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CNN International: Von Der Leyen Invites Canada To Be EU's First Associate Member; White House Under Pressure Over Iran War Costs, A.I. Policy; Four Years Since Death Of Mahsa Amini In Iranian Custody. Aired 4.30-5a ET
Aired September 16, 2026 - 04:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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POLO SANDOVAL, CNN ANCHOR: Hi, welcome back. I'm Polo Sandoval in New York. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has been delivering her annual address. Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney is in attendance at her invitation, and she made a new proposal for strengthening the EU's relationship with Ottawa.
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URSULA VON DER LEYEN, PRESIDENT, EUROPEAN COMMISSION: This is not a partnership against anyone else, but for our common strength. In short, we want to bring the relationship with Canada to the highest level possible. And, dear Mark, I said we must urgently reimagine our partnerships. So I would like to work with you on opening the door for Canada to being the first associate member of the European Union.
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SANDOVAL: In a sometimes-contentious Capitol Hill hearing on Tuesday, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defended the Trump administration's war with Iran, even as lawmakers pressed him on surging energy prices for U.S. consumers. He also faced questions about the administration's approach to A.I.. Karin Caifa has more from Washington.
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PROTESTER: Stop the sanctions that are killing Iranian civilian -
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Committee will be in order.
KARIN CAIFA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent interrupted multiple times on Capitol Hill Tuesday by anti-Iran war protesters.
PROTESTER: Stop the sanctions on Iran.
CAIFA: Bessent making an appearance before the House Financial Services Committee, defended President Donald Trump's handling of Iran. SCOTT BESSENT, U.S. TREASURY SECRETARY: Under his leadership, America is no longer managing the Iranian threat. We are ending it.
CAIFA: But lawmakers grilled Bessent on the conflict's upward pressure on oil and energy prices.
REP. MAXINE WATER (D-CA): You launched a so-called economic D-Day against Iran, but markets barely blinked. Crude oil prices continue to increase, and you have dismissed the effects on American households.
CAIFA: And the day after, President Trump dismissed A.I. safety fears as a hoax.
REP. STEPHEN LYNCH (D-MA): Do you think the president understands that it is not as simple as -- as what he has described?
CAIFA: Bessent was pressed on administration efforts toward guardrails.
BESSENT: The best way to guarantee safety is that the creators are liable for what they build.
CAIFA: Bessent also dismissed concerns about Trump's recent pledge to send Americans $5,000 checks if Republicans retain control of Congress in November's midterm elections, adding to the nation's $40 trillion debt.
BESSENT: I think it's a good idea for the American people to keep more of their money.
CAIFA: The secretary's testimony came the day before the Federal Reserve is widely expected to raise its benchmark interest rate for the first time since July 2023 to curb inflation stoked by the conflict in the Middle East. In Washington, I'm Karin Caifa.
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SANDOVAL: Well, today marks four years since the death in Iranian police custody of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish Iranian woman. She died after being detained by Iranian authorities and then taken to the so-called re-education center, accused of not abiding by the country's conservative dress code, specifically wearing her hijab too loosely.
Her arrests and death in custody sparked nationwide protests known as the "Woman, Life, Freedom Movement." At the time, it represented one of the most significant challenges to the regime since the 1979 revolution but the mass demonstrations were brutally suppressed by the Iranian government and security forces.
[04:35:00] More than 550 people were killed and almost 20,000 arrested. All right, to discuss all this, we're joined now by Ambassador Melanne Verveer. She's the Executive Director of the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace, and Security, and also the former U.S. Ambassador at Large for Global Women's Issues. Madam Ambassador, thank you so much for joining us.
MELANNE VERVEER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, GEORGETOWN INSTITUTE FOR WOMEN, PEACE, AND SECURITY: Well, thank you, Polo. It's good to be with you.
SANDOVAL: Yeah, we could begin perhaps with just what's happening today in Iran, even in the face of war. Does the Woman Life Freedom Movement remain alive?
VERVEER: Well, it does, and I think it's wonderful that this anniversary is being marked in the midst of the war that is continuing, because the young woman Amini Mahsa died -- was killed actually four years ago today, and her death sparked an enormous protest movement, and it was a call for exactly that.
There had been and continued to be repression, terrible repression of women in Iran, and the mandatory hijab, the compulsory hijab, was one of the manifestations of that repression. But there were so many others, and what is interesting on this anniversary, in the midst of this war that continues, for example, 10 NGOs, organizations that cover the breadth of society, from oil worker associations to nurses to retirees to women's groups issued a statement on this anniversary.
Basically saying that they continue to vow to the continue this effort for equality, for freedom, for economic security, and for an end to repression, and we also know that there were some Kurdish women in prison who have marked a hunger strike today. So -- so this vital movement in the midst of everything that's happening continues to resonate throughout the society.
SANDOVAL: I'm so glad you mentioned Mahsa Amini's death. It really her name alone became sort of this rallying cry for the masses in Iran years ago, hoping for more independence, what are -- and freedom. What are some of the noticeable changes, Ambassador, on the streets of Iran today, you know, especially after Amini's death in the custody of Iran's notorious morality police?
VERVEER: Well, you know, it's -- it's -- it's interesting, women, especially women and children, disproportionately are impacted by war, there's a terrible humanitarian crisis that's ongoing. The economic situation is very severe. Very high pressures on livelihoods, shortage of products, inflation is very high, life is very difficult.
In fact, women have to manage that empty table, so to speak, and the repression, regrettably, perhaps not surprisingly, but even with all of the other attention that the Revolutionary Guard is -- is focused on today, they are continuing to surveil, to monitor, to detain, to imprison, to brutalize women and other members of society who exhibit any kind of mannerisms or protests against what they consider inappropriate.
And in fact, in that message that was issued, those organizations said that the regime should stop justifying repression by use in -- by virtue of the fact that there is an ongoing war and there is a security environment, that that is no justification for repression. So in fact, the repression continues, and it is in many ways intensified. SANDOVAL: What would it take -- obviously, this regime, as you point out, continues to repress its people. It is nonetheless perhaps being tested by the war. Ambassador, what do you think it could take to perhaps see yet another movement on the streets of Iran, and -- and -- and that it would hopefully lead to even more change?
VERVEER: Well, the spirit of the people is there. There is no doubt that the gaps between the regime and the masses of people is enormous. They are not happy to make an understatement with the conditions in which they live and the repression that they suffer from.
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Regime change is something they have longed for, and their efforts that, in many ways, seemed hopeful not that many months ago, as the beginning of the end, have turned out to be a little different, and it's very difficult to predict where all of this ends up.
SANDOVAL: Yeah, we'll certainly be watching it closely, Ambassador Melanne Verveer. Thank you so much for -- for your perspective and of course for your ongoing work to defend the rights of women around the world.
VERVEER: Thank you very much.
SL Democrats in Congress have launched an investigation into reports that a Russian oligarch paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for President Trump's son's wedding celebrations in the Bahamas. The inquiry follows a report by ProPublica. CNN's Tom Foreman with more.
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TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: On social media, Donald Trump Jr. and his new wife Bettina say their blowout post-wedding party in the Bahamas was no conspiracy, no mystery. So why, in that intimate gathering of family and friends on a pair of private islands, did so many people not know this guest? At least, according to U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche.
TOOD BLANCHE, U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL: The president doesn't know who this person is. I think other members of the family don't know who this person is.
FOREMAN: But in a detailed investigation, ProPublica says the mystery man is Russian billionaire Umar Kremlev, who footed the bill for hundreds of thousands of dollars of wedding expenses for the newlywed Trumps, all during this party that included scantily clad dancers, a five-tier cake from Florida, and a fireworks show.
DONALD TRUMP JR., SON OF U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: I had an awesome weekend. Family had an awesome weekend. It was really cool.
FOREMAN: The publication also says Kremlev is close to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who gave him the Russian Order of Friendship for his loyalty, among other things. Kremlev, ProPublica says, rose from a government-backed motorcycle gang called the Night Wolves to connect with the man who now leads Putin's security service, and then take over the Russian boxing federation and the nation's largest car dealership group, becoming rich and famous.
In one video on social media, ProPublica writes Kremlev surprises a young mother by giving her a free car. In another, he criticizes his young female aide's outfit as not feminine enough. He shadow boxes with ostriches. He praises Stalin and rides private jets. And after meeting at a sports conference, he and Don Jr. called each other friends.
Our dear friend Umar, the newlyweds, wrote in a statement yesterday, very generously hosted two incredible nights of celebrations for us after our wedding, for which we were and remain incredibly grateful.
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: You know, this is not good timing for me.
FOREMAN: President Trump said last spring he would not attend that wedding party, and he did not. And Kremlev's office made clear to ProPublica their man has done nothing wrong. This is just socializing. So will the Attorney General investigate anything about this?
BLANCHE: When you say, "Am I investigating?" Am I investigating what? and when you say this person is a friend of Putin, I don't even know if that's true or not.
FOREMAN: Tom Foreman, CNN, Washington.
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SANDOVAL: Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman is announcing a major development in the high-profile murder case against Nick Reiner.
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NATHAN HOCHMAN, LOS ANGELES COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY: We did speak with Nick Reiner's siblings. They made their views very clear. We took that their views into consideration in ultimately deciding not to seek the death penalty.
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SANDOVAL: Reiner faces two counts of first-degree murder in the killings of his parents, legendary Hollywood director Rob Reiner and his wife Michelle. The couple was found dead with apparent stab wounds in their Brentwood home last December. Nick Reiner, who you see there has pleaded not guilty.
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Video is shown of panic on an Iranian plane as shaking collapses cabin ceiling.
(END VIDEO CLIP) SANDOVAL: Absolutely terrifying video here. The panic set in on board
an Iranian plane as violent shaking collapsed a cabin ceiling on Monday. Mashhad Airport officials are saying that a detached tire tread prompted an engine technical alert after takeoff. According to Iranian state media, the plane returned safely to the airport with no injuries reported, despite some of these incredible images.
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And there's a legal and political fight that's happening over the future of the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. An update on the way.
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SANDOVAL: Well, it seems the battle over the Kennedy Center is escalating. U.S. President Donald Trump says that the Washington landmark will close immediately as a court fight over adding his name to the building continues. CNN's Sunlen Serfaty reports from the growing legal and -- on the growing legal and also the political showdown.
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SUNLEN SERFATY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It was effing crazy. That's how one source described Tuesday's Kennedy Center board meeting after they voted to proceed with a two-year closure for renovations and after President Trump himself dialed into the board meeting.
Now, President Trump, as Chairman of the Board, he got into a lengthy back and forth with Democratic Congresswoman Joyce Beatty specifically about her lawsuit that, in large part, has been the thing that has stood in the way from him getting to add his name to the front of this building.
And in that meeting, President Trump really berated her, yelled at her, screamed at her, according to two sources, saying essentially that she had been responsible for the decline of this building. That tense exchange came just minutes after a D.C. federal judge ruled that President Trump and Kennedy Center officials cannot add his name to the side of the building.
Judge Cooper, in the case, they said -- he said of any inscription, whether it was acknowledging, thanking President Trump for renovating and restoring this building, that that could not go forward. He said, "Simply put, defendants cannot install memorials for President Trump or anyone or anything else at the Kennedy Center without Congress's blessing."
And nearly immediately on Tuesday evening, we saw Department of Justice lawyers arguing in behalf of the Kennedy Center appeal that decision. Of course, here at the Kennedy Center, those tarps behind me are still up. They have been up since June.
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Really emblematic about how this building is working its way through the legal system, and the future very much hangs in the balance, really shielded in uncertainty. Sunlen Serfaty, CNN, Washington.
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SANDOVAL: And still ahead here on CNN Newsroom, ringing the bell for freedom. Thousands gathering in Mexico City to mark 216 years of independence. We'll bring you some of the celebrations ahead.
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SANDOVAL: All right, let's go to Mexico City, where large crowds are celebrating Mexico's Independence Day. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum led the traditional Cry of Independence, the Grito. It commemorates the start of the Mexican War of Independence against Spanish rule. CNN's Valerio Leon has more on all the festivities.
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VALERIA LEON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This is Mexico's biggest patriotic celebration, Independence Day, and this is the epicenter of that festivity. This is Mexico City's Main Square, the Zocalo. People started filling the Zocalo from the early hours of the day to celebrate 216 years since Mexico began its fight for independence.
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And to wait for the president to appear on the balcony of the National Palace and deliver the traditional Cry of Independence. People traveled here from across the country and even from the United States to be part of the celebration.
DIEGO TORRES, SAN DIEGO RESIDENT: Well, I mean, it feels good to celebrate. I mean, I love being here. I love -- I rather be here than over there in the United States, that's for sure.
LEON: Why is that?
TORRES: Well, many reasons, food, culture, everything. I've always lived here my whole life, so.
LEON: This celebration has also become a tourist attraction, (inaudible) visitors from abroad.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yeah, it's my first time. I'm pretty excited because I think like most of them or all Mexicans are really proud of the Independence Day, so I'm excited for the party.
LEON: As night began to fall here in Mexico City, thousands packed the Zocalo, enjoying the music and, of course, dancing. After making history last year as the first woman to deliver the traditional Grito, President Claudia Sheinbaum led the ceremony for a second year from the balcony of the National Palace, ringing the historic bell and leading the crowd in shouts honoring the heroes of Mexico's independence movement.
The night continued with a massive concert featuring the legendary Mexican-American band Intocable as thousands celebrated Mexico's Independence Day. Valeria Leon, CNN, Mexico City.
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SANDOVAL: What a party. Thank you so much for watching. I'm Polo Sandoval. Our coverage continues with CNN Headline Express in a moment.
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