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Iran State Media: 700 Israeli-Linked Mercenaries Arrested; Trump Judicial Nominee Emil Bove Denies Allegations In Whistleblower Report; Bezos Wedding Draws A-Listers And Anti-Capitalist Protests. Aired 5:30-6a ET
Aired June 26, 2025 - 05:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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[05:30:15]
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back to CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Becky Anderson. Let's check in on today's top stories for you.
Israel is offering a bleak new assessment of Iran's nuclear program. The country's military chief says it suffered systemic damage and has been set back years. Even a spokesperson for Iran's foreign ministry admits its nuclear installations were badly damaged by U.S. and Israeli strikes.
Well, President Trump says the U.S. will meet with Iran next week about a potential nuclear agreement but he doesn't believe a deal is necessary because he says the U.S. destroyed Iran's nuclear capabilities. Trump also says Iran needs profits from oil sales to put the country back into shape.
Well, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard is warning against any future attacks on Iran in an address Wednesday. Commander Mohammad Pakpour vowed a firm and powerful response if enemies, in his words, make a mistake in reference to Iran's repeated strikes on Israel during the conflict. He said Iran will not hesitate to defend itself.
And Iranian state media say authorities have arrested 700 people accused of acting as mercenaries for Israel. The report says they were identified based on public reports and intelligence operations. Iran has cracked down on others for sharing online articles in support of Israel claiming they are putting the "psychological security of society at risk." Some Iranian news outlets have reported alleged executions of people believed to be Israeli agents since the recent conflict began.
CNN has reached out to the Israeli government for reaction to these reports.
Well, Hussein Baoumi is the deputy regional director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International joining me now live from Brussels. And your organization -- thank you for joining me. Your organization quoted the Iranian Supreme Council of the nation as declaring actions "in favor of Israel would be met with a decisive response and the harshest punishment."
Just explain further what you are concerned about and why.
HUSSEIN BAOUMI, DEPUTY REGIONAL DIRECTOR, MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA, AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL: Good afternoon, and thanks for having me on the show.
So we are extremely concerned that Iranian authorities have been using the death penalty as well as mass arrests in order to instill fear and control the population. So, so far, we have seen reports of the arrest of hundreds of people over alleged accusations of espionage, of cooperation with Israel. We have also seen the execution of at least six men since the 16th of June on similar accusations.
To be absolutely clear, these are people that were -- had trials that would run into about 10 minutes in front of revolutionary courts that lack any resemblance of fair trails and where the use of forced confessions is quite worried.
At Amnesty International we oppose the use of this penalty in principle but also on under international law such executions are unlawful and arbitrary, as the death penalty must never be used for crimes like espionage or collaboration with an enemy state.
ANDERSON: So when we saw these images released, of course, by the IDF at the beginning of what Donald Trump is now declaring the 12-day war -- these images of agents operating inside Iran -- and we saw the preciseness of some of those strikes on individuals, for example, in the IRGC. I don't think anyone who has any experience of Iran or watching Iran was sadly surprised by these roundups of people perceived to be spies. This is typical of this regime. They have form, of course.
Amnesty calling for protection of those caught up in this. I just wonder who is that call aimed at?
BAOUMI: So you are absolutely right. I mean, what we are seeing really is a continuing of what the Iranian government and authorities have been doing for months, but also for decades and years. I mean, what we have been seeing is that this is a government that has been using arrests and executions to crack down on any sort of opposition. We have seen how the government have used arrests and executions against protesters in recent years.
So -- and -- but this needs to be put in its own context, right, which is that this is a government that has lived under massive impunity for decades. Iranian officials feel empowered to do so because they do not expect any sort of retribution or any sort of being held accountable for their crimes.
[05:35:07] So whom are our calls addressed to? They are addressed to two sets of, let's say groups.
The first is the Iranian authorities themselves. And of course -- but this is -- as a human rights organization we have to address our calls to the government which has responsibility. And so we are calling on the Iranian authorities to end the use of the death penalty to establish a moratorium -- that is, you do not execute people in the near future.
And also to ensure that anyone arrested is accorded a fair trial and that they are protected from torture and other ill treatment regardless of whether this person was arrested on the basis of actual intelligence or on the basis of -- or randomly or anything.
If they are arrested without any evidence, they must be immediately released. If they are arrested simply for posting a social media post in support of Israel or anti the regime, they must also be released. These are not crimes under international law.
Now, the second set of calls we have is to the international community, which is that there needs to be accountability. How can this be achieved? This can be achieved through courts, through opening the structural investigations against Iran officials or of this massive and mounting evidence against them. And these trials should conclude, including if it's not possible to arrest those individuals.
That would send a message to the Iranian authorities across all levels of the government and the IRGC that they would face accountability if not today, if not next year, then eventually they would face accountability.
ANDERSON: It's good to have you, Hussein. Thank you very much indeed. An important story.
BAOUMI: Of course. Thank you so much.
ANDERSON: Well, still to come one of Donald Trump's former personal attorneys who's in the hot seat on Capitol Hill. How he responded to allegations of corruption up next.
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[05:41:40]
ANDERSON: President Donald Trump's judicial nominee Emil Bove was pushed to deny accusations of corruption during his confirmation hearing on Wednesday before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
CNN's Paula Reid with the story for you.
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EMIL BOVE, FEDERAL APPEALS COURT JUDGE NOMINEE: I am not anybody's henchman. I'm not an enforcer. I'm a lawyer. PAULA REID, CNN CHIEF LEGAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT (voiceover): Emil Bove, President Trump's former personal attorney and current high- ranking Justice Department official, faced tough questions from lawmakers as they weighed whether to confirm him for a seat on the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.
SEN. ADAM SCHIFF (D-CA): Did you suggest telling the court (bleep) you in any manner?
BOVE: I don't recall.
SEN. HAKEEM JEFFRIES (D-NY): So what's your red line? What could the president ask you to do that you wouldn't do?
REID (voiceover): President Trump has appointed several personal attorneys to top legal positions in his administration, but this is the first time that he has tapped one of his lawyers to serve on the federal bench.
DONALD TRUMP, (R) PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: They fought, and they weren't afraid, and they were brilliant.
REID (voiceover): The hearing comes as Bove faces fresh allegations from a whistleblower that claims he suggested ignoring court orders on deportations, an allegation Bove denied.
BOVE: No. I have never advised a Department of Justice attorney to violate a court order.
REID (voiceover): For the past six months, Bove has served as a high- ranking official in the Justice Department where he has been involved in a series of controversies, including dropping federal charges against New York Mayor Eric Adams.
SEN. DICK DURBIN (D-IL): In order to get Mayor Adams to cooperate with President Trump's immigration policy, you were prepared to drop the charges against him?
BOVE: That's completely false.
REID (voiceover): Some federal prosecutors, including the interim U.S. attorney, quit in protest over the move.
SEN. RICHARD BLUMENTHAL (D-CT): I am absolutely flabbergasted that you would come before this committee and refuse to tell us basic facts about a case that is at the core of the challenges to the appearance of impropriety that should disqualify you.
REID (voiceover): The dismissal was ultimately approved by a judge in April.
Bove also drew controversy over moves seen as an attempt to politicize the department. He issued a memo threatening to prosecute state and local officials who resist the administration's federal immigration crackdown. He also ordered the firing of eight senior officials and sent a memo
demanding information about all current and former employees who had any involvement in the January 6 investigations.
BOVE: I did and continue to condemn unlawful behavior, particularly violence against law enforcement. At the same time I condemn heavy- handed and unnecessary tactics by prosecutors and agents.
REID (voiceover): The hearing was mostly focused on Bove's controversies, but he did get a few questions about how he would conduct himself as a judge.
BOVE: I think I would be tough but fair.
REID: If confirmed Bove would be one of roughly a dozen judges responsible for reviewing federal case appeals from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and the Virgin Islands.
For the past few days I've spoken with several of his current colleagues and I'm told that he is exactly who they would like to see on the federal bench because of his experience as a federal prosecutor, as someone who has defended against federal crimes, and then at the top of the Justice Department. And several sources tell me they believe that is what makes him perfect for this job. But now his future is in the hands of lawmakers.
[05:45:05]
Paula Reid, CNN, Washington.
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ANDERSON: Well, a grim anniversary in Kenya marked with more deadly violence I'm afraid. Kenyan police fired tear gas and water cannons at thousands of protesters marking a year since dozens were killed demonstrating against a controversial tax bill there.
Amnesty International says at least eight people were killed Wednesday. CNN cannot immediately verify the number of casualties but has asked the police service for comment.
My colleague Larry Madowo showed us the chaotic scenes on the streets of some parts of Nairobi.
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LARRY MADOWO, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: This is what happens when the police come. People scatter and disappear. There is tear gas all around us. Tear gas all around us. Fabs (PH), they're going to come that way. They're going to come that way.
MADOWO: (Speaking foreign language).
People are not seeing this in real time because the Kenyan government has banned local radio and TV stations from broadcasting this live, but it's a scene unlike any I've ever seen here. A year ago many protesters were killed here and many of them have come
back to honor their memories and to call out the government for not dealing with police brutality and also for not paying attention to their needs.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I am here today to remember my fellow comrades who lost their lives on these streets. But the police who killed the Gen Zs last year -- a day like today they haven't done anything about those police officers.
MADOWO: This is a major highway that's completely blocked out. There's stones everywhere.
This road is important for another reason. It leads directly to President William Ruto's house -- the State House. And some protesters had threatened to go there and to depose him -- to remove him from office. And the police are determined to make sure that does not happen.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We don't need Ruto as our president. Ruto is a corrupt leader and we don't need him in Kenya. Ruta must go.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ruto must go.
Police firing tear gas and cannons at protesters.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We all have only our phones. We are peaceful. Our hands our up. But we have been -- but we have been cornered and we are afraid for our life.
MADOWO: This should be a busy street in Nairobi. It's in the heart of the city. Instead, it looks like this. With those explosions, those bangs that have been ringing out for hours a year after the deadliest day of protests in Kenya, these people are back to say their demands have not changed and the government has not changed. The two sides not speaking to each other.
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ANDERSON: That's Larry Madowo reporting for you.
And we will be right back.
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[05:52:25]
ANDERSON: Well, North Korea showing a rarely seen face to the world with the opening of a massive beach resort. The Supreme Leader Kim Jong un inaugurating the newly-built tourist destination at Wonsan on the east coast, according to state media.
The hermit nation borrowing a few features of typical Western holiday spots, like waterparks and high-rise hotels. The state news agency says that resort with accommodation for 20,000, opens to vacationers next week. Well, billionaire Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his fiance, former reporter Lauren Sanchez, were seen leaving their luxury hotel in Venice yesterday days before their lavish multimillion-dollar wedding. They are expected to tie the knot in the next days despite protests in a city that some locals say is flooded with too many tourists.
Well, some of the Kardashian family and Oprah Winfrey among the latest members of the glitterati to arrive at the famous City of Canals for these nuptials.
CNN's Melissa Bell is there. She's been keeping track of the wedding plans, and she joins us now from Venice. So what do we know at this point?
MELISSA BELL, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That it is a sweltering day here in Venice, Becky -- 90 degrees. And that's what we expect over the next three days. And no one could have counted on that, fully expecting to melt --
ANDERSON: Wow.
BELL: -- over the next three days.
This is one of the venues. Of course, this is a wedding, you'll imagine, everything kept under tight wraps because of the protesters, because of the paparazzi. There are some 200-250 guests we understand. As you said, some of them have begun to arrive.
This is the only venue so far where we have only any certainty that something is going to happen and it's going to be there about 8:00 p.m. tonight we understand -- one of the main events. They're setting up for it even now.
But clearly, they have had to keep this secrecy around their events because of these protests they have seen. In fact, so much so Becky that the final events of Saturday had to be moved because protesters where threatening to actually jump into the canal to prevent guests from arriving at the original venue to the north of Venice. So it gives you an idea of their determination.
A vast collection of protesters. Those protesting his wealth. There are also those protesting the over-tourism of Venice. There are climate protesters as well. Still, what you hear from Venice officials is that there's also a lot of people very happy about the business that this is about to bring to this city.
So expect over the next few days a lot of very impressive pictures of very famous people arriving and being shuffled around Venice amid tight security, but also a great deal of heat, Becky.
ANDERSON: Oh, it's so good to have you there. Thank you very much indeed. Enjoy.
[05:55:00]
The New York Times, Melissa, has an interesting opinion piece titled "The Bezos-Sanchez Wedding and the Triumph of Tacky."
Author Amy Odell writes, "As much as those with more understated taste might turn up their noses at the crassness of the Bezos-Sanchez wedding's display, tacky is very clearly carrying the day. Maybe hating on tacky oligarchs is itself just elitist. It's doubtful anyone attending the wedding cares very much what those of us who weren't invited think, anyway."
Melissa, that sort of sounds about right, I guess. Thank you, in Venice.
And thank you folks for joining us. I'm Becky Anderson from our Middle East programming headquarters here in Abu Dhabi. "CNN THIS MORNING" is next.
