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Lavrov: Ukraine must De-Mine Waters to Allow Grain Exports; Some Residents stay in Sloviansk as Fighting Draws Near; Car Drives into Crowd, Killing One Person, Injuring Several; Families of Missing Journalist, Local Expert Urge more Action; Key Leaders Snub Biden's Summit Amid Tensions; Iran Shuts off two IAEA Cameras Monitoring Nuclear Facility. Aired 11a-12p ET

Aired June 08, 2022 - 11:00   ET

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

[11:00:00]

REP. CAROLYN MALONEY (D-NY): We will now pause, you're excused and we'll pause while we seek the next panel for their testimony.

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST, CONNECT THE WORLD: Well, House Committee hearing testimony on gun violence witnesses, including survivors and family members

of victims from the mass shootings in Uvalde, and indeed, in Buffalo described there by the Chairwoman of that Committee as gut wrenching

testimony.

CNN Congressional Reporter Daniella Diaz is also monitoring these hearings, and she joins me now live. Extremely difficult to listen to, you don't have

to be a mother or a father to have found much of what was said particularly from those involved in the Uvalde shootings as absolutely awful. And what

did you take from what we are hearing today?

DANIELLA DIAZ, CNN CONGRESSIONAL REPORTER: Becky, it was so, so difficult to listen to these parents and even one of the survivors of the Uvalde

shooting, plead with lawmakers that they do something on gun control in this country.

You know, we heard from Zenaida Everhart, whose son Zaire was shot he survived the Buffalo shooting a racially motivated shooting in Buffalo, New

York. And she pleaded with lawmakers. She said you have - you have been chosen and are trusted to protect us. But let me say to you here today, I

do not feel protected.

That was what she told lawmakers during her really emotional testimony. You heard from yesterday Mia who said she does not feel safe at school. Her

father was crying as he spoke to lawmakers saying the same thing that they need to do something on gun control.

We also heard from Kimberly Rubio, whose daughter died and the Uvalde shooting and she said, Lexi, her daughter would have made a positive change

in this world. She wanted to attend college; she wanted to major in math and go on to attend law school. But she said "That opportunity was taken

from her". She was taken from us.

This as these lawmakers in United States Congress listening directly to what these parents what these survivors are saying about gun control

legislation. These two shootings that just happened in the past couple of weeks incredibly fresh here, Becky, and it are so emotional to hear.

I mean, I was affected in just listening to their testimony made me incredibly emotional made all of us emotional Becky to hear their firsthand

account of what they went through with their children with themselves and how they are trying to continue to live their lives, but they cannot keep

living unless they see some sort of change on gun safety reform Becky.

ANDERSON: You couldn't - feel emotional and then also very angry about the whole thing. Thank you very much indeed. We also heard from the Uvalde

Pediatrician who was on duty that day and unfortunately receiving bodies that he described as having been pulverized children's bodies that were

pulverized by the gunman. And he said I do my job to the Congress, men and women he said you do yours.

Let's turn to Ukraine now hopes for a solution but major obstacles ahead. The main takeaways from a meeting in Ankara today between the Turkish and

Russian Foreign Ministers aimed at ending a blockade of Ukrainian grain exports.

The blockade sparking warnings of a global food crisis of course, Turkey using its regional clout and good relations with both Russia and Ukraine to

try and mediate a deal its Foreign Minister voicing optimism about a U.N. plan to end this blockade have a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MEVLUT CAVUSOGLU, TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER: Of course, beyond trade security and the security in the Black Sea the war causes much more

negative consequences. And the biggest one, of course, is the challenges for the materials and goods to be exported from Ukraine and Russia. Here

there are multiple ideas in place.

And finally, we know that the UN has a plan which includes the supervision of vessels so between Ukraine, the Russian Federation and Turkey, we can

establish a mechanism and establish collaboration.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Russia's Foreign Minister denying his country is to blame for this blockade Sergei Lavrov is insisting Ukraine must de mine its ports

before shipments can resume Jomana Karadsheh, back with us this hour from Ankara. Clearly an awful lot to iron out here were there to be the prospect

of a deal at this point? How realistic is it that Turkey can broker something after all they say what the UN is suggesting at least in

principle is a decent idea?

JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well Becky, I hope you can hear me a bit of a thunderstorm in rush hour traffic here. If any country really is

going to be able to try and broker a deal at this point it would seem like it is Turkey.

[11:05:00]

KARADSHEH: We've heard from officials that they're working with the United Nations on this possible plan to establish the safe corridor. As you

mentioned there, you know, Turkey has tried to maintain this neutral position throughout this conflict that has allowed it to try and emerge as

a key mediator facilitator between both countries as it maintains good ties with both.

But I think Becky; you know if you look at what happened today, these were just talks to agree on more talks. It doesn't seem at this point that both

Russia and Ukraine are fully on board. They've come out in public statements and said that they want to see the resumption of exports of

Ukrainian grains and other agricultural products happen. But it's about getting them fully on board with both countries, having their demands

having their concerns as you mentioned there.

The Russians today, Sergei Lavrov, again blaming the Ukrainian saying that if they want these exports to resume, they need to remove the mines from

the Black Sea Realtors from around the ports. The Ukrainians are very concerned about that.

They say that this is a real security concern that Russia would try to use that to, to carry out attacks on its southern coast and on the ports. So

they want security guarantees. And then what is it that Russia wants in exchange for any deal and indications are right now, Becky, that they want

some sort of sanctions, relief, something that is going to be very unlikely to see Western countries and powers that have just imposed sanctions on

Russia, providing them with any sort of sanctions relief.

But the Turkish officials sound very optimistic that they're going to try and push ahead. They say it is very important to try and get both Ukrainian

and Russian exports out to the world in the words of the Turkish Foreign Minister to try and combat what he says is a true global crisis.

ANDERSON: This of course a byproduct of the war in Ukraine. And on the ground there thank you Jomana. In Eastern Ukraine troops battling to hold

on to portions of Severodonetsk may pull back to more 45 positions that news coming from the Ukrainian Military Leader of the Luhansk region. He

insists troops will keep fighting and will not surrender the city to Russia.

We are seeing new satellite photos today that show the destruction from weeks of relentless attacks as Russia tries to win total control of the

Donbas. A pro-Russia Leader claiming 97 percent of that Luhansk region has been "Liberated from Ukraine". Ben Wedeman connecting us today from

Sloviansk in Eastern Ukraine, Ben, what are you seeing on the ground?

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, what we're seeing is I think that these Russian officials are saying that perhaps 97

percent of Luhansk has been liberated or occupied by Russian forces that may not be inaccurate, a very little of Severodonetsk is still under

Ukrainian control.

They're talking about pulling back to stronger positions. But as we've seen from those satellite images, it doesn't look like there are many positions

left in that city. Although we also understand there are still thousands of civilians hiding out there. Now we're in Sloviansk the worry is that once

the battle of Severodonetsk comes to an end, the focus will be here in this city, Sloviansk, which is just north of Kramatorsk.

Now, there aren't a lot of people left in this city as you can see, it's like 5 pm no it is 6 pm here and most people are home because the worry is

that the shelling begins in the late afternoon and early evening and can go through the night. Some people are staying but many are also heading the

call of officials and leaving the city.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WEDEMAN (voice over): A three years old Yvonne (ph) doesn't know war rages around him. He doesn't really understand it yet, says his father Igor. For

him it's just boom, boom. We try to explain it's only a loud car passing by.

Yvonne's mother Ksenia (ph) shows where they live neighbors who left the city of Sloviansk let them move into their ground floor apartment because

it's safer. The hallways full of bottled water. The bathtub is full. There's been no running water here for weeks.

As the air raid siren blares those who remain behind wait for food supplies distribution center. We're staying says Nida (ph). My neighbor has a will I

have dogs, two cats. My husband has diabetes. 64-year-old Nikolai (ph) shrugs off the danger of staying put. Where can I go if they bomb

everywhere he asked me you can't escape your fate?

[11:10:00]

WEDEMAN (voice over): Balena (ph) fled her village nearby on the front lines. It was very hard there she says there was a lot of shelling half the

village disappeared. Her son-in-law and her daughter are taking her away. Every day people gathered for buses out of Sloviansk. The war now into its

fourth month has seen millions flee their homes. With no end in sight, a sense of resignation and exhaustion has set in some who leave may never

return. Katya's mother and father - say goodbye.

KATYA, SLOVIANSK RESIDENT: Actually I didn't plan to leave. But I decided to leave because the situation is getting more and more dangerous.

WEDEMAN (voice over): Her parents will stay behind even as a part of them leaves.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WEDEMAN: And of course, what we're seeing down the street, it's not in your vision, there's a truck there handing out water to the few people who are

willing to come out and get it Becky.

ANDERSON: Ben from those that you speak to what's the sense of how this might end, if at all anytime soon?

WEDEMAN: The atmosphere is much different than it was say a month or a month and a half ago when there was real confidence that the Ukrainians had

been able to push the Russians out of the area around Kyiv that they were making progress.

But now they're sort of coming face to face with the reality that the Russians have changed their tactics. They are using their artillery to

maximum effect and really pounding the Ukrainian army. And there's sort of the confidence seems to have evaporated, at least in this area.

And there is a sense that perhaps not that the tide is turning but the going is getting tougher living conditions are getting tougher. As I said

in that report, there's no running water here. Often there's no electricity, there's no gas, even those who want to stay behind.

They have very little in the way of livelihoods. There are barely any jobs. Most of the shops are closed, and it doesn't appear that things are getting

better. It appears at least in this part of the country that things are only going to get worse, Becky.

ANDERSON: Ben Wedeman is on the ground for you, Ben thank you! Well, you can follow the very latest developments on this war on the website cnn.com

for updates on the latest financial restrictions on the U.S. sorry, in the U.S. slapped on Russian stocks and bonds amongst other things. The

Ukrainian and German leaders vowing to do everything they can to get grain exports moving again many layered, multi layered story and much of that

@cnn.com.

Was it a deliberate attack or was it an accident? That is what German police want to know as they investigate a deadly incident in Berlin. A car

plowed into a crowd of people in a busy shopping area in the capital earlier. Police say one person was killed and several injured including

some high school students. The driver is currently being examined at a hospital. CNN Senior International Correspondent Fred Pleitgen normally

base in Germany is following the development set from Moscow for you today. And Ben authorities are asking witnesses to upload any videos they get the

information they have. We are though about the incident itself. We are though learning more about the driver at this point, correct?

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRSEPONDENT: Yes, we certainly are Becky and the authorities are saying that that driver is

actually currently right now in hospital and getting treatment. Apparently he was also at least slightly injured when that car plowed first of all

into a crowd of people and then plowed into a storefront that we're seeing there on our video that we are seeing from Berlin.

The driver, as the police say is a 29 year old German Armenian man. And you can see already on the pictures there on your screen that that car that

plowed into at the end plowed into that storefront that has a be registered license plate, which is the registration for Berlin and the authorities are

indeed saying that the driver is someone who is resident and registered in Berlin.

But as you correctly said, Becky, the authorities at this point in time have said that there is nothing of the sort of any sort of thing that would

indicate that this could be something that was done deliberately. They are saying they don't know if it was done deliberately whether it was some sort

of accident. Of course right now the investigation that they are conducting is still very much in the early stages Becky.

ANDERSON: At this point, let's be quite clear. We do not know whether this was a deliberate attack or possibly a medical issue correct?

PLEITGEN: Yes you're absolutely right.

[11:15:00]

PLEITGEN: It's absolutely unclear. But what we do know Becky, and I think this is something that is also very important is that this incident was one

that was quite protracted and that took place not over a long period of time, but certainly appears after over somewhat of a distance, at least.

From what the police is saying is that this car apparently plowed into a group of people on this very busy shopping streets. I go past that street

almost every morning going to work. And it is a very busy area, one of the most popular in Berlin, both among tourists, and among local Berlin

residents as well.

And at that point in time, around 10:30 in the morning, that's when the shops open there. And that's what a lot of shoppers go out to that area. So

apparently, the car first went onto the pavement plowed through a group of people there, then went back onto the road, moves further down the road,

and then plowed onto the sidewalk or road onto the sidewalk again, and then hit that storefront where it then came to a stop.

Now, what we are hearing is that luckily, inside that store, no one was injured. But the most recent information that we just recently got from the

police in Berlin is they say that the woman who was killed was a school teacher. And of course, we also know that several school students were also

among those who at least some of them severely injured in that incident as well, Becky.

ANDERSON: Fred Pleitgen on the story for you, thank you Fred. Well, a slew of no shows by top leaders at the Summit of the Americas. Will it be an

embarrassing black eye for its hosts, President Biden? We will do a little more on that just ahead. And later Iran makes a move that's expected to

spark tension with the world's nuclear watchdog the crisis groups, Iran Project Director will join me live from Washington that is after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Well, let's get you up to speed on some of the other stories that are on our radar right now. And a passenger train has derailed near the

City of Tabas in Eastern Iran. The Iranian Red Crescent says at least 17 people were killed and 50 more were injured. The train carrying 348

passengers collided with an excavator on the rail according to state media.

Well, a new migrant caravan is on its way to the United States from Mexico as leaders meet at the Summit of the Americans in California. More than

2000 people are marching mostly Venezuelans but also migrants from Cuba, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Honduras. It could take several weeks to reach

the U.S. border.

Well, families of missing journalists and local experts are urging more action from the Brazilian government. The military command says it has sent

out a search team to try and find British Writer Dom Phillips and Indigenous Affairs Expert Bruno Pereira both were last seen on Sunday deep

in the Amazon rainforest.

[11:20:00]

ANDERSON: Let's get you back to Ukraine now and while Russia devotes a tremendous amount of firepower and resources to capturing the Luhansk

region of the Donbas, Ukraine is pushing back Russian advances in the South. Matthew Chance reports from the southern front.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): This is where the Ukrainian military tells us, they're seizing back their lands.

But on the battered Southern Front with Russia, the stalemate of trench warfare seems to be setting in and commanders privately admit advances by

either side here are small.

The Russians seem to be running out of ammunition and they're not as strong as they were. The Platoon Commander of this forward trench told me that we

need more weapons too he adds if we were to push ahead.

CHANCE (on camera): We're speaking to Anton here, and he's saying it is watching - very loud at night. Right so in the morning, he's saying it's

not so noisy, it's a bit quieter. So it's interesting because this is the place where the Ukrainian government says there's a big counter offensive

that's been underway for some time and they're taking back territory.

But we've not seen a great deal of evidence of that on the ground. It seems that you know both sides dug in here heavily have fought themselves to a

standstill neither side strong enough to win this war. But not weak enough to lose it either. That is outgoing is it? Are you sure? We can hear an

outgoing artillery shells streaming across opposition here.

CHANCE (voice over): A Ukrainian military escorts take us to what they say is a recently liberated zone, where at least 30 Russians holed up inside

this kindergarten were killed. As Moscow focuses its forces on Donbas in the east Ukrainian officials say conquered areas in the south like this are

being left exposed.

CHANCE (on camera): All right, well, they brought it to this very forward location where as you're going here, there are still artillery exchanges

taking place. And this is the remnants of a battle from a couple of weeks ago, they say where this Russian position was taken by Ukrainian forces at

great cost, both to the Ukrainians and obviously, to the Russians, as well, all of this debris on the ground, is we're told Russian equipment and

obviously this is the remnants of a Russian armored vehicle of some kind, which has been, like so many we've seen totally destroyed in this bitter

conflict. The Russians thought that they were going to win easily. Yes, but that's not what's happening.

LT. COL. "DANTE", UKRAINIAN ARMED FORCES: Russian thought a few days finished war in Ukraine.

CHANCE (on camera): We can hear it's still going on there?

DANTE: It's show and we can hear the flight of shell.

CHANCE (on camera): Yes, months later.

DANTE: Russian government - have victory in few days. I think we must be ready to a lot more.

CHANCE (voice over): A long artillery war with heavy weapons like this Ukrainian battle tank positioned in tree lines towards an unseen enemy.

These firing points quickly become vulnerable and the troops here need to be mobile.

CHANCE (on camera): OK, well we've been brought to this frontline position where they're going to fire on Russian forces a short distance away it's a

secret location. We can only stay for one round we're told after that there's going to be returned fire and we've got to get out of here. But

this is what we've been brought to see. Goodness me. OK, guys, what now another one? I thought we had to go after one more again - one more again?

CHANCE (voice over): Seconds later, another bone shaking round hurtles towards Russian positions.

CHANCE (on camera): OK, we're going to go now come on.

CHANCE (voice over): And we quickly leave Ukraine's grinding frontlines behind. Matthew Chance, CNN in Southern Ukraine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[11:25:00]

ANDERSON: The reality of war in Southern Ukraine well the war there naturally dominating. U.S. President Joe Biden's foreign policy agenda at

present - he also got some other priorities of course right now he's on his way to California to host the Summit of the Americas. But there are

questions about whether he can prevent that from becoming an embarrassing black eye it were for his administration?

There are some big no shows here. Mexican President boycotting the gathering because Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua were not invited also not

there the Leaders of Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador.

Countries U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris has been working with trying to stem the flow of migrants to the U.S. even as another caravan from those

specific countries or at least with people from those specific countries is on its way to the states.

And it's not just a migration issue here. The U.S. is fast losing ground to China, on trade with Latin American nations, even though President Biden

promised to refocus attention on the region. You can see the gap here in these numbers from Reuters.

Well, my next guest points to China's growing influence and warned even before the summit got underway that it was in trouble. Peter Michael

McKinley joins me now. He served as U.S. Ambassador to Peru, Colombia, Brazil, and then Afghanistan also was a Senior Adviser to the U.S.

Secretary of State.

You say this ran into problems before as it were, it began, we are certainly seeing that this is a hot mess in the making. And what was it

about what was going on before this summit that you were warning about?

MICHAEL MCKINLEY, FORMER U.S. AMBASSADOR TO PERU, COLOMBIA, AFGHANISTAN, BRAZIL: Well, the serious issue first, thank you for having me. But the

serious issue in the weeks running up to the summit was a question of how many leaders of the region of the hemisphere would attend?

And I did leave open the possibility that there would be some sort of resolution. And over the last couple of weeks, I think we're at a stage

where we can say there is the absence of the Mexican President, and in particular. The Presidents of the Northern Triangle of Central America, as

you mentioned, but there are 23 other leaders, which is six more than attended the last Summit of the Americas in 2018.

And it includes the diversity of political opinion inside the hemisphere, to include left of center governments like Peru, Chile and Argentina, right

of center governments, like Brazil centrists, governments elsewhere.

And so what was the threat of a boycott, two and a half weeks ago, we were estimating or the estimates were that over a dozen Caribbean nations would

be no shows at the summit that the Argentines had not declared, they were going, the Brazilians had indicated they would not be in attendance.

So if the measure is where we were two weeks ago, and where we are now, there is very strong showing, and in particular, the foreign ministers of

the Northern Triangle countries, and the very powerful and influential Foreign Minister of Mexico is also in attendance. So I think, at least

critical mass - yesterday.

ANDERSON: Yes. I hear what you're saying. And there is an easy way to spin the fact that there are sort of lower level attendees who you could argue

can get more done than the actual leaders themselves.

But look, critics say that what has gone on here, and it has been a mess in the run up to this summit reinforces an impression that the region is not a

priority for the Biden Administration. I wonder whether you can you can assess for us how much truth there is in that?

MCKINLEY: Well, the issue and I think many commentators have noted this, is the region has not been a priority for the United States for several

administrations. And it was a particularly acute situation during the Trump Administration during the four years of the Trump Administration in which

the region was absolutely an afterthought. And since then, of course, we've had the COVID pandemic.

Certainly there is a much greater need and urgency for engaging with the region for a host of reasons. And what I tried to suggest is that the

United States needs to lend that attention to the region but also needs to approach it differently. Accept its political diversity, except that the

region's priorities which are recovery from COVID, pandemics, social inclusion, and addressing polarization are critical and that it's a die a

lot.

[11:30:00]

MCKINLEY: It's not a question of the United States, just setting the agenda and others following. The region has threat changed tremendously since the

first Summit of the Americas in 1994, which the United States also hosted.

So at least, where we are now with 23 Heads of State President and the promise of an agenda that will begin to focus on issues like investments in

Central America, climate change, replenishment of the American Development Bank, a new economic partnership, perhaps there's some hope for something

more positive coming out of the week.

ANDERSON: OK. I'm going to take a break at this point.

MCKINLEY: The full summit to go--

ANDERSON: Alright, we will follow up, check in and see exactly what comes out of this in the days to come? Thank you sir! Still to come Iran slams

the global nuclear watchdog as ungrateful as Tehran makes a new move at a nuclear site; I'll be asking an Iran expert about that up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: It is just half past four in London. Welcome back. I'm Becky Anderson. You're watching "Connect the World".

Iran is sending a message to Western powers and the UN's nuclear watchdog. State media reporting that Tehran is shut off two surveillance cameras used

by the International Atomic Energy Agency at an Iranian nuclear site the move could raise tensions with the IAEA. It comes off the Western powers

said the Tehran wasn't cooperating with the agency.

Well, my next guest says and I quote IAEA's continuity of knowledge as the first casualty of the confrontation over the censure resolution against

Iran at the agency's Board of Governors meeting. Ali Vaez, Iran Project Director at the International Crisis Group joins us now live. You could

argue it was the other way around. I mean, you know who is to blame here and the agency or the Iranians at this point?

ALI VAEZ, IRAN PROJECT DIRECTOR, INTERNATIONAL CRISIS GROUP: Thanks, Becky. Yes, you know, the agency is doing its work. The agency was created to

basically do nuclear accountancy. They have to be able to take into account every single gram of uranium or plutonium in any country that is a member

of the Non Proliferation Treaty.

And although the traces of nuclear material that the IAEA has found in three undeclared locations in Iran probably dates back to 20 years ago. It

is still the basic mandate of the IAEA and the basic responsibility of Iran to try to shed light on where this material came from and where they have

ended up.

And Iran's failure to do so despite the fact that it had a roadmap agreement with the IAEA negotiated back in March to resolve the issue until

the June board meeting is the reason that we are now seeing the West submitting a central resolution against Iran to the board.

[11:35:00]

ANDERSON: We've suggested this could raise tensions with the IAEA; it is likely raising tensions at this point. Western powers suggesting Tehran

isn't cooperating with the agency. At this point, where does this leave the once again, stalled JCPOA nuclear talks?

VAEZ: So on one of these two scenarios, I think could happen. One is that this is the beginning of a cycle of escalation that would result in another

race of sanctions against centrifuges. The Iranians will continue to ratchet up their nuclear program and ratchet down IAEA's axis, and the West

will start imposing more and more sanctions and eventually maybe snapping back the UN sanctions, which will be the end of the JCPOA.

So that's one scenario. The other scenario is that the escalation is happening this week over the Board of Governors Resolution, will actually

remind both sides that there is a deal that has been negotiated a 27 page detail agreement that is ready to go in Vienna.

And they will be much better off to show a little bit of flexibility on both sides, Iran and the U.S. to resolve the remaining obstacles and

restore the deal. We'll see which one of these scenarios will happen in the coming weeks?

ANDERSON: And the latter, of course, you make a very good point because ultimately, this is now an issue between the U.S. and Iran, it doesn't

matter. This is supposed to be P5 plus one. And we know from sources, you're speaking to the sources, I'm speaking to that effectively, and that

deal is all but done.

I mean, the framework is there that detail has been filled in. This is now isn't it an issue of between the U.S. and Tehran, Washington and Tehran.

There are outstanding issues which are outside of the body of the JCPOA deal is just explain to our viewers what we believe those are, where the

two sides are in sort of working those out?

VAEZ: Right. So what turns out to be an insurmountable obstacle in the negotiations back in March was the U.S. designation of Iran's Revolutionary

Guard Corps as a foreign terrorist organization?

And although there were efforts to try to find a formula to overcome this obstacle, it is now clear that the U.S. is going to keep the designation.

And so Iranians are exploring options for an alternative sanctions relief, instead of the IRGC's FTO designation.

But I think the protests in Iran, in the past few weeks have actually diminished the government's appetite, to show flexibility now out of fear

that that might be interpreted by the Biden Administration as a sign of weakness. And Iranians, of course, have an aversion to demonstrating

weakness.

But the problem is that the more time goes by the more we see tensions, like what we're now seeing the IAEA, or covert operations by Israel on

Iranian oil, which could result in dangerous Iranian retaliation. That could also result in an escalation of tensions that could spiral out of

control.

And so every day that goes by the restoration of the JCPOA, will become more difficult. And that's why I still think both sides have a choice to

make to return to the negotiating table and finalize this agreement that is just completely ready. And you know they will be both better off than this

loose, loose dynamic that they're currently engaged in.

ANDERSON: How high up our list of priorities does this deal? Does the JCPOA sit now on what is a long list of to do's for the U.S. President Joe Biden?

VAEZ: It's not among the top five priorities for sure. But you know the reality is that it could quickly become one because Iran is now closer than

ever to the verge of nuclear weapons. And amid the crisis in Ukraine and a potential new nuclear weapon test by North Korea.

I think the last thing that the U.S. wants is a nuclear crisis in the Middle East as well. So that's why I'm saying it really requires

flexibility on both sides to avoid options that would be costly for both of them.

ANDERSON: Ali Vaez always plugged in, always good to talk to you sir. Stay across it and we will get back to you in the days to come. As we've been

suggesting, it does sound as if there is - there is a text. At this point, there is a lack of flexibility.

Coming up a fragile looking Sepp Blatter brings courtroom proceedings to a grinding halt what happened on day one of the Former FIFA Presidents'

corruption trial that is coming up after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:40:00]

ANDERSON: Well, the corruption trial of two legendary football figures kicked off today in a Swiss Courtroom, but it was brought to a screeching

halt both Sports Anchor Amanda Davies joining me now to talk about Sepp Blatter here what happened?

AMANDA DAVIES, CNN WORLD SPORT: Well, I mean, perhaps we shouldn't be surprised because every time we've talked about Sepp Blatter and Michel

Platini over the last seven years is always involved drama, hasn't it?

And a lot of people have been waiting a very long time for this moment which are essentially the two most high profile important men in football

from 2015 in court facing criminal charges for fraud for defrauding FIFA World Football's Governing Body of $2 million as it was at the time that

FIFA paid Michel Platini for his role in an advisory capacity.

Sepp Blatter 86 years of age the Former President of FIFA walked into court smiling saying he was confident he was expected to take the stand but then

very quickly said he was too ill he was suffering heart pains but has said he will be there to resume on Tuesday.

ANDERSON: The drama, "World Sports" coming up more on that during that show. That's it from us for today. We will see you same time same place

tomorrow.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WORLD SPORT)

[12:00:00]

END