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New Attack as Israel-Iran Conflict Enters Second Week; Iranian Foreign Minister Meet with U.K., Germany, France and European Union Counterparts; Trump to Decide on Iran Strikes within Next Two Weeks; Explosions Overnight in Tehran; Child Despairs at Lack of Food in Gaza; Gulf Arab States Anxious Over Israel-Iran Conflict. Aired 10-11a ET

Aired June 20, 2025 - 10:00   ET

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

[10:00:07]

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN Breaking News.

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Welcome to the second hour of CONNECT THE WORLD from our Middle East programing headquarters. I'm Becky

Anderson.

We have breaking news to bring from Israel, and I want to get straight to CNN's Nic Robertson. He is in the northern Israeli city of Haifa where a

short time ago people were running for cover as Iran launched a fresh missile attack at around 3:30, 4:00 in the afternoon. It is an hour later.

Nic, what can you tell us?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Yes, Becky, one of the missiles at the sirens went off for alerting people about impacted here in

the center. It is just less than an hour now since it impacted and already emergency services were on the scene.

As we walked in here, I saw ambulances rushing away. We've seen police here. We've seen paramedics here. Search and rescue teams are going in.

I've been watching a rescue team with a dog that can sniff out if there are people who are trapped in the building, prepped to go in.

I saw a drone taking off. The teams use those drones to sort of search the building for anyone that's trapped in there. This is very much an active,

ongoing situation. Literally, I'm watching medical teams, paramilitary teams coming in here, EOD teams coming on the site. What they're going to

do is go in and clear the buildings here. They're getting their briefings about what to do.

But if you look behind me back, Becky, if Sanjiv, you can take a look at the building there, you get a sense of the scale of the damage to this

building. And the head of the local medical authorities, Magen David Adom, here, has just told us that there have been two people critically injured,

two people moderately injured, and 18 people with minor injuries.

Now we can expect those numbers to change because this is an ongoing situation. But I am literally counting dozens upon dozens of police,

military, paramilitary medics over here and the same on -- the same over here. And if you just look over there, I just want to give you a sense of

what's happening here, Becky, because this really is the moments after one of these strikes, the teams are getting their briefings.

They get split into different teams, and we have a sense already of how they work here because we were in the city's war room with city officials

earlier on today about how they coordinate. They have a central control room that brings different teams in here that coordinates their different

activities, that make sure that everything is being checked and covered. So priorities, getting in the building, finding out if there's anyone still

trapped or injured, then making sure the building is safe.

This is what these teams are doing and I'm watching more fire crews coming in. More looks like EOD teams coming in here, Becky. I think this is

perhaps just gives you the early idea of what it's like on one of these scenes right after one of the missiles impacts those. I believe that EOD

teams going in there with some of their specialist equipment, but what they -- what they're able to do is take thermal imagings and look into the

concrete to see if there's anyone there.

They'll call out to see if anyone is trapped. The sniffer dogs going in. Of course, they are trained to sniff for people in the buildings. While all

this was happening, Becky, we were talking to you earlier, we were in that bomb shelter, to that underground car park. People were worried about it.

No one knew about this damage until they got out from the underground car park, from that bomb shelter.

And that's really what's happening for people's lives here right now. They take shelter, and it's not until they come out they get a picture of what

is happening.

ANDERSON: Right.

ROBERTSON: This strike in Haifa, not the first. It was a quiet night last night. Now, of course, people very much aware that the deadly strikes, the

strikes that can injure people, can come during the days as well as at night.

ANDERSON: Yes. And we did see a night where Iran and Israel, of course, were trading strikes and that was ongoing. Perhaps less volume of strikes.

But clearly the capacity is still there on the part of the Iranians.

I just wonder, Nic, is the impact that you are witnessing there, is that the result of a missile that was intercepted and fell, or did it evade air

defenses? Is that clear yet?

ROBERTSON: Yes, Becky, if you're talking to me, I didn't hear your question. Would you mind asking me again? A bit hectic here.

ANDERSON: I'm wondering whether this impact is the result of a missile that fell after it was intercepted, or did it evade air defenses? Is that clear?

[10:05:07]

ROBERTSON: You know, we have asked that question, and the initial answers were getting on this is that it wasn't one that was intercepted. It fell

here. It's not clear if it hit a target that it was looking for. Missed the target it was looking for. Not clear at all. You know, I think it's best to

sort of -- for us to try to get more information on that at the moment, Becky. It's a very, a very dynamic situation.

Even just as I've been walking here, the figures on the casualty, on the casualty toll has changed. From when I was on the other side of the bridge

it was five casualties. When we got just under the bridge, it was 15 or 16, and now the numbers still going up. Very fluid situation.

ANDERSON: Yes. Yes. No, absolutely. Absolutely. We'll let you go and leave you to get more detail on this.

A live situation there with Nic Robertson in Haifa.

Well, these new attacks happening just ahead, of course, of a high stakes meeting beginning in Switzerland. Iran's foreign minister sitting down with

top European diplomats in Geneva after French President Emmanuel Macron said his country, Germany and the U.K. are ready to make an offer to Iran

for what he described as complete negotiations. Well, before the meeting, the Iranian minister leveled criticism at Israel. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ABBAS ARAGHCHI, IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER: We were supposed to meet with the Americans on 15th 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 U.N. system.

Let me be clear. If there is any use of costly systems and mechanisms we have created for the past eight decades to preserve human rights and

dignity, now is the time to do it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, with Donald Trump's announcement that he wants to leave the door open for diplomacy for as long as two weeks, I want to talk about this

European push for negotiations, or at least a dialogue with the French Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Christophe Lemoine, who is joining me this

hour from Paris.

It's good to have you, sir. Thank you very much indeed for joining us.

CHRISTOPHE LEMOINE, FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESPERSON: Good evening. Thank you.

ANDERSON: Foreign Minister Barrot briefed the U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the planned approach for today's meeting. What exactly is that

approach, sir? Can you explain?

LEMOINE: Well, there was, there was a call yesterday between French Minister Barrot and Secretary of State Rubio on, you know, considering the

situation as it is now and presenting the priorities of the, of the French diplomacy, which is, you know, obtaining a ceasefire and going back to the

negotiations. And the presentation was in a way to present what was, what was all about for today's meeting with the Iranians.

And again, you know, the approach is based on let's go back to negotiation. Let's do it in Europeans with the Iranians. And let's see if there is a

willingness on the Iranian part to restart negotiating.

ANDERSON: Does it help when the German chancellor says Israel is doing the world's dirty work?

LEMOINE: Well, you know, this is -- there has been a common European approach on Iran for the last decades in terms of negotiation. And there

have been an alignment between, you know,. the U.K., Germany, Germany and France. And this alignment is still, is still valid today. So this is

what's happening in Geneva right now.

The three ministers, the E3 Ministers are talking to the Iranians. And again, they are trying to reengage them on the negotiation. Anything that

happens on the military side must cease because there is no military solution.

ANDERSON: Well, it hasn't ceased. Iran and Israel have been exchanging strikes overnight, and Iran has just sent missiles into Israel. We were

just speaking to our correspondent in Haifa, where the impact of one of those missiles is very, very clear and very deadly.

The French president, Emmanuel Macron, has said that the goal here is complete negotiations. Can you explain what he means by that? What exactly

does Europe mean by complete negotiations, sir?

LEMOINE: Complete negotiations means that we offered a package that was proposed today to the Iranians in Geneva, which is meant to be presenting a

global solution for the whole situation, which means one part on the nuclear program, one part on the ballistic, on the ballistic program, one

part on anything that Iran does in financing proxies in the region that is highly destabilizing the region.

[10:10:25]

And one other part on other security matters, including, you know, the hostages and especially the French hostages that are still held in Iran. So

this global package is meant to embrace the whole situation. This is a proposition, and we hope it's going to be a platform on which there could

be further discussions with the Iranians.

ANDERSON: Right.

LEMOINE: And in a broader format with the United States or other countries from the region.

ANDERSON: I just wonder whether these complete negotiations, which extend beyond the nuclear file, then, reflect the scope of the American talks with

Iran that were scheduled, of course, in their sixth round to happen on Sunday and haven't, and haven't materialized. Or is this, is this Europe

wresting concessions and a wider scope out of Iran at a time when Iran is clearly weakened on its nuclear missile file and indeed the regime itself?

LEMOINE: Well, you know, this proposition is to topple -- to tackle the very core of the problem of the crisis that we are going through right now,

which is, first, you know, the nuclear program and B, the ballistic program and all the proxies that they finance. So it's meant to be tackling this in

a very pragmatic, in a very pragmatic way. So this is a proposition. This is a start for negotiation.

We hope that were able to move on on this and to progress and to reach an agreement. And I completely get that, you know, operations are still on and

they are still, you know, strikes on Israel and strikes in Iran. But, you know, each war ends with the negotiation. And we hope that this negotiation

is happening right now.

ANDERSON: Emmanuel Macron talked about, quote, "moving towards zero enrichment." Does that suggest that zero enrichment is no longer a red

line, as stated by the U.S. administration? Has Europe moved the goalposts there? Can I just try and understand a little about what the president

meant?

LEMOINE: Yes, absolutely. That's what, you know, Emmanuel Macron stated today. And he stated it very, very clearly. And it's a very, you know, it's

a position that is very clear. You know, in the framework that we're imagining of those negotiations, all this is taking place within the

framework of the nonproliferation treaty. And that treaty, you know, sets guidelines and sets, you know, obligations to the states that are parties

to the treaty, which is the case of Iran.

So the zero enrichment is something that we put on the table and that's something we think will guarantee some stability because there cannot be,

you know, a military nuclear program in Iran. That is not possible. So we have to set those kind of thresholds. We have to be clear about this. And I

think that's what President Macron said today, and that's what he wanted to state today, a clear position on zero enrichment.

ANDERSON: Do you worry at this point in France that Iran may actually pull out of the NPT?

LEMOINE: We, you know, we noticed that over the last two years, Iran has been escalating on its nuclear program. There been, you know, going through

thresholds in terms of enrichment, in terms of production, in terms of not complying with their obligations within the JCPOA and within the

nonproliferation treaty. And this for us was very concerning and very worrying. And this is why now we are engaging them into serious

negotiations, which means that there will have to comply with obligations and they will have to comply with verifications.

And that is something that is very important. There is a question about the transparency that they must have of their program. They haven't had it

before and now they have to engage themselves in that way. So again, what he's proposing is a negotiation. But with a stance that is very clear

because we want to have a solid agreement at the end that will be -- that would be fulfilled by everybody in the region.

ANDERSON: The U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, who your foreign minister has briefed, has reportedly just told your foreign minister that

the U.S., and I quote Rubio here, "is ready for direct contact with the Iranians at any time."

[10:15:12]

Firstly, is that likely? Secondly, that sounds like the U.S. isn't putting much stock in these discussions that don't directly include them. So is

this Europe playing a bridge between the two? At this point, I'm just trying to understand what the point is.

LEMOINE: The point I think is to be pragmatic. Again, we are, you know, advocating some kind of diplomatic way out of that crisis and anything, any

effort, any initiative that will go into that direction will be, I think, welcomed by the Europeans. So we've kicked off something today in Geneva.

This is a good start for discussion. We'll see how the Iranians are reacting. But of course we were ready, you know, to open the discussions to

other -- to others. And of course, the United States.

But anything that will go in, you know, what we think is the right direction will have the support of France and the support of the Europeans.

ANDERSON: How much buy-in is there from the Americans on this European vision for complete negotiations when Washington has, quite frankly, been

unilaterally leading the charge on nuclear talks? They are then nuclear talks, of course, between the U.S. and Iran, because they pulled out of the

JCPOA back in 2018. Ultimately, the buck stops with Donald Trump here. Correct?

LEMOINE: Well, we, you know, we noticed that the United States reopened direct discussion with Iran when, you know, the Trump administration took

office, and that was in January or February. So we noticed that, you know, those discussions restarted and we thought it was a good thing. We've been

talking to the Iranians for since, you know, since the JCPOA. But we also know and I think that's our true conviction that, you know, history has

shown that when there is a nuclear crisis happening in a country, the only way out is a diplomatic way out.

And we, you know, have examples of South Africa, of Libya, with those countries, we managed to have a good agreement on controlling nuclear

programs. And we do think this is the only way out because this is what will bring success on the long term.

ANDERSON: It's very clear that this meeting has been coordinated with Washington. Has it been coordinated with the Israeli government, sir?

LEMOINE: I think it's been, you know, it's been coordinated first in between Europeans because it's, you know, that was the kickstart of it. I

think it's been -- it's indeed been coordinated with the United States. The French minister of foreign affairs has constant contact with his Israeli

counterparts. The French president has contacts with the Israeli prime minister. I think all this, you know, has been discussed and all this has

led in a complete transparency with all the partners of the region.

ANDERSON: There will be those that say this Geneva initiative, if we can call it that is very much an effort for the Europeans to sort of have some

relevance and get involved in a conflict. Quite frankly, they have been, and I think I saw it described by one commentator today as bystanders. Is

that the case?

LEMOINE: No, I don't think so. I think the Europeans, you know, they've been talking to the Iranians for the last decades. So there is a habit of

talking between Europeans and Iranians. We know that, you know, we can be - - we can be trusted on that, on that thing. And if you know, there is something that the Europeans can do right now, and that's what they are

doing in Geneva is restarting those discussions, reopening the negotiations. And this is a role that I think is very useful because this

is a good kickoff for a much broader plan.

ANDERSON: Finally, sir, and I appreciate the wide ranging discussion. I want to ask you about a recent jab at President Macron by the U.S.

president, Donald Trump when Trump left the G7 meeting recently earlier and Macron claimed it was for a ceasefire causing Donald Trump to post a pretty

blunt attack on the French president, quote, "Whether purposely or not, Emmanuel always gets it wrong."

What's the Elysee's response to that?

[10:20:04]

LEMOINE: Well, I don't think I can comment, you know, the comments of President Trump. What I'm sure, on the contrary, is that it means that

Emmanuel Macron was convinced even then, you know, a few hours after the launch of the attacks on Iran that the way forward was a ceasefire, was

ceasing the operation. And I think that's a constant stance that he's had since the beginning of this crisis. And that's what he expressed.

ANDERSON: It's good to have you, sir. I very much appreciate your time. Things are busy.

LEMOINE: Thank you.

ANDERSON: We get it. The news cycle is relentless and we wish you the best. Thank you very much indeed for joining us.

Firas Maksad is Eurasia Group's managing director for the Middle East. He's joining me from Washington. You will have a keen eye on what is going on in

Geneva today. So first, your reaction to what we're hearing about and from these talks, from the vantage point, of course, of the French Foreign

Ministry spokesperson there?

FIRAS MAKSAD, MANAGING DIRECTOR FOR THE MIDDLE EAST, EURASIA GROUP: Well, Becky, I think that there is a pathway towards a diplomatic breakthrough. I

don't think it's the likely outcome, but it is a possible outcome nonetheless. For that to materialize, however, it's very important to

recognize that it is the United States that will need to back off its stated position and not Iran despite the balance of power in the region now

going in the other direction.

Let me explain why. It is very difficult, if not impossible, for the regime in Iran to get to zero enrichment, which is currently the stated position

of the Trump administration without not only being emasculated, but also undermining regime legitimacy. This is a regime that from the onset, from

1979, has invested hundreds of billions of dollars in that nuclear program. Its entire prestige rests on enrichment. So unless we see a change in the

American position, that is unlikely, we're unlikely to get to a diplomatic breakthrough.

So what does a diplomatic breakthrough then entail? I think it would very much have to entail not the consortium idea that had been put on the table

and was very much under discussion perhaps before we got to -- almost got to the sixth round of talks that were scheduled in Geneva before war broke

out, before Israel attacked. I think that's a nonstarter, although they didn't officially rejected the Iranians were putting out noises that they

were not moving to accept it. But it would entail Trump going back and retreating to the position of Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, not

enrichment, but Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.

And then that opens up the door. That opens up the possibility of a negotiated outcome. You and I can talk about what that looks like.

ANDERSON: Well, let's do that. What does that look like?

MAKSAD: Well, it would mean that Iran would have to go back to 3.67 level of enrichment, which is something that is very much below weapons grade.

And it would be what's required for the peaceful use. The civil nuclear use of nuclear power. It would mean the return of very stringent oversight.

There's also that stockpile of highly enriched uranium, up to 60 percent. The Russians have a very important role to play there.

Obviously, the Iranians have very little trust in the United States, even also from the Europeans. So Russia can play the role of the guarantor to

ship that stockpile of highly enriched uranium out of the country. You can have then verifications and monitoring with no sunset clauses, as was the

case in the JCPOA and the Fordow nuclear installation would very much have to be dismantled.

The Iranians can claim that they've held on to enrichment. President Trump can very much declare victory that Fordow has been dismantled and that the

Iranians have no pathway, no pathway to a nuclear weapon. But again, this is one possible outcome. This is what diplomatic breakthrough probably

would look like. No guarantee at this point.

ANDERSON: It is that no pathway to a nuclear weapon, which is an agreed position, it seems, by pretty much, you know, everybody, the European

efforts are underway in Geneva today. These complete negotiations seem to widen the scope, certainly, of what is being discussed further than just

the nuclear program.

I want to talk to you very specifically about what Gulf Arab states are doing to help de-escalate, push diplomacy at this point. What do you

understand the Gulf nations, very specifically Saudi, UAE, Qatar, doing behind the scenes?

[10:25:01]

What sort of influence do they have both on Tehran at this point and the regime there and then very specifically on the U.S. president Donald Trump?

MAKSAD: Well, Becky, here the key is their role as facilitators. The communication channels continue to be very much open, particularly between

the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Iran. So there is this ferrying and channeling of messages back and forth. There are also reports

that Steve Witkoff, the President Trump's envoy, is even in direct contact with the Iranian foreign minister. But that's yet to be confirmed.

I think for the Gulf countries, they are perhaps surprisingly in a very comfortable position right now. We are seeing Iran, in many ways their arch

rival and nemesis of influence in the Persian Gulf region, being cut down to size. And we are witnessing that happen with very little, if any

blowback against GCC facilities, energy facilities, American bases being hosted in these countries. So in many ways, this is an ideal scenario.

Now, that said, that doesn't mean that they don't prefer and have a genuine preference for diplomacy. If there is in fact a diplomatic breakthrough

along the lines that I've just laid out where Iran's nuclear ambitions towards a nuclear weapon at least are capped, Iran is much weakened and

stability returns, that's also a very positive outcome for them. So for both the Saudis, the Emiratis, but also others, the Qataris, right now,

they're in a very comfortable position.

I would have to say, though, that the concern is that Bibi Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, drags the region, drags President Trump into

further escalation by perhaps taking out Iran's ability to export oil. That might then take us in a much more negative direction in terms of blowback

against Gulf facilities.

ANDERSON: Firas, good to have you, sir. Always a pleasure. Thank you very much indeed. Busy times, complicated times, worrying times.

Still ahead, Nic Robertson spoke to the Haifa mayor on the side of that fresh Iranian strike that strike in the past 90 minutes or so. We're going

to get you that up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: You're looking at live pictures from Haifa in Israel, where emergency efforts are now underway after an Iranian missile strike.

CNN's Nic Robertson just spoke to the city's mayor. Have a listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERTSON: You just told me here you revived this part of the city. You have been mayor for 20 years. How do you feel personally when you see it

being your work, your work for the city this happening?

YONA YAHAV, HAIFA, ISRAEL MAYOR: Look, I don't like wars. I've been personally in 10 wars. This is not the name of the game.

[10:30:02]

The name of the game is peace. And we have a lot to help others. And we shall do it. You know, the most important universities are situated in

Haifa.

ROBERTSON: It is a mixed city and it gets on for the most part.

YAHAV: It's the only mixed city in the world which is exercising for more than 100 years. Full peace between Jews and Arabs.

ROBERTSON: So let me ask you this question then. There's diplomacy going on in Geneva right now with the Iranian foreign minister, some European

foreign ministers. President Trump right now has said he's going to wait two weeks before he makes a decision what to happen next. What are you

hoping for from these different diplomatic pieces?

YAHAV: Peace. That the peace treaty will come out of it.

ROBERTSON: And President Trump waiting two weeks to make a decision? What do you think about that?

YAHAV: It's too much.

ROBERTSON: Why?

YAHAV: Because we have no time. You see what's going in the middle time?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Nic Robertson speaking to the mayor of Haifa just after what was an attack by Iran, a strike by Iran. And you see the impact of that strike

on that city just behind Nic and the mayor there. That strike just in the past couple of hours.

Well, in Iran, CNN's Frederik Pleitgen and photojournalist 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 forces responded to incoming Israeli strikes. Have a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

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.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: Well, Israel's campaign in Gaza continues even as it turns its fire on Iran. I've got to warn you, you may find the video that we are

about to show you distressing.

Gaza's civil defense releasing footage of responders desperately working to free people from underneath collapsed buildings following the latest

Israeli strikes. The Palestinian Health Ministry says more than 70 people were killed on Thursday, including multiple children. That comes as the

U.N. warns of the increasing risk once again of famine in Gaza.

In the last hour, I spoke to CNN's Paula Hancocks about the situation.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: 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

soundbite from a 12-year-old. His name is Mohammed al-Dabi. 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.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through text translation): 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. Have mercy on

us, mercy, we are eating sand instead of bread. A loaf of bread costs 20 shekels, a loaf this little.

HANCOCKS: So Mohammed 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.

[10:35:01]

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.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: Paula Hancocks.

Still to come, we get wider perspective as Gulf Arab states scramble to help secure a diplomatic solution amid fears that fallout from the Iran-

Israel conflict could spill over.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Welcome back. You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD. Time here at our Middle East programing headquarters in Abu Dhabi is 6:37. Here are your

headlines this hour.

Iran's foreign minister is meeting several top European counterparts in Geneva as the Europeans look for a path to reopen nuclear negotiations. The

meeting coming as Iran and Israel continue to attack each other. Latest volley of Iranian missiles just in the past two hours, injuring at least 17

people in Israel. Israeli strikes killed more than 70 people in Gaza on Thursday, according to the Palestinian Health ministry.

Multiple children died in the attacks, which included a strike on the Al- Shati refugee camp. The offensive comes as the U.N. warns that famine is growing increasingly likely in the enclave. Russia's economy minister warns

that the country is on the brink of recession, according to Russian media. His remarks came at the Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum,

which is an event intended to attract foreign investment to Moscow or for Moscow at least. Russia's economy has been hit by inflation, a labor

shortage and the effects of Western sanctions, of course, since it invaded Ukraine back in 2022.

I want to return to the conflict between Israel and Iran. It has entered its second week, of course. Gulf Arab states using their own leverage to

try to de-escalate tensions that threaten to put the wider region at risk. Concerns are growing about the possibility of, for example, environmental

contamination if Israel or the U.S. strikes Iran's nuclear facilities just across the Persian Gulf.

[10:40:01]

Today, the Saudi nuclear regulator warned that any attack on nuclear facilities, which are intended for peaceful purposes, is a violation of

international law.

Let's bring in Ali Shihabi now. He's an author and commentator focusing on the politics of an economy of Saudi Arabia.

Every time I am there, you and I get a chance to chat, which is always really, really useful. Ali, it's good to see you. Thank you. The last time

we saw each other was in Riyadh during President Trump's whirlwind trip around this region. Today you are in Portugal. You've said that Saudi

Arabia has been talking to Iran and the U.S. since day one of this conflict.

Now that these diplomatic efforts have been given an opportunity again, that this window has sort of been reopened and we've seen these talks begin

in Europe, we await to see whether we can see talks once again between the U.S. and Iran. What's the perspective from the kingdom, sir?

ALI SHIHABI, AUTHOR AND COMMENTATOR ON SAUDI POLITICS, ECONOMICS: Well, the kingdom is very supportive of the diplomatic efforts being undertaken now.

It has been supportive of diplomatic efforts from the very beginning. It has been encouraging Iran to take them seriously. It was very concerned

with the start of the conflict. I think it remains concerned about unintended consequences or mistakes happening.

I think one of the red lines that, you know, the kingdom and America have set out is that Israel shouldn't attack Iran's oil export or oil production

capabilities because that would put the Iranians in a corner and encourage them to lash out at everybody else in the Gulf. There was a bit of a risk

of that when the Iranians hit a gas field -- when the Israelis hit a gas field early on.

ANDERSON: Yes.

SHIHABI: But I think since then those facilities have not been touched. And now with diplomatic talks taking, you know, all the better, the sooner the

better, if they can reach an agreement.

ANDERSON: Is it in the interest of the Iranians to keep the Gulf countries on the side at this point, and that means ensuring that Gulf interests

aren't harmed?

SHIHABI: Yes, I think so. I think both sides have invested a lot in rapprochement in the past couple of years, and it's very much in the

interests of Iran to maintain these good relations that it has built up with Saudi Arabia and with the Gulf. So I think it would be a very

irresponsible decision for them to take. And frankly, Saudi Arabia had warned them previously that, you know, if Saudi oil facilities were struck

this time, unlike 2019, Saudi Arabia will hit back.

And the kingdom since 2019 has built up a very robust disaster recovery capability in its oil infrastructure in addition to the fact that it has a

pipeline that goes to the Red Sea. So it has a very robust capability to recover from attacks, which the Iranians don't have with sanctions and with

limited ability of spare parts. So all -- putting all that together, I think it's highly unlikely that the Iranians will touch the Gulf

infrastructure, oil exporting infrastructure. But, you know, war is --

ANDERSON: The -- yes.

SHIHABI: Is always open for unexpected surprises.

ANDERSON: and there is always a risk of miscalculation. The UAE, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, very specifically looking to de-escalate,

deconflict this region, pursue their economic interests, look to economic integration, look for, as they describe it, prosperity for a region sort

of, you know, riddled by conflict over the past two or three decades. And the United States is playing a part in investments, co-partnerships and the

likes.

The Saudis want more investment into the country in order to complete on their Vision 2030. The relationship between the Crown Prince Mohammed bin

Salman and Donald Trump is very close. How is MBS leveraging that relationship and exerting influence on Donald Trump in the decisions that

he might make at this point with regard whether he gets involved militarily in this fight? What is the kingdom's influence with Donald Trump?

[10:45:04]

SHIHABI: Well, I mean, the kingdom has been -- yes, the kingdom and the crown prince have been encouraging President Trump and the Americans for a

diplomatic solution, as they have been encouraging the Iranians. They've also been, you know, encouraging the Americans to pressure the Israelis to

-- for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Now, you know, President Trump is not an easy person to influence, but he understands that the Gulf states are very eager to see a diplomatic

solution to this conflict as soon as possible, really. And hence his decision to give a two-week window was welcomed.

ANDERSON: Yes. There is certainly no love lost for the Iranian regime's ballistic missiles program by Gulf nations. There is no love lost for its

support of proxies like the Houthis and Hezbollah. There is no love lost for any nuclear program that might include the opportunity to build a bomb.

Can you then just explain why it is that the Gulf countries might prefer this regime staying in place, better the devil you know, as it were, with a

negotiated solution rather than regime collapse?

SHIHABI: Well, I think the Gulf countries see that diplomatic solutions will be the only permanent solutions to deal with the -- both the nuclear

and the ballistic missile problem. And that will be also by integrating Iran into the region, giving Iran a vested interest in the prosperity of

the region. And, you know, Iran is a country of 90 million people with a lot of capabilities. It will be very difficult to eliminate those

capabilities permanently from them in a military fashion and a military conflict always, you know, can go in many different directions.

So they really want to bring Iran into the family, so to speak, of the region, give them a vested interest, give them a stake in stability, and

see that as the only viable way, really, to address the problems that Iran is presenting to the region today.

ANDERSON: Ali, it's always good to have you. Thank you, Ali Shahabi, for you today.

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD.

I want to get you a CNN Special Report now, "Call to Earth." In this episode, we head to the Great Barrier Reef following the work of marine

biologist Emma Camp and her Coral Nurture Program. This is part of the Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative. Have a look at this.

[10:50:06]

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BILL WEIR, CNN CHIEF CLIMATE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): These divers are tending to a coral nursery near the edge of the Great Barrier Reef. There

are about a 90-minute boat ride from Port Douglas in the northeast of Australia, on Opal Reef. Many of these species are what's known as heat

tolerant super coral, meaning they have the best chance of surviving the impacts of climate change.

Marine biologist Emma Camp is helping oversee today's expedition. The research her team does helps to guide the restoration efforts here.

DR. EMMA CAMP, MARINE BIOLOGIST, UNIVERSITY O TECHNOLOGY SYDNEY: If we give corals, if we give nature a chance, they can build resilience. They can

recover.

WEIR: It's all part of Emma's Coral Nurture Program, which works with tourism operators like the crew here on Wavelength Cruises to restore and

monitor areas of the reef. Combining science with community action.

CAMP: It's been estimated about 30 percent to 50 percent of live coral on the Great Barrier Reef has been lost, and future predictions are that that

loss is going to continue. The challenges we face are so big that I know that I can't do it alone. I know that my team can't do it alone. So it's

how do we bring the right people together at the right time to make sure that we can get the best outcome for the reef?

WEIR: The crew actively work to restore the sites where they take tourists multiple times a week, all supported by science from the university.

JOHN EDMONDSON, WAVELENGTH REEF CRUISES: Most days we're out there tending the nurseries, planting the coral and making observations, doing,

monitoring. We're not doing anything to distort the natural balance of the reef. It's very carefully done in a very sort of light touch way. And that

takes a lot of science, actually, to do that.

WEIR: The coral nurture program was founded by Emma and Captain John Edmondson after a devastating mass bleaching event in 2016. To date,

there's been seven of these events in just 27 years on the reef, and four recorded globally.

EDMONDSON: We have had some major events which for everybody within wavelength was really distressing because it's not just the coral that's

affected, it's the fish. It's all the invertebrates, it's the whole community.

WEIR: There are now seven ecotourism operators from across the region involved with Emma's program.

CAMP: I'm not on the reef every day and I haven't had that historical knowledge of the sites, which is what the tourism operators have. They can

tell us about the sites, about the changes that have happened, and then we can use the science to then guide the sorts of practices that should be

done.

WEIR: As of 2025, they've out planted more than 100,000 coral across the reef.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: And to see more from the Great Barrier Reef, tune in this weekend for the full documentary "Call to Earth: Searching for Super Coral" Only on

CNN.

Got a few minutes left before the back end of this show. Taking a very short break. Back on then.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Well, a week ago, in the early hours of Friday, June the 13th, Israel launched what it called a preemptive strike on Iran's nuclear

facilities.

[10:55:02]

The timing of that strike is worth considering. Two major events that were supposed to happen in the following days were canceled. The next round of

then ongoing nuclear talks with the U.S. and Iran, those were scheduled for that Sunday, June 15th. And a U.N. conference co-chaired by Saudi Arabia

and France that had been planned for weeks to start on Tuesday, June 17th, that conference canceled before participants could discuss the main thing

on their agenda a two-state solution for the Israelis and Palestinians to help end the war in Gaza.

But instead of that, it's been a week of escalation and back and forth strikes between Israel and Iran after Israel's initial attack. All week

we've watched with bated breath to see if the U.S. military would get involved. Until yesterday, when the White House appeared to give everyone a

breather, saying President Trump would decide whether to launch a U.S. strike on Iran within the next two weeks.

One important variable just like last Thursday and just like two Thursdays from now, July 3rd, is Israel. While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin

Netanyahu may have thanked the U.S. president for his support, there is no guarantee that Mr. Netanyahu will respect this two-week window for

diplomacy. Food for thought.

That is it for CONNECT WORLD. Stay with CNN, "ONE WORLD" is up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

END