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Connect the World

Iran Enters Third Week of Anti-Government Protests; U.S. Lawmakers React to Third Week of Protests in Iran; Iranians Facing Near-Total Internet Blackout Since Thursday; Federal Prosecutors Open Criminal Probe into Fed Chair Powell; Pope Meets with Venezuelan Opposition Leader Machado. Aired 9-9:45a ET

Aired January 12, 2026 - 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 the scene at the White House the U.S. President threatening what he calls a strong response

against Iran's regime over the deaths of protesters there. It's 09:00 a.m. in Washington. It's 06:00 p.m. in Abu Dhabi.

I'm Becky Anderson from our Middle East programming headquarters. You're watching "Connect the World". Also coming up inside Iran, demonstrators aim

to make their voices heard despite a crippling internet blackout. The very latest on what we know is just ahead.

Plus, under investigation, the Chair of the U.S. Fed could face criminal charges. Why the Justice Department is investigating Jerome Powell and what

he is saying in response. Well, stock market in New York opens about 30 minutes from now, 09:30 local time, and futures pointing to a lower open on

the major indices, as investors somewhat shy away from U.S. assets amid concern about what happens next, both at the fed and in Iran.

And we're going to start today by trying to understand what is happening inside Iran, even as the U.S. President threatens to intervene. Now we

don't have a full picture of what is happening on the ground in Iran, because the government cut off internet access last week.

But the crackdown on dissent is harsh, with hundreds of protesters reported dead. And Iran's judiciary warning of zero tolerance for further

demonstrations. Now today, the government is broadcasting images of what it says are large pro regime rallies. Meantime, Donald Trump indicating the

U.S. is looking at military options to back the protesters and warning Iran about any possible retaliation.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: What would they do that we'll consider things targets. They wouldn't that -- they wouldn't

believe if they do that, we will hit them at levels that they've never been hit before. They won't even believe it.

I have five options that are so strong. So, I mean, if they did that, it will be met with a very, very powerful force.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, President Trump also says Iran called the White House to negotiate. And Iran's Foreign Minister says his country does stand ready to

talk. Well Paula Hancocks is here with me in Abu Dhabi. And I want to be clear once again, it is extremely challenging to cover this story given the

internet blackout and the government restrictions.

Be that as it may, what do we know about what is going on the ground today?

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Becky, we are not getting information in real time. As you mentioned this, there is this internet

blackout. We know that there were protests on Sunday evening. We did see people still coming out onto the streets, despite the fact that we are

seeing hundreds are being killed by security forces.

We also know that there are some distressing images coming out. We do want to show some footage. I should warn our viewers that they may find them

disturbing, but it illustrates what people on the ground are having to deal with. We saw at the Kahrizak Forensic Medical Center in Tehran.

People are watching a monitor on the wall. They are seeing images of deceased people, and they are trying to figure out if they are their loved

ones. This is how they're trying to identify people that they are looking for. And then we also saw on the pavement just outside the building, a

number of black body bags, again, people trying to find their loved ones.

You hear screams of anguish, as some of those do actually find who they were looking for. This gives an understanding of just how widespread this

is at this point. The fact that many people have lost their lives, that they are coming out onto the streets calling for change, and some of them

are paying the ultimate price for that.

So, as I say this, this isn't in real time. This was over the weekend. What is in real time? As you mentioned, we are seeing these pro regime rallies

that is being fed to everyone in Iran, to everyone around the world, really trying to show that the regime is in charge. We heard from the foreign

minister as well, saying that things are under control.

[09:05:00]

So, this is really the perception that they are trying to show at this point.

ANDERSON: Paula Hancocks with me here in the studio. For the time being, thank you. U.S. lawmakers and Washington officials reacting to the

situation in Iran and potential U.S. involvement. Energy Secretary Chris Wright telling CBS News that backing from the U.S. is driving the Iranian

people to the streets to protest.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHRIS WRIGHT, U.S. ENERGY SECRETARY: I think the people in Iran are rising up because they feel there's a strong America that has their back. I won't

go into any specifics there, but we wish them well, and we'd love to see a free and democratic Iran again.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Will there be more interdictions of vessels carrying Iranian oil? Any more activity on that front?

WRIGHT: I won't reveal any change in position there.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, not everyone in favor of U.S. intervention. Democratic Senator Tim Kaine told CBS News over the weekend that military action by

Washington would be unwise. Have a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. TIM KAINE (D-VA): U.S. military action in Iran would be a massive mistake. It would have the effect of giving the Iranian regime the ability

to say it's the U.S. that's screwing our country up. Right now, Iranian are blaming, appropriately, the regime for screwing up the country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, my next guest is Mohammad Ali Shabani, Editor of Amwaj media. He has extensive experience in Iran, working in both media and

policy. In a post on X earlier today, he unpacked new developments in the relationship between Iran and the White House.

Quote as the prospect of military confrontation with the U.S. looms large. Elements of Iran's political establishment are pushing for renewed

diplomacy with the Trump Administration, and watch media has learned he wrote the initiative to convince Iran's leadership to alter course comes

amid a brutal crackdown on protests.

Mohammad, who's a regular guest on this show, his insight analysis, extremely important. Joining me now live from London, and very much

appreciate it. Yesterday, we saw President Trump reopen the possibility of talks with Iran amid these brutal protests the Omani FM also in Tehran this

weekend.

Of course, the Omanis have played a mediation role over the years, at times. What's the likelihood do you believe that the Iranians do actually

meet, albeit perhaps indirectly, with the Americans at this point and push away or push out, as it were, the prospect of potential military

intervention by the U.S.?

MOHAMMAD ALI SHABANI, EDITOR OF AMWAJ.MEDIA: Well Becky, I think a lot depends on how Trump perceives that potential response to any action

against Iran. And I think more than that, it's about what type of action he's entertaining. Is he talking about cyber operations, about military

strikes, sanctions, information operations, we don't know.

But what we do know is that Iranian officials, including today, at the state sponsored rallies across the country. In Tehran, the Parliament

Speaker, a Former IRDC Commander, was very explicit in warning that Iran will hit this time against any U.S. military strikes, having said that, I

think it's hard for Trump to believe that, given that when he bombed the nuclear facilities in June, Iran fired missiles at a base in Qatar, and

apparently no U.S. troops were targeted.

There was no U.S. troop to present at the facility. So, I think for any negotiation to begin, there needs to be a kind of balance of deterrence,

which I'm not quite sure is there you.

ANDERSON: That's fascinating. All right, I'm going to come back to what may happen next momentarily. Let's focus very specifically on what we

understand to be happening on the ground. We're seeing images today of pro- government rallies. We've also seen through garnering video from social media and elsewhere, videos coming through showing a violent and brutal

crackdown, certainly over the weekend, as well as violence on the side of protests.

How did these protests and what is going on in Iran differ, if at all, from that which we have previously seen? And what do you make of what you are

seeing and hearing on the streets across the country?

SHABANI: Well Becky, it's really difficult to get direct input these days because of the internet blackout. But one of the defining factors of this

round of unrest compared to previous rounds is that they have begun in the periphery, in smaller towns, places most people in the capitol never heard

of, and that they have been quite extensive geographically, and we've also seen much higher levels of violence.

[09:10:00]

There are reports by rights groups that. Hundreds of protesters have been killed. Other estimates look at thousands. But on the other side of the

spectrum, there are also reports by the authorities that more than 100 security personnel have been killed. So, these are very violent clashes

that we're seeing now.

Of course, the information we're receiving about the unrest and the nature of it is not real time, because the internet is still locked down, but

understanding so far is that essentially, these have gone from the periphery and to the center until major orbit centers.

It's quite violent, both in terms of number of protesters who have been killed and also number of security person who killed. So, I think many

analysts are looking at, if there's no negotiation between Iran and the U.S., if the United States decide to attack Iran, what could follow?

Are we looking at potential more violent clashes within Iran? Are we looking at total quelling of any kind of unrest, any kind of militant

activity within Iran's borders by the Islamic Republic? There are so many unknowns, but what we do know is that this is a new phase, potentially much

more violent faith.

ANDERSON: Yeah, and in the past, and I'm thinking about, over the last 15, 20, years, some of the biggest protests have been, of course, the Green

Revolution, the women's life freedom protests. The government often uses the same playbook, of course, to quash these protests, the blackout can, of

course, allow for the government to act with impunity.

And again, let's caveat this conversation by saying it is very difficult to understand what is going on the ground. The images that we are seeing today

broadcast by the government, across government agency networks are of pro- government rallies. There are internal divisions in Iran between hard liners and reformists.

We hear talk of these divisions. I wonder whether you can just explain what those divisions look like. How robust the sort of, you know, the

governmental architecture is at its top, as it were? And are we seeing in any way these internal divisions play out with these protests? I'm trying

to get to the bottom of who's in charge and how robust that infrastructure is.

SHABANI: Well Becky, I think that you know, the president, a reformist, has gone out and being quite explicit and harsh in his condemnation of any

violence on either side. He has called for a harsh crackdown on unrest, on what he calls rioters. So, it's not as if there's any split about how to

confront violence.

Rather, I think the fundamental division is, even if this round of unrest is quelled, which it appears to be so far, it's going to blossom again.

It's going to erupt again, ignite again, unless the fundamental grievances are addressed, and these fundamental grievances improve, the economic

livelihoods, more social liberties, political reform, these things need to happen.

And key to all of this is some kind of diplomacy with the Trump Administration to lift sanctions. Unless sanctions are lifted unless there

is diplomatic engagement. It's only a matter of time before this happens again, and in such a situation, the options available at the disposal of

the authorities will be much more limited.

So, this is a fundamental debate that's happening. I think it's not a debate about how to confront this unrest. I think there's an understanding

by the political elites, whether reformists or hardliners, that essentially, they're all in the same boat. So, if that boat kind of

overturns, they're all going to drown.

So, there's an understanding of that. So, there's no, I don't see any elite split, per se. It's a split about how to address these fundamental

grievances, and also different estimations of the capacity of the authorities of this state to meet these kinds of grievances, the economic

side, the social side, the political side.

So, these next few days and weeks are going to be quite crucial in terms of, are we going to see which direction Iran is going to be going in the

near future, or not?

ANDERSON: Yeah, we've got to watch for this diplomatic space as we continue to press hard to get a real understanding of what is going on the streets

across Iran. This is not just a protest by residents in some parts of Tehran, as we may have seen in the past, but we are seeing this as we

understand across the country at this point, thank you.

Mohammed, it's always good to have you. Thank you. For the past year, President Trump has been putting intense pressure on the U.S. Federal

Reserve to lower interest rates. You'll be well aware of that. Now the Fed's Chair, Jerome Powell, finds himself under a criminal investigation.

[09:15:00]

And he is alleging a clear link, but says he is not bowing down to threats.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEROME POWELL, U.S. FEDERAL RESERVE CHAIR: I have served at the Federal Reserve under four administrations, Republicans and Democrats alike. In

every case, I have carried out my duties without political fear or favor focused solely on our mandate of price stability and maximum employment.

Public service sometimes requires standing firm in the face of threats. I will continue to do the job the Senate confirmed me to do with integrity

and a commitment to serving the American people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: While the newly launched criminal probe is related to the central bank's $2.5 billion renovation which the president has criticized as too

costly. Well, our Senior Reporter, Matt Egan, on the story for us from New York. This is not a Fed Chairman who is prepared to sort of bow down at

this point.

Powell framing this as a threat, not just to him, but to the fed's independence. Could you explain the significance of this investigation by

the DOJ and what the reaction has been, Matt?

MATT EGAN, CNN SENIOR REPORTER: Yeah, well, Becky, in some ways, it feels as though a red line of sorts has been crossed here, right? Because in the

past, not even the Trump Administration would go directly after Fed Chair Jerome Powell. They didn't want to rock financial markets or unsettle

corporate America.

But now we've got this year long pressure campaign on Powell to lower interest rates, morphing into what at least one analyst has described as

open war. And this is a big deal because the fed it's designed to be insulated from politicians and political pressure, right?

They're supposed to be free to raise or lower interest rates, if that's what's required to protect the job market, to fight inflation, right?

They're not supposed to be doing the work to benefit one political party or another. And look, we've heard a lot of strong reaction, predictably, from

Democrats, who are alarms, but also from economists, from investors, from former fed officials.

Justin Wolfer is the economist. He told me that this is an outrage. He said it's bad economics. One former fed official, he told me, this is law fair.

This is law fair at its worst, and he said he didn't even think that the administration would stoop to this level. But perhaps the strongest

reaction came from Republican Senator Thom Tillis.

He said in a social media post last night, he said, if there were any remaining doubt whether advisors within the Trump Administration are

actively pushing to end the independence of the fed, there should now be none. And he went on to say he's going to oppose the confirmation of any

nominee for the fed, including the upcoming Fed Chair vacancy, until this legal matter is fully resolved.

And look investors over on Wall Street, they're making their displeasure seen as well, right? U.S., stock futures, they're modestly lower. DOW

futures down around 300 points, a little bit more than half a percentage point, a little bit steeper losses for the NASDAQ down by almost 1 percent.

And we're seeing investors pile into the safety of precious metals instead, gold futures surging by almost 3 percent this morning. Silver futures up by

almost 8 percent. So, some pretty strong moves there. Now I thought that Powell's response here, right?

The fact that he felt the need to come out and make this extraordinary video statement, was telling right, he did not sound like someone who's

willing to sort of buckle under pressure and suddenly cut interest rates. He sounded pretty defiant. And former fed officials told me that Powell is

not going to be easily intimidated.

And now I think two things to watch here, Becky, is one, what does this do, if anything, to the future of Jerome Powell at the fed? Because even though

his term as chair is up in May. He's actually still got a seat on the powerful Board of Governors until 2028. You got to wonder if this maybe

persuades him to stay on at the fed.

And the last point is whether or not this investigation into Powell and what is being viewed as an attack on fed independence. Does this cause CEOs

and investors and moderate Republicans to speak out in defense of Jerome Powell and the fed? So, stay tuned here.

ANDERSON: Yeah, it's fascinating. Do keep an eye on those U.S. assets. Investors a little shy of the dollar of treasury bonds, oil slightly lower

today, as you say, gold on the up alongside silver, as investors look for what is often described as a bit of a safe haven as we begin this trading

week.

Good day, Matt. Thank you. Ahead on the show, some tough talk between Washington and Havana.

[09:20:00]

Right, Donald Trump is now telling Cuba to make a deal or face the consequences.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Well, first, Venezuela, now Cuba, the U.S. President, telling Havana to quote, make a deal before it is too late. Donald Trump says, if

there is no deal with Washington, Cuba won't see any more aid money from Venezuela's oil industry. The president talking to reporters on Air Force

One on Sunday night, when they asked what kind of a deal he is seeking.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: We're talking to Cuba, and you'll find out pretty soon. And one of the things I want taken care of, and one of the groups, I want taken care

of are the people that came from Cuba that were forced out or left under duress. And they're great citizens of the United States right now.

You have a lot of people forced out of Cuba unfairly. So, we're going to take care of most importantly, right now, we're going to take care of the

people that came from Cuba that are American citizens or in our country?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, Cuba pushing back against the Trump pressure campaign, its president declaring on social media, no one dictates what we do. Well,

let's get right to Havana. And CNN's Patrick Oppmann, it was an interesting answer to a perfectly sensible question that the U.S. President was asked

on Air Force One.

He didn't elaborate on what a deal with Havana might look like with regard U.S. citizens formerly from Cuba, who he seems to want to get back to Cuba.

What are you hearing, if anything?

PATRICK OPPMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Cuba was present this morning, denying that there are talks going on, saying that the only conversations

happening between the Cubans and the U.S. are simply about migration matters, which is a constant theme these two governments talk about.

But also leaving the door open, saying that they are willing to talk to the U.S., that they've always been willing to talk to the U.S., but again,

denying that these high-level conversations are actually taking place, the conversations that President Donald Trump alluded to.

It was certainly the Cuban government has long said the Cubans that left, particularly those who left after the revolution took power, really lost

the rights to property, to citizenship, and that these, of course, have been, many of them, their mortal enemies over the decades.

But the reality here, Becky is, despite this back and forth, you know, he said -- she said, kind of thing going on is that the U.S. does appear to

control what oil is leaving Venezuela, and oil is not coming to Cuba at the moment, this is oil that Cuba desperately needs.

[09:25:00]

You know all reporting over the last year or so about Cuba's energy crisis, when you add the fact that Cuba can no longer count on Venezuela for the

oil that has kept the lights when they are on, has kept them on really paints a dire picture for Cuba. It's almost impossible to think how this

island's economy would continue on if they did not have that Venezuelan oil.

Yes, Mexico sends oil. Yes, Russia, on occasion, sends oil. But it's really been Venezuela throughout the years and has sent millions of barrels of oil

at a vastly discounted price, often for free, out of solidarity. That solidarity apparently has come to an end. It appears, as the U.S.,

according to the President Donald Trump, is calling the shots in Venezuela.

So certainly, for the government in Nevada, while they are bristling at this talk, the reality is they are in a very, very tight spot here, Becky.

ANDERSON: Good to have you. Thank you. Well, the situation in Venezuela is in focus at the Vatican today. Pope Leo has been meeting with the

Venezuelan Opposition Leader Maria Corina Machado. The pope recently weighing in on the U.S. intervention and the capture of President Nicolas

Maduro.

On Friday, he criticized the use of military force to achieve what he described as diplomatic goals and called for human rights to be protected

in Venezuela. Right, we're going to take a very short break here on "Connect the World" with me Becky Anderson. After that, we will go live to

the White House for more on what the U.S. President is or may be planning for Iran. More on that is after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Welcome back. I'm Becky Anderson in Abu Dhabi. You're watching "Connect the World". These are your headlines. Iran's judiciary is warning

it will have zero tolerance for anyone calling for anti-government protests, which have entered their third week.

The U.S. based rights group reports more than 540 people have been killed so far. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell says he is being targeted by

the Justice Department for not quote, following the preferences of the president regarding interest rates. Federal prosecutors have now opened an

investigation into the fed and into Powell over the renovation of the central bank headquarters.

Well Cuba's President pushing back against Donald Trump's demand to quote, make a deal before it is too late. The Leader of Cuba's communist

government, Miguel Diaz-Canel declaring on social media, no one dictates what we do. Let's get you live to Wall Street, where trading is set to

begin at New York Stock Exchange.

The Co-Head of Healthcare investment at JP Morgan ringing the opening bell today.

[09:30:00]

That being a healthcare conference that is being marketed there. So, the clapping ahead of the opening bell, which will ring in the next 10 seconds

or so. The markets were looking decidedly peaky today. U.S. assets really not in favor, as far as investors are concerned, at the beginning of this

trading week.

We've seen a reduction in prices on U.S. bonds, the yields going higher. We've seen a reduction in the currency as well. The DOW JONES kicking off

the trading day down about two thirds of 1 percent let's just see some of the other indices that we have up for you today there.

Don't look at what is going on in the NASDAQ, because that looks as if it hasn't changed yet. The markets were expected to be lower. I would expect

that NASDAQ to change. And there we go, down about four fifths, or, sorry, about a half of 1 percent and the S&P tracking the NASDAQ there as well.

All right. Well, back to our top story today, U.S. President Donald Trump says he is weighing potential military options to intervene in Iran as

protests there enter their third week. Hundreds have been killed in the government crackdown, according to human rights monitoring groups.

So, it is difficult to get exact numbers, given the limited information coming out of the country. CNN's Alayna Treene is at the White House. She

joins us now. What are you learning about what the U.S. is or may be planning to do at this point?

ALAYNA TREENE, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Well, I can tell you, Becky, from my conversations with White House officials, other people close to the

President Trump has been briefed in recent days on a series of options for potential intervention in Iran. Some of those military options, including

potential military strikes.

Others really kind of shying away from direct U.S. military force. And so, there's a number of things that he's contemplating right now, but I will

say in my conversations, it's clear that the president has been making these threats for some time now. His actual first threat to Iranian leaders

was just shortly after the new year on January 2nd, where he threatened U.S. military action on behalf of the anti-government protests, if the

Iranians, you know, used lethal force against them.

And of course, as you mentioned, the death toll is continuing to rise. And I'm told the president is moving closer to wanting to actually follow

through on those repeated threats. Now there's a couple things to keep in mind. I said there's some military options, but some of the non-military

options that we're hearing about include potential, you know, cyber-attacks and trying to undermine some of the security services that are being used

to try and tamp down these protests.

Others include potential sanctions, and I will say, as well, even as the president is considering a lot of these military options. There is some

concern among, you know, high levels of the Trump Administration that potential military force in Iran could have kind of a backfiring effect.

You know, you could see that potentially, people say, galvanizing some of the Iranian people behind the government in Iran. But then there's also a

question of course, whether Tehran would retaliate, and they have so far vowed to do so on U.S., you know, bases and other places in the Middle

East.

Now, one of the most notable things we heard last night when the president spoke with reporters on board Air Force, one was that the Iranians had

reached out to the Trump Administration and wanted to set up a meeting. Listen to how he put it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: They called yesterday, Iran called to negotiate.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yesterday?

TRUMP: Yesterday. The leaders of Iran called they want to negotiate. I think they're tired of being beat up by the United States. Iran wants to

negotiate. Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Negotiate, what?

TRUMP: We may meet with them. I mean, it's a meeting is being set up, but we may have to act because of what's happening before the meeting, but a

meeting is being set up. Iran called they want to negotiate.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TREENE: So of course, the key line there, Becky, is that he's saying a meeting is being set up. He had left, of course, options to act before

then. So, we'll have to see how this plays out. I will say as well. We know that the president is slated to meet tomorrow with some of the top members

of his national security team people like the Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs

of Staff, Dan Caine.

And so, he'll receive a further briefing on the situation tomorrow as well, but we'll be keeping on top of all of the behind the scenes that's going on

as he continues to consider his options, Becky.

ANDERSON: Yeah, good to have you. Thank you. My next guest is Arman Mahmoudian. He was a Research Fellow at the University of South Florida's

Global and National Security Institute. In a post on X last week, he laid out why U.S. actions in and around Venezuela are so concerning for Iran,

particularly in regard to the seizing of oil tankers.

[09:35:00]

Washington may not want to impose a full blockade and seize all Iranian oil exports, but even the seizure of a few tankers would signal that Iran is an

unreliable supplier in an environment of economically driven protests, losing revenue, or even a significant portion of what remains from oil

exports, would be a severe blow to the regime's survival.

Arman, good to have you on the show. Thank you.

ARMAN MAHMOUDIAN, GLOBAL AND NATIONAL SECURITY INSTITUTE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA: Thank you very much --

ANDERSON: You referenced the regime's survival in your post there. To your mind how vulnerable is the Iranian regime at this point?

MAHMOUDIAN: Look throughout the almost half a decade of the tenure of the Islamic republics, I think this is as close as they ever got to the

prospect of collapse. This is not guaranteed. It doesn't mean that the collapse is for sure it's going to happen, no, but it is as close as they

got.

The gap, that if they will collapse or they will not collapse, would necessarily be filled or will be determined by other factors. One of those

factors is that to what extent the protesters, the Public Law of Iran, despite the level of violence, are willing to continue the protests.

And the other one is the matter of foreign intervention, specifically speaking, United States, if the United States going to materialize and keep

the promises that they made regarding the use of force or use of all other reactions to the Iranian government in an event of increase of the

violence, or they are not, these two factors are going to make a major impact on the future of the regime, its survival and sustainability.

ANDERSON: President Trump says Iran wants to talk. He also says that he is considering a strong response to the killing of protesters, and it is

unclear at this point. We have been completely transparent about this. We don't know how many people have been killed.

We know things have been described as terrible, brutal on the ground, but we do not know just how many people have been killed. I mean, the U.S. will

have more intelligence. One assumes. To your mind, what options does President Trump have at this point. I mean, they don't have to just be

kinetic.

They are not just military options at this point. There are diplomatic options as well. Just lay them out, unpack them for us, if you will.

MAHMOUDIAN: There is, as you mentioned, Becky, rightfully, there is a wide range of options and tools in the United States, as the major global super

power, you know, toolbox to employ against the Islamic republics. It begins from the diplomatic movement, economic one being sanctions to a bit harder

one.

One of them could be actually seizure of the Iranians oil tanker, as you know, as you mentioned in the post, could be imposing a relative or a

limited embargo, at least a naval embargo, and part of the Iranians import and export that can paralyze the government's economy.

It would -- it can include the covert actions, targeting operation against some elements or individuals who play a role in the regime suppression

mission to the military events or strikes. But I think one thing that I really would like to point out it's not all about what U.S. can do.

I think it is all also about what U.S. should not do. And I would like to discuss at least two things briefly that United States should not do. The

first thing is that I believe United States should not give Iranian government a promise, Iranian people a promise that they are not intended

to keep or planning to keep or deliver it at this point.

If the United States is not planning to use force or any, let's say that punishing measure against the Islamic Republic's use of violence, it is

better to not make these statements, because evidently we will ended up what had by -- what happened in Iraq in 1991 when the Bush senior

government promised Iraqi people to support it didn't, but it encouraged Iraqi people to go on the streets even further, and that put the Saddam

Hussein's regime in a panic mode, fearing that they will be in both internal and external battle.

ANDERSON: Right.

MAHMOUDIAN: And they -- should run and evidently, Bush didn't. The second thing, and very briefly, United States shouldn't really try to take

advantage of this situation to conclude the deal that is very favoring, because first, it might damage the reputation of America among the protests

and portion of Iranian public.

And second, if you make a deal with the state in its weakest point, it is not necessarily a reliable one.

ANDERSON: Understood. Good analysis and good to have you. Thank you. We'll have you, back. We're going to take a very short break. Back after this.

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[09:40:00]

ANDERSON: Well bitter football rivals Real Madrid and Barcelona contested the Spanish Super Cup on Sunday in Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, where Barcelona

came away with a narrow 3-2 win their fourth trophy under manager hands, he flicks. With the victory, the German manager extended what is a remarkable

streak in Major finals. Tell us more about that. We are joined by Amanda Davies, Amanda.

AMANDA DAVIES, CNN WORLD SPORT: Yes, if there is one man, Becky, you don't want to bet against in this big showpiece events. It is hands the flick

eight finals. Played eight finals he has won. But of course, the big one he involved to get their hands on this season, the European Champions League.

And coming up, we've got an exclusive interview with one of the players who helped PSG get there last year, Ousmane Dembele in "World Sport" in just a

couple of minutes.

ANDERSON: That's terrific. Thank you. We will stay tuned for that. And folks, we will be back with the second hour of "Connect the World" after

"World Sports". Stay with us.

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[09:45:00]

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