Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Trump Overturns Suspension of ICE Traffic Stops; Russia Strikes Kyiv Ahead of Starmer's Visit to Ukraine; Iran Human Rights Says Iran Steps Up Executions Under the Cover of War; FBI Affidavit Alleges Drugs Found in Texas Shoot Victim's Van; Illness Caused by Cyclospora Parasite Surging in the U.S.; Argentina Fans Celebrate Team's Semi- Final Comeback Win; Long-Lost Floreana Tortoises Return to The Galapagos Island. Aired 2-3a ET

Aired July 16, 2026 - 02:00   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[02:00:43]

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

Just ahead here on CNN NEWSROOM, new explosions in Iran. The U.S. launches back-to-back strikes as Tehran says negotiations are over.

Plus, despite countless debunked conspiracies, President Trump is expected to give a prime-time speech about the 2020 elections.

And the World Cup finals are set. We will have fan reaction from Atlanta and Buenos Aires.

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

CHURCH: Good to have you with us. And we begin in Iran, where U.S. Central Command says it has now completed its second wave of strikes on the country for the fifth consecutive night, it says military assets were targeted to prevent Tehran from threatening ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian media reports that explosions were heard in cities across the country, including the capital Tehran. Sources say President Trump has also been receiving options for expanding military operations to undo Tehran's grip on the Strait.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We're doing really well with Iran. The Islamic Republic of Iran is not happy right now. Should have been done 47 years ago. Should have been done at least during the 47-year period, and it wasn't. Other presidents didn't do what was right. They should have done it a long time ago. Would have been much easier. And we -- they want to settle so badly. They don't like what we're doing, and they do want to settle. We'll find out whether or not. We settle with them, or we just finish it off.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson says the country will continue to respond firmly to U.S. strikes, adding, "We currently have no plans for negotiations and remain focused on defending the country."

Meanwhile, Jordan's military says its air defenses took down eight Iranian missiles that were headed toward the country earlier. Iran claims they were targeting the U.S. military's communication systems and fuel storage facilities.

President Trump posted on social media that Iran has released an American woman who he says had been wrongfully detained since December 2024. He did not identify the woman or provide details about her release, but she was later identified by her attorney as Dena Karari. With us now from Riyadh in Saudi Arabia is Gregg Carlstrom, Middle East correspondent for The Economist. Appreciate you joining us.

GREGG CARLSTROM, MIDDLE EAST CORRESPONDENT, THE ECONOMIST: Thanks for having me.

CHURCH: So, after five consecutive nights of U.S. strikes on Iranian military facilities, with the aim of preventing Tehran from threatening ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Where do things stand right now on that critical waterway?

CARLSTROM: The Strait is still effectively shut. Most vessels are avoiding it. We've seen a real drop off in traffic over the past 10 days, and I think this gets at the underlying problem, which was a problem in the earlier phase of the war back in March and early April, and it remains a problem today. Which is that you can't bomb your way into the Strait of Hormuz being reopened.

Yes, the Americans can do damage to Iran's military capabilities, they can blow up launchers and fast boats and other things along the coast that Iran has used to attack commercial ships.

But so long as Iran can continue once or twice a week to fire a missile or a drone at a tanker trying to transit the Strait, it can make shipowners and insurers and other commercial actors believe it's not safe to go through the Strait of Hormuz. And even if it can't do that from military positions on the coast, it can continue doing it from positions further inland. It has drones that that are capable of flying a thousand kilometers or more.

So, the U.S. can keep this up for another five nights or another 50 nights, but it's not clear how these sorts of limited airstrikes get you to your ultimate strategic aim here, which is reopening the Strait to commercial traffic.

[02:05:10]

CHURCH: And Greg, sources now say that President Trump is receiving options for expanding military operations to undo Tehran's grip on the Strait. What do you think that means? CARLSTROM: First, a lot of this sounds very familiar. We're seeing

leaks over the past few days that Trump might expand American airstrikes, might deploy ground troops to try and seize some of the Iranian islands that are located near the mouth of the Strait, and then he has revived talk of trying to occupy Kharg Island, which is the site of Iran's main oil export terminal.

We heard all of this before. There were similar leaks coming out of the White House back in late March in the run up to the ceasefire, when Trump was again threatening escalation against Iran. The problem is, again, none of this really is going to do what you want it to do. You can expand airstrikes, but the regime has been through six weeks of far more intense American and Israeli strikes already, and then the idea of trying to seize territory, the U.S. could do that. It could certainly capture Iranian islands near the mouth of the Strait of Hormuz.

But what do you do then? What do you do with those islands? You will have to hold them. American troops will have to remain there, probably under drone attack or missile attack from the Iranian mainland, and it's not clear how you use those islands to reopen the Strait, because again, all it requires for Iran to close the waterway is to be able to shoot at vessels from somewhere in the country.

CHURCH: And Iran's top negotiator says Tehran must continue to defend itself while also remaining open to diplomatic talks. Although we're hearing conflicting comments on that. How open do you think Iran really is to negotiating an end to this war, and what will it take to get them back to the table and talk seriously about ending it?

CARLSTROM: I think some people in the Iranian system are probably open to talking. Mohammad Ghalibaf, that that chief negotiator you mentioned, who is the speaker of Iran's parliament, I think is on the more pragmatic side of things, where he recognizes that Iran is in a very deep economic crisis right now. The regime, by its own estimate, says the war has caused something like $270 billion worth of damage. A million people have lost their jobs because of strikes on critical infrastructure in Iran, and that's on top of the economic crisis that already existed before the war, the one caused by many years of American sanctions and economic mismanagement by the Iranians.

So, you have these more pragmatic figures who realize the only way out of this is to make a deal that secures sanctions relief that allows Iran to export oil. That was the whole point of the MOU. It offered those sorts of economic benefits to the Iranians.

But the problem is, you have another wing of this government in Tehran that isn't interested in negotiating with the U.S. that believes maintaining control of the Strait of Hormuz, being able to decide which ships can go through when they can do it, administering the Strait in effect, they think that is more important than any other benefits that they might stand to gain from the memorandum, and for the moment, at least, it seems like that more hardline, aggressive faction in Iran is winning the arguments. CHURCH: And what do you make of President Trump's post on social media about Iran releasing an American woman who he says was wrongfully detained since December 2024, calling the move a gesture of goodwill by Iran. What could that signal do you think?

CARLSTROM: Well, and right, we don't know many of the details of what happened, of what led up to this, but the timing, I suspect, is probably not a coincidence. We've seen Iran do this in the past when it has had moments of tension with the United States or with countries in Europe, where Iran will release someone who they've effectively been holding hostage as a goodwill gesture, Iran has a history of doing that.

But how much goodwill that's actually going to generate with the United States right now, at a moment when Donald Trump's main goal, reopening the Strait of Hormuz, is not being achieved. I'm not sure how significant this is going to be. It's a gesture, but it doesn't get at the underlying point of dispute here between the U.S. and Iran.

CHURCH: Gregg Carlstrom, good to talk with you. Many thanks for your perspective and analysis. Appreciate it.

Well, the Trump administration is slapping new 25 percent tariffs on most goods coming from Brazil, alleging unfair trade practices. U.S. relations with Brazil have soured since the election of Luis Inesio Lula da Silva as president in 2022.

[02:10:05]

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says Lula and his government have negotiated in bad faith. President Trump was a huge supporter of the previous president Jair Bolsonaro. He was convicted of attempting a coup to overturn his election loss.

Democratic lawmakers are becoming more and more divided over support for Israel. Nearly half the Democrats in the U.S. House voted to block billions of dollars in military aid to Israel on Wednesday. The amendment proposed by Republican Congressman Thomas Massie ultimately failed, but some progressive Democrats are celebrating the massive shift in their party. Two years ago, only 37 Democrats voted to block aid to Israel in a similar vote.

The United Nations is warning that humanitarian needs in Gaza remain severe, with families reporting ongoing shortages of food, clean water, and medical supplies. The U.N. says that nearly 1.5 million people need long-term shelter support. That includes 850,000 requiring emergency shelter. The U.N. spokesperson says aid groups have delivered hundreds of thousands of housing supplies in the past month, but they are running out without more funding.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STEPHANE DUJARRIC, U.N. SPOKESPERSON: Living conditions continue to be severely undermined by insecurity, the absence of alternatives, gaps in access to drinking water, food, healthcare, sanitation, and education. (END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: President Trump is preparing for a prime-time address to the nation in the coming hours. He's calling it really big news and says the speech will deal with U.S. elections ahead of November's midterms.

Sources tell CNN he will focus on the security of voting machines and alleged efforts by foreign countries to influence U.S. elections.

CNN's Manu Raju asked Vice President J.D. Vance about the speech.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MANU RAJU, CNN CHIEF CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: A lot of Republicans here want him to focus on the 2026 midterms and not to relitigate his claims over the 2020 elections. Would you encourage him to steer clear of those unfounded claims that he is actually the true victor of the 2020 elections?

J.D. VANCE, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I'm obviously not going to get ahead of his remarks, but we can talk about a number of the American people's problems. We can solve a number of the American people's problems the next -- that's exactly what we're going to work with our House colleagues and our Senate friends to do.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: Todd Blanche was at the center of one of two high-profile confirmation hearings on Wednesday in Washington, he's been serving as acting attorney general since April and is President Trump's pick to lead the Justice Department permanently. Lawmakers questioned him on a wide range of issues, including the release of the Epstein files and his previous role as the president's personal attorney. CNN's Cheryl Hubbard has the highlights.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you swear or affirm that the testimony you're about to give before this committee will be the truth?

SHERRELL HUBBARD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Todd Blanche, President Donald Trump's nominee to be Attorney General, faced a high- stakes confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Blanche was tested on his fealty to Trump.

SEN. JOHN KENNEDY (R-LA): Are you and President Trump friends?

TODD BLANCHE, DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL: I'm his lawyer, was his lawyer, and now I'm the deputy attorney general. So, I met him as his criminal defense attorney.

HUBBARD (voice-over): And some committee members had questions about the Epstein survivors.

BLANCHE: I have never said I will not meet with survivors.

SEN. DICK DURBIN (D-IL): Will you meet with these 10 survivors? I'm asking you on the record.

BLANCHE: Do they have lawyers?

DURBIN: Well, you're dancing on the head of a pin here.

BLANCHE: I'm not dancing on any pin.

HUBBARD (voice-over): And questions about the Epstein files released during his tenure as acting A.G. He acknowledged there were some errors in the vetting of the publicly released Epstein files, but defended his handling of the files.

During the multi-hour hearing, Blanche called Trump's U.S. Capitol riot pardons generous, dodged a question about litigation challenging federal rules allowing abortion pills to be received in the mail, and spoke about the status of a $1.8 billion so-called anti-weaponization fund for Trump's allies.

BLANCHE: There is no weaponization fund.

HUBBARD (voice-over): And the acting attorney general seemed to sluff off calls to investigate FBI Director Kash Patel.

SEN. SHELDON WHITEHOUSE (D-RI): How long do you intend to put up with that Kash Patel character?

BLANCHE: That's an extraordinarily obnoxious question, Senator.

HUBBARD (voice-over): I'm Sherrell Hubbard reporting.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: The other hearing on Wednesday was for Jay Clayton, the president's pick to become the director of national intelligence. Clayton offered few details about his plans for the role and repeatedly declined to answer questions about the 2020 election. That led to some tense exchanges with lawmakers. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. MARK WARNER (D-VA): Do you deny that Joe Biden won the 2020 election?

JAY CLAYTON, DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE NOMINEE: Senator, I'm not -- I'm not an election denier. Joe Biden was certified as the president of the United States. I believe he had the most electoral votes.

[02:15:07]

SEN. MARK KELLY (D-AZ): So, he won the election?

CLAYTON: He followed our process, had the most electoral votes, was declared the winner, and --

KELLY: And who has the most electoral votes? Is it the person that wins or the person that loses?

CLAYTON: I think that's your characterization.

SEN. JON OSSOFF (D-GA): Who won the 2020 election?

CLAYTON: You know, I'm not going to do this with you.

OSSOFF: Who won the 2020 election?

CLAYTON: Like I said, I'm not -- I'm not going to get into that with you.

OSSOFF: You refuse to answer a simple matter of fact about the 2020 election. Is that right?

CLAYTON: No, that's not right.

OSSOFF: Then answer the question. Who won the 2020 election?

CLAYTON: I have answered the question.

OSSOFF: Answer it. What is your answer?

CLAYTON: I've given you my answer.

OSSOFF: What is your answer? You refuse to answer a basic question about who won a presidential election, but you asked to lead America's intelligence community? Isn't it humiliating to be unable to answer this question, to have to indulge the president's delusions?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: A crew member there describing the hellish scenes outside a train. It was halted by a wall of flames in Ontario, Canada. The train had been evacuating areas affected by wildfires. A spokesman for the Canadian National Railway says the crew safely escaped the area but did not offer any details. The union representing the crew criticized the railway for allowing a train to travel through the region, more than a hundred active wildfires have forced mandatory evacuation orders in northwestern Ontario this week.

Well, still to come, Argentina and Lionel Messi are headed to the World Cup final again. We will have all the reaction and highlights from Argentina's semi-final match against England, that's next.

Plus, the parasite outbreak affecting fresh produce is spreading. Why health officials say this is the worst outbreak in many years. We'll have details on the other side of the break. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[02:21:59]

CHURCH: This was the scene in Buenos Aires as fans erupted in joy after Argentina beat England 2-1 in Wednesday's World Cup semi-final match here in Atlanta. Crowds flocked to the streets in the Argentine capital to celebrate the come-from-behind victory against long-time rival England. The three Lions were trying to hold on to an early lead, but in the 85th minute, Argentina leveled the score one all. Then, in added time, Lionel Messi found Lautaro Martinez for the game- winning goal.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LAUTARO MARTINEZ, ARGENTINA FORWARD (through translator): Today, once again, we were trailing, and we managed to turn it around in stoppage time, and that speaks volumes about this group, about this team that is never satisfied. We want more. We want to go for more, and in the end, that's what counts. So, now, it's time to rest and enjoy what's to come.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: England now exits the tournament, making a valiant run and delivering one of the strongest tournament performances for the team in years. Captain Harry Kane reflected on the tough loss.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HARRY KANE, ENGLAND CAPTAIN AND STRIKER: We struggled to keep the momentum of the game. We've done so well for that kind of 60 minutes, we scored. We deserved to be ahead, and then for one reason or another, we struggled to keep the ball. We struggled to put pressure on the ball, and it just allowed them to create more momentum.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: So, now the World Cup final is set. Argentina will meet Spain in Sunday's showdown in New Jersey. World Cup history in the making. The first ever meeting in a final between the champions of Europe and South America. Argentina aiming to become the first back-to-back World Cup title holder since 1962. CNN's Amanda Davies reports from Atlanta.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

AMANDA DAVIES, CNN WORLD SPORT: This is an Argentina side who just can't be written off. We knew they weren't going to give up their crown without a fight, but boy, did they turn it into one in an absolute cauldron of an atmosphere here in Atlanta. I have honestly never heard or not heard, as the case may be, national anthems like it. If noise really could blow off roofs, it would have done.

The tone was set from the word go, you could feel every pound of the weight of history and the rivalry. Thomas Tuchel had said he thought the challenge of Messi in Argentina would bring out the best of his side. This was a challenge that just wouldn't allow it.

Neither side managing to find a way through for a decent chance in the first half. But then, on 55 minutes, England fans were daring to dream. Barcelona's new signing, Anthony Gordon, scoring his first World Cup goal.

But 35 minutes is a long time, too long to defend against this Argentina side. The onslaught began. They hit the woodwork a couple of times, and Enzo Fernandez, and then ultimately Lautaro Martinez found a way through to break England's hearts once again and put Argentina into their second straight final.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's Messi, you can't go against him.

[02:25:01]

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He's the GOAT. I didn't have anything, like, nothing to say. He's -- Jesus, I don't know. He's up there.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're just so full of emotion right now. It just means the world to us because it's just we're all a family here.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We always make a comeback. We always come back.

DAVIES: After the tears of sheer relief from Messi in previous games, this time, like the fans, he had a huge smile on his face at the final whistle. Another chapter in the fiercest of rivalries written. Another Argentina victory to put them into Sunday's decider on the biggest World Cup stage.

Amanda Davies, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: Joining me now is Marcelo Balboa, former U.S. men's national team legend, an analyst for MLS on Apple TV. He also played in three FIFA World Cups. Great to have you with us.

MARCELO BALBOA, FORMER U.S. MEN'S NATIONAL TEAM PLAYER: Thanks for having me. Appreciate it.

CHURCH: Of course. So, we saw Argentina beat England in a stunning battle between the rivals on Wednesday, delivering Argentina a spot in the World Cup final on Sunday. Your thoughts on that incredible game?

BALBOA: You know, if you're an American-Argentine, or Argentine, you had a few heart attacks throughout the game, but listen, I think when you put defending champions back against the wall, they show their true colors.

Argentina came out, and in the second half, it was a completely different team. And no matter what anybody says, when you have a 38- year-old or 39-year-old within the last 20 minutes put this team on his back. He was looking for the ball. He's crossing the ball. He was dribbling by guys.

You know, I think just goes to show there's no question anymore who is the best player ever in our sport, and it's Messi because what he did today at his age, being able to take a team on his back, lead him into a finals now was fantastic.

CHURCH: Yes, I think you're absolutely right. And now champions Argentina and Spain go head-to-head on Sunday in the World Cup final. Which team do you expect to come out on top and walk away with that trophy?

BALBOA: That's a great question. That was a great question because both play similar styles. Both have game changers. One's a little younger, and Yamal, who is 19 years old, and you've got Messi, who's 39. I think this will be a very, we'll say, possession-oriented. Both teams will have a lot of the ball. They'll both defend. They'll both -- they both like to have the ball, and they're best when they have the ball.

But let's hope that that we have a spectacular game, a good finish, and yes, I would like to see Argentina win because I am American- Argentina, Argentine-American. My mom and dad are from Argentina, so I do favor them a little bit more.

CHURCH: What have been the greatest moments of this 2026 World Cup tournament so far for you at least?

BALBOA: Oh, I think you can go back to a few, but I think the story of this World Cup has been Cape Verde. I think when you look at what they've done, no one gave them a chance. They came in, they make it into the knockout game. They took Argentina all the way to the end.

When you look at a story like that, you know I think that it's this is what the World Cup's about, about teams coming here, surprising people, making their countries proud. Norway, what they did with Haaland, you know what I mean.

So, I think when you look at it overall, it's been probably one of the best World Cups we've seen, attendance-wise, rating-wise.

And then you got to go with the U.S. You know, when you draw over 35 million viewers for a single game for the U.S. national team, that's a sign that that our sport, MLS, everything's going in the right direction.

CHURCH: There have been some incredible moments, haven't there? And I did want to get your opinion on FIFA now examining the feasibility of expanding the men's World Cup to 64 teams, up from the current 48 team format. Is that expansion a good idea do you think?

BALBOA: Listen, this is just my opinion, and I'd like to see them sit back another World Cup, sit back, evaluate, process everything. Instead of just jumping from one to one to one to one, you know, next thing you know, and two World Cups from now, what are we going to have? 100 plus teams in a World Cup.

So, I think you have to go back and evaluate this World Cup and see if it worked. Was it successful? Was it not successful? Were the games competitive enough, and then you can make a decision.

By the time you get to Saudi Arabia, I think you can make a decision by then. So, I would hope that they're not going to rush into 64 teams. I get it, more teams qualify, more teams get an opportunity to play in the World Cup, but it also is an elite tournament, the best of the best. You have to qualify to get here, so it would be nice to see them sit back and at least let the next World Cup be with the -- with the 40 plus teams, and then move into thinking about 64 teams after that.

CHURCH: Right. I think we'll all be watching to see what they do decide in the end. Marcelo Balboa, thank you so much for joining us, a pleasure to talk with you.

[02:30:00]

BALBOA: Thanks for having me. Have a great day.

CHURCH: You too. President Trump pulls a 180 on the Department of Homeland Security. What he's now saying about traffic stops targeting undocumented immigrants in the U.S. That's just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[02:35:00]

CHURCH: Welcome back, everyone. We are getting word on new Russian strikes on Kyiv, just ahead of a visit by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. He's expected to arrive there in the coming hours on his final trip as the head of the government.

Ukraine says the new strikes killed two people and caused fires. Mr. Starmer is expected to hold talks with Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy about the progress made in the war against Russia. They're also set to discuss Britain's efforts to support Ukraine militarily and diplomatically.

Well, as the U.S. and Iran trade military strikes, Tehran is accused of using the opportunity to crack down on dissent at home. According to Iran Human Rights, an NGO based in Norway, the Iranian regime is dramatically stepping up executions of political prisoners while the world is distracted by the war. CNN's Isobel Yeung spoke with an Iranian woman whose brothers are on death row.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ISOBEL YEUNG, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Niki Nikbakht recently learned that her two brothers, Hadi and Fazlollah, have been given the death sentence by the Islamic Republic of Iran. Every day from her home in Germany, she checks in with her family back home.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hello?

NIKI NIKBAKHT, BROTHERS SENTENCED TO DEATH IN IRAN (through translator): How's everything? Any news?

YEUNG (voice-over): Niki's brothers are just two of dozens of political prisoners facing execution in Iran right now. They stand accused of encouraging dissent against the regime and were convicted of broad charges of corruption.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): Death to Khamenei.

YEUNG: The Islamic Republic in the past has said that they only issued the death penalty after due process and that it's only given for very serious crimes, for people who have committed horrendous things. Is that not what your brothers have done?

NIKBAKHT (through translator): They always try to portray politically active people as a threat to society to justify their death sentence. It's creating fear in the society

YEUNG (voice-over): Earlier this year, after widespread protests where the authorities cracked down with lethal force, President Trump claimed he'd stepped in to stop Iran from executing hundreds of people.

But since the U.S.-led war, Iran has intensified repression and sped up the pace of executions. At least 44 political prisoners, including protesters, have been killed since the conflict broke out, according to the Norway-based Iran Human Rights NGO.

NIKBAKHT: So this is Hadi and his wife and his two sons.

YEUNG: And how are they handling it?

NIKBAKHT (through translator): I don't think that their mother has mentioned the death sentence to them.

YEUNG (voice-over): With each execution, the regime sends a chilling message. We're still in charge and dissent will not be tolerated.

YEUNG: It must be impossible to put it out of your mind. I mean, how are you feeling on a daily basis about what could be to come?

NIKBAKHT (through translator): The only thing I can do now is be their voice. There's nothing else I can do. I don't want to say the situation is unimaginable, but in the end, we have to stay strong. That's our only option.

YEUNG (voice-over): Human rights groups decry what they say are forced confessions used to justify these executions. Earlier this year, 26-year-old Nasser Bakardazeh and 28-year-old Mehrab Abdullazadeh confessed to serious crimes. Nasser's filmed confession about espionage was used as propaganda and publicized on Iranian state media.

NASSER BAKARDAZEH, EXECUTED BY IRAN (through translator): I took several photos of a hall in an IRGC Sepah facility

YEUNG (voice-over): But in recorded calls from prison during their final days, both Nasser and Mehrab said they'd been tortured into making these confessions.

MEHRAB ABDULLAZADEH, EXECUTED BY IRAN (through translator): From the very first day of my arrest, they forced confessions out of me through torture and threats, confessions that were entirely false.

YEUNG (voice-over): Both Nasser and Mehrab were hanged on the 2nd of May. Hamid Chapati shared a cell with both men in Urmieh Central Prison. Chapati is a Kurdish-Iranian activist who was imprisoned there for three months HAMID CHAPATI, SHARED CELL WITH EXECUTED IRANIAN DISSIDENTS (through translator): For Nasser and Mehrab and every prisoner sentenced to execution, every day can be the last day, and every moment can be the last moment. At night, they cannot sleep.

YEUNG: Do you remember the day when you found out that Nasser was executed?

CHAPATI (through translator): When Nasser's execution sentence was confirmed, he had sent a message to me through a mutual friend that he wants to talk to me for the last time. And unfortunately, I could not talk to him. But when I heard the news of his execution, I feel like I was executed with him too.

YEUNG (voice-over): As the war in Iran heats up again, human rights feel far from the priority, and the regime is once again ruling through fear.

Isobel Yeung, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[02:40:00]

CHURCH: President Trump is ordering federal agents to resume traffic stops in their effort to deport undocumented immigrants.

Sources say the president was furious about the pause ordered on Tuesday by the Department of Homeland Security. It came after ICE officers shot and killed two people in less than a week, one in Texas, the other in Maine. Neither one was the actual target of an immigration enforcement operation.

The FBI is making new allegations in the shooting death of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo. The Mexican national was killed by ICE agents last week in Houston, Texas. CNN's Ed Lavandera has details.

ED LAVANDERA, CNN SENIOR U.S. NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: There were already questions swirling around the validity of how federal investigators described the shooting death of 52-year-old Lorenzo Salgado Araujo last Tuesday in Houston. And now, there is renewed criticism of federal investigators in how they are handling this case.

In a federal search warrant obtained by CNN, investigators say they found four plastic bags inside Salgado's white van and that those plastic bags contained a white crystal substance consistent with methamphetamine. Now we should be clear, this warrant does not say that definitively it is drugs of any kind. We have reached out to the FBI to ask and see if that substance has been tested.

We have not heard back, but already there has been intense calls and questions about the validity of what is in this search warrant. A Latino activist very close to -- who has been working with the family over the last week says this smells of a smear campaign and a cover- up. The ACLU put out a statement saying that the Trump administration and the FBI lacked the credibility to investigate itself in this case. They say that anybody reading what is in the contents of this search warrant should be very skeptical of what they're reading and they continue to call for a full independent investigation. The Harris County District Attorney's Office say prosecutors were given access to the van by the local FBI office there in Houston. It's not clear whether or not they were able to watch the execution of this search warrant on this white van. That isn't exactly clear to us.

But a great deal of questions and accusations that perhaps the drugs were planted in the van and a lot of criticism of the information detailed in this search warrant. The Salgado family has not commented directly about the accusations and the allegations in this search warrant, but we also did learn today that the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas Rangers, the state authorities here, they say that they will be conducting an independent and separate investigation into the shooting death of 52-year-old Lorenzo Salgado Araujo as well.

Ed Lavandera, CNN, Dallas.

CHURCH: Still to come, CNN visits the Galapagos Islands for an historic release more than a quarter of a century in the making. Back in just a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[02:47:48]

CHURCH: The Galapagos Islands are famous for their biodiversity and also inspiring Charles Darwin's theory of evolution. But since Darwin's visit back in 1835, many of its iconic species have faced severe devastation. Today on "Call to Earth," we will witness the remarkable return of a reptile not seen in decades.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BILL WEIR, CNN CHIEF CLIMATE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's a historic day for the Galapagos Island of Floreana as crates containing a long-lost treasure are delivered to its shoreline.

JAMES GIBBS, VICE PRESIDENT, SCIENCE AND CONSERVATION, GALAPAGOS CONSERVANCY: This is absolutely a new beginning. It's a huge milestone. It's the first time tortoises have returned to Floreana Island in 150 or so years.

WEIR (voice-over): Each crate weighs up to 80 kilograms and will need to be carried more than a kilometer inland where over the next three days 158 giant land tortoises will be released. This first reintroduction is part of a much larger long-term plan to re-wild the island with a dozen native species.

As ecosystem engineers, tortoises are critical to these tropical islands helping disperse seeds, trample vegetation, and create habitat for other species.

GIBBS: Floreana had, we estimate, 10,000 to 15,000 giant tortoises at one point.

WEIR (voice-over): Each island in the Galapagos has a distinct subspecies of tortoise. Floreana's was the first to be driven to extinction, largely due to the 19th century whaling industry which used the island as a stopover and exploited the turtles for food.

But in 2000, while conducting a Galapagos-wide tortoise census, James Gibbs made a surprising discovery on Isabela Island's Wolf Volcano.

GIBBS: And there were many of the thousands of the native species there, but immediately, it became obvious that there are some strange tortoises here and nowhere in Galapagos do you have the two types of tortoises occurring together.

[02:50:00]

WEIR (voice-over): Genetic testing would reveal these strange tortoises were hybrids carrying both Wolf Volcano and Floreana lineage.

GIBBS: It was always sort of a dream that, wow, maybe Floreana tortoises actually still exist in some form and maybe get them back on the island.

WEIR (voice-over): 26 years later, that dream has become reality.

FREDDY VILLALBA, RANGER & BREEDING CENTER MANAGER, GALAPAGOS NATIONAL PARK DIRECTORATE (through translator): These are the last eggs that are hatching.

WEIR (voice-over): For the past 15 years, more than 700 tortoises with Floreana ancestry have been raised at this breeding center on Santa Cruz Island, all intended for reintroduction.

VILLALBA (through translator): Once they complete the 30 days of being born in the dark box, then they move to these pens which are the pens where they will stay for two to three years. They are quite small and we have to take great care of them because, at that size, they are still easy prey for predators.

WEIR (voice-over): According to the Galapagos Conservancy, captive- bred tortoises need to be between five and seven years old for them to have a fighting chance when released in the wild. But back on Floreana, this pioneering group are all 12 to 14 years old. Added maturity that will hopefully ensure their homecoming is a success. Each tortoise is also fitted with a GPS transmitter.

CHRISTIAN SEVILLA, DIRECTOR OF ECOSYSTEMS, GALAPAGOS NATIONAL PARK DIRECTORATE (through translator): With these 158 tortoises, what we want is to determine which areas they will use for foraging and for migration, or for the ecological niches of these species.

WEIR (voice-over): Change won't happen overnight and more releases are planned in coming years. But if the classic fable teaches us anything, you can bet on the tortoise. GIBBS: It'll take a long time to get back to the 10,000 to 15,000 tortoises. They do grow slowly but they're very steady and persistent. I mean the tortoise and the hare, the tortoise does win the race. And I think it is just the beginning and the island is going to get its tortoises back and start itself to replenish and renew.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: And let us know what you're doing to answer the call with the hashtag "Call to Earth" and we'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHURCH: Keir Starmer is in Ukraine right now, making his final trip as Britain's Prime Minister. He announced his resignation last month, less than two years after the Labor Party won an election in a landslide. Starmer is being pushed out by his own party after a series of policy missteps.

[02:55:00]

Former Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham is poised to be Starmer's replacement at 10, Downing Street. Russian strikes hit Kyiv just ahead of that visit by the British prime minister. Ukraine says the new strikes killed two people and caused fires.

An outbreak of an illness caused by a parasite is surging across parts of the U.S. More than 3,000 cases of cyclospora have been reported in Michigan and Ohio. The parasite causes an intestinal illness that can lead to diarrhea and other symptoms.

Experts recommend avoiding pre-cut or packaged produce. Nationwide, the CDC says more than 7,000 cases have been confirmed or under investigation in 34 states since May. Health officials say this is the worst outbreak in many years.

Argentina fans, here in Atlanta, were crying tears of joy after their team's stunning late comeback win over England, 2-1, in their World Cup semi-final. And in Argentina, the emotions are just as strong. Stefano Pozzebon has reaction from Buenos Aires.

STEFANO POZZEBON, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: This is what winning a FIFA World Cup semi-final looks like in Argentina. La Albiceleste, Lionel Messi and his teammates were able to score 2-1 and win against England on Wednesday. It was a nerve-wracking performance with England taking a lead with Anthony Gordon on the 55th minute.

Argentina finally equalizing on the 87th and then on the 92nd, Lautaro Martinez making it to the final. They're now off to play against Spain on Sunday. This nation is truly one that lives (ph) football like no other.

We've been here only for a couple of days and still the nation is really bracing itself, preparing for that final against Spain. We were here in 2022 when they won the third World Cup. Now, Argentina will have a chance to bite at history for the second time in a row. We'll see you on Sunday, Argentina against Spain.

CHURCH: And while that semi-final didn't end the way England fans had wanted, they did have some fun celebrating one of their team's stars. Hours before Wednesday's match, crowds of young men gathered in London for a look-alike contest to see who most resembled midfielder, Jude Bellingham.

A university student was crowned the winner. The prize? A food delivery voucher worth more than $2,000 and a Beatles Box Set, all presented by another look-alike of Norway star, Erling Haaland. Good mates there.

(LAUGH)

CHURCH: Thank you so much for your company this hour. I'm Rosemary Church. "CNN Newsroom" with the lovely Lynda Kinkade is next after a quick break. Stay with us.

[02:58:14]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[03:00:00]