Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Iran Says Choice on Seven-Day Plan Rests with U.S.; U.S. Proposed Joint Meeting with Ukraine and Russia; White House Bars CNN from Covering Trump's Tennessee Trip; Hurricane Nolo Roars off Mexico's Coast. Aired 4-4:30a ET

Aired September 26, 2026 - 04:00   ET

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

[04:00:00]

(MUSIC PLAYING)

SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Hello and a very warm welcome to our viewers all around the world. I'm Salma Abdelaziz in London. Let's go straight to our headlines.

Iran says it's up to the U.S. to choose what happens next with the Strait of Hormuz. We're going to take a look at the potential path to reopening that vital waterway, at least temporarily.

Plus, regional military leaders discuss the escalating threat from the Iran-backed Houthi rebels. We're going to have the latest on that conflict.

And what the production of Patriot missiles could mean for Ukraine as the country tries to fend off Russia's relentless aerial attacks.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): Live from London, this is CNN NEWSROOM with Salma Abdelaziz

ABDELAZIZ: Let's begin with the U.S. war with Iran. Iran's foreign minister says there is a pathway to ending the conflict through the country's new seven-day proposal. It was delivered to the U.S. through mediators. But he says the choice is up to the Trump administration.

Iran says that, under its proposal, the Strait of Hormuz would open on day six and, on day seven, Tehran and Washington would restart talks toward a so-called final deal. But before any of that can happen, both sides would need to return to the conditions outlined in the memorandum of understanding that was agreed to earlier this year.

A White House official says the U.S. is having, quote, "positive and constructive discussions" through the mediators. Iran's foreign minister spoke about his country's proposal on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly on Friday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ABBAS ARAGHCHI, IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER: Iran has conveyed to the United States, through Qatar, a concrete seven-day plan. If the necessary conditions are met, the strait can be reopened and normal maritime passage restored within seven days. The choice now rests with the United States.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ABDELAZIZ: Now as the U.S. and Iran consider their next steps, the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen are putting a new regional military agreement to the test. The Reuters News Agency says that Saudi Arabia shot down multiple Houthi drones and missiles overnight, including some that were headed for its capital.

This comes after military leaders from Turkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia met in Riyadh on Friday as the rebel group steps up its attacks on Saudi targets. Last month, those countries signed the Mecca joint military agreement, which says that an attack on one of them is an attack on all of them.

The military leaders condemned the Houthi strikes and discussed how to bolster their defense cooperation. CNN's Matthew Chance is there in Riyadh and has more on this conflict.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CHIEF GLOBAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Well, Saudi Arabia is desperately reaching out to its allies in the face of escalating attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels.

Defense chiefs from Turkiye and Pakistan have met their Saudi counterpart here in Riyadh for emergency talks. Three countries signed a mutual defense pact in August. And this, I suppose, is its first real test.

A statement issued by the Saudi military said that they expressed strong condemnation of Houthi attacks and discussed ways to strengthen military and intelligence cooperation. But the statement stops short of any concrete military deployments.

Saudi Arabia and its critical oil exports have been under intense pressure since the war in Iran disrupted its main export route via the Strait of Hormuz on the Persian Gulf.

Now its main backup export routes are also under threat, with Houthi rebels, who, backed by Iran, taking control of the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait at the mouth of the Red Sea, vowing to attack Saudi-linked shipping there, too, which could have a significant impact on global oil prices.

Britain is boosting its military support for Saudi Arabia, while France has offered -- defend offered to defend some Saudi oil facilities.

But appeals for powerful U.S. strikes on Houthi positions, which is what the Saudis really want, have so far been rejected by president Trump.

[04:05:00]

Who may be reluctant to open yet another front while his damaging Iran war remains unresolved. Still, it's left many Saudis feeling frustrated, anxious and dangerously exposed -- Matthew Chance, CNN, Riyadh.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ABDELAZIZ: To dig deeper into this escalating Middle East conflict, we are joined now from London by Jasmine el-Gamal, a former Middle East adviser for the U.S. Defense Department. She is also the founder and CEO of Aveiro Strategies.

Good morning to you. It is so lovely to have you on this morning. And I want to start with what our headline is today, which is around this proposal that Iran has put to negotiators for a seven-day ceasefire.

"The Wall Street Journal" has exclusive reporting saying that president Trump is going to reject this. We don't have this as CNN but I want to get your take on it.

Is this proposal a real opportunity for diplomacy or is it going to fall flat?

JASMINE EL-GAMAL, FOUNDER AND CEO, AVEIRO STRATEGIES: Good morning, Salma. It's always good to be with you.

The proposal is pretty much essentially what was on the table back when the MOU was signed. So there's really nothing new that the Iranians are offering here.

They seem to be trying to make the case publicly that they are not the problem here, that they are open to making a deal ASAP and it's the Trump administration that's holding the deal up.

But if you look at it from the Trump administration's perspective, the conditions on the ground are not the same as the conditions under which the MOU was signed. Since then, the Trump administration has placed extensive sanctions on Iran. The blockade continues. They've just sanctioned all of their airlines.

And so from the Trump administration's perspective, why would they sign a deal?

Now that was the same one that was on the table when they haven't really seen what impact those sanctions have had and whether that will give them more leverage over the Iranians in order to get a better deal down the road. So from their perspective, there's no rush.

ABDELAZIZ: That's an interesting way to break it down. Essentially, you're saying they need more runway on this maximum pressure campaign.

I want to speak about the Gulf's position here on this as well, because the Gulf widely has opposed further military escalation. But some countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE want to see Washington withhold concessions and continue that pressure campaign. I am sorry to speak about the Gulf as a monolith and correct me here

on that as well.

But what is their position and what was their message during the U.N. General Assembly to the United States on the Iran conflict?

EL-GAMAL: Well, it's a good question. And as you said yourself, the Gulf is not a monolith. And different countries have different levels of risk aversion. Right.

And they've also been affected differently. So whereas, for example, the UAE and Saudi Arabia have been able to continue to export their products, their oil products, over the last seven months, countries like Qatar, for example, or Kuwait have been much harder hit because they don't have alternative routes of distribution.

So they're feeling the pressure more. That said, countries like Qatar and Oman have been relentlessly trying to use diplomacy to get the two sides back to the table.

Saudi Arabia is probably in the most difficult position right now, given that it has all this pressure on it, not just as a result of the war with Iran but now with the Houthis and these attacks from Iraqi territory as well. So the Saudis are really feeling the pinch.

That said, Salma, the overarching idea that countries in the region are talking to president Trump about is that we need a way to get back to a sustainable security architecture in this region. Continued conflict is not in anyone's interest.

So even those countries that are putting pressure on president Trump to eke as many concessions out of Iran as possible, those countries still don't want the conflict to continue. And they're still banking on the fact that the two sides can eventually come together and hammer out a deal.

ABDELAZIZ: And if I may ask about the elephant in the room here, that doesn't really have anything to do with the conflict but is all about the conflict which is the midterm elections here in the United States that are coming up.

President Trump said at one point during the U.N. General Assembly that he believes a deal will come after the elections.

How much of the administration's decision-making is about facts on the ground, about the need to reopen that vital waterway?

[04:10:00]

And how much of it is simply about positioning before the election?

EL-GAMAL: It's a very good question. I mean, president Trump definitely has been affected by the pressure that has been placed on his administration by Congress, by the American people. His approval ratings are at a historic low. And it doesn't look good for Republicans who are running and trying to

defend themselves against Donald Trump's policy on Iran. That said, Salma, Marco Rubio, secretary of state Marco Rubio said something interesting.

And he was referring exactly to this point, saying, you know, the Iranians think that, after the midterm elections, president Trump is going to be squeezed further and they're going to be able to get a better deal.

And he reminded them, actually, that, domestically, it may be the case that president Trump and his agenda, his domestic agenda, will be squeezed if his party loses enough seats in Congress.

But when it comes to foreign policy, the secretary reminded everyone that the president has the ultimate say on national security issues and that if president Trump wanted to continue these military operations, he could do that. So he was warning the Iranians not to bank on the fact that they could get a better deal after the elections.

ABDELAZIZ: Jasmine el-Gamal there on the possibility of diplomacy restarting or the lack of possibility of it restarting amid president Trump's maximum pressure campaign on Iran. Thank you so much for that analysis.

Now to Washington, where president Trump is looking ahead to future meetings with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. After wrapping up a landmark state visit on Friday, the two leaders said that they could potentially meet in person two more times this year.

Now president Trump and Xi traded very kind words on Friday as the Chinese leader concluded his first visit to Washington in more than a decade. During this whirlwind three-day visit, they extended a trade truce and talked about working together to address the risks of AI.

President Trump says they also discussed the U.S. war with Iran and the Strait of Hormuz. They also visited the National Archives to view the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. You can see those images there.

As the U.S. marks its 250th anniversary, the visit put the founding documents of American democracy on display for China's autocratic leader. Both leaders frame their talks this week as a success and beneficial for both sides.

However, we are still waiting for specifics on any potential new agreements. We expect those details early next week. At the National Archives, Trump stopped to speak with reporters about the history between the two countries.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We're just comparing. Ours goes 250 years, which is great and we're proud of it. But theirs goes 6,000 years. So there's a little difference between 6,000 and 250 but we're very proud of our 250 because when Trump -- oh, everything.

We had a great meeting. We had a really great meeting. Great for everybody. Great for the farmers. Great for everybody.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ABDELAZIZ: Now to Ukraine, where president Zelenskyy says the U.S. is pushing to restart three-way talks that are aimed at ending the war in his country. He says Washington has proposed organizing the negotiations, possibly in the United Arab Emirates.

The meetings would involve Ukraine, Russia and the U.S. But the date is not yet clear. Now President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also says that his U.S. counterpart will give Ukraine the go-ahead to make Patriot missile interceptors.

Mr. Zelenskyy says president Donald Trump told him at their recent meeting at the U.N. that he had made the final decision on that. For more on all of this, I want to bring in now Stefano Pozzebon. He is monitoring these developments for us from Rome.

Good morning, Stefano. So as we just reported there, there are attempts to restart talks to restart these diplomatic efforts.

What are you learning about it?

STEFANO POZZEBON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Salma. Well, we're learning that these contacts have indeed taken place.

We know that because the Kremlin, for example, confirmed it in the last few hours, saying that they are in touch with the Americans to try to resume these talks with the idea of wrapping up the war in Eastern Europe.

However, of course, they said that Russia retains the right to understand whether these negotiations will go into the right directions for them. When it comes instead to the Patriots, it's clearly, like the detail, Salma, is that we're only learning it from the Ukrainians.

[04:15:00]

It is Zelenskyy, who is, of course, the part that is most benefiting from the arrival of the Patriots in Ukraine. That he is telling us that the Americans have decided to grant them a license.

We haven't crucially heard it from neither the companies that have the license to manufacture these weapons in the United States nor from the commander in chief himself, Donald Trump.

And this is important because, only a few months ago, it was in July, during a NATO summit in Turkiye, that Trump was believed to be warming up to the idea of granting this type of license to the Ukrainians. Then he was believed to cool off in the following weeks.

So the White House judgment can change very, very rapidly. And that means that, until we see the license actually granted -- and perhaps even Ukraine scaling up their weapons manufacturer -- well, it's hard to believe that this could prove a game-changer for the war in Ukraine, as perhaps Zelenskyy would like us to see it.

At the same time, this is happening as the war or the ballistic battle that is being fought over the skies of Ukraine is not showing any sign of quieting down. In the last 24 hours, for example, at least seven people have been killed in Kyiv, according to its mayor, Vladimir Klitschko. One of them was a teenager, another one was a journalist.

And I want to bring you some lines from the front line, where the husband of one of the victims said that his wife died while driving a car that was just purchased 10 days ago. And he says the car burned down. My wife died. I lost a friend, a girlfriend, a wife, the mother of my future children and the children who will never be.

So the reality of the war is that people are being killed every day while we hear these conflicting messages from the world's diplomats, Salma.

ABDELAZIZ: Stefano Pozzebon there on what is a major win for president Zelenskyy in getting that right to build Patriot missiles. But as you mentioned there and as you read that quote there, the human toll continues. Thank you.

Still to come here on CNN NEWSROOM, it's Pope Leo's second day in France, as his four-day tour continues. We're going to have highlights from his visit so far and a look at what's next in a live report.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[04:20:00]

(MUSIC PLAYING)

ABDELAZIZ: Welcome back.

The Trump administration is escalating its standoff with the press. The White House now says it is barring CNN from flying on Air Force One in the coming hours, when president Trump heads to Tennessee for a college football game.

Now CNN was scheduled to serve as the TV pool for that trip. Since no outlet was listed as a replacement, there will be no television coverage of the president.

It comes after a judge blocked the administration from enforcing a ban that prevented CNN, MS NOW and "Politico" from reporting from the White House grounds.

Pope Leo is on the second day of his historic four-day trip to France. In the hours ahead, he is set to celebrate mass at the Place de la Concorde, the largest public square in Paris. More than half a million people are expected to attend that mass. A short time ago, he visited a migrant support center in the French

capital. Our senior international correspondent, Melissa Bell, is standing by for us in Paris.

And Melissa, I believe you're standing where the pope is scheduled to give that mass in a short time. Let me know what's happening around you.

MELISSA BELL, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: (INAUDIBLE) to file in, Salma. And the rehearsals are underway. You can perhaps hear the organ behind me. But this is a mass that is expected to attract vast, vast crowds, 600,000. And what we've seen over the course of yesterday is so many people really make their way to hope, to catch a glimpse of the pope.

We had the pope arrive, president Macron picked him up, brought him to the Elysee and then these talks at UNESCO about AI, then this procession through the streets of Paris that attracted 300,000 people as he made his way to Notre-Dame.

He visited, of course, this restored cathedral, declaring it a thing of great splendor and explained how happy he was to be there, did vespers there and then made his way to the Stade de France.

This was an 80,000 strong crowd of 17- to 35-year olds. We were there. And the fervor, the excitement, the enthusiasm was really quite extraordinary. It is the first visit, state visit, official state visit by a pope in 18 years.

And here in France, Salma, there's been this resurgence of Catholic fervor, more baptisms, for instance and specifically amongst the young. And really felt that at the Stade de France yesterday.

So not as nice a day today as it was yesterday but still a lot of people expected to turn out to catch a glimpse of him before he leaves the French capital on to Lourdes and onto Metz, Salma.

ABDELAZIZ: Melissa Bell there in Paris' largest public square, standing by for that mass from the pope. I know you'll be bringing us more details soon. Thank you.

A trio of hurricanes are churning in the Pacific. One of them is roaming off the Mexican shoreline. CNN's Valeria Leon reports on the impact of Hurricane Polo.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

VALERIA LEON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Hurricane Polo ripping along Mexico's Pacific coast. Huge waves, intense rain and damage to businesses

along the shore, including this small beachfront restaurant in Tecoman, Colima. Even as the powerful storm remained well offshore.

ENRIQUETA SANCHEZ, RESTAURANT OWNER (through translator): We left the restaurant behind. Whatever happens to it happens. We're leaving to save

our lives. That's what matters.

LEON (voice-over): The storm exploded from a tropical depression into a category 5 hurricane in just 42 hours.

[04:25:04]

One of the most extreme examples of

rapid intensification on record. Its intensity later oscillated between category 4 and 5 and its path began moving away from Mexico's southwestern

coast.

ARTURO ADALID SANCHEZ, DIRECTOR OF CIVIL PROTECTION, LAZARO CARDENAS, MICHOACAN (through translator): We're assessing all the damage. So far,

we have reports of approximately 23 beachfront businesses that have suffered structural damage.

LEON (voice-over): Heavy rain also pounded several communities along the Pacific coast.

MARIA CONCEPCION GOMEZ, DIRECTOR OF MUNICIPAL CIVIL PROTECTION, ARMERIA (through translator): It's moving along the coast of Colima, bringing very

strong wind gusts, high waves and rain.

LEON (voice-over): Classes were canceled in some coastal communities, ports were closed and residents were warned to stay away from the water.

For those living near the beach, the power of the storm could be heard from inside their homes.

JENNIFER VARGAS, RESIDENT OF JALISCO (through translator): You can hear it very loudly from inside the house and you can hear the waves crashing hard.

LEON (voice-over): Polo, one of the strongest hurricanes ever recorded in the eastern Pacific, is moving away from Mexico's southwestern coast. But

forecasters warn the storm could still impact the Baja California peninsula -- Valeria Leon, CNN, Mexico City.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ABDELAZIZ: Thank you so much for watching. I'm Salma Abdelaziz "CNN CREATORS" is up next and I'll be back at the top of the hour with more news for you.