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Trump Calls Latest Military Strikes On Iran A "Love Tap"; Iran: Still Reviewing U.S. "Messages," No Final Response. Aired 4-4:30a ET

Aired May 08, 2026 - 04:00   ET

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

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[04:00:37]

KIM BRUNHUBER, CNN ANCHOR: Well, and welcome to all of you watching us around the world. I'm Kim Brunhuber. This is CNN Newsroom.

A cruise ship in quarantine following a deadly Hantavirus outbreak now heading to the coast of Spain. What we know about the contract tracing underway. Plus, Donald Trump says the ceasefire with Iran is still on despite renewed strikes on a live report from the Gulf. And it's been one year since the election of the first American pontiff. Look at how Pope Leo's impacted the Papacy in 365 days.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Live from Atlanta, this is CNN Newsroom with Kim Brunhuber.

BRUNHUBER: The race is on to contain a deadly Hantavirus outbreak. Five U.S. states are now monitoring passengers who recently returned from the cruise ship that's become ground zero. So far, there are no reports of them showing any symptoms. President Trump says a full report is expected in the coming days and that, quote, "we hope the outbreak is under control." Health officials worldwide are scrambling to retrace the steps of dozens of passengers who were potentially exposed and then disembarked. So far, there are at least five confirmed Hantavirus cases and three known deaths. But the incubation period for this strain of the virus lasts up to six weeks. Most of the passengers remain on board the cruise ship, quarantined in cabins, including an American doctor from Oregon who's been helping care for the sick. Let's listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. STEPHEN KORNFELD, CARED FOR SICK PASSENGERS ABOARD HANTAVIRUS-HIT CRUISE SHIP: What happens with Hantavirus ultimate survivability is really dependent on your ability to get critical care at the right time. And on the boat that would not be possible. But now that they're in, you know, home and standard hospitals, that's entirely possible.

So my concern level for them now low, which is very relieving. I started treating for people May 1, just kind of have a feeling that this could be infectious. So from the beginning, I was trying to be very careful with masks and gowns. And once we found out it was Hantavirus and a second case happened, making it seem likely there was an infectious form, I was able to find some aprons and some goggles. I did a lot of hand washing and clothes washing.

I think Hantavirus is hard to spread. Now there's a great team on board who is really going through every aspect of this infection, how it spread and what it means for the passengers remaining, both for their health and for their possible transmission down the road. So I'm feeling pretty good that most people will get off the boat relatively soon and hopefully I will get off soon also.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRUNHUBER: The Hondius cruise ship is now expected to arrive in Spain's Canary Islands this weekend. CNN's Pau Mosquera is tracking this live from Madrid.

So, Pau, lots of concern around the world, including there in Spain. What's the latest?

PAU MOSQUERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's it, Kim, because we have heard from many neighbors in the island of Tenerife that they are worried. They are nervous about the fact of the ship getting there expectantly on site Sunday around noon time. Now, yesterday there was a meeting between the president of the government of the Canary Islands and the minister of Health to actually talk about that, how it's going to be made the transfer of the passengers to their respective countries. So differently to what we were firstly told, the cruise ship won't dock at the port of Granadilla de Abona is one of the secondary ports of the island. Instead it will be anchored off the coast of those facilities.

So it will maintain a distance. Once the cruise ship has arrived a few meters from the coast, then experts, both from Spain's External Health Service and the World Health Organization will get to the boat and then evaluate, examine everybody that is on board and then ratificate that everyone still is asymptomatic. Now, once they have finished with all of that, they will make everyone wait inside the boat until the airplanes that will take them to their respective countries are ready on the airport of South Tenerife.

So this is where the authorities, the Spanish authorities are nowadays working against the clock. We know that from the Spanish foreign affairs minister, they are now contacting the different countries to try to define how is it going to be the repatriation of the different people on board.

[04:05:08]

And so far Spain's secretary for Civil Defense, Virginia Barcones, has confirmed that the United States will send an airplane to repatriate the 17 passengers that are on board of the cruise ship. And on board of this plane that will take them back to the United States are some experts from the CDC. Also, the United Kingdom has confirmed that will be sending another airplane to repatriate the 19 passengers that are on board.

So they are now finalizing, trying to define what is going to happen with the rest of the passengers that are from different countries. Kim.

BRUNHUBER: All right. A complex and stressful procedure still ahead for those passengers. CNN's Pau Mosquera live in Madrid. Thank you so much.

Well, now to the war with Iran where the United Arab Emirates says Tehran has launched a new wave of drone and missile attacks comes as the U.S. and Iran have traded fresh fire in and around the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. military says it launched self-defense strikes in four areas along the Iranian coast targeting missile and drone launch sites, command and control locations and other assets. U.S. Central Command says the strikes are in retaliation for Iranian attacks on three Navy guided missile destroyers that were transiting the strait. None of those ships were actually struck. President Trump says if Iran doesn't agree to a peace deal fast, the U.S. military will knock them out. CNN's Paula Hancocks is live this hour in Abu Dhabi.

Paula, what's the latest?

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kim, we have once again here in the UAE seen an escalation in hostilities. We've heard from the Ministry of Defense that earlier this Friday morning there were missiles and drones that were fired towards the territory. The MOD saying that they were engaging operations of missiles and UAVs. Now we've had no clarity on whether there were -- there was any damage caused or what the target might have been. But it does show that what we have been seeing all week is continuing.

Certainly Monday evening there were 19 missiles and drones that were engaged by the UAE military. We know that the airspace has been partially closed and also airlines have to stick to a certain route until May 11 to deal with this increased threat. Now we did see the U.S. and Iran once again trading fire in the Strait of Hormuz. We understand from U.S. Central Command, they say that their forces intercepted unprovoked Iranian attacks and responded with self-defense strikes saying that three U.S. navy guided missile destroyers came under attack. There was no strike that hit those vessels, according to Central Command.

But they did respond by targeting Iranian military infrastructure. There were launch sites, for example, for missiles and drones that were targeted command and control centers. Also intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance infrastructure.

Now, Iran itself says that the reason that they fired against the U.S. vessels is because they believe that the U.S. was violating the ceasefire. Also pointing out that the U.S. had disabled an Iranian vessel earlier in the week. The U.S. naval blockade very much in process and in still existing in the Strait of Hormuz.

When it comes to political fallout, though, at this point we're really seeing from the U.S. president that he is trying to downplay what is happening at this point. Let's listen to what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: They trifled with us today. We blew them away. They trifled. I call that a trifle. I'll let you know when there's no seats.

You won't have to know. If there's no ceasefire, you're not going to have to know. You just didn't have to look at one big blow coming out of Iran. And they better sign their agreement fast.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HANCOCKS: So when it comes to ongoing negotiations, we understand that the U.S. is still waiting for an Iranian response to its proposal that's on the table at this point. It was expected it could come as early as Thursday, we're now in Friday.

And what we're hearing from the U.S. president is he says that Iran has agreed not to have a nuclear weapon, agreed to give up the stockpile of highly rich uranium. But this we have not heard from Tehran at this point. They have not addressed that publicly. It is just the U.S. president who is confirming that. So we're still waiting to see what the Iranian response will be through the Pakistani mediators.

Kim.

BRUNHUBER: Paula, I appreciate all that. Paula Hancocks in Abu Dhabi. Thank you so much.

For more on this, I want to bring in H.A. Hellyer, who's a senior associate fellow with the Roy United Services Institute for Defense and Security Studies. Really appreciate seeing you there again from Cairo.

[04:10:08]

So we've seen this flare up in the Strait of Hormuz. President Trump's calling it a love tap, saying the ceasefire is still intact. I mean, what's your reading on the signals each side is sending right now? H.A. HELLYER, ROYAL UNITED SERVICES INSTUTE FOR DEFENSE & SECURITY STUDIES: Thank you very much, Kim. Always a pleasure to be on your show.

I think this shows very clearly that from the Trump administration there's a desire to continue moving forward with at least the process of negotiations. He doesn't want to call it quits just as of yet. Of course, this is a very strange ceasefire where the fire is not ceased. Of course, we've seen that multiple times in the region over the last few years, the most common being, of course, with regards to ceasefires in Gaza, where the Israelis keep on bombing, or in Lebanon, where the Israelis keep on bombing. But when it comes to the Iranians and the United States, I think both sides are in the position of wanting to go down the path of negotiations, not wanting to seem as though they've capitulated, which ordinarily is a good thing when it comes to negotiations.

And in this particular case, the gap between their negotiation stances is just really huge. When your reporter just mentioned that, you know, we've heard certain things from the Trump White House, we haven't heard that confirmed by the Iranians. I don't think the Iranians are going to say that they're not going to do a nuclear weapon. They'll probably say, we already committed not doing a nuclear weapon, so why is this even a discussion? There's going to be other things that keep them at arm's length, and I think that the negotiators really have their job cut out for them and try to bridge the gaps between them.

BRUNHUBER: OK. So those gaps, as you say, are huge. I mean, I'm wondering, are we any closer to a deal than we were, say, a couple of weeks ago?

HELLYER: I think the only way that we're closer to a deal is if Washington actually moves its position somewhat. When it comes to the Iranians, the gap between them and the Americans is that the Iranians, frankly, see any deal that's been put on the table so far by the Americans as being capitulation and being surrender, and they would rather go down fighting than accept such a deal. And they've got very rational reasons for that, domestically and otherwise. So I don't see a situation where you're going to push the Iranians to capitulate.

If the Trump administration continues to, you know, try the same thing again and again, which is basically shock and awe tactics in order to push the Iranians to the table, I just don't think it's going to have the desired outcome. The Iranians would rather go down fighting than accept terms that they see as solution. And unfortunately what we've seen time and again in this whole conflict the Americans constantly misjudge what sort of regime they're dealing with in Iran. It's deeply ideological. It's not interested in moving forward in terms of any deal of capitulation or surrender.

They'd rather go down.

BRUNHUBER: You're talking about the regime there, and we've been talking about the gap between the U.S. and Iran. But what about the gap, if it exists, between the different factions in Iran? For instance, we know the White House believes there is a real split inside Iran's leadership on whether to accept this deal or not. So from your vantage point, I mean, is there anything that's -- is there actually an internal debate, do you think, in Tehran? If so, how big is that?

HELLYER: The frank answer is I'm not too sure, because when it comes to the regime, I think it's been solidified, at least in terms of who makes the decisions on top. I think that there is obviously an argument going on about how far to go as there would be in any sort of government in that regard. It's not so unusual when it comes to the Iranians. The unusual part of this, of course, or the thing that is less common in negotiations of this type, is that there's a very deeply ideological element here. The Iranians see this as an existential war, which I think they're correct to do so.

I think the Americans made it very clear at the beginning, and the Israelis continue to make it clear thereafter that this was a war of regime change. The Americans seem to have moved on from that. But I don't think that the Iranians believe that they wouldn't grab regime change if they could have it in an instant, which I think is probably true.

It does also cause or let's say precipitate the Iranian regime really, you know, hunkering down in that regard. And I think that they're also doing so because they realize that within the region itself, they're in a rather weak position. They have fewer allies than they've ever had. The entirety of the Gulf, I think, is much more suspicious, much more antagonistic, much more opposed to the Iranian regime than they've been ever before because, of course, the Iranians struck them. All of these states, I think, tried very hard to create this position of neutrality.

[04:15:19]

Whether or not the Iranians saw it as fully acceptable is not really my point. The governments in the region, in terms of the Gulf Arab states, all of them decided to lobby against the war or all of them decided not to participate in the war in terms of its initiation. Once the war got going, that changes. But it means that they tried really hard to present to the Iranians that they were neutral and they expected that this would have some sort of impact in terms of Iranian calculations on Gulf Arab states once the war started. It didn't.

The Iranians struck all of the Arab Gulf states almost instantaneously.

BRUNHUBER: Yes.

HELLYER: And I think in that regard, trust is really gone. So the Iranians are also in a region where I think that they know they've got very few friends and they will respond ideologically to that threat.

BRUNHUBER: Yes. We'll have to leave it there. Always appreciate your perspective. H.A. Hellyer in Cairo. Thanks so much.

At least three people are dead after a volcano erupted in Indonesia. Officials say rescuers are scrambling to find a group of missing hikers on Mount Dukuno in the northeastern part of the country. Will Ripley's monitoring this story joins us from Taipei in Taiwan.

So, Will, a developing story, but take us through what we know right now.

WILL RIPLEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kim, I just want to show you this extraordinary and frankly terrifying video that's been coming in as I give you the latest that we know. And as you mentioned, this is still developing, still early, but we know in addition to those three hikers who were killed, at least five people have been injured. There was a group of 20 we're told on the volcano despite a climbing ban that was in effect.

Now, nine Singaporeans were part of that hiking group, and that's a key detail. I'll explain a bit later. All of the survivors now believe to be accounted for.

There was still rock and ash shooting from the volcano during this rescue. So these ongoing blasts were actually hampering the body recovery. Apparently there were two porters who stayed behind to help recover the bodies.

Authorities say that this mountain, Mount Dukona, was closed for the past two weeks. And there were also warnings posted both online and at trail entrances. So these hikers were not locals. Perhaps they didn't know about this. Perhaps they may have used unmonitored hiking access routes.

That's what officials are saying. They are investigating what they call possible negligence here. But the ash column was massive. It shot up 10 kilometers. That's 30,000 feet or so into the sky.

And Dukono has been erupting quite a lot lately. It's actually erupted nearly 200 times since March. So the fact that there were Singaporeans in the group, not from the area, they might not have known what a dangerous and volatile situation they were hiking into, Kim. But when you see that video and you just imagine how terrifying that must be when you're hiking on a blue sky day and all of a sudden ash and rock are raining down from the sky and you have a giant 33,000 foot plume of smoke from this active volcano, it was frankly pretty miraculous that as many of those hikers were able to get away without being injured. But again, at least five people in hospital and three hikers dead.

Kim.

BRUNHUBER: Yes, absolutely frightening pictures there that we're seeing. Will Ripley in Taipei, thanks so much.

Well, things are going from bad to worse for Cubans after the U.S. imposed new sanctions. Still ahead, a reaction from the streets in Havana on the heels of new pressure on the already fragile economy. Plus, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio looks to patch things up between the Trump administration and the Vatican. We'll have details on what he discussed with Pope Leo next. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) [04:22:44]

BRUNHUBER: Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva says the U.S. and Brazil made an important step towards strengthening their relationship. This after Lula and Trump met at the White House on Friday. They discussed a range of topics, including Brazil's vast reserves of rare earth minerals, drug trafficking, public safety and trade. After the meeting, Lula also addressed concerns over Trump's potential plan to invade Cuba. Here he is.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LUIZ INACIO LULA DA SILVA, BRAZILIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): I believe that our relationship with Trump is a sincere one. If there is a need for Brazil to engage in dialogue with any country regarding this issue regarding American interference, whether in Cuba or in Iran, Brazil is willing to talk. What I heard, if the translator is right, is that he said he is not thinking of invading Cuba. That was said by the interpreter. And I think this is a great sign.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRUNHUBER: And Lula also offered to open a dialogue between Trump and Cuba. Cuba isn't getting a break from U.S. pressure, even if military action is said to be off the table. On Thursday, the U.S. announced new economic sanctions on a business executive and two companies linked to the government and the military. And in response, some Cubans say they're simply out of options. There may emerge more sanctions.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

AMAURY GODINEZ, HAVANA RESIDENT (through translator): They may squeeze us tighter and tighter and tighter to see if the government goes peacefully. But there can't be a war. How? We have no border with anyone to escape to. For those who don't want to fight, for those who want to leave, not everyone wants to fight.

ALEXANDER AMNAS (PH), HAVANA RESIDENT (through translator): What I fear is that there won't be a real solution as a society, right? That there won't be a real solution, that there won't be real change. That's what we really fear, that we'll continue in the same agony, unable to put food on the table, unable to provide a good education.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRUNHUBER: The U.S. imposed an oil blockade on Cuba earlier this year, causing power blackouts and upending much of daily life on the island. The White House claims Cuba aligned itself with hostile countries and President Trump has floated the idea of taking the island.

We're following two stories in Italy this hour. First, Pope Leo's marking one year since his historic election becoming the first American pope. He's set to visit Pompeii and Naples for events, including meeting with disadvantaged people and clergy members.

[04:25:07]

Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to meet with his Italian counterpart along with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni today. Now, the visit comes after criticism from President Trump for what he said was Italy's lack of support for the U.S. war against Iran.

Rubio met with Pope Leo at the Vatican on Thursday. The two discussed the Middle East and some of the other issues and disagreements in recent weeks that led Leo to tension between the Trump administration and the Vatican. Now, they exchanged gifts with Rubio acknowledging that Leo's a baseball guy as he gave him a small crystal football. The pontiff gave Rubio a pen made from olive wood, a symbol of peace.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARCO RUBIO, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: It has the seal of the State Department. So --

POPE LEO XIV: Oh, OK.

RUBIO: -- it -- what to get someone who has everything?

POPE LEO XIV: Olive being, of course, plant of peace. There's the coat of arms here, of pontificate here.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRUNHUBER: The past 12 months have seen Pope Leo grow from a low profile cardinal to one of the most recognizable figures on the planet. CNN Vatican Correspondent Christopher Lamb reports on the first year of Leo's papacy.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRISTOPHER LAMB, CNN VATICAN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): One year ago, the cardinals of the Catholic Church made history, electing the first American Pope, Leo XIV. Born in Chicago, now on the chair of St. Peter.

During these first 12 months, Leo has emerged as a gentle but steady leader at a time of turbulence and a thorn in the side of the White House.

POPE LEO XIV: War is back in vogue and a zeal for war is spreading.

LAMB (voice-over): Speaking out forcefully against the war in Iran and riling President Donald Trump telling CNN how he wanted the conflict to end.

POPE LEO XIV: I'm told that President Trump recently stated that he would like to end the war. Hopefully he's looking for an off ramp.

LAMB (voice-over): The president responding with an extraordinary broadside. But Leo seemingly unfazed.

POPE LEO XIV: I have no fear of either the Trump administration.

LAMB (voice-over): Continuing to speak out forcefully during his visit to Africa, cementing himself as a global leader and a counterweight to the U.S. president.

An American pope formed in Peru, spending years among the poor and marginalized in Latin America, a bridge builder and unifier and not someone looking for a fight. Those who know him best say he hasn't changed.

LAMB: I'm just curious, you know, a year on since Leo's election, is the pope still the same to you?

FATHER JOSEPH FARRELL, HEAD OF AUGUSTINIAN ORDER AND FRIEND OF POPE LEO: He is, yes. He still has a wonderful sense of humor. He is an -- he has untiring energy. It still is a bit unbelievable to see him, and yet it makes so much sense for us. One of our friars says to me, it looks like he went to pope school.

LAMB (voice-over): But global conflicts are weighing heavily on the pontiff.

FARRELL: His response has been very clear. I have felt very clear that the way towards resolution of finding solutions is not with arms, it's not with weapons, it's to be disarmed and disarming.

LAMB (voice-over): And the Trump administration appears keen to mend some diplomatic fences. With Secretary of State Marco Rubio sitting down with the pope on Thursday. Leo has adopted his own style as pope, more formal than his predecessor and now living in the Apostolic Palace, but pushing ahead on Pope Francis priorities on immigration and against capital punishment.

POPE LEO XIV: It is essential to honor the dignity and freedom of all God's children, both men and women, fellow nationals and foreigners, poor and rich. We are all children of God. And this has personal, social and political implications.

LAMB (voice-over): He's brought an American flavor to the papacy. Whether it's joking about baseball results, being handed deep dish pizza or his favorite candy peeps, the early months have seen him adjust to his extraordinary new role. And Leo, at 70, can afford to play the long game. But on his one year anniversary, he's a pope who has established himself with a quiet presence and a strong message.

Christopher Lamb, CNN, Rome.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BRUNHUBER: The U.S. and Iran put their ceasefire to the test. Still ahead, we're live in Dubai with the latest on Tehran's new rules for ships planning to cross through the Strait of Hormuz. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)