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Connect the World
News Attacks as Israel-Iran Conflict Enters Second Week; Iranian FM Meeting with UK, Germany, France, EU Counterparts; Iranian FM: Israeli Strikes Were Betrayal of Diplomacy; Gaza Health Officials: 70 Killed on Thursday; Trump Draws MAGA Backlash Over Political U.S. Strikes on Iran. Aired 9-9:45a ET
Aired June 20, 2025 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[09:00:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST, CONNECT THE WORLD: Well, this is Geneva, Switzerland, where Iran's Foreign Minister and his European representatives
meeting for talks after the U.S. President -- two-week deadline to decide whether the United States will join the fight between Iran and Israel.
03:00 p.m. in Geneva, 09:00 a.m. in Washington, it is 05:00 p.m. here in Abu Dhabi. This is CNN's Middle East Programming Headquarters. I'm Becky
Anderson, joining the dots for you with "Connect the World". Also ahead, in Gaza, Palestinian officials say Israeli forces killed more than 70 people
on Thursday.
Well, the stock market in New York opens about 30 minutes from now, and the numbers, well, they are telling a story, some relief, one assumes, from
investors, as we now certainly have somewhat of a pause in this Iran-Israel conflict, perhaps some relief being shown by investors as they buy into
these markets closed yesterday, of course, for the public holiday.
Well, these are live pictures from Tel Aviv, where CNN teams just heard sirens and on out heading to shelters. We will get you more on this as soon
as possible. Of course, the conflict between Israel and Iran entering its second week as Iran's Foreign Minister now sits down with counterparts from
Europe today in Geneva.
And the U.S. President says he will decide within two weeks whether to throw the U.S. military into the fight. Well in Israel, emergency officials
say at least six people were injured when an Iranian missile hit near a technology park in Beer Sheva, the same city where a hospital suffered
extensive damage and a missile strike overnight Thursday.
Iranian television airs video of what it says are missiles launched towards Israel by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Israel's military says it
hit dozens of military targets meanwhile in Iran overnight, including missile production sites and a nuclear research facility in Tehran.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vows Israel will strike all of Iran's nuclear facilities. Top diplomats then from the UK, France and Germany, and
indeed, the EU itself, will meet their Iranian counterparts today in Geneva. We're going to have more on that. These pictures just coming to us
from Geneva as these talks kick off.
Before we do more from now, I do want to get you to Tel Aviv. Nic Robertson is standing by. We just heard sirens wailing there as these talks get
underway in Geneva, the Iranians have said they will not talk to the U.S. directly about U.S.-Iran situation whilst there, they are under fire.
Meantime, sirens wailing there. What are you seeing and hearing?
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Yeah, Becky, we're in Haifa at the moment, north of Israel. It was a quiet night, last night, we
were filming on the streets here. Just a few minutes ago, the sirens went off, so we just looked around us. Followed people who were leaving the
street.
Followed them where they went to, because people here know where the underground shelters are, went into a shopping mall, went down multiple
levels in this shopping mall, and we came out in this underground car park. And as you can see, this is where people are taking shelter. They're all
around us here. They're looking on their mobile phones to see what's happening outside, to kind of try to keep up with the reports of what's
going on.
And I've talked to quite a few people while I've been down here, and they're telling me, look, in fact, one lady sitting very kindly, sitting
just over here, was telling me before, it's the first time she'd come down to the shelter, because her neighbor said, come down because she was
feeling worried and anxious about sitting out the strikes in her apartment, where she doesn't have a shelter.
So, people on the streets, people who are in their homes, they come here when this is the place available to them, the safe place available to them,
when there's a warning of a strike. Now we don't really know what's happened outside here in Haifa -- one down here. We'll find that out when
we get outside.
And I think that's what a lot of people here find. They come down, they take shelter, then they come out. And I've been talking to people here as
well about the idea that President Trump is sort of delaying his decision about supporting Israel for a couple of weeks.
Most people that I'm talking to are saying that they believe he'll make the right decision. They really hope that he'll support Israel at the moment
and in terms of their daily lives that get interrupted at a moment's notice. I mean, when we came here, we were following a family of parents
with children literally running down the street to get them to safety and shelter.
[09:05:00]
This interrupts people's lives, but they're saying, look, we're getting used to it, and if it goes on, then we trust our military. We'll come down
to the shelters. We'll be in a safe place, a life will continue. And I think that's, you know, I was talking to city officials earlier on in the
day.
And I think the message that emerges is one of resilience, but there's no doubt about it that coming into the shelter cuts into people's lives, and
really, you know, it affects them psychologically. People are worried about how long this will go on. Are worried, you know, will I come out? Will my
apartment be damaged? All these things from people's minds, Becky.
ANDERSON: It's good to have you, Nic. And we will get back to you as you get more. It is just after 4 o'clock in the in the afternoon there. CNN
then on the ground in Israel and in Iran, as the countries continue to exchange strike. CNN's Fred Pleitgen and photo journalist Claudia Otto, are
getting very rare access to report from Tehran during this conflict.
Here's a look at what they experienced this past night as Iranian air defenses responded to incoming Israeli strikes.
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: So, what we've been hearing tonight is really an increase in aerial activity over the
skies of Tehran. There's been a lot of outgoing anti-aircraft fire, seemingly coming from Iranian anti-aircraft guns. We've seen in the skies
the sort of burst of those munitions exploding in the skies.
It's unclear what the air defense forces here are firing at, whether or not there's drones or planes or something else that they're trying to
intercept. We're also hearing quite a few thuds that seem to be coming from the ground, or could also be from that outgoing anti-aircraft fire, or even
from outgoing anti-aircraft missiles, but it is definitely something that we're noticing.
There's a lot of noise tonight over Tehran. It's unclear whether or not that means that there's a big attack going on, but if we listen, we can
hear the fire coming out. So, you can see, those are the things that we've been hearing. Those are the things that we've been seeing as this evening
has been progressing. There certainly is a lot going on in the skies over Tehran. Fred Pleitgen, CNN, Tehran.
ANDERSON: Fred Pleitgen, on the ground in Iran. Will Donald Trump's two- week deadline may not be cause for a total sigh of relief, but it has offered breathing space. European negotiators tell CNN a short time ago,
President Emmanuel Macron said, France, Germany and the UK are ready to make an offer to Iran for what he described as complete negotiations.
Those comments came ahead of today's talks in Geneva, where Iran's Foreign Minister says his country's missile use will not be up for discussion.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ABBAS ARAGHCHI, IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER: Our talks tomorrow will focus solely on the nuclear issue, and, of course, regional matters. I must make
it clear that we have no discussions with anyone regarding the missile issue. And if anyone had any doubts, I know it is clear to everyone that
the Islamic Republic of Iran's missile capability is an exceptional defensive power for the country.
Our missiles have never been intended for attacking anyone, therefore the defense of the nation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: And we will get you to these talks in just a moment to get the perspective from Geneva. First, I want to bring in CNN's National Security
Reporter Zachary Cohen. Is that the U.S. not at these talks, but it is Trump's rhetoric that is helping it seems to open this diplomatic window
again.
What's the White House saying about what's going on in Geneva, and what are these latest military movements between both Iran and Israel?
ZACHARY COHEN, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY REPORTER: Yeah, Becky, we're told the top U.S. officials did brief European negotiators prior to today's meeting
in Geneva on their last plan that the U.S. presented to Iran, and was ultimately rejected by Iran regarding its nuclear program, and that plan
did call on Iran to abandon its enrichment efforts.
That's something that the U.S. is continuing to insist it needs in order to be willing to accept any sort of a deal with Iran. That message will likely
be conveyed to the Iranian state by the European representatives who will be sitting down with them. But look at the same time we have not seen the
U.S., the Trump Administration or the president himself, publicly call on Israel to halt its strikes against Iran, who has said that it will not talk
directly with the United States until it's no longer under fire.
[09:10:00]
A U.S. official telling CNN that they were not optimistic that today's meeting in Geneva will result ultimately in a solution for preventing this
conflict from spring into a wider war or de-escalating the conflict. But as you mentioned, these two big pauses from President Trump have set off sort
of a scramble to kind of reinvestigate possible diplomatic off ramps to ending the conflict between Israel and Iran.
Remains to be seen, though, if that will happen, because at the same time, we are seeing the U.S. military take precautionary and preemptive measures
to protect its forces in the region. We've seen them move naval assets from its base in Bahrain we've seen them move aircraft from its air base in
Qatar.
All with the expectation that if Donald Trump does ultimately decide to move forward with military strikes, that it will likely prompt a
retaliation by the Iranians. And the Iranians have threatened to target U.S. forces if they are attacked, if their nuclear sites are struck by the
U.S. and if they join Israel in these ongoing strikes.
So, look, the conflict between Iran and Israel continuing to escalate, showing no signs of slowing down. But as you mentioned, this two-week
window does open, potentially an opportunity to see if there is a diplomatic solution here.
ANDERSON: Right. Let me bring in Matthew Chance in Geneva stand by Zach. Matthew, you can hear me. What are the expectations on the part of the
Europeans and going into these talks. I guess the bottom line is, what's the point of these talks? And can you break down what this offer for
complete negotiations from the French President actually means,
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CHIEF GLOBAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Look, I mean, Becky, I'm not sure. Having spoken to Western diplomats here in Geneva, the
expectations are particularly high. First of all, obviously, the crux of the issue, and what they've all been sort of brainstorming about behind the
scenes, is what new ideas they can come up with and present to the Iranians to get it to compromise on its uranium enrichment activities.
Facilities, of course, in Iran that are being struck very hard by the Israelis over the course of the past week or so. There's a hope, I think,
that in this two-week period that has been created, they're calling it a breathing space here diplomats by President Trump in his announcement that
he'll hold off on a decision on U.S. military intervention.
There's a hope that some sort of compromise or common ground can be found. But I'd also say this, there's quite a lot of skepticism from the diplomats
I've spoken to as well. First of all, skepticism about how straightforward this two-week hiatus on decision making in the U.S., really is.
One diplomat said to me last night, ahead of these talks, you look this could be just the U.S., U.S. President playing for time. So, he can
assemble more military forces in the region to join Israel, ultimately in its strikes against Iran's nuclear facilities. So, there's a lot of
skepticism, there's a lot of cynicism, but it is a window of opportunity, a breathing space, as they're calling it, here, for a possible diplomatic
conversation to take place.
And that's what we're waiting for. Now, the foreign ministers of Britain, Germany and France, as well as the EU's top diplomat are inside this hotel
already waiting for the arrival of the Iranian Foreign Minister. He hasn't come yet. Was expected here within the next few minutes.
So, they can put to Iran what ideas, if any, they have. And sort of part of that is a message as well from United States David Lammy, who's the British
Foreign Secretary, has literally just this day come back from meetings in Washington where he has been fully briefed on what the U.S. position is.
And so, there is a sense in which you know this whole operation is a sort of, you know, a sort of message passing on process from the United States
to Iran with the Europeans as intermediaries.
ANDERSON: It's good to have you. We will continue to monitor what goes on in Geneva and later. Thank you, Matthew. We'll be hearing from one of the
players in today's nuclear talks, Christophe Lemoyne is the spokesperson for the French Foreign Ministry, and he joins me in the next hour of
"Connect the World".
Well Mohammad Ali Shabani is well sourced on the Iranian side. He's a Middle East scholar with extensive experience in Iran and also the Editor
of Amwaj Media, which focuses on news and analysis from the region. I think we should step back for a moment and try to understand, if we can.
[09:15:00]
What is it that Iran wants at present, where were these talks left off, and what sort of compromises is Iran expected to make, at this point? Stand by,
I think we're hearing from the Iranian Foreign Minister. Before I come to you stand by. I just want to hear from the Iranian Foreign Minister now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ARAGHCHI: -- each and every one of you to stand for justice rule of law --
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: All right, look, we do seem to have some interference on that microphone. So let me bring back Mohammed. Mohammed, while we trying to get
a better sound out of Geneva. I just want to get a sense from you as the Iranians go into this meeting in Geneva. Firstly, what is the point for the
Iranians? Let's start there.
MOHAMMAD ALI SHABANI, EDITOR OF AMWAJ.MEDIA: Well Becky, prior to the Israeli surprise attack on Iran on June 13, they had talks scheduled with
the United States in Oman on June 15. And in those talks, they were moving towards a solution whereby enrichment in Iran would be moved to a
multilateral facility, a consortium which would gather Asian scientists, potentially Arab scientists, and even U.S. scientists.
And in that way, provide an additional layer of kind of oversight beyond what the UN nuclear watchdog can provide. I think, given what's been going
on over the past week now, we're seeing Europe essentially come and say and echo the U.S. position of zero enrichment altogether on Iranian soil.
I think that's going to be very problematic, and in many ways it's problematic also because Europe itself is contradicting its own obligations
on the JCPOA, which is still in force, right? So, we have that element to it. But I think ultimately, the talks today, Iran has been very clear that
he will not speak directly to United States unless there is a ceasefire, unless Israel stops bombing Iran, politically, is not feasible to continue
direct talks within that setting.
Ultimately, I think also it's about making clear for both sides, making clear to their own peoples that diplomacy has been exhausted before an
expected expansion of the conflict. I foresee, personally, that unless there is some kind of solution to the enrichment issue. And to me, the
multilateral option of keeping some kind of facility on Iranian territory under oversight, not just by the U.N. but also by U.S. scientists, Asian
scientists, Arab scientists.
I think that's the only way forward. If we don't find a conclusion to that and if the United States and its European allies are going to continue to
insist on zero enrichment, they're going to consist on Iran, insist on Iran, dismantling its missiles, especially in wartime conditions. I think
it's obvious it's not going to lead anyone.
ANDERSON: Yeah, you've been -- about what you believe it will take to get Iran to make a deal. And this is not sort of nuance stuff. It is, you know,
can the Americans, it seems, these are the terms. Can the Americans get Iran to negotiate away their opportunity to enrich uranium.
They have said that is a red line, as far as the Iranians are concerned. So, can the two parties get to a negotiated position where the Iranians
give up some of their enrichment capability? And as you rightly point out, there is this, as it's been described to me, creative or very interesting
sort of notion that there might be the establishment of some sort of consortium where Iran, along with others, for example, the UAE and Saudi
might be able to enrich uranium together.
Do you -- it's difficult to nail down any further details on that plan and whether it is a realistic option. For example, you know, have the UAE and
the Saudi signed up to that. The UAE, of course, has a 123 agreement with the states that enrich uranium for their civil nuclear program here and the
Saudis in the process of negotiating a civil nuclear program with the states at the moment.
And again, being pushed to sign up to that similar 123 agreement, which doesn't effectively allow for enrichment. Where do we stand on this idea of
this consortium in principle?
[09:20:00]
SHABANI: Well, Becky in essence, it's all very simple. I think the main dispute is over the location of this new facility. Iran insists that it
must be on Iranian territory, and thereby it gets to kind of in a face- saving way, state that we defended our right to enrichment Iranian scientists still access this technology on Iranian soil, and the United
States wants it to be in a third country.
From the regional perspective, I think you're right to point out there are some apprehensions. Number one, I think countries like Saudi Arabia are not
too keen on giving Iran dominance in a project like that. Secondly, related to that -- yes, and the second point is that Saudi Arabia is basically not
very keen on losing its right to enrichment, which is pursuing right now in talk of the United States. So, it's a lot of complex politics.
ANDERSON: We are just -- I just want to keep our viewers bang up to date. We have just heard from the Iranian Foreign Minister. As I said, I had to
apologize because the sound wasn't very good out of Geneva. He is meeting European counterparts there, plus representatives from the EU.
The key takes out from what he just said, Mohammed, because you wouldn't have heard it either, given that you were speaking to me. We were supposed
to meet with the Americans, as you rightly point out in Oman on the 15th to craft what he describes as a very promising agreement on our nuclear
program.
He went on to say Israel strikes were a betrayal of diplomacy. Let's just have a listen to him very specifically in Geneva, in these past moments.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ARAGHCHI: Dear colleagues, the peace and rule of law are at serious stake as a result of Israel's unlawful invasion of Iran. Israel is committing war
crimes and crimes against humanity. International humanitarian law, already badly undermined as a consequence of Israelis relentless atrocities in
occupied Palestine and elsewhere, is now under another extremely serious danger, as Israel is committing grave violations of 1949 Geneva
Conventions.
Mr. President, Switzerland is the custodian of Geneva Conventions and protocols on IHL, and has an important responsibility in this regard.
Indeed, every state party to 1949 convention shall shoulder their responsibility under these conventions, in particular common articles one
and three of these conventions.
Dear colleagues, we were attacked in the midst of an ongoing diplomatic process. We were supposed to meet with Americans on 15 June to craft a very
promising agreement for peaceful resolution of the issues fabricated over our peaceful nuclear program. It was a betrayal of diplomacy and an
unprecedented blow to the foundation of international law and UN system.
Let me be clear, if there is any use of costly systems and mechanisms, we have created for the past 80 decades to preserve human rights and dignity.
Now is the time to do it. We need action now. Otherwise, the whole U.N. based international law system would corrode badly.
This is a historic moment for human civilization when a civilized nation has come under an unjust war of aggression. The world, every estate, every
un mechanism and body, has to be alarmed and has to act now to stop the aggressor, to end impunity and to hold the criminals accountable for their
unending atrocities and crimes in our region.
This is a call from someone who has allocated his whole life to dialog and diplomacy, but who also is a veteran of an imposed war by Saddam regime and
knows how to defend his beloved motherland. Thank you so much.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you, Excellency. Excellencies, Distinguished colleagues --
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: -- our talks with European partners. You've been listening to the European Foreign Minister at the beginning of what is a series of
discussions, a dialog being held between his European counterparts and him in Geneva. Top line, I think, out of this, we were supposed to meet to
craft a very promising agreement on our nuclear program.
He said those meetings were supposed to happen this Sunday, of course, in Oman, Israel strikes, he said, were a betrayal of diplomacy.
[09:25:00]
Mohammed, what did you make of the entirety of what you've just heard from the foreign minister? I just wonder, as he goes into these meetings with
European countries, just how much trust does Iran have in what is the E3 and the EU, UK, Germany, France and the EU at this point?
SHABANI: Well prior to the Israeli attack on Iran, Iran sought out a foreign minister level meeting with the E3 and unfortunately, according to
our sources, those requests were denied twice. France in particular, did not want direct engagement at the ministerial level.
And we see that also, the Gulf Arab states, particularly Oman, have instead been leading this kind of mediation between Iran and the U.S. So there has
been a lessened European role in all of this. Right now, with Europe essentially echoing U.S. demands, partly because they have no other option.
Obviously, they can go to Iran and propose something that the U.S. will not accept, that's just a complete waste of time. But beyond all of that, by
echoing U.S. demands of zero enrichment at the negotiating table, the European nations would in effect, completely abandon their own obligations
under the JCPOA.
The 2015 Iran nuclear deal, which is still in effect legally, right? So, it's very problematic in many ways, if we're going to end up with a
situation where they're going to continue to insist on zero enrichment in Iran, and they're going to start to talk about things like ballistic
missiles, which we've seen are Iran's only means of defense in the middle of war.
So, I think it's just, it's a non-starter in many ways, but we just have to wait and see what comes out of the gathering. My sense overall is that this
is really an exercise on the part of the Iranian government, on the part of the U.S. government, to make clear to their own peoples that they've tried
everything possible to find a diplomatic solution to this.
There are many indications that United States intends to attack Iran. And we just got to wait and see whether Trump really goes ahead with such an
assault and joins in the Israeli war, whoever he really wants to give diplomacy a chance. And for him to do so, I think there needs to be some
flexibility on --
ANDERSON: It's good to have you, Mohammed. Thank you very much indeed. Look, things are moving quickly. We are here to try and pick apart what we
see happening and try and better understand what we believe is going on and may happen next. And it's important to have you to help us out with that.
Coming up, amid the conflict with Iran, Israel's campaign in Gaza continues, with scores killed in the latest attacks. More coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[09:30:00]
ANDERSON: That is the bell, and that is the opening of the trading day in New York. It is 09:30 in the morning there. Markets opening, and we will
get those numbers for you as and when they settle a little later in the show. Futures, certainly indicating a higher open today, since President
Donald Trump pushed back on a decision on U.S. military involvement in Iran, of course, and that is the picture.
Meantime, Russia's Economy Minister warning that the country is on the brink of recession. According to Russian media, his remarks came at the
eastern Petersburg International Economic Forum, where President Vladimir Putin is also expected to speak. The event is designed to court foreign
investors and is touted by Russia as one of the most important business events in the world.
Well, the outpouring of grief continues in Gaza amid Israel's military campaign in the enclave. Palestinian Ministry of Health says more than 70
people were killed on Thursday by Israeli strikes, including multiple children. Among the targets was the Al-Shati refugee camp west of Gaza
City.
The latest strikes come as the humanitarian situation in the enclave continues to deteriorate, with the United Nations repeating warnings that
famine is growing increasingly lightly. Well Senate Paula Hancocks joining me now live. Paula, what more can you tell us about the situation on the
ground in Gaza as we speak?
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Becky, to be honest, I think we're running out of ways of describing how desperate it is. So, I want to play
for you a sound bite from a 12-year-old. His name is Mohammed Al Dhabi (ph). He was waiting for aid trucks, and he saw a cameraman working for
CNN, and he went up to him, and he said, I need to tell the world something. Film, film me, send it to them. And this is what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We in Gaza have no flour, every day, 24 hours, they tell us there are trucks coming and we come and find nothing, we eat this sand,
we have no food, we have no food, we have no flour, we have no food, have mercy on us, we have no food, we are eating sand instead of flour, have
mercy on us, mercy, we are eating sand instead of bread, a loaf of bread costs 20 shekels $5.70, a loaf this little.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HANCOCKS: So, Mohammed (ph) says that he had walked for eight hours with his father to get to a distribution point where they understood that flour
was going to be distributed. He said that they had been there many times before, 10 times, he said, and they had always come home empty handed.
On this occasion, he did manage to get two kilos of flour. He says he was then attacked by thieves, and they stole that flour. That was when he saw
our cameraman and said, I want to tell the world what is happening. He's just one boy. They're just him and his father are just two of tens of
thousands that are risking their lives to try and get to a spot where they think there's a chance where they will get food.
And it just goes to show how desperate the situation is. His dad was saying, because our cameraman followed them home after and spoke to the
whole family, and he was saying that people are turning into monsters because they are so hungry that people are killing each other just to try
and get a bag of flour asking the world desperately to intervene.
ANDERSON: What are Israeli authorities saying about the efforts that they say they are making in conjunction with this new humanitarian foundation to
try and get food and supplies to Gazans at this point?
HANCOCKS: So, the Israelis say that this is the way of making sure that Hamas does not take the food from those who need it. That is what they were
accusing that the U.N. and other humanitarian aid groups of allowing to happen, which the U.N. and others pushed back on.
They're also saying that they're making sure that they're trying to minimize civilian harm at these areas where people are waiting for aid, but
we know that dozens have been killed by Israeli fire this week alone, hundreds since May, when that 11-week blockade was lifted by Israel, but
just a trickle of aid is still getting through.
Not enough aid is getting through. And we've heard that from the foundation that is backed by the U.S. and Israel as well, and we're certainly hearing
it from the U.N. and other groups on the ground. More needs to get in.
[09:35:00]
ANDERSON: The Palestinian Ministry of Health, let's remind our viewers, says more than 70 people were killed on Thursday by Israeli strikes,
including multiple children among the targets the Al Shati refugee camp west of Gaza City. Thank you for joining us. Paula Hancocks is on the story
for you.
All right, we are covering what is this ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel is only CNN can we have assets across the region on this much more.
Stay ahead, stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: All the heightened tensions have the U.S. military repositioning its assets in the Middle East. The red dots you see here mark U.S. bases.
Defense officials say non sheltered planes are being evacuated from the American air base in Qatar and navy ship station in Bahrain of left port.
U.S. Central Command, or CENTCOM, has also pre-positioned blood supplies in the region, which is standard procedure anytime there is a chance of an
attack on U.S. forces. Well, U.S. markets have just opened up in New York after a day off yesterday. And investors in these U.S. markets pushing the
indices higher in the first few minutes after Donald Trump effectively put a stay on any decision to get to join the fight in Iran, giving diplomacy,
he says, a chance.
And if we take a look at the oil prices, they are ticking lower today. And we've seen this oil price on Brent at least as high as 78 plus. And so that
market off somewhat, perhaps no surprise, is there is this sort of window of opportunity to sort of de-escalate here, and that's certainly been the
push around this region where we are.
We're, of course, in Abu Dhabi here at the UAE, Saudi, Qatar around this region calls persistent calls for de-escalation. You know, real concern
about the risk of miscalculation and a widening of this conflict. So, yeah, I think the oil price very much reflecting the fact that there is a slight
sense of optimism, if I can call it that, as the U.S. President creates this window of diplomatic opportunity.
And on the D.C. side of things, Conservative Strategist and Commentator Steve Bannon had lunch with U.S. President Donald Trump in the White House
on Thursday. That is, according to a source who spoke after Bannon lashed out at Mr. Trump over the possibility of U.S. strikes on Iran.
But as Donie O'Sullivan reports, many conservatives are pushing back against U.S. involvement in the Middle East. It's not just Bannon. Have a
look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TUCKER CARLSON, HOST OF THE TUCKER CARLSON SHOW: This isn't a regime change effort and why not just say that and but oh, you're a holocaust denier for
saying that. Stop. Let's have a rational conversation about what our aims are here.
[09:40:00]
DONIE O'SULLIVAN, CNN SENIOR CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): That's Tucker Carlson the war skeptic today.
CARLSON: We learned today for certain that Iraq has weapons of mass destruction and has chemical and biological weapons, and the question
remains, what do we do about it? And neither you, nor any other Democrat I know, has an answer to that question.
O'SULLIVAN (voice-over): This was Tucker Carlson, back when he co-hosted CNN's "Crossfire in 2003.
CARLSON: Senator worth the president last night summed up, I thought, well, the rationale for going into Iraq later this week, here's what he said.
GEORGE W. BUSH, 43RD U.S. PRESIDENT: The danger is clear, using chemical, biological or one day nuclear weapons obtained with the help of Iraq, the
terrorists could fulfill their stated ambitions and kill thousands or hundreds of thousands of innocent people in our country or any other.
The United States and other nations did nothing to deserve or invite this threat, but we will do everything to defeat it.
O'SULLIVAN (voice-over): Back then, Carlson was a strong supporter of America's war in Iraq.
PAUL BEGALA, THEN CO-HOST OF CROSSFIRE: Question here is the president's credibility. He wants to lead us into war, and the majority of his
countrymen and women are worried that he's lying to us -- for that reason.
CARLSON: That is not the question. The question is, there's a lunatic with weapons that could kill the civilized world. What do we do about it? And I
waited --
O'SULLIVAN (voice-over): It was a position Carlson would come to regress.
DAVE SMITH, COMEDIAN & PODCAST HOST: When the war drums were beating for Iraq, there was just nothing like what we have today. I mean, like the
biggest shows in cable news that they were all for it, they were all --
CARLSON: I was for it.
SMITH: Yes --
CARLSON: I was for it. Until I went to Iraq in 2003, I immediately apologized. I would say my defense. And I feel very stung by what happened
in Iraq, if I'm being honest, possibly because, unlike you, I guess I supported it, and I saw us get drawn into it in a way that nobody
anticipated.
And I saw the cost just $3 trillion and the cost on so many levels to the United States was just so profound.
O'SULLIVAN (voice-over): Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is warning Iran could have a nuclear weapon within months. U.S. intelligence,
however, suggests Iran is years away from having a nuclear bomb.
CARLSON: Can you feel the frustration of people, including your voters? Every, you know, every American at the emphasis on foreign countries and
the threat we supposedly face, a lot of which is fake, obviously. Over, the kind of slowly unfolding tragedy of what's happening to our country.
O'SULLIVAN (voice-over): Carlson is a frequent supporter of Israel, but Senator Ted Cruz did not appreciate Carlson's questioning of the Netanyahu
government's policies toward Iran.
CARLSON: How many people live in Iran, by the way?
SEN. TED CRUZ (R-TX): I don't know the population.
CARLSON: At all?
CRUZ: No, I don't know the population.
CARLSON: You don't know the population of the country. You see to topple.
CRUZ: How many people live in Iran?
CARLSON: 92 million.
CRUZ: OK, yeah --
CARLSON: How could you not know that?
O'SULLIVAN (on camera): And you can see now how much of this debate is really playing out in the world of podcasts and online video streams. The
MAGA-verse, as it is, called, all these pro Trump MAGA media influencers really growing in influence. Back to you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: All right. Donie O'Sullivan reporting there. "Worls Sport" is up next. I'll be back in 15 minutes with the second hour of this show. I'm
Becky Anderson, you are watching --
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[09:45:00]
(WORLD SPORT)
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