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Iran Denies U.S. Allegations; Australians Fed Up with their Prime Minister; Thousands of Animals Died in the Bushfires. Aired 3- 3:30a ET

Aired January 10, 2020 - 03:00   ET

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

[03:00:00]

NATALIE ALLEN, CNN ANCHOR: Coming up here on CNN Newsroom, new plane crash evidence. Why some intelligence agencies are saying Iran shot down that Ukrainian plane as it took from Tehran.

GEORGE HOWELL, CNN ANCHOR: New claim by the U.S. president saying the Iranian general was plotting to attack embassies. That's what he says with no evidence to back that up.

ALLEN: Plus, protest in Australia after months of bush fires. Why some people are angry with the country's prime minister.

HOWELL: In studio seven, and live from CNN world headquarters in Atlanta, welcome to viewers all over the world. I'm George Howell.

ALLEN: And I'm Natalie Allen.

CNN Newsroom starts right now.

HOWELL: It's our pleasure to be with you this day.

U.S. officials say there is growing evidence to suggest Iran shot down a Ukrainian airliner by mistake this week. Iran, though, calling the allegations, quote, "a big lie."

ALLEN: According to state media, they are urging the U.S. to wait for the results of an investigation into that deadly crash. Authorities in Iran are holding a news conference on the crashed Ukrainian jet right now, so we'll listen in.

ALI ABEDZADEH, IRANIAN CIVIAL AVIATION AUTHORITY (through translator): We put our latest information in our web sites so the world can see.

So, if they can dare and if they have the courage, if they have findings with scientific support and they should show this to the world and this must be reflected to this International Civil Aviation Organization. This is a very important matter.

But with respect to the fact that the information in the black box and the information related to flight parameters and the conversation -- cockpits conversations that these are of great significance for the Civil Aviation Organization. They are of vital importance. The black box has been designed in order to just record the flight data that can be analyze including the pilot's voice.

So, any comments about what has happened before listening to and analyzing the black box data, if the reports are prior to the analysis of the black box data they would not be valid. But what I can tell you is that the plane has not been hit by a missile.

So, there has been more than one and a half minutes of fire on the plane and the plane was flying. The locations show that the pilot had decided to return. The reason why the pilot did not contact, there are many reasons for that because first, the pilot had to save the plane.

And after takeoff, and after few minutes, the pilot contacted the tower and had ask permission for 25,000 feet. So, this all happened within two minutes. So, most of the time there was fire on the plane.

And it's not right to make any comments. You know, the words first data of the black box must be analyzed before giving any comments.

We are able to study the data related to the black box in normal situations. All -- we can exploit the data, extract the data from the black box in order to analyze the performance of the aircraft and the pilot, but since the plane had been damaged it's very difficult to extract the data directly from the black box. There is a need for a special hardware and software.

We do have the hardware and software in the country. The black box, so if we are not able to extract the data, we will get help from other countries. This is a normal procedure that takes place -- takes place anywhere in the world.

(OFF-MIC)

ABEDZADEH: It seems that the meeting with the Ukrainian's delegation has ended. I will ask Mr. (Inaudible) to comment on that.

[03:05:01]

ALLEN: All right. You heard the statement there from the Iranian Civil Aviation Authority. This airplane, they say was not hit by a missile. Others would beg to differ on that. He said the pilot contacted the tower to turn around.

Let us go to our senior international correspondent Matthew Chance who is live this hour in Moscow. You have listening to this, Matthew, and you've been following along with what others are saying about a missile hitting this plane. What do you make of Iran staunchly saying that's not what happened?

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Well, that's the -- that's the line that they have been pushing since the outset of this investigation indeed. Since the hours after the crash.

Originally, the Iranian authorities were saying that they believed that this was an engine failure. A technical failure that led to this catastrophe. And that seems to be the story that they are sticking to.

But of course, as you mentioned that's in contradiction to the statements being made by several western leaders. This will be the Canadian leader who said that he's got intelligence, United States as well and Britain that this was an Iranian missile strike, perhaps unintentional but nevertheless taken down by an Iranian anti-aircraft missile system, which was undoubtedly on high alert in the hours after Iran carried those missile strikes against U.S. bases in Iraq.

There has been a statement over the course of the past few minutes released by the Ukrainian president, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Saying that he notes that the missile version as he calls it in terms of the possible causes, has not been ruled out but it's not been confirmed either.

And he has called on the United States on Canada and on the United Kingdom who have said that they got this intelligence, that it was an Iranian missile strike to come forward with the data presented to the investigation so that that can conclusion, or so that evidence can be considered.

As far as the Ukrainians are concerned, they've got a team on the ground of course, specialists. They are leading in some ways this investigation. And you know, they are not ruling out a missile strike but they are also looking at a number of other possibilities including an object like a drone striking the flight in midair.

They are not ruling out a terrorism attack, or of course, technical malfunction engine failures. They are looking at all four of those possibilities. And of course, I think we have to remember that this investigation is still very much in its early stages. Natalie.

ALLEN: Right. And one thing is for sure the families need to know the truth. Matthew Chance in Moscow for us. Thank you, Matthew.

HOWELL: Let's bring in CNN's Richard Quest, our business editor at large who covers aviation. It's good to have you with us, Richard.

RICHARD QUEST, CNN BUSINESS EDITOR AT LARGE: George, it's good to be with you.

HOWELL: Talk to us, Richard, if you would about the situation with those black boxes. Critical to this investigation.

QUEST: They are to a point. The black box will tell you what's happening in the aircraft at the time of the incident. Now in this case it would appear that many of the parameters simply stopped because the explosion if that's that it was, was close to the aircraft and immediately disabled.

But the black boxes will tell you what the crew were saying to each other at that particular point. You'll see if there was any indication of fire, you'll hear the noises of the alarms going off. You will see the parameters of the engine and the various hydraulics.

Thousands of parameters will be seen. But, George, it won't tell you what caused it. If this was an explosion by a missile, a proximity missile, outside the aircraft you'll merely hear the noise and you'll see the result.

For the actual evidence of the explosion, you really are going to have to get your hands on the wreckage because there you will find the explosive residue and sad to say, and it's not pleasant to say you'll probably also find that on the victims, the passengers who were on board.

HOWELL: And, Richard. that is the second question. The next question, rather, that I want to ask you, simply about those families, the families who want an absolutely should have answers to this. Do you see this as something that will take a long time for them to get that closure?

QUEST: It really depends, George, it really depends on whether or not the Iranians decide to come clean about this. If Iran says, yes, we did this by accident, this was the circumstances, we can now move forward. We will obviously be repatriating bodies, compensation, all the things to it.

[03:09:55]

But if this is like, remember, when the United States shot down an Iran air 8300 many years ago, it was months if not years. There was a missile from the USS Vincennes that brought down the plane. It was years before the Americans fully admitted their complicity in the act and agreed to pay compensation.

That's why this case is so different to all others. That's why it's so similar in many ways and so a roar. Because Iran fought for years to get the U.S. to admit what they had done. And it would be a very cruel irony if now the U.S. found itself in exactly the opposite direction.

HOWELL: And, Richard, last question to you here. Does this situation, does it create a new danger, a new threat, for commercial aviation in that part of the world?

QUEST: It's not a new threat, it's a renewed threat that it creates. The airlines have been avoiding Iran and Iraq. So, one confidential document from a European carrier, which discuss how they were going to go around those two countries and what they were going to do. Whether they were going to have to position staff.

Because westbound flights will take longer because they are against the wind. If you can no longer take the shortest route, if you have to go around those countries there are implications. But there are safety implications and most airlines, well, all airlines seem willing to.

I think the question for Ukraine is why do they run that flight. This is not -- this is not an MH-17 situation where on eastern Ukraine there were quite a lot of airlines who were still flying over that part of Ukraine.

This is a case where there was military activity that very day. And it begs the question, this safety department Ukraine international -- every airline has one. the safety department why they didn't cancel that flight.

HOWELL: Richard Quest with analysis. We appreciate your time. Thank you.

QUEST: Thank you, George.

HOWELL: And in the meantime, Iran has a new warning for the United States. Iranian military leaders say they are looking for revenge. Why this week's missile strikes maybe just the beginning.

ALLEN: Also, ahead here, fed up with their government's response. Thousands of activists are calling on the Australian prime minister to do more to tackle the country's devastating bushfires.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ALLEN: Welcome back to CNN Newsroom.

The U.S. Congress is looking to regain some control over military actions from President Trump. The Democratic controlled House of Representatives voted Thursday to limit the president's war powers.

The resolution would require Mr. Trump to get congressional approval before using military forces against Iran.

[03:15:01]

But there are questions about whether this measure is legally binding.

Donald Trump now says Iranian General Qasem Soleimani was plotting to blow up a U.S. embassy. Despite many U.S. lawmakers who appeared to be increasingly angry over a lack of evidence indicating an imminent threat.

Here is what the U.S. president told supporters at a campaign rally Thursday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Soleimani was actively planning new attacks and he was looking very seriously at our embassies and not just the embassy in Baghdad. But we stopped him, and we stopped him quickly and we stopped him cold.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ALLEN: Iranian military leaders are warning of harsher revenge for Soleimani's death. The commander of Iran's aerospace says its missile strikes in Iraq were not meant to kill U.S. troops but rather to hit America's military machine.

HOWELL: New warnings seems to point to more possible attacks on U.S. interests.

CNN international diplomatic editor Nic Robertson is in Riyadh. And, Nic, the thing here it seems this crisis maybe far from over. NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: This is the

impression the Iranians are creating. However, I think it needs to be taken in the context that they have an international message, which was one that was sent in those missiles and sent by the foreign minister that this was a proportional response.

And these other things that we are hearing coming from military commanders is yes, they are being sent to international journalists that in this strike the Iranians didn't want to kill American troops but they killed some anyway, which we know is not true.

And they're also saying if they wanted to, they could have killed many more, which is probably correct that they could actually have gone out of the way and targeted more U.S. troops.

But to say that they -- that this isn't over really is perhaps more for domestic consumption than international consumption but it has to be taken seriously by the international community and certainly it is a concern here in the region.

Has Iran accepted that its tactics of responding to maximum pressure so far, which have been to try to break out attacking oil tankers, attacking Saudi oil facilities, attacking U.S. bases in Iraq before their response to the killing of Qasem Soleimani?

It has been an escalation of violence and the killing of Qasem Soleimani was meant to send a very clear message that that response is no longer acceptable. So, what the Iranian commander here is saying is raising again that question is, has Iran accepted that the rules of the game have changed.

Here in Saudi Arabia the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Adel al-Jubeir, has said that Saudi Arabia continues to watch the situation, it's monitoring carefully the situation in Iraq. It says that the downfall and the fighting and war essentially must end.

This is what it's watching. That its people live in development and prosperity and security they deserve.

And I think this is interesting, the line he adds at the end of this tweet which is the kingdom will stand beside Iraq to overcome all that threatens its safety and security and -- this is the important line, Arab nationality.

So, you know, Saudi Arabia's response, if you will, to the situation is to watch from a position of concern, is to wish for the situation to be de-escalated. But to really say very clearly that they are willing and are engaging with Iraqis and they share a huge border with Iraq so they have strategic national interest in what happens in Iraq.

So, this is of a big concern for them and they are engaged in the situation and this speaks to potential further developments.

HOWELL: Nic Robertson, we appreciate the reporting. Thank you so much. Voters in Taiwan head to the polls on Saturday to decide the next

president. And just across the street of Taiwan, China's communist rulers there will be watching the self-governing island which they considered to be a renegade province.

During her campaign for a second term as president, Tsai Ing-wen has warned of China's attempt to influence the vote. She is considered to have a progressive set of values and is well respected by western countries.

But her main opponent, Han Kuo-yu of the Kuomintang Party says that if elected he would want to reset ties with Beijing and to boost Taiwan's economy.

We'll be right back after this.

[03:20:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOWELL: Welcome back to CNN Newsroom.

The bush fires in Australia have been devastating for wildlife. Millions of animals there have been killed and those who have managed to escape are in dire need of medical help.

ALLEN: The numbers are mind-boggling.

HOWELL: Yes.

ALLEN: Millions, that's leaving vets with a grand choice of which animals to save.

CNN's Anna Coren has our story from Victoria.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANNA COREN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A mob of eastern gray kangaroos on the gulf coast in Mallacoota, Victoria has always been part of the scenery. But these animals aren't just here for a peek. Their habitat was completely obliterated during the bush fires and the fairways provide the only grass remaining.

A young joey moves slowly. It caught the attention of vets Chris Barton and Elaine Ong. This husband and wife team have flown from Melbourne to this coastal town surrounded by national park that remains cut off by the fires. As volunteers that brought desperately needed medical supplies and bags of pellets.

CHRIS BARTON, VETERINARIAN, VETS FOR COMPASSION: This little one is not walking well or hopping well. And we are going to dart him and assess what he is going to be like.

COREN: They fire a tranquilizer dart and within minutes it takes effect. Inspecting her pause and hind feet, their worst fears are realized. BARTON: See this.

ELAINE ONG, VETERINARIAN, VETS FOR COMPASSION: His back feet are terribly burned. This is a third-degree burn.

BARTON: And this is all cooked up in heat.

(CROSSTALK)

ONG: And this is cooked meat.

COREN: The decision has been made to euthanize. There is no other alternative. She is among hundreds of kangaroos in more than a dozen koalas that had to be put out of their misery.

BARTON: I've been a vet for over 40 years and I still don't get used to it. It is wholesale slaughters. It is awful. It still brings tears to my eyes.

COREN: As you can see, so much pristine bushland here in Mallacoota has been wiped out by the bush fires. And the concern is for the wildlife that has survived and injured the loss of habitat could mean starvation in the coming weeks.

ONG: In a way maybe the ones that died quickly were lucky, the survivors may not be so lucky.

COREN: Due to the overwhelming number of injured animals that have found and brought to the makeshift clinic in town, some have been transferred to Melbourne for treatment while others are recovering in local shelters.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We have to change this every two days. But she is one of the lucky ones.

COREN: As is Wilbur, the koala.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The hillside sanctuary said he is good to go. This happy little fellow too, so.

COREN: He was rescued during the fires but now it was time to send him back to the bush.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: H, mate, it's time to go home. He has been in the cage for I think five days now so we are letting him have a little bit of a walk and find his legs before we send him up a tree.

COREN: Nearby, a healthy mother and baby is spotted in a stringing bark gum tree.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And the baby.

COREN: A hopeful sign that some of Mallacoota's fauna were spared and can help rebuild this natural and incredibly fragile ecosystem.

Anna Coren, CNN, Mallacoota, Victoria, Australia. (END VIDEO CLIP)

ALLEN: Millions of animals have been lost. Lives have been lost. People have lost their homes and people in Australia are angry. Authorities are telling 220,000 people in the state of Victoria to get to a safe location as more hot and dry winds are feeding the fires that have claimed 27 lives.

[03:24:59]

HOWELL: Now thousands of people are rallying across the country. Let's bring in our own Will Ripley. Will is live from a rally in Sydney. And, Will, first of all, so many people have come together angry at the prime minister. Tell us about what you are seeing.

WILL RIPLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the protesters now move towards from the location we check in with you from earlier town hall. They are now walking through the streets of Sydney. So many people at one point there was a log jam, the streets were completely jacked up.

So, while we don't have official numbers here, I would say visually, it's easily in about as possibly tens of thousands.

And when you factor in the nine Australians cities that are holding similar large scale protests including Melbourne and Canberra, even the mining town of (Inaudible) people are out protesting right now saying that Australia should be at the forefront of change, that Australia should, you know, release itself on what they call an addiction to fossil fuels with coal being vital to this country's economy.

Protesters out here saying that there will no economy with the dead planet. And when you have a nation with, you know, literally hundreds of fires that has been burning, an unprecedented bush fires in Eden, you have also an unprecedented drought, you have millions and millions of animals who have died which Anna Coren just spoke about on her report.

It's really coming to ahead here in terms of the public anger and the demand of their government to change and try to make changes before the climate crisis becomes even worse than it already is here.

ALLEN: Is it a thought, Will, that the prime minister will listen and do anything?

RIPLEY: Well, that's the big question. You know, Scott Morrison has been trying to, you know, basically repair the damage obviously from his batch response that he fires. Remember he was on vacation in Hawaii when all of this really intensified and got a lot of scrutiny for that.

He has been heckled when he has been out on the ground. People of (Inaudible) they refused to shake his hand. They say he is not giving enough resources to the firefighters and the first responders who were out there trying to, you know, trying to put these fires out and save people who have lost their homes. You know, more than two dozen people have been killed and the danger

is not over. The bush fires are expected to continue burning and perhaps even intensify in the coming days.

HOWELL: Seeing their people earlier angry at Sco Mo, the prime minister there. Will Ripley reporting on the protest there.

ALLEN: And for more on how you can help the victims of Australia's bushfire, as you can visit CNN.com/impact.

Thank you for watching CNN Newsroom. I'm Natalie Allen.

HOWELL: And I'm George Howell. The news continues after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[03:30:00]

HOWELL: This is CNN news now. I'm George Howell.

New video appears to show a missile striking a Ukrainian airliner near Tehran.

END