Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Three Dead After Suspected Hantavirus Outbreak On Cruise Ship; Kremlin Tighten Security Around Vladimir Putin; U.S. & Iran Trade Shots as Tensions Escalate in Hormuz; Oil Prices Rise, Stocks Fall Amid Fears of Hormuz Safety; Chinese State Media Says Fireworks Factory Blast Kills 26, Wounds 61; Deadly Car-Ramming Attack on Pedestrians in Germany; Small Plane Crashes Into Building in Southeastern Brazil; Met Gala Draws Record Donations Amid Bezos Controversy; Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni Settle Harassment Lawsuit. Aired 2-3a ET

Aired May 05, 2026 - 02:00   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[02:00:37]

ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us from all around the world. I'm Rosemary Church.

Just ahead on CNN NEWSROOM, the U.S. and Iran escalate attacks in the Strait of Hormuz. President Trump is not saying whether the truce still holds at this hour.

Our first look on board the luxury cruise ship with a suspected Hantavirus outbreak, we will tell you what it is and how it spreads.

Plus, the star studded Met Gala, why one of the biggest nights in fashion caused a backlash this year.

ANNOUNCER: Live from Atlanta, this is CNN NEWSROOM with Rosemary Church.

CHURCH: Thanks for joining us. The fragile cease fire between the U.S. and Iran is being tested after both sides fired shots in the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran is also striking the UAE, a move that could widen the conflict again. Emirati officials say an Iranian drone strike caused a major fire at an oil facility on Monday, three Indian nationals were injured in that attack.

Iran's retaliation comes after President Donald Trump launched Project Freedom to guide commercial ships through the vital waterway. President Trump warns Iranian forces they would be, "Blown off the face of the earth if they target U.S. ships." He also declined to say if the cease fire with Iran is still in effect.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HUGH HEWITT, HOST OF "THE HUGH HEWITT SHOW": Is the cease fire over, Mr. President, is it over? We're going to hit them tonight? DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Well, I can't tell you that.

HEWITT: All right, that's fine.

TRUMP: You wouldn't, if I answered that question. You say this man is not smart enough to be the President of the United States of America.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: Former U.S. Defense Secretary and CIA Director Leon Panetta, told CNN, the U.S. may have reached the point of no return in the war. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LEON PANETTA, FORMER U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY: Each side is afraid of appearing to be weak. Each side thinks that time is on their side, and each believes that the other is a paper tiger. That's not a good prescription for ending the war. It's a prescription for a forever war.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: Let's bring in CNN's Eleni Giokos, she joins us live from Dubai. Good morning to you, Eleni. So, the cease fire is under threat with the exchange of fire in the Strait of Hormuz. What is the latest on that? And, of course, the strikes on the UAE.

ELENI GIOKOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. And it's -- I mean, we've had such a significant day, and that's as Project Freedom was underway. And this was, you know, what the United States is calling a humanitarian mission to try and guide vessels safely through the Strait of Hormuz. And then we saw a massive escalation.

Iran very quickly saying they view this as a violation in the cease fire. We also know there was a confrontation that ensued in the Strait. Lloyd's List says at least four vessels have been targeted since Sunday. Most importantly, one vessel that's owned by Abu Dhabi national oil company. They say, as it was transiting the Strait, it had to deal with two drones. We know one South Korean vessel also reported an explosion on board. All crew are safe.

And this is just one of many examples in terms of what we're seeing occurring. U.S. CENTCOM says that two destroyers were able to transit the Strait yesterday, and also now operating in the Persian Gulf, and also saying that two U.S. flagged merchant vessels were able to transit these Straits safely.

I spoke to Kepler, and they say the AIA data system was not turned on, so we're not actually able to monitor those but also, what we're hearing from CENTCOM is the distinction, from my perspective, is crystal clear. U.S. forces are helping international community and restoring the flow of global commerce, while IRGC, on the other hand, is doing everything it can to terrorize and threaten commercial shipping. This is from CENTCOM commander, Admiral Brad Cooper. An important to note here, Rosemary, the shipping community is

watching what is going on in the Strait very closely. And while the United States has deployed a lot of resources to try and help vessels to transit, there's still a major fear of risk. How will Iran respond? It is also being reported that the United States was able to sink what they say are six small Iranian vessels yesterday, boats. These are the speed boats that we've come to know, that are very asymmetrical in use, but actually can cause quite a bit of devastation as well as destruction against vessels. They've been targeting vessels since the start of the war.

[02:05:19]

Importantly here, we also heard from the foreign minister of Iran, Abbas Araghchi, and he has says the events in Hormuz make it clear that there's no military solution to political crisis. As talks are making progress with Pakistan's gracious efforts, the U.S. should be wary of being dragged into a quagmire by ill wishes. So should the UAE. Project Freedom is Project Deadlock.

And importantly, Rosemary, we were really shocked. About 5:00 p.m. local time here in the UAE, we reserved an alert about incoming missiles and drones. This was a shock to the system, because we haven't had an alert like this since the eighth of April, since the cease fire was announced. We then received here in Dubai around four alerts in the span of three hours, Fujairah Oil Terminal, which is northeast facing the Gulf of Oman, reported a fire because of a drone attack there, three people were injured.

President Trump, as you say, has not categorically said this is a violation of a cease fire, but we wait to see what happens next, because for us here in the UAE, of course, hearing about drones and missiles. And in fact, the Ministry of Defense says that 12 ballistic missiles were intercepted, three cruise missiles, as well as four UAVs, and you can see the smoke billowing there from Fujairah Oil Terminal.

CHURCH: All right, our thanks to Eleni Giokos bringing us that live report from Dubai.

I'm joined now by retired U.S. Marine intelligence officer, Lieutenant Colonel Hal Kempfer. He is also the CEO and founder of Global Risk Intelligence and Planning and the host of the Strategic Risk Assessment Talk podcast. Appreciate you joining us.

LT. COL. HAL KEMPFER (RET.), INTELLIGENCE OFFICER, U.S. MARINE CORPS: Thank you, Rosemary.

So, what's your military assessment of the U.S. president's decision to guide ships through the Strait of Hormuz despite threats and now attacks from Iran?

KEMPFER: Well, Rosemary, it's a start. It is truly guidance. They are not providing escort, as we traditionally define escort. In other words, they're not defending the ships going through, but they are providing guide to take them through this very narrow one-way lane. It's right off the coast of the UAE and Oman. It's far to the south of Iran to get the ships out.

And initially, the whole focus is to get ships that are laden with oil or the cargo out, and then I imagine at some point in the future, they'll try to get them back in.

But that appears to be a lane that we're very confident has no mines, and that's why that lane is being opened up.

CHURCH: And Iran hasn't hit a US ship yet, but has certainly come close with the exchange of fire and Iran's attacks on UAE targets. President Trump isn't saying the cease fire with Iran is over, but from a military perspective, what signals the end of a cease fire and what likely comes next militarily, if that cease fire ends in the next few hours, perhaps days or weeks?

KEMPFER: Well, this is a very fragile cease fire, to say the -- to say the least, there's a -- you know, with that, usually when you start seeing each side shooting each other, that's an indication the cease fire is about over. And that kind of happened today. You know, 19 drones, missiles, all coming down to the UAE.

By the way, those two destroyers that we got into the Persian Gulf, they were being harassed and attacked by Iran the entire way. That's how the six, or maybe seven IRGC fast boats were -- that's why they were taken out, it was part of that attack.

So, it's very close. It's really -- it's a matter of difference. You know, what's interesting is Foreign Minister Araghchi of Iran today was saying, oh, we don't want to get caught in a military quagmire. We want to find a way out of this. At almost the same time, just a little bit after the IRGC had fired all those missiles and drones at the UAE, there is definitely a problem with the Iranian government. They seem to be like two different factions are doing -- that don't even talk to each other.

CHURCH: It sounds like your view militarily is that the cease fire is over. So, what will this mean? What would you expect to be the next thing happen militarily on the United States side?

KEMPFER: Well, once we decide it's over, and I guess the way we really say it's over is when you start seeing planned attacks, you start seeing the level of strikes like you saw prior to the cease fire, then it'd be over. But I would expect that they're looking at various courses of action, one of which is going after leadership targets, potentially. Obviously, there's been talk of taking out their power plants and other critical infrastructure along those lines.

[02:10:01]

But the other thing is to look at -- if they want to open up the Strait, is to look at some of those islands in the Strait, you know, look at Hormuz. Look at the three islands are claimed by the UAE. Look at some sort of military operation where they are seized or somehow completely neutralized, to basically deny that terrain, if you will, within the Strait to take control of it militarily. That's one of the options that has to be high in the list. CHURCH: And what's your view of the U.S. naval blockade? Is it a necessary part of pressuring Iran to return to the negotiating table and make a nuclear deal, or, as some military analysts think, is it making the situation worse?

KEMPFER: Well, it's definitely heightening tensions and making it very stressful for all parties. But with that said, it does seem to be putting a lot of pressure on the Iranian regime. You know, with about 2-1/2 weeks or so, they're going to run out of places to store oil, and at that point they have to decide, do they want to shut down production? Because there's nowhere to put the oil.

Once they shut that down, a lot of these are old wells and the superstructure underneath the ground, they may not be able to open them up again. They may not be able to put them back in production. So, that's a decision point for the Iranian regime. They could lose their major export even if everything is ended, they could lose a major export capability there simply because they had to shut down all the oil production. So, in that regard, I think it's having a big effect.

CHURCH: And both Iran and President Trump are looking for an off ramp here, but only if each side is seen as the victor. What needs to happen next to make that happen and to bring this war to an end?

KEMPFER: Well, I think there has to be a serious proposal by the Iranians, that's part of that moderate, hard core extremist back and forth. Whatever said in Islamabad doesn't seem to translate over to Tehran. And right now, what they've sent out, from what I understand, and there's nothing really published on it, is that they've kind of gone back to the more maximalist goals. You know, we want to control the Strait we want to continue with our nuclear program, all these things that they just know the U.S. will never agree to.

So, there has to be a serious proposal by the Iranian regime, of course. The other part is, you could see Iran slip into what it looked like in December or January, that's another possibility. I'm sure that's high in the White House, thinking that maybe there might be a change within Tehran another way, but there has to be a serious proposal to bring both parties together.

CHURCH: Hal Kempfer, thank you so much for joining us. Appreciate it.

KEMPFER: Thank you, Rosemary.

CHURCH: Still to come, the latest on the suspected hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship that's believed to be responsible for the deaths of three passengers. I'll speak with an infectious disease expert about how that virus may have spread.

Plus, Russian President Vladimir Putin has maintained a firm grip on power for decades. Now he's fearing a coup. We'll have details for you after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[02:17:23]

CHURCH: Welcome back, everyone. The cruise ship stricken by a suspected outbreak of hantavirus, has been denied permission to dock in the capital of Cape Verde, an island nation off West Africa. Three passengers have died, and at least three other people are sick. Local health authorities have visited the ship and checked on those with symptoms, but for now, about 150 people remain stuck on board while officials figure out their next moves, including possible medical evacuations. One of those passengers posted this message to social media about the ordeal.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAKE ROSMARIN, TRAVEL BLOGGER: I'm currently on board the M/V Hondius, and what's happening right now is very real for all of us here. We're not just a story, we're not just headlines, we're people, people with families, with lives, with people waiting for us at home.

There's a lot of uncertainty, and that's the hardest part. All we want right now is to feel safe, to have clarity and to get home.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: Anne Rimoin is a professor of epidemiology at the UCLA fielding School of Public Health. Appreciate you joining us.

ANNE RIMOIN, PROFESSOR OF EPIDEMIOLOGY, UCLA FIELDING SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH: Thanks for having me.

CHURCH: So, this rare but deadly Hantavirus can't be treated or cured. So, what are your thoughts as you watch the World Health Organization respond to this deadly outbreak on a cruise ship, and how do you think this virus spread?

RIMOIN: Well, you know, this is a very, very unusual situation that we're dealing with here. So, you know, I think that it's really important that cases have been identified, that there have been diagnostics that have suggested that it's hantavirus. And so, now we need a very thorough investigation.

The thing about this particular virus, hantavirus, it was a group of viruses that are traditionally. A spread by rodents is that we don't normally see human to human transmission, and we don't know that there is any human to human transmission here. So, it's going to be really, really important to understand where did the first case get it. If there are, you know, multiple, multiple cases, then where did the first case get it? Are these cases connected from person to person spread or environmental contamination, or from rodents from a common source? Did they get it before they boarded the ship? Did they get it on, you know, when they -- these the ship went to multiple ports, or did it come from rats that were already on the ship?

[02:20:18]

So, you know, mice that were on the ship. So, I do think that it's really important that we understand all of this information and understand exactly which hantavirus this is, and if it's one that has, person to person, spread potential before we truly understand what's happening.

CHURCH: And we know that three people have died so far, several others are seriously ill and have been evacuated from the ship, with more suspected cases being investigated. Now we're hearing desperate pleas from passengers who want to go home, but they're not allowed to leave. What needs to happen next?

RIMOIN: Well, it has been really scary for these people that are -- that are on the ship who just don't have any control of the situation and really, you know, until we're sure about which virus, this is how it's been spreading, what's happening next? You know, there is probably going to be some delays before these people get off that ship.

So, what's going to happen now is they're going to first evacuate those people who have medical needs. That's going to be really important. And then once that happens, and there is some understanding of what the virus is, what kind of transmission is happening, then they're probably going to be moves to be able to move these people off the ship and into quarantine. But the question is, where and who can handle that, and who has the facilities to be able to handle this and to be able to do all of the investigation that needs to happen.

CHURCH: And we know this cruise ship is Dutch in origin. It was traveling up the coast of West Africa, the WHO is conducting an investigation into the outbreak and trying to determine the strain of this virus. How do they figure out where this particular strain of hantavirus came from and how it was spread throughout the ship? What is the process?

RIMOIN: Well, this is going to be a very classic outbreak investigation. And because we do have a population, we know who's been on this ship, who's been, you know, where people have been, you know, they're certainly going to be able to go back and look at exposures of people who have been affected, those people who are sick, those people who have died. They're also going to sequence this virus and really understand what strain it is. And then they're also going to be able to understand if what has caused the death of the people that have died and the people that are sick is all interconnected.

So, those are going to be the key things, and then they're certainly going to be sampling the rodents that are on the ship, doing some environmental sampling as well. So, there's going to be a lot of data collection and understanding. This is classic epidemiologic outbreak investigation that's going to happen next.

CHURCH: Right. And this, of course, isn't considered to be a risk to the greater community. But what do those on board need to be looking out for in terms of symptoms?

RIMOIN: Well, hantavirus symptoms are very similar to influenza or other respiratory viruses. You can have cough, cold, fatigue, headache. The thing about this that's going to be tricky, is that the incubation period is actually very long. It can be from anywhere from one to eight weeks.

So, there could be a long period of time of surveilling people to make sure that that we know whether or not they're, you know, out of the window of risk for being infected.

CHURCH: Very scary for those people on board, no doubt. Anne Rimoin, thank you so much for joining us. We appreciate it. Thank you.

RIMOIN: Thank you so much.

CHURCH: Russia says it will observe a two day cease fire in Ukraine later this week to mark its annual World War II Victory Day celebrations. This year's parade will be significantly paired back with no military hardware on display. The Kremlin says that's because Moscow is facing a terrorist threat from Kyiv.

But President Zelenskyy announced Ukraine will. Begin its own cease fire starting Wednesday, saying he believes human life is far more valuable than any anniversary celebration. He also warns that Russia's declaration of a cease fire is not genuine.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): A one day cease fire, but killing our people beforehand, to put it mildly, is simply not fair. To stop the missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian cities and communities one day before the parade and say, let's have a 24-hour cease fire. That is not serious.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: As Vladimir Putin's four year war in Ukraine drags on, there is evidence that he's becoming more paranoid about threats to his presidency and to his life. CNN's Nick Paton Walsh brings us the details.

[02:25:10]

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It is a rare pointed insight into one of the starkest secrets in Russia, President Vladimir Putin's security protocols. In it, a detailed intelligence report given to CNN by a source close to a European intelligence agency portrays predictably, a Kremlin in deep crisis.

Cooks, bodyguards and photographers working with Putin must have surveillance systems installed in their homes, it says. Putin has stopped visiting military sites this year entirely, it says, in contrast to last year, often spending time in fortified bunkers and keeping clear of some of his main lavish residences like Valday, a tactic aided by many of his appearances. And he is in the media a lot being pre-recorded.

His staff cannot use smartphones or public transport, the report adds. Visitors must be searched twice.

WALSH: Not all of this information is new, some of it rumored or evident before, but the massive detail is striking, as is the decision by a European intelligence agency to release a report like this, clearly an information salvo designed to stoke strife and paranoia at a time of perceived weakness in the Kremlin.

WALSH (voice-over): The dossier also suggests something staggering, that the measures may be designed to protect Putin from a potential coup, something he had a narrow miss with in June 2023 when mercenary boss and former chef to Putin, Yevgeny Prigozhin led a failed march on Moscow.

The risk of a coup, it says now, is from another former confidant, Sergei Shoigu. Once his minister of defense but now secretary of the Security Council. He retains significant influence within the military high command, it says. The report says a coup is more likely after Shoigu's former deputy

and close associate Ruslan Tsalikov was arrested in March, which it calls a breach of the tacit protection agreements among elites.

But the report doesn't provide any evidence or explain why it has made this risk public warning the Kremlin. It claims the new security measures came after a series of assassinations among the Russian top brass, likely by Ukraine at an urgent meeting last year after the killing of Lt. Gen. Fanil Savarov in Moscow on December 22.

The release of the report has convenient timing four years into Russia's invasion of Ukraine, at a time when doubts about Russia's ability to sustain its war effort and its economic impact are growing of major internet blackouts, growing internal criticism of Putin himself and continued successful Ukrainian bombardment of targets deep inside Russia.

Especially ahead of the May 9th Victory Day parade, scaled back dramatically this year for security. There are plenty of reasons European intelligence would seek to destabilize the Kremlin, and much of this is hard to corroborate.

But it is rare detail and a confident presentation of a Kremlin in crisis that matches a moment of peaking criticism of Putin internally.

Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: Just ahead, a CNN analysis of Iran's nuclear supply chain. What satellite images reveal about the state of the country's nuclear sites after recent strikes. Back with that and more in just a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[02:33:06]

CHURCH: Welcome back, everyone. The U.S. and Iran traded shots on Monday in the Strait of Hormuz testing a fragile ceasefire. Now, this comes as the U.S. initiates Project Freedom to guide stranded vessels out of the strategic waterway. A senior Iranian official warns the move violates the current ceasefire agreement.

But President Trump is warning Iranian forces will be "blown off the face of the earth" if they target U.S. ships. Meanwhile the U.N. is urging all parties to restore the free flow of trade through the Strait.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STEPHANE DUJARRIC, U.N. SPOKESPERSON: The Strait of Hormuz needs to be reopened. Freedom of navigation needs to be re-established. We need to see return of what has been centuries of practice of common law, which is freedom of navigation in these waters.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: Joining me to discuss this live from London is Sanam Vakil, Director of the Middle East & North Africa Programme at Chatham House. Appreciate you being with us.

SANAM VAKIL, DIRECTOR, MIDDLE EAST & NORTH AFRICA PROGRAMME, CHATHAM HOUSE: Thank you for having me.

CHURCH: So an end to this war appears elusive at this juncture with the ceasefire under severe threat after U.S. President Donald Trump launched his plan to guide ships through the Strait of Hormuz and Iran responded by exchanging fire and hitting UAE targets. Where do you see this going next?

VAKIL: Well, we have seen this brief flare up and that's because the U.S. is trying to temper markets and open the Strait of Hormuz through this so-called Project Freedom that would allow U.S.-flagged tankers to have safe passage through the Strait.

[02:35:00]

Iran responded to that to showcase that it still has the ability to halt traffic and of course, the targeting of the UAE, again, is very damaging there. But both sides are in tandem, still exchanging proposals. There was a proposal put forward by the Iranians, the Americans responded to it. It lays out a three-phased compliance of opening the Strait of Hormuz, concessions on the nuclear program, and then a broader regional discussion on security, all to be achieved within a short timetable.

They're still batting back and forth these ideas. And so while the diplomacy goes on, there's time sensitivity in opening the Strait, tempering markets, addressing the supply chain blockages, and that's why this is so dangerous.

CHURCH: It is such an unusual backdrop to that diplomatic effort. Where do you see that effort to end the war? VAKIL: Well, I think it is moving forward. The Iranians continue to show a message. Abbas Araghchi, the Foreign Minister, said just directly, this war will end at the negotiating table. Really, because Tehran is trying to make it clear to President Trump that it isn't going to submit, it's going to negotiate, and it expects back and forth and compromises, if you will.

What's problematic is that there are no indirect or direct meetings after that Islamabad negotiation between Vice President, J.D. Vance and Iran's Speaker of the Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. And so this is going to take time, and the markets and everybody's economies, particularly those in the Gulf, can't really price in that time.

Oil is going up, it's at $114 a barrel today, and that puts pressure on President Trump. So, this all needs to be facilitated in order to come to a resolution. It ultimately needs compromise, but it needs a framework for two parties that don't trust each other and two leaders that really want to project victory.

CHURCH: And on that very point, I mean, most analysts would agree that both Iran and the U.S. want to end the war, but no one wants to lose face. They both want to be able to declare victory. How do they do that and make compromises that both sides can agree to in order to end the war?

VAKIL: Well, yeah, that is, of course, the challenge, and I think this is why there aren't any face-to-face or indirect negotiations, because the projection of victory over social media is allowing for misinterpretation or disinformation within both political systems. So this controls the narrative. But President Trump needs to showcase that he inflicted damage on Iran, obtained concessions on Iran's nuclear program that are better than the Iran nuclear agreement signed in 2015.

So he's looking for a moratorium on Iran's enrichment program and commitments that Iran will never achieve or obtain a nuclear weapon. So, you know, that's the language of victory for President Trump, alongside, of course, opening the Strait of Hormuz, which was not an issue prior to this war.

For the Iranians, what do they need? They need a cessation of hostilities, guarantees that there is not going to be a third round between Iran, Israel, and the United States. And then they need sanctions relief and the economic lifeline that will allow their economy to recover and allow this regime, however beleaguered they are, to rehabilitate. So victory looks different. And of course, it will be louder on President Trump's side.

CHURCH: Sanam Vakil, thank you so much for joining us and sharing your analysis and perspective. Appreciate it.

VAKIL: Thank you.

CHURCH: Well, from a university to production plants, a number of key links in Iran's nuclear supply chain have been hit by U.S. and Israeli strikes. But an analysis of satellite images shows some of them appear to have survived. CNN's Katie Polglase takes us -- gives us a closer look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KATIE POLGLASE, CNN INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER (voice-over): This university in central Tehran is considered by the U.S. and Israel one of the very first stages in Iran's nuclear supply chain. It was struck in mid-March by the U.S.-Israeli campaign. And it's one of dozens of sites across Iran we've been analyzing to see how much of its nuclear supply chain has been wiped out. And the answer is not as much as the U.S. and Israel would like.

[02:40:00]

POLGLASE: That university you just saw has been under U.S. sanctions since 2012 for researching and developing weapons of mass destruction. It's a reminder of just how long the U.S. has been tracking Iran's ability to make nuclear weapons.

And we found that in these latest strikes by the U.S. and Israel, while much of the production process has been substantially damaged, some of the most important parts of this process, the stores of highly enriched uranium, may not have been touched at all.

POLGLASE (voice-over): Let's start at the beginning of the supply chain. Alongside the research, the process starts at places like these, Saghand Uranium Mine, where the raw material, uranium ore, is mined.

In recent years, Saghand Mine has expanded significantly. You can see widening pits, growing piles of earth and diggers. We looked at recent imagery since the latest strikes and found no evidence of damage.

In fact, from between the clouds, you can still see diggers operating at the site. So far, this indicates this stage of the nuclear supply chain may remain untouched.

Next, the mined uranium ore is transported to production plants like this one in Ardakan. Here, it's converted into yellowcake, which is a type of concentrated uranium. We found this plant was substantially damaged in recent strikes on March 27th. An image taken the following month shows little change, suggesting the Iranians have not rebuilt this site yet.

After this, the yellowcake is taken here to sites like this one in Isfahan, to be purified and converted into uranium hexafluoride. And it's this one, this stage of the supply chain, that has caused the biggest headache for the U.S. and Israel. Back last June, French outlet "Le Monde" found this truck visible in imagery taken just days before the strikes.

These blue containers are likely carrying uranium into the tunnels, experts told CNN. Days later, these facilities were substantially damaged in Israeli attacks. You can see several buildings wiped out.

Then, in early 2026, Iran covered over several entrances to these underground tunnels with earth, preventing people from accessing them. Further measures were taken this April, when these roadblocks were put up in front of the entrances to the tunnels. It could suggest there still remains something valuable down there.

They were not, however, hit in the latest U.S.-Israeli strikes. Even experts we spoke to are unsure why. David Albright is a world-leading expert on nuclear weapons.

POLGLASE: How much of a risk in the future is that stores in Isfahan Mountain?

DAVID ALBRIGHT, FOUNDER, INSTITUTE FOR SCIENCE AND INTERNATIONAL SECURITY: I think it's a big risk. That's quite a bit of money in the bank. I mean, the amount of enriched uranium they've produced was equivalent to a full year's production of their entire enrichment complex, and is believed to be mostly, and almost all of it, at Isfahan.

POLGLASE (voice-over): In fact, the U.S. believes this too, and their demand to remove this uranium has been a key issue in the stalling peace negotiations. And finding out exactly how much is down there is central to determining whether Iran remains a nuclear threat.

Katie Polglase, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: Still to come, a man is in custody after driving into a crowd of pedestrians at a popular German shopping area. Details after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[02:47:57]

CHURCH: Chinese leader, Xi Jinping is calling for all-out efforts to find survivors after a deadly explosion at a fireworks factory. State media reports at least 26 people were killed and more than 60 others injured.

This happened in a small town in Hunan province that's known as the fireworks hub of the world. It reportedly accounts for 60 percent of the global fireworks supply. Authorities are investigating the cause of the blast. State media says it was so powerful, it blew out windows in nearby buildings.

Police are investigating a deadly car-ramming attack on pedestrians in Leipzig, Germany. It happened Monday when a man drove into a crowd of people visiting a popular shopping area.

CNN's Melissa Bell has more.

MELISSA BELL, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: A 33-year-old German citizen has been arrested after a car-ramming attack in the eastern German city of Leipzig. The 33-year-old, it's understood, drove his car down a pedestrian street, killing two people and severely wounding two others to such an extent that he is now facing two counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder.

Very little from authorities by way of explanation as to what his motive might have been. It was at about 4:45 local time in the historic heart of Leipzig that the man drove his car into the pedestrian street, causing a great deal of chaos and panic, of course, amongst the pedestrians that were simply milling around in that road. He was stopped, arrested eventually, still at the wheel of his car by authorities and is now in custody facing those counts.

For now, authorities are tight-lipped about what his motive might have been, but they did not, when they gave a press conference after the incident, exclude the possibility of mental health issues.

Melissa Bell, CNN, Paris.

CHURCH: Now to a disturbing video from southeastern Brazil where a small plane was seen crashing into a building.

[02:50:00]

It happened Monday in the city of Belo Horizonte. The local network, TV Globo captured these images. The fire department said the pilot and co-pilot were killed and the other passengers were in serious condition. An investigation is now underway into the cause of that crash.

Still to come, protesters call for a boycott of the Met Gala because of its main sponsor, billionaire Jeff Bezos. What members of one of those protest groups told CNN about their motivations, when we return.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHURCH: Fashion's finest came out for this year's Met Gala. The theme was costume art. Attendees were encouraged to express their own relationship to fashion as an embodied art form. But the evening took place amid protests against billionaire, Jeff Bezos and his wife, Lauren Sanchez Bezos. They were the main sponsors of the gala.

CNN's Jason Carroll has more on the controversy surrounding the event.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You look fabulous.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you.

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's one of the biggest nights in fashion, the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Met Gala. Themes in the past have focused on religion or sleeping beauties. And while the official theme this year is costume art, some say it should be boycott.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE, "EVERYONE HATES ELON" CO-FOUNDER: No one for a second believes that the reason he's been made to chair the Met Gala is his fashion sense. CARROLL (voice-over): Messages projected on New York's iconic Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building Sunday night, targeting Amazon billionaire, Jeff Bezos and his wife, Lauren Sanchez Bezos, co- sponsors and honorary co-chairs of this year's gala.

CARROLL: What do you really hope to accomplish by doing what you're doing?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE, "EVERYONE HATES ELON" CO-FOUNDER: Well, like millions of people across the world, I used to enjoy the Met Gala and I used to enjoy the fashion and things like that. But like millions of people across the world, I'm also seeing how much prices are rising, how much wages are low.

CARROLL (voice-over): The co-founders of the underground group, "Everyone Hates Elon," referring to Elon Musk, who do not want us to show their faces, say while Amazon workers fight for better pay and safer working conditions, that Bezos is are trying to buy their way into culture.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE, "EVERYONE HATES ELON" CO-FOUNDER: Well, we've been meeting with Amazon workers this week. We met with a 72-year-old woman who was literally in tears as she told us about some of the conditions that she's facing.

CARROLL (voice-over): The anti-billionaire group has posted its messages across the city's subways and bus stops. The message may have already reached City Hall this year.

[02:55:00]

The city's new Mayor, Zohran Mamdani, who ran a campaign on affordability, has declined to attend.

It should be noted, Bezos and Sanchez actually made their debut at the Gala back in 2024 without all the fallout. But the couple's critics say that was before Bezos ruffled political circles on the left by cozying up to President Trump, attending the inauguration, last week's state dinner, before Amazon paid $40 million for the rights to a film featuring the first lady.

The Met's director telling CNN, this is not a show on Amazon, this is not a show on Lauren Sanchez's dresses. One needs to be really clear that what our donors are supporting is the program of the Met and support they have. This year, the Met says, it has raised a record amount, more than $42 million, up from $31 million last year.

Thanks to efforts made by Anna Wintour, Vogue's former editor-in- chief, and the fundraising force behind the gala. Despite Anna Wintour's support, online chatter has swirled about celebrities bowing out this year and trouble selling tickets.

AMY ODELL, AUTHOR OF THE BOOK "ANNA": That's something I'm very curious to see on Monday night, is who goes and who poses with Lauren Sanchez and Jeff Bezos.

CARROLL (voice-over): Amy Odell is author of the New York Times bestselling book titled, "Anna."

ODELL: What I'm hearing behind the scenes is that people are kind of surprised, I think there's some disgust, but then there's also a segment of the fashion industry that is completely fine with this. I think that Lauren Sanchez represents kind of the archetype of the luxury customer today, who's not afraid to buy expensive stuff, to wear it, and to flaunt it.

CARROLL (voice-over): Jason Carroll, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: Actress Blake Lively has settled her lawsuit against Justin Baldoni's production company, just weeks before their highly anticipated trial was set to begin. In 2024, Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment, a hostile work environment, and reputational retaliation.

Following the release of their movie, "It Ends With Us," Baldoni denied the allegations and filed a countersuit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, which was later dismissed.

Last month, Lively's harassment claims were tossed from her case. Details of the settlement are not known, but a joint statement said in part, it is our sincere hope that this brings closure and allows all involved to move forward constructively and in peace, including a respectful environment online.

I want to thank you so much for your company this hour. I'm Rosemary Church. "CNN Newsroom" continues with Polo Sandoval after a quick break.

[02:57:42]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[03:00:00]