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Protest After Government Admits It Downed Ukrainian Plane; CNN Reports From Air Base Targeted By Iran; Oman Mourns Death Of Sultan Qaboos; U.S. To Expel More Than A Dozen Saudi Servicemen; Victims Of Plane Disaster Mourned Around The World; Royal Family Meeting To Discuss Harry And Meghan's Future. Aired 10-11a ET
Aired January 12, 2020 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[10:00:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Tonight, they did it. Protesters shaking Iran after the country finally owns up and admits it shots a plane
out of the air. Then he made his country into a peacemaking oasis, but with the world's longest-serving Arab leader gone, what next for the quick
Switzerland of the Middle East? And Prince William speaks out about a member of the royal family. He can't hold up anymore.
It's a big story. The truth turns out to be trouble for Iran after the government finally and remarkably admits it downed a Ukrainian passenger
plane. And the backlash it seems has just begun. Let's unpack that for you. For days, the Iranian government denied it and accidentally shot down a
Ukrainian jetliner. Then, in an incredibly rare move, it owned up to it. Well, now, we are seeing and hearing extraordinary scenes on the streets of
Iran. Have a listen.
Anti-government protests is chanting "death to the supreme leader." Others calling for him to step down. These protests erupting from what were the
vigils for the victims of the plane crash. 176 people lost their lives. Tehran admitting it mistakenly shot down the commercial flight blaming
human error as Iran fired missiles at Iraqi military bases housing U.S. troops.
Those missiles were in response to U.S. President Donald Trump ordering a precision strike that killed the Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani. In the
wake of that, it was a very different scene. Just a few days ago, Iranians rallied around the government Tuesday last week. But due to one tragic
mistake, it seems that tide of public sentiment has shifted against the Iranian government.
We've got reporters on every angle of this story. Our globetrotting CNN International Diplomatic Editor, Nic Robertson here with me today in Abu
Dhabi, our Senior International Correspondent, Arwa Damon is live for us in Baghdad, and Kristen Holmes is at the White House for you. I want to start
with you, Nic, because the truth it seems, is Tehran's kryptonite.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: It does. And it's exploded in its face. Look, who were those over 100 Iranians, some of them
your nationals on board that aircraft. They were the best and the brightest. They were the ones that were succeeding and doing well overseas.
They were from the middle class.
And it's the middle class that came out on the streets to protest because they recognize that their leadership just doesn't care about them enough to
ground civil aviation that night of the attack.
ANDERSON: I just want to -- I know that you've got a report, let's take a look at that because this sets out exactly what we understand.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTSON: Chants of death to the Supreme Leader, angry blowback for the downing of Ukrainian passenger jet gathering momentum and Tehran. Thousands
protesting just hours after Iranian officials finally admitted mistakenly shooting it down. I will kill who killed my brother, someone shouts. The
vast majority aboard flight PS 752 were Iranian, the best and the brightest.
Their death spark igniting tinder-dry middle-class frustrations. Police tossed tear gas scatter the crowds. The anger quite simply, Supreme Leader
Ayatollah Khomeini doesn't care about his people. He didn't pull civilian flights while attacking the U.S. basis in Iraq.
The crowd telling him, he no longer has a mandate to lead, anger to the powerful IRGC. Another big slap down for Iran's leadership, protesters
avoid walking on American and Israeli flags painted on the ground some years ago by the regime out of disrespect. Iran's leadership now facing
growing external as well as internal pressure.
JUSTIN TRUDEAU, PRIME MINISTER, CANADA: Iran's admission that its own Armed Forces unintentionally shut down Flight 752 is an important towards
providing answers for families, but I noted that many more steps must be taken.
[10:05:07]
ROBERTSON: Demands the airplane investigation be international, open, and transparent. President Trump heaping on his pressure too, tweeting "the
world is watching the protests. There cannot be another massacre of peaceful protesters" that's happened last year. And in the midst of it all,
the British ambassador arrested at the protest, held for several hours. The British Foreign Secretary calling it a flagrant violation of international
law.
Fallout over the downed plane now becoming a perfect storm for Iran in the global spotlight with international investigators poking around as domestic
protests growth and sanctions increase and Iran's recourse to violence muted by fear of escalation. And still no real diplomatic offramp in sight.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Nic, CNN's Jake Tapper, our colleague, asked the U.S. Defense Secretary just earlier today if he believes the plane was shot down by
accident. Here's what Mark Esper had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARK ESPER, U.S. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: My hunch is it was an accident. And I was dismayed that their first reaction was to -- was to blame it as
American propaganda or some type of mechanical failure. I think they did the right thing by admitting it. Now they need to allow the investigators
in and take responsibility.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: In what way can or should Iran take full responsibility?
ROBERTSON: Allowing the investigators from all the different nations that have international legal right to be there. Boeing, for example, any nation
that had a victim onboard the aircraft should be there. The Ukrainians want to be there, the Canadians have said they want to be there.
They need to be able to go into the numbers of investigators. They need to get access to all the -- all the wreckage, some of the wreckage. When the
Ukrainian investigators got to the site, was missing. They need to be able to -- they need to be involved in the autopsies. They need to be able to be
there for the DNA testing. They need to be there for the forensic testing.
There needs to be what Justin Trudeau called clarity because only through clarity do the families, and ultimately, this is as much as Iran's
government will have a legal obligation. This is about closure for the families.
ANDERSON: Lest we forget that point, in all of this talk of geopolitics and the back and forth and the rhetoric, there's 176 passengers or people on
that flight who lost their lives. And we will talk more about those people a little later in the show.
U.S. President Donald Trump has issued another warning to Iran telling its leaders in a tweet, do not kill your protesters, thousands have already
been killed or imprisoned by you and the world is watching, he tweeted. More importantly, he said, the USA is watching.
Kristen, this isn't the first time the Trump administration has expressed support for protesters who took to the streets after Tehran admitted it
shot down the plane. Is it clear what the U.S. president is after here? I mean, you know, he clearly wants to suggest he is supporting these protests
in a way that some might say will undermine Iran's government.
KRISTEN HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely, Becky. And you have to look at this on both a macro and a micro-level. When you look at the macro
level. Yes, it would seem that President Trump is trying to undermine the Iranian government.
And while the U.S. specific stance says that they do not want a regime change, that is not their goal, they don't want to be part of a regime
change, we've also heard numerous national security officials, numerous Trump administration officials saying that they believe it is time for the
Iranian people to have a new government, to be able to elect their own leaders.
So that's the macro level. But then you have to look at it on a smaller micro level focusing on exactly what is going on right now. And take a step
back. Look where we were just one week ago after the U.S. decided to launch those drone strikes that killed Soleimani. We saw the Iranian people, a
seemingly united in the street, as you said, mourning the death of Soleimani and shouting death to America. Now this 180.
And it is very clear for obvious reasons why this new narrative is better for the Trump administration. So you see that there, he's seizing that
opportunity. And the other thing is that by focusing on the protest, it really shifts the focus away for the justification for killing Soleimani.
We have seen these administration officials really fall all over themselves as they try to come up with the narrative as to why exactly it was critical
to kill Soleimani, to launch these drone strikes at this exact time. Why was it necessary this time when we had this information during numerous
administrations in the past? And so there you see it on a micro-level shifting the attention away from that.
But I do want to note here, we hear from President Trump on Twitter. He continually is saying now, you support the great Iranian people. This is a
complete 180 not only for the Iranian people on the streets there, but also for President Trump.
Remember, this is the same president who issued a travel ban that banned Iranians from entering the U.S. within the first month that he took office.
In addition to this, this is also the same president who just one week ago, was threatening to bomb important Iranian cultural sites, sites that are
not just important likely to the government, but also to those people on the ground that he now says are great and he supports.
[10:10:38]
ANDERSON: There's certainly a whiff of hypocrisy here. Kristen, thank you. As the recent events focus renewed attention on the U.S. military presence
in the Middle East and Asia, a new study from Brown University's Watson Institute shows just how much it is cost.
It says the cost since September 11th, 2001 adds up to an estimated $6.4 trillion. I want to bring Arwa Damon at this point. That buys a lot of
bases to target, Arwa.
ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It does, Becky. And we have seen them being targeted when Iran decided to respond using ballistic
missiles up in Irbil, and what was their main focus, the Al-Asad Air Base where we just were.
And Becky, I have to tell you that I was reporting it initially from Baghdad. And when I got up there, I realized that the impression of what
had transpired that I had didn't even come close to how events unfolded that night. The fact that there were no U.S. casualties was a combination
of U.S. military intelligence that gave troops an early warning, coupled with the fact that they already had bunkers at Al-Asad from the Saddam
Hussein era, some of it was pure luck, given the number of close calls, and a lot of it was also the fact that soldiers fought their instincts and
managed to hold their positions.
But one thing was very clear. Iran wanted to send a message and it most certainly did. Here's a glimpse of what we saw.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAMON: These were living quarters, sleeping quarters. The troops that lived here lost everything. There was very little if anything that was
salvageable because there was also a fire that ended up raging here for a few hours after the missile impacted in this particular area.
The reason why no one was killed, not here not in any of the other locations of impact is because there was advanced warning. We don't know
what, we don't know how, that is very sensitive information. But We are told that hours before the attack even began, they knew something was
happening. They just did not know specifically what it was going to be, so precautions were taken.
By 11:00 p.m., troops who could hunker down were hunkered down and bunker, some of them and Saddam era bunkers. Others who had to man their posts
because of the security situation. They were still out there. And then the strikes began at about 1:34 in the morning. This is the crater left behind
by one of them.
There are so many stories that we're hearing of heroic, so many stories that we're hearing of really extraordinary close calls. Those who lived
through this say that it's clear that Iran wasn't that concerned with trying to save U.S. lives. A lot of these impacts did happen in places
where they could potentially have caused significant U.S. casualties.
And this is Lieutenant Colonel Staci Coleman. We've been speaking all day. And I mean, you were telling us what was that night like. How do you even
begin to describe it?
LT. COL. STACI COLEMAN, U.S. AIR FORCE: It's very hard to describe it. I will tell you, it was extremely scary. Some of my team and myself were
hunkered down and one of those bunkers. And when the first wave started here hitting, you could feel the shock wave. And even inside the bunker,
the pressure was so strong that we watched our bunker doors sinking towards the inside of the bunker and then escape back out.
About seven of the impacts were in very close proximity to where we will hunkered down and like I said, you could feel every last one of the
shockwaves. It was extremely scary.
DAMON: And very lucky or was it the training, the precautions that were taken that there were no U.S. casualties?
COLEMAN: I'd say it was all -- I'd say it was a combination of God looking out for us. It was a combination of you know, the little bit of intel and
advanced warning that we got. And then it was the smart commanders on the ground making on-spot decisions to get people out of harm's way.
[10:15:14]
DAMON: And how do you begin to describe or, I mean, what this was like? And then, of course, what kind of security precautions you're having to take
now given the situation?
COLEMAN: This was -- like I said, we knew something was happening, but we didn't know exactly what. As the time grew closer, we kind of thought we
had an indication of what it might be, but we still weren't certain. So we had advanced morning that there may be some rockets followed by a base
incursion.
And so we had to keep our security forces out to make sure that that we were safe from that. So there were a good number of folks out along the
perimeter and within the airfield keeping it secure.
DAMON: Out there on the perimeter, keeping it secure while these missiles are coming in.
COLEMAN: Yes. They were outside during every last one of the missile strikes.
DAMON: Well, it would seem that it was very fortunate, and also, as we've been saying, because of this advanced warning that exists. Because of these
precautions that were taken, there is this sense that while this phase of what is unfolding has concluded, everyone here is still very much on high
alert.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
DAMON: And Becky, they're on high alert because a threat does still very much exists from any number of the Iranian proxies on the ground here. In
fact, within minutes of that attack ending, concluding, everyone was back at their posts, back at work, but their very presence in Iraq hangs in the
balance.
And it's also worth remembering when we talk about this attack, Becky, that the U.S. military is not accustomed to being on the receiving end of these
kinds of missiles. They're usually the ones delivering them.
ANDERSON: Frightening stuff. Arwa, that report is extremely valuable and extremely important. Thank you. We are less than two weeks into the year
and we have already seen crisis after crisis here in the Middle East including the threat of war.
And now at a time, it can afford at least, it has lost one of its visionary peacemakers. He's being mourned from Tehran to Tel Aviv. We look at the
life and legacy of Oman's late leader. Plus, Manila's airport suspends all flights as ash spews from a volcano in the Philippines. Details on that are
up next.
[10:20:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Oman is carrying their late leader to be buried, a man who carried the country into fortune and peace for five decades. You are
looking at video of the funeral procession of a towering man here in the Middle East. Sultan Qaboos bin Said, the Arab world's longest-serving ruler
died on Friday aged 79. The nation will also observe three days of national mourning and so many other countries around the region.
This hour royals and foreign dignitaries arriving in Moscow to pay their respects. You see here, Britain's Prince William. He will represent his
grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II. And Iran's foreign minister Mohammed Javan Zarif arriving to offer his condolences on behalf of his government.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed Qaboos bin Said describing him as "an outstanding leader who worked tirelessly to advance
peace and stability in our region." It's of course not exactly easy to be admired by both Israel and Iran who will be there of course as other
regional rivals like the Saudis and Qataris rub shoulders as well in Muscat, even beloved by nuclear rivals like India and Pakistan.
So the guest list itself will see incredible things playing out, paying testament to an extraordinary life, one the Sultan spent building his
country into a friend it seems to so many.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said took the throne in 1970 after overthrowing his father in a bloodless coup. It signaled the end of an era
of isolation. With a news Sultan has the architects of the modern Oman. The nation located in the crux of Asia and Africa had long enjoyed trade with
traditional partners in South Asia and beyond.
But Oman's new ruler decided to tap the country's modest oil wealth to fuel his ambitions. He also sought to solidify ties with Western allies. A
graduate of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in England, Sultan Qaboos once served in the British Army. Often seen in public parades wearing his
military uniform, he presided over an absolute monarchy, but was seen as relatively progressive.
A symbol of his country's deep-rooted relationship with the United Kingdom and evidence by Queen Elizabeth II's state visit in 2010 to commemorate
Oman's 40th National Day. His last public appearance was during the visit of Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge in December. Unlike its Gulf Arab
neighbors, Oman also had a cordial relationship with Iran, an alliances served the West when Sultan Qaboos secured the release of American hikers
held by Iran in 2011, and British sailors in 2007.
Under his leadership, Oman played an important role in mediating the escalating tension between Iran and its Arab neighbors. His diplomatic
outreach included Israel. He welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the sultanate in 2018. The most striking step in the Gulf's
refreshment with Israel.
A monarch who ruled with the firm hand but also a man of culture. A lover of classical music, Sultan Qaboos inspired the Royal Oman Symphony
Orchestra and built a 1,100 seater opera house to stage his love of music. Once divorced, Sultan Qaboos had no children and no direct heir at the time
of his death.
His successor will have the challenge of carrying on the legacy of a man much loved by the majority of his country.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
[10:25:32]
ANDERSON: A look more at what Sultan Qaboos' passing means for the future he led for so long, we'll speak with the head of the College of Economics
and Political Science Sultan Qaboos University. More on the lead his tireless efforts towards peace at a little later this hour. We will be back
after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:30:21]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The Saudi people are greatly angered by the barbaric actions of the shooter. And that this person, in no
way, shape or form represents the feelings of the Saudi people, who love the American people so much.
So, that was just given to me by the King of Saudi Arabia. And I can tell you, it's a horrible thing that took place and we're getting to the bottom
of it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, U.S. President Donald Trump, quick to distance the Saudi royal family from last month's shooting at an airbase in Florida.
Authority, says Saudi Air Force officer killed three American sailors in the attack before police shot and killed him. That officer and other
members of Saudi Arabia's military were there for training.
And now, the U.S. says it will expel more than a dozen Saudi servicemen with some said to have connections to extremist movements.
David Shortell is a crime and justice producer for CNN, joins me now from Washington. There is some serious allegations here. What more have you
learned at this point?
DAVID SHORTELL, CNN CRIME AND JUSTICE PRODUCER: Hi, Becky. That's right. Yes, at least, 12 Saudi military trainees expected to be expelled from U.S.
military installations as a result of this investigation into the deadly shooting last month at that Pensacola, Florida Naval Air Base.
Now, it's important to note that these Saudi nationals are not accused of aiding the 21-year-old Saudi national, who officials believe opened fire
killing three sailors in Florida there last month.
But there are some pretty troubling allegations that have come up as a result to this investigation, including a number of the Saudi of --
military trainees were believed to have some connections to extremist groups, potentially online, and a number of these trainees are also accused
of possessing child pornography.
Now, Becky, the FBI has been investigating this as a potential terror incident. And meanwhile, the Pentagon has conducted a very wide-ranging
review of how all four nationals are vetted before they come into these programs.
Well, we can report now that the Justice Department is expected to conclude that the attack last month was indeed an act of terror. And now we're
seeing more than 12 Saudi military trainees expected to be expelled from the country as a result.
ANDERSON: David, what's the vetting process like in a situation like this?
SHORTELL: Yes, that's the question that's really top of mind right now for federal investigators in the U.S., as well as lawmakers here. And it's
something that we know the Pentagon has really tried to wrap their head around.
There are more than 5,000 foreign nationals, currently training at U.S. military bases, and those are nationals from over 150 countries, including
some 850 Saudi nationals here in the U.S. training.
Historically, the Pentagon has said that they conduct their vetting for the students in conjunction with the Departments of Homeland Security and the
State Department. Those are the U.S. domestic agencies here that we'll be able to have conversations with foreign law enforcement agencies and run
potential training names through U.S. terror watch list.
Well, the Pentagon has said that they were conducting a wide-ranging review of that program and how students are vetted. We know also that all of the
850 students here in the U.S. had been placed on classroom only instruction as the investigation played out.
And Becky, I should note that Pentagon spokesman told us last night that these Saudi students are still under classroom instruction only, and the
Pentagon is now carrying out some new security and vetting protocols in the meantime.
ANDERSON: Thank you, sir. That's the view from Washington.
And some of the other stories that are -- on our regional radar right now. And Renegade Libyan general Khalifa Haftar, it is reported has accepted a
truce to end his nine-month offensive against Tripoli.
In a statement, Khalifa's spokesman declared a ceasefire in the western region of Libya if the U.N. recognized government respects it as well.
Well, the government is agreed to the truce and call for both sides to follow a series of conditions.
The Taliban have claimed responsibility for an attack that killed two U.S. service members in southern Afghanistan on Saturday. A Taliban spokesman
confirmed this in a tweet. Two other U.S. troops were wounded when their vehicle hit a roadside bomb in Kandahar Province.
[10:35:01]
ANDERSON: Egypt's biggest synagogue has reopened after two years, and a multi-million dollar renovation. Synagogue in Alexandria was rebuilt in the
1850s. On the side of a 14th-century Jewish place of worship.
Egyptian-Jewish congregation is believed to have shrunk to less than 50. So, the building will mainly serve as a tourist attraction.
Well, still ahead, Prince Harry and Meghan wants to go their own way but the queen not amused. We'll get you the further details -- the latest
details of the family meeting she has call to sort it all out.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: There's been a lot of back and forth about the diplomacy over what happened and when with Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752. But
let's not forget the victims, the 176 people who lost their lives on that flight early on Friday morning.
These are some of the victim's names. No surprise that Iran's government facing widespread criticism after admitting to shooting down that plane, a
dramatic reversal after days of denials that triggered international condemnation.
A top general announced the jet was misidentified as a cruise missile. The country was on high alert after firing missiles at U.S. troop sites in
Iraq.
Well, the loss of life in the disaster is causing mourning across the world, in Iran, in Canada, and beyond.
My next guest writes in an op-ed, "Just as joyous celebrations define who we are, communal bereavement teaching us -- teaches us what it means to be
human.
Payam Akhavani, left -- khavan, sorry, left Iran in his childhood, becoming a Canadian citizen and is now a professor at McGill University and joins me
live from Toronto. And our hearts, of course, go out to all of those who have lost loved ones.
You write in this op-ed that it is tragic events like this one that can unite us. Can you expand on that?
PAYAM AKHAVAN, PROFESSOR, MCGILL UNIVERSITY: Well, I for many years, considered myself a hyphenated Canadian, an Iranian-Canadian, and today, I
feel a full Canadian, because I see that the entire nation is mourning the loss of Canadian citizens. And we have Canadian citizens who are indigenous
peoples who were here before us, we have recent immigrants who have left their home in search of a better life.
And It's remarkable to see the entire nation in mourning, sharing this grief together, and realizing that Canada, we are a multicultural society
and that the love of every Canadian citizen, the love of every human being matters.
[10:40:21]
ANDERSON: Yes, now you make -- you make a lot of sense. I want to just consider some of the scenes that we are seeing in Iran right now. Crowds
forming -- mostly students and middle-class professionals, there are those who as they consider. These images suggest the -- what we see unfolding to
some degree encapsulates incompetence of a system that is driven out expertise for years and has promoted based on pure loyalty to the regime
rather than based on talent.
What is the step forward? What do you believe could be taken from this disaster?
AKHAVAN: This disaster may very well end up being an awakening like Chernobyl was in the Soviet Union during the period of glasnost. Just a few
weeks ago, some 1,500 Iranian youth were killed by snipers on the streets of Tehran and other cities, because they were protesting an increase in
fuel prices because they were expressing their frustration at corruption, mismanagement, authoritarianism, and brutality.
And I think it is remarkable to see the people pouring back out on the streets knowing that they may very well risk violence if not their lives.
So, the lack of respect for human life that the people in Iran have experienced over the past 40 years of the Islamic Republic has now reached
a boiling point.
Whether it was in the early days at the revolution when 12-year-olds were sent as martyrs to step on landmines or today when in the midst of a war
zone, no consideration whatsoever was given to the safety of a civil aircraft.
So, it remains to be seen how these events will unfold, but it is, to put it mildly, a huge embarrassment for the Revolutionary Guards, who were in
possession of the S.A.-15 surface-to-air missile system. To have committed such a blunder if indeed was a mistake.
ANDERSON: Is -- fine, yes. And I get your point. If this were to be Iran's Chernobyl moment, as it were, that suggests that something has to happen
off the back of it. What might that be? What are people? What are people on the streets calling for which is in any way realistic under this Iranian
regime?
AKHAVAN: I think people are calling for an open, democratic society in which leaders are accountable. In which those in authority are concerned
with the welfare and prosperity of their citizens.
The country like Canada where the lives of human beings matter. And the people have become so desperate that they're willing to go out in the
streets and be killed simply to express their frustration. And we shouldn't forget that one of the reasons why we have a diaspora now of over 100,000
Iranians is because people are leaving in desperation. There are -- there are -- there is no hope for young people.
Iran has one of the biggest brain drains in the world. That's why so many of the people that were killed were students and researchers and academics,
who are incredibly talented, but who have no hope of a better future in Iran.
ANDERSON: And I want to pull up some images of just some of the victims. Two were Ph.D. students studying in Canada. One was a Ph.D. candidate in
the United Kingdom. All were traveling back to complete their studies. And these, of course, as you rightly point out, are just some of the thousands
of Iranians who have chosen to leave Iran each year to gain an education abroad.
What impact will their deaths have on the academic landscape in Iran?
[10:44:51]
AKHAVAN: Well, Iran has a vibrant academic landscape. They are really outstanding, intellectuals, and scientists. Many of whom have now become
part of the growing Iranian diaspora across the world.
And we should also remember that the students and intellectuals have also been at the forefront of the Democratic movement in Iran. And the
government has always been terribly concerned about civil society and has done its best to ensure that intellectuals and students are dealt with --
severely so that they cannot open a democratic space in Iran where leaders become accountable.
And if you see who are the people that are protesting the airplane crash, it's at Sharif University, it's at Amirkabir University, the same place
where the first uprisings began in 1997 under President Khatami.
So, the students and intellectuals have always played a central role. And the fact that they have lost many of their own will only galvanize their
movement further.
ANDERSON: So, one of our viewers to hear how Canada's prime minister is responding to all of this. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are you confident that this was actually an accident?
TRUDEAU: This is one of the issues that we certainly need better answers to. And that's why this first step of admission of responsibility is an
important one by Iran, but there are many other questions like that one that will need clear answers to in the coming days and weeks.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Given the Iranian regime's reputation for, let's call it a lack of transparency; some might call it lying in the past. Do you believe that
we will ultimately get to the bottom of what happened? There is -- you know, a narrative out there that says this was an accident, was it?
AKHAVAN: Well, it's very difficult to speculate. What we know is that in an abrupt and dramatic about-turn, the Iranian government to its credit has
now admitted that the aircraft was, in fact, shot down by the S.A.-15 missiles, which were in the possession of the Revolutionary Guards.
It is now apparently cooperating with the authorities of the Ukraine and to a lesser extent with those of Canada. But the site of the crash has already
been bulldozed and crucial evidence has been removed, which makes it that much more difficult to cut up a full and proper investigation.
But I think that we should welcome the admission of fault, but there is still a long road ahead to get to the truth, and above all, to get to some
measure of justice for the families of the victims.
ANDERSON: Finally, I want to just show our viewers this single red shoe. It is what clearly belongs to a child. It sits scorched amongst the twisted
wreckage of the Iranian jets. And if we can bring that image up -- do we have that image?
OK, I don't have that image for the time being. I know, it provoked some thoughts for you. But for the time being, we're going to leave it there. We
thank you very much, indeed, for joining us.
AKHAVAN: Thank you.
ANDERSON: And just before we move on, I want to you -- viewers have a listened to this, from last Sunday.
Fine Iranian lawmakers, falling back on the hotline refrain, Death to America. It's a chant as old as the Islamic Republic of Iran itself, and
it's the Iran that they want you to see, angry, threatened, and threatening.
But this is the video, you should see. Ordinary students avoiding walking on the American and Israeli flags that have been painted on the ground for
them to do just that. Not hardliners, just students. Getting on with their lives like most people in Iran, and that's the bottom line. This isn't
geopolitics and missiles, It is all of us.
Well, the British Royals are no strangers to family drama, but it's that drama that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are trying to escape. Coming up,
what the queen's doing to rein them back in.
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[10:51:50]
ANDERSON: In the coming days, we could find out what happens when you tell the queen I'm doing my own thing. Queen Elizabeth II has called a family
meeting to deal with her grandson's announcement that he and his wife, Meghan will be "stepping back" from their royal duties. She is reportedly
disappointed.
The U.K. Sunday Times reports Harry's brother, Prince William expressed his sadness. Saying his family was no longer a team. The paper quotes William
is saying, "I've put my arm around my brother all our lives, I can't do it anymore."
Well, earlier, Queen Elizabeth attended church in Sandringham, which is a private residence and the location of Monday's family summit.
Let's bring in Hadas Gold, who joins us from London, who is monitoring exactly what is going on here. And Buckingham Palace reportedly wants this
sorted in days, not weeks, Hadas. It's the it -- though, that isn't clear, isn't it? What is their role going to be? How will they work that and what
happens next?
HADAS GOLD, CNN POLITICS, MEDIA AND BUSINESS REPORTER: That's the big question, Becky. And what is going to be discussed tomorrow at Sandringham
Estate? The estate is about 2-1/2 hours north of London. It's the queen's country home and actually where she normally stays in the winter until
about February.
So, we're expecting Prince Charles, Prince William, Prince Harry to all attend this meeting with the queen. And Meghan will actually be phoning it
in from Canada where she has returned to be with their son Archie.
And at this meeting, they will discuss this desire by the couple to pretty much step back as senior royals and become somewhat financially
independent. That's going to be one of the biggest agenda items is, what is that financial independence look like? Does that mean they're still going
to accept money from Prince Charles, which is where the bulk of their funding comes from?
If they want to work, what will their jobs look like? And how can they have jobs that won't somehow cause a conflict of interest with the rest of the
royal family? Where will they live? What will their security look like? And who will pay for this?
Also, consider their staff. A lot of their staff now are considered official Buckingham Palace royal staff. Will they then be transitioned to
somehow private staff? Who will also pay for that funding?
There's a lot of questions on the table here. But as you noted, we do understand the queen has instructed everybody to work, "at phase" as
quickly as possible. And although discussions might be happening quickly over the next several days, there might be some more announcements coming
about what it will look like.
The implementation, we understand will likely take a little bit longer. We're being warned this probably will not be immediate. Because keep in
mind, things for the royal family gets scheduled out months in advance. There is going to be a lot of change that needs to happen slowly before
anything really major occurs.
ANDERSON: So, isn't clear at this point what their roles might be within the body of the royal family, where we might see them on official
engagements, correct?
GOLD: Right. Yes, it's very uncharted territory because Prince Harry is not the -- at the -- at the level, let's say, of the former king who abdicated.
He is pretty low when it comes to the line of succession.
However, he's one of the most popular, most recognizable members of the royal family, a huge asset for them, of course. So, whatever he does, will
get a ton of attention, the royal family will obviously want to have some sort of hand in it. Because although he is not one of these sort of top
members, he's still very important to them.
[10:55:00]
GOLD: So, it's unclear, like you said, will he still engage in official functions? Will he be, for example, at Buckingham Palace, as he expected --
he is expected to be the next couple of days, to welcome a sports team?
ANDERSON: Right.
GOLD: What will those sort of engagements look like in the future?
ANDERSON: Hadas, very briefly, is it clear why, why Harry and Meghan are doing this?
GOLD: Well, according to their very lengthy statement that they released, it's for their own well-being. And I do think that a lot of it has to be --
has to do with how Meghan and Harry have felt.
Is Meghan especially has been treated by the U.K. media and especially by the tabloid press. They have really gone after her pretty hard. And in
fact, the couple are in legal proceedings against the owners of both The Mail and The Sun, for things that they have written about the couple. And I
think that has a big part to play into why they're choosing to step up -- to step back.
And also keep in mind that the monarchy is sort of slimming down. And we've seen some signals in the last few months from the queen, especially, about
what's important. These photos, these videos that are focusing on Prince William, on Prince Charles, and on Prince George.
ANDERSON: Thank you, Hadas. Hadas Gold is in London. You are watching CONNECT THE WORLD with me, Becky Anderson. We are out of our UAE Middle
East broadcasting hub. We will be back after this short break. Stay with us.
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