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Trump Meeting National Security Team in Situation Room; Trump Leaves G7 after Telling Tehran Residents to "Evacuate"; Israel "Eliminated" 30 Drones Fired from Iran Overnight; U.S. Intel Says Iran Years Away from Nuclear Bomb; Sirens Warn Tel Aviv Residents to Take Shelter; Do Israel's Objectives Include Regime Change in Iran?; U.S. to Move Forward with ICE Raids at Farms, Hotels; Minnesota Shooter Faces Murder Charges; Qatar Airways CEO Confident in Managing Challenging Situations. Aired 10-11a ET
Aired June 17, 2025 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[10:00:00]
(MUSIC PLAYING)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): Live from CNN Abu Dhabi, this is CONNECT THE WORLD with Becky Anderson.
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST (voice-over): Welcome to what is the second hour of the show from our Middle East programming headquarters here in Abu
Dhabi. I'm Becky Anderson. Time here just after 6 pm. Let's get you straight to our top story.
And we are awaiting potentially critical news out of the White House where Donald Trump is meeting today with his national security team in the
Situation Room, presumably discussing the next moves by the United States in the Israel-Iran conflict.
The U.S. president arriving back in Washington early this morning after leaving the G7 summit in Canada early to monitor the situation in the
Middle East.
On Air Force One, he told reporters he is seeking more than a ceasefire and wants, in his words, "a real end to Iran's nuclear program."
Well, Israel's prime minister is expressing similar sentiments and says Israel has no intention of ramping down attacks at this time.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, PRIME MINISTER OF ISRAEL: We're going to continue until we remove the two existential threats, the nuclear threat and the
threat, too, of 20,000 ballistic missiles that are equivalent to two nuclear bombs. So they want to stop and keep it. But we are committed to
removing those threats.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, Stephen Collinson back with us this hour.
The Qatari foreign ministry, let's start there. The spokesperson for the Qatari foreign ministry said this today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAJED AL-ANSARI, SPOKESPERSON, QATARI FOREIGN MINISTRY: We have been making all the possible communication between all the parties, regionally
and abroad. These talks between us have been around finding a way out of the rabbit hole when it comes to this escalation.
We are talking here about an escalation that could have ramifications not only on regional security but on international energy security and security
as a whole for the -- for the whole world. And therefore we need to work together toward a way out of this.
And we have been engaging daily with our partners in the U.S. around finding a way out of this. We have been hearing some positive statements
when it comes to the commitment to the diplomatic measures.
And hopefully we can get back to them as soon as possible. As I said, there is -- there was a positive trajectory in the talks previous to these
attacks. And we are hoping that we can build on it on, on the future, to reach an agreement that would be a sustainable agreement for the region
when it comes to security as a whole.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: There is, it seems, Stephen, a very simple question at this point today, Tuesday, diplomacy or war?
And one assumes that what is going on in the Situation Room at the White House today is a discussion about how the U.S. gets further involved in
either diplomacy or war.
What is your analysis?
STEPHEN COLLINSON, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: It's interesting, I think, that the Qataris are involved because they've been used extensively
by the Trump administration elsewhere in the Middle East, in Afghanistan, even in getting Americans out of places like Venezuela.
I think what their role would be is to try and give Trump options that aren't military. The White House, in its rather, you know, paltry record of
getting peace deals done, has been unable to put together for himself -- for itself.
What happens in these White House Situation Rooms is, typically, various representatives, senior officials from the government, the military, the
intelligence agencies will put before a president various options for military action; what he could do, what this would entail, what the
potential consequences would be.
You know, just listening to Trump, it seems like he's being pulled toward some kind of military action. But he is very loath to go down that road for
political and personal reasons. So I think it's very changeable.
And we often see that the president is very influenced by the last presentation that he gets. So I think, you know, Trump's mindset is a very
unpredictable and volatile place. He often makes decisions through impulse and emotion.
So it's very difficult to read, I think, what he will do. And we saw, you know, he was talking to the reporters on the plane. He loves to be in the
center of these big events.
[10:05:00]
But paradoxically, he often puts off the fateful decision moments, tries to preserve himself maximum maneuvering room and weighs out.
The problem with this situation, as you put it in your question, is it diplomacy or war?
And once he goes down the war road, there's no coming back. You know, he can't just call it off like he's called off his trade wars and climbed
down. He's making an indelible decision.
ANDERSON: That same official from Qatar criticizing as reckless the Israeli strike on Iran's South Pars gas field over the weekend. That's the
largest such facility in the world. Iran shares that with Qatar.
Big concern over the weekend as to whether energy infrastructure around this region would be involved in this conflict and the impact that might
have. I'm just looking at the oil price and let's bring that up if we can.
The oil price higher once again today by nearly 3 percent, both on WTI and on Brant, indicative at least, from an investor's point of view, that there
is real concern out there about this conflict escalating at this point.
These are investors not looking necessarily at a diplomatic route at this point. We talked last hour and agreed that anybody who says they know
what's going to happen next is frankly deluded. There are so few people who really have their hand on the trigger at this point, who can who can affect
either diplomacy or war.
Nic Robertson, our colleague, is in Tel Aviv. He left this report earlier. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Yes, I think the political, you know, dialogue, if you will, that's going on publicly with Israeli
politicians, the leadership is very clearly indicating that that regime change is something that's not even at the back of mind. It's at the
forefront of mind.
And one of the reasons for that, of course, is the difficulty for destroying Iran's nuclear capabilities and then the lack of trust in any
negotiations going forward. It was interesting yesterday that prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke about pushing back Iran's path to
essentially nuclear weapons by many years.
That seemed to say, OK, we've really done a significant amount. But the rhetoric, as you say, also points toward regime change, because, why?
Quite simply, if you have a different leadership in place, perhaps they will just only pursue or only pursue the nuclear technology for power, for
civilian use and not military use. And, of course, that's -- that would be the preferred option for Israel.
If it can't destroy the nuclear weapons, then change the leadership that's in nuclear weapons and nuclear capabilities. Then change the leadership
that's in control. So I think that's why that narrative still exists.
And it is interesting that, overnight last night, you know, the IDF has said that there were fewer missiles flown in from Iran. And they said on
that account that that could be in part because they are destroying some of the launchers and some of the missile capabilities.
And as Nick was mentioned, mentioning there, the stockpiles of munitions in Iran may be going down.
But I think, you know, if you look at this in a bigger perspective, the missiles Iran fired last night, it didn't choose to fire them into Tel
Aviv, a location that would have had a lot of civilian casualties.
And this does seem to indicate in the difficult, balanced tightrope that Iran is walking at the moment, that it is potentially intentionally here,
by not firing a lot of missiles, trying to create a space for diplomacy, not push president Trump off the deep end, so to speak, if there were high
civilian casualties in Tel Aviv.
So I think you have to look at the fact that Iran didn't fire missiles. That might have been a calculated choice based on diplomacy and not based
on availability of munitions.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Let me bring in Ali Vaez, who is the Iran project director at the International Crisis Group.
Ali, we've heard from the Qataris there is a question as to whether Iran will engage with regional players in the Gulf to help de-escalate this
situation, look for an offramp. We've also -- it's been very clear from Israel's perspective that it is not necessarily just the nuclear
infrastructure and military infrastructure that is a target.
It could be the regime itself at this point.
What is your sense of the calculus in Tehran at this point?
ALI VAEZ, IRAN PROJECT, INTERNATIONAL CRISIS GROUP: It's good to be with you, Becky. Look, I think the only thing from the perspective of the
Iranian leadership, which is more dangerous than suffering from Israeli bombs, is surrendering to American terms.
[10:10:07]
So the question here is not really who is the mediator, whether it's the Gulf countries that are trying to mediate or it's Switzerland or whoever
party it is or it's Russia, it doesn't matter as long as president Trump is trying to capitalize on Israeli aggression against Iran, to get the Iranian
leadership to surrender, is just simply not going to work.
Because if the Iranians prove that they are willing to capitulate under bombs on their nuclear program, for instance, why wouldn't the U.S. and
Israel push for them to capitulate also on their missiles program or on their regional policy?
And so what they see at the end of this slippery slope is basically full capitulation and regime collapse.
ANDERSON: Stand by.
Stephen, as Donald Trump sits with his national security team, as we understand it, in the Situation Room in Washington, he's facing heat back
home for this conflict. Take a listen to what longtime Trump supporter Tucker Carlson said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TUCKER CARLSON, TV PERSONALITY: You know, going to war with Iran. And I was like, part of me was like, oh, we're not really going to do that after
we have this election, whose core point was, hey, can we just pay attention to this amazing nation that we have that's suffering?
And people are taking loans out to buy groceries and like, we need attention and money and micro payments. They buy now and they pay micro
payments over time.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: For food.
CARLSON: For food. But hey, let's pay for somebody else's missile defense.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Is it clear, Stephen, what the base thinks at this point?
How do you think Trump voters are viewing this?
COLLINSON: I don't think it's clear yet. Tucker Carlson and Steve Bannon, on whose show he was yesterday there, they are authentic voices of a part
of the MAGA movement.
Much of Trump's support grew out of this feeling that, after the wars of Iraq and Afghanistan, which were disproportionately fought, by the way, by
people in rural American towns and cities, who were reservists and went to war again and again and again.
There was this feeling that the U.S. should never again let itself get thrust into the middle of another long Middle Eastern conflict. That's a
powerful force in the Republican Party.
Of course, there is also great support for Israel in the Republican Party among the evangelical wing, which is also very supportive of Trump.
And then you have some Republican voters who do trust Trump but who are still more wedded to a more hawkish point of view that perhaps wouldn't
rule out U.S. intervention in a limited sense.
So you have this big tussle, I think, going on for the soul of the MAGA movement. Trump has historically been very unwilling to go against his base
on any issue. And I think that is an important thing that is penetrating.
He sits and watch hours after hours of conservative news and this debate is really playing out across that very powerful conservative media
infrastructure, which should not be underestimated how powerful conservative media is to Trump's appeal.
And I think that will have a great deal of bearing on his decisions. At the same time, a president is responsible for the security of his country, for
big international security decisions. That is something now that Trump is facing.
Sometimes you have to go against your own political interests if you believe that U.S. national security interests are at stake. But there is a
real feeling -- people bring up Iraq for years and years after Iraq; they bring up Libya, when the U.S. helped to topple, you know, a dictator.
And that country is still a complete mess. So there's a very vibrant debate, I think, going on inside the GOP about what Trump should do.
ANDERSON: Well. The decision that he takes will be consequential.
Ali, U.S. intelligence says -- or certainly said in March -- that the -- that Iran was years away from racing toward a bomb. Take a listen to my
colleague, Zach Cohen, reporting earlier.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ZACHARY COHEN, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Yes, there appears to be some daylight between what the U.S. intelligence community sees as far
as how far away Iran is from developing a usable nuclear weapon.
[10:15:05]
And what Israel has said in the aftermath of those most recent airstrikes, which it has justified by saying there is an urgent threat posed by Iran's
nuclear weapons program.
And look, we're hearing from our sources that the U.S. intelligence community assessed prior to those Israeli strikes that Iran was not
actively working toward a nuclear weapon.
And what's more is, if they had decided to do so, it would take up to three years before they were able to develop not only a nuclear bomb but the
delivery system that would be used to launch it toward a target of its choosing.
And so that's a pretty extended timeline, especially when you compare it to the public statements made by Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and
other Israeli leaders, who have really framed Iran's nuclear program as an urgent threat.
And again, saying that these strikes were needed to preempt that coming to fruition. And look, Donald Trump's Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi
Gabbard, testified back in March that Iran was not actively working toward a nuclear weapon.
And she said that the U.S. intelligence community could continue to insist that Iran was staying at the levels consistent under the threshold, as
dictated by the JCPOA.
But take a listen to what Donald Trump said when he was asked earlier today about Gabbard's testimony from March.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR AND CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: How close do you personally think that they were to getting one?
Because Tulsi Gabbard --
TRUMP: Very close.
COLLINS: Tulsi Gabbard testified in March that the intelligence community said Iran wasn't building a nuclear weapon.
TRUMP: I don't care what she said. I think they were very close to having one.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Ali, what do you make of this?
VAEZ: It's stunning, Becky, that we have gone from manufacturing intelligence to go into wars in the Middle East to now ignoring
intelligence in order to engage in wars in the Middle East.
The reality is, we knew that Iran, as a result of president Trump's decision to come out of the nuclear agreement in 2018 at prime minister
Netanyahu's urging, Iran had made nuclear advancements.
And it would take Iran less than a week to enrich enough fissile material for a single nuclear weapon. But that is not a nuclear weapon. That is --
(CROSSTALK)
ANDERSON: All right, Ali; let me just jump in because we are hearing sirens over Tel Aviv in Israel again. Let me just jump in for a moment.
(SIRENS)
ANDERSON (voice-over): About 5:17 in the afternoon, five days after Israel's initial attacks on Iran; early morning attacks local time on Iran.
As we work to get my colleague, Nic Robertson, up live for you in Tel Aviv, Ali, apologies for jumping in there.
As we sit on these images -- and it's important to work out what is going on there over Israel.
In a recent article for "Time," you wrote -- and I quote you here, "The question may be less a matter of whether diplomacy can succeed in all of
this than how grievously the situation could escalate."
You wrote, "The worst case scenarios are dire. A cycle of Israeli and Iranian counter strikes that draw in the U.S., Iran's non-state allies, for
what they're worth these days, and regional states."
There is, of course, this, you know, this narrative that says regime change at this point in Iran and what that means going forward, what that looks
like going forward, how do you see this conflict developing from here?
VAEZ: Well, look, we're climbing up the escalation ladder for sure in terms of the conflict. It is expanding in terms of the type of targets that
both sides are going to go after. It started with military nuclear sites, leadership sites in Iran.
But it's now expanding to infrastructure and energy sector as well. And eventually, if you know, Iran retaliates in kind, I think it will create
the kind of rattling of energy markets that could drag in the United States.
[10:20:00]
Or if Iran continues to escalate its attacks on residential areas in Israel, eventually there will be American casualties as well. And that
could drag the United States in, even if the president today decides that he's still going to give one last chance to diplomacy.
So the more this continues and expands and escalates, the higher the risk that it turns into a fully-fledged regional conflagration, which basically
will have no winners.
ANDERSON: Briefly, let me ask you very specifically, what are you watching for next?
VAEZ: Look, at this moment, I think the most important question is what the United States would decide to do, is whether it decides to end this
conflict or join it. That would really determine the fate of the region and U.S. policy in the region.
I think there is still a chance for a diplomatic solution. But that requires president Trump to create distance from Israel and basically hold
both Israel and Iran back in order to be able to get Iran back to the negotiating table. But he does not seem to be moving in that direction.
ANDERSON: Question is, will the U.S., Stephen, decide to end this conflict or get involved in this conflict?
Let's just briefly speak to who it is who surrounds the U.S. president at this point. Ultimately, his responsibility as commander in chief is to make
the decision.
Who's whispering in his ear at this point?
COLLINSON: Well, you have a pretty inexperienced team. You have Pete Hegseth, a former FOX News anchor, who is the Secretary of Defense. In the
past, you've seen people like Robert Gates or Leon Panetta in presidential cabinets, with years of national security experience.
You've got Marco Rubio, who was careful after this all broke out, to say, look, this wasn't the United States' war. This was started by Israel, that
the U.S. wasn't involved. He has been very deferential to Trump because he wants to have a future political career. But historically, he's been on the
far more hawkish side of things.
The vice president, JD Vance, is potentially the most isolationist member of this administration.
And I think any recent U.S. political administration, he, I think, could well be seen to be counseling against deeper involvement as a
representative of the real grassroots of the Trump movement.
Yet he, again, is also wanting to have a future political career and has his eyes on the Oval Office. So you have lots of competing things here.
I think, to the point that was just made is, as well as does the U.S. want to end it or join it, does the president have the capacity and the
bandwidth to do it?
Is he willing to put pressure on Israel if he decides that there's going to be a diplomatic solution here?
Is he willing to fully commit to military action?
I think there's a lot we don't know about Trump and the hard decisions that he's faced with here. Almost all go against his instincts.
ANDERSON: To both of you, I thank you very much indeed.
It is 6:23 here, 5:23 in Tel Aviv at present. And that is where I want to get. That is a shot of the late afternoon in Tel Aviv. We have just heard
sirens wailing across that city. Nic Robertson live there.
Nic, as I understand it, you are in a shelter. Just describe what is going on and what you understand to be happening.
ROBERTSON: Yes, Becky, we've taken shelter because the red alert sirens went off, meaning that there was an incoming missile threat absolutely
imminent.
There was a standby warning that Israelis are now used to, that came in 10 minutes or so prior, that says be close to your shelters. There's a
possibility of a threat when the red warning sirens go off. That's the moment to get into your shelters if you're not already inside them.
But we've taken shelter where we are at the moment. We haven't been able to hear the sound of any heavy detonations. This isn't unusual for Iran to be
launching successful missile strikes during the day into this part of Israel.
They launched one earlier on today into the center of Israel. A few of those missiles managed to get through and impact the ground, a bus depot
caught on fire. And there was three other impacts very close in that same vicinity. No casualties there. And it seems that Iran, for whatever reason,
for -- trying to hint toward diplomacy.
[10:25:00]
Or because it doesn't have the capability to fire the missiles as it wants because they don't have the munitions. They don't have the fire equipment.
And also that their command and control for their missile launch system has been depleted and diminished by the IDF that they are using different
tactics, smaller salvos.
It has a psychological impact. Everyone goes to the bunker, salvos during the day when people got used to them at night. Again, that persists, the
psychological impact.
What the physical damage over the past 18-20 hours maybe has been low. There's been some structural damage, limited, and there has been -- there
have been no casualties that have been reported so far.
So at the moment it seems to be Iran is changing up its tempo in a way. And this is normal in a war. They're going to want to score hits; they're going
to want to score victories. They can't be predictive.
If they're predictive, then Israel will be able to intercept better.
But the question has to be -- and we don't have good access to hard information in Iran -- how depleted are their munitions?
Are they being tactical with these limited offenses right now or are they trying to signal some indication that there's an opening for a potential
for an offramp to diplomacy?
Again, all of that is an open question. And that is all the thing that president Trump is going to have to contemplate as he tries to, with his
advisors, interpret what's happening here on the ground.
And we're here on the ground and, even for us to get to witness this, it's very hard to know, you know, what's going on behind the missiles that are
being sent.
Why so few?
Why not more?
Why here?
Why there?
That's what's on his plate.
ANDERSON: Yes. Thank you, Nic.
Just a few moments ago, we were hearing sirens in Tel Aviv as the conflict between Israel and Iran escalates. And before I move on, we do know that
Donald Trump said that he was considering dispatching Steve Witkoff and the vice president, JD Vance, for negotiations on this conflict.
He said it would, quote, "depend on what happens when I get back."
That was Donald Trump talking on the way back from his early departure from the G7 meeting. So whether we see some talks between two key Donald Trump
assets and the Iranians in the hours to come is still unclear.
But that comment certainly keeps the door open to diplomatic offramp here as we continue to monitor what is going on.
Well, as I said, as this escalates overnight, this is Ukraine.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON (voice-over): And a new wave of Russian drone and missile attacks on Kyiv that killed at least 15 people, according to Ukrainian officials,
they say it is the deadliest strike on the Ukrainian capital in weeks.
A 62 -year-old U.S. citizen among the casualties, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said more than 440 drones and 32 missiles were launched
earlier today across dozens of locations during that attack.
Well, this hour, NATO leaders, along with the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, are arriving at the G7 summit in Canada. Mr. Zelenskyy
was hoping for a key meeting with the U.S. president.
As we've been reporting, Mr. Trump left early because of that conflict between Israel and Iran. CNN's Paula Newton joining us live near the summit
site in the Canadian Rockies.
And how is the Iran-Israel conflict playing out there with other G7 leaders?
PAULA NEWTON, CNN ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Becky, I have to say, certainly Donald Trump's departure quite abrupt. Yesterday evening, the G6
leaders there trying to get around some kind of consensus. They did put out a statement.
And this is critical because White House officials earlier in the day yesterday had been saying that Donald Trump would not sign on to the
statement. Indeed, he did. The crux of it is here, Becky.
It says Iran -- identifies Iran as the principal source of regional instability and terror.
"We have been consistently clear that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon. We urge that the resolution of the Iranian crisis leads to a broader de-
escalation of hostilities in the Middle East, including"-- and this is also crucial, Becky, "a ceasefire in Gaza."
Now where does that put these leaders very much on the sidelines?
[10:30:00]
Donald Trump did not articulate to them exactly what he had in mind or what would happen going forward. And in fact, Donald Trump showed irritation
with Emmanuel Macron, when the French president suggested that he was going to try and negotiate a ceasefire.
Donald Trump said, this is not a ceasefire. It is bigger than that.
Becky, what is interesting here is the fact that, these G6 leaders, the remaining have tried to rely on regional allies, right?
Something you know so much about in terms of trying to bring their own pressure to bear in the region. That has not happened as of yet. And I
think a lot of those allies in the region are wondering what kind of leverage they actually have.
Everyone now eyeing that Situation Room in Washington and trying to figure out what comes out of that. Again, though, a lot to play for here still at
the G7 as we enter day two.
ANDERSON: Yes, and not least Ukraine; Russia of course.
What is expected as Volodymyr Zelenskyy meets with those remaining leaders and NATO leads in the coming hours. Paula?
NEWTON: Yes. You know, Becky, no doubt Volodymyr Zelenskyy is grateful to be here and grateful to have the audience with those leaders and the
extended outreach right to India, to Mexico, to Brazil.
But having said that, he wanted that meeting. Prime minister Mark Carney worked very hard to put that on the schedule. A one-on-one meeting between
president Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy in private, without the cameras. That did not happen. Donald Trump obviously left and made it very clear.
And to quote the president, again, "I did everything I had to do at the G7," and he left.
What is left?
Again, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as you mentioned, still reeling from the Russian attack on Kyiv and other cities overnight, one of the worst in more
than a year.
Now will sit down with the remaining NATO leaders and the NATO secretary general to really get commitments on what can happen over the next few
months in terms of supplying Ukraine with what the United States may pull out of or not willing to actually supply Ukraine.
They are going to try and detail that. And that is leading up to a NATO summit that will happen later this month. Again, though, quite a blow for
Volodymyr Zelenskyy. We do expect to hear from him, not just in this meeting but with a press conference in the coming hours.
And no doubt he will continue to press the president as much as he can from here about identifying Russia as the aggressor and insisting that those
sanctions now on the table, increased sanctions on Russia, do come to fruition.
And that the United States continues its commitment to try and arm Ukraine through the coming months. And you know, Becky, what a difficult few months
it has been for Ukraine.
ANDERSON: Yes, absolutely. Paula, it's good to have you there. Thank you very much indeed.
Paula Newton there, what are these slightly reduced G7 talks now reframed as G6 plus NATO, plus a bunch of other countries.
All right. Well, Israel says it is striking Iran to destroy its nuclear ambitions. But hints are emerging of another larger goal. We dig into the
signs that regime change could be on Israel's mind. That is up next.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:35:00]
(MUSIC PLAYING)
ANDERSON (voice-over): Right. Welcome back. You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD with me, Becky, Anderson from our Middle East programming
headquarters here in Abu Dhabi. Here are your headlines.
And the man suspected of shooting two Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses faces both federal and state charges as he awaits his next court appearance
this month.
U.S. attorney in Minnesota says 57-year old Vance Boelter, seen here, embarked on a planned campaign of stalking and violence designed to inflict
fear, injure and kill members of the Minnesota state legislature and their families.
U.S. President Donald Trump is back in Washington after leaving the G7 summit in Canada ahead of schedule. A White House official tells CNN the
president has directed his national security team to convene in the Situation Room as they continue to monitor the Israel-Iran crisis. And we
are expecting that meeting today.
Air raid sirens blared once again this hour in Tel Aviv as Israel and Iran launch attacks on each other for a fifth day. Earlier, Israel's military
says it intercepted 30 Iranian drones fired overnight, reports some damage but no injuries.
The IDF says, in turn, it conducted extensive strikes on targets in Iran, including missile launchers and drone storage sites.
ANDERSON:
Israel's ambassador to the United States has claimed only U.S. weapons are capable of destroying Iran's underground nuclear sites, The Fordow plant,
buried deep in the mountains near Qom in northern Iran and has remained virtually untouched by Israeli attacks.
But analysts have warned that even if the U.S. targeted Fordow with its bunker buster bomb, as it is known, there are no guarantees the attack
would succeed. CNN's Nick Paton Walsh explains.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: It's one of Iran's biggest secrets at the heart of what they insist is their
peaceful nuclear program. Here's the very little we know about the Fordow nuclear plant and its heavily fortified world.
Inside a secure perimeter, these images show the mountain lair in which its hundreds of centrifuges hide perhaps 90 meters underground and enriched
uranium to 60 percent, IAEA reports have said.
Tiny white squares show the tunnel entrances and above the surface is a support building. Israel has already targeted this huge Iranian
Revolutionary Guard Corps facility near Qom in northern Iran.
In the past days, the IAEA has reported no damage to the site as of Monday, although Iran has reported shooting down an Israeli drone nearby.
Has Israel concluded it can't penetrate its defenses without huge bunker buster bombs only the U.S. has?
It's unclear. But Israel has now escalated its conflict with Iran to the point it must ensure Tehran can't build a nuclear bomb. And so Fordow's
fate is critical.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Well, the Israelis have said repeatedly that the target of this operation is the Iranian nuclear program. A report that the U.S. president
opposed an Israeli plan to target Iran's supreme leader opened the door to analysis that there could indeed be another goal: regime change.
Well, subsequent comments by Israeli officials have not dispelled that analysis.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
QUESTION: U.S. officials tell us that the president flatly rejected a plan, an opportunity that you, that the Israelis had to take out the
supreme leader.
Do you understand his concern?
My understanding is his concern is that this would escalate the conflict beyond where it is already.
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, PRIME MINISTER OF ISRAEL: It's not going to escalate the conflict. It's going to end the conflict.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, U.S. and Israeli leaders believe Iran is weakened and now may be the time to take advantage of public discontent in Iran.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ISAAC HERZOG, PRESIDENT OF ISRAEL: I don't really feel that I have the capability of giving you all the details. But I'm quite confident that what
we've shown so far can continue dramatically and they can change the course of how things are also in Iran.
[10:40:00]
After all, the Iranian people have been oppressed for decades and we all believe they are fed up and it is their chance to rise and change the
regime. But it's not one of our objectives per se.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Less than an hour after the Israeli president said that to CNN, this happened to Iran's state television channel.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (Speaking foreign language).
ANDERSON (voice-over): Well, the Israeli defense minister referred to that strike on what he calls the regime's propaganda and incitement broadcasting
authority when he gave a pointed warning to the supreme leader himself.
ISRAEL KATZ, ISRAELI DEFENSE MINISTER (through translator): I warned the Iranian dictator from continuing to commit war crimes and fire missiles at
Israeli citizens. He should remember what happened to the dictator in the country neighboring Iran, who took this path against the state of Israel.
We will continue today as well to operate against regime targets and military targets in Tehran, as we did against the propaganda and incitement
broadcasting.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Thing there about targeting the supreme leader, warning him about the fate of a previous dictator and striking the TV news operation
closely associated with the regime, three examples of why some are asking if regime change is really on Israel's table.
Well, meanwhile, in Gaza, authorities say Israeli fire killed at least 51 people and wounded more than 200 others on Tuesday who were waiting for aid
trucks in southern Gaza.
The IDF says, quote, "Details of the incident are under review."
Here is what one eyewitness described from the scene.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): We went to wait like other people to get food for our children. We have not seen food or drinks for six
months. We went to wait like other people. They told us there is flour in a certain area. So we went and waited.
Then we found rockets falling on us, missiles falling on us and the quadcopter falling on us. We are civilians. We do not have weapons or
anything. We were going to get food for our children, to feed our children. We have not eaten for six months. We ate sand because of the hunger.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: U.S. immigration officials are ordering renewed raids after limiting operations in certain industries. We'll get the details on that on
what is an extremely busy news day after this.
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(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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ANDERSON: The Trump administration appears to be reversing course on its immigration policies once again. A source tells CNN that officials have now
ordered field offices to continue raids at farms, at restaurants and at hotels after previously telling them to limit operations in those sectors.
That reporting coming into us from CNN's Priscilla Alvarez. And she's joining us now live from Washington.
[10:45:00]
Given the Department of Homeland Security has just resumed immigration raids after a pause, it does suggest that the administration lacks a clear,
coherent, consistent immigration policy.
Point being, what's the impact of that?
PRISCILLA ALVAREZ, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Becky, this all boils down to what the prevailing desire is. And that ultimately is, for
this White House, more immigration arrests. In fact, the White House has said or directed Immigration and Customs Enforcement to make at least 3,000
arrests a day.
So what does that mean in practice?
Well, they can't limit worksite raids. In fact, some areas of the country, some of those field directors mostly have some of these industries, like
farms or hotels. So if they were to pull back, well, then the administration isn't going to reach its 3,000 people a day. And that is
what matters for Trump's hard line immigration architect, Stephen Miller.
So that is where we find ourselves this week, which is that, even after last week, saying that they needed to limit enforcement in some of these
areas, because these are industries that do rely heavily on migrant workers -- and there was pressure from those industries to ease up on raids in
those facilities.
Well, only days later, now we are seeing that the administration is pulling that back. So there is whiplash that is happening here among the people
that I talked to.
And many of these Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, who have always faced hurdles, they've always faced challenges when it comes to
immigration arrests in the United States because they have such limited resources and personnel.
But this isn't just a matter of limited resources anymore so much as it is also trying to reach the goals that the administration is setting as part
of the president's overall mass deportation agenda.
Now I asked the Department of Homeland Security about this.
And in a statement they said, quote, "The president has been incredibly clear. There will be no safe spaces for industries who harbor violent
criminals or purposefully try to undermine ICE's efforts."
And just as a point of context here, Becky, we have seen worksite raids before in previous administrations. But this is all part of an end goal by
the administration to do that, coupled with arresting as many people as they can where they can.
So if they do that all together, the hope from this White House is that they will be able to reach their 3,000-a-day quota, which right now is
hovering around 2,000 a day on average.
ANDERSON: It's good to have you. Thank you very much indeed.
And I want to get you up to speed, folks, on some of the other stories that are on our radar right now on what has been an extremely busy regional day
of news, of course.
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ANDERSON (voice-over): President Trump ordering Trump's order to block incoming foreign students from attending Harvard University will remain on
hold, at least for now. A U.S. judge extended a temporary restraining order until June the 23rd.
During a hearing on Monday, the Ivy League school argued that Mr. Trump is using its students as pawns.
Well, the judge overseeing the Sean Diddy Combs sex trafficking trial is reprimanded by both the defense and prosecution attorneys following the
publication of an article on Friday, leaking details of sealed case proceedings. The judge says he will be investigating that alleged leak.
U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters he doesn't want to call Democratic governor Tim Walz about the shootings of two state lawmakers and
their spouses. The president also said he thinks the governor of Minnesota is "so whacked out," to use his words. Meantime, we are learning new
details about the suspect in those shootings, Vance Boelter. CNN's Danny Freeman with this report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DANNY FREEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Terrifying new information about the brutal killings of a Minnesota lawmaker and her husband and the
attempted killings of another lawmaker and his wife.
JOSEPH THOMPSON, ACTING U.S. ATTORNEY, DISTRICT OF MINNESOTA: It is no exaggeration to say that his crimes are the stuff of nightmares.
FREEMAN (voice-over): The Department of Justice is saying the morning 57- year-old Vance Boelter allegedly murdered State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, and allegedly tried to kill State Senator
John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, he also visited two other state lawmakers' homes with intent to kill them.
THOMPSON: He researched his victims and their families. He conducted surveillance of their homes and took notes about the location of their
homes.
FREEMAN (voice-over): Boelter first went to State Senator Hoffman's home in a Black SUV with a fake license plate that read "police," a court
document said. He disguised himself as a police officer wearing a silicone mask, seen here captured on a doorbell camera.
THOMPSON: Boelter knocked on Senator Hoffman's front door and repeatedly shouted, "this is the police, open the door." When Boelter lowered his
flashlight, which he had shined in their face, they realized that he was not a police officer.
[10:50:00]
They shouted out, "You're not a cop. You're not a police officer."
FREEMAN (voice-over): Authorities say the suspect then went to another lawmaker's home and rang the doorbell but that lawmaker was on vacation.
Boelter then continued to a third lawmaker's home but appeared to hesitate as police were already checking on local leaders by then. Finally, at State
Representative Hortman's home, authorities say police found Boelter, gunfire erupted and Boelter had to abandon his car and an arsenal of
weapons.
THOMPSON: Had they not foiled the plan, essentially took his vehicle away from him, which involved all his maps, all his names, all his weaponry, I
would be very scared what it would look like over the next few hours had we not done that.
FREEMAN (voice-over): Minnesota law enforcement officers then began what they call the largest manhunt in state history, which led them to rural
Sibley County, roughly 50 miles from the crime scenes.
New federal court documents state, while he was on the run, Boelter texted his family.
"Dad went to war last night. I don't want to say more because I don't want to implicate anybody."
But with the help of a resident's trail camera, drones and infrared technology, Boelter was taken into custody without incident.
QUESTION: Can you speak to why investigators believe he carried out this attack and for how long he may have been planning these attacks?
THOMPSON: Well, it's pretty clear from the evidence that he's been planning these attacks for quite some time.
There's voluminous writings, as you've seen in the reporting, that were found both in his car and his house, about his planning, lists of names and
individuals. Obviously, his primary motive was to go out and murder people. Now they were all elected officials. They were all Democrats.
FREEMAN: Now we actually got a statement from State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, on Monday. I'll read it in part.
It says, "John and I are both incredibly lucky to be alive. There's never a place for senseless political violence and loss of life. We are devastated
by the loss of Melissa and Mark Hortman and our hearts go out to all those who knew and loved them both. We're always at our best when we unite
together," a note of hope there amidst tragedy.
Meanwhile, Boelter's next federal court appearance to face those murder charges is scheduled for the end of next week -- Danny Freeman, CNN,
Minneapolis.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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ANDERSON: Qatar Airways has once again been named the world's best airline. The Skytrax World Airline Awards are known as the Oscars of the
aviation world. It is the ninth time that Qatar Airways has received the honor in the 26-year history of the awards.
The carrier also named Best Airline in the Middle East World's Best Business Class and Best Business Class Airline Lounge. The news comes as
Qatar Airways and many airlines around the world face fears of a global economic slowdown. I spoke to the Qatar Airways Group CEO about those
fears. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BADR MOHAMMED AL-MEER, CEO, QATAR AIRWAYS GROUP: You know we cannot predict the future, Becky. We don't know if there will be a recession or
things will go back to normalize based on the discussion with the American -- the U.S. administration is having with their counterparties in China or
in Europe.
I'll take you back in history. When COVID hit us, all of us, we managed to continue our operation. We managed to continue carrying passengers and we
made profit that year. We showed the industry that we are an agile and resilient airline. Today, if there is a recession in the U.S., it doesn't
mean that we're going to be impacted to this level.
[10:55:05]
We're still flying everywhere and we are a global airline.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, that view about a month ago on the release of the company's bumper profits.
Let's get you a check on how the oil markets are faring on this fifth day of conflict between Israel and Iran. And that is the state of play, folks.
There is clearly concern about the potential of a disruption to this -- to supplies. Nearly a third of the world's seaborne oil and a fifth of global
LNG transit, for example, the Strait of Hormuz.
And any escalation in this conflict that even threatens closure of that area really rattles the market, pushes energy prices higher. Investors are
clearly keeping a very close eye on news. A live look at the U.S. markets for you, which opened about 1.5 hours ago. And those are slightly lower.
The markets there digesting the unrest that we are seeing, waiting for the trade deals the U.S. president has been touting for weeks. Uncertainty, it
does seem, is baked in at the moment.
Keep your eyes keenly focused on the White House today. President Trump making decisions there that could have significant consequences for this
region where I am and around the world. Diplomacy or war, that is the next question in this conflict.
More on that as we continue with CNN's coverage. That's it for CONNECT THE WORLD. "ONE WORLD" is up next.
END
