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New Round of Iran Talks; Poll Shows Decline in LGBTQ-Plus Support in U.S.; Pope Leo in Spain. Aired 3-4a ET

Aired June 07, 2026 - 03:00   ET

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

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BEN HUNTE, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, wherever you are in the world, you are now in the CNN Newsroom with me, Ben Hunte, in Atlanta, and it is so good to have you with me.

Coming up on the show, the U.S. and Iran trade fire, all the while a new round of negotiations for a peace deal is set to get underway.

A new Gallup poll shows a decline in support for LGBTQ issues in the U.S. We'll dig into what could be behind that trend.

And Pope Leo prepares to celebrate a public mass later today, while huge crowds greet him on his week-long trip to Spain.

Welcome. The United States is vowing to continue defending against what it calls Iranian aggression. We are learning that U.S. forces shot down two Iranian attack drones on Saturday that threatened traffic in the critical Strait of Hormuz. This all comes just a day after the U.S. intercepted ballistic missiles and drones fired by Iran toward the strait and Gulf.

Pakistani mediators have arrived in Iran for a new round of negotiations on behalf of the United States. It comes after Tehran said the talks were at a deadlock over $24 billion in frozen Iranian assets.

CNN's Oren Liebermann is following the latest developments for us.

OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN JERUSALEM BUREAU CHIEF: The U.S.-Iran ceasefire and any path forward on negotiations very much under question now after we have seen a very volatile Saturday between the U.S. and Iran and around the Gulf region.

Early Saturday morning, the U.S. Navy says they intercepted four one- way attack drones fired from Iran. Semi-official Iranian state media says they were fired at what they believed were U.S. Navy vessels transiting or attempting to transit through the region. In response, the U.S. struck surveillance radars on Iran's coast. Iran called that a violation of the ceasefire. And several hours later, we saw seven ballistic missiles launched towards Kuwait and Bahrain.

U.S. Central Command, which governs U.S. military operations in the Middle East, says six of those were intercepted, while one of those didn't make it to its target. It's worth noting that it was just this week that a, an Iranian attack hit Kuwait's airport, killing one and wounding at least 60. Under this latest attack, there were alert sirens in both Kuwait and Bahrain, so you see the difficulty here and how this makes a diplomatic path that much more challenging.

Meanwhile a Pakistan minister is in Tehran trying to make those negotiations happen and trying to find a path forward. Pakistan has acted as the mediator there. It's not just in Iran we're seeing an escalation. Iran has demanded that there is a ceasefire in Lebanon as part of any U.S.-Iran ceasefire.

But when you look at what's happening on the ground along the Israel- Lebanon border, it is just the opposite. According to Lebanon's Ministry of Public Health, Israeli strikes killed 21 people in Lebanon on Friday. And then according to the Lebanese military, an Israeli strike on a vehicle in Southern Lebanon near the city of Nabatieh killed a Lebanese brigadier general and several other officers who were traveling inside that car.

The Israeli military says they identified the car, and it was moving suspiciously in an area that was under evacuation. They say the incident will be investigated, and they will learn from this. They say any movement from the Lebanese army in that area needs to be coordinated with the Israeli military.

This coming just days after Israel and Lebanon signed another ceasefire agreement, but it was Hezbollah's leader who rejected that agreement. As you see, continued Hezbollah fire on Israeli forces in Southern Lebanon.

Oren Liebermann, CNN, in Jerusalem.

HUNTE: We are just learning that the Israel Defense Forces says it intercepted two projectiles on Sunday that crossed from Lebanon into northern Israeli territory. That is as the fighting in Southern Lebanon has claimed the lives of two more Israeli soldiers this weekend. Israel's military says a captain and a sergeant were killed in two separate incidents on Friday and Saturday. The IDF has lost 30 soldiers and one military contractor since the latest round of fighting began in March.

Lebanon's health ministry says Israeli attacks have left close to 3,600 people dead and about 11,000 wounded.

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Well, CNN's Barbie Latza Nadeau is joining us live from Rome. Barbie, there is so much happening in Lebanon right now. What's the latest that you're hearing?

BARBIE LATZA NADEAU, CNN REPORTER: Well, you know, I mean, I think what's really important to understand is this U.S.-backed ceasefire, which is between Israel and Lebanon. The Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah is not party to that ceasefire, and so that's why you're seeing all of this military activity there. And as you mentioned, just this morning, Israel intercepted these two projectiles, so the situation is incredibly volatile. And what's happening on the negotiation side and the ceasefire side certainly is not being represented on the ground there along that border, Ben.

HUNTE: And meanwhile, Pakistani mediators are back in Tehran as negotiations remain stalled. Is there any sign that the U.S. and Iran are actually moving closer to a deal? What do you know?

NADEAU: Well, you know, Ben, it really depends who you ask because when the Iranian officials talk, they say that it, there's a deadlock, that there's no movement forward. When you listen to the U.S. administration, though, it sounds like they're getting closer and closer to the deal.

Let's listen to what U.S. President Donald Trump told NBC News.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You have been saying for months, Mr. President, that Iran is begging to make a deal.

DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: True. They are so desperate to make a deal.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Why haven't they made a deal with you yet? Because they -- it's a very hard thing for them. They've had great independence. They've dealt with very weak and ineffective leadership on behalf of the United States and other countries, frankly, that were, that allowed them to get away with murder. And I don't -- I think they can't believe they're in the situation where they've been virtually decapitated.

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NADEAU: And, you know, Ben, you know, what's been a big bone of contention here are these $24 billion worth of Iranian frozen assets. And we're just hearing that the U.S. says that they would be willing to use some of those Iranian assets to help rebuild the countries in the Gulf region that have been damaged in this war.

Now, whether or not that remains enough for Iran to go forward and to take this so-called great deal remains to be seen. But, of course, when you've got the Pakistani officials there in Iran ready to start negotiations again, ready to try to broker a deal, at least there's a little bit of hope that something's going to shake loose. Ben?

HUNTE: Okay. Barbie Latza Nadeau in Rome, thank you.

In the past hour, I spoke with retired U.S. Vice Admiral Robert Harward, who's now a fellow at the Jewish Institute for the National Security of America. I asked him if the U.S. and Iran still believe that they can reach a deal or if they're trying just to prevent a wider war.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) VICE ADM. ROBERT HARWARD (RET.), FORMER DEPUTY COMMANDER, U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND: I believe both do not want a wider war, but the president's in control at this point. There's no doubt about that. He's economically choking in Iran. And so, finally, they're going to be forced to the table for that. And if he decides to use force, he can take out every economic power plant, every Kharg Island, Qeshm Island, all the oil supplies. He can really drive Iran to the ground for two, three decades to come. So, he holds all the cards this time, and time is on his behalf.

So, at the end of the day, he's going to hold to what he needs to get free flow of commerce and closing down the nuclear weapons program.

HUNTE: Over the past 48 hours, we've seen the shooting down of drones, accusations of violating the ceasefire. How close are we to a cycle of escalation that neither side can fully control?

HARWARD: I think we're very close. But, again, the president wants to avoid that, and he's giving them all the opportunities to do that, reach an agreement, hand over your nuclear material, and let oil and commerce flow through the Straits of Hormuz.

Bottom line, and I'd be shocked if he's willing to unfreeze their assets, because that's his biggest tool for leverage. He can not only choke them out now but future actions, if this does escalate, not just the military targets, all their economic targets so that roads aren't usable. The oil they won't have access. They can't refine it. They can't store it. They won't have power. They'll be tough just feeding their people driving a long-term problem for Iran.

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HUNTE: Ukraine's president is set to meet his top European allies in the hours ahead. The French presidency says the leaders of Germany, France, and Britain will hold talks in London before a joint meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The statement says the leaders will focus on coordinating their support for Ukraine and increasing pressure on Moscow.

The talks come after Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected Mr. Zelenskyy's proposal to meet face-to-face.

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There is a very sad ending to the week-long saga of an American college student missing in Japan. Search and rescue volunteers have located Weston Higginbotham's body in a mountainous area near Kyoto. The 20-year-old was visiting Japan with his family and disappeared after going off to explore on his own.

The search involved helicopters, K9 units, and more than 100 police officers. Police say the cause of death is now under investigation.

Okay. A new poll shows support for same-sex marriage has fallen in the U.S. from its peak during the Biden administration, details just ahead. See you in a moment.

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HUNTE: Welcome back. After reaching highs three to five years ago, American support for LGBTQ issues is falling. That is according to a new Gallup poll. The survey, conducted in May, found that 65 percent of U.S. adults think same-sex marriage should be legal.

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That is down from a record high of 71 percent in 2023. It also found that 62 percent of Americans say that gay or lesbian relationships are morally acceptable. That is the lowest number in a decade, and is down from a recent high of 71 percent in 2022.

When it comes to transgender acceptance, support is also falling. Just 70 -- or 38 percent said transition is, quote, morally acceptable. That's down from 46 percent in 2021. These findings come as LGBTQ rights, transgender participation in sports, and diversity programs have all become political flashpoints in the United States.

Kelley Robinson is president at the Human Rights Campaign. She joins us from Washington, D.C.

Gallup says support for LGBTQ issues is falling after decades of growth. What's your reaction to that?

KELLEY ROBINSON, PRESIDENT, HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN: Look, we got to pay attention, but we don't need to panic. Still, two-thirds of Americans support marriage equality. This is a popular issue. What we're seeing is it's being deeply politicized in this environment. So, our job is to tell our stories, to make our lives real, to regain the ground that seems to be sliding a bit, especially amongst Republicans.

HUNTE: Have LGBTQ campaigners lost the argument with some Americans, or do you think this is just a temporary backlash?

ROBINSON: Absolutely not. Look, this is fundamentally about our lives, and my marriage to my wife, Becky, is just as valid as anyone else's. Our love is just as real. Our commitment is just as strong. That's true for me and the over 800,000 same-sex couples in this country.

And what we see in this number is not an overall decline. You see a decline amongst Republicans, where our opposition has spent hundreds of millions of dollars trying to undermine not only marriage equality, but all of our basic civil rights. So, I think our job is to not cede the space that we have.

HUNTE: Why do you think the support is falling now after years of steadily increasing acceptance?

ROBINSON: I do think it's a political -- it's a political factor. Look, we are seeing an opposition that has spent hundreds of millions of dollars undermining so many of our civil rights, and marriage equality is included. And, look, when our opposition is spending hundreds of millions of dollars spewing lies, we can't respond in silence. We've got to respond by sharing our stories.

I also want to remind folks that marriage right now has a strong foundation of protection. The Respect for Marriage Act is the law of the land, guaranteeing federal protections for same-sex couples. And more than two-thirds of Americans still support marriage equality. So, again, this is a time for us to pay attention, but to not run in panic.

HUNTE: To what extent is the national debate over transgender rights driving a broader shift in attitudes towards the wider LGBTQ community?

ROBINSON: I think all of this comes down to civil rights. The nation is having a moment where we are defining who is a part of this country and who is not. If we allow our opposition to make it seem as though they can remove the rights or remove the civil liberties of trans people, or take away marriage equality from LGBTQ people, who could be next? So, I think this is actually a critical moment, especially as we come up on our nation's 250th birthday, to say definitively that freedom for all means everyone, and there's not an asterisk on that.

HUNTE: Some Americans do say they are supportive of LGBTQ people, but they have concerns about sports or schools and healthcare for transgender youth. How do you respond to that?

ROBINSON: Look, there are a variety of issues that we can dig into, but any time that we see these anti-trans attacks show up, whether they're in political campaigns or policy rhetoric, it's usually because there's not a solution to the problems that are actually impacting Americans.

Look, trans people are not the reason why gas prices are so high. Trans people are not the reason why healthcare premiums are skyrocketing or why we're in a war with Iran and most of the world at this point.

HUNTE: Gallup found that only 38 percent of Americans now say changing one's gender is morally acceptable. What does that tell you about where the country is at right now?

ROBINSON: It shows me that we've got a visibility gap. People just don't know trans people yet. This is our chance to introduce them and do so with humanity and dignity. And when we do, and when folks realize that trans people are -- you know, they're baristas at the coffee shop, and driving their Ubers, and teachers in our community, I think they'll also understand that they are not a community to be afraid of, but instead another example where we as Americans have an opportunity to show that this is truly the land of the free for all, and embrace the diversity of our communities rather than trying to push them away.

HUNTE: For LGBTQ Americans looking at these numbers and feeling worried about the future, what would you want them to hear from you?

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ROBINSON: That now is our time. Look, the fight for progress is never truly over. We have to fight for our liberties, our rights in every single generation, and now is our time. And what I want folks to know is that there are millions of people that see them, love them, and are willing to fight for them, and you are not alone.

HUNTE: Saying that, do these numbers worry you at all, the direction of travel that they're going in?

ROBINSON: They show how important this moment is. Look, we've got to tell our stories now more than ever. We've got to get out and vote for our rights. This is a time where if you care about equality, if you care about our democracy, you cannot afford to stay on the sidelines. And I guarantee that when we fight together, we will see the arc of progress continue to move closer and closer towards full equality for all.

HUNTE: Kelley Robinson, thank you so much for joining us.

ROBINSON: Thank you.

HUNTE: In the next hour, Pope Leo will be celebrating a public mass in one of Madrid's iconic plazas as he continues his week-long tour of Spain. The pontiff drew massive crowds on his first day in the capital city, meeting with royalty, political leaders, and reaching out to young people.

CNN Vatican Correspondent Christopher Lamb reports from Madrid.

CHRISTOPHER LAMB, CNN VATICAN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Pope Leo leading a huge gathering of young people here in Madrid, the end of his first day of his visit to Spain. Now, a big part of his trip to the country is to try and rekindle and support faith in a country that is quite secularized, but, of course, part of the traditional Catholic stronghold of Europe.

He told me on board the papal plane from Rome to Madrid that he's encouraged by the increasing number of young people who are interested in the church and faith. But he was aware that on Saturday night, when this vigil is taking place, there's also a Bad Bunny concert happening, and that he said if given the option, young people would probably go to the Bad Bunny concert, but he said there are those wanting to come and see the pope. So, that is something. There's hundreds of thousands expected to be here for this event.

Now, Pope Leo is in Spain from June the 6th to June the 12th. It's the first major European visit of his papacy. He met with the king and queen of Spain on Saturday. He addressed the country's authorities. He went to a homeless social action enterprise in Madrid. He's going to be going later in the trip to Barcelona and the Canary Islands.

There's a strong political element to this visit, but also one focused on defending the rights of migrants.

Christopher Lamb, CNN, Madrid. HUNTE: It was a history-making day in upstate New York as Golden Tempo won the 158th Belmont Stakes. The horse captured two of the three Triple Crown races, winning the Kentucky Derby five weeks ago. Golden Tempo's trainer, Cherie DeVeaux, also made history as the first woman to train a Kentucky Derby winner and the second to train a Belmont Stakes champion.

The Belmont Stakes returns to its traditional home next year after the Belmont Park renovations are complete in suburban New York City.

The colt Christmas Day surging to victory here to win England's legendary Epsom Derby on Saturday. His Irish trainer, Aidan O'Brien, now has a record 12 victories in that British classic.

King Charles and Queen Camilla attended the mile-and-a-half race known for fancy clothes and hats. It is widely considered the ultimate test of stamina and speed for the three-year-old thoroughbreds.

Christmas Day paid winning bettors 7-1. It is not clear what, if anything, the royals bet on that race.

The women's final at the French Open on Saturday pitted two young opponents, each eager to lock down their first Grand Slam title. At the end, Russian tennis star Mirra Andreeva quickly beat Poland's Maja Chwalinska in straight sets, but the underdog challenger had already wowed the sports world with her gritty run through qualifying and tournament rounds.

CNN World Sport's Patrick Snell has more for us.

PATRICK SNELL, CNN WORLD SPORT: So, a women's champion is crowned on this Saturday at the French Open in Paris, a never-to-be-forgotten weekend for the Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva. The superstars out in force this weekend as well at famed Roland-Garros for the women's singles final. Is that Brad Pitt in the house? I think it is.

Andreeva facing Polish qualifier Maja Chwalinska, who can be so proud of all she's accomplished at this event this year. Both players breaking serve early doors in this one before the 19-year-old from Siberia finally taking control to take the opener by six games to three.

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You know, winning that first set was absolutely huge because it swung the contest Mirra's way. Remember, she burst onto the scene as a 17- year-old two years ago when she reached the semis here. By this point, there was just no stopping the Russian player. She powers her way to the title by winning the second 6-2. And there's the moment there, Andreeva, a major champ for the very first time. What this must mean to her and her family as the teen there we saw her slumping to the ground in the tiebreak too.

And now sharing the moment with those who mean the most to her, her coach is in there, Conchita Martinez. And how about this, a special hug for a special canine pal as well. Mirra Andreyeva, a Grand Slam champion for the first time ever.

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MIRRA ANDREEVA, 2026 FRENCH OPEN CHAMPION: I want to thank myself for believing in myself, always giving my 100 percent, even when it's tough, trying every day to be better as a person and as a player, believing that I can do this, fighting so many demons inside of me. Only I know how tough it was for me and how nervous I was throughout these two weeks. So, also, thanks to myself for working so hard and giving my best.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SNELL: And up next, it's all eyes on Sunday's men's final as German star Alexander Zverev looking to end his Grand Slam major drought. Zverev taking on the Italian player, Flavio Cobolli.

And with that, it's right back to you.

HUNTE: Okay, thanks for joining me and the team. I want to thank myself. I also want to thank my team as well, of course. I'm Ben Hunte in Atlanta.

Tech for Good is next, and then there will be so much more CNN Newsroom in half an hour's time. I will see you back here tomorrow at a slightly earlier time.

See you tomorrow.

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