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Trump Signals He Will Escalate War In Iran; Interview With Representative Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY); Tehran Hit With Fresh Strikes; Dignified Transfer For Six U.S. Soldiers Killed In Kuwait; Honoring Six U.S. Service Members Killed In Iran Conflict. Aired 4-5p ET

Aired March 07, 2026 - 16:00   ET

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

[16:01:03]

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN Breaking News.

JESSICA DEAN, CNN ANCHOR: And you're in the CNN NEWSROOM. Hi, everyone. I'm Jessica Dean here in New York.

We begin with the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran now, of course, in its second week. In just a short time ago, President Trump attending the dignified transfer honoring six U.S. soldiers killed in an Iranian strike in Kuwait. That has now finished and we will be bringing it to you shortly.

Those service members are Major Jeffrey O'Brien, Captain Cody Khork, Chief Warrant Officer III Robert Marzan, Sergeant 1st Class Nicole Amor, Sergeant 1st Class Noah Tietjens and Sergeant Declan Coady.

Earlier today, President Trump warning Iran will soon be hit, in his words, very hard, suggesting that the strikes could expand, targeting new areas and groups of people. For its part, Iran today saying Tehran will never surrender, but for Gulf countries, there's a different message. President Masoud Pezeshkian apologizing and saying that they would stop unless their territory was used to attack Iran.

However, just hours after that message was posted, fresh blasts could be heard in Bahrain, Qatar and the UAE. And just a short time ago, CNN's team in Tehran reported hearing new bomb blasts as Israel announced a fresh wave of strikes.

Let's bring in CNN chief national security correspondent Nick Paton Walsh, who is live there in Tel Aviv.

Nick, you've been on the ground there now for several days. What is the latest you're hearing now, 11:02 there in Tel Aviv?

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Yes, interesting to note that we have just heard from a key security official in the Iranian government, Ali Larijani, who has given an extensive speech on television after, I think, a couple of days where his whereabouts weren't entirely clear. A key figure on the international stage for Iran. And he has come forward with some quite strident statements, the most notable of which essentially saying that Iran will retaliate in kind for the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, essentially suggesting they might pose a threat to the life of President Trump.

Now, clearly within this speech, there are some quite hard line things that he has indeed been saying, and I should point out, you know, death to America forms part often of the fabric of what we hear in some of the pro-regime speeches in the Iran. But still, the fact that this particular individual taken to the television to sort of project a voice of unity to all Iranians, calling them to bind together, I think is potentially key, coming as it does at a time when we are still unclear who the next supreme leader will be.

Ali Larijani not an obvious candidate for that, not much of a clerical past, but still trying, I think, to put himself into a bit more of a leadership position there, potentially. At the same time, some senior clerics have been suggesting we might see some indication of who is in charge in Iran at the highest level in the next day or so. And as you pointed out, significant strikes now hitting Tehran in the last hour.

That coincided with an announcement here from the Israeli military of another wave that they were sending into Iran. But those strikes, increasingly persistent, desalination plants hit. One of the civilian airports that's said to have military use in Tehran hit as well overnight. Since I think perhaps that the target list is perhaps growing now away from the military high end value stuff that perhaps the U.S. and Israel are going for at the beginning.

But today just as we were hearing Iran's president, who was not Ali Larijani, Masoud Pezeshkian, giving a message of essentially apologizing to their Gulf neighbors for the attacks, we heard more blasts in Dubai, a key hotel, residential commercial area there, seemed to hit by debris from a drone.

And so a sense I think that either what Mr. Pezeshkian was saying on television, the Iranian president, was simply false, that they don't intend to continue attacks and they don't apologize for that, or that we are dealing with two separate hands of the Iranian government, not necessarily knowing what the other is doing.

[16:05:08]

But still that key question, who is in charge in Iran, growing louder by the day.

DEAN: Certainly. And you make important note of those two separate hands. Who is in charge? That key question.

Nick Paton Walsh there in Tel Aviv. Thank you so much for that reporting.

And we're joined now by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

Leader Jeffries, thank you so much for being here with us today. I really appreciate it. We just got the latest reporting there out of Israel from our colleague Nick Paton Walsh. I know you have taken issue with the process by which the Trump administration is going about this war. But the administration, the president, their allies continue to say that this war will make America stronger and its allies safer and stronger in the long run.

Do you think they're wrong about that?

REP. HAKEEM JEFFRIES (D-NY): I think they're definitely wrong. But at minimum, they have not made the case to the American people. So it's less about process and more about substance in terms of what is the justification for this, what is the strategy to be successful, and what is the end game in an environment where everyday Americans right now are struggling to live paycheck to paycheck, millions of people can't thrive and can barely survive given the high cost of living that exists in this country.

Donald Trump promised to lower costs on day one. He hasn't done that. In fact, costs have gone up, and our view is that taxpayer dollars, at this moment in time, should be used to make life more affordable for the American people, to lower grocery prices and housing costs and health care costs. Instead, Donald Trump is spending billions of dollars to drop bombs in another war in the Middle East with no evidence that at the end of the day it's actually going to make the American people safer.

DEAN: You know, he campaigned on America first. And some Republicans like Marjorie Taylor Greene have said this is America last. Do you think this is America last?

JEFFRIES: I think that Donald Trump has consistently not put the interests of the American people first, as he promised. In fact, candidate Trump said that he was not going to involve America in another endless war in the Middle East. President Trump has done the exact opposite. Candidate Trump, of course, talked about lowering costs on day one. President Trump enacted tariffs that have increased costs on everyday Americans by thousands of dollars per year.

Candidate Trump said that his immigration enforcement policy would focus on the worst of the worst, go after violent criminals who are here illegally. Instead, what we know is that he's unleashed ICE engaging in brutality against everyday Americans and American citizens and in some cases like the situation with Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti killing them. And so this is part of a pattern of candidate Trump promising one thing and then President Trump doing the exact opposite in ways that aren't designed to actually benefit the American people, and in many cases are hurting everyday Americans.

DEAN: I want to ask you about the fact that it's been a week and we still don't have a clear explanation of that strike on a girls school in Iran that killed at least 168 children. That's according to Iranian state media. I want to play you what Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has said about this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PETE HEGSETH, DEFENSE SECRETARY: All I can say is that we're investigating that. We, of course, never target civilian targets. But we're taking a look and investigating that. Red tie in front.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Just on the basis that with the information you would have, your reconnaissance abilities, ability to gather information, I mean, it's several days on now so, is there any clarity on whose munition this was?

HEGSETH: We're investigating it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DEAN: Leader Jeffries, is that an acceptable explanation at this point to the American people, to the world?

JEFFRIES: Certainly not an acceptable explanation. I'm horrified, saddened, deeply disturbed by both the tragic death of six American patriots, heroes, our men and women in uniform serving the country who have died as a result of Donald Trump's war of choice, and deeply saddened and disturbed by the death of more than 100 school children who appeared to have been struck by the United States military.

And I think the American people are owed an explanation. The civilians, Iranian civilians are owed an explanation. The world is owed an explanation. And this is part of why, you know, these decisions of war and peace should actually be taken seriously and Donald Trump should have made his case to the American people and to Congress on behalf of the folks that we represent, as to why this has been done, why this war has been launched?

[16:10:02]

Why billions of dollars are being spent overseas in the Middle East, as opposed to make life better for the American people? And the administration has completely and totally failed to meet its responsibilities to the public and certainly under the United States Constitution.

DEAN: We're also getting information and reporting that Russia is now aiding Iran with intelligence about locations, movements of U.S. troops. I want to play what the White House press secretary said about this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KAROLINE LEAVITT, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: We don't comment on intelligence reports that are leaked to the press. Whether or not this happened frankly it does not really matter.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DEAN: So she said it does not really matter. She then had a clarification. This was the clarification.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KRISTEN HOLMES, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: You just said on FOX that it doesn't really matter if Russia is giving Iran information about military assets. Why doesn't it matter if U.S. military is being put in danger by Russia? And is that what the president believes as well? LEAVITT: What I meant, Kristen, and thank you for giving me a chance

to make it very clear is that it clearly is not making a difference with respect to the military operations in Iran because we are completely decimating them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DEAN: So if Russia is giving intelligence to Iran to strike U.S. military, our men and women, our bases, et cetera, doesn't matter, in her words, and the president really dismissed this as well, do you do you agree with that? What action should the U.S. be taking now knowing this?

JEFFRIES: Well, it's very callous in terms of her observations, and we've seen that even the notion that we shouldn't be concerned about the deaths of those service members and that these things are to be expected in theaters of war, which some members of the administration have seemed to suggest, it's all highly problematic in terms of just the brazenness of this Trump administration in both getting us into this war after promising not to entangle the country in endless conflict in the Middle East, and then failing to really articulate any perspective strategy about how we are actually successful what that should look like in terms of how the American people can see a favorable resolution of this conflict, and then how does it all end?

And this is just, you know, part of both the arrogance and the incompetence. That's a dangerous combination. But this is an arrogant administration and it's an incompetent one at the same period of time. And this is just the latest example of it.

DEAN: All right. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, we really appreciate your time this afternoon. Thank you very much.

JEFFRIES: Thank you.

DEAN: And stay with us. The six U.S. soldiers killed in Kuwait honored today in a dignified transfer. And we're going to bring that to you as soon as that video comes in.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:17:46]

DEAN: Iran fired back at Israel drones and missiles following a new round of Israeli strikes earlier today. And now strikes are continuing to hit Tehran.

CNN is the first U.S. network allowed into Iran since the start of the war. Senior international correspondent Fred Pleitgen and his team are there in Tehran. And we should note CNN can only operate in Iran with government approval.

Here's Fred's report from Tehran.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: There have been some massive airstrikes here on Tehran tonight. We know that in the south of the city apparently one of the main refineries was hit. But here, from our vantage point, we can also see, I would say that that is in the western part of the city there's also a massive fire burning there with a huge gray plume of smoke and also still fire that is illuminating the night sky. So there was clearly a major hit over there.

I have to say, from our position here, a couple of minutes ago, we did hear some massive thuds. What seemed to be a wave of airstrikes in that location, but in some other locations in Tehran as well. So what we're seeing here tonight seems to be one of those sustained air waves of planes flying overhead. We heard some jets as well, and then some massive attacks happening in various parts of the cities. And you can see one of the results right over there with that massive plume of smoke here in the night sky.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

DEAN: All right, Fred Pleitgen in Iran for us. Thank you for that reporting.

Former senior U.S. intelligence official Norman Roule is joining us now. He served for 34 years in the CIA managing numerous programs related to the Middle East. He also served as intelligence adviser on the JCPOA, the previous Iran nuclear deal.

Norman, thank you so much for being here with us. I really appreciate it. Iran's president has said the country will never surrender. Obviously President Trump has said the U.S. is not going to negotiate without what he called unconditional surrender. We're one week in now. Where do you see this going?

NORMAN ROULE, FORMER SENIOR U.S. INTELLIGENCE OFFICIAL: Good afternoon. Well, for Iran, their primary goals will be achieving internal consolidation under IRGC control. Certainly not reform. Their primary goal is maintaining the state's survival under a constant U.S. attack. The state's survival has got to take place, while they also demonstrate a capacity to demonstrate an ability to put down any sort of unrest and also demonstrate to the world that they are in charge and that they are defiant, and they're capable of striking back against the United States and Israel.

[16:20:13]

Now, for the United States, the primary goals remain seeking missile launchers, drone launchers, as the beginning of a campaign to stabilize the Gulf, and open up the Strait of Hormuz, while at the same time, in parallel, the United States and Israel are clearly expanding the strike package to include the elements of oppression within Iran, the state system of control. So there will be elements of state power.

This may include some economic targets but it's mainly going to be Revolutionary Guard law enforcement facilities. Those structures of organs of state security. So we're likely to see a significant series of attacks on these in coming days.

DEAN: Today also the Iranian president apologized to the Arab Gulf nations about the attacks on those various nations. Yet those have continued. And there is this question about who is really in control right now in Iran, how much power does the Iranian president have over the Revolutionary Guard, and what are those dynamics like right now?

ROULE: Well, it's possible to interpret that as a who is in charge discussion, but it's more likely that this was meant to be a warning statement. The president is able to state, we're not looking for action, but the nonetheless, they're going to continue to fire periodic drones at the Gulf. They're not lightning up on the Strait of Hormuz. The Persian Gulf is at its entirety, and these aren't just preplanned attacks any longer. They're continuing to take place against economic targets in the area.

This allows Iran also to focus its remaining military capacity on Israel, on U.S. targets where it perceives them in the Gulf. But it allows at the same time to message Gulf partners if they think the Gulf partners are moving to support the United States by sending a periodic drone flights into powerful or rather significant economic targets such as refineries or tourist areas.

DEAN: All right. And Norman, we're going to have to leave it there. But thank you very much for your time. We really appreciate it.

ROULE: Thank you.

DEAN: And we want to -- we want to go now to the dignified transfer of the six U.S. soldiers killed in Kuwait. Each soldier will be transferred to a separate vehicle, and I do want to give you a quick note, there's not expected to be any audio, but out of respect, I will not be talking during the service. While -- sorry, while the service members are being transferred. So let's watch now. Again you'll be watching this in full and you will not hear me out of respect for these service members.

[16:23:04]

(VIDEO OF DIGNIFIED TRANSFER FOR 6 U.S. SOLDIERS KILLED IN KUWAIT)

[16:47:49]

DEAN: And you have been watching the dignified transfer there of six U.S. Army Reserve soldiers who were killed in Kuwait on March 1st. You see President Trump there, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance there, his wife Usha Vance as well, Susie Wiles, the chief of staff, Steve Witkoff, the Attorney General Pam Bondi among others.

They are there for this transfer of these six soldiers whom their deputy commanding general called people who represent the best of what our country stands for. They are Major Jeffrey O'Brien. He was a husband and father of three. And we're told he was not only a role model for his kids, but also a goofy, silly dad and was always looking for a way to make his kids laugh. His family, as you see there, describing him as a true hero in every sense of the word. Also, Captain Cody Khork, who's described as the life of the party.

His friends and family say he had an infectious spirit, a generous heart, a deep care for those who served alongside him. That's from his parents and stepmother. He had been in the Army Reserve since 2014.

Chief Warrant Officer Robert Marzan, his friends said he's a -- he was a guy who would do anything for you. That family and friends meant the absolute world to him. His sister saying that he lived by example, a strong leader who lived by example.

Sergeant First Class Nicole Amor, she was just days away from returning home. She had been in the National Guard -- she enlisted in the National Guard back in 2005. She leaves behind two children, a high school senior and a fourth grader. And again, was just days away from coming home.

Sergeant First Class Noah Tietjens. He would have turned 43 on Tuesday. He leaves behind a wife and a son. And he was described as a mentor to young soldiers that he was so easy to get along with. And again, you see it there, the kind of guy that was always around to help you.

[16:50:05]

And finally, Sergeant Declan Coady, just 20 years old. Coady was an Eagle Scout, described as a gym enthusiast. His sister said that he was a man of few words more often than not, but if you ever got the chance to talk to him about something he was passionate about, you were lucky. His father, as you see there, telling the AP, he was very, very good at what he did.

Those families certainly mourning incredible loss today. And we as a country mourn with them for these men and women who were serving us there in Kuwait who were killed by that Iranian drone strike on March 1st.

I want to bring in Colonel Cedric Leighton who is here with us. Colonel Leighton, that is a somber moment. It is a heavy moment especially, of course, not only for the family but for friends, for all Americans who are watching this and grieving with them for their sacrifice.

It is worth noting that that was televised. Back in 2009. DOD made a change that if the family approved, there could be media coverage. But as you saw there, we did not -- we do not take audio of that out of respect for those fallen service members. But help people understand the significance of this moment after something like this.

COL. CEDRIC LEIGHTON (RET), CNN MILITARY ANALYST: Yes, Jessica, this is certainly one of the most solemn ceremonies that anyone can experience in the military. And of course, the tragedies that create these situations are sometimes unspeakable. And in this particular moment, you know, we see all the citizen soldiers. These reservists are basically people from a cross-section of American life ranging in age as you mentioned from 20 to 54 and basically of all ranks, you know, from a sergeant all the way to a sergeant first class, to a chief warrant officer, to a captain to a major. These people really represent the best of American life.

And they are there serving in a capacity that really is something that if you haven't served, it might be hard to understand. But just think of that best neighbor, that best friend, those best people in your life, and these are the kinds of people that we're honoring today.

DEAN: Yes. and certainly you note the range in age, but many of these people have been serving our country for well over a decade, sometimes two decades. It's incredible the service they have given to this country.

LEIGHTON: Yes. And in many ways, Jessica, that service is really not talked about, you know, except unfortunately in situations like this. But what it does show is that these people from the, you know, middle part of America all the way, you know, to both coasts, from Florida to California, they are the ones that, you know, have really brought all this together. They, you know, come together as a unit. They forge those bonds while they're in the field.

And I get the feeling -- you know, I have not served specifically with these people, obviously, but I get the feeling that this was a very close-knit unit and that's really the essence of military life when you have leadership that allows you to, you know, better yourself but also to provide that service that is so necessary in order to achieve whatever mission is given them. And they were clearly working toward achieving the missions that were given them.

DEAN: Yes. And when the strike occurred, it was at this makeshift operations center in Kuwait -- and a source kind of described where they were is this triple wide trailer with an office inside. Help people understand what these types of areas are like at our bases kind of around that area.

LEIGHTON: Right. Yes, around that area and really around the world, but particularly in Southwest Asia, these triple wide trailers, sometimes double wide trailers are used as temporary shelters. And sometimes those temporary shelters become pretty permanent. We've -- I've had experiences where that temporary shelter was something that served that unit that was in there for many, many years.

And what they're designed to do is they're designed to provide a relatively secure working environment. They're designed to help provide communications links to higher headquarters to units in the field that are even further in the field than they were in Kuwait. And they're designed to serve as a -- as a functional area. They're more office space if anything else than -- you know, than any other aspect of, you know, of military life. But in many ways they're also serve -- they can serve as a center of the unit. And in some cases they also serve as barracks, a temporary living quarters for people.

So, in this case, this was their workspace where they were struck and it, you know, goes to show that these types of situations where the incoming missiles or drones can attack any of these structures. They are somewhat hardened, but they're not hardened enough to withstand some of these explosions. And unfortunately, people pay, you know, with their lives in some cases as a result. [16:55:23]

DEAN: The ultimate sacrifice for this country. And of course, this is just the first step in the remains getting back home. Obviously, this is treated with the utmost respect, the utmost care with the -- by the military. And back -- now that they're back here on U.S. soil. And again, we certainly grieve with their families and thank them. We'll be indebted to them for their service forever.

Colonel Cedric Leighton, thanks for being with us. I appreciate it.

LEIGHTON: You bet. You bet, Jessica.

DEAN: And we'll be right back.