTT, CNN GLOBAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: The freeing of four U.S. prisoners, including "Washington Post" journalist Jason Rezaian, came as part of an unprecedented prisoner swap between the U.S. and Iran. It was the result of some 14 months of secret negotiations between American and Iranian diplomats.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN KERRY, SECRETARY OF STATE: I'm very happy to say that, as we speak, we have received confirmation that five Americans, who had been unjustly detained in Iran, have been released from custody.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LABOTT: Now the release came on the same day when the International Atomic Energy Agency, the United Nations' nuclear watchdog, announced that Iran is in compliance with the deal to restrict its nuclear program.

As a result, the U.S. and the international community has lifted economic sanctions against Iran.

Now U.S. officials say that after the deal was reached in July, talk on the prisoner swap intensified. Secretary of state John Kerry said that nuclear agreement certainly accelerated the prisoner swap, as did the improvement in U.S.-Iranian relations, but that those talks were on a separate track than the nuclear talks.

That was part of this deal, Iran agreed to release Jason Rezaian as well as former marine Amir Hekmati, Christian pastor Saeed Abedini and Nosratollah Khosravi, who we really haven't heard that much about, either him or the circumstances surrounding his detention.

Now a fifth U.S. citizen, Matthew Trevithick, was not part of those negotiations, that longer talk over 14 months, but was also released along with the four Americans by Iran as a goodwill gesture.

And meanwhile, seven Iranians facing charges in the U.S. will be pardoned or will receive clemency as part of this deal. The U.S. officials say none of those Iranians were charged with terrorism or violence and said those were only considered, had been convicted of sanctions violations or the violations of the trade embargo against Iran.

Now Washington has also agreed to drop charges for 14 Iranians considered fugitives. And there's what they call a red notice out by Interpol for their arrest.

[05:20:00]

Siamak Namazi, a dual U.S.-Iranian business man, was detained in October. He was not part of this deal and was not released.

And neither was Robert Levinson, who is that former FBI agent who disappeared on Iran's Kish Island in 2007.

Now Iran has said it has no information on Levinson. But as part of this recent deal, U.S. officials say that Iran has assured them, they will continue to seek information about Levinson's whereabouts -- Elise Labott, CNN, Washington.

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HOWELL: And in the United States on the campaign trail, Republicans that are running for president were quick to slam the Obama administration after learning about this prisoner swap with Tehran. Listen.

DONALD TRUMP, REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: So I've been hitting him hard. And I think I might have had something to do with it. You want to know the truth, who's using? It's a part of my staple thing. I mean, I go crazy when I hear about this.

And we're getting back four people that didn't do anything wrong. That's the way we negotiate. That's the way we negotiate. It's so sad. It's so sad. And this has been going on forever.

SEN. TED CRUZ (R), TEXAS: And let me say there is a false moral equivalence in a deal like this.

(APPLAUSE)

CRUZ: Pastor Saeed was in prison for the crime of preaching the gospel. He shouldn't have been there.

Amir Hekmati, a U.S. Marine, shouldn't have been there in that prison.

Jason Rezaian, a reporter who was imprisoned for reporting on the news, shouldn't have been there.

And so while we celebrate their return, this deal serves as a piece of propaganda for both Iran and the Obama administration.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOWELL: Just ahead, we will have a live report from Ramstein Air Base in Germany, that is where the prisoners are being taken from Iran.

As the war of words continues over Iran in Washington, the U.S. president, Barack Obama, is facing another pressing domestic issue; on Saturday, he declared a state of emergency in Flint, Michigan, that is where people are dealing with water that is contaminated with lead. CNN's Sara Ganim has this story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SARA GANIM, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): As the National Guard arrives with clean bottled water, more agencies are now looking to see if anyone is criminally responsible for the water crisis in Flint.

Almost immediately after the city switched its water source two years ago, brown water came out of the tap and children developed rashes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Just I feel helpless.

GANIM (voice-over): The water is tainted with lead because it wasn't treated properly. And now allegations that state government officials were not only slow to react, but that they may have hidden the truth.

DR. MONA HANNA-ATTISHA, HURLEY CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL: I think that is the biggest trauma that our community feels right now. They were told for 18 months to relax, that there's no problems, that we're meeting all minimum -- you know, we're meeting all guidelines. And then they've been lied to for 18 months.

GANIM (voice-over): Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, a Flint pediatrician, took it upon herself to look at the blood lead levels in children in Flint. She found levels had doubled, even tripled in some cases, even though the state insisted the water was safe.

GANIM: Why do you think their information was flawed?

HANNA-ATTISHA: Good question. Their information wasn't flawed. They had the data. And they had even looked at it back in July and they had seen these abnormal spikes.

GANIM (voice-over): A leaked draft memo shows that as far back as June, the EPA knew of reports that Flint water had high levels of lead and that the city's testing was skewing results by preflushing before samples were taken. But no action was taken for months. The EPA says it was urging the state to fix the problem.

What's more, Marc Edwards, the researcher who shed light on these documents, says the state not only tested the wrong homes, but also altered a report eliminating results from two Flint homes that would have shown toxic levels of lead.

DR. MARC EDWARDS, PROFESSOR, VIRGINIA TECH: In essence, the state took an F grade for Flint water's report on lead and made it into an A grade.

GANIM (voice-over): The state says the alterations were legitimate but emails show state officials determined to prove the water was safe.

One official writing, "I would like to make a strong statement with the demonstration of proof that lead blood levels seen are not out of the ordinary."

RHONDA KELSO, PLAINTIFF IN CLASS ACTION SUIT: Let down by the city and this county and the state, let down by the government that's supposed to keep us safe.

GANIM (voice-over): Sara Ganim, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOWELL: Want to update our viewers in the United States, specifically the state of Florida, just south of Tampa --

[05:25:00]

HOWELL: -- where a tornado was confirmed overnight. Our meteorologist Derek Van Dam is here to tell us all the latest there.

DEREK VAN DAM, AMS METEOROLOGIST: George, the severe weather started about 2 o'clock local Standard Time, Eastern Standard Time. There were multiple counties in the Tampa Bay area that had tornadoes warnings simultaneously. But it looks as if Sarasota County has bear the brunt of the worst tornado damage. We're starting to get some of the footage coming out of that area.

Take a look, the Sarasota Fire Rescue now reporting multiple rescues that have taken place or are still ongoing. You're looking at new video, fresh to CNN, this is mainly near the Siesta Key region in Sarasota County. Several people reportedly injured. There's obviously home damage ongoing. Florida Power and Light reporting no power for about 23,000 customers just in Sarasota County alone.

Manatee County, about 6,000 customers without power. You can imagine the cleanup effort that is going to be ongoing once the sun rises this morning local time in Florida, roughly about 6:30 to 7 o'clock.

Take a look at my graphics and you can see the line of severe storms that is progressing eastward very quickly. Let's zoom into Southwestern Florida. Just show you the current ongoing threats, Ft. Myers, you're getting the round of very strong winds at the moment. It will continue to move eastward.

That line of thunderstorms will reach West Palm Beach and the Ft. Lauderdale region in a significantly weaker state but nonetheless gusty winds with this storm as it continues to advance eastward.

It looks as if Tampa and Sarasota are out of that severe weather threat as this system quickly continues to move eastward. It's all thanks to an area of low pressure that is moving across the Gulf Coast states at the moment that will bring, again, the strong winds to the eastern side of Florida within the next 45 minutes.

So our viewers down there want to take cover as we speak. HOWELL: Again, several people reportedly injured, you say, there.

VAN DAM: That's true. That's correct.

HOWELL: We'll stay in touch with you. Thank you very much.

You're watching CNN NEWSROOM. Still ahead -- Iran is re-entering the global economy after sanctions are lifted. We look at what it's taken to reach this point and what is next for that nation.

Plus Taiwan is entering new political era. We discuss how its new president could impact the country's future.

Live from Atlanta and broadcasting around the globe this hour, you're watching CNN worldwide.

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HOWELL: A warm welcome back to our viewers here in the United States and around the world. You're watching CNN NEWSROOM. Good to have you with us. I'm George Howell. The headlines we're following this hour:

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HOWELL: The U.S. and E.U. are lifting economic sanctions against Iran after the International Atomic Energy Agency verified that Iran fulfilled the steps needed to curb its nuclear program. This means Iran will now be able to sell its oil on world markets.

For more on this story, let's turn to our own Fred Pleitgen, who joins us now from Landstuhl, Germany, where the freed Americans will soon land for a medical checkup.

And Fred, good to have you.

Do we have any new information at this point on the timing of when these prisoners are due to arrive there?

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: George, we're not even sure whether or not they have actually even taken off from Iran just yet. It's interesting because the timing has sort of been in flux ever since it was announced that these Americans had been released.

What we know is that of this group of Americans, you have the four that were released as part of this prisoner swap with Iran. But then you also had a fifth American, Matthew Trevithick; he apparently has already left Iran. Again, he's not part of that actual prisoner swap deal.

He's someone that the Iranians have just released as a gesture without that deal being in place.

But again, it's unclear when they're going to arrive here. Once they do take off from Tehran, if they haven't done so yet, it's about a 4.5-hour, five-hour flight here to Europe.

It's unclear whether or not they would land anywhere else before coming here to the Ramstein military base which is, of course, one of America's biggest air bases outside of the U.S.

And then from here, from Ramstein, they would go, let's say, about a mile, maybe a mile and a half to the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, which is one of America's biggest and best hospitals outside of the U.S. military hospitals.

And then, there, they would get medical treatment. It's unclear how long the four would then stay here before moving on to the U.S. But that's what the folks here are expecting in the next couple of hours. But, again, the exact timing at this point is still unknown -- George.

HOWELL: Four prisoners freed and a fifth separately.

Our Fred Pleitgen live for us in Germany.

Fred, thank you so much for your reporting there.

Just a short time ago, my colleague, Natalie Allen, spoke with Reza Marashi. He is the research director for the National Iranian American Council and also a close friend of Jason Rezaian.

Again, Rezaian is "The Washington Post" journalist who was freed as part of Saturday's prisoner swap. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NATALIE ALLEN, CNN ANCHOR: And I want to first ask you about the prisoner release.

Did you think it would happen, concurrent with the implementation day for Iran?

REZA MARASHI, NATIONAL IRANIAN AMERICAN COUNCIL: It was far from guaranteed but that was certainly the hope, not only by myself but by many others. And I think there's no doubt in my mind that the nuclear deal helped facilitate Jason's freedom along with the freedom of others.

The U.S. and Iran now have a diplomatic channel to try and resolve issues. That's the channel that was used to get Jason and others out. But also I think it is important to note that the longer that the Iranian government holds onto prisoners like Jason who haven't done anything wrong, it increases the political cost for them to do so.

So they were looking for a face-saving way out as well and the prisoner swap gave everybody what they needed, a win-win situation.

[05:35:00]

ALLEN: And as far as bigger picture, what does this moment represent, with all of the mistrust on both sides, on several sides the world has arrived at letting Iran back into the global community? MARASHI: Well, it's a triumph of diplomacy because Iran verifiably

can no longer build a nuclear weapon, does not have the technical capability to do so and it will never be allowed to develop the capabilities to do so.

And the international community was able to achieve that, without firing a single bullet or dropping a single bomb. And that is light years ahead of and light years away from where we were in 2003, when we invaded Iraq.

So, truly, it's a victory for the United States and the rest of the international community.

ALLEN: Yes and, moving forward, how do you convince Israel, conservatives in the United States and elsewhere that this is something that is positive for the world and we can rebuild trust with Iran?

MARASHI: Well, the interesting thing about the Israeli reaction to the Iran nuclear deal is that it has not been homogenous.

While you have Prime Minister Netanyahu and other Israeli officials closely aligned with the prime minister, saying very negative things about the Iran deal, you have very senior political, military and intelligence officials in Israel, saying, now, wait a minute, this deal actually does prevent Iran from building a nuclear weapon and that is a good thing, not just for Israeli and American security but for global security.

So it's not as clear-cut as the prime minister would make it out to be.

ALLEN: I want to ask you, among the tweets that came out from this day was this from the Iranian foreign minister, Javad Zarif.

He said, "It's now time for all, especially Muslim nations, to join hands and rid the world of violent extremism. Iran is ready."

What is your response to that tweet?

MARASHI: Well, I think the Iranian government, more generally, and the Iranian foreign minister, more specifically, is saying all of the right things. Because you read a tweet like that and you say, great, let's get down to business.

But now it's time for not only the Iranian foreign minister and the Iranian government but also other governments in the Middle East to practice what they preach and really take the various conflicts that they're participating in to the negotiating table, to try and find win-win outcomes that can stop the killing in places like Syria, in places like Iraq, in places like Yemen, because no side can force their will upon the other.

And that's why it's going to take countries like Iran and Saudi Arabia to really sit down at the negotiating table and hash out their differences, once and for all. ALLEN: We thank you for joining us, Reza Marashi. Thank you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOWELL: Now to get to this point, it has taken years of diplomacy; looking back between 2006 and 2010, the U.N. Security Council passed six different resolutions targeting Iran's nuclear program.

Then in 2013, the P5+1 countries, countries of the United States, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany reached an interim deal with Iran, calling on the country to limit its nuclear activities in return for lighter sanctions while a long-term agreement was negotiated.

Talks were extended until April of last year when a framework agreement was reached then in July. The United States and Iran agreed to a nuclear deal during a final meeting in Vienna.

So, now that that deal has been reached, let's take a closer look at what Iran can offer its new trading partners. Iranian exports totaled nearly $50 billion in 2013, according to the U.N. The vast majority of that, 68 percent of it was oil. But the country also exports billions in other goods, including chemicals, plastics and metals, also textiles, including Persian-styled rugs and carpets and agricultural products.

Iran is one of the top producers of pistachio nuts.

You're watching CNN NEWSROOM. Still ahead, a deadly terror attack stuns a West African nation. The United States is calling it a senseless assault. How Burkina Faso is trying to recover -- next.

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HOWELL: Welcome back.

Burkina Faso's president says his country must mobilize to put terrorists out of action. The West African nation is observing now three days of mourning for the victims of Friday's terror siege; 28 people were killed there. Dozens were injured, all when Al Qaeda- linked gunmen opened fire at a hotel that's popular with Westerners.

The dead include an America charity worker and a Ukrainian girl who was just 9 years old.

CNN's David McKenzie joins us now from Johannesburg following this story.

David, we know a bit about the nationalities of the people who were involved in this. Can you tell us more?

DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, that's right. The victims of this horrifying attack in Burkina Faso, in the capital, who were either enjoying an evening on -- in Ouagadougou at that cafe or in the hotel, where those attackers stormed through this hours-long siege.

We're learning from various capitals that there were, as you described, four Ukrainians, six Canadians, two French, two Swiss and, of course, that American missionary, Michael or Mike Riddering, seen here in a photograph with his wife. We're learning new details of him.

He was there at that cafe having coffee; he helped run an orphanage and women's crisis center, had lived in Burkina Faso for five years, just trying to help the people of that country.

And those who died are being mourned. But the victims are also, of course, those who lived through it, the survivors, many of them injured, who had to deal with a harrowing scene late Friday.

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MCKENZIE (voice-over): Fiery scenes, both shocking and horribly familiar. Authorities say at least four heavily armed attackers, two of them women, storming a cafe popular with Westerners in Burkina Faso's capital late Friday.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): It's horrible because everyone was panicked and was laying down on the floor. There was blood everywhere. They were shooting at people at point blank.

The sound of the detonation was so loud. We could hear them talking and they were walking around and kept shooting at people that seemed alive.

MCKENZIE (voice-over): Officials in Burkina Faso say it was a complex attack. Some terrorists posing as tourists during the day before striking at night, moving from the cafe to a popular hotel across the street.

Burkina Bay forces joined by French --

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MCKENZIE (voice-over): -- special forces flown in from Mali and American intelligence support.

Hours into the bloody siege, the security operation moved in and the shooting stopped but the attack left dozens dead from at least 18 countries. More than 120 hostages were freed and many still injured.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): They came in. We were all lying on the ground. And they shot at everybody. Maybe I was lucky it was just my arm. MCKENZIE (voice-over): The attacks allegedly claimed by Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and executed by al Mourabitoun, led by this man, the notorious one-eyed sheik, Mokhtar Belmokhtar, the same groups behind the deadly Radisson Hotel attack in Mali late last year.

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MCKENZIE: Well, some years ago, AQIM was believed to be a fractured squabbling force. But now it seems after the Mali attack and this attack in Burkina Faso, that they are looking to sow terror through that region.

And the question is, what's next?

Because many of those countries, particularly Burkina Faso, who dealt with internal political strife, and Mali, which dealt with fighting back those Islamic terror groups some years ago and is still reeling from that, these vast areas of the Sahel are difficult to police, difficult to monitor.

And people, particularly these militant groups, can move between those porous borders very easily. And they're clearly trying to make a statement here, a statement that this region is their region.

And many analysts believe they're also trying to compete with ISIS, which has claimed its affiliation with other groups in West Africa, particularly Boko Haram. So their competition and that effectiveness shown by AQIM is a very disturbing trend indeed -- George.

HOWELL: David McKenzie, live for us in Johannesburg, following this, David, thank you so much.

On to Indonesia now, where police have arrested 12 people in connection with a deadly terror attack there in Central Jakarta on Thursday. According to Indonesia's national police chief, one of the suspects received a money transfer from the alleged organizer of the operation, Bahrun Naim, seen here. Investigators believe that money was then used to finance the attack.

But just days after the bloodshed, the streets of Jakarta had been filled with people, Indonesians standing determined to show the terrorists that they are not afraid. Senior international correspondent Ivan Watson has this report.

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IVAN WATSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Look at this scene in downtown Jakarta, it feels like a festival.

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WATSON (voice-over): But this is not a special holiday, this is just your average Sunday morning in the Indonesian capital.

It's part of an initiative called Car-Free Day, in which the city shuts down vehicular traffic on main boulevards running through this teeming, steamy city and opens it up to joggers, to cyclers, to musicians.

What's all the more remarkable is these families are out, enjoying the open streets, just a few hundred yards away from where ISIS militants carried out brazen daylight terror attacks.

WATSON: How are you feeling this Sunday?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This Sunday, I'm quite happy because you look, everybody there. I don't care. We don't care about the terrorism.

WATSON: And nobody's afraid right now?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, I don't think so.

(LAUGHTER)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, no one afraid. We are not afraid.

WATSON: It's hard to believe that, just a few days ago, there were gunmen and suicide bombers attacking people in this very intersection in broad daylight. And now, look at this show of national pride and defiance, with Indonesians determined to prove that terrorism will not strike fear into the heart of their country -- Ivan Watson, CNN, Jakarta.

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HOWELL: Taiwan is ushering a new president in. What her election could mean for ties with China -- next.

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HOWELL (voice-over): Taiwan is entering a new political era. Voters elected their first female president. Tsai Ing-wen leads the Democratic Progressive Party, the DPP, a stark contrast to the nationalist party that preceded her.

Despite all that, she says she will keep the peace with China.

Kristie Lu Stout has been following this for us and has more from Taipei.

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KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Stella Han (ph) works in Shanghai as a consultant but she flew back to Taiwan just to cast her ballot for change.

STELLA HAN (PH), TAIWAN RESIDENT: I was already working in Shanghai for six years. But I think the election is important to Taiwan and I want -- still want to be -- to feel connected to Taiwan.

STOUT (voice-over): She is one of scores of Taiwan citizens who have returned home for the vote, many pinning their hopes on this woman.

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STOUT (voice-over): A landslide victory for Tsai Ing-wen of the opposition Democratic Progressive Party or DPP, she's known as Dr. Tsai, after completing a Ph.D. at the London school of economics.

Dr. Tsai is staring down an array of challenges: a stagnating economy and an uphill battle to find a way to work with China while asserting Taiwan's own identity. Many voters were angered by this viral video, a Taiwan pop star forced to bow and apologize after waving the Taiwan flag at a recent performance.

HUNG-WEI LEE, DPP SUPPORTER: Because this election is very important for Taiwanese land, we choose --

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HUNG-WEI: -- we want to come close to China or we want to be a Taiwanese.

STOUT: And what do you want?

LEE: I want to be a Taiwanese. That's the reason why I voted DPP, for the president.

STOUT: So as the next president of Taiwan, what do you plan to do to assert Taiwan's identity on the world stage?

TSAI ING-WEN, PRESIDENT-ELECT OF TAIWAN (through translator): This incident serves as a reminder to me, that the most important thing for Taiwan is the unity and the strength of the country. Only through strength can we gain more respect and protect our people and our democratic way of life.

STOUT (voice-over): Taiwan First sentiment has fueled a rising youth movement. The Third Force Party's had a strong showing at the parliamentary polls. They are led by, among others, Huang Kuo-chang, an activist who stormed and occupied the parliament building in 2014, and death metal rocker Freddie Lin.

Colorful candidates in a boisterous election that is in sharp contrast to the one-party state next door.

STOUT: Taiwan is a vibrant democracy and it's a young one, too. This year, 2016, marks 20 years since Taiwan elected its first president.

STOUT (voice-over): After casting her vote, Stella Han (ph) flies back to Shanghai on Sunday. She says it was well worth the trip -- Kristie Lu Stout, CNN, Taipei.

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HOWELL: And finally, we leave you with pandemonium at the Washington National Zoo. Pandemonium, the 5-month-old panda cub named Bei Bei, made his first debut at the zoo on Saturday. He is beyond adorable, there you see, and looked a little shocked, in fact, with all the flashing paparazzi.

Bei Bei means "precious treasure" in Mandarin.

With that, we thank you for watching. I'm George Howell at the CNN Center in Atlanta. For our viewers in the U.S., "NEW DAY" is next. And for our other viewers, "THE BEST OF QUEST" is ahead.