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Gaza Hospital Director: IDF Strike Hits Cafe, Killing at Least 21; UN Nuclear Watchdog: Iran Could Enrich Uranium Again in Months; WNBA: New Teams Coming to Cleaveland, Detroit and Philadelphia. Aired 2:30-3p ET

Aired June 30, 2025 - 14:30   ET

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

[14:30:00]

BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN HOST: Iran's ambassador to the United Nations now says his country will never stop working to enrich uranium. That vow comes after the UN's nuclear watchdog says that Tehran could be months away from restarting its nuclear weapons program -- nuclear program I should say -- despite strikes by the US and Israel.

At the same time, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is preparing to hold another high-level meeting today about Gaza. He's crediting his military operations in Iran for new opportunities to free more of the remaining hostages still held by Hamas. Meantime, today, the head of Gaza's largest hospital says that an Israeli strike hit a cafe killing at least 31 and injuring another 70.

CNN's Jeremy Diamond is tracking all the latest details for us from Tel Aviv. Jeremy, another deadly day in Gaza. What are you hearing about the strike?

JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT: Yes, that's right, Boris, and in fact it is already getting deadlier. We've just learned from that same hospital, the head of Al-Shifa Hospital, Dr. Mohammed Abu Salmiya, that the death toll has now risen to at least 41 people who've been killed in that strike on a seaside cafe in Gaza City, 75 people now listed as having been injured from that strike.

And you can see in some of the videos from the scene of this, first of all, there was, you know, a thick plume of smoke emerging from that area. And then you see the aftermath of that strike on the ground, you know, bodies littered around, women and children among the dead.

What is also especially notable about this strike is that this cafe, Al-Baqa Cafe, was a popular destination for students, for journalists, really for anyone who was trying to get connected to the internet, which is so difficult these days in Gaza.

And indeed, among those killed was a freelance journalist, Ismail Abu Hatab. According to the Gaza media office, he becomes the 228th journalist who have been killed in Gaza over the course of this war.

We've also seen several other strikes that happened in different parts of Gaza, bringing the total death toll for today somewhere in the range of at least 70 people who've been killed, according to health officials -- Boris.

SANCHEZ: And Jeremy, it's been nearly a week since the ceasefire was brokered between Israel and Iran. It was shaky when it started. What's the status now?

DIAMOND: Yes, well, now it seems like there is an opportunity, first of all, on the Gaza front. As we're talking about these deadly strikes that are continuing unabated, the Israeli prime minister is also signaling that with this ceasefire between Israel and Iran, an opportunity may present itself in Gaza to secure the release of the hostages. And we will see what that leads to in terms of the war, whether we are just talking about a 60-day ceasefire or perhaps even more than that.

We know that tonight the Israeli prime minister is once again meeting with his closest advisers to try and determine next steps. But it's clear that the Israeli military, for its part, is advising the prime minister to move forward towards a ceasefire agreement, that the time is ripe now.

[14:35:00]

At the same time, though, the Iran issue has not entirely faded from the background. Israel continues to closely monitor what next steps Iran may be taking in the wake of the series of strikes carried out by Israel and the United States on their nuclear capabilities. And the Iranian ambassador to the United Nations saying yesterday that Iran will, quote, never stop enriching uranium, saying that it is Iran's inalienable right.

He also said that Iran is ready for negotiations with the U.S. but is not going to be dictated. And that comes as we are learning that Steve Witkoff, the president's special envoy to the region, has continued to be in touch both directly and indirectly with the Iranians, according to the White House press secretary. We will see where those negotiations lead -- Boris.

SANCHEZ: Jeremy Diamond, live for us in Tel Aviv. Thank you so much -- Brianna.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN HOST: Let's get more now on these developments. We're joined by Jon Wolfsthal. He's a special assistant -- former special assistant to President Obama for national security.

He's now the director of global risk at the Federation for American Scientists. John, thank you so much for being with us. We are seeing some new satellite imagery that shows this continuing work at Fordow.

It's a little difficult to see, but there is an excavator. There are several personnel who are next to the northern shaft into the nuclear facility. There's a crane that appears to be operating at the entrance to it. How are you seeing what's happening here, really?

JON WOLFSTHAL, FORMER SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO PRESIDENT OBAMA FOR NATIONAL SECURITY: Well, I think there are two categories of things happening, things that we know about and can see and things we don't know about. What we can see is Iran is clearly trying to figure out how much of their facilities have been destroyed and what can they recover. We can see that through satellite photographs.

We obviously, the U.S. government and Israeli government have intelligence sources. There were reports this weekend the U.S. intercepted electronic communications about the facilities that suggest the damage was less severe than originally expected. It's hard to know how reliable those reports are, but the Iranians themselves are still trying to figure out what's been damaged, what can be saved, and how to rebuild.

What we don't know are, in many ways, just as important as what we can see. Where is the enriched uranium that Iran had, that the IEA certified Iran had, and that is missing? Are there centrifuges that Iran had stored away after the U.S. withdrew from the nuclear deal in 2018 that could begin to enrich that uranium to weapons grade?

So there are a number of things that we just won't know. Intelligence is going to have to keep digging after them. But it's no surprise that Iran is going to try to recapture or rebuild or at least discover what they have left and try to salvage as much as they can.

KEILAR: We don't know at this point where that nearly 900 pounds of highly enriched uranium is. Could that warrant further U.S. strikes on Iran nuclear facilities, assuming, you know, there is certainly more knowledge about where those strikes should be?

WOLFSTHAL: Sure. So there was clearly a desire by President Trump to both demonstrate strength and to portray these strikes as one and done, right? We sort of went in, we blew up the known facilities.

The White House press spokesman Karoline Leavitt said this weekend, sort of an unsubstantiated claim that the Iranian nuclear weapons program is over.

And that's clearly just not the case. Iran retains some ability. They retain materials that are of great concern that would be under safeguards if the IAEA were still in country and allowed in country.

And so there is a lot of concern about what Iran still has and how quickly they can weaponize it if they've made the decision to do so. And clearly, the United States and Iran -- excuse me, the United States and Israel are going to be trying to track that down. And there's still the prospect that both countries may be pushed to take additional military action.

That, in turn, pushes Iran to try to weaponize this material as quickly as they can if they're trying to create a deterrent. So the situation may seem calm on the surface, but underneath, I worry a lot about the dynamics that we're currently in.

KEILAR: And so looking at a potential diplomatic solution here, AIEA, the chief of the IAEA, now saying that Iran could again begin enriching uranium here in a matter of months. And you have the ambassador to Iran, to the U.N., saying that his country's uranium enrichment will never stop because Iran has an inalienable right to do so for peaceful nuclear activity. Of course, we are well aware that that uranium was enriched to a level that far surpasses what is needed for peaceful energy use.

So when you look at what Iran is saying there, what are they telegraphing ahead of any talks they may have with the U.S.?

WOLFSTHAL: Well, I think this may be hard for a lot of people to process, but the situation we're in now is identical to the situation we were in before the United States and even Israel undertook their strikes. Iran is saying that they're not going to give up enrichment, and the president of the United States has to make a choice.

[14:40:00]

Is he prepared to accept a deal where Iran retains some enrichment, very similar to the one we negotiated under President Obama and that was working before President Trump withdrew?

Or is he going to insist on the maximum position, no enrichment, in which case there is no deal? So President Trump remains trapped between a rock and a hard place.

People feel that somehow Iran is the one that's been put on the back foot, but they retain a lot of leverage and a lot of cards. They ultimately decide whether or not there will be another crisis. And I think what we should expect that is Iran has an incentive to try to drag out these negotiations as they were doing before the strikes, because in October, the ability of the United States to snap back global sanctions on Iran expires at the United Nations.

And once that happens, I expect to see Iran take a host of moves, including withdrawal from international treaties, begin to rebuild their facilities in a very visible way, and demand that the United States either deal with them as partners and peers or accept an Iranian nuclear capability.

KEILAR: Jon Wolfsthal, thank you so much for your insights. We appreciate it.

WOLFSTHAL: Thanks for having me.

KEILAR: Still to come, some more evidence that women's sports are catching fire with Americans. Caitlin Clark and the rest of the WNBA are expanding into three more major markets. Is your city perhaps on the verge of getting its own women's basketball team? We'll have that next.

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SANCHEZ: Some hoop dreams are coming true with WNBA more popular than ever. Today, Commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced three new expansion teams are going to be joining the league in the coming years in Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia. CNN Sports' Don Riddell joins us for more. Don, some exciting times for the WNBA.

DON RIDDELL, CNN WORLD SPORTS: Yes, for sure. Things really are happening very fast in the WNBA these days. Interest in the league has exploded following the arrival of Caitlin Clark.

And the number of teams in the league is exploding, too. Just last year, Portland and Toronto were announced as expansion teams. They'll start playing in 2026.

And Monday's announcement that three more teams will follow soon is going to take the league to a record 18 teams. As you just said, Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia have been chosen as the next cities to continue the rapid growth of professional women's basketball in North America.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CATHY ENGELBERT, WNBA COMMISSIONER: These are proud cities with powerful sports legacies, each one rich in basketball tradition and fueled by passionate fan bases. What we know they're going to show up for the W. Now they join the most elite women's sports league in the world. This is far more than an expansion of our league. It's an evolution of it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

RIDDELL: And to illustrate just how explosive this growth is, according to research by Sportico, the average value of a WNBA team has tripled in the last year alone.

SANCHEZ: Not a bad idea to invest in the WNBA, I guess.

Pivoting to Wimbledon, it's opening day. And the last time we saw Coco Gauff in action, she was raising the French Open trophy.

What can we expect in Wimbledon?

RIDDELL: Well, it's hard to say what Coco will do. She has only played once since the French Open, and she lost that match. So she's not exactly well-tuned for the grass court season. But she is the second seed, so she will still be expected to do well.

Whatever happens, the American women will be hoping to continue a very positive trend. Remember, Madison Keyes also won the Australian Open earlier this year. So could we have another American woman trying to get a major? Maybe so.

As tradition dictates, the defending men's champion always kicks things off on center court. And so Carlos Alcaraz had the honor on Monday. He is trying to become the first man since Bjorn Borg in the 70s to win both the French Open and Wimbledon in back-to-back years. And he's off to a winning start.

Alcaraz was made to work for it, though, by Fabio Fognini. However, after a grueling five sets in record temperatures for the opening day of the tournament, he finally booked his place in the second round. And the temperatures have been over 32 degrees centigrade.

That is hot for London. And as I say, it's a record for the opening day of this tournament. So it's tough out there, Boris.

SANCHEZ: Yes, I don't do math well, but I think that means quite hot in Fahrenheit as well. Don Riddell, thanks so much for the update.

RIDDELL: Yes.

SANCHEZ: Still to come, Republicans feeling the pressure during a marathon session today to push through President Trump's domestic policy bill. We're tracking Votorama.

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SANCHEZ: Why did you limit the dance move when you were on TV? She was dancing a second ago.

KEILAR: I was dancing in the break. Special break content.

SANCHEZ: So we asked all of you what are America's best towns to visit, and we're now at number five on the list as we go down it. Annapolis, the coastal state capital of Maryland.

KEILAR: With its deep maritime roots, charm, epic boating scene, and seriously good seafood, it's no wonder this place draws coastal lovers in droves. CNN's Laura Coates took a trip there.

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LAURA COATES, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): Annapolis, Maryland, a coastal town that sits on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay where the seafood is fresh.

COATES: And it is pinching.

COATES (voice-over): And as they say here, everything is better on a boat.

TYRONE MEREDITH, CHESAPEAKE WATERMAN: This is my boat, the Island Queen II. Welcome aboard.

COATES: Thank you.

COATES (voice-over): Captain Tyrone Meredith is no stranger to the waters here.

MEREDITH: My great-great-grandfather bought a house on Kent Island in 1865, and he worked as a waterman, and I'm the fifth generation, making my living from working on the Chesapeake Bay. Here they come, here they come. Another person.

COATES: Oh, oh look at that.

MEREDITH: Getting a little bigger.

COATES (voice-over): Captain Tyrone grew up on nearby Kent Island and has been working as a Chesapeake waterman, fishing, crabbing, and oystering in the bay for more than 40 years.

COATES: Finish this sentence for me. You can't come to Annapolis without eating what?

MEREDITH: Maryland blue crab. They import crabs now from Louisiana, Florida, and North Carolina, but nothing like the Chesapeake Bay blue crab.

[14:55:00]

COATES (voice-over): Well, he didn't have to tell me twice. We headed into town for a seafood medley. Fried oysters, crab cakes.

COATES: This makes me really --

COATES (voice-over): And, of course, blue crab, covered in Maryland's signature J.O. Spice seasoning.

The maritime culture here goes beyond just fishing boats. Annapolis is also home to the U.S. Naval Academy, and the town is considered by many as America's capital of sailing.

DAVID GENDELL, ANNAPOLIS HISTORIAN: We don't discriminate between boats. Wherever you want to get out, if it's a stand-up paddleboard, a kayak, a powerboat, a sailboat, this is where you come to do it.

COATES (voice-over): Over at the Annapolis Maritime Museum, you even have the chance to sail on a historic Chesapeake Bay skipjack boat, the Wilma Lee, one of the last of its kind. But before you leave Annapolis, be sure to check out some of their fun and sometimes quirky annual traditions.

GENDELL: There's a tug-of-war that goes across Annapolis Harbor. There's a road race over the Eastport Bridge, so it's called the .05K Run, the world's shortest road race.

And then around the spring equinox, we have sock burnings. So folks get together, and they literally take off their winter socks and throw them in a fire to celebrate the coming of summer. So it's not all buttoned-up Navy and state legislature. We have a lot of fun, too.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COATES (on camera): That was such an amazing city, you guys. I have to tell you, it's such an amazing place to be in Annapolis. I ate well.

The weather was wonderful. If you are a sailor, you want to be there. It has the Naval Academy there.

The people were great in front. And you know what? It was a hop, skip, and a jump from Washington, D.C. I loved everything about it, and I will be back. Please don't judge me for how much crab I ate, how much seafood I consumed. If you were there with me, you would have done the same thing.

SANCHEZ: This is a judgment-free zone, especially when it comes to fried foods.

KEILAR: No judgment at Cantler's, and we would have shared some orange crushes, too. No judgment, Laura Coates. Thank you so, so much for sharing that with us.

COATES: Yes.

KEILAR: And coming up, it's the marathon that, yes, you don't really train for it. We're live from Capitol Hill, keeping tabs on the Votorama.

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