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Survival of Iran's Regime in Question After Latest Round of Protests; Reza Pahlavi Speaks After Encouraging Iranian Protests; U.S. Delegation Travels to Denmark; Frontier25 Working in UAE to Build Thriving Green Economy. Aired 10a-11a ET
Aired January 16, 2026 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[10:00:34]
ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN London, this is CONNECT THE WORLD.
CHRISTINA MACFARLANE, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Welcome to the second hour of CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Christina Macfarlane in London.
The exiled son of Iran's last shah and opposition leader who called for protests in Iran will speak any moment now in Washington. This comes after
his meeting with U.S. lawmakers. And while dealing with significant foreign policy issues and domestic unrest, Donald Trump is expected to speak this
hour. We are monitoring both and we'll bring you these live as and when they happened.
But we begin in Iran where antigovernment protests appear to have subsided for now. But with the internet blackout now in its second week, it remains
difficult to get a true picture of what's going on there.
We did hear a short time ago from reports from Iranian media that security forces have arrested 3,000 people during the crackdown. U.S. based rights
group says the actual number of arrests tops 19,000. Another group reports 2400 people killed and that number also may be much higher.
Well, despite U.S. President Donald Trump not following through on his threat to attack Iran, the White House says the prospects of U.S. military
action to support the protesters is not off the table. A source says the U.S. is moving a carrier strike group to the region as tensions remain
high.
Well, I'm joined now nu Ellie Geranmayeh, deputy director of the Middle East North America Program at the European Council on Foreign Relations.
And, Ellie, I just want to, and we also actually, I should mention, have Arash Azizi, too, he's a contributor for "The Atlantic" and author of "What
Iranians Want: Women, Life, Freedom."
Thank you both for joining me.
As we consider this pause, seeming pause, from the United States, Ellie, I just want to begin with you, because we've been hearing analysis in the
last 24 hours, the last two days, that the regime is mortally wounded as a result of this round of protests and the desperate economic situation. But
we know that the regime's survival instinct is strong. And it's unclear right now how long they will continue.
What is your sense right now as, you know, this internet blackout continues of whether it's weeks, months or years before we see any meaningful change?
ELLIE GERANMAYEH, EUROPEAN COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS: Thanks for having me on the show. It's without doubt one of the bleakest chapters I think in
recent times for the Iranian people and their history with the Islamic Republic of Iran. I think it's extremely hard for me as an analyst to
determine at the moment, given this widespread internet shutdown, what the position, the security position in particular, of the Islamic Republic of
Iran is.
But without doubt, with each of these rounds of demonstrations and the brutal crackdowns we're seeing, they are losing more and more of their
support base. And it's going to be very hard to see how they reconcile with the hearts and minds of their own people after the type of numbers that
we're seeing in terms of fatalities and body bags.
MACFARLANE: Yes, absolutely. And I think at this point, thoughts quite rightly are changing or turning to what potentially comes next, especially
if the regime falls or is decapitated. I mean, that's still on the table, right, given the U.S. signaling.
Arash, we know that Reza Pahlavi is due to be holding a press conference this hour. It's been just over a week since he rallied protesters take to
the streets. He's met publicly, as far as we know, this week with Senator Lindsey Graham and reportedly with Steven Witkoff.
Is this a sign? Do you think that the Trump administration are keeping him in the mix? And if that is, to what end?
ARASH AZIZI, CONTRIBUTOR, THE ATLANTIC: Well, I think they're talking to him. He's clearly a sort of a mover and shaker. He has many supporters in
Iran. He's a forerunner, you know, in the Iranian opposition politics. So they clearly want to keep him in the mix, as you say, and be in touch. But
at the same time, I think President Trump and the administration have sent a clear signal that they don't accept his claim to be a transitional
leader, to sort of be this self-anointed leader of the Iranian opposition.
[10:05:04]
And I say that not just because of President Trump's comments in the interview with Reuters, but something more subtle. If you look at Voice of
America, the Persian Service, the man picked by Trump to be the head, Ali Javanmardi, has been going on pretty much every day on Voice of America
with a very consistent message in which he's saying, look, Mr. Pahlavi is part of the opposition, but the United States would like to see a united,
inclusive opposition.
And there are other sort of I think Kari Lake made a tweet that seemed to support that kind of line as well. And even the vague VOA comment, sort of
covered remarks by Senator Graham, you know, sort of emphasized that. So I think it looks like a signaling from the Trump administration to Mr.
Pahlavi that they don't accept him as this sort of leader of the opposition as he's anointed himself, but as only part of the opposition that he, you
know, he needs to get on with others and form a united, more inclusive opposition if he wants sort of to be supported by the U.S..
MACFARLANE: And I believe we are seeing Pahlavi speaking right now at this press conference where he's calling here for a moment of silence. And I
think we are going to take his comments as soon as he starts speaking. Let's just listen in.
REZA PAHLAVI, SON OF IRAN'S FORMER LEADER: The truth is now undeniable. The so-called Islamic Republic is not the government of Iran. It is a hostile
occupying force that's hijacked our homeland. After invading five neighboring countries and sowing chaos across the region, this regime has
invaded Iran itself using foreign terrorists, Hezbollah fighters, Iraqi militias and other mercenaries to slaughter the Iranian people.
This is no longer mere repression. This is foreign occupation wearing clerical robes. Just as Saddam Hussein drowned the marshes in blood and
Bashar al-Assad turned barrel bombs on his own children, Ali Khamenei and his thugs have committed mass crimes against the Iranian people and against
all of humanity. And just like those other tyrannies, the Islamic Republic will fall not if but when.
The world must hear this clearly. The battle in Iran today is not between reform and revolution. It is between occupation and liberation. And the
Iranian people have already chosen their side. Their heads are bloodied but unbowed. Yet the cost has been heartbreaking. The people of Iran are being
slaughtered in the streets and in their homes by a regime that shows no mercy. More than 12,000 Iranians were massacred in 48 hours. One murder
every 14 seconds.
Khamenei's killers even hunted the wounded protesters in hospitals and executed them in cold blood. The regime collected piles of bodies with dump
trucks and forced worried families to search unlabeled body bags. They refused to return bodies for burial without payment for the cost of the
bullets that killed their loved ones, and where a family cannot pay up to several thousand dollars and most of them can't, they bury the dead in
unmarked mass graves.
And despite the lies you're hearing from the regime, its blood lust has not diminished. The slaughter has not stopped. My brave compatriots still
holding the line with their broken bodies but unbreakable will need your urgent help right now.
Make no mistake --
MACFARLANE: We have been listening there to Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran's last shah, speaking there in Washington today, having met with U.S.
officials this week. We will, of course, bring you a question and answer if he goes on to take questions from the floor there. But for now, I just want
to turn back to our panel to get some thoughts on what we just heard.
Ellie, we had Pahlavi there talking in very bleak terms about what has been happening on the ground.
[10:10:07]
But what did you make about his -- from his opening remarks just there?
GERANMAYEH: So I think that it is very much a speech that is directed to foreign and Western governments, and predominantly those sitting in the
White House right now deliberating between whether military intervention or not is the correct response to the deaths and killings that happened in
Iran at an unprecedented scale.
But I do think, you know, Mr. Pahlavi brought up the examples of Saddam and Assad, and these are, you know, two cases where I'm sure the calculations
in the White House are heavily reflecting on, as they consider whether U.S. military intervention as part of a responsibility to protect people on the
ground will actually serve them in that protection and to turn the equation of hard power against the current regime, versus learning from the recent
precedent of the last two decades, where virtually every single time the U.S. has militarily intervened in a country in the Middle East, including
in Libya, it has left those countries more unstable, caused major bloodshed, led to civil war, and actually marginalized the moderate pro-
democratic voices.
And I think this is part of the heavy calculations that are being made right now in the White House.
MACFARLANE: Ellie, thank you. We do actually want to just return to this speech and listen in again.
PAHLAVI: -- left and everything in between. I have a comprehensive plan for an orderly transition, which is ready to be implemented immediately. The
Iranian people are taking decisive actions on the ground. It is now time for the international community to join them fully.
Today, I ask the world to do six things. First, protect the Iranian people by degrading the regime's repressive capacity, including targeting the
Islamic Revolutionary Guard leadership and its command and control infrastructure. Second, deliver and sustain maximum economic pressure on
the regime, block their assets worldwide. Target and dismantle their fleet of ghost tankers.
Third, break through the regime's information blockade by enabling unrestricted internet access, deploy Starlink and other secure
communications tools widely across Iran, and conduct cyber operations to disable the regime's ability to shut down the internet. Fourth, hold the
regime accountable by expelling its diplomats from your capitals and pursue legal enforcement actions against those responsible for crimes against
humanity.
Fifth, demand the immediate release of all political prisoners. Sixth, prepare for a democratic transition in Iran by committing to recognize a
legitimate transitional government when the moment comes.
Supporting the Iranian people is not an act of charity, nor is it unwarranted interference. Global stability itself depends on the removal of
this regime. Its 47 years of exported terror, nuclear threats and regional chaos must end. This does not require putting boots on the ground. The
Iranian people boots are already on the ground. They are the ones marching, sacrificing and fighting for their freedom every single day.
What they need from the world is resolute, targeted support to protect lives, amplify their voices and hasten the collapse that is already
underway. But let me be clear. With or without the world's help, the regime will fall. It will fall sooner and more lives will be saved. If the world
turns its words into action. A free, democratic Iran will not be a source of endless crisis.
[10:15:04]
It will be a pillar of peace, partnership and prosperity for the Middle East and beyond. The choice is clear. Stand with the people now or watch
the cycle of instability continue. As I have said to my compatriots, the noble and courageous people of Iran, particularly the young generation, I
speak directly to you. Know that you have commanded the world's attention and admiration. History itself stands in awe of your bravery and your
sacrifices.
You are the immortal guard of Iran. Continue the fight as you have done so far. Do not allow this regime to create the illusion that life is normal.
After all the massacres, there is a sea of blood between us and the regime. The regime, through severe repression, killing and cutting off
communications, is trying to instill fear and terror in you and to make you despair of continuing the movement and struggle.
But know that because of your steadfastness and fight, thousands of military and security forces have not gone to work so as not to participate
in the repression. Save the name of all these criminals. They will be prosecuted for what they have done. Yet justice alone will not heal all the
wounds, but it will open the door to healing and a national rebirth.
As for the day after our victory, I have a clear plan for the transition to democracy. Millions of Iranians inside and outside Iran are united around
these four core principles. Iran's territorial integrity, separation of religion and state, individual liberties and equality of all citizens, and
the Iranian people's right to decide a democratic form of government.
The end of the regime will mark the rebirth of one of the most accomplished civilizations in history for the future of Iran and its people. Iran is
blessed with extraordinary human talent and vast natural resources. Our people are highly educated, producing one of the highest numbers of
engineers in the world, with around 70 percent women. Today, the corrupt regime wastes these gifts.
In a free Iran our resources and ingenuity will drive prosperity at home and strengthen global supply chains, including America's. A free Iran will
be a game changer for peace in the Middle East and for Iran's relations with the United States and the West. The Iranian people love America and
hate this regime. After its collapse, instead of death to America, the world will find a nation that embraces America as a true friend.
President Trump brokered the Abraham Accord, bringing peace between Arab nations and Israel. I see extending this idea to a free Iran through what
we could call the Cyrus Accords, honoring our ancient heritage of tolerance and partnership. The possibilities are endless. There will be a peaceful,
stable and orderly transition. My team of experts have developed a plan for the first 100 days after the regime's collapse, and the long-term
reconstruction and stabilization of our country.
It is backed by business leaders and provides a detailed roadmap for national recovery, restoring economic confidence, ensuring that essential
services continue uninterrupted, and laying the foundation for prosperity in a free Iran. A constitutional process will follow under international
observation, allowing Iranians to finally determine their own destiny through free and fair elections.
A free and democratic Iran that emerges will live at peace with our neighbors. It will be an engine of growth and opportunity in the region and
the world.
[10:20:06]
There are moments in history where the moral imperative for action is so strong that the weight of inaction becomes unbearable. This is one of those
moments. The people of Iran have risen to reclaim their country. History will honor those who stand with them.
Long live Iran. Thank you.
(APPLAUSE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're going to take a few questions. Some people have asked in advance, and also from the audience, don't worry. And (INAUDIBLE)
Pahlavi will apply to them. I'm going to call firstly Ardavan from Iran International.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Thank you. During this moment, we have made you appreciate (INAUDIBLE) asking you to (INAUDIBLE).
(Speaking in Foreign Language)
MACFARLANE: Well, we have been listening to Reza Pahlavi there speaking in Washington today with a message that appeared designed, really for a
foreign audience, foreign leaders, specifically the United States. Pahlavi laying out how he would take power and how he would move forward with his
transition government and what that would spell for the United States. He says, I will return to Iran. I am uniquely positioned to lead a new Iran.
Well, let's dig into the reality of all of that with Arash, who has been listening in.
Arash, just immediately, just want to get your thoughts on what you've heard.
AZIZI: Mr. Pahlavi has really stepped up to put himself forward as someone who can carry and help get us, you know, have us rid ourselves of the
Islamic Republic and transition away. But unfortunately, his political practice in the years before has done more to divide the opposition than to
unite it. So I say to Mr. Pahlavi, if he wants the world to recognize him or others, as a solution, if he wants Iranians, all Iranians, a majority of
Iranians, to really look up to him as, you know, as someone who can help transition us away, he can't do it alone.
He needs to bring together a coalition that represents Iran political and demographic diversity that really looks like Iran, not just another, you
know, narrow based government like the Islamic Republic. Before he does that unfortunately, he wouldn't have that kind of credibility. And it's not
just a matter of convincing someone like me. He wouldn't be able to actually do the job of curing defections from the Islamic Republic on both,
you know, high levels and medium levels, and doing what is necessary to bring about that transition that we all want, and an end to this evil
Islamic Republic that a lot of us wants to see.
So he needs to do that. And unfortunately, he and his political camp have done anything but that in the last few years. They need to change course if
they want to get different results.
MACFARLANE: Yes. Arash, thank you.
I just want to go back to Pahlavi. I believe he's taking questions now in English.
PAHLAVI: -- this regime, which we are fighting today. That's my commitment and they can trust me on that.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Bloomberg. No, I've called Bloomberg please. Is a gentleman or lady from Bloomberg? No? They asked a question. No. Reuters,
please. There's a microphone that's coming.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Thank you. Hi, I'm Riley Johnson from Bloomberg. Are you having any further conversations with Witkoff or the Trump
administration?
PAHLAVI: No. These are sensitive times. And I'm going to -- I'm not going to discuss details of who I'm meeting with and what is being discussed.
[10:25:01]
What I can tell you, however, is that there is strong support for the Iranian people. And I believe that President Trump is a man of his word,
and ultimately he will stand with the Iranian people, as he has said.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Lady from DW.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Thank you very much. I'm with Deutsche Welle, Germany's international broadcaster. Thank you so much. I have two
questions. We saw a slide there saying, Donald Trump help. What exactly does this mean? What do you hope Donald Trump to do? And my second question
is regarding Europe and especially Germany. What do you hope for Europe does to support your cause? Thank you very much.
PAHLAVI: Thank you for the question. Well, clearly, President Trump did say that if the regime was to hit the Iranian people hard, they will face with
serious consequences. That the Iranian people have taken his word as a man of his words, as I said, they know that unlike his predecessors that threw
us under the bus one time, this president is not about to do the same thing. And that's very encouraging and empowering.
Number two, you asked me about the European countries. Look, we already are past the point of whether you should subscribe the IRGC as a terrorist
organization or not. And frankly, I'm flabbergasted that there are still some countries that are not willing to take the next step as if they are
supposed to worry about how the regime will retaliate. This regime is on its last leg. It's about to collapse.
And I think the world, especially the democratic free world that champions freedom and human rights and equality of citizens, at the face of this
regime's brutal repression should act now. I called for them to start acting as opposed to talking. We need your help. We need your action. We
need to take all the steps that I've indicated in my opening remarks. All those six elements. Anything that can be done in that direction is a moral
boost and beyond morale boost and actual act of support for a defenseless civil society and civilians that, as you can see, have been treated in the
worst possible way.
And the only hope they have is that their fight for freedom, their sacrifices, will be less loss of life based on your action to expedite this
regime's collapse. That's what the Iranian people are expecting from you. And let me reiterate, as I said again, we're not waiting for you to act to
continue our fight. We are. But imagine how much more we can protect more innocent lives from dying by acting and helping us today.
These are critical moments that are game changers, not just for us Iranians, but for the whole world. This is what we need from you so help
us.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Reuters. Microphone over here, please.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Thank you. From Reuters. In an interview a couple of days ago, President Trump actually expressed some doubts about your support
inside Iran. How are you planning to win him over, convince him that you do have the support that you say you do? Also, you're talking about thousands
of potential defectors. But the IRGC and other forces have hundreds of thousands.
So how are you going to assert your control over this establishment? And are you any time soon going to meet with President Trump? Are you making an
active effort? Thank you.
PAHLAVI: President Trump has said that it's up to the Iranian people to decide. And I totally agree. I've always said it's for the Iranian people
to decide. And I think the Iranian people have already demonstrated in great numbers who it is that they want them to lead to this transition. So
I'm confident that I have the support of my compatriots, and it's for the international leaders to assess the facts on the ground and see who is
capable of doing that. I believe I can, and I have the people -- the Iranian people's support.
And of course, if anybody in the world is willing to help the Iranian people achieve that goal, that's what I'm trying to do, to help them
liberate themselves and attract as much support as I can internationally to be behind Iranian people this time and on the right side of history.
Now, as far as the defection goes, this campaign has started months ago. We started this, in fact, I announced it in another press conference I had in
Paris a few months ago. Some of you might have heard about it, at which point we established a system whereby people who want to defect or want to
access us, or want to indicate their interest to join with us, have a secure means of communicating their intentions to us.
Since then, tens of thousands have applied. Many of them are from the security forces in Iran. Police force, military, IRGC, and we are vetting
them as we're speaking. And the mechanism for defection does exist. But most importantly is the principle of having an exit strategy.
[10:30:02]
And on that, I've said, anyone whose hand is not soiled in the blood of the Iranian people will survive regime change. We're not talking about de-
Baathification. We're not talking about the disaster of post-Saddam Hussein, post-Gadhafi collapse. We're not going to have a failed state. And
for me to be able to guide a smooth transition, I'm counting on security forces to be the element that keeps the country secure, protects people's
lives and their livelihood, and be part of the solution.
As a result, we have already seen people indicating their cooperation. We have already seen elements that refuse to be used as an instrument of
repression, which is why the regime is now, as we speak, importing elements from outside the country to be the instrument of repression as they are
running out of their own forces to do that for them inside Iran. And all of this is the indication of the beginning of that collapse.
Hopefully, by more support from the outside world, by a determined strike on the regimes elements that are the instrument of repression, as I stated
in my opening remarks, in my opinion, that will expedite the process and will also increase the number of defections to be more rapid, so that we
are not faced with remnants and pockets of resistance as much as possible. There's never going to be 100 percent defection, but there comes a point
where the regime sees it's futile and hopefully by then, Khamenei will be joining Bashar in Moscow and we'll be rid of him.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This gentleman here.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Thank you, sir. Good morning. Thank you. Ben Leo from GB News in London. In London, sir, in England we have Iranian sleeper
cells on their way to the Israeli embassy accused of trying to blow up the embassy. We have a former Iranian government minister living in north
London, living in a council house actually, who supported the fatwa on Salman Rushdie, praised Soleimani, so on and so on.
Why is it in Britain's interests and indeed the West for this Islamic regime to fall, please?
PAHLAVI: Look, I'm sorry, could you repeat it? I want to make sure I understood your question. Could you repeat it, please?
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Yes. We have lots of Iranian sleeper cells and activity in London.
PAHLAVI: Right. Right.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Three people were arrested trying to blow up the Israeli embassy some months ago. There's a former government minister
living in north London who supported Soleimani. Backs the fatwa on Rushdie. We have lots of Iranian activity in the U.K. connected with the regime here
-- in Iran, sorry. Why is it in Britain's interests and the West for this regime to fall?
PAHLAVI: Right. Well, I'm glad you asked the question because in fact one of the topics that I raised in some discussions I had the last time I was
in London with former prime ministers was exactly to explain to them the mapping of every instrument that the regime is using under Khamenei's
direct supervision, through so-called centers, through which they antagonize British citizens. And of course, many of those sleeper cells
that you indicated.
It doesn't stop in England, by the way. They are in America as well. So we're trying to explain to various governments the whole methodology that
the regime is using with assets they have on the ground in respective countries, not to mention money laundering that goes on in many countries,
including in Great Britain. So there are many ways that they can push back against that and protect not only the citizenry of what is Great Britain or
America, but in what way it connects to why we need to do that ultimately, by putting an end to the regime.
And one thing that is now becoming even more clear, and the fact that the regime could be threatening the world as a last gasp, we should not allow
this regime to catch a second wind and be able to do further damage, which is why the strike is not just needed to help the Iranian people overcome
this unfair disadvantage. But it's also one way to completely dismantle the regime's aspect of threatening and cut off the chain of income that it uses
to fund all of these operations, including the sleeper cells, which is why I'm also calling for any means to cut off the lifeline to the regime, which
is its revenue from whether it's oil exports or whether other means of income that they have.
We need to dry the well that funds terrorism once and for all against the Iranian people and the world.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sir, hello, Dan Rivers from iTV News.
MACFARLANE: Let's bring in Ben Wedeman, who's been listening in to all of this from along the Iraq-Iran border.
Ben, some interesting comments from Pahlavi there, not least clearly calling on Donald Trump to make good on his word to assist the protesters
unlike his predecessors. What's been standing out to you?
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I think listening to him talk about his plan for a transition and how to before that undermine
the regime. Certainly, as is often the case in this presidency, he seems to be talking or addressing an audience of one, President Trump, who, of
course, a few days ago said that the United States -- rather told the Iranian protesters that help is on the way.
[10:35:13]
And of course, here we are several days later that help has not materialized. And therefore, I think, you know, the son, I mean, Mr.
Pahlavi is trying to address the president and ask him, beg him to actually do something because he by himself clearly is in no position to do anything
at all.
Listening to him he seems to think that a majority of the Iranians support his role as a transitional leader. It's not altogether clear how much
support he has. I mean, he was talking about sort of four pillars of the transition, two of them being respect for individual freedoms and
democratic rights. Keep in mind that in 1979, there was a revolution that overthrew his father, partially because he denied the Iranian those very
same rights.
And speaking to people who have come out of Iran recently, there's not a lot of enthusiasm for a return to the ancien regime, which has a very dark
record in terms of human rights abuses and deprivation of human rights. I think perhaps many Iranians are hoping for something, not the old monarchy
and neither the Islamic regime that we see today. And if he's putting all his chickens in the basket of Donald Trump, it may be for naught, given
that Donald Trump is a very sort of unpredictable person.
And what we've seen is he can talk a lot in terms of what he could do, might do. But in terms of can he actually take concrete action to bring
down this regime, very dubious. But certainly Reza Pahlavi, and the things he's looking at, he's talking about targeting the command and control
systems of the regime, breaking through the internet blackout, trying to crack down on the system of ghost ships that are exporting Iranian oil, he
clearly can't do that. He wants the United States and its allies to do that.
But we're talking about not a quick sort of overnight operation where you kidnap President Maduro of Venezuela. This is a very large regime with
abilities far beyond anything Venezuela had. And it will involve a sustained effort that could be costly not in terms -- not only in terms of
finances and resources, but also the lives of those in the U.S. armed forces and others who might be part of such an operation.
The question is, does President Trump have the wherewithal to go through with that sort of costly and politically risky operation?
MACFARLANE: And, Ben, it was interesting to note his call to the U.S. to stand with the people now. I mean, we've been reporting, obviously, in the
last day or so that the crackdown from the regime has been effective in bringing this latest round of deadly protests to a close. So is that
messaging coming too late, or does it appear that he still has this sense that U.S. intervention could help protesters at this point?
WEDEMAN: Well, I think for one thing, it's not altogether clear that the protests have actually ended. We understand that they are still ongoing.
We've seen visual evidence of that, and we've heard from people who've just come out of Iran who say the protests did not come to an end. They're
perhaps not as intense as they were before. And basically, the reasons for those protests have not changed.
You know, the collapse of the economy, the repression, the corruption, the mismanagement, the isolation of Iran. Now, will the united, perhaps yes. I
mean, certainly, given that the intensity has gone down, has the moment passed? Perhaps not, because the reasons for the discontent that led to the
demonstrations are still there. And therefore, I think, you know, we may be in a slower phase, but given, for instance, that the United States is now
sending increased military --
MACFARLANE: We appear to have lost Ben there, but let's pick up actually with Arash, who is still with us I believe.
Arash, I just wanted to pick up on something you were talking about earlier. Just saying previously as Pahlavi was speaking, that he can't do
this alone, that he needs support. He was saying quite clearly there that he is counting on security forces to be part of the solution.
[10:40:03]
I just wonder how realistic that sounds to you and also more broadly, what you made of that comprehensive plan and those six points that he laid out.
AZIZI: Look, I agree with his four points. As an Iranian I agree with his four points. If he is part of a solution, I'm leaning right now on the
left, not traditionally a fan of Pahlavi, but I'm totally happy to accept him as part of the solution if Iranians put our differences aside against
the regime, form a united front. And I, you know, I agree with the four plans, and I do believe it is possible to secure defections of the security
forces.
But you can only do that if you truly build a broad based, inclusive -- you know, the inclusive part is not just to be nice. And to be nice and
liberal. It's that, you know, you need to tell Iranians that they'll have a future. Again, unfortunately, in the last couple of years, Mr. Pahlavi's
political camps, all his advisers have done the very opposite. They've attacked everybody in the opposition (INAUDIBLE). They use -- if you go to
demonstrations of Mr. Pahlavi's supporters today, they use slogans like death to the left, death to the mullahs, you know.
Well, how are the people, you know, how are Iranians are going to come behind them when they use slogans like death? And OK, the mullahs you can
say, you know, they represent that regime, but the regime. But when you say death to the left, which is the term they use, you know, they mean anyone
to the left of them effectively, even in liberals and others. You can see when Masih Alinejad and Batebi spoke so beautifully yesterday in the United
Nations Security Council, unfortunately, many supporters online were attacking them.
So this is a problem that his camp has had. And he needs to solve it and he will solve it by committing to working with others. I have another
question. How can he run a country of 90 million, even on a transitional basis, if he can't work with five other people? In 2023, when there was an
effort to form a council Mr. Pahlavi left it after less than a month. And he's never been able to work with others in the opposition.
So my, you know, message to him is if he's serious about that, bring, show us first that you can unite the rest of Iranians. Show us clearly that, you
know, you can have others on your side. Get rid of this sort of toxic elements on your side that have already anointed you the leader and the
monarch. And, you know, and then, and then Iranians can trust you and then, you know, security forces can trust you enough to come help you with this
transition.
But unfortunately that's not what we've seen yet. And it pains me because Mr. Pahlavi has many supporters in Iran. I know people that I grew up, you
know, playing football with in Tehran. Some of them support him. So I definitely see him as a legitimate part of the Iranian political spectrum.
But he can't do it alone. And this has been a clear message that a lot of us have said in the last few years. And unfortunately, you know, it's not
always received well.
MACFARLANE: Yes. It is a fundamental and very important point. We will wait to see if he can build this coalition in order to enact these policies.
Arash, we really appreciate you hanging by with us and giving us your thoughts. Thank you.
OK. Coming up, U.S. senators are in Denmark in defiance of Donald Trump. But will it make a difference in his push for Greenland?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:45:22]
MACFARLANE: Welcome back to CONNECT THE WORLD with me, Christina Macfarlane. Here are your headlines.
Tensions remain high in Minneapolis as U.S. president Donald Trump threatens to invoke the Insurrection Act. On Thursday night, law
enforcement used what appeared to be tear gas and stun grenades on anti-ICE protesters. Homeland Security says residents should be prepared to prove
their U.S. citizenship to federal immigration agents.
A group of bipartisan U.S. lawmakers are in Denmark today amid President Trump's threats to acquire Greenland. Senator Chris Coons, who led the
delegation, told reporters they were there to show support for their NATO ally because there is, quote, "not a lot of reality in the current
discussion in Washington."
A source says the U.S. is moving a carrier strike group to the Middle East. The move comes as tensions between the U.S. and Iran remain high. U.S.
President Donald Trump has not followed through on threats to attack Iran in support of anti-government protesters. But White House officials say all
options remain open.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. LISA MURKOWSKI (R-AK): When you ask the American people whether or not they think it is a good idea for the United States to acquire Greenland,
the vast majority, some 75 percent, will say, we do not think that that is a good idea. This senator from Alaska does not think it is a good idea.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MACFARLANE: That was Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski there, speaking to press in Copenhagen after meeting with leaders from Denmark and Greenland.
She's among a bipartisan group of lawmakers showing support for the NATO ally amid President Trump's threats to acquire Greenland.
CNN's international diplomatic editor Nic Robertson has been following all of this.
So what have you made, Nic, of the messaging that we've been hearing from senators in Copenhagen this morning?
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Yes, it's a very clear message to the White House. It was a message there Senator Murkowski went
on to say Greenland should be treated not as an asset, but as an ally. The importance the senators, the representatives, those members of Congress
telling them all there today across party was to send a very clear message to the Danish authorities, one of solidarity, one of mutual respect for
sovereignty, territorial integrity, self-determination, all the sort of views that seem to contrast with President Trump's view of wanting to
acquire control of Greenland.
And they spoke a lot about the importance of continuing to have communication, continuing to have a dialogue. But it felt very much as well
as if you're listening to a group of senators who feel very chastened in their relationship and Congress's relationship with the White House, with
the way that many in Congress have felt that President Trump's administration did not level with them about plans in Venezuela, and
they've got to come all the way over to Europe to speak with Denmark, to get a deeper and better understanding of the conversations that the White
House is having with Denmark. And I think that really hits up what Senator Coons was saying, that there is a lot of rhetoric and not a lot of reality.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. CHRIS COONS (D-CT): Are there real pressing threats to the security of Greenland from China and Russia? No, not today. Are there real
opportunities for us to partner through NATO to contribute to Arctic security? Yes. And if we ask respectfully and plan together, we can achieve
that goal. Are there opportunities to develop sustainably the resources of Greenland, if that's of interest to American companies? Yes.
And so there's a lot of rhetoric, but there's not a lot of reality in the current discussion in Washington. And part of the point of this trip is to
have a bipartisan group of members of Congress listen respectfully to our friends, our trusted allies and partners here in Denmark.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTSON: So it's a strong message of support there for Denmark and also, by extension, and by inclusivity, of course, for Greenland. It's a message
that will be welcomed here. It's certainly one that translates well. But does it -- does it make a difference back in the White House? And at the
moment, the latest that we heard late yesterday from the White House press spokesperson was that these high level talks that are continuing between
the United States and Danish and Greenlandic representatives at a high level every two or three weeks.
The White House is interpreting those not as trying to find a commonality, but technical talks for the United States acquisition of Greenland.
[10:50:07]
So there is a very, very big gap between Greenland, Denmark and the White House, and as well, this congressional delegation.
MACFARLANE: Certainly is. Nic Robertson reporting there. We appreciate it, Nic. Thank you.
And I'll be back with more news in just a moment. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MACFARLANE: The UAE has just wrapped up Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, and the debate over oil and clean energy continues to dominate the headlines.
In the Gulf the stakes could not be higher. According to a report from the World Meteorological Organization, the region is warming at a rate nearly
twice the global average.
CNN's Becky Anderson spoke with UAE climate leader Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan about how her organization, Frontier25.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SHEIKHA SHAMMA BINT SULTAN BIN KHALIFA AL NAHYAN, PRESIDENT AND CEO, FRONTIER25: The table that you see here was made out of LDPE, waste found
in the sea.
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR (voice-over): I'm getting a private tour of the UAE's Climate Tribe hub.
AL NAHYAN: So every single piece of furniture has a story. The hub is a place where we engage the community. There's one young Emirati that I would
love to show you her piece.
ANDERSON: Her piece. Yes.
AL NAHYAN: Her name is (INAUDIBLE) Mahiri. And so she takes skills from the fish market and has created this beautiful lamp.
ANDERSON: It's gorgeous.
(Voice-over): This is an example of how the newly branded Frontier 25 is launching with purpose into the second half of what may be the most
consequential decade yet in the battle against climate change.
AL NAHYAN: Frontier25 works across three pillars. Our advisory services, our alliances, and our accelerator programs. Climate change is an adaptive
challenge that will require every single person and every single organization and country to come together to solve.
ANDERSON (voice-over): In the UAE, a $54 billion strategy is powering demand and pushing the energy transition forward.
AL NAHYAN: What I'm seeing in the region, and particularly here in the UAE, when it comes to national projects, for example, we recently heard of the
world's first round the clock gigaton project, which combines both solar and battery storage here in Abu Dhabi.
ANDERSON (voice-over): But the world has changed in the four years since the UAE first made its commitment to hit net zero by 2050. The skyrocketing
use of artificial intelligence is fast becoming a major force behind rising energy demand. But even to this climate leader, it's not all downside.
AL NAHYAN: There are opportunities when it comes to using A.I. in order to build better, become more efficient. But I also feel when building data
centers, trying to couple it with solar in order to mitigate an increase in emissions.
[10:55:05]
ANDERSON (voice-over): But it's not just rising demand for energy. World leaders are increasingly focused more on reliability than sustainability.
But those changing political priorities don't shake Shamma's faith in the goals.
AL NAHYAN: On the grassroots level, which is where I work, I remain so optimistic because I see the number of people that join us at our events,
that engage within our workshops, that look at our productions and articles that we post online are increasing. We had youth here from the youth
council about a week or two ago, doing a beekeeping workshop.
ANDERSON: Beekeeping, a good example of the sort of work that you want to support and encourage here.
AL NAHYAN: Yes, at a at a community level, I think people sometimes wonder, what can I do? And especially on the topic of climate, I'm just one small
person. How am I going to deal with this problem? And so what I always say is we can all make a difference.
ANDERSON (voice-over): Becky Anderson, CNN, Abu Dhabi.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MACFARLANE: A hopeful end to a busy hour. That's it for us here on CONNECT THE WORLD. Stay with CNN. "ONE WORLD" is up after this break.
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END
