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War with Iran; Drones Shot Down over Iraq's Kurdistan Region; British Jets Intercept Drones Defending Jordan and Bahrain; Violence Escalates between Israel and Lebanon Hezbollah; G7 Nations Hold Off on Releasing Oil Reserves; Top Iranian Security Official Ali Larijani Threatens Trump; Iranian Footballers Seek Asylum in Australia. Aired 10-11a ET
Aired March 10, 2026 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[10:00:00]
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): This is CNN breaking news.
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST (voice-over): And welcome to the second hour of CONNECT THE WORLD from our Middle East programming headquarters. I'm Becky
Anderson here in Abu Dhabi. The time is 6:00 in the evening. It is 10 am in Washington.
And in the past hour or so, the U.S. Defense Secretary says that the war with Iran will quote, "end on our timeline."
Pete Hegseth laying out what he calls "a winning war effort" in a Pentagon briefing a little earlier. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PETE HEGSETH, U.S. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: We're crushing the enemy in an overwhelming display of technical skill and military force. We will not
relent until the enemy is totally and decisively defeated.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, the U.S. Joint Chiefs chairman Dan Caine providing details of just what the U.S. is targeting and hitting.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEN. DAN CAINE, CHAIRMAN, U.S. JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF: To date, they've struck more than 5,000 targets. U.S. Strategic Command bombers recently
dropped dozens of 2,000-pound GPS-penetrating weapons on deeply buried missile launchers across the southern flank.
We also have struck several one-way drone factories to get at the heart of their autonomous capability.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Now this is coordinated action with Israel, of course. And inside Iran, Israel launching what it says is a broad wave of strikes in
Tehran after hitting military infrastructure in other parts of the country.
Video from the Iranian Red Crescent shows rescue operations at a heavily damaged building. Iran's U.N. ambassador says more than 1,300 civilians
have been killed in Iran since the war started 11 days ago.
In Israel, a second person has died from an Iranian ballistic missile strike. Israel counting 12 deaths in this 11-day war so far.
And an alarming warning today from the world's biggest oil exporter, Saudi Aramco fearing potentially catastrophic consequences for oil markets if the
Strait of Hormuz does not reopen for commercial oil shipping.
Well, I'm going to start with the CNN team in Tehran, reporting heavy aerial bombardment overnight into Tuesday. They tell us that the impacts
were more severe than in previous days.
I want to mention, as we have been doing since CNN has been operating in Iran, that it operates there with the permission of the Iranian government,
as required under local regulations. We maintain full editorial control over what our teams there report. CNN's Fred Pleitgen is on the ground and
describes what he heard and saw.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It was a very kinetic night here in the Iranian capital, Tehran.
We ourselves witnessed several waves of what appeared to be very heavy airstrikes in the building that we're in right now and that we're staying
in, was shaken on several occasions from the sheer force of the impact.
Now from our vantage point, it appeared as though, especially targets in the east of Tehran, were being attacked, also possibly around Mehrabad
Airport, which is in the west of Tehran and is actually an area that has been attacked in the past as well.
All this as the airstrikes conducted mostly by the U.S. and Israel continue not just here in Tehran but, of course, throughout this entire country.
Meanwhile, the political standoff also continues as well, President Trump, of course, saying that he vows to keep the Strait of Hormuz open for oil
shipments into the world's markets, whereas the Iranians are warning that they are the ones who control the Strait of Hormuz.
A source close to the Iranian government telling me that the Iranians are the ones who control the taps of the world's oil supply, they say that Iran
is even thinking of imposing duties on ships carrying oil that are affiliated with countries friendly to the United States.
At the same time, the Iranians are saying also at this point in time, they see no sense in negotiations with the United States under preparing for
what could be a long war -- Fred Pleitgen, CNN, Tehran.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: All right. That's the latest reporting from Fred in Tehran. We've got Nick Paton Walsh back with us this hour from Tel Aviv. Paula
Hancocks is here in Abu Dhabi.
[10:05:00]
Nick, let me start with you; another brutal overnight attack on Tehran. We've heard from the U.S. Pentagon, from the Joint Chiefs chairman, about
what the military targets are for the U.S.
Is Israel closer to achieving their war goals?
Is it clear at this point?
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: In Iran, I think it's fair to say the Iranians have set quite -- sorry; the Israelis
have set quite an expansive set of potential political goals.
Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu at one point saying he wanted democracy. And they've clearly had regime change in their sights.
And indeed, a reminder that, just in the last 48 hours, we've had them reiterating their pledge to kill the successor of ayatollah Ali Khamenei,
his son, Mojtaba, who has laid extraordinarily low since his appointment to that particular role, perhaps for obvious reasons.
But yet the intensity of the strikes persists, certainly. And we got, I think, from speaking at the press conference we just had at the Pentagon, a
bit more clarity as to the U.S. goals.
According to Pete Hegseth, the secretary of war, they remain very much what they were when this all began: destroy the missiles and the bunkers;
destroy the navy; over 50 ships are hit. And then also prevent Iran from ever being able to have a nuclear weapon.
That was pretty farfetched, it seemed, prior to this conflict. But Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine -- I'm not suggesting a massive policy difference
here -- but he talked about the third point being more around destroying the military industrial capabilities, the complex Iran has, its ability to
make the drones, make the missiles.
To essentially mean, as president Trump keeps saying, they don't have to come back and do this all over again five or 10 years later. But perhaps
General Caine more tethered to the very specific, gritty reality of the 5,000 targets that the United States says it's hit so far.
And so I think we're seeing clearly a target list that's grown over time. One, I'm sure, given that Hegseth also said today will be the heaviest day
of airstrikes against Iran and, last night, residents in Tehran reported being unable to sleep, along with our team there, owing to the
extraordinary ferocity of those strikes.
I think we're probably going to see at some point that target list, as it expands, begin to shrink off as well. But ultimately, as we keep hearing
again and again, the officials around president Trump are absolutely clear that they want to give him maximum latitude to decide at any moment that he
wants to declare this a victory.
And I think, at this point, we're seeing this remarkable ambivalence between president Trump saying the war is very complete or so close but
also saying it could go on for a long time.
But clearly, in the gap, he's hoping for some Iranian political concession, perhaps, to enable him to bring this to a close. But I think that's frankly
a misreading of the regime in Tehran as it still exists.
ANDERSON: Yes. We also heard from Pete Hegseth last hour or so -- Paula, let me bring you in on this-- that the last 24 hours have seen, he said,
Iran fire the lowest number of weapons that they've been able to do.
Now that is very likely the case. And we have to take that as given, certainly on this Gulf region, where many of those missiles are aimed. We
have seen a reduction in incoming strikes. They come, though. And the UAE and both Bahrain have been struck today again.
And it is raising the question as to why it is that, certainly in the last 24 hours or so, Iran seems to be directing its ire here and at Manama.
Is it clear?
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, well, we just had one more person killed in Bahrain, Becky, as a residential building was hit. And then
yesterday there were some 32 injured when a residential building was hit as well.
And here in the UAE, we have had the highest number of missiles and drones fired as far as the publicly available figures go. But we've been asking
experts as to why exactly there is this phenomenon when the UAE, which refused to let the U.S. use its bases or its airspace, does appear to be
receiving the greatest number of projectiles.
And what they have said is that they believe that Iran can tick more than one box when it tries to attack the UAE, saying that it is a global
powerhouse. So it affects the global economy.
If they target Dubai, for example, the U.S. military security alliance, which is what Tehran cites as a reason that they are attacking these Gulf
nations, and then, of course, it is geographically close. It's something like 100 kilometers. It's at the most narrow area Becky.
[10:10:00]
Paula, good to have you.
And, Nick, thank you.
So we've got you a Tehran dateline. You've been in Tel Aviv with us and here in Abu Dhabi.
Saudi Aramco in Saudi Arabia, the world's leading oil exporter, says prolonged disruption to oil flows through that Strait of Hormuz could
cause, and I quote here, "catastrophic consequences."
The U.S. and Iran trading threats about what is this critical waterway normally used to transport some 20 percent of global supply. But we've seen
energy prices ease off over the last 24 hours, despite the fact that that strait is actually still pretty much unavailable to the some 200 vessels
which are parked up on both sides.
Brent crude now at around $91.50 on the barrel. This is lower than it was, of course, Monday but higher than it was following Donald Trump's comments
that the war could end soon.
I guess my point is we have been seeing some whiplash with these oil prices. CNN business reporter Anna Cooban live in London.
And you've been looking at these oil markets very specifically. Just walk us through what we are seeing and what traders are telling you today.
ANNA COOBAN, CNN BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Becky. Well, we're seeing this whiplash we saw last night Trump's comments that the war
is, in his words very complete.
Of course, there are some mixed messages coming out of the White House. We saw Hegseth talking about how this war will only end on the U.S.' timeline
once the enemy, Iran in this case, has been decisively defeated.
And yes, oil prices are still so much higher than they were before this war broke out on February the 28th. But oil traders are breathing somewhat of a
sigh of relief just from those comments from Trump.
But you know we've seen from CNN's Fred Pleitgen, in Tehran last night, heavy aerial bombardments. We are still very much in a war, Becky. That all
important Strait of Hormuz, through which you've got about 20 percent of the world's supply, is still choked off.
Iran is threatening to bomb vessels going through it. The major shipping companies are avoiding it. And the U.S. is providing some assurances that
there'll be some naval escorts at some point or they will backstop these ships with insurance.
But that really is not going to cut it. And this all-important waterway is still very much blocked off. So no matter the kind of -- somewhat of the
relief that these investors are feeling today, Becky, we're still very much in a conflict.
ANDERSON: Good to have you, Anna. And it's one that we're really focusing on, what happens in that very small 21-mile strait has a real impact on the
global economy. Thank you.
My next guest is Mohammad Ali Shabani, editor of Amwaj.media, which is a digital publication focused on Iran, Iraq and the Gulf countries. Mohammad
is -- has analysis which, frankly, is second to none. It's the reason that we regularly talk to him and he joins us now.
And thank you. We heard in that Pentagon briefing a short time ago that the U.S. military is looking at options to escort these vessels through the
Strait of Hormuz.
How risky is that?
How do you expect Iranians to react to that?
Let's just start small and we'll go wider at this point.
MOHAMMAD ALI SHABANI, EDITOR, AMWAJ.MEDIA: Sure. Thank you, Becky, again, for having me on your show. I really appreciate the feedback.
I think that Trump so far has kind of crowed about taking down the large surface vessels in Iran's navy. They put down the elimination of Iran's
navy as among the key war objectives. But the reality is that Iran relies on its geography and also on unconventional means to control the strait.
And what I mean by that is a very wide array of coastal batteries, coastal missiles, marine drones. And we see many, many examples of them. And these
drones can be detected by radar. It's very difficult. It's very difficult to target them as well because they're so small. And many of them stealth.
Even so, I think that looking at the potential entry of U.S. war vessels to escort ships going through this strait, which is very narrow, as you say,
it's going to basically make them targets. It's going to be very, quite easy for Iran to hit them. And so far they haven't done that.
And what's remarkable about the current situation in the Strait of Hormuz is that about 20 percent of the world's seaborne crude passes through it.
Iran has not really sunk any vessel there. There's no real warfare going on right now.
This is all just based on pure threats and ensures basically being quite scared about ships passing through it. We don't know how it's going to look
if an actual war breaks out there, right? That's a different situation.
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ANDERSON: Yes. You make a really, really good point. And I also think it is important to point out that, while we do a lot of talk about drones and
ballistic missiles -- and rightly so; I mean we are privy to attacks from both of those here in the UAE.
What we haven't talked a lot about over the past 11 days or so is the threat from autonomous sea vehicles. And I'm talking about drones in the
sea. And should we see a war break out in that Strait of Hormuz, Persian Gulf, that's the -- that's the asset that we will be talking about long and
hard if we if we get to that.
Look, you've got a really interesting assessment of the change in leadership in Iran, which I think our viewers will benefit from.
What do you believe the calculus is in Iran with the -- with the appointment of this new supreme leader, Khamenei Jr., if you will, what the
-- what the idea is, what the consideration is internally and how the U.S. might be working through this appointment and its impact?
SHABANI: So I think if you want to really boil it down to its essence, the appointment of Khamenei's son, which, in unusual circumstances, I think
would never happen, because the Iranian state is founded on explicit rejection of hereditary rule.
I think it really sends two messages. Number one is continuity. It's about defiance. It's about clearly stating that we're not going to go anywhere
and we're here to stay and you have to deal with us. That's -- I think that's number one. It's about defiance and continuing to fight.
But I think, maybe counterintuitively, it's also providing a potential offramp.
And what do I mean by that?
I think the Iranian leadership understands that it's militarily inferior to the United States. It's not going to have a military victory.
So you have to think about how would Iran define victory, right?
Because each state needs to have a kind of end game in which they can claim to be to have been victorious. And I think, for Iran, it's about being able
to say that we survived and not only survived, that we remain, so to speak.
What I mean by we here is the state. So having not just the Islamic Republic intact but in fact led by another ayatollah Khamenei, that
provides an off ramp. So I think they're not there yet.
They still feel, I think, in their strategic thinking, that obviously this war will have to end at some point. And as I said previously, it's a --
it's part of a negotiation essentially. But they don't want a situation where they'll have a repeat of the past so to speak.
They don't want to have a ceasefire and another conflict six months on. They want to be able to impose sufficient costs on the kind of aggressor
states to make sure that we're not going to repeat of this, right.
And also because of this, this is part of a negotiation. They don't want to go back to the table at a position which is worse for them than what we had
in Geneva prior to the outbreak of this conflict. Right.
So I think essentially if you look at it from the U.S. perspective, Trump so far explicitly has been saying that he's not very happy about,
obviously, this appointment of Khamenei's son, because what he's really done is replace one Khamenei for another.
So it doesn't look very good for him. But at the same time, I think if he can announce that, well, my objective was to take out the father, so to
speak, and if my objective was to degrade some of the military capabilities, the silo (ph) missiles, et cetera, the major surface vessels
of the Iranian navy, that could open space for something down the line.
I think we're not quite there yet. I think Trump's remarks so far hyping kind of this prospect of peace is more about reassuring markets, which I
think is his main concern right now.
ANDERSON: Yes. I do think the potential of an offramp, as you described it here, is a fascinating idea. Your assessment, of course, also highlighting
the four-dimensional chess that we know an Iranian regime is wont to play. And one that not just the U.S. but countries around the world should be
well aware of.
Your outlet reporting on how Iraq finally is emerging as a theater for war in this conflict. Just give us a sense of what's going on and how likely a
regional spillover is there at this point.
SHABANI: So there are several dimensions to what's to what's occurring in Iraq. And number one is that Iran's allies there, the Shia Arabs, have been
firing a ton of drones at U.S. sites. I'm talking about U.S. embassy in Baghdad, U.S. consulate in Irbil, et cetera.
We also have the dimension where the Trump administration has been considering deploying or working with Iranian Kurdish opposition groups
based in northern Iraq to kind of act as a ground force in a potential invasion. It appears that Turkish pressure has averted that scenario.
[10:20:00]
The third element to look at is that the Iraqi economy is very much reliant on oil export revenue and the country most affected by this kind of
blockage of transit through the Strait of Hormuz is actually Iraq.
So many countries -- not just Iraq; Kuwait as well, for instance; Qatar as well has announced a kind of force majeure on its gas exports -- they're
being stuck with a situation now where they have to essentially shut in production at some point soon, because they don't have enough storage
facilities. Right.
They have nowhere to put the oil that they're pumping. So even if we have a situation now where they announce a peace deal today, it's going to take
weeks just to deal with the backup.
And also in case they do start to shut down production, that's going to take months. So we're talking about a process where the knockon effects are
not just going to end tomorrow if peace is announced tonight, so to speak.
ANDERSON: Mohammad Ali Shabani, it's always a pleasure. Thank you very much indeed for joining us. I always enjoy talking to you. I learn a lot.
Thank you.
Still to come, the U.S. and Israel went to war with Iran. But Tehran's neighbors are paying the price. We're going to dig deeper into the regional
impact of this conflict. More on that is after.
This.
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ANDERSON: All right. I'm Becky Anderson from our Middle East headquarters here in Abu Dhabi. It's been 11 days since the first U.S. and Israeli
strikes on Iran. The conflict, of course, is spreading, with neighboring countries reporting fresh attacks.
Eyewitness footage shows a fire burning near the UAE consulate in northern Iraq. Counter-terrorism authorities say three explosive-laden drones were
shot down over Irbil on Monday, with some debris landing near the consulate building but no casualties reported. There. Pro-Iranian militia in Iraq
have claimed responsibility.
Meantime, in the Gulf, Bahrain's ministry of interior says one person killed and eight others wounded Monday after an Iranian strike on a
residential building.
And the U.K.'s ministry of defense says British jets intercepted drones in defense of Jordan and Bahrain. And I could go on. Let's discuss all of this
with Firas Maksad. He's managing director for the Middle East and North Africa at the Eurasia Group.
Always good to have you on and thanks for joining us again. For us, this region that I am in, frankly, sitting on the edge or on edge at this point,
caught between the unpredictability of this Iranian regime and indeed the Trump administration at this point.
And trying to get on with things because daily life, of course, does carry on, aside from the points at which we have to seek shelter. We heard from
Pete Hegseth earlier on today. He said that Trump gets to control the throttle of this war.
[10:25:00]
That won't exactly be reassuring to Gulf leaders, considering Trump's mission and message does keep changing. And he has said himself that he has
been very surprised by the Iranian assault on its Gulf neighbors.
Your thoughts?
FIRAS MAKSAD, MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA MANAGING DIRECTOR, EURASIA GROUP: Becky, Trump's message is inconsistent and keeps changing. He keeps
changing the signpost here.
What is the objective?
Is it regime change, as he alluded to; called on the Iranian people to rise up, seize the opportunity but didn't commit the U.S. to it?
Is it degrading the nuclear program further, which he had claimed to have obliterated?
Is it degrading and doing away with Iran's ballistic missile capabilities and drone program?
The reality is that the message from the White House has been inconsistent. Now we can talk about why that's the case.
If that's part of the strategy, if Trump is allowing himself some wiggle room to call it -- call it a mission accomplished and take the exit ramp at
some point. But it's clearly inconsistent.
That is -- that stands in stark opposition to what the message has been from the GCC, from these Gulf Arab states -- Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar,
Kuwait and Oman. The message all along has been don't do this.
There's a strong and has been a strong preference for a diplomatic outcome to this conflict, rather than the war that we're currently in.
But equally consistent across the board from these countries to Donald Trump, if you were going to go ahead and do this, do it right. Finish the
job. Don't cut loose halfway and leave us hanging. That continues to be (INAUDIBLE) today.
ANDERSON: Yes. And that's a really good point because he is doing it now, of course.
They have been dragged in and I wonder what Gulf leaders, do you believe, are thinking now and going forward?
And like you say, you know, not finishing the job at this point is going to leave this thing pretty much undone. And will make things even more
difficult going forward.
And look, let's be quite clear. There is no love lost between these Gulf nations and Iran. And for those who had a relationship, it seems to be
over. There is no goodwill, it seems, left amongst Gulf nations. Neither is there much goodwill around the Arab and Islamic world at this point.
So what do you believe happens next?
MAKSAD: Yes. A lot depends on how Trump and Pete Hegseth, as he put it, you know, being in charge of -- being at the wheel in charge of the
throttle depends on where they decide to go next.
If Trump calls a decisive victory this week and essentially does not continue to degrade Iran's ballistic and drone programs, then I think a lot
of these Gulf states are going to find themselves in a very difficult position.
Iran is going to declare victory even if they're able to continue to send one drone. The day after Trump declares victory, they're going to be
standing 10 feet tall, claiming to the world that they took on the United States, took on Israel and kept firing.
And so there has to be a diplomatic offramp at some point once Iran has been weakened enough. The Russians are making noises. Certainly the Kremlin
on the phone with Donald Trump yesterday, offering that off ramp.
The Omanis can potentially step in again. It has to be an organized end to this war rather than a unilateral one, where Iran continues to stand tall
and fire.
ANDERSON: I am also really keen to get your analysis today on the ongoing fighting in Lebanon or the ongoing Israeli attacks on Lebanon. You've been
discussing a diplomatic initiative by the Lebanese state to negotiate with Israel, to build a postwar order without the Iran-backed Hezbollah
dominating the country.
Just talk to us about that and how it fits into the reality on the ground as, of course, this humanitarian crisis grows with, once again, hundreds of
thousands of Lebanese people on the move and displaced at this point.
MAKSAD: That's right, Becky. Some half a million Lebanese internally displaced at this point. Bombing continuing to rock the southern suburbs of
Beirut. And certainly much of south Lebanon is evacuated with the anticipation of a possible Israeli ground campaign in southern Lebanon.
Listen, the Lebanese state, the Lebanese government is messaging very clearly that it is interested in holding direct, high-level, possibly
ministerial-level negotiations with Israel.
Now, mind you, that doesn't mean that the Lebanese government, the Lebanese army in particular, is ready to do the heavy lifting. I continue to be very
skeptical about the willingness, perhaps the ability, of the Lebanese army to confront Hezbollah.
[10:30:06]
Which is now -- has been labeled as an outlaw organization by the Lebanese government, calling for both its military and security apparatus to be
dismantled.
I think the reality of things is that the Lebanese would rather see Israel do the tough job of taking on Hezbollah, the Americans take on the tough
job of cutting Iran down to size.
But what they're really signaling through this initiative to Israel is that once that is accomplished, they will possibly find a partner in Lebanon in
trying to create a new order in which the Lebanese state gets to call the shots.
Not Iran and not its proxies in Lebanon, i.e. Hezbollah, which decided to open fire and drag Lebanon into a war in defense of Iran and its supreme
leader
ANDERSON: You and I have talked about navigating a new Middle East many times. And as we, you know, see the challenges around the region, so we
must also try and look beyond those challenges, where this region may be headed going forward.
And your insight and analysis on what is going on there in Lebanon and the relations between that and Israel hugely important as we do that. Firas,
thank you.
Firas Maksad in the house for you.
Right. I'm Becky Anderson here in Abu Dhabi. Still to come, president Trump sending mixed signals on when the U.S. and Israel's war with Iran might
end. We are following reaction up next.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is CNN breaking news.
ANDERSON: Welcome back. You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD with me, Becky Anderson. These are your headlines this hour.
And during a press briefing at the Pentagon earlier today, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the U.S. will not relent in its war with Iran
until, quote, "the enemy is totally and decisively defeated."
And he added that the ultimate decision to end the war rests with president Donald Trump.
The CNN team in Tehran reports very heavy aerial bombardment overnight Monday into Tuesday. They tell us the impact of the airstrikes caused the
walls of the buildings to shake. The strike seemed to target the eastern part of Tehran, as well as the area close to Mehrabad airport, which had
already been targeted in past days.
Well, two more members of the Iranian women's football team, a player and a coach, are now reportedly seeking asylum in Australia as the rest of the
squad leaves Australia for Iran.
Five players were granted humanitarian visas earlier by the Australian government. It comes after players stayed silent while their national
anthem was played last week against South Korea.
[10:35:00]
Well, as the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran stretches into a second week, President Donald Trump is giving somewhat conflicting answers on how much
longer it will last. Monday, he said the war would or could end soon or it could go further. Take a listen
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: We'll not relent until the enemy is totally and decisively defeated. We've already won in many ways but we haven't won enough. We've
struck over 5,000 targets to date. Some of them very major targets.
And we've left some of the most important targets for later. We could call it a tremendous success right now. As we leave here, I could call it. Or we
could go further and we're going to go further.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, CNN's Kevin Liptak joining us from Washington.
We've just learned that the White House press secretary will brief the press in a couple of hours.
What can we expect to hear next from the administration?
KEVIN LIPTAK, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: I don't think that we're going to hear much clarity about what the president actually thinks the
timeline is here.
Certainly Karoline Leavitt is going to come out and I think try and explain a little bit further of what the objectives are and certainly try and
proclaim a degree of victory in accomplishing some of the military objectives.
But there's no sense, I think, from people in the administration, at least this morning, that they are anywhere near being able to explain what the
actual end game in this conflict is.
And, you know, as the president kind of goes back and forth about whether this war could extend for days or weeks or whether he thinks that the
conflict may be ending soon.
You know, it does seem as if he's doing some deliberate ambiguity about how much longer he's here, I think, recognizing that there are some serious
political pitfalls that he has in front of him.
And it is true that inside the White House that there are many advisers who are now wondering whether the president needs to be clear about where this
is all heading.
You know, the president, certainly when it comes to gas prices, is facing some backlash, including from Republicans, who recognize that this could
potentially be catastrophic for them in an election year that has already been focused on affordability, cost of living issues, that kind of thing.
I think part of the reason the president hasn't been able to lay out a consistent end game is that his objectives, even to him, are somewhat
unclear, you know, whether it's just about taking out Iran's missile and nuclear programs or whether this is about some grander regime change.
The president has never really been clear about what exactly he's trying to accomplish. And I think even behind the scenes, it's not necessarily clear
to him as he's talking to his advisers where this is all headed.
So when we hear Karoline Leavitt today, certainly she'll be asked about all of this. But I'm not sure I would expect any clear answers from her today.
ANDERSON: Yes; 2 pm, as I understand it, that briefing is scheduled. Kevin, thank you.
Kevin Liptak for you from the White House.
French president Emmanuel Macron visited troops aboard the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle off the coast of Crete on Monday. That is after his
decision to deploy about a dozen naval vessels to the Middle East region.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
EMMANUEL MACRON, FRENCH PRESIDENT (through translator): I want to tell the French people that France, at this time of great turmoil in the region, is
operating calmly and methodically in the service of protecting its citizens, in partnership with its allies.
And in a strictly defensive manner and in the service of freedom of movement to ultimately defend our own interests, our citizens, our security
and access to the resources we need, as well as for the global economy and to live up to our responsibilities.
Meaning to stand alongside our partners and those with whom we have defense agreements, nothing more.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, that comes after the U.K. says British RAF jets successfully intercepted drones in defense of Jordan and Bahrain. I have to
say, the French in the skies here over the UAE, with their Rafael jets, providing what is this multi-layered air defense here in the UAE.
Meantime, G7 finance ministers addressing the potential release of strategic oil reserves to counter surging oil prices.
But they say, quote, "We are not there yet."
Well, let's bring in CNN producer Sebastian Shukla in Berlin.
Seb, what are the other European leaders saying about what is currently going on in Iran and around the region where I am?
SEBASTIAN SHUKLA, CNN PRODUCER: Yes, Becky. Good afternoon. We saw president Macron there on the flagship of the French Navy, the Charles de
Gaulle making a very clear statement that his idea is that these naval vessels are there to be able to protect European assets and European member
states.
It's very clear that the Europeans are looking in any way possible not to be dragged into this conflict more than is absolutely necessary. They are
within their right, of course, to defend their military assets in the region.
[10:40:04]
We've seen, as you mentioned, that British air base that was attacked in Cyprus. And there are many European soldiers also based around the region
more generally.
But what I think we're hearing a little bit more from now, concerningly, particularly here in Germany, we heard from the German chancellor, is a
little bit more about what exactly the end game here is for the United States and for Israel and that the Europeans seem a little confused as to
what that is.
Take a listen to what the German chancellor said just a few minutes ago
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FRIEDRICH MERZ, GERMAN CHANCELLOR (through translator): The United States and Israel have been waging war against Iran for over a week. We share many
of these goals.
But with each day of the war, more questions arise. We are particularly concerned that there is apparently no common plan for how this war can be
brought to a swift and convincing conclusion.
Meanwhile, we are witnessing a dangerous escalation. Iran is indiscriminately attacking countries in the region, including close
partners and allies of ours. We condemn this in the strongest possible terms.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SHUKLA: So we hear there the German chancellor saying that he's not clear exactly what the situation is or what the means to the end game is. And he
also said that last week, in the minutes after he met with president Trump in the White House.
So that doesn't appear to have evolved in any way. And Becky, you had mentioned earlier what the Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, had said
earlier today, that the United States will not relent until there is complete victory or defeat of Iran.
It doesn't seem clear at the moment what exactly the White House's stated aims are and that the Germans and the Europeans are still now starting to
scratch their head as exactly what this will mean for European allies and when it will come to an end.
Because, obviously, with this, there are economic consequences that all European leaders are passing on to members of the public, which is that,
you know, the cost of a price of a barrel of oil. As long as that stays high, it gets passed on to consumers. They feel the petrol pump and they
feel it in their house bills as well.
So the Europeans are looking mainly for this to be defensive. But they're also looking for it to come to a swift end and, frankly, for there just to
be a clear plan. Becky
ANDERSON: Yes. I'm hearing the same thing here from Europeans who are very much showing willing in support and solidarity for these Gulf nations.
There have been these, you know, incredibly important trade ties built up over years and years.
And these Gulf nations leaning into those, both defense deals and others, leaning into these European partners and saying, look, you know, we need
your help at this point.
And we are seeing that support forthcoming and which has been a terrific, certainly as a resident here, we very much appreciate what these European
allies are doing for these Gulf partners.
Sebastian, it's good to see you. Thank you very much indeed for joining us.
Sebastian Shukla in the house for you. Coming up, Donald Trump weighing in on Iran's new supreme leader. What the president's comments could mean for
the war. More after.
This.
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[10:45:00]
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ANDERSON: U.S. President Donald Trump says he doesn't believe Iran's new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, can live in peace. Speaking to FOX News,
Trump criticized Tehran's choice to succeed the late ayatollah, Ali Khamenei, saying that he expects more of the same hardline policies.
Here's what we need to know about Mojtaba. He's 56 years old. He has strong links to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. He was known to have
influence behind the scenes of Iran's system.
Abbas Milani is director of Iranian studies at Stanford University.
He said, "Future generations will write that Ali Khamenei, with 37 years of destructive and bloody domination, ran Iran's ship aground and the result
of his incompetence and dogmatic thinking was a devastating war.
"And at the height of this war and despite the complete failure of all of his plans, the Assembly of Experts appointed his son and the hidden
sidekick of his lame duck regime as his successor at the behest of the Revolutionary Guard."
Abbas joining us now live from Stanford, California.
And just explain what you mean here. You're effectively suggesting that, you know, the instructions left by the former Ali Khamenei -- killed, of
course, in the first day of this war -- were not to choose his son as heir apparent or to choose his son as a leader. He was not, as far as you are
suggesting, the ayatollah's heir apparent. Explain.
ABBAS MILANI, DIRECTOR OF IRANIAN STUDIES, STANFORD UNIVERSITY: Well, first of all, that is an AI translation of the tweet that I did. I
originally wrote the tweet in Farsi.
But what I meant is this we don't know clearly what Khamenei's desires were. Some of his allies have said he was definitely against it. My sense
is that he wasn't definitely against it but the force that made this choice was neither the 86 people who convened, ostensibly, to give him the vote.
There are some rumors, some serious stories about him getting only 59 votes out of 86 votes. So it was no -- in no sense by one, by majority, by
consensus. And under some duress, duress of the IRGC. So this is the IRGC selection and, in my sense, in my view, it is a very wrongheaded choice
ANDERSON: It's certainly not the choice that Donald Trump says he would have made. He has called this a choice unacceptable.
So how would you assess the way that the U.S. go about dealing with this new leadership?
MILANI: Again it's difficult to guess. But from everything that the president said today, yesterday, what the war minister said, they're keen
on pressuring the regime.
What is not clear to me is what the Iranian response is.
What is their strategy?
Their strategy seems to be, from day one, I think, that they were defeated militarily. And the only way for them to survive is to make the cost of the
war so high that the international community, the Persian Gulf states and the public opinion in the U.S., will pressure the president and Israel to
cease the war.
ANDERSON: The Iranian high level official, Ali Larijani, responding just today -- and I just want to get your thoughts on this -- responding to a
recent comment of Donald Trump,
"Iranian people do not fear your hollow threats," he said, "for those greater than you have failed to erase it" -- it being Iran -- "so beware,
lest you be the ones to vanish."
Thoughts?
MILANI: You know, Mr. Larijani and the entire regime, I think, have an Orwellian view of the world. They think they won the 12-day war. That is
their official narrative that the West, the United States and Israel begged them to cease the virtual destruction of Israel.
[10:50:00]
So what they say and what the reality is, I think, are two different things. They think they can survive this by a combination of attacking
these states that were not part of the conflict and by bluffing.
Instead of realism, says this war is killing innocent Iranians. It is helping the destruction of the infrastructure and you need to find a way to
stop this. But their goal is not to save Iran.
ANDERSON: Yes.
ABBAS: Their goal is to save the regime.
ANDERSON: Abbas, it's always good to have you. Thank you very much indeed for joining us, Abbas Milani.
And that's just one of the conversations that we've had with experts on this region today and across the myriad of days in the multiple house of
CNN's live coverage. The most insightful interviews that I conduct throughout the day we post on CNN's CONNECT THE WORLD's web page, as well
as my social channels.
If you miss any of the content that me (sic) and my team are producing from CNN's Middle East programming headquarters, you can find it online, whether
it's on CONNECT THE WORLD's landing page or my socials. You can find me @BeckyCNN and Instagram, on Instagram and on X.
Right. You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD there is a lot more ahead. Stay with.
Us.
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The Iranian women's football team is leaving Australia without seven members of the squad. Today. Sources tell CNN two more women, a player and
a coach sought asylum there at the end of the Asian cup tournament after five players were granted humanitarian visas earlier by the government. The
immigration minister seen here with those five players. All of this happening after the team stayed silent while their national anthem was
played last week before a match against South Korea. CNN's Christina Macfarlane with this report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRISTINA MACFARLANE, CNN SPORT (voice-over): As Israeli and American bombs began falling on Iran, a group of women were thousands of miles away
on a soccer pitch in Australia.
On March 2, just days into the war, the Iranian women's national team had come to the Gold Coast to play in the AFC Women's Asian Cup.
But what they did next was an act of sporting bravery that has made them targets at home and icons to millions who oppose the regime, watching from
abroad.
Their tournament had barely begun when the team made a decision to stand in silence as their national anthem played. Back in Tehran, state TV's
reaction was swift.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (Speaking foreign language).
MACFARLANE (voice-over): This host calling the move a pinnacle of dishonor, saying they were traitors during wartime who must be dealt with
more severely.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (Speaking foreign language)
MACFARLANE (voice-over): For some of the players, the drama off the pitch became too much to contain.
SARA DIDAR, IRANIAN WOMEN'S SOCCER PLAYER (through translator): Obviously, we're all concerned and sad at what's happened to Iran and our families and
our loved ones. But I really hope it's very good for our country to have good news ahead and I hope that my country would be strongly alive.
MACFARLANE (voice-over): Three days later, something had changed. Before their second game in Australia, the players sang the anthem and saluted,
prompting fears of coercion by traveling Iranian minders.
MARZIYEH JAFARI, IRANIAN HEAD COACH (through translator): We have so much concern regarding our families and the people in Iran.
[10:55:03]
Nobody loves war but here we are coming to play football professionally and we do our best to concentrate on our football and match ahead.
MACFARLANE (voice-over): Eliminated from the tournament with their team bus surrounded by supporters, chanting, "Save our girls," focus turned to
whether any of the players would look to defect.
Earlier Monday, the answer came, news that five women had fled the team hotel and are now, a source says, seeking asylum under the protection of
Australian police.
The story has now reached the very top, with U.S. president Donald Trump posting about the players' possible fate, congratulating the Australian
prime minister for doing a, quote, "very good job" -- Christina Macfarlane, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Right. That is it for CONNECT THE WORLD on day 11 of this U.S.- Israeli Iran war. The fallout, of course, ongoing and we will do more in the hours to come here on CNN. That White House briefing to remind you, at
2 pm, local Washington time. "ONE WORLD" with my colleagues up next.
[11:00:00]
END
