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World Reacts on Trump's Decision to Leave Iran Nuclear Deal; Mike Pompeo Polishing Details on U.S.-North Korea Summit; U.S. Secretary Of State In North Korea For Talks; Syria Claims It Shot Down Two Israeli Missiles; Iran Deal Is Not Dead; Two Ebola Outbreak, Confirmed Cases In Democratic Republic Of The Congo; 104 Year-Old Scientist Ready To Welcome Death. Aired 3-4a ET

Aired May 09, 2018 - 03:00   ET

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

[03:00:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROSEMARY CHURCH, HOST, CNN: Donald Trump feels the Iran nuclear a devastating blow. We have reaction from around the world on his decision to leave the agreement.

Plus, his top diplomat Mike Pompeo makes another surprise to North Korea, what we can expect from this trip ahead in a live report.

And nearly a year after the least Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the rare and deadly disease is back and claiming more lives.

Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us from all around the world. I'm Rosemary Church, and this is CNN Newsroom.

Well, earlier in his campaign Donald Trump called the Iran nuclear agreement the worse deal ever negotiated and he promise to rip it up on his first day as president. And now after 15 months in office he finally made good on that promise. But the decision is being met with a chorus of criticism from European allies.

CNN's Pamela Brown reports.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I am announcing today that the United States will withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PAMELA BROWN, SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT, CNN: From the diplomatic room at the White House, President Trump announcing today that the U.S. will abandon the international agreement into curbing Iran's nuclear ambitions reached in 2015 under President Obama.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: This was a horrible one sided deal that should have never ever been made. It didn't bring calm, it didn't peace, and it never will. After the sanctions were lifted the dictatorship used its new funds to

build nuclear capable missed supports terrorist and cause havoc through the Middle East and beyond.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: The president outlined his reasoning for leaving the deal, arguing Iran negotiated in bad faith never intending to give up its nuclear ambitions.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: At the heart of the Iran deal was a giant fiction that a murderous regime desired only a peaceful nuclear energy program.

Today, we have definitive proof that this Iranian promise was a lie.

It is clear to me that we cannot prevent an Iranian nuclear bombed under the decaying and rotten structure of the current agreement.

The Iran deal is defective at its core.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: But the president's claim that Iran is moving forward with its nuclear weapons program seemingly contradicts recent testimony from Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MIKE POMPEO, UNITED STATES SECRETARY OF STATE: Iran wasn't raising to a weapon before the deal, there is no indication that I'm aware of that if the deal no longer existed that they would immediately turn to raising to create a nuclear weapon today.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: The president today signing a memorandum reinstituting sanctions against the Iranian regime which will take some time to fully implement.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: We will be instituting the highest level of economic sanction. Any nation that helps Iran in its quest for nuclear weapons could also be strongly sanctioned by the United States. America will not be held hostage to nuclear blackmail.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: CNN's Pamela Brown reporting thing from Washington.

Iran's president has ordered his atomic energy organization to be ready to restart industrial uranium enrichment if necessary. Now in the meantime, Hassan Rouhani says he will consult with the other countries who signed the deal to see if it can be salvage. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HASSAN ROUHANI, PRESIDENT OF IRAN (through translator): Our people will see that our economic growth will continue and there will be a calm in the market so the foreign exchange needed by the country will be obtained and regarding essential goods and commodities needed by the people there should be no concern.

In fact, what Trump did was psychological warfare and economic pressure. We will not allow trump to triumph in exerting economic pressure on the Iranian people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: Iran's president says the country will live up to its international commitments under the deal while it consults with the other countries still in the agreement.

CNN's senior international correspondent Fred Pleitgen reports now from Tehran.

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT, CNN: There's a lot of anger and disappointment but also defiance here in Iran after U.S. President Trump essentially pulled the United States out of the nuclear agreement between the U.S. various other countries and Iran.

[03:05:04] Now Iran's President, Hassan Rouhani he came out shortly after President trump gave his speech and he said, the Iranians might to salvage the nuclear agreement but then it would only be between Iran and the other original signatories of the JCPOA, of course, minus the United States.

Now the Iranians are also saying that they want to take their time to see whether or not something like that would be feasible. Now, of course, they fear that the U.S. might put pressure on international companies and other countries to not to do business in Iran, and of course, what the Iranians want from any nuclear agreement is not just to give up nuclear capabilities but also to reap benefits in return. And the Iranians want to see whether or not that would be the case if they had an agreement without the United States.

Now the other thing that's of course very important and that needs to be focused on is that the nuclear agreement was always, always quite controversial here in Iran as well. There were hardliners conservatives who always believe that Iran gave up way too much for the sanctions relief that it got in return.

And then of course that sanctions relief was also fairly slow to come. So, for Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to now go ahead and said that he wants to keep some sort of nuclear agreement in place it would be something that might be difficult for him to sell to conservatives here in this country as well.

But of course, we do also have a lot of disappointment among many Iranians. If you look back to 2015 when the nuclear agreement went into place when you had people celebrating here in the streets, there was lot of optimism that there would be new jobs, that there would be foreign direct investments.

A lot of Iranians from abroad came back here and started companies, a lot of that has now evaporated as many here now feel that the hope that they had for this nuclear agreement seems to be or might be all but gone.

Fred Pleitgen, CNN, Tehran.

CHURCH: And earlier, I spoke to Los Angeles Times correspondent Ramin Mostaghim in Tehran about what we can expect Iran will do next.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RAMIN MOSTAGHIM, CORRESPONDENT, LOS ANGELES TIMES: We don't know. We've seen several weeks as Mr. Rouhani said what will happen and negotiation may be fruitful, may not be fruitful. And then until then diplomacy prevails and that's a good time for international peace.

And President Rouhani just called it psychological warfare, it means that is Iran team from both side. I mean, Trump has called (Inaudible) civil society has called (Inaudible) any chance for democratization in Iran and also Rouhani is counter arguing and just answer the rhetoric by rhetoric.

So, until then we shall be looking forward diplomacy will prevail and negotiations behind the curtains back channels.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: And joining me now CNN's Ian Lee in Jerusalem, Melissa Bell in Paris, and our international diplomatic editor Nic Robertson in London. Welcome to all three of you. Good to have you with us.

So, Ian, let's go to you first. Israel's Prime Minister Netanyahu who were thrilled to hear President Trump was pulling out of the deal not surprisingly because of course we know Mr. Trump hit most of Mr. Netanyahu's talking points from last week. But how is this all playing in Israel right now?

IAN LEE, INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT, CNN: Hi, Rosemary. You heard Prime Minister Netanyahu say that Trump showed courageous leadership in this. You know, for Israel this is a victory for the prime minister. We saw him advocate strongly for years against the Iran nuclear deal, and recently gave a presentation of intelligence that Israel was able to gather from Iran that said this is Iran lying about their nuclear program. Although that latest information that they had dated back to 2005.

Right now, the prime minister is traveling to Russia he is going to be talking to the Russian President Vladimir Putin about the situation with Iran, as well as in neighboring Syria.

And after this announcement was made by the president we saw tensions rise in the northern part of Israel and along the Golan border. You have Israel mobilizing some reserve troops and noncombat roles, these are medics intelligence gathering as well as people to operate the iron dome system they say because of irregular activity by Iranian forces in neighboring Syria.

The United States also said that there are concerns Iran might try to attack Israel although they didn't give any details or any evidence to that.

[03:09:59] But this just highlights the heightened tensions that we've seen in the northern part in the aftermath of President Trump's decision.

You also how about last night according to Syrian official news agencies they said that the Syrian air defense systems shot down two Israeli missiles in the Damascus area. So you do have Prime Minister Netanyahu celebrating this victory of the United States pulling out of the Iran deal, but now what happens next.

You know, Prime Minister Netanyahu didn't really give a plan B, and so right now we're just following the tensions along the border.

CHURCH: He didn't give a plan B and neither did Mr. Trump. A lot to cover there. Many thanks to our Ian Lee in Jerusalem.

Melissa, let's turn to you now in Paris where of course President Emmanuel Macron has made it very clear he is unhappy with President Trump's decision to pull out of the Iran deal. What all is he saying about it and what other European leaders saying will likely happen next.

MELISSA BELL, INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT, CNN: Well, of course, a great deal of attention here in Europe this morning, Rosemary, as given to the consequences of what's been announced. Le Figaro headlines on the Trump's decision that threaten stability of the Middle East. L'Echo newspaper headlining there on the worrying arm wrestle.

Now what we've learned this morning from France's foreign minister who's been speaking on French radio about the consequences of this decision is that Emmanuel Macron is to be speaking to President Rouhani later today. We've also learned that France, the U.K., Germany, and Iran will be meeting next Monday for further discussions on how this deal can be saved and said it's clearly the will of the remaining signatories to it.

Also that over the coming days the French government is going to reach out French business to see how they can be protected of course from the issue of the second re-sanctions that could be applied that will be applied. We just heard from Donald Trump there in just a few minutes ago in that report you showed, Rosemary, saying, explaining that they would not hesitate to seek out entities abroad also that this business with Iran.

And I think that so much of whether this deal can hold together with the remaining signatories will depend on those companies particularly European ones to continue with their investments with their business with Iran despite the American withdrawal, despite this threat of second re-sanctions. Now what can be easy to do? That is really the big question here in Europe this morning about protecting those European investments in Iran. The very ones that will bring to Iran the sort of economic benefits that will convince Tehran, that might convince Tehran of the necessity of its interest in staying within the deal despite the American withdrawal.

It does have a blocking mechanism that apply back in the 1990s that protects European companies from American secondary sanctions but the American sanctions against Tehran have been stopped and stops for years in 2010 in the years to start with (ph), that it is now just -- not just foreign companies that deal with Iran that are targeted but financial transactions, and that will make it much harder for the EU to counter those secondary sanctions, much harder for the EU to protect its companies from what Donald Trump has just announced. (inaudible).

CHURCH: Yeah, quite a domino effect we are seeing. Melissa Bell, joining us from Paris, with the reaction from across Europe, many thanks to you. Nic Robertson, let's go to you now, in London. Of course, the big question is how Iran will ultimately respond to this decision and whether European leaders are able to salvage the deal without the United States. What's being said about all that and what will likely happen next?

NIC ROBERSTON, INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR CNN: Well, as Melissa points out, the real key for the Iranian's is money. Can this moderate leadership of Rouhani and Zarif, the Foreign Minister, who were the ones who held, negotiate, and give the (inaudible) for Iran to negotiate this deal with France, Germany, Britain, Russia, China, and the United States, United States, of course, pulling out now.

Can they see enough economic benefit for Iranians and sell that -- excuse me, to Iranians. They can keep the deal alive, and they've said, you know, they're going to give it a little time.

Certainly, we saw, really, efforts, strong efforts late yesterday in Brussels, where senior European diplomats, French, German, British, were meeting with Iranian Canada's (ph) deputy foreign minster, to try to, if you will, sort of handhold them through what they could see was going to happen in Washington, to try to give them the confidence, that Europe will do what it -- what it can.

But as Melissa says, the issue of, once the United States imposes these sanctions, there are -- it says (ph), sort of a -- there are two phases, if you will, to how the sanctions come in. There's six months that that will affect the banking, energy, oil sector, shipping, ports, that sort of thing, and then the 90 day sanctions, which are going to affect businesses.

We already know U.S. businesses are going to respond, licensing agreements that are put in place, authorized by the government will be rescinded. But it's that question of, if you're a European business, let's say, based in -- based in Paris, and you're doing business with a company based in Tehran. Does the financial transaction go through or have a touch (ph) in anyway, U.S. currency or the U.S. banking system, and the answer is, they're going -- all these different businesses and the governments are going to have to figure this out, now.

But the reality is, very likely, yes, to some degree large or small. So this is going to be the crux of if for the Iranians and this isn't going to be something that people can immediately realize, you know, over a couple of hours it will take days or maybe a couple of weeks, so it will a slow role affect here but it's going to have a very chilling effect beyond the implications of sort of secondary sanctions.

There's going to have a very chilling effect on the company let's say based in Britain that wants to start business in Iran. It's not going to look as attractive as it did yesterday morning.

CHURCH: And in essence what we're going to see is an isolation of Iran and it will be left with little choice presumably than to restart, well certainly pick up from where it left off on its nuclear weapons program. Is that ultimately what will happen here?

ROBERTSON: Yes. I think but I think this is just a very small part of the picture, it's a hugely important part of the picture and they've said that there is the potential that they will up and increase their enrichment of uranium.

This would imply that they would not continue with the International Atomic Energy Agency inspections which are part of the JCPOA because if they decided there was no economic benefit then they might choose another part. They might pull out of the nuclear nonproliferation treaty as well.

But you know, what we've seem happen here if we think about it in these terms the United -- it's not just Iran that's being isolated here but in many ways the United States.

If we think -- if we listen to the language the joint statement by Theresa May, Angela Merkel, and President Macron last night the regret and concern while they knew that President Trump withdrawing from the JCPOA, when was the last time that we heard the United States biggest allies around the globe using that sort of language about an American president.

That speaks to the reference created. Imagine this, just a few weeks ago, the United States, Germany, France, Britain was standing shoulder to shoulder expelling Russian diplomats because Russia was accused of poisoning a former Russian spy in Britain.

Now on this issue of JCPOA Britain, France and Germany find themselves much closer diplomatic on this the JCPOA with Russia. They will be working with Russia and China not the United States to find a way to keep Iran in this deal. That's implicit, that's a huge shift.

CHURCH: Yes, most certainly. I appreciate to your smart analysis. Nic Robertson joining us there from London, thank you so much.

Well, Turkey's president is deeply concerned with President Trump's decision to abandon the Iran nuclear deal. Recep Tayyip Erdogan fears new crisis will break out in the Middle East and says the world's economy is at stake.

Our Becky Anderson has more now in this exclusive interview.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN, TURKISH PRESIDENT (through translator): This nuclear deal was previously called unattainable but it was rendered possible after years of negativity raising hope all around the globe in the end. And Trump in the hat turning this deal around and retrieving from this deal possibly is not just going to impact the region but also the entire world.

The whole economy at stake and that is the reason why (Inaudible) will be hit. And the United State might gain some certain positivity of the withdrawal from this or the rising oil prices but many of other countries in poverty will be hit even harder and deeper, and at the same time we hear new crises will break out -- would break out in the region. We don't new crises in the region.

BECKY ANDERSON, HOST, CNN: Do you believe or are you concerned that a geopolitical war will break out, what is -- what is the biggest miss here, sir?

[03:19:56] ERDOGAN (through translator): That's not what we wish to see. Of course, this is not we would like to expect. However, in my point of view the U.S. will be the one to those. Iran will never compromise on this agreement and will abide by this agreement till the end. That's what I think.

However, the U.S. will lose in the end because you should respect an agreement that you have signed. This is not how the international mechanisms work. International covenant and international conventions cannot be annulled upon will if any document is bearing your signature you need to respect that, you need to abide by that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: And you can tune in Wednesday for Becky Anderson's full exclusive interview with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The interview airs first is on Connect the World at 6 p.m. in Ankara, 4 p.m. in London.

Let's take a short break. But now that President Trump's withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal is official the focus turned to North Korea. What's on the secretary of state's agenda as he returns to Pyongyang? We'll take a look at that and have a live report for you.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHURCH: The U.S. secretary of state is in Pyongyang. Mike Pompeo is hoping to finalize plans for President Trump's upcoming summit with Kim Jong-un. It is his second face-to-face meeting with North Korean officials. A South Korean government official told reporters he expects Pompeo to leave the North with three American detainees who been held for months.

So let's bring in Paula Hancocks who joins us live from Seoul in South Korea. And Paula, we just heard South Korean official raising expectations that these three American detainees may be released to return home with the U.S. secretary of state. What were you learning about that?

PAULA HANCOCKS, CORRESPONDENT, CNN: Well, Rosemary, what we know from this South Korean official is that they expect that the three detainees will leave Pyongyang with the secretary of state. So it's not that it's a done deal, it's just their expectation at this point.

We heard from the U.S. secretary of state talking to reporters on his way to Pyongyang, saying that it's something they've been asking for, for 17 months, so pointing out that this is not a done deal yet.

[03:25:02] Saying that they will be discussing it again, they will be asking for their release once again when he's in Pyongyang, and that he says it would be a great gesture if they were to release the three men whilst he was there.

But certainly, that there isn't expectation it is a done deal as this is the second trip that Mike Pompeo has made to Pyongyang there is an expectation that this could well be what will happen. But as I say it is an expectation at this point.

The U.S. President Donald Trump also being asked about it, saying that it would be -- it would be great if it happened, they will have to wait and see.

So really it's something that has been a tremendous amount of speculation about and certainly, Rudy Giuliani, for example, one of Trump's lawyers last week suggesting it will be done within that day. It wasn't. So for the families I think at this point they will be particularly on edges.

There is this continuing speculation as to when these three detainees would be released but there is some assessment though, if Mike Pompeo leaves a second trip from Pyongyang without the detainees that would then be brought under criticism.

We are hearing though, from Mike Pompeo that he's also there to pin down the specifics for the summit, the date, the location and the specifics of what they will be talking about, the U.S. president also saying that the date and location has been picked. But Mike Pompeo suggesting that he's going to Pyongyang to nail that down, as well. Rosemary?

CHURCH: Yes. Some mixed messages on that particular part of the story but what impact might the U.S. withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal have on the outcome of these talks between Mr. Trump and Kim Jong-un do you think?

HANCOCKS: Well, we heard nothing official from either the North Koreans or the South Koreans. The Japanese saying that it would be regrettable if it were to have a negative impact on nonproliferation, for example.

But the expert's opinion is that it likely won't help the summit or likely make this summit and trying to get some kind of a specific deal more difficult potentially because if Kim Jong-un is seeing that a nuclear deal can rip up from one U.S. administration to the next would he then be willing to say yes, I will give up all my nuclear weapons to the U.S. President Donald Trump not knowing that the next U.S. president may decided to renege on that deal.

So certainly it does make things a little more complicated that the White House insisting that it shows the U.S. president is not going to agree to a week deal that it strengthens that position. But I think the overall expert opinion is that it could make things more problematic trying to get a strong deal from North Korea if it Kim Jong-un doesn't actually know or doesn't have a guarantee that the next U.S. president will respects the deal he does with this U.S. president. Rosemary?

CHURCH: Yes. A deal is not necessarily a deal apparently. Paula Hancocks joining us live from Seoul in South Korea, nearly 4.30 in the afternoon. Many thanks.

Well, allies are reeling after Donald pull the plug on the Iran nuclear agreement but will the deal go on without him and America. We will analyze that when we come back here on CNN Newsroom. Stick around.

[03:30:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHURCH: And a warm welcome back to CNN Newsroom, I'm Rosemary Church. I want to update you now on the main stories we are following this hour. U.S. Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, is now in North Korea for more talks on the proposed summit between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un and a South Korean official was which one update you on the main stores with following the down was like Pompeo is now in North Korea for more tools on the proposed summit between Donald from Q 1 and a South Korean official believes Pompeo will leave there with the three American detainees that North Korea has held for months.

This is Pompeo second face-to-face meeting with North Korean officials. Syria's planes is shot down two Israeli missiles south of Damascus not long after President Trump announced his decision to pull out of the Iran nuclear deal. Israel has not commented, but the Israeli military went on high alert fighting unusually Iranian military activity in Syria.

The French Foreign Minister says, the Iran deal is not dead despite Donald Trump's withdrawal. The U.S. president wants a better agreement that addresses Iran's missile program and its support for terror groups in the Middle East. Iran's president says his government will take a few weeks to decide how to respond, but hardline Iranian lawmakers set fire to an American flag, just little while ago in Parliament along with a copy of the nuclear agreement.

We are gauging reactions to President Trump decision and CNN's Jomanah Karadsheh, joins us now from Istanbul. So Jomanah, we want to go -- let us look at reaction from across the region, you know, what it was being said from various leaders there about this U.S. withdrawal from the Iran deal and what are their major concerns?

JOMANAH KARADSHEH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, we were slowly, Rosemary, starting to get a reaction from the different country straight after the announcement. No surprise there, we heard straightaway from the main allies of Iran in the region and its main rivals in a way comes to allies like Syria through theirs state media, the Syrian government condemned the decision by President Trump and saying that this shows that the United States does not abide by international agreement that is fine.

Then you got the rivals, Sunni countries with Saudi Arabia straightaway also coming out with a statement welcoming this the United Arab Emirates to and really, Rosemary, that's no surprise there. These countries have wanted to see this agreement, next they wanted to see the international community takes steps -- tougher steps when it comes to dealing with Iran. They have complains that, you know, the agreement does not address issues like what they describe as Iran's destabilizing behavior in the region. Its ballistic missile program and other issues that they wanted the international community to deal with and take a tougher stand when it comes to Iran.

You know, some officials saying that the nuclear agreement embolden Iran, made it more aggressive in the region in different countries and the see dots -- aggressive behavior by Iran as, you know, essentially at the heart of so many of the divisive issues and conflict in this region. So, no surprise there when you hear these Gulf nation, the Sydney rivals of Shiite Iran coming out with the statement welcoming President Trump's decision.

But you also had warnings coming from the Turkish president for example and others like him are also concerns about concerns about the implications of this decision. You know, like the -- president saying that this could lead to new crises in the region. Something in this region really cannot afford right now. So a lot of concern about the possibility of this further destabilizing an already extremely unstable region and everyone is waiting to see, Rosemary, of course what Iran's next moves are going to be, the concern, of course, that it does have tough season countries like -- like Iraq and Syria. Are they going to take any steps there that is what is and what everyone is waiting to see in the coming days and weeks?

[03:35:00] CHURCH: That is indeed the critical question here isn't it? Jomanah Karadsheh, joining us live from Istanbul. Many thanks to you for that.

Let us turn to Matthew Chance now, who joins us from Moscow. So, Matthew, Russia is a military ally of Iran and the sworn enemy of Israel. So, was President Putin been saying about this U.S. pullout and how will Putin deal with his meeting with Israel's prime minister, considering they come from opposite ends of the spectrum here when it comes to what they think about the outcome here?

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, it certainly got the potential to be a very awkward meeting after this victory day parade is over in which Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister, his guest of honor is going to be having sit and talks with Vladimir Putin, the Russian president. And it is obviously going to be focusing on the question of Iran, the Iran nuclear deal against which or by which Benjamin Netanyahu who was the world's leading -- leading critics.

The Russians on the other hand have express their deep disappointments of the fact that President Trump has now withdrawn United States from that agreement. In the past the Prime Minister warn for harmful consequences if America wants to do that. As you mentioned, a big political ends, or diplomatic and military ally of Iran, it supplied military equipment in the past.

And I think one of the messages that the Russians have put across over the course of the past 24 - 48 hours as momentum built towards President Trump putting United States out of the Iran nuclear deal. That is one of big messages has been, you know, we could in Russia increase our cooperation with Iran. Build a closer alliance with it militarily and, you know, look at the weaponry of the Russia is putting on display today, the -- made the night victory day parade to commemorate the victory over Nazi Germany is already on the way, we are just outside Red Square here.

We are waiting for some of the military hardware along with tens of thousands of people that are lining the streets of the Russian capital to file pastors, to get a glimpse of the Russian military and particularly some of the -- some of the latest tech that they use this occasion to put on this on display every year. So, it is an interesting day and it has been somewhat overshadowed, diplomatically by the arrival and the participation of the Israeli Prime Minister.

CHURCH: All right. Matthew Chance, joining us there from Moscow. Big day for Russians and we appreciate that live reports. So, let us bring in Fawaz Gerges, he is a professor of Middle Eastern politics and international relations at the London School of Economics and Political Science, god to have you with us.

So what will be the likely ramifications do you think of the U.S. pulling out of this deal and what would you expect Iran to do next?

FAWAZ GERGES, WORLD RENOWNED EXPERT ON ISIS AND THE MIDDLE EAST: Well, Rosemary, Iran's initial response is very promising. President Rouhani, has made it very clear that Iran will work with the great powers, particular the European powers to save the nuclear deal. The key factor for Iran is the economy, the logic behind the nuclear deal with that Iran would stop enrichment nuclear enrichment for economic benefits. So really the challenge facing the great powers, the five great powers along with the United States, United States pulled out. Is whether it -- in particular Germany, France, and Britain could freely shield the operations and the investments in Iran, just to give you an idea of what I mean by that.

In 2016 the European investment in Iran, reached almost $12 billion and for Iran, investments in its economy is very crucial. It is very crucial, because the Iranian economy is in a very bad shape. So in the next few weeks will find out if the European powers will able to create mechanisms to shield their companies and their corporations from economic sanctions in Iran.

CHURCH: How would they do that though, because this is the problem isn't it? Really these sanctions are going to end up isolating Iran and that in itself will have a huge impact on whether this deal can be salvaged or not.

GERGES: You are absolutely correct. Not only American sanctions and President Trump has promised to basically impose the severest regime of sanctions against Iran that even against outside entities that help Iran that means presentation European companies, Chinese companies, and Russian companies.

[03:40:00] Look, if I wear myself the president this year, the European companies I would really think twice now, before I invest in Iran. Because you want -- you do not really want to be caught up in the dragnet of the American financial sanctions on Iran. And that is why, if you ask me, what is the likelihood that the nuclear deal would be safe? I would say 50-50. There is a 50 percent chance that the nuclear deal could be saved, but the next few weeks are very crucial, very crucial for the European Community very crucial for China, for Russia and also for Iran.

CHURCH: Now, last month, former CIA director, Mike Pompeo said that Iran had been complying with this deal, so why do you think the U.S. pulled out of the agreement with Iran without even having a plan B. What does that tell you?

GERGES: Rosemary, the American intelligence services, the current American intelligence services have made it very clear that Iran respects the terms of the nuclear deal. The current Secretary of Defense, General Mattis, has also said that Iran respects the terms of the nuclear deal and guess what, Pompeo, the current appointment the current U.S. Secretary of State in his testimony before the Senate, he said that Iran respects the nuclear deal. So why did President Trump decide to really pull out of the deal. I would say myself that the domestic consideration of the list.

Basically he appeals to his electoral base. He has made it very clear, he has told his electoral base long before the immigration that he wants to pull out of the deal and he is very base -- he constantly boasts about the fact that he delivers on what he promises. I love the fact, I would say that basically he wants to shreds all agreements signed by his predecessor. Whether you are talking about the climate deal or whether you are talking about economic deals with international community and now with Iran.

So the reality is, if you ask me as a student of international relations, the United States is the most powerful nation in the world. United States since 1945 the end of World War II has been the guardian and the protector of international order, because it's in our interest as Americans to protect the international order which we set ourselves.

President Trump acts in the disruptor of the international order and it is really a nation conceptual shift in a way that President Trump behaves and this risks driving a wedge between America and its allies particular, France, Britain and Germany on other European powers who had labored very hard upon those President Trump look. We want to please you. We want to basically respond to the demands you have, but don't pull out and this tells you a great deal about U.S. credibility. Look, Rosemary, credibility is a very precious commodity. If you constantly pull out of the agreements that your predecessors have signed. What does this tell the international community?

CHURCH: Right.

GERGES: If I was sitting now in North Korea. If I was -- what I signed a deal with President Trump, surely I would not, because I would not trust his word to honor his (inaudible).

CHURCH: We shall see. What impact this all has on the meeting between Mr. Trump and Kim Jong-un. Just another weeks away in fact Fawaz Gerges, thank you so much for your analysis, we always appreciated it.

GERGES: Thanks.

CHURCH: Well a new outbreak of the deadly Ebola Virus has been declared in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the World Health Organization says at least two people have tested positive for the disease and more samples are being collected. Nearly 2 dozen suspected Ebola cases have been reported in the past few weeks and now, Farai Sevenzo is following this story from Nairobi in Kenya. Farai, just how prepared is the Congo to deal with this and how bad might this get?

FARAI SEVENZO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, let me just clear a few facts. The last time the WHO announced the end of Ebola. Back in November, 2014. A total of 66 cases, 49 deaths are recorded. Now what can you know of the new situation, Rosemary.

According to doctor (inaudible) who works for the National Institute for biological Research in the DRC, he says, there had been 32 cases of fever, but not all of those are being confirmed as Ebola. Remember the fever is referring to hemorrhagic fever which is very much the same kind of symptoms that are so deadly.

These 21 cases of fever, led to 17 deaths and according to another source, they tested five samples of these peoples suffering from hemorrhagic fever and in Bikoro and the DRC, in an area called Equateur, which is basically the equator.

[03:45:15] Hearts, lids, sticky places and of course they found two of those cases of the five they tested were definitely Ebola. So it is a worrisome situation given the kind of panic the world had back in 2014, Rosemary.

CHURCH: yes and we saw back in 2014 how quickly this spreads and this is the problem and presumably that part of the world has learned to quite a bit about how to deal and how to respond to this and that is the concern to move quickly.

SEVENZO: Well, everybody's concerned about that, you are very right, even the WHO announcing this yesterday are also concerned about it. But we learned that the Congolese doesn't turn to what they are doing. They say that today, Wednesday, a team of experts would travel from Kinshasa that is the capital to Bikoro with equipment necessary to facilitate a field response. Now remember, some of these areas are very remote, very bad road networks. And the fear of course if we look at what happened between 2013 and 2015, 11,315 dead. In 24 months, Ebola was with the world and 28,600 people were infected.

Now without wishing to spread alarm and (inaudible). The Congolese authorities indeed every medical agency back there, (inaudible) and the Red Cross are all scrambling to get there to basically to attend to the infections should they spread, but it is worrisome situation and we are watching that for you all throughout the day.

CHURCH: Yes, it was a terrifying time for people there those numbers are just shocking. Farai Sevenzo, thank you so much for joining us from Nairobi in Kenya. We appreciate that. Well, coming up next, an Australian scientist reignite the debate over assisted suicide saying at 104 years of age, he is ready to die.

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CHURCH: Now to a story that is reigniting the debate over assisted suicide. David Goodall, is an accomplished Australian scientist and he is 104 years old, but he says he greatly regret living that long. So he is going to Switzerland for help in ending his life and he spoke around with the bell ahead of his appointment to die.

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[03:50:05] UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It is an age that most people only dream of reaching. But for Dr. David Goodall, the renowned scientist in academic life has been too long.

DAVID GOODALL, AUSTRALIAN SCIENTIST: Life has become less worth living. Though I am not enjoying right now as I would have done five years -- five or 10 years ago. And I think, maybe to that most people at this age -- I get up in the morning, I find a (inaudible) and I just sit. Won't you used to that?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It is because Dr. Goodall life is so much that he is choosing to leave it. A few days ago, he left his home in Australia and his family saying his final farewell. He was going to Switzerland, one of the few countries on earth where it is legal to choose death over life. His final hurdle will be the confirmation on Wednesday by a psychiatrist that he is competent enough to choose.

GOODALL: I don't mind this until I get there. Well, in a few days' time, I (inaudible) that will be very welcome. My message will be, once a person has past the mid period of aging and have full confidence in it that could be their choice.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You've been obliged to leave your home, to leave your family to travel across to the other side of the world to die in a country that isn't yours.

GOODALL: Exactly.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And without your loved ones, how do you feel about that?

GOODALL: I feel ever thankful and thankful of the government and the establishment in Australia, that they don't first denies on -- with life to end one's days in Australia as I would.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: But part of the problem is that people are afraid of death, they don't want to talk about it.

GOODALL: There is no obligation for anyone to either talk about death or to engage in death as I am doing. You know, just to let other people follow their own instincts.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is the bed in which Dr. Goodall will die on Thursday and it is a unanimous clinic at the force of the Swiss Alps, this is the drug that he will administer to himself as it is after all to be an assisted suicide. All the doctors will do is place the intravenous needle. I ask Dr. Goodall, what his final thoughts would be.

GOODALL: Well I hope that they might answer, they will, but that will be my concern.

(END VIDEO)

CHURCH: An extraordinary decision and of course the debate took continues will take a very short break. Back in just a moment.

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CHURCH: Welcome back everyone. A new twist in Special Counsel, Robert Mueller's Russia investigation.

[03:55:04] A source tells CNN that Mueller's investigators have questioned a Russian oligarch about hundreds of thousands of dollars that will pay to President Trump personal attorney. Details now from CNN Crime and Justice Reporter, Shimon Prokupecz.

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SHIMON PROKUPECZ, CRIME AND JUSTICE REPORTER, CNN: Mueller's investigators have questioned a Russian oligarch named Victor Vekselberg, about hundreds of thousands of dollars in payments made to President Trump's personal attorney, Michael Cohen in 2017. Now the payments went from Vekselberg U.S. link company, called Columbus Nova to Cohen. Columbus Nova is run by Vekselberg American cousin Andrew Intrater and documents that were released by Stormy Daniels' attorney, Michael Avenatti, allege that half $1 million was paid to Cohen beginning in January 2017.

And then last month the Trump administration put Vekselberg on a list of sanction Russians for election interference. And now what is not clear is the purpose of the payments that were made to Cohen or the nature of the business relationship between Cohen and Vekselberg. We reach out to Cohen and Vekselberg and both have not responded to our request for comments.

Now keep in mind the fact that investigators are scrutinizing this is significant, because it essentially shows that a company created by Michael Cohen to pay hush money to Stormy Daniels was also receiving money that same LLC was also receiving money from a U.S. company in New York City that is linked to a Russian oligarch. All of this obviously would be something that the FBI and investigators would want to look at. Reporting from Washington D.C., Shimon Prokupecz.

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CHURCH: And an attorney for the U.S.-based firm Columbus Nova, has issued a statement saying this, "Reports today that Victor Vekselberg, used Columbus Nova as a conduit for payments to Michael Cohen are false. The claim that Victor Vekselberg was involved or provided any funding for Columbus Nova's engagement of Michael Cohen is patently untrue.

And thank you so much for your company this hour. I'm Rosemary Church. Remember to connect with me anytime on Twitter, the news continues now with our Max Foster in London. You are watching CNN, have a great day.

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