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Iran Enters Third Week Of Anti-Government Protests; Donald Trump Tells Cuba: "Make A Deal Before It's Too Late"; Pope Meets Venezuelan Opposition Leader Maria Corina Machado; Federal Prosecutors Open Criminal Probe Into Fed Chair Jerome Powell; 59 Percent Of Americans Disapprove Of Donald Trump's Performance. Aired 10-11a ET
Aired January 12, 2026 - 10:00:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:00:28]
ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN Abu Dhabi. This is CONNECT THE WORLD with Becky Anderson.
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN ANCHOR: And welcome to the second hour of the show from our Middle East programming headquarters here in Abu Dhabi. I'm Becky
Anderson with the time is just after 7:00 in the evening. Wherever you are watching, you are more than welcome.
Iran's regime has a warning for protesters as Donald Trump weighs his options for intervention.
With payback time, the Federal Reserve chairman, who defied the U.S. president is now on the retribution list. More on that is coming up.
And first it was Venezuela, now Cuba is in the White House's sights. We'll tell you what President Trump's message is for Cuba's communist government.
Zero tolerance, that is the warning from the head of Iran's judiciary to anyone calling for or inciting anti-government protests that have now
entered their third week. Iran's government shut down the internet last Thursday, so information from there is very difficult to come by, but a
U.S. based rights group reports at least 540 odd people killed since the protests broke out. Sparked these protests by massive inflation and a
plunging currency.
There are also reports that more than 10,000 people have been imprisoned as the hardline regime cracks down. Now, CNN cannot independently confirm
these figures.
Today, the government is broadcasting images of what it says are large pro regime rallies. The unrest of late has drawn the attention of U.S.
President Donald Trump, who is floating the idea of military intervention to help the protesters, while also saying Iran has called the U.S. to
negotiate.
Well, Paula Hancocks back with me, and as we wait to see get further information from the White House as to what Donald Trump's plans might be,
we have still got an internet blackout. We are, though, seeing some images of pro-government rallies today in Tehran. Is it clear? Or how much clearer
can we be about what is happening elsewhere with these anti-government protests?
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: So, Becky, this internet blackout at this point means that we're not getting information about these protests in
real time. We are getting a delayed look at what exactly is happening on the ground, if you like.
We do know that there were protesters who came out onto the streets on Sunday, and as you mentioned that the pro-regime protests, they were
broadcast live around Iran and also around the world. They want to give the impression that everything is as normal, that they have the support on the
ground. We heard Iran's foreign minister saying that the situation is under control.
But when it comes to this internet blackout, it's not just that the protesters can't get information out to the rest of the world. They can't
communicate with each other. Telephone lines have been cut off as well, which is a step further than we've seen in some of these protests.
So, the regime really trying to crack down, and we are also seeing a an increasingly brutal crackdown from the regime.
We do have footage, which I should warn our viewers, is difficult to watch. It could be upsetting for some viewers, but it does show the extent of the
potential loss of life that we're looking at here.
We do see, just in a forensic medical center in Tehran, a monitor on the wall which is showing images of deceased people. Now, those that are
watching this are potentially the loved ones who are trying to identify where their friend or their family member is.
We also see on the sidewalk, just outside this building, rows of black body bags and again, you see many people milling around desperately trying to
find their loved ones. You hear screams of anguish as potentially some are finding those that they are looking for.
And this gives us an idea of how widespread this crackdown is and how deadly it has been. We're hearing from human rights groups, that it is
potentially hundreds, just over 500 is what one U.S. based group is saying. But we don't know for sure, it could be higher than that, because they say
there are many deaths that they have unverified at this point.
ANDERSON: And it is remarkable we were talking as an editorial team today about just how difficult it is to get in contact with families and friends
in Iran, how difficult it is for those family and friends to communicate with each other on the ground, it does seem remarkable in beginning of 2026
that this sort of communications blackout is possible.
[10:05:13]
But it is terrifying for those who are there, very difficult to get a sense of what is going on on the ground. There is a sense that people are tired.
Certainly, we were getting that by word of mouth from those that we have had limited communications with on the ground. But as you say, there are
some videos during the rounds which do certainly seem to reflect the brutality of this crackdown.
It's good to have you. Thank you very much indeed. Paula Hancocks in the house.
I want to bring in Karim Sadjadpour now. He's a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington, it's good to have
you, Karim.
Can I just get your initial sort of response to what we are seeing? I mean, you'll see the videos being circulated on social media. You will be well
aware yourself that it is extremely difficult, even through friends and family, to get a sense of what is going on on the ground. And from those
that you are speaking to and those that you've had any sort of communication with, what is your sense of just how widespread these
protests are and just how brutal the crackdown has been at this point?
KARIM SADJADPOUR, SENIOR FELLOW, CARNEGIE ENDOWMENT FOR INTERNATIONAL PEACE: Well, the protests have now taken place in every single one of
Iran's provinces, so there are nationwide protests. When you look collectively at the numbers, we're talking about, millions of people over
the last couple of weeks.
And this is significant, Becky, because every person that protests in Iran is essentially risking their life. This is one of the most brutal regimes
in the world, and they shoot to kill.
So, the size of the protests, in my view, are probably going -- the ferocity of the protests have been stronger than anything the regime has
faced since 1979 but ultimately, this is what I call a zombie regime. It has a dying ideology, a dying legitimacy, a dying leader, a dying economy,
but it lives by lethal force, and as long as its security forces are highly organized, armed, cohesive and willing to kill en masse, they can delay
their funeral.
ANDERSON: And I want to pick you up on that, because you recently wrote there are five conditions for a revolution, and that Iran meets most of
these. One though, would be a divided elite, most critically, the country's security forces. As of now, those security forces do remain intact. Other
analysts say that this is really important as an element needed for a revolution.
So, do you see a scenario in which the state could break down without the fracturing of those security forces? And if we don't see that, and there
are those who say over the last sort of 24 hours, and certainly may be reflected by these pro government rallies today, it does seem as if there
is still a good and robust security force in place, run by what appears to be a robust infrastructure at the top. What do you say?
SADJADPOUR: You know, revolutions are impossible to predict, and that we've entered the realm of psychology, it's not political science, and you have
to really get inside the head of three different entities. One is the supreme leader, 86-year-old supreme leader. You know, how physically and
mentally fit is he to lead a nationwide suppression.
And Becky, we should emphasize that the 1979 Iranian Revolution took a year to gestate. It commenced January 1978, it ended January 1979 so this is not
necessarily going to be over, even if they suppress the protests in the near term.
So, the first point is, what is the physical and mental fitness of Iran's 86-year-old supreme leader? The second point is the cohesion and morale of
security forces, and three is the will of society of the protesters for change. And these things are all interrelated.
I think if the protests continue, you may start to see fraying among the security forces. If the security forces feel like supreme leader is not all
there, or his morale is there, or they've lost confidence in his leadership, you may also start to see hesitation on there.
And at some point, all revolutions need to reach a tipping point, and you quickly go from 49 to 100 right? That process can happen very quickly. And
Iran, that's not yet there.
ANDERSON: Yes, all right, well, as we consider what you've just said, let's introduce Donald Trump and the U.S. administration into the mix here.
Donald Trump with what can be described as mixed messages, certainly suggesting that he has options, suggesting those include kinetic military
options, should the protesters continue to be attacked, also suggesting that Iran has reached out and wants talks with the U.S.
[10:10:32]
How do you interpret his comments, and what do you expect Tehran is making of them?
SADJADPOUR: Well, President Trump has put his credibility on the line now. For the last couple of weeks, he's been threatening that the United States
is locked and loaded if Iran kills protesters, and since he first made that comment, Iran has killed hundreds of protesters. Some you know, observers
on the ground and human rights groups think it could be over a thousand.
So, his credibility is on the line. And I've noticed, just in the last 24 hours, Iran's supreme leader on X, is publicly taunting President Trump,
saying that, you know, like all previous tyrants who are at the peak of their pride, Trump will also fall.
So, the question is, you know, does he feel like he needs to -- is his credibility on the line? Does he need to make good on that and what would
he actually do?
You know, in my view, what should be -- what should have been done already is to think very hard about offensive cyber capabilities, to tear down
Iran's digital iron wall.
You know, this is a country which, as you alluded to earlier. It went from 99 percent connectivity to one percent connectivity. People can't
communicate with one another, with the outside world. You know, does the U.S. have cyber capabilities to inhibit the regime's ability to just
smother its population and kill them in the dark? That would be the first thing I would be thinking of.
With regards to the prospect of U.S. negotiations and diplomacy with Iran. The Iranians can't feel that confident about that and that the June war,
the 12-day war with Iran, the U.S. operations launched -- or Israeli operations launched just shortly before negotiations were expected to take
place between the United States and Iran.
So, Trump is a president who obviously keeps Iran's leaders on their toes. He's capable of doing deals with them. He's capable of dropping bombs on
them.
ANDERSON: Very briefly, we are seeing the emergence, once again, of Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran's ousted king. He's been very vocal. Some
analysts, including yourself, say it's unclear whether he is a viable leader when we consider what the day after in Iran might look like, and
that is still a consideration. This is a hypothetical at this point, the U.S. administration must be looking at what a day after might look like as
well.
In Venezuela, they left the regime in place. What are their options? What will be part of the Trump administration's sort of strategic thinking if
they were to take out in a kinetic attack, not just the sort of installations that make up the infrastructure in Tehran today, but the
regime itself?
SADJADPOUR: I'm skeptical that the United States can hand pick our preferred leader in Iran. That just hasn't -- there's really no precedent
of that being a viable, sustainable alternative. So, ultimately, the people of Iran are going to need to decide that.
With regards to Reza Pahlavi. You know, the videos on the streets are pretty clear, and not only in Tehran, but in very conservative strongholds
of the regime, places like Mashhad and Qom and the birthplace of Ayatollah Khomeini, people have been chanting his name.
So, for many young Iranians, you know, he is their only hope. But you know, every revolution, Becky, requires two kinds of leadership. You need
inspirational leadership, but also organizational leadership.
And from, you know, 6000 miles away. It's very difficult for him to exercise organizational leadership.
ANDERSON: Fascinating. Well, this isn't the last time that you and I will speak in the days and weeks ahead, but it's good to have you at the
beginning of what is clearly an extremely fragile time in Iran, as we continue to look, by the way, at pro government rallies today, those images
are coming out of Iran. We have very little else to work with, with regard images, but we do understand this crackdown has been brutal. Good to have
you. We'll have you back. Thank you, Karim, as ever, good friend of this show.
[10:15:20]
Well, angry Cuba has a message for U.S. President Donald Trump and his latest pressure campaign, the leader of Cuba's communist government,
President Miguel Diaz-Canel says, no one dictates what we do, his words, he is responding to Trump's insistence that Havana do a deal, "Before it's too
late."
President Trump says, if there's no deal with Washington, Cuba won't see any more aid money from Venezuela's oil industry.
Well, we're live in Havana with CNN's man there -- CNN's man in Havana. CNN's Patrick Oppmann. He didn't -- this being Donald Trump didn't
elaborate on what sort of deal he thinks he wants from Havana. What more do we understand to be the details here?
PATRICK OPPMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, it says a lot, Becky, that both sides can't even agree if they are actually talking. You hear
Donald Trump say that they are in contact with the government here in Havana, trying to work out some kind of deal that would allow Cuba to
continue to receive the oil from Venezuela that it so desperately needs that it has counted on for the last several decades, we are talking about
millions of barrels of oil to keep the lights on here when they are on, because Cuba is already suffering severe power outages.
So, certainly, if the flow of Venezuelan oil remains off, if the U.S. is able to prevent Venezuelan oil, as it clearly can, from arriving in Cuba
that would paint a very dire picture for the government here.
On the other side, you have Cuba's President Miguel Diaz-Canel, saying just this morning that his government is really not in touch with U.S., that
they're only talking about migration issues, that there are no high-level talks going on, that there's no deal being negotiated. But he left the door
open somewhat, saying that Cuba has always been willing to talk.
So, some very mixed signals here. But essentially, though, for Cubans, the stakes could not be higher, because already, on a normal day in Nevada,
people couldn't lose power throughout the day several times in the provinces, it is so much worse. People have the light shut off much more
often than they are actually on.
If you add the cut off of Venezuelan oil to that picture, then you're talking about the collapse of an economy. There's just no other way to put
it.
So, Cuban officials, while sounding very belligerent, while saying they are not going to be taking any mandates from Washington. They know here that
the stakes are quite high, and that if there is a deal to be struck, then of course they are going to be interested in finding out what the terms
Donald Trump might set.
But of course, you know, as we have seen within Venezuela, those could be very high terms indeed. So, you know, the stake of Fidel Castro's
revolution really is on the line here.
ANDERSON: That's fascinating. Good to have you, Patrick, thank you. Patrick Oppmann is in Havana.
Well, the Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado is expected to travel to Washington this week to meet with President Trump. She's
repeatedly praised Mr. Trump for the military action in Venezuela that deposed Nicolas Maduro, even saying that she'd like to share her Nobel
Peace Prize with U.S. president all today, though, she has been at the Vatican speaking with Pope Leo, who has not been as supportive of this U.S.
intervention.
CNN Vatican Correspondent Christopher Lamb joining us with more. And what do we know about this meeting and the kind of wider narrative from the pope
at this point?
CHRISTOPHER LAMB, CNN VATICAN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Becky, this was a surprise meeting between the Pope and the Venezuelan opposition leader
because it wasn't on the official Vatican list of engagements for Pope Leo today, but the Pope has been very concerned about Venezuela, he's spoken
out a couple of times in recent days. On Friday, he said that the will of the Venezuelan people needs to be respected.
Now, of course, Leo has been someone who spent a lot of time in Latin America. He was a missionary in Peru, and he helped Venezuelan migrants who
had left the country due to the turmoil in Venezuela, so he knows the situation extremely well.
Now, the Vatican has not released any formal statement about the meeting, but the political movement that Machado founded has said that they
discussed the plight of political prisoners, and that is the kind of diplomatic work the Vatican has been involved in in recent global crisis,
the Vatican has had done that kind of quiet behind the scenes diplomacy to try and release political prisoners.
[10:20:16]
It's also, I think, significant that this meeting took place before Machado goes to see President Trump, positioning the Vatican potentially as a kind
of mediator in Venezuela to try and improve and build a better future for the country, Becky.
ANDERSON: Christopher Lamb on the story for us. Thank you.
Well, Jerome Powell says he is once again in the process of the Trump administration. Could the Federal Reserve chief face criminal charges? That
is up next.
And CNN on the ground in Greenland as Donald Trump pushes to take control of that island.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell says that he is being targeted by the Justice Department for not going along with President
Trump's demands on interest rates. Powell leveled that accusation in a video statement after learning that he is under investigation by federal
prosecutors.
Now, this probe relates to his testimony last June about the renovation of the central bank headquarters. President Trump has criticized the cost of
the construction, but he has not commented on this investigation.
Powell framing this not only as a personal attack, but one that threatens the Fed's independence. Richard Quest is our business editor at large, and
the host of "QUEST MEANS BUSINESS," following this closely from New York.
I mean, I was -- I was really very surprised to see Jerome Powell launch this video himself, and he is doubling down on how he feels about this.
This isn't a man who is not prepared to be bowed even on his way out, of course, from the Fed. What do you make of all of this?
RICHARD QUEST, CNN HOST: It's a line that he's crossed the president by opening this investigation. And what we essentially have -- excuse me,
Becky, what we essentially have is the emperor's new clothes. The Fed chair basically said what everybody knew and everybody was thinking, but didn't
say, the truth that dare not speak its name, that this investigation is politically motivated because the Fed under Powell won't bend at the knee
and acquiesce to Trump's call for lower interest rates.
Now, the representative, the congresswoman who requested the investigation, she has tweeted this morning that this was about criminality, that nobody's
above the law and the Justice Department should be investigating.
So, it's going to come down to this, did Powell perjure himself? And there is an incredibly high bar to prove perjury when he gave that testimony
about the multibillion-dollar renovation of the Fed. Or is this what most people believe? It's a politically motivated attack designed to cow the Fed
and make it no longer independent.
[10:25:23]
ANDERSON: Let's watch this one develop. Always good to -- it's always good to have you, Richard, thank you. I know that you're pressed for time, so
I'm going to leave it there. Richard Quest is in New York. Thank you.
What a year into President Trump's second term, a new poll finds nearly 60 percent of Americans disapprove of his performance so far. CNN's Harry
Enten breaks those numbers down for you.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HARRY ENTEN, CNN CHIEF DATA ANALYST: Look, a lot has been happening over the first few weeks. In fact, we're not even two weeks into 2026 and I
think there are a lot of people wondering, has this had any impact on the president standing amongst the American public? And the short answer is,
no, not really, no.
You know, just take a look here at the CBS News/YouGov poll, Trump's net upper rating in December, they had him at negative 18 points way
underwater.
Look where he is now, the same -- the same 18 points underwater. If you look at my own aggregate of polling, it's a little bit higher than this,
but still very, very negative. The president way underwater. This poll conducted at the beginning part of the prior week, January 5th through the
7th. So, not capturing all the events that's been going on, but there's just been so much happening.
Yet, I really don't think a lot of it will actually matter. Why is that when it comes to President Trump's net approved rating? And that is because
it has been negative for so long. It's been negative for so long. Look at this. Trump's negative net approved rating every day since March 12 of
2025, if you want to put that in terms of numbers of days, we're talking about 305 days in a row in which Donald Trump has been swimming with the
fishes when it comes to his negative net approval rating. My goodness gracious. Off to the worst start of a second term in the polling era.
That's really what we're talking about.
Now, one, of course, the events that may have changed his negative net approved rating, or perhaps risen his approval rating, might have been the
events in Venezuela. And the first numbers we have on that give you an indication of why it really hasn't shifted his approval ratings, the
events, of course, taking out of Nicolas Maduro.
Well, take a look here, the net approval rating of the U.S. military removing Maduro. Not that bad, not that bad. Considerably higher than
Trump's net approval rating at minus four points. We're talking about 48 percent of the American public approving that operation, according to CBS
News/YouGov.
But take a look here at Trump's handling of Venezuela. Considerably lower, considerably lower, at negative 14 points, 10 points below the net approval
rating of the U.S. military removing Maduro.
So, the American public far more liking the removing of Maduro than they like Trump's actions when it comes to Venezuela. But it's more than that,
right? Because again, we've had so much going on during these first less than two weeks of this year, and I don't want us to lose sight of the issue
that is most important in the minds of the American public, and that is, it's the economy. It's the economy.
You know, James Carville used to say, it's the economy, stupid. I say it's the economy, smarty. And take a look here, Trump's net approval rating on
the economy according to CBS News/YouGov.
You know, this was the reason why Donald Trump got elected to a second term. And even as late as February of 2025, last year, he was still on the
plus side of the ledger, at plus two points on his net approved rating. But look at where he is now, negative 22 points, 22 points below water.
Look, I know something about American politics. I may not know everything, but I know enough to know that when you're 22 points below water on the
economy, which right now is the most important issue, some form of the economy, whether it be the economy, jobs, inflation, what have you, you're
22 points below water. It isn't going to turn out to be too hot to trot and that is why Donald Trump remains underwater when it comes to his overall
net approval rating, something that hasn't changed during the New Year.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Let's get you up to speed on some of the other stories that are on our radar right now.
And in Syria, Kurdish led fighters have withdrawn from Aleppo, ending days of fighting with the army there. The commander of the Kurdish led Syrian
Democratic Forces announced his group reached an agreement with the army to end the clashes. Hostilities broke out last week when the army accused the
SDF of staging attacks.
Around a thousand more federal agents are being sent to Minneapolis, Minnesota, that is, according to two law enforcement sources. It comes as
public anger and protests grow over fatal shooting by an immigration officer during a massive immigration operation in the city.
The U.S. state of Mississippi, a suspect is under arrest after a fire damaged the state's largest synagogue.
[10:30:01]
The suspect was discovered at a hospital with non-life-threatening burns, and is expected to face arson charges. The FBI is joining local law
enforcement in the investigation.
Well, you're watching CONNECT THE WORLD with me, Becky Anderson. Coming up, Iran says it is willing to negotiate with the United States, as Donald
Trump ramps up threats to intervene.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Welcome back. You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD with me, Becky Anderson, your headlines this hour.
An Iranian state media report large crowds gathered for pro-government rallies across the country this Monday. The rallies followed two-weeks of
anti-government protests that a U.S.-based rights group says have left more than 540 people dead, at least.
U.S. President Donald Trump says he is looking at military options to support the protesters.
Well, Cuba's president is pushing back against Donald Trump's demand, "make a deal before it's too late."
The leader of Cuba's communist government, Miguel Diaz-Canel, declared on social media, no one dictates what we do. His foreign minister is rejecting
us claims that Havana provided security services to Venezuela in exchange for oil.
The U.S. Justice Department has opened a criminal investigation into the Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. In a video message, Powell linked the
probe to "threats and ongoing pressure by the Trump administration to lower interest rates." The Justice Department declined to comment on the
investigation.
Iran says it is ready to hold talks with the United States, if they are carried out in a fair and dignified manner. U.S. President Donald Trump
said over the weekend that he is considering a number of military options to intervene in the deadly protests across Iran, but also suggested that he
be willing to negotiate.
Well, my next guest is Sina Azodi, the director of the Middle East Studies program at George Washington University.
It's great to have you. Thank you very much indeed for joining us.
These protests, then, entering the third week. The state's response, it seems, has escalated in its brutality and violence. Difficult, and it's
been quite transparent about this. Difficult for us to really understand what is going on, on the ground with a -- an Internet outage still in
practice.
I just wonder, from your perspective, what makes these protests different from those that we have seen in the past? Let's start there before we talk
about what might happen next.
[10:35:03]
SINA AZODI, DIRECTOR, MIDDLE EAST STUDIES PROGRAM, GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY: Good to be with you, Becky.
Look, you know, political and economic protests are not aberrations in the Iran's political history. The last one was the Mahsa Amini movement. But I
think this time around, this is a series of protests that started as a result of economic grievances, but quickly morphed into political protests
with its size and with the chance being unprecedented. People chanting against the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Khamenei.
So, I believe, in terms of their size, the slogans, and the scale of brutality of the Islamic Republic, we have not seen this before.
ANDERSON: President Trump is a very different U.S. president. He has said that the Iranians have reached out to his administration. There could be
renewed talks. He has also talked about military intervention in support of the protesters. If there were to be talks, what do you believe is on the
table, and if there were to be military intervention, and one does not exclude the other, I guess, what might that look like to your mind?
AZODI: Well, the president is an unguided missile, as I like to call it. He can go either way, as you pointed out. If there are talks, it will be over
the issue of enrichment, which has been the sticking point in U.S. Iranian attempts to find a solution to the country's nuclear program.
Iran's interpretation of the Article Four of the NPT is that they have a right under the treaty to enrich uranium. The U.S. position and the U.S.
legal interpretation is that the text of the NPT does not give any member state of the treaty the right to enrich uranium.
So, for years, they've been fighting over this. President Obama correctly realized that without some limited enrichment, there cannot be a peaceful
solution. President Trump, when he came in, he reversed that policy. We are back to the zero enrichment. So, if there is a solution, it would be over
the issue of some sort of suspension of enrichment in Iran. This way, Iran can claim that they didn't give up their right, and the president can also
claim that he stopped enrichment in Iran.
So, if they don't find a solution over the issue of enrichment, I don't believe that there will be a deal. Now, in terms of military strikes, the
option -- there are wide range of options, from very small-scale precision strikes could be decapitation, as it was in June, or Venezuela, we recently
saw. Or it could be much larger bombing campaigns against missile bases. The remnants of Iran's nuclear program or the units that are responsible
for cracking down on the people?
ANDERSON: Yes, you are making some very good points there, and certainly the units that are responsible for cracking down on protesters is a target
that I have heard other sources around the region, suggesting maybe on Donald Trump's list.
Reza Pahlavi has become a larger figure in these protests than in the past. He is, of course, the son of the former Shah, the king. However, he remains
a divisive figure, and over the past couple of hours, we've been talking about why and whether those -- like you, who really understand what is
going on both in Iran and with the Iranian diaspora, whether he has a role going forward. Do you believe he has?
AZODI: Well, his supporters claim that he does. He has said it himself that he only wants to play a transitional role once the regime is collapsed, and
if it is collapsed, I don't believe that this time around, the regime will collapse, because security forces as of now are still loyal.
But the issue is, again, history matters. When in 1978, Ayatollah Khamenei claimed -- also claimed that he doesn't want to have any political role in
the future of Iran. And we saw what happened. So, if the crown prince claims that he doesn't want to have a role at all, his supporters disagree.
They think that he should have they want to restore the monarchy, we will really have to wait and see whether he will keep his promises or not once
and if the regime collapses.
[10:40:03]
ANDERSON: Yes. And as you rightly point out, security forces do seem to be remaining loyal, at least, that is the intelligence on the ground.
AZODI: Absolutely.
ANDERSON: The fracture of though. That loyalty, of course, it would be instrumental in that kind of final nail in the coffin for a regime and a
revolution. And we have been having that discussion over the past couple of hours as well tonight.
Sina, it's good to have you. Azodi. Sina Azodi, it's very good to have you. Thank you very much indeed for joining us. We'll have you back.
Still ahead, several countries taking action against Elon Musk's A.I. chatbot over the creation of explicit, deep fakes.
More on that just ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Well, Hamas says it has made a clear and final decision to give up the governance of Gaza. A spokesperson says the group's governing
agencies will hand their authority to a Palestinian technocratic committee under the second phase of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire plan.
Now, under this plan, the committee would be overseen by a board of peace headed by President Trump, until a reformed Palestinian authority can begin
running the enclave. Gaza's health ministry says Israeli forces have killed more than 440 Palestinians since this current truce began.
We are hearing new comments from President Trump, doubling down on earlier statements that the U.S. needs to acquire Greenland.
Aboard Air Force One on Sunday, he insisted that if the U.S. didn't move in, another major power would.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Look, if we don't take Greenland, Russia or China will. And I'm not letting that happen. If we
don't take Greenland, Russia or China will take Greenland, and I am not going to let that happen.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Is there any deal making hard for you? Either like --
(CROSSTALK)
TRUMP: Yes, sure. I'd love to make a deal with them. It's easier. But one way the other we're going to have Greenland.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, President Trump, there, sounding firmly resolved to gain control of the island. But as CNN's Nic Robertson reports, previous
attempts by the United States have failed.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: It's not the first time a U.S. president has been interested in Greenland. Over 150 years ago,
after the United States purchased Alaska from the Russians, the then- Secretary of State William Seward, floated the idea of buying Greenland and Iceland from Denmark.
Even back then, Greenland was recognized for its wealth of minerals and resources. The purchase never materialized, but Greenland remained on the
U.S. radar.
In 1910, the U.S. Ambassador to Denmark suggested the United States give Denmark an island in the Philippines in exchange for Greenland and the
Danish West Indies, but that didn't happen either.
By 1916, leaders signed the Lansing declaration, a U.S. proclamation, saying that they would not dispute Denmark's control over the entire
territory.
[10:45:06]
But after World War II, U.S. President Harry Truman, offered Denmark $100 million and gold for Greenland. Denmark rejected the offer. The bid was
secret at the time, but was made public in 1991 by a Danish newspaper after documents had been declassified two decades earlier.
Despite the U.S. not gaining control of Greenland, they were given permission to operate military bases, including the Thule Air Base, now
known as the Pituffik Space Base, where they still have a presence of U.S. forces.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: But we need it really for international world security, and I think we are going to get it. One way or the other, we are going to get it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTSON: While the world waits to see if President Trump's threats about Greenland come to fruition, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to
talk about buying Greenland, history has told us it may not be so easy.
ANDERSON: Nic Robertson reporting there.
Well, these are live pictures. A frightening, yet, stunning sight in Hawaii. Kilauea, one of the world's most active volcanoes erupting yet
again.
The U.S. Geological Service says occasional eruptions have been happening for over a year now. Geologists say each eruption typically lasts less than
a day, and they are separated by pauses that can stretch beyond two weeks. Remarkable pictures on it.
Well just ahead, from Hollywood veterans to new faces, the first major awards show of the year has been saluting achievements in film and T.V. So,
who won the night at the Golden Globes? More on that after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: After days of uproar over Grok's ability to create explicit images, Malaysia and Indonesia are now blocking the A.I. chatbot. The A.I.
tool has been widely criticized for generating images that digitally undress people, including kids.
CNN's Hanako Montgomery, with the very latest.
HANAKO MONTGOMERY, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Indonesia and Malaysia moved to temporarily ban Grok, the A.I. chatbot on the social media
platform X. The first two countries in the world to do so in response to its image generation feature.
Indonesia released a statement on Saturday, which read, "The government views non-consensual sexual deep fake practices as a serious violation of
human rights, human dignity, and the security of citizens in the digital space."
Now, Malaysia followed a day later, saying on Sunday, "This action follows repeated misuse of Grok to generate obscene, sexually explicit, indecent,
grossly offensive, and non-consensual, manipulated images, including content involving women and minors, despite prior regulatory engagement and
formal notices issued to X Corp and xAI LLC.
Now, these two countries do have a track record of blocking or restricting tech and online platforms over obscene content. But we also know that
officials in the U.K., E.U., India, and the U.S. have raised alarm over groks ability to generate non-consensual and sexualized images of women and
minors, which is a practice often referred to as digital undressing, which can, as you can imagine, be deeply humiliating for victims, as it's very
difficult to remove these images from online platforms.
[10:50:06]
Now, Elon Musk, the CEO of the parent company of both X and Grok, hasn't directly responded to this crackdown, but he has earlier criticized the
U.K. government over a potential ban of X. Saying, "they just want to suppress free speech."
Now, in response to the growing alarm of the sexually explicit deep fakes, X has moved the A.I. image generation function of Grok behind a pay wall,
but this is very much a developing story. As grok still hasn't come up with an effective solution to limit the spread of this content.
Hanako Montgomery, CNN, Hong Kong.
ANDERSON: Well, a new training course aims to teach students, parents, and teachers, about the dangers of deep fakes. And this is all down to a
teenage girl in Texas, who had a deep fake nude image of her made by a classmate when she was just 14 years old.
Now, she is campaigning to make sure that others are informed about A.I. abuse, which is, folks, a problem that is all too common.
And these are these statistics, one in eight American teenagers reporting that they personally know someone who has been a victim.
CNN's tech reporter Clare Duffy, joining me now live from New York.
I had to read those numbers or that fact, three times before I really understood what they meant. One in eight kids say they know somebody who
has been a victim of this abuse, and let's call it as it is, this is abuse. And the fact that it is a youngster behind this sort of crusade to do
something about it, Clare, seems equally shocking, is it not?
CLARE DUFFY, CNN TECH REPORTER: Yes. Becky, it is really disturbing just how common this type of abuse and harassment has become and often targeting
young people like Elliston Berry, who, as you said, was just 14 years old when she discovered a classmate had made and shared deep fake nude images
of her and other girls at her school. She is now 16, and is pushing to make sure that this doesn't happen to more young people, and that when it does,
those young people know that they have resources and support that are available to them.
This new online training course is going to be available to students as well as parents and educators. It's targeted at middle to high school-aged
kids, and it's teaching folks about A.I. deep fakes, about this A.I. deep fake sexual abuse that happened to students like Ellison, and also about
sextortion, this other really troubling trend that we've seen where bad actors will threaten to share nude images, often of young people, if they
don't provide money or more images.
And I asked Elliston, I spoke to her and her mom, Anna McAdams, I asked her about what she took away from her experience that she is incorporated into
this new online course. Take a listen to what she told me.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ELLISTON BERRY, DEEPFAKE SAFETY ADVOCATE: All of the individuals, all of the victims, understood what was going on, but we couldn't do anything. And
when we went to our administrator, we went to our teachers at looking for help, they were more confused than we were.
They were not able to offer any sort of comfort, any sort of protection to us. So, that's what this curriculum is so important, and that's what it
really focuses on, is it really advances, and it focuses on the administrator. Focus of -- focuses on the educators, so that way they are
able to protect and they are able to help if a victim were to come to them for a situation like this.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DUFFY: And Becky, importantly, this training course also talks about the new Take It Down Act, this law that was signed in the United States last
year that makes it a crime to share images, sexual images, without the person's consent, whether they are real or computer generated.
This, of course, an important protection for victims like this, although, unfortunately, it has not removed the, you know, prevalence of this type of
abuse. Becky.
ANDERSON: Yes. Thank you, Clare. I mean, this is important stuff and we appreciate it.
Well, the Golden Globes have kicked off the Hollywood awards season, as they always do, celebrating achievement in film and T.V.
Paul Thomas Anderson's action comedy, "One Battle After Another", took home four trophies, including a win for Best Motion Picture in the Comedy or
Musical category.
CNN's Stephanie Elam brings us the highlights.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The winner is "One Battle After Another".
STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): A huge night for "One Battle After Another", winning four awards, including Best Musical or
Comedy, but not for star, Leonardo DiCaprio, instead --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Timothee Charlamet.
ELAM (voice over): Timothee Charlamet, topped industry titans Leo and George Clooney for his role in Marty Supreme.
TIMOTHEE CHARLAMET, FRENCH-AMERICAN ACTOR: If you would have told me when I was 19 years old, I would be thanking Mr. Wonderful from "Shark Tank".
ELAM (voice over): Another fresh face, Teyana Taylor, bringing the emotion.
[10:55:01]
TEYANA TAYLOR, WINNER, 2026 GOLDEN GLOBE AWARD: I almost didn't even write a speech, because I didn't think I like it.
ELAM (voice over): She won Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role for "One Battle After Another."
TAYLOR: To my brown sisters and little brown girls watching tonight, we belong in every room we walk into our voices matter.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: "The Pitt"!
ELAM (voice over): "The Pitt" won top T.V. drama, an unofficial E.R. reunion, as star Noah Wyle hugged George Clooney.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Everybody wants to see George and Noah together again in the E.R.
JEAN SMART, AMERICAN ACTRESS: I said my rant on the red carpet, so, I won't do it here.
ELAM (voice over): Jean Smart, who wore a be good pin in honor of Renee Good, shot by ICE in Minneapolis, called for compassion after her win for
"Hacks".
SMART: That's all the good thing. I think, everybody in their hearts knows what the right thing is to do, so, let's do the right thing.
NIKKI GLASER, AMERICAN STAND UP COMEDIAN, ACTRESS, AND TELEVISION HOST: Best Editing goes to the justice department.
ELAM (voice over): Host Nikki Glaser took on the headlines, including Jeffrey Epstein.
GLASER: There are so many A-listers. And by A-listers, I do mean people who are on a list that has been heavily redacted, but --
ELAM (voice over): And while on CBS, Glaser roasted the network for controversy over new leadership at CBS News.
GLASER: CBS News, America's newest place to see B.S. news.
ELAM (voice over): But Glaser mostly stuck to roasting the stars with the famously private DiCaprio bearing the brunt.
GLASER: The most in-depth interview you've ever given was in Teen Beat Magazine in 1991. Is your favorite -- is your favorite food, still pasta,
pasta, and more pasta?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: CNN's Stephanie Elam reporting for you.
That's it from us. "ONE WORLD" is up next. Stay in CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
