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Trump Admin Outlines Prospective Agreement With Iran; Unclear If Iran's Supreme Leader Has Signed Off On U.S. Framework; USA Plays First Match Tonight vs. Paraguay In L.A.; World Cup Kicks Off In U.S. With Massive Security Effort; Judge Extends Order Blocking Trump's "Anti-Weaponization" Fund. Aired 3-3:30p ET

Aired June 12, 2026 - 15:00   ET

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

ALLISON CHINCHAR, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Again, a lot of these areas, again, it's that combination of that temperature but also the heat index. And it's going to be very similar for some of these areas, even going into Saturday and Sunday, especially right down here along the Gulf Coast and portions of the Southeast where that heat is going to linger through the weekend.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN HOST: Yes, feels like 140 to be honest. Allison Chinchar, thank you so much for that. And remember, the CNN Weather App is here, so get ready for expert coverage every day so that you're never caught off guard. You can download the app on IOS today.

And a new hour of CNN NEWS CENTRAL starts right now.

BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN HOST: Final stages, Iran saying an agreement to end the war with the U.S. is close. A White House official tells CNN the language is in, quote, a place that we feel good about.

KEILAR: And it is go time for Team USA. Its opening match in the FIFA World Cup against Paraguay is just a few hours away. We're live outside the stadium where fans are certainly ready for it and a $2 trillion bet on Elon Musk.

SpaceX going public with a historic debut. Can the company live up to the promises of its high-profile CEO?

SANCHEZ: We're ...

KEILAR: We're following ...

SANCHEZ: We are. We both are ...

KEILAR: ... these ...

SANCHEZ: ... following these major developing stories and many more all coming in right here to CNN NEWS CENTRAL.

Breaking news from the White House on a possible path to peace with Iran. Just a short time ago, a senior administration official detailed the framework of what is being discussed. The official telling reporters, we have gotten the language in a place that we feel good about where the Iranians have actually said, okay, we can agree to that. Iranian officials say they are holding meetings right now. Let's go live to the White House with CNN's Alayna Treene.

Alayna, what are you hearing from sources?

ALAYNA TREENE, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Yes, look, we -- I was on this call with a senior administration official who walked through us -- with us several details of what this is going to look like and specifically what is in this deal. I'm going to break down for you what they said is specifically outlined in this memorandum of understanding that they're hoping to sign in the next couple of days. One is it would reopen the Strait of Hormuz to pre-war levels and also lift the U.S. blockade on Iranian ports, obviously something that was always going to be crucial to any sort of agreement between Washington and Tehran. It would also lead to the dismantling of Iran's nuclear program.

That specifically would include the United States being able to go in and retrieve that highly enriched uranium that is still in Iran's possession. The official said it would be destroyed on site and then taken out of the country. This is a huge provision because this has been, I -- I would remind people, one of the biggest sticking points throughout all of these negotiations is what would happen with the highly enriched uranium. Them saying they would go in and destroy it on site.

And then also Iran, according to this official, would be relieved of a lot of the economic pressures that they have been facing. Essentially what they outlined is that Iran does not really get anything out of this memorandum of understanding upon immediate signing. What would happen is if they abide by the different provisions laid out in this agreement, then they could stop talking about monetary compensation and get rewarded again if they comply with what has been laid out. That is how this official has described it.

Now, I will say, I think an important part to all of this is that once this MoU or if it is, signed, that would then trigger a 60-day negotiating period for what they are calling highly technical talks. Essentially from my conversations for us with administration officials, they say that would be the specifics of how to actually, you know, work out some of these different provisions, how to actually enforce them and also how to go about the details of, you know, for example, actually going in to retrieve that highly enriched uranium, actually reopening the Strait of Hormuz. A lot of the technical talks would take place after the fact, so almost a deal that needs to be further negotiated down the line.

Another interesting thing that was brought up in this conversation is the senior administration official was asked specifically, has the Supreme Leader of Iran signed off on this? We have heard from countless people that that is kind of a prerequisite for anything being complete. They kind of dodged on this question, arguing that, you know, they are waiting to see whether or not the Supreme Leader will actually give his signature. They said, all we can take is the people, both on the civilian and military side, both of whom have attested that the Supreme Leader is comfortable with where we are in this negotiation. One other thing I want to say about all of this is that we have heard

encouraging statements from Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi. He has said that they are closer to a deal than they believe they have been thus far. That's actually something President Donald Trump shared on social media. We also heard from the Pakistani prime minister. Of course, they have been leading a lot of these mediation talks.

[15:05:05]

They had said that they can confirm a final deal and the agreed-upon text of the peace deal has been reached, and that they are working with all parties to get this signed.

So, look, very positive movement here. We have heard from officials that they could be potentially signing this in Geneva in the next couple of days, but really needing to just finalize the last-minute things here, Boris.

SANCHEZ: Alayna Treene live for us at the White House. Thank you so much. Brianna?

KEILAR: Are you ready for some football? The U.S. men's national team kicking off their World Cup run tonight, and over the next month, 104 matches are going to be played across 16 cities in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. Just hours from now, the American side will try to take full advantage of a fired-up home crowd when they take on Paraguay. CNN Sports Anchor Coy Wire is live from Inglewood, California, the site of tonight's opening match. What's it like there, Coy?

COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR & CORRESPONDENT: Oh, the -- this is incredible. The butterflies have arrived. They've unpacked their bags, and they started paying rent. I talked to the youngest player on the team yesterday, Alex Freeman. He says, I'm nervous, and I'm not going to try to hide it. America has spent decades knocking on footy's front door. This summer, they're going to try to kick it in.

Thirty-two years ago, America proved it could host a World Cup. Starting tonight, this is where this team hopes they can prove to help shape it. Somewhere inside, every one of the players on this roster is a kid who once pretended the backyard was a World Cup stadium. Now, that dream is becoming a reality on home soil. We asked the guys about what they will be feeling in the moment. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHRISTIAN PULISIC, USMNT FORWARD: Probably be looking up at my family and friends in the stands who've supported me throughout all this. So, there'll be a lot of emotions. It'll be a proud moment representing the U.S., home soil, in a World Cup, I mean, very special.

SEBASTIAN BERHALTER, USMNT FORWARD: Very happy emotion, and tears come, tears come, but yes, I'm -- I'm -- I -- I can't wait for that moment.

WESTON MCKENNIE, USMNT FORWARD: Full circle moment, because as a kid dreaming about being in that position, wearing the crest and being able to hear the national anthem, I think it's something that, yes, it makes dreams come true.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WIRE: All right, those guys will get a chance to -- to show they can start this thing with a bang in that NFL stadium behind me, Brianna, and hopefully not a clang off the crossbar. This is about to be epic for this team, and a -- a chance for a point for them to prove.

KEILAR: It can hit the bar if it goes into the goal. We're okay with that move. That's fine, Coy, but we just heard there from Christian Pulisic, is he embracing the spotlight as the leader of this team?

WIRE: Yes, the kid from the sweetest place on earth, Hershey, Pennsylvania. He's the face of American soccer, right? Nicknamed Captain America. He moved to England for a year when he was seven, Brianna, when mom earned a Fulbright scholarship there. He lived in eight miles north of Oxford. He played for a youth side. Dad says that's where it all began.

Pulisic's looking to write a redemption story this time. It's a tough season with his club, AC Milan, swirling questions about his form. He got injured while scoring the winning goal against Iran in a must-win World Cup match in 2022. He had to watch the second half from a hospital bed. He says he still lies in bed imagining himself lifting a World Cup trophy. Pressure can bust pipes. It can also create diamonds. We asked Pulisic about the pressure he's feeling.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PULISIC: There is a pressure there. I'm human. I feel it. I want to perform well. I want to help this team win. I want to help this country be successful in this World Cup. And I can only do the best that I can do and prepare as best I can. I feel that that's what I'm doing so at the end of it I can hold my head -- my head high no matter what happens because, yes, I'm going to give it -- I'm going to give it everything we got and luckily I have a team behind me who's going to support me so I don't -- I don't have to do it alone.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WIRE: So, there you go, the -- the Captain America is human after all, Brianna. Every superhero gets tested this summer and starting tonight may be Christian Pulisic's toughest test yet when he and the guys take on Paraguay.

KEILAR: Cannot wait. Coy, thank you very, very much for that. Boris, are you ready for the football?

SANCHEZ: I'm very excited about it. The odds probably against the United States but I'm hoping for a miracle on the pitch.

KEILAR: The real talk. So tough -- so tough, Boris.

SANCHEZ: Yes. It's also a challenge for a lot of security folks because the scale of this World Cup -- this World Cup is historic. It's a monumental security challenge for federal and local officials. Let's go to CNN's Josh Campbell who is outside the security perimeter near the stadium in Los Angeles.

So, Josh, talk to us about the concerns and what measures are being taken.

JOSH CAMPBELL, CNN SENIOR CORRESPONDENT: Well, as you see behind me right now, it's still pretty quiet. The big crowds haven't arrived but one thing that is well underway and abuzz with activity is this law enforcement central communications center that's been set up here where you have the various different agencies.

[15:10:04]

We're talking about hundreds of law enforcement officers, FBI agents, ATF agents, DEA agents. They have various command post vehicles that have been set up, everything from local law enforcement to paramedics, the governor's office of emergency management. This is really part of this large effort to ensure that all of this goes without any security incidents.

So, I they did obtain a threat assessment from a law enforcement source on this very event from -- put -- put out by the FBI as well as DHS. I'll read you part of what that says. They say that we remain concerned about the potential for an increase in terrorist activity, reportable targeted violence, mass casualty incidents, transnational crime, unauthorized unmanned aircraft systems activity, cyber-attacks and foreign intelligence operations. You can see there just the gamut of potential threats that they're having to guard against here.

You know, what is interesting behind me in this compound, the reason why you see some of this opaque fencing that's been put up is because there's a lot of very sensitive technology I'm told from law enforcement sources, particularly when it comes to the threat that is posed by drones. Law enforcement sources tell me that there has been great concern that bad actors in this country might be inspired by the successful use of drones and conflict zones such as Ukraine, the Iranian use of them as well, and it's something that they are certainly trying to guard against.

They're using the technology to actually take over a drone if they believe that it poses a threat and then go and try to identify where that operator is. They say that there are very serious penalties, federal penalties here for anyone found, excuse me, found flying a drone around this area.

Now, again, it's pretty quiet right now. We expect the crowds to pick up here very soon. The first match opens tonight. That's between L.A. and Paraguay, but before that, we'll have the opening ceremonies. That itself a big security posture. There will be a lot of VIPs on deck here, including the U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, the governor of this state, many, many other dignitaries. It's going to be a great event. It's going to get kicked off here in just a few hours, guys.

SANCHEZ: We look forward to that. Go USA. Josh Campbell, thanks so much, from L.A.

Still to come, a federal judge indefinitely blocking President Trump's anti-weaponization fund because she doesn't believe the President's plan has been fully sidelined.

Plus, it's the largest public offering on record. Shares of SpaceX are rising after a blockbuster debut.

And later, 21 senators are asking the Department of Agriculture for additional actions to contain the screwworm outbreak we've been telling you about impacting cattle in the Southwest. That and much more coming up on CNN NEWS CENTRAL.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:16:51]

KEILAR: The fight will go on. Today, a federal judge rejected a request to stop President Trump's UFC event at the White House. The fights happening Sunday on the South Lawn mark the first time mixed martial artists will compete at the White House. Uppercuts, flying kicks, rear naked chokes and all, I hope that means more to you than it does to me.

President Trump electing to stage the event in celebration of the U.S. founding 250 years ago. But these fights are notably also happening on the president's 80th birthday. The White House expecting over 100,000 people to attend, including our next guest, combat sports analyst and host of the Morning Kombat podcast, Luke Thomas.

Luke, thank you so much for being with us. Talk about your plans to cover this event because you were a longtime fan of MMA, but you've said that this event makes you uneasy.

LUKE THOMAS, COMBAT SPORTS ANALYST & HOST, "MORNING KOMBAT" PODCAST: It does make me uneasy. To correct the record, I'm actually not going. I don't ...

KEILAR: You're not going. Okay.

THOMAS: No, I don't think ...

KEILAR: That's an important thing to correct.

THOMAS: I don't -- I don't think you can offer the kind of adversarial coverage and still get credentialed. I could be wrong about that, but that's -- the UFC is kind of famous for that. I intend to do a full cloud watch along with my audience. I intend to do a post-fight show. And then I'm also going to do a political wrap up because I think both dimensions, the fights themselves, as well as the larger context, they both deserve interrogation and examination.

KEILAR: Okay, explain this to us, the kind of synergy between UFC and Donald Trump and what about this to you raises concerns?

THOMAS: Well, you could say it goes back to 2001 when Dana White and his partners, the Fertitta brothers, bought the company. And there's something to be said for that. They hosted a couple of their early shows there. But the relationship just basically fizzles from there until they come back around in 2016. And he's -- Dana White spoke at the Republican National Convention. But even that's not really it.

It's the pandemic, step one. Step two is really post January 6th, because Dana White helped Donald Trump launder his reputation after January 6th. January 6th happens. And then the two places that Donald Trump shows up, a CPAC event in that February and a CPAC event in that July. And also in that same week was the -- the trilogy between Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier. And they do this 2022, '23 and '24, giving him the kind of treatment in terms of -- basically, a de facto campaign rally that you literally cannot even buy. You cannot get anywhere in terms of third-party mainstream validation, as well as roping in, I would also argue, in terms of, you know, the Rogan sphere and that kind of media apparatus to help access very, very difficult portions of -- to reach on the electorate, namely young men.

KEILAR: Yes, which obviously Donald Trump is very popular with. How did you see that laundering his reputation? How did that kind of transform maybe a perception about him after January 6th as you see it?

THOMAS: Let me set the scene here. You ever watched one of these before?

KEILAR: Yes, I have.

THOMAS: Okay, so then for those who haven't ...

KEILAR: I don't know some of those terms, but I've watched it, it's wild.

THOMAS: Okay.

KEILAR: Yes.

THOMAS: Fair enough. In order to set the scene here, there's the preliminary card and then the main card. The main card is like if you buy a pay-per-view, that's when it starts. It's the most important fights. He gets a walkout between them. The camera's only on him. He's walking out with Kid Rock, American Badass Music. He's walking out with Dana White, sometimes Elon Musk, sometimes Mike Johnson, sometimes Tulsi Gabbard, you name it.

Then, they don't put him in a box like they did for the NBA finals. They put him right in front of the cage. And crucially, the commentators are glad-handing him. They're talking him up. And the fighters also constantly genuflect before him.

[15:20:07]

They'll put their belts on him. They'll use their mic time after they win to be like, this is the greatest president in the history of the country. We've got to put him back in office. And this happened over and over and over again. This weekend is a reward for that. And if you want to say, well, what's the value of this kind of thing? How do you quantify it? I would quantify it by looking at these pictures. Look at what they are being given as a response.

KEILAR: So, they're -- UFC is paying for this, right? They're -- they're paying tens of millions of dollars for this event.

THOMAS: That's correct. People think it's taxpayer money. I mean, there might be some taxpayer money involved. But TKO to -- has said they're pledging to -- to cover the costs.

KEILAR: Okay, so they're pledging to cover the costs. How do you see that as they're -- they're being given this opportunity, though, even as they're covering the costs? So, how do you see that?

THOMAS: I mean, listen, it's important that they're financially contributing. I don't want to suggest that it's not. But the idea that they're not going to basically make their money back, either in the short or the long term, just strains credulity here. I mean, does -- what are we talking about? They're selling a million-and-a-half-dollar sponsorship packages, which serve as a de facto ticket. Look at all the advertising, which obviously has become controversial in its own right.

And even Mark Shapiro, who is one of the chief executives over at TKO, has said this is an unprecedented opportunity to get earned media. They -- they -- they wouldn't be able to generate this kind of a thing on their own. We would not be talking but for that fact. And so, the idea, the notion that there's no way to monetize this, either to break even or long term to get all of this back by generating attention you couldn't ordinarily generate, that seems like a dubious claim to me.

KEILAR: Yes, it's been days and days of seeing the octagon go up and eclipsing the White House. And it's a big deal and it's a lot of press that they're getting. What do you see this doing for the sport? And how do you think history is going to look back on this?

THOMAS: I do not know the answer to that. I get asked that all the time. What's this going to mean? I would say in terms of the Democrats and the left more generally, this event is hardening impressions about them in a way that they didn't have before. Apparently, a lot of people missed that the UFC and Trump were having this kind of relationship. And they're now seeing it for the first time. And they're like, wait a second, what's happening here? So, that does carry a risk.

I also think if there's a transfer of power in '26 or '28, the kind of target that might be on TKO's back for some kind of regulatory effort to break them up potentially is also there. But there's a bet -- there's a bet that TKO is -- is making, I think. One, they might say this just juices the product and makes it bigger. But even if it doesn't, the people who will remain will stay with them on identarian grounds. This is my tribe. These are my people. Yes, it's my sport. But we have symmetry between our ideological worldview. This is a value system that I understand. And that's going to make the fandom that they have much more durable. I wonder if that's the calculation that they're making.

KEILAR: Luke Thomas, fascinating to speak with you. Thank you so much.

THOMAS: Thank you.

KEILAR: Really appreciate it.

And ahead, a federal judge says she doesn't believe that President Trump's anti-weaponization fund is truly dead. So, she's issuing an order indefinitely blocking the proposal. We have details next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:27:51]

KEILAR: New developments on President Trump's plan for a 1.8-billion- dollar anti-weaponization fund. A federal judge today issuing a order indefinitely blocking the President's payout proposal and the judge saying that she does not believe it's been permanently sidelined despite acting attorney general Todd Blanche saying the effort is not moving forward.

SANCHEZ: Yes, plus CNN has new reporting on how the administration might be looking to support the president's efforts to compensate people he claims were victims of weaponization. CNN's Katelyn Polantz and Evan Perez are here with both angles.

First, Katelyn, you were in court today for the hearing. What are the details?

KATELYN POLANTZ, CNN CRIME AND JUSTICE REPORTER: Well, what came across loud and clear in this court hearing today is that Judge Leonie Brinkema, she just doesn't trust the Justice Department. They say that this anti-weaponization fund, $1.8 billion of taxpayer money, the Justice Department, the Acting Attorney General, he had told Congress it's dead. And that's what the lawyer standing before her in court and also in an earlier court hearing on Wednesday, that's what he was saying. It's over.

But she pointed out that -- that at Blanche, he never said anything under oath and also that there has never been anything in writing undoing this legal contract, this so-called settlement in Florida.

EVAN PEREZ, CNN SENIOR JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Right.

POLANTZ: And so, she said, I'm putting a block on this because even Donald Trump is out there saying he still wants to reimburse people, including January 6th rioters. And Judge Brinkema noting, if the President of the United States he's -- says he wants something to happen, that's a pretty good indicator there will be an incentive and motive within the government to make it happen.

So, the courts are stepping in here. They're not believing what the Justice Department is trying to sell, that this fund is dead. And now there's a court order in place where Judge Brinkema says pretty clearly nothing will proceed in any manner under any name that looks anything like the anti-weaponization fund.

KEILAR: And it's so interesting, Evan, because you actually have some brand-new reporting on a possible workaround that could get the President the anti-weaponization fund, essentially, that he wants. What have you learned? PEREZ: Right. By -- in another way, right? And that -- that's one of

the issues that the judge is calling out.

[15:30:00]

There's been this investigation that's been ongoing by the U.S. Attorney here in -- in Washington, D.C., Jeanine Pirro. They've subpoenaed banks.