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Trump Lashes Out at Israel & Iran as he Heads to NATO Summit; Flurry of Diplomacy After Iran Retaliates with U.S. Base Strike; Ukraine: At Least 17 Killed in Strikes Across Country Monday; Markets React to Middle East Movements; CNN Poll: Majority of U.S. Disapproves of Strikes on Iran; Democrats Compete in Contentious City Primary. Aired 9-10a ET
Aired June 24, 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]
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST, CONNECT THE WORLD: Well, these are live pictures from the White House. A frustrated President Trump had some very choice
language for Israel and Iran in the past hours or so. It is 09:00 a.m. there in Washington. It's 05:00 p.m. from our Middle East Programming
Headquarters here in Abu Dhabi. I'm Becky Anderson. You're watching "Connect the World".
Well, trump now headed to meet world leaders gathering in the Netherlands for the NATO Summit, where the main focus will be defense spending.
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy in attendance, hoping for a meeting with the American President.
Well, the stock market in New York will open about 30 minutes from now, futures indicating a higher start, some relief from investors that at least
in the short term -- at least it seems we are in a position of a ceasefire between Iran and Israel. More on that, as we move through this hour. U.S.
President is angry about what we have seen today between Israel and Iran.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: We have, we basically have two countries that have been fighting so long and so hard
that they don't know what the -- they're doing. Do you understand that?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, Donald Trump also took to social media to order Israel to bring back its bombers. He updated the world on that same platform saying
that it worked. Take a look to those very public messages directed to one of the strongest allies of the United States at roughly 06:50 a.m. in
Washington. Quote, Israel, do not drop those bombs. If you do, it is a major violation of the ceasefire. Bring your pilots home now exclamation
mark, Donald J. Trump, President of the United States.
And about 40 minutes after that, Israel is not going to attack Iran. All planes will turn around and head home while doing a friendly plane wave, he
said to Iran. We've got Kevin Liptak covering the NATO Summit in the Netherlands, where President Trump is headed now. And CNN Political and
Global Affairs Analyst Barak Ravid, the Foreign Policy Reporter for "AXIOS". First, Kevin, let's just start with you. Just explain what we saw
this morning that angered Donald Trump so much.
KEVIN LIPTAK, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Yeah, and it's extraordinary to hear Trump, or any American President, use that kind of language
directed towards Israel the United States's strongest ally in the Middle East. And I do think it really underscores the stakes that the president
sees riding on the ceasefire deal that he announced yesterday after this flurry of diplomacy.
It really does act, in his mind, as vindication for the airstrikes over the weekend, vindication for his approach to this crisis altogether. And I
think as the president was watching very closely last night, as it appeared as if this ceasefire was growing more and more fragile, clearly, that
generated an enormous amount of frustration by the president directed, yes, at Iran, but principally at Israel.
And you saw that sort of bubble to the surface as he was departing the White House for here in the Netherlands. Now we do understand that the
president and the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, did get on the telephone. A White House official says that that was a firm conversation.
You know, that American diplomatic speak for the president was quite angry, and it was sort of evident, I think, in this phone call that the president
wasn't appreciative of how Israel was approaching this ceasefire.
[09:05:00]
The White House official said that Netanyahu did understand where the president was coming from. But obviously those comments from the president
on the South Lawn really kind of notable for their anger, but also just how he was speaking about Israel. Listen to more of what the president said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: I'm not happy that Israel is going out now. There was one rocket that I guess was fired overboard. It was after the time limit, and it
missed its target, and now Israel's going out. These guys got to calm down. Ridiculous.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (Inaudible).
TRUMP: I didn't like plenty of things I saw yesterday. I didn't like the fact that Israel unloaded right after we made the deal. They didn't have to
unload, and I didn't like the fact that the retaliation was very strong. But in all fairness, Israel unloaded a lot, and now I hear Israel just went
out because they felt it was violated by one rocket that didn't land anywhere.
That's not what we want. I'll tell you. And I'm telling you, I'm not happy about that Israel, either. I don't like the fact that Israel went out this
morning at all, and I'm going to see if I can stop it. They violated it, but Israel violated it too.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (Inaudible).
TRUMP: Israel, as soon as we made the deal, they came out and they dropped a load of bombs, the likes of which I've never seen before, the biggest
load that we've seen. I'm not happy with Israel. You know when I say, OK, now you have 12 hours, you don't go out in the first hour and just drop
everything you have on them.
So, I'm not happy with them. I'm not happy with Iran either. But I'm really unhappy if Israel is going out this morning, because the one rocket that
didn't land, that was shot, perhaps by mistake, that didn't land. I'm not happy about that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LIPTAK: Now, the president's Truth Social message that he posted just minutes after Air Force One took off, saying that Israel would not be
sending the planes, that the ceasefire was still in effect, suggests that the president's conversation with Netanyahu seems to have had an effect,
but clearly the president of the belief that a lot is riding on this cease fire holding Becky.
ANDERSON: Barak, let me bring you in. Thank you. What are your sources Barak telling you about what happened in that call with Benjamin Netanyahu?
BARAK RAVID, CNN POLITICAL & GLOBAL AFFAIRS ANALYST: Hi, Becky. Well, what I hear from my sources is that President Trump basically called Netanyahu
and told him, don't do it. And Netanyahu told Trump, I cannot abort this mission completely, but I can scale it down.
And from a list of a dozen targets that were supposed to be hit, some of them in the center of Tehran. It was scaled down to one target, one radar
system outside of Tehran. And I think this is quite an extraordinary moment, not only in the Trump Netanyahu relationship, but also in the U.S.
Israeli relationship.
That a U.S. President publicly is calling Israel to stop, to call back its planes, that Israel is -- you know basically doing it almost completely.
And you know, Becky reminded me what happened today. Reminded me something that during Trump's first term, his Ambassador to Israel, David Friedman,
told Netanyahu, on several occasions a sentence in Yiddish.
He told them, Prime Minister, you can be a pig, but don't be a -- which means, you know, you don't overdo it, don't overreach. And I think that
that's what happened today. Trump was telling Netanyahu, you can be a pig, but don't be a --.
ANDERSON: Which means, what at this point? I mean, how is that going to land, and what will be the calculus in Jerusalem?
RAVID: I think so -- I think right now, the Israelis understand that it would take a lot for Donald Trump to give them a green light for further
military action in Iran. The Israelis, at least Israeli officials, told me yesterday that they're planning to treat Iran as they're treating Lebanon
as they're treating Gaza.
Every time they will see a threat, they will send the planes to take out air defenses, to take out ballistic missiles, to take out nuclear
facilities. I'm not sure Donald Trump sees it that way. I think when it comes to rebuilding the nuclear program, obviously Donald Trump will
support further military action.
Vice President Vance said it yesterday if they rebuild the program, we will come again and take it out. But everything else, I'm not sure that Donald
Trump will support further military action by Israel against Iran.
ANDERSON: Let me just bring in Paula Hancocks stand by, who is in Ras Al Khaimah here in the UAE. This is not far from the Strait of Hormuz, which,
of course, is that critical shipping lane that is been so central to the news over the past couple of days.
[09:10:00]
The oil price has actually lower. It's gone significantly lower since we got this news of a ceasefire. And as you sort of witness what is going on,
on that incredibly important shipping lane. What's the perspective around the Gulf region as to where we stand at this point?
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well Becky, I think there's a huge amount of relief that this appears to be it for now that the ceasefire,
even though it appears on both sides there were violations, we heard the U.S. President saying, both sides have broken the truce, it does appear to
be holding for the most part.
And apart from the strikes that we saw from Iran on the U.S. military base in Qatar, the rest of the Gulf will be breathing a sigh of relief. There is
a huge military presence in these countries, and certainly there were great concerns that the response from Iran after those U.S. strikes on its
nuclear program could be far more widespread.
There were also concerns, as you say, that there could be some repercussions on that Strait of Hormuz, where something like 20 to 25
percent of the world's crude oil passes through. And that goes to show, of course, you mentioned that the fact that the oil price sharply dropped
after the ceasefire was announced.
And after it became clear that this may have been crisis averted for the time being, that there was a feeling that this is a threat that will not be
carried out in full at this point. Now, there could have been a number of things Iran could have done. They could have mined the Strait of Hormuz.
They could have had military intervention to harass ships, to prevent or slow-down that commercial shipping channel, a really key shipping channel
when it comes to the global shipping industry, and also having a direct impact on global economies.
So certainly, I think what we are seeing in the region is, at the same time as condemnation of Qatar's sovereignty and its airspace being violated by
Iran, there is a sense of relief that, for the time being, this crisis has definitely lessened, Becky.
ANDERSON: Barak, Donald Trump claiming that Iran would never rebuild its nuclear program. And we've been discussing what the chances are of that
happening at this point. There are those in the U.S. and in Israel who've been pushing for more strikes on -- and a broader regime change.
And there's still a long road to diplomacy, if indeed this is the direction that this is headed. I just wonder what you believe has been achieved and
where you see this going next?
RAVID: So, first about regime change, after President Trump flirted with this idea a few days ago today, again, he said that he's against it and
that he thinks it will create chaos in Iran and in the Middle East. Obviously, Prime Minister Netanyahu thinks differently.
It was never a stated goal of this war, but it was a definitely unstated goal of this war that the regime will be destabilized, and hopefully after
the war ends, some sort of uprising will take place. For now, there are no signs for that.
I think that at least what I hear from U.S. officials is that they want to go back to the table with the Iranians to get some sort of a deal. We have
to remember the -- if the Iranians now rebuild their nuclear program, we will get to the same crisis again in a few months, maybe in a few years.
So, the U.S. wants to use what happened to get now a better deal with Iran, not only on the nuclear program, but I think, a broader one, on the
ballistic missile program, on the Iran -- on Iran's place in the region, on its network of proxies. It will be a very challenging thing. I'm not sure
the Iranians are open for such a broad discussion, but the U.S. will definitely try to get one.
ANDERSON: Diplomacy can take some time. Does Donald Trump have the patience to stick with it is a question that is being asked at this point. Your
sense? Barak?
[09:15:00]
RAVID: Yes, sorry. You know I think Donald Trump wants a deal with Iran. I think he really wanted to deal with Iran before this war. I think the White
House made several mistakes in the way it handled those negotiations. The Iranians obviously made huge mistakes by under estimating and
miscalculating Donald Trump.
Maybe now, after this war, the Iranians will understand that Donald Trump is -- you know they need to take him more seriously than they thought, and
that they have an opportunity here to get a deal that might not get them everything they want, but will get them quite a lot.
ANDERSON: Paula, Barak, thank you. Our Senior International Correspondent, Fred Pleitgen is on the ground in the Iranian Capital. He saw and heard the
pre ceasefire strikes first hand, and sent this update from Tehran.
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: After the Israelis made that claim that Iranian missiles were flying towards Israeli
territory. I actually got in touch with a senior Iranian official, who flat out denied that the Iranians had fired any missiles toward Israel after the
ceasefire went into effect.
In fact, they said that the moment that that time had come for the ceasefire, that no missiles had been fired from the Iranian side. The
Iranians also now warning the Israelis against hitting Iranian territory, saying that that would open up Iranian retaliation once again, and that
everything that within what they call the occupied territories, of course, meaning all of Israel, would then become a target for Iran.
So, some tough language coming out of Tehran here as well. Also, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which of course, is that elite wing of
Iran's military claiming that there were several violations of its soil, as they put it, by the Israelis, possibly meaning incursion by some sort of
aircraft in the hours after the ceasefire went into effect.
What we're seeing right now, actually, here in Tehran is that things are fairly calm. Here I was on the streets a little bit earlier today. There's
a lot of people who are out driving some shops opening up. But what the president said there about the Israelis unloading overnight after the
ceasefire deal was announced was definitely something that we saw and we felt here from our vantage point as well.
I was up here on this roof, and we all of a sudden heard Israeli Air Force planes streak what seemed to be Israeli Air Force planes streaking past,
and then extremely loud explosions rocking our building and then rocking also a lot of other places in Central Tehran as well. We saw a lot of
outgoing anti-aircraft gun fire coming from the Iranians.
The skies here over the city really were illuminated. That went on for the better part of, I would say, about half an hour, 45 minutes, maybe up to an
hour, where those loud bangs continue. The Israelis at some point even issued evacuation orders for certain districts here -- around 02:30 in the
morning, when obviously people in those districts most probably would have been asleep.
So, it certainly was a night that saw a lot of kinetic activity. And as of right now, the Iranians are saying that their forces are not firing back.
The foreign minister of this country of Abbas Araghchi came out and said that Iranian forces had fired until the moment that the ceasefire went into
effect, which the Iranians consider to be 04:00 a.m. in the morning, and that since then, no projectiles, they say, have been fired from Iran
towards Israeli territory, guys.
ANDERSON: And it is just about Ten to five Tehran time now. Well, the ceasefire between Israel and Iran has led to renewed calls for a deal with
Hamas. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum says Israel's ceasefire should be expanded to include Gaza in a statement today, saying, quote
those who can achieve a ceasefire with Iran can also end the war in Gaza.
Qatari Prime Minister, bolstering those hopes today, suggesting there is movement in the efforts to muster indirect talks between Israel and Hamas.
Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MOHAMMED BIN ABDULRAHMAN BIN JASSIM AL-THANI, QATARI PRIME MINISTER: We are still continuing in our efforts, and hopefully we will find an opportunity
during the next couple of days, so that there will be an indirect talks between the two sides to reach a ceasefire agreement.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, inside Gaza, Palestinian officials are reporting yet another deadly incident around an aid distribution site. We have blurred
video that was posted social media said to be of the aftermath. But the scenes are disturbing.
It happened at a Gaza Humanitarian Foundation site in the South of the Netzarim Corridor. Health officials there say 21 Palestinians were killed
by Israeli fire while they were waiting for aid. CNN is awaiting comment from the Israeli military on those reports, which have become all too
frequent of course. By now, people in Gaza expect a possibility of violence at those distribution points, but they are accepting the risk due to sheer
desperation.
[09:20:00]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I wait for the food. I want food. I'm a human who needs to eat. I have no food no shelter. All the people have been exhausted. We
come and wait here. I swear we were like surrendering ourselves to death. By God, we are walking into death. There's no solution. If you want to feed
us, feed us. If you don't want to feed us, kill us.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well still to come, a critical NATO summit is now underway with conflicts in the Middle East and of course, Ukraine squarely in focus, and
after the tumult of the past few days, how are NATO leaders feeling about the chances for diplomacy? We'll get some insight in a CNN exclusive
interview from The Hague, coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Well to the Hague now and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney spoke exclusively to my colleague CNN's Christiane Amanpour on the
sidelines of this NATO summit there. She asked about Iran's retaliatory strike on the U.S. base in Qatar, and now that is being analyzed by global
powers behind the scenes. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARK CARNEY, CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER: I would lean towards President Trump's interpretation of it. The military action was also a diplomatic
move by Iran. It was, I mean, we never welcome obviously, hostilities and reactions. But it was proportionate. It was de escalatory.
It appears to have been previewed, which allowed in their Canadian soldiers at the Qatari base as well.
CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: So, you get them out of harm, right?
CARNEY: They were out of harm --
AMANPOUR: So, it's par for the course, really, and it's gives, as far as you concerned, an opening for diplomacy.
CARNEY: It gives an opening for diplomacy. I think that's the right way to put it. And the question is, does that diplomacy really get traction and
move to ending this risk of nuclear proliferation, and does it lead, as well to broader, well, a broader ceasefire in the Middle East, including in
Gaza.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, you can watch the rest of that interview later today on Amanpour. It airs at 01:00 p.m. Eastern time in the U.S. That says 06:00
p.m. in London, 09:00 p.m. here in Abu Dhabi. While Russia has ramped up its aerial attacks across Ukraine. The Ukrainian Air Force says Moscow
launched more than 350 drones and at least 60 missiles in the past day.
Officials say the strikes killed at least 17 people, including a child. One attack hit a residential building in Kyiv, close to the U.S. embassy. At
least eight others were killed in strikes against other Ukrainian cities. It comes as President Vladimir Putin claimed on Monday that Russia is now
mass producing new nuclear capable ballistic missiles.
[09:25:00]
Ukraine's President has called Monday's attacks by Russia, quote, absolutely insane. Volodymyr Zelenskyy is at today's critical NATO summit
in the Netherlands, where the war in Ukraine, of course, will be high on the agenda. President Donald Trump is on his way there.
He left the White House earlier visibly frustrated over the tensions in the Middle East, namely, that newly broken but already strained ceasefire
between Israel and Iran. That conflict, of course, said to be central to today's meeting of world leaders now underway at The Hague.
CNN's Clare Sebastian joining us now from there. Specific conflicts, of course, in focus, also defense spending. Just set the scene for us, if you
will. And I'd like to just explore what the sort of expectations from this meeting are to your mind.
CLARE SEBASTIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, Becky, look, I think it's clear that the conflict in Iran, obviously, the U.S. strikes, happening just
several days before this major summit has to some extent overshadowed this. We know that leaders here are watching really closely to see if that
ceasefire holds.
But I think that makes it perhaps even more important that this has in many ways been a summit specifically tailored to President Trump, who is now
expected here later today, along with his Secretary of State, Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. It's been simplified down compared to
previous years to just one big meeting tomorrow of the 32 NATO members.
Ukraine has been somewhat ring fence. Ukraine's President, as you say, is here. He says he plans to meet with Trump, but he's been holding his
meetings on site here in The Hague today and won't be part of events tomorrow. Previously, we've seen NATO Ukraine council meetings happening
alongside the main event.
And of course, the banner headline that is expected to come out of this, the 5 percent of GDP defense spending target that NATO members are set to
commit to is something that President Trump has specifically demanded. 5 percent is essentially his number. But even as we see NATO members trying
extremely hard to put on this face of unity here.
There are cracks going into the summit, Spain said that it would not be able to hit 5 percent and that it had basically negotiated with NATO to
massage the language of the final statement so that it could get around, that it could have some flexibility. Slovakia then came out and said that
it would do the same.
And even some of the big European countries, like Germany and France, the leaders of those countries, writing today in the Financial Times, said only
that they would aim ultimately, to get to this target, the 5 percent made up of 3.5 percent of core defense spending and 1.5 percent of related
spending.
But I spoke to Estonia's Defense Minister a short while ago. He is, of course, on the border with Russia, very much at the front line of this. But
he said that it doesn't matter where you are in Europe, all countries should be taking this seriously. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HANNO PEVKUR, ESTONIAN DEFENSE MINISTER: The missiles flying either to Estonia or Berlin or Lisbon. The difference, time difference is maybe, you
know, tens of minutes, not tens of hours. So that doesn't change the reality that also Portugal, Spain, France, Germany, Belgium, all the
Western European countries have to invest also a lot into defense.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SEBASTIAN: So, look the 5 percent pledge that is expected to be something that all allies are greater or lesser, do we going to sign on to in this
final communique? That is a foreign policy win for Donald Trump that NATO has been trying very hard to give to him.
I think for NATO a win, considering we've just heard in the last few hours, President Trump refusing, essentially to fully endorse the idea of NATO's
Article Five as he departed for The Hague, I think a win for NATO would be, you know, him coming and committing, to some degree, to an enduring U.S.
presence within NATO, Becky.
ANDERSON: I was interested to see a statement from the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs today, which effectively very much supports the U.S.'s
mission in trying to de grade or dismantle Iran's nuclear program, reminding the world, as it is, from the Ukrainian point of view, that Iran
is complicit in the crime of aggression against Ukraine, in its support for Russia.
I just wonder what you are hearing about President Zelenskyy. Sort of thoughts going into any meeting with the U.S. President, if indeed this
time he gets it. Because, of course, he was hoping to get that meeting at the G7 summit in Canada a week or so ago, President Trump, of course, left
early.
SEBASTIAN: Yeah. Look, I think he's definitely hoping that this will be an opportunity for a make good on that missed meeting at the G7 and suddenly
he has offered full throated support for the U.S. actions in Iran, speaking to the UK skies news channel on the eve of this summit, he said he supports
it.
He said, as you noted, that Iran is a strategic partner of Russia, and certainly at the beginning of this war, supplied drones for Russia to use.
[09:30:00]
Russia now mostly manufactures them themselves. We've seen that they have been used in exponentially greater numbers, even as the U.S. has tried to
broker a solution, a diplomatic solution, to this war. So, I think that is, in one way, an effort to sort of set the tone for this meeting.
It is -- it will only be the second meeting since that Oval Office spat. It's always an opportunity to repair ties and essentially to bring Donald
Trump back into Ukraine's way of thinking, and I think essentially urge him to put more pressure on Russia. Those are some motorcycle outriders that
you can just see going past me as we see these delegations arriving and departing here in The Hague, Becky.
ANDERSON: Good to have you. All right. Listen, folks, we have just heard the opening bell on Wall Street. It's 9:30 or just after in New York, and
the markets are open, and these markets will be reacting to what has been this fragile ceasefire brokered overnight between Iran and Israel.
What that means for investors and indeed for oil and therefore gasoline prices, breaking that all down, just ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Welcome back. I'm Becky Anderson in Abu Dhabi. You're watching "Connect the World". These are your headlines. And U.S. President Donald
Trump says Israel is not going to attack Iran. After lashing out both countries for reported ceasefire violations, before leaving for the NATO
summit.
He criticized both countries for the ongoing conflict and said both need to, quote, calm down. Well, a critical NATO summit is now underway at The
Hague with conflicts both in the Middle East and Ukraine, high on the agenda. The alliance also focused on meeting President Trump's defense
spending goal of 5 percent of GDP, more than doubling the current 2 percent.
And its primary election day in New York City, where voters there are choosing between 11 Democratic candidates looking to unseat the Mayor Eric
Adams, Former Governor Andrew Cuomo, hoping to stave off a sudden surge for Democratics from the Democratic Socialist Candidate and State Lawmaker
Zohran Mamdani.
Well, the markets are open, let's have a look at what they are up to. And stocks are higher while oil prices are falling, there is some reaction
there to the promise of a ceasefire deal between Iran and Israel, although the precise details terms of that deal do remain unclear.
[09:35:00]
We are in the early hours of that. We are somewhat, I guess, sort of 6, 7, 8, maybe 9 hours into the beginning of this and these things, let's be
frank, take time to settle. But the reaction on the market certainly a positive one for stocks, President Trump has been angry about ceasefire
violations.
Markets, though, are calm. Joining us now live from Dubai is Managing Director for the Middle East, FGE, Iman Nasseri. It's good to have you,
sir, and it's been a whipsaw ride for oil prices since Israel first launched its strike into Iran. Our viewers can see in this graph.
We've got a drop in oil prices today of some 3 percent. What are you making of what has been this significant volatility, but also a price it's
settling at least this hour lower than it was 12 days ago when this all started.
IMAN NASSERI, MIDDLE EAST MANAGING DIRECTOR OF FGE: Yeah, thanks Becky, for inviting me to your program. I think what we're seeing is pretty much the
market perception, and more than before, we see fundamentals in basically put aside, and market is reacting basically to the headlines.
And the drop that we saw this morning basically is of yesterday, we saw is basically market risking removing and eliminating the risk that they had
put on the $10 premium that went on prices in fear of losing supply is now off the prices and the market is feeling comfortable and back to where it
was focusing on fundamentals.
ANDERSON: Yeah, it's interesting that you talk about market fundamentals being put to the side, because you actually could argue that market
fundamentals actually haven't changed, and if that is what you are looking at, actually, there's no real need to move this price around too much.
I think a lot of people have been surprised at how sort of sanguine the investors in these energy markets have been given, you know, the risk
profile that we have witnessed over the last 12 days, Israel supported by the U.S., bombing Iran. This isn't something that you or I in this region
or anybody around the world might have expected to see at this point.
And if so, I think we would agree we would have expected to see much wilder volatility in these prices. Do you believe that Iran is likely now to keep
open the Strait of Hormuz? Certainly, there has been much concern that would be closed, and we've been discussing over the past 48 hours just how
risky and impactful that would have been.
NASSERI: Yeah. Just to clarify what I meant was that the period that you're showing that price escalated and now back was a risk premium. Now we're
back to fundamentals. It was that period that fundamentals was put aside, and the risk premium was basically driving the market prices.
ANDERSON: Right.
NASSERI: I think the market has gone back to fundamentals, and we assess a fundamentally driven fair value for the price to be at 65 to $70 which is
what -- where we are today. And regarding your question about the Strait of Hormuz, our assessment, and currently my thinking, is that Iran will not
act on closing a Strait of Hormuz.
That's a possibility, definitely a possibility, and that's one option that can always be executed. But in my opinion, it's something that Iran would
only execute if it's basically the last days and basically seeing the end of the regime.
It will bring lots of animosity, lots of further escalation, which is not necessary at this stage for Iran or the regime to survive, to the picture
if they went ahead and basically put the energy security of the world, their allies in the east, and basically the Europeans and everyone else at
risk.
ANDERSON: Yeah, reminders just how important that strait is to Iran itself and its own economy. It is the strategic waterway through which it exports
its oil, which is a significant -- although discounted, is a significant driver for what is, you know, a very, very challenged economy.
[09:40:00]
NASSERI: Yes, correct. They have been exporting 2.5 million barrels per day of oil, especially over the past couple of years, and that has been feeding
this economy that has been basically paying lots of bills for imported goods and services that also go through that Strait of Hormuz.
So, closing that will basically be double edged sword that not only cut the export revenue for themselves, but also access to many of their own imports
that go through that Strait of Hormuz will be stopped.
ANDERSON: Listen. Iman, it's great to have you, your perspective, particularly where you are there on what is going on around this region is
so important. And we really appreciate your time today. And I look forward to speaking to you again. And just a reminder, the live U.S. markets are
showing significant -- a significant increase, a 1 percent is increase on the S&P on the NASDAQ or on the DOW Jones.
And as we've been discussing, oil prices are off. What have been some significant highs of late. And these markets, these investors, certainly
seem to be banking on the fact that this conflict between Iran and Israel may, just may have found an off ramp. We are going to continue to monitor
what is going on and discuss that.
CNN has new polling that shows what Americans think about the U.S. getting involved. Going to break that down, get you the numbers just ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE (R-GA): Well, I got elected on the exact same campaign promises that President Trump got elected on. We promise no more
foreign wars. No more regime change. We promised an America First agenda where we're solving Americans problems and trying to claw our way out of
this $37 trillion debt.
And I've been very vocal. We don't belong in foreign wars. This is not our war, and it's perfectly OK for me to say that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, U.S. lawmaker Marjorie Taylor Greene there, making it clear to our Manu Raju that making it clear that she's at odds with President
Trump and other Republicans who support an aggressive posture against Iran. Congresswoman Greene suggesting there's a very big divide in her own party
over that issue, and that younger Republican voters in particular are more skeptical.
She says that's because they've been lied to too many times posting on social media that President Trump's decision to authorize air strikes on
Iran feels like a quote, a complete bait and switch on the MAGA agenda.
[09:45:00]
Well, a brand-new CNN poll giving a real time glimpse into how Americans do view this conflict and the U.S. involvement in the fight. It suggests
President Trump's decision to launch air strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend is broadly unpopular with the U.S. public.
Let's get you CNN's Chief Data Analyst, Harry Enten, with a look at the numbers for us. Just what have we gotten? Breaking down for us, if you. How
do Americans feel about these air strikes?
HARRY ENTEN, CNN CHIEF DATA ANALYST: Yeah, I think it's so important to note before we begin that these polls are a snapshot in time, right? These
polls were basically completed before the ceasefire. This posted ceasefire was actually made still. Still, I think it's so important note that
Americans not fans of this.
And it's not just the CNN/SSRS poll. It's a Reuters/Ipsos poll as well. All right, the net approval rating on the U.S. air strikes on Iran. You see it
here? 12 points underwater, you're 12 points more likely to disapprove than approve of the strikes on Iran. How about Reuters/Ipsos?
9 points underwater. You're 9 points more likely to disapprove than approve of the airstrikes in Iran. And among independents, 19 points more likely to
disapprove than approve of the airstrikes on Iran. And I will tell you, Becky, that these numbers are surprising to me from a historical
perspective.
Why, historically speaking, U.S. military actions, at least initially, are quite popular. What do I mean by that? Well, why don't we go back through
the time machine? We can go back to the ISIS strikes back in 2014. Look at that. You are 58 points more likely to approve than disapprove of those
back in 2018 in the same general region, right in the Middle East.
But compare that now to Iran. We are 11 points under water. I have never seen an initial military action of the type that we had in Iran over the
weekend by the United States of America be as unpopular as this one was. Again, this is a snapshot in time, but at least initially, speaking, we're
looking at a true historical anomaly, and not in a way that President Donald Trump would like.
Now, in the intro, you had Manu Raju talking with Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, talking about perhaps the Republicans were split on this
issue. Well, maybe they're a little split, but generally speaking, what are we looking at? The GOP on U.S. airstrikes on Iran.
You can see it here. The vast majority of the Republican base, 60, 76 percent excuse me, approve. They are with Donald Trump, compared to just 18
percent on average in the Reuters/Ipsos, and of course, the CNN/SSRS poll, who disapprove. So, the bottom line is this.
Yeah, there is some portion of Republicans who disapprove, who are with Marjorie Taylor Greene, but the vast majority of Republicans are with
Donald Trump. This is his party, but when we talk about the overall electorate, the overall electorate is not with Donald Trump, and that is
truly, Becky, a historical anomaly.
ANDERSON: It's fascinating. Good to have you. Thank you.
ENTEN: Thank you.
ANDERSON: It's primary election day in New York City in the race to be the Democratic nominee for Mayor Former Governor Andrew Cuomo, facing a serious
challenge for a 33-year-old state lawmaker running as a Democratic socialist. That is up next.
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[09:50:00]
ANDERSON: Voters in New York City are casting ballots on this primary election day in the race for mayor. They are choosing between nearly a
dozen Democratic candidates looking to unseat Mayor Eric Adams. Polls show a surge for state lawmaker Zohran Mamdani, the 33-year-old democratic
socialist, is neck and neck with former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.
Now, Cuomo is attempting a political comeback after stepping down as governor amid sexual harassment scandals. Let me get you to Gloria Pazmino,
who joins me live from a polling place in the city. How's that turnout looking so far, firstly?
GLORIA PAZMINO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Becky, I think one really important point to highlight is that it's primary day today, but for the
past two weeks, it was the early voting period here in New York City, and more than 300,000 New Yorkers have already cast their ballot.
The reason that's important is because today, here in New York City, it is expected to be extremely hot. There will be record breaking hot
temperatures, so people are worried about how that's going to impact turnout. For now, here in New York City, where we are right now, we've seen
a steady stream of voters, and we're actually inside one of the few polling locations that are air conditioned.
So, this is a very comfortable setting for the voters, but there are other places around the city where that is not the case. So that's the first
thing to be looking for in terms of turnout. How is the heat going to affect it today? It's certainly something that the candidates have talked
about.
Andrew Cuomo last night, during his closing arguments, said that he does not care how hot it gets, that it is people's civic obligation to go out
there and cast their votes, Becky.
ANDERSON: What's been Mamdani's appeal with voters? He certainly had a surge when you look at the polling ahead of primary day.
PAZMINO: Yeah, I think you know, a few months ago, going into this race, there was a lot of people here in New York City, especially the political
circles, who assumed that Andrew Cuomo would sort of have an easy election and be the favorite to win this primary election.
As you said he is making a political comeback after being forced to resign from office in 2021 after 11 women accused him of sexual harassment. And
for several months, it was believed that Andrew Cuomo would have a very easy shot at taking the nomination.
But in the last few weeks, Zohran Mamdani, the 33-year-old legislator who has been in the State Assembly for only two terms has really closed the gap
in the polls between the two of them. And Mamdani has really just captured the energy of young New Yorkers, people who have only voted perhaps once or
twice in their lifetimes.
Young New Yorkers who have only known the era of Donald Trump and who are really disaffected with the Democratic Party and looking for a different
type of candidate, I think that's another important dynamic to watch for in this race. You really have the Democratic establishment lining up behind
Andrew Cuomo, and then you have the liberal wing of the party lining up behind Mamdani.
And we're seeing the struggle between two areas of the party, you know, the party sort of that's in the rear-view mirror for many voters, and the party
of young, more progressive liberal voters who want to see a different type of candidate. I think no matter what the outcome is here, it's going to be
interesting in terms of what the party does at the national level.
We've seen some of this all around the world, right? We've seen swings to the left then swings to the right. So, I think we're going to see a version
of that here in New York City. But without question, Mamdani has run a very different type of campaign from what we have seen elected officials here in
New York City run in recent years.
ANDERSON: All right, Gloria, how can endorsements have shaken out the race? I'm thinking here of Clinton for Cuomo and Bernie and AOC, Bernie Sanders
and AOC for Mamdani.
[09:55:00]
PAZMINO: Yeah, you know, I think that is actually one of the things that really helps to illustrate the struggle between this party, right? You have
Bill Clinton, Greg Meeks, all of these standard bearers of the Democratic Party lining up behind Cuomo, including many Democrats here in New York, by
the way, who originally called for Cuomo's resignation.
And then you have the party of Bernie Sanders and the party of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez lining up behind Mamdani. Mamdani has run a race very similar
to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's campaign several years ago. In fact, I covered that campaign. And I remember people talking about how there was no
way she could win that election.
Remember, she unseated Congressman Joe Crowley back then, who was thought to be next in line to be Speaker of the House. She had no previous
legislative experience, and yet she managed to unseat him, running a campaign that got a lot of energy and a lot of volunteers. So, it's going
to be really interesting where we see a version of that happening here today.
ANDERSON: Good to have you, Gloria. Thank you so much. On an extremely hot day in New York. Well, that is it for the first hour of "Connect the
World". I'm Becky Anderson. We will be back at the top of the hour in a couple of minutes time with more breaking news from our region on Israel
and Iran's ceasefire and the American President's comments on that. Stay with us.
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