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CNN Speaks To Foreign Policy Adviser To Iran's Supreme Leader; Saudi Arabia Accuses Iran Of Attacking It Based On False Claims; Oil Prices Soaring As War Escalates; Israel Intensifies Strikes On Southern Beirut; Israel And Iran Trade Strikes As War Enters Second Week; Donald Trump: Soaring Oil Prices Are "Small Price To Pay"; Mojtaba Khamenei Selected As Iran's New Supreme Leader. Aired 10-11a ET
Aired March 09, 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)
[09:59:40]
ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Welcome to the second hour of Connect world. I'm Becky Anderson.
Signs today pointing to no quick end to the war in the Middle East. Here's what we know right now. A senior Iranian official warns the conflict has
entered a new phase, and Iran's foreign ministry saying today, with Iran under attack, there is no room for negotiations. Crowds have been forming
across Iran after the regime called for nationwide gatherings to pledge allegiance to the newly named Supreme Leader there.
[10:00:16]
Well, the war wreaking havoc on energy production and shipping, price of oil crossing a hundred dollars a barrel for the first time since Russia's
full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Well, the global economic shock waves have forced the G7 to call an emergency meeting finance ministers from the world's largest economy
scrambling to address this crisis.
And Turkey says another ballistic missile from Iran has been shot down as it entered its airspace, neutralized by NATO air defense.
And as Israel announces a new widescale while -- widescale wave of attacks on regime targets in Iran, also seeing fresh Israeli air strikes on the
suburbs of Beirut. CNN's team there a short time ago, witnessing a large explosion, the latest of multiple strikes to hit Lebanon's capital today.
Right. I want to start this out with CNN's Frederik Pleitgen, who is in Tehran and reporting there. He has an exclusive interview with the foreign
policy adviser to the Supreme Leader. CNN is operating in Iran with the permission of the Iranian government. We do, though, maintain full
editorial control over what CNN reports. This is part of --
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Iran has a new Supreme Leader. What does that mean for your military effort and the
confrontation with the United States and Israel?
KAMAL KHARAZI, FOREIGN POLICY ADVISER TO IRAN'S SUPREME LEADER: That means the system is quite functioning.
PLEITGEN: So, the United States says it's drastically degraded the Iranian military the capabilities as far as missiles is concerned, drones is
concerned. How much longer can you do this?
KHARAZI: That is one of the false narratives that the United States government is producing. Iranian military is quite strong, as you see,
because they have the motivation, they have the arms that they need, which are produced in Iran. As a matter of fact, we are not dependent on any
other country for weapons and arms.
PLEITGEN: So, your side is ready for a long war if the United States and Israel choose that, do you consider this an existential threat to the
Islamic Republic?
KHARAZI: It is an existential threat to the Islamic Republic, and therefore we have to sail with full mind, as we are doing now.
PLEITGEN: Is your side seeking, or will you seek a cease fire with the United States at this point in time and with Israel?
KHARAZI: I don't see any room for diplomacy anymore, because Donald Trump had been deceiving others and not keeping with his promises, and we
experienced this in two times of negotiations that while we were engaged in negotiation, they struck us.
PLEITGEN: How does all of this end then? If you say, right now, there's no room for negotiation, President Trump says he wants complete surrender,
what does that lead to?
KHARAZI: There's no room unless the economic pressure would be built up to the extent that other countries would intervene to guarantee this
termination of aggression of Americans and Israelis against Iran.
PLEITGEN: Finally, what is your message to President Trump, as we sit here, as the war is going on?
KHARAZI: That means that what is important for us is the end of this game, and we are ready to continue that game.
PLEITGEN: The end of this game, you mean how this war will end is --
KHARAZI: At the end of the game would be the time that American and Israelis would come to this understanding that this strategy is not
working, and they have to stop their aggression against Iranians.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: That interview conducted in Tehran earlier today. I want to turn to CNN's Nic Robertson, who is back with us this hour from Riyadh in Saudi
Arabia today. We've just heard from Iran there, Nic, we've also been here. Hearing from their neighbors, of course, Saudi Arabia has a very strong
message for Tehran as it hits Gulf energy facilities. What are we hearing from Saudi?
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Yes, it's a very clear and it's really strong message. Part of that message is that irrespective
of what Iran's leaders say and here they made a reference to President Pezeshkian about 48 hours ago, saying that he apologized the Gulf for the
strikes against them. There was an expectation in Saudi Arabia and others in the Gulf that potentially things could deescalate.
[10:05:05]
But the Saudi is saying that isn't what happened. They're judging by actions, which means they're judging this new Supreme Leader by his
actions, and the actions have been more ballistic missiles, the first civilian deaths announced yesterday in Saudi Arabia.
And so, this message from the Saudis is very, very clear to Iran that by striking civilian infrastructure here, they mean airports or refineries,
that is a breach of international humanitarian law. They say that Iran is in full knowledge that Saudi Arabia's air bases and bases are being used
only to defend the Kingdom, to defend the GCC countries here, that they are not being used in an in an offensive capacity against Iran, which is Iran's
claim that that's a basis for its strikes in Saudi Arabia.
But the message goes on, and I think it's strength, its sting and its tail, if you will, comes in the last paragraph. So, let me just read that to you
so we get the words pretty spot on and clear here.
And it says this, The Kingdom Saudi Arabia affirms that the continued Iranian attacks represent further escalation with significant implications
for bilateral relations, both now and in the future. The Kingdom also stresses that Iran's current actions towards our countries, Saudi Arabia,
the GCC, do not reflect wisdom or serve the interest of avoidening -- of avoiding a widening escalation in which Iran would be the greatest loser.
This message doesn't say Saudi Arabia is going to war with Iran. Saudi Arabia has been very wary of what is happening, hesitant to get involved.
Believes that could lead to regional chaos, but this diplomatic language clearly leaves the door open for that, and is a very clear signal to the
new leadership in Iran, where they stand with the GCC countries who are facing them just across that very short piece of water where you are Becky,
the Persian Gulf, the Arabian Gulf.
ANDERSON: Any goodwill gone at this stage, I agree those -- that statement very strong language. Let's play what we just heard from the U.S. Secretary
of State Marco Rubio, this happened just last hour. Nic, have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARCO RUBIO, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: The goals of this mission are clear, and it's important to continue to remind the American people of why it is
that the greatest military in the history of the world is engaged in this operation. It is to destroy the ability of this regime to launch missiles,
both by destroying their missiles and their launchers, destroy the factories that make these missiles, and destroy their Navy. I think we are
all seeing right now the threat that this clerical regime poses to the region and to the world.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: We've had a lot of justifications for this war from the administration. What are we hearing from the rest of the world, the
Europeans, Gulf states, about the legality of military action?
ROBERTSON: Well, it's very interesting that within that Saudi statement and the broader sentiment within the GCC that Iran is breaching international
humanitarian law by targeting civilian infrastructure. Again, oil, oil facilities, airports, those sorts of things.
It will be perhaps ironic to some in Iran and around this region that oil facilities and airports, civilian airports, do seem to be or have resulted
from U.S. and Israeli air strikes that have been impacted.
But what is being created, and this is the push from the European countries as well, the importance they're stressing to find a diplomatic track, to
try to find an off ramp, to try to find a set of language that could be taken to the U.N. Security Council, assuming countries like Russia, that's
potentially supporting Iran and certainly been an ally of Iran. Has certainly had Iran's support in Russia's war against Ukraine, to bring it
to an international forum, to get wider condemnation, at best, the U.N. Security Council Resolution, perhaps not, but to get isolation, financial,
etcetera, isolation of Iran to apply this diplomatic pressure.
But it's really not clear where we stand, that there is a direct line and path to that. And I think Fred's interview there, lifts, again, a sort of a
veil on what the Iranian leadership is thinking. They're not seeing space for that at the moment, they're putting the pressure back on Israel and the
United States.
So, diplomacy is where people are trying to get to in this region, but it's going to be a long, hard road, Becky.
[10:10:09]
ANDERSON: Yes, and I think watch out this week as we see that diplomatic track ratcheting up in an effort by this region and those who have been hit
outside of this region, leaning into the rest of the world, to really put the squeeze on Iran and isolate the country for what has been what, have
been and continue to be, these unprovoked, illegal, reckless strikes across this region.
Finance Ministers of the G7 countries are meeting today to discuss whether to release oil from their strategic reserves as the war sends prices
soaring.
CNN's business editor-at-large, Richard Quest back with us this hour. Good to have you in the seat, Richard.
Look, we've got this G7 move. They are expected to release strategic reserves. Just explain to us how that works and how it can come prices,
albeit to a degree, possibly short term.
RICHARD QUEST, CNN HOST: There's two ways it can work. You actually physically do release the supply, which is all underground, and you send it
into the market, and you sell it off, and that actually brings down the price in the market. Or you merely promise to do so.
And you see, if the market is well supplied, but it is a fear of future lack of supply, then sort of saying we will give it in the future can have
the same effect. It really just depends.
In this case, although there was a glut of oil going into this war, the reality is, because of the pincer movement I was explaining about, you've
got destruction of infrastructure, and you've got nothing coming from the Strait of Hormuz. So, there is a -- there is the potential for real
shortages.
Now, Becky, I was listening, as I know you were, very carefully, to what the Iranian foreign advisor was saying to Frederik Pleitgen. And about two
thirds, three quarters of the way through, he talked about the economic impact of this.
And you know, when Fred asked him, what do you hope the U.S. is going to do? He basically said, look, this is about the economic impact. And that
tells me all we need to know. That tells me that the Iranians are going to continue to attack oil infrastructure, whether it be Bahrain or elsewhere.
They are going to do whatever they can to choke off the Strait of Hormuz because it is the $100 barrel, Becky, that puts the pressure on various
governments, which eventually so the argument goes, we'll put the pressure on the U.S., but remember what Donald Trump said, it's a small price to
pay.
ANDERSON: Yes, ironically, the pressure will not be felt here around the Gulf. I mean, you know, difficult to get their oil out and their
petrochemical products, a high price of all. Of course, is good for budgets, and certainly good for budget deficits in this region.
But we -- I cannot, by any -- by any stretch of the imagination, imagine that, you know, the high price of oil will be a replacement for the sort of
damage that is being wrought across this region at this point. And I'm a lived example of, you know, it's a front -- you know, it's frightening. Two
things can be true at the same time, you can feel very safe and secure. We are seeing these incredibly efficient interceptions here.
And at the same time, you know -- you know, it can be frightening, and this region will want to get past this as quickly as possible, you know.
QUEST: It is classically what if. Look, the chances of being hit by one of these stray missiles or drones is highly remote, but... if it does happen,
the consequences will be disastrous for you.
And look on this oil price, the reality is that it's as particularly in the U.S., which has such huge domestic demand but is still linked to the
international price, that if that goes up, the pressure gets put to bear. The midterms are only so many months away, the politics moves in.
ANDERSON: Yes, absolutely. And let's take a look at what the U.S. markets are up to as we say thank you to Richard. Cheers, mate.
The Asian markets took a bit of a thumping, but we are not seeing that reflected necessarily in these U.S. markets. Although they have dipped more
than they did on the open, they open around about one percent lower. We are seeing a drop here. This isn't going to be welcome news to Donald Trump or
his administration. They are going to want to keep these markets looking healthy, but it's difficult to do so when you have the oil price at the
point at which it is and talk of further economic impact going forward, right.
[10:15:10]
Let's get you some perspective from across the region. CNN's where are we going to go? CNN's Chief International Security Correspondent Nick Paton
Walsh standing by in northern Israel.
First up, though, I do want to get to our Chief Global Affairs Correspondent Matthew Chance, who is in Beirut. Matthew, our first chance
to speak to you live from Beirut. What's the latest? They're not just on the military operation on the ground, but the enormous humanitarian toll,
of course, that's taking place there.
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CHIEF GLOBAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Well, we do have those two challenges that Lebanon is very much sort of under pressure
from. First of all, that military challenge Israel carrying out an intensifying campaign of airstrikes against what it says are Hezbollah
related targets here in Beirut. And all day, we've seen dozens of strikes hit the area of Beirut, right behind me, the plumes of smoke have cleared
now, but that South Beirut, which is a Hezbollah stronghold, there have been lots of heavy strikes as well.
Elsewhere in the country, particularly in South Lebanon, where Israeli forces are battling Hezbollah on the ground, and in the Bekaa Valley as
well in the east of the country, which is another Hezbollah stronghold.
So, so that's that military situation that is, you know, really kind of causing enormous damage and suffering to people in this country.
But there's a related element as well, which is that before these air strikes take place, Israel is forcing or warning the residents of these
areas to flee their homes to make way for military operations, and that means in Beirut, in Becca and in South Lebanon, hundreds of thousands of
people have abandoned their homes. They're on the roads, clogging up the highways, trying to get to safer areas, causing enormous suffering for
them, of course, but also placing a massive burden, a massive pressure on the Lebanese authorities, even with the help of international aid
organizations, to find those many people food and shelter as they flee the front lines.
And so, these are the pressures that Lebanon is currently suffering under, Becky.
ANDERSON: I want to bring in Nick Paton Walsh, what are you hearing from the Israeli side, Nick?
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Yes. I mean, there clearly has been a quite ferocious Israeli air assault on
southern Lebanon. We started hearing it late last night, flashes over the hill, tops, distant, rumbles of likely Israeli air strikes, consistent,
relentless, really, for well over an hour, and then today, learning from Israel Defense Forces that there was a targeted operation in southern
Lebanon, hitting facilities commanders. Little detail offered as to where indeed this was. We're pretty much sure that's what we heard, though.
And this morning, in daylight, still constant jets in the sky, one above me here, as well, artillery, Apache attack helicopters, tanks and soldiers
moving around the border areas. Yes, certainly, but I wouldn't say we're seeing at this point, certainly publicly, where we've been indications that
Israel is amassing forces for some kind of significant ground invasion. They've not stated publicly that's necessarily their goal. Instead, it
appears that they are looking for more specific tasks, one by one, along with that extraordinary evacuation of everything south of the Litani River,
putting hundreds of thousands of people, yet again, on the move.
Now, so much of that southern Lebanon area we've seen from the border today already rubble, frankly, but I think it's fair to characterize the response
from Hezbollah that we've seen here is perhaps a little more than some may have anticipated. I think they've been many felt they'd been severely
damaged by the late 2024 campaign against them by Israel.
But we've seen just ourselves rockets flying over Kiryat Shmona, sort of relatively close to us earlier on today, and it's evidence that Hezbollah
retained the ability, certainly to put the sirens on in northern Israel quite frequently.
Israel too, also seeing some kind of ground resistance. They have put more forces inside Lebanon since the start of this phase of their offensive
against Hezbollah, calling it a more enforced buffer zone. But the operations inside have led to two fatalities, which were announced
yesterday, and the last count, I saw about 14 injured.
So, clearly, Israel moving forwards here, but possibly stepping back thus far from the major step of a ground offensive, Becky.
ANDERSON: It's good to have you, Nick and Matthew. Very much appreciated two extremely important datelines for us there and my colleagues on the
ground.
[10:20:05]
Next up, crowds in Iran pledge allegiance to the new Supreme Leader. We look at what his appointment means for the war and the future of Iran.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: President Trump says he will decide with the Israeli Prime Minister when to end this war with Iran. And while the war with Iran has
sent crude prices past $100 a barrel, Mr. Trump downplayed costs at the pump, saying, and I quote him here, short term oil prices, which will drop
rapidly when the destruction of the Iran nuclear threat is over, is a very small price to pay for USA.
Let's bring in our senior politics reporter Stephen Collinson at the White House. This follows, Stephen, Trump saying that he is not concerned about
gas prices rising, saying, if they rise, they will rise. Why is the president at least publicly projecting indifference to what is sort of
increased panic in the global economy right now?
STEPHEN COLLINSON, CNN POLITICS SENIOR REPORTER: I think because if he doesn't, then he has to wrestle with the implications of the war that he
started, especially in a political sense.
Often, I think the president's Truth Social post is a good window into his mind. He said, anyone that thought that gas prices were a problem were
fools. Well, that's not going to help people very much if the price of gassing up their car or their truck in the United States has gone through
the roof in a week, at a time when Americans are already very sensitive about the cost of everyday necessities like food and rent and everything
else.
So, I think the president is in somewhat of a political bind here that's growing the longer this war goes on and the wider the economic consequences
get, and part of that is his own making, because he didn't prepare the country for the costs of this potential war before it started, and the
rationales both for the war and his various scenarios for the end game are still quite confusing.
ANDERSON: The broader messaging from Trump's circle is worth having a listen to. Have -- let's have our viewers hear this from his White House
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. This is a response to whether the U.S. can put boots on the ground in Iran.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARIA BARTIROMO, FOX BUSINESS NETWORK HOST: Mothers out there are worried that we're going to have a draft, that they're going to see their sons get
and daughters get involved in this. What do you want to say about the president's plans for troops on the ground? As we know, it's been largely
an air campaign up until now.
KAROLINE LEAVITT, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: It has been, and it will continue to be, and President Trump wisely does not remove options off of
the table.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[10:25:07]
ANDERSON: I wonder how much alarm that is causing in the U.S. right now, Stephen.
COLLINSON: Yes. Well, the interesting thing about that was that it was an attempt by the news anchor there to allow the White House to clear up this
issue. And Karoline Leavitt, for whatever reason, perhaps because she doesn't want to get ahead of the president, as people say in these
situations, didn't clear it up.
There are two things that helped Donald Trump win the last election. One was managing the economy. The other was this idea that he, more than any
other president, would not cause any more foreign wars.
Both of those central premises of his campaign now are under real threat. You know, the idea that there would be a draft for this war seems
exceedingly farfetched. There wasn't a draft during the Iraq war, when there were hundreds of thousands of American troops deployed.
But I think it adds to the uncertainty, and not necessarily, among Donald Trump's most loyal supporters, but the people who won him the election were
swing voters who wanted him to fix the economy were worried about new foreign wars. Those are the people that could desert the Republicans in the
midterm elections and cause a real problem for Trump for the rest of his second term.
So, I think it's, you know, far too early to judge where this war is going to turn out militarily and geopolitically. But I think what we're seeing
the last few days is evidence that we knew to be there, that the political grounding of this war inside the United States is not that strong, and that
could factor into the President's calculations going forward, I think.
ANDERSON: Yes, about how long U.S. stays in. All right, it's good to have you Stephen, thank you.
Well, Iranian state media is reporting big public gatherings across Iran after authorities urged people to come out and pledge allegiance to the new
Supreme Leader there.
Videos on official media show what appear to be celebrations in support of Mojtaba Khamenei's appointment, differing views are known to exist there,
of course, though they are not getting an airing in Iran right now. Khamenei is the second son of Ali Khamenei who was killed in U.S.-Israeli
airstrikes at the beginning of this war. Analysts say appointing him sends a message of defiance to Donald Trump.
Let's get more with Sina Azodi, director of the Middle East Studies program at George Washington University in Washington. He is a relatively unknown
figure, certainly for people outside of the country. Most people have not heard of him. He was not an Ayatollah, senior cleric, certainly until
today.
So, can you just share more about him and what his rise tells us about the IRGC's consolidation of power, very specifically here.
SINA AZODI, DIRECTOR, MIDDLE EAST STUDIES PROGRAM, GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY: It's good to be with you, Becky. Listen, he is, as you pointed
out, he's the second son of late ayatollah Khamenei, who served in the Iran-Iraq war in the 27th Rasulullah division, which saw a lot of combat
during the Iran-Iraq war. And he didn't start his clerical journey until he was 30.
We do know that he is very close to the IRGC. He has been a shady figure with many reports, of course, unconfirmed reports, of his corruption, all
the properties that he owns in the West. And his rise to the power is an absolutely political decision.
He was a low-ranking clergy, and his appointment to the position of the supreme leader that requires far more religious qualifications tells us
that this is purely a political decision to ensure the continuity of the Islamic Republic.
An important point that I do want to make is that Iran is now -- the Islamic Republic is no longer a republic. It has joined the many dynasties
before it, like the Qajar dynasty, like the Pahlavi dynasty, and now with his appointment, we have the Khamenei dynasty, as I -- as I said. And his
relationship with the IRGC is very important, I think.
ANDERSON: Yes, and I want to get to that. But just to pick up and close out the sort of loop on these dynasties, the original conceit, of course, of
the Islamic Republic was to end these dynasties.
So, it looks as if that experiment is over. The regime has chosen to replace a father with his son, and that dynasty famously facing accusations
of corruption, of course, could lead to those comparisons and, of course, a blowback in Iran.
[10:30:10]
Look, I do just want to talk to you about who we have here and what happens next, because I was having a discussion with somebody earlier on today,
suggesting that Donald Trump has got his regime change in Iran, just not the regime change that he wanted.
I mean, Mojtaba Khamenei is a tool of the Revolutionary Guard, is he not? And his father, of course, empowered that Revolutionary Guard, but they
didn't run the place. Not sort of, you know, out loud, as it were. Whereas, now that's changed. This is a definite consolidation, as you see it,
correct, of the guard?
AZODI: Oh, absolutely. One of the scenarios that we tried to forecast was that when Ayatollah Khamenei leaves the scene, and we have to keep in mind
that he was 87, and he had survived prostate cancer. So, the issue of succession was already in discussion in Iran's political circles, in a
diaspora analyst, one of the scenarios that I thought would happen was a rather a hostile takeover of Iran's -- the entire political system by the
IRGC, and that has manifested itself by the pushing of Mojtaba to the position. He is inexperienced, he has never held a job in the Islamic
Republic, and he owes this job to the IRGC.
And by the time that he, in a way, socializes into the position and consolidates himself into the position. Absolutely, I think, IRGC will have
a far more powerful hand in Iran's political system. Not that it didn't prior to Mojtaba, but I think we should see even a more expansion of the
guards' military power.
ANDERSON: It's always good to have you, Sina. Thank you very much indeed for joining us. You get the analysis and insight that you need -- folks
here on CONNECT THE WORLD, on CNN.
Still to come, Iranians are being instructed to celebrate the announcement of that new supreme leader, the son of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
We'll take a look at what his appointment means, and a closer look at Iran's conflict with the U.S. and Israel after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANNOUNCER: This is CNN "BREAKING NEWS".
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[10:34:55]
ANDERSON: And welcome back to CONNECT THE WORLD, with me. Becky Anderson, live from our Middle East programming headquarters here in Abu Dhabi. Your
headlines this hour.
Gatherings have been held across Iran after authorities called on people to publicly pledge their allegiance to the new Supreme Leader.
Mojtaba Khamenei is the second son of Ali Khamenei who was killed in U.S.- Israeli airstrikes. Vladimir Putin has congratulated Khamenei and has reiterated Moscow's support for Tehran.
Bahrain's national oil company is declaring a force majeure. That is after its refinery came under attack. It grows -- joins a growing number of
countries in the region, where we are here cutting production or suspending shipments. The disruption has sent oil prices soaring.
Saudi Arabia accusing Iran of continuing attacks based on what it calls false claims. Riyadh says that Tehran wrongly alleged that fighter jets and
refueling aircraft in the kingdom were directly involved in the war.
Iran's president had earlier apologized to Gulf neighbors and said strikes would stop unless attacks originated from their territory.
Well, Israel has not ruled out expanding its targets as this war with Iran escalates, including figures at the very top of the country's leadership.
Iran's newly appointed supreme leader, Mujtaba Khamenei is widely seen as a hardline continuation of his father's rules. So, could he himself become a
target?
Well, here is what Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar told my colleague a little earlier.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BIANNA GOLODRYGA, CNN SENIOR GLOBAL AFFAIRS ANALYST: Is Mujtaba Khamenei, now a target for Israel.
GIDEON SA'AR, ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTER: Well, you will have to wait and see. But it is clear that he continue the very extremist and mad policies
of his father, is a hardliner. He is anti-American, is anti-Western, and you can see already the cracks inside this regime.
And I'll give you one example that demonstrated that during last weekend, we had heard the Iranian president, Pezeshkian, speaking about that, that
they are apologize in front of their neighbors, and they will not attack them again if they will not be attacked from the states.
But eventually you heard the Speaker of their parliament, saying, no, we will continue to attack. And on the ground, they continue to attack their
neighboring states. So, you can conclude, first, you have cracks which are already open. And second, it is clear that the hardliners are still calling
the shots there in Tehran.
And frankly, with these people, you cannot do anything serious if you want to solve conflict, as we saw in all the efforts that the U.S. had done
before June, and before this attack, during the time of Khamenei.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, you can watch the rest of that interview on "AMANPOUR" at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time. That is 9:00 tonight, if you are watching here in
Abu Dhabi.
My next guest, Greg Carlstrom, is a Middle East correspondent with The Economist. He wrote on X earlier: "What we are seeing now is both America
and Iran are facing the limits of their strategies. The regime didn't buckle and cut a quick deal with Trump and Gulf states were not the soft
underbelly that Iran expected them to be. Well, that leaves the war as a test of wills in which military might may be less important than the
ability to withstand economic pain and damage to critical infrastructure."
Gregg joins us now from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where he is based. Gregg, you are framing there crucial to help our viewers wrap our head around where we
are at. So, let's pass this out.
When it comes to this test of wills, as you describe it, what is the Gulf region's capacity to sustain these hits to critical infrastructure, do you
think?
GREGG CARLSTROM, MIDDLE EAST CORRESPONDENT, THE ECONOMIST: I think a lot of that depends on how long this war goes on.
I mean, if you had asked people 10 days ago, if they thought the Gulf would be able to endure thousands of canceled flights, disruptions to oil and gas
exports, ports being targeted at all the things that we have seen in the GCC, I think people would have been skeptical. But there has been a lot
more resilience than you might have expected in this region.
I think, if this continues for another week or two, then, the Gulf can probably weather that. But if we start talking about a longer-term
conflict, then, you have to worry about things like, what is the long-term impact on oil exports, for example. If firms, right now are running out of
storage capacity, may have to shut in some of their wells in places like Kuwait, will they be able to get those wells back online after the war
ends?
[10:40:00]
And so, they have to worry about not just weathering the immediate pain here, but what the longer-term consequences are going to be for their
economies.
ANDERSON: You know, I think, you know, you make a very good point. Step back and just consider what we might have anticipated 10 days ago, when we
were thinking about the potential for this U.S. threat on Iran, and it certainly was not the sort of impact that we have seen, and we continue to
see, and we see no end to it at present.
Your sources in the Gulf are telling you that Tehran is an unacceptable threat, and that -- and I quote here, America needs to finish what it
started.
At what point might the Gulf turn its response towards a more offensive posture, do you believe?
CARLSTROM: I think there's still a real debate around that question in the Gulf. I think, the problem many countries are having -- the debate that
many officials are having, is they don't really trust where America is going with this war. That is the message that I have been hearing. This
idea that America needs to finish the job. Maybe we, you know, oppose this war in the first place, which Gulf countries did, they didn't want it to
happen. But they feel as if now, they are living with this unacceptable threat across the Gulf, and they want it gone. So, there is that message
being sent to Washington.
But rulers in the Gulf also, they know Donald Trump. They know that he is unpredictable and that he says he is going to do something, and then, often
does the opposite. They can read the poll numbers in America, where this war remains very unpopular. It's polling well with Republicans, but broadly
with the American public. It's not.
And so, there is a real fear that if Gulf countries were to get involved, if they were to join the war, carry out airstrikes, even if they were
framed as defensive, sort of active defense, going after missiles and drones in Iran. What happens if they do that? And then, a week later,
Donald Trump decides, you know what, this is over, we are packing up. We are going home. It's a worst-case scenario for the Gulf, I think, because
then, you have painted a target on your back, and you are left with that regime still in power in Iran.
So, there is a lot of worry about where America is going with this. Will Donald Trump follow through?
ANDERSON: So, that brings me very neatly to the regime as it stands in Iran, because that has changed to a degree. And so, let's talk about the
Iranian regime strategy with the appointment of Khamenei's son; a hard liner, very close ties to the IRGC.
Do you believe that suggests Tehran could ramp up its strikes on Gulf oil facilities and desalination plants, for example. And were Donald Trump to
sort of, you know, look for a win, as it were, and out? What does this regime under Mujtaba Khamenei look like to you going forward?
CARLSTROM: I think, it's too early to say what it will look like, partly because there is much that we don't know about Mujtaba. I mean, he is -- he
is close to the Revolutionary Guard, WE know that. He certainly seems like he is going to follow in his father's footsteps and continue a very
hardline approach. But how much power does he actually have within what has become a very factious Iranian system, and particularly, in wartime, where
you have senior officials hiding in bunkers in various parts of the country, where it is difficult, in some cases, for them to even communicate
with one another.
We don't know Mujtaba's condition. There have been reports that he may have been wounded in an Israeli strike earlier in the war. So, will he be able
to consolidate power in Iran or is he there more as a figurehead than actually the Revolutionary Guard, and other actors are going to be the ones
calling the shots in Iran going forward? We just don't know the answer to that yet.
But I think, at the very least, the fact that he was chosen as the supreme leader signals continuity, rather than change. It signals that there is not
going to be moderation or pragmatism coming out of Iran. And if Trump is looking for a quick win, a way to declare victory and find an off ramp
here, the Iranians are not going to provide it to him.
ANDERSON: Yes. Well, he certainly wasn't the chosen one, as far as Donald Trump is concerned. In fact, you know, he had called the potential for
Mujtaba Khamenei as the new supreme leader an unacceptable decision.
Well, you know, his involvement, as it were, in the leadership clearly hasn't panned out. He is not found a partner effectively to kind of deal
with. Iranians have not heeded his call to take to the streets, because, as you write, "An already war fatigue populace hiding from toxic oil fumes and
regime enforces is unlikely to mobilize."
So, I do wonder where this leaves the U.S. is strategy as we understood it? Now, there have been various sort of descriptions of that strategy.
[10:45:04]
But as we understood it, what is it -- where does this leave the strategy for ultimately getting rid of this regime, decapitating it, and asking
Iranians sort of rise up and take over their government, 10 days into this conflict?
CARLSTROM: You could argue that America's goals in this war may end up converging with Israel's goals, because none of America's other possible
outcomes here are going to come true.
I mean, Trump has talked about making a deal with the regime. I think, we can forget about that with the selection of Mujtaba as supreme leader.
That's not going to happen. As you say, he didn't get his way in picking the new head of the regime. And so, he hasn't found his Delcy Rodriguez
figure. People are not mobilizing, and that is unlikely to happen while there is a war going on.
So, what does that leave as an outcome here? I think that leaves continued destabilization of the regime, striking at not just military capabilities,
but the economic-base that underpins the regime. That strike on fuel depots in Tehran took place Saturday night into Sunday, obviously, had
catastrophic environmental consequences for people in Tehran. But the Israelis trying to justify that by saying that the Revolutionary Guard
profit handsomely from the oil industry, the fuel industry in Iran, which is true, they do.
And so, I wouldn't be surprised if we see more of those sorts of strikes, which are aimed at the economic pillar of the regime, the economic pillar
of the Revolutionary Guard, in particular. That's what Israel has wanted to do throughout this war.
I think, in the last war, as well, last June, is to try and chip away at the foundations of the regime. And if America can't get a deal, if it can't
get its preferred candidate, a supreme leader, or a popular uprising, I think, it may end up converging on that goal as well, even though that is a
source of great concern for America's allies in the Gulf.
ANDERSON: Understood. Good to have you, Gregg. I really appreciate your time at Riyadh in Saudi Arabia today. Thank you.
My team here in Abu Dhabi are contributing across multiple hours of CNN programming and reporting new information on all CNN platforms around the
clock. So, if you miss any of the headlines and news making conversations when they happen live on CNN or any of the hours that I'm anchoring, you
can find them on our digital platforms, from the CONNECT THE WORLD landing page, cnn.com/CTW, to my social channels where we post all the key lines
and most insightful analysis from our interviewees throughout the day. That is @BeckyCNN on X and Instagram.
We will be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Let's connect you to developments around the Iranian women's football team, who have been competing in the women's Asian Cup in
Australia.
[10:50:04]
In the past few hours, a source says that five members of the team are currently safe with police. Supporters had gathered around their bus after
the team's final game on Sunday, and said, they could see at least three players making the international hand signal for help.
Though, a source close to the team is disputing that the players would know that sign. Well. Christina McFarlane is following this story for us. She is
in London today.
And Christina, it's good to have you. Just get us up to speed on this and how these players are doing.
CHRISTINA MACFARLANE, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Yes. It's important to note, Becky, as you just mentioned there that all of those protesters who
turned out to support the team last night, who were seen around that bus, were not necessarily all there in support of the team. There were some who
are using the moment to lobby in support of Reza Pahlavi. So, this is an incredibly complex political situation on the ground as well.
And you will remember, after the team took that stance not to sing the national anthem, we had threats coming from Iran state T.V., branding these
women traitors, calling them the pinnacle of dishonor.
So, pressure had been growing on the Australian government to intervene here. Questions as to whether the women themselves would choose to defect.
Well, we had new information today. We learned that five players have left the team, have left the team hotel, and are now safe with Australian
police. We are told by a source that they do not -- expressly do not want to travel back to Iran.
And this has been an incredibly fraught tournament for these women. We know that they have been closely monitored by the IRGC. In fact, one of the
traveling party with the women is believed to be IRGC-affiliated. We know they had their phones tapped coming into this tournament, and now, they
face a really impossible decision, decision to go home and be punished or even treated -- and even treated more harshly than that. Or indeed to stay
and to risk the lives of their families and their loved ones.
And I have heard in the last few minutes that -- or have been told in the last few minutes that three of these women's families have actually been
threatened back home in Iran. So, it's incredibly fraught moment for this team.
ANDERSON: Christina, there have been calls for the players to be blocked from leaving Australia for fear of persecution. The last few minutes,
Donald Trump actually weighing in. What did he say?
MACFARLANE: Yes. Becky, he posted just recently on truth social saying this: "Australia is making a terrible humanitarian mistake by allowing the
Iran national women's soccer team to be forced back to Iran, where they will most likely be killed. Don't do it, Mr. Prime Minister, give asylum.
The U.S. will take them if you won't. Thank you for your attention to this matter. President Donald J. Trump."
So, Becky, we haven't heard much yet from the Australian government. The Foreign Minister Penny Wong was out speaking yesterday to press, and she
said that she wouldn't say anything as to whether the government had had much connection with the team, and we haven't heard anything much yet from
FIFA, football's governing body as well, who it's worth mentioning, do have a statutory obligation to ensure that these players are protected and that
they are kept safe?
We know, of course, that FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, is very close to Donald Trump, having given him the FIFA Peace Prize last November. So, we
will wait to see if these words from Donald Trump and make any inroads here on protecting these women.
ANDERSON: Good to have you, Christina. Thank you so much. Christina Macfarlane in the house for you.
We are going to take a very short break. Back after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:55:16]
ANDERSON: Right. Experts say the war on Iran is driving the worst oil disruption in history. Brent crude hit nearly $120 today before settling
back to around 102, as G7 finance ministers meet to discuss releasing strategic oil reserves, and it is a similar picture for U.S. crude, both
benchmarks hitting prices not seen since the beginning of Russia's invasion back in 2022.
And it is worth noting that just two weeks ago, prices were around 60 bucks on the barrel before the war began.
And just before we go a live look at the U.S. markets, and they are down a couple of 100 points. Certainly, on the Dow, which equates to about a one
percent drop. And similar drops on that S&P and the NASDAQ. Only the NASDAQ actually down a little bit less.
So, we are seeing these markets -- these markets sort of a little conflicted today, given that significant rise in oil prices, you would have
perhaps, expected these markets to be lower. It's the beginning of the trading week. Obviously, a lot going on behind the scenes to sort of try
and support these markets, not least from the U.S. and indeed the G7 on the oil -- strategic oil reserves.
So, we'll wait to see what happens. Good to have you with me for CONNECT THE WORLD. Stay with CNN. "ONE WORLD" is next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
