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U.S. and Iran Head for Talks with Major Issues Unresolved; Attack Damages Saudi Oil Pipeline Bypassing Strait of Hormuz; Hezbollah Claims New Attacks After Israeli Strikes on Lebanon; NASA Prepares for Return of Artemis II Astronauts; Melania Trump Makes Rare Statement; Election Could End Viktor Orban's 16 Years in Power. Aired 10a-11a ET

Aired April 10, 2026 - 10:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[10:00:40]

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Welcome to the second hour of CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Becky Anderson from our Middle East programing

headquarters here in Abu Dhabi, where the time is just after 6:00 in the evening.

That's just gone 7:00 p.m. in Islamabad, where the world is watching with bated breath ahead of this weekend's crucial talks between the U.S. and

Iran. The U.S. vice president set off in the past couple of hours from Washington, warning Iran against approaching the talks in bad faith.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

J.D. VANCE, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We're looking forward to the negotiation. I think it's going to be positive. Well, of course, see as

the president of United States said, if the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith. We're certainly willing to extend the open hand.

If they're going to try to play us, then they're going to find that the negotiating team is not that receptive. So we're going to try to have a

positive negotiation. The president gave us some pretty clear guidelines, and we're going to see.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, Lebanon is a critical component of this ceasefire with Hezbollah claiming new attacks after heavy Israeli bombardment this week.

The Lebanese prime minister will visit Washington in the coming days.

President Trump has asked Israel to scale back on attacks on Lebanon. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel wants negotiations

with the Lebanese government about disarming Hezbollah.

CNN's Jeremy Diamond joins us live from Tel Aviv.

Do you want to just join the dots on what we are seeing here and talk to us about the significance?

JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT: Yes, well, what we are witnessing right now is, on the one hand, this new diplomatic effort

between Israel and Lebanon, with the possibility of talks taking place as early as next week, and yet at the same time, continued Israeli strikes in

Lebanon, continued Hezbollah strikes in Israel, and no ceasefire to be had between these two sides.

And the real question is whether all of that is ultimately going to jeopardize the broader ceasefire agreement between the United States and

Iran. Iranian officials have repeatedly indicated that should there not be a true ceasefire in Lebanon, should Israeli attacks there continue, then

that could put the whole ceasefire agreement in jeopardy. They have already said that they're not going to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz until

there is a ceasefire agreement between -- in terms of Israeli strikes in Lebanon.

And indeed, we've only seen, you know, a small handful of ships every day now passing through that Strait of Hormuz since the ceasefire agreement

took effect, which is a far cry from what U.S. officials had expected when they reached this agreement.

In terms of the Israeli strikes in Lebanon, the -- we've gotten new data now from UNICEF, which says that those strikes on Wednesday, which killed

more than 300 people, of those, about 33 -- there were at least 33 children who were killed as a result of those strikes, more than 150 who were

injured.

And we've seen, of course, the effect that those strikes in a densely populated parts of the Lebanese capital, the effect that that has had on

Lebanon's population, which, you know, parts of it had been kind of increasingly frustrated with Hezbollah understanding why Israel was

striking Hezbollah. But at the same time, when strikes start to kill civilians in densely populated areas of Beirut that are not those Hezbollah

strongholds in the southern suburbs, that starts to change the thinking, the public opinion in Lebanon.

And that is perhaps why we saw Lebanese officials last night say that they will not conduct negotiations with Israel under fire. We understand from

our sources that Israel intends to scale back some of its strikes in Lebanon, but not agree to a ceasefire altogether. We, you know, will

monitor over the coming days to see whether there really is any scaling back, because for now, we're certainly continuing to see strikes in both

directions -- Becky.

ANDERSON: These talks have been suggested now by Lebanon for some time. Is it clear why it is that Benjamin Netanyahu has decided now is the time to

announce that he wants to talk?

[10:05:01]

DIAMOND: Yes, sources have told me and my colleague Tal Shalev that it was at the direct request of President Trump, in fact, that President Trump

called the Israeli prime minister, asked him to, on the one hand, scale back those strikes in Lebanon. And secondly, to enter negotiations with the

Lebanese government about disarming Hezbollah and ultimately establishing peaceful relations between Israel and Lebanon.

But again, we will see whether those talks actually proceed, given everything else that's happening -- Becky.

ANDERSON: Yes, absolutely. Jeremy, thank you for that.

Nic Robertson then is in Islamabad ahead of what is this weekend's U.S.- Iran talks.

Nic, just give us a view on the ground, if you will, on the preparations for these talks, who is attending, and the scope of what they will discuss?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: High security, the center, the sort of red zone, as it's called in and around government

buildings and some key hotels where the delegations will be hosted is a pretty much closed lockdown secure site. Secrecy as well. That's something

we've seen writ large through the war. The Gulf states in particular not wanting to sort of rock the boat, talk about what's happening in detail

because they don't want it to escalate the situation.

And it's the same going into the talks now. The secrecy, because neither side here appears to want to scupper the potential of what could happen

here. Pakistan says it's honored to have this huge diplomatic lift and opportunity to try to bring the sides together and rebuild trust. I think

what we're expecting, when the sides are all here on Saturday and we understand, obviously, J.D. Vance now on his way already, saying that his

willing the U.S. side is willing to work, extend a hand to Iran as long as essentially Iran doesn't mess the United States around.

But I think the model of how these talks will unfold very likely, what's called in diplomatic terms, proximity talks, where the two sides are not at

the same table, separate rooms, where Pakistan's diplomats, security chiefs, intelligence chiefs, and military chiefs, all those who have been

so keenly involved in getting this to where it is so far, will be able to move between the delegations and try to push things forward.

Precisely who's coming from the Iranian side, the speaker of the parliament, Ghalibaf is expected but not confirmed. We've heard from the

Iranian president, from the foreign minister, from the speaker of the parliament as well, saying that the issue of the ceasefire, Hezbollah

ceasefire, or Israel's ceasefire against Hezbollah in Lebanon is absolutely critical to these talks moving forward.

But J.D. Vance had described perhaps a level of misunderstanding. So it's still all to play for. But how it shakes down, that is such a closely

guarded secret. But Iran saying it's coming into these talks with its 10- point plan taking primacy for interlocutors here. Pakistan not saying anything about that. Secrecy again is the key watchword, I believe here, to

try to make progress. How much progress? Holding the ceasefire at the moment would seem to be a level of progress right there -- Becky.

ANDERSON: Thank you, Nic. Nic is in Islamabad.

We started the show with J.D. Vance's latest comments. We know that he will be a critical member of this U.S. negotiating team, as Nic reported. We are

working to understand who else will be in Islamabad this weekend.

And for more inside reporting from our White House team about the vice president's weeks long role, behind the scenes in diplomacy, and how it

plays into, for example, his potential bid to be Trump's sort of MAGA heir, that is at CNN.com, on our digital platforms. And that is well worth a

read.

Well, an attack has damaged a key oil pipeline which allows Saudi oil exports to bypass the Strait of Hormuz. This satellite image taken

Wednesday. Remember, the ceasefire was supposed to come into play Tuesday night. This is now Wednesday, this image, showing black smoke pouring from

a fire at a major oil facility at the eastern end of the pipeline. The Saudi run, state-run Saudi press agency says one person was killed in the

strike and says attacks on energy infrastructure have reduced Saudi exports by more than a -- sorry, a million barrels a day.

Well, CNN's chief international correspondent, Clarissa Ward, is live in Riyadh with more.

And Clarissa, what more do we understand about the attack and the greater disruption to Saudi oil supply, which only, of course, underscores the

stakes of tomorrows talks?

[10:10:06]

CLARISSA WARD, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, I think the numbers are quite startling, Becky. Two separate incidents that were

revealed, one which you already mentioned, the attack on that East-West pipeline, resulting in the loss of 700,000 barrels of oil a day. Another

incident resulting in the loss of 600,000 thousand barrels of oil a day. These are large numbers, and we have seen in real time over the course of

the last five weeks the impact that this has had on oil markets, on global reserves.

And so understandably, not just the leadership here in Saudi Arabia, but in Gulf countries across this region, the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's de facto

kind of ownership, or decision-making, and who gets to cross and who doesn't and who pays what is an absolute red line. And there is very real

concern here that it is essential that during these face-to-face talks in Islamabad, that there will be security guarantees baked in to any agreement

that will ensure that Iran does not maintain this control over the strait.

We also heard from U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer saying that he had spoken to President Trump yesterday and talking a little bit about his

efforts during the course of that conversation to put together a coalition to ensure that the Strait of Hormuz remains open. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KEIR STARMER, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: We spent most of the time on the call talking about the practical plan that's going to be needed to get

navigation through the strait. We've been pulling together a coalition of countries, now over 30 countries, working on a political and diplomatic

plan, but also looking at military capabilities and actually the logistics of actually moving vessels through the straits.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WARD: This is not going to be easy, Becky. I mean, we have seen that Iran understands very well that the Strait of Hormuz is the most powerful

bargaining chip it has at the moment. Just last night, the new supreme leader put out a statement effectively saying that Iran had been the victor

in this war and saying that the Strait of Hormuz will now be entering a new phase -- Becky.

ANDERSON: And the UAE has described what Iran is doing in that strait, very specifically, they've called it economic terrorism. The UAE adviser to the

president, Anwar Gargash, posting this as well today, that the Abu Dhabi will reassess its relationships after bearing the brunt of Iranian attacks,

quote, "Will scrutinize the map of our regional and international relations with precision, and we will determine who can be relied upon, including the

structuring of an economy and financial system or economic and financial system that bolsters the resilience of our model."

There are sort of, there is a sort of sense around this region that its regional security must be embedded into any deal going forward, but the

positions are quite nuanced. The UAE doubling down on its relationship with the U.S., saying that it's absolutely tight. We've seen a real push for

diplomacy, for example, by Qatar and Oman to a degree, the Saudis, who have been part and parcel of organizing these talks.

What are you hearing in Riyadh about sort of Gulf perspective here?

WARD: I think that, Becky, Saudi Arabia has definitely taken a less confrontational approach than the UAE, the word you'll hear a lot is

restraint. And I think that it was very telling that just a couple of days ago, Saudi Arabia's foreign minister and Iran's foreign minister had their

first phone call since the war began. Obviously, there is an acknowledgment here that there has been a complete erosion of any trust between the two

nations.

But Saudi Arabia does not favor a kind of belligerent approach here. And I think even there was some sense that the very fact that Iran agreed to go

to the negotiating table, despite having pushed for a full ceasefire, even after only getting a two-week ceasefire, they still made the decision to go

to the negotiating table, which some here in Saudi, I think, saw as an indication at least that they're rational actors, that they are not

completely nihilistic.

But make no mistake, it is going to take an extraordinary amount of time and effort to begin to repair the relationship.

[10:15:07]

And I don't think it will return to what it was before and privately, of course, Saudi is pushing firmly on allies, the U.S., but also other allies

to ensure that it has guarantees. Now, the specific security guarantees they're looking for in terms of those talks in Islamabad between the U.S.

and Iran are, of course, from the U.S. specifically. They want to make sure, as you said, that it is baked in, particularly with regards to

ballistic missiles, to regional proxies, and of course, as you mentioned, the Strait of Hormuz.

And crucially, as you've already indicated, while the UAE and Saudi and Qatar may have all slightly different or nuanced approaches with how to

deal with this crisis, there is a sense that largely all of the Gulf countries are on the same page that they need to be working in lockstep, in

unity, in order to deal with this crisis, which will continue, believe me, Becky, long after the United States has left.

ANDERSON: Do you remember the geography here, folks? I mean, we're talking about 50, 60, 70 kilometers wide those waterways are, between Iran on one

side and the countries of these Gulf nations on the other. They are very, very close to each other as far as geography is concerned.

Thank you, Clarissa, I want to bring in Faisal Abbas, who's the editor of - - the editor-in-chief of Arab News. He is also joining us from Riyadh today.

I want to get your analysis before we dig into these talks of the significance of that attack on that pipeline, the East-West pipeline, and

how Riyadh is looking at sort of mitigating the risks of an oil, the problems with oil in the strait at this point?

FAISAL ABBAS, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, ARAB NEWS: Well, thank you again for having me, Becky. Obviously this will take out hundreds of thousands of barrels

per day, which is never a good situation for an already volatile energy market. Worldwide, it's a blow, of course. Saudi Arabia, known for its

resilience and handling such situations before, will do its best to stabilize the market and bounce back.

But if there is a call for the international community, for countries who might in the past felt that this crisis does not concern them, to get a

reality check and a wakeup call. Everybody is involved and everybody has at stake. A crisis in the energy market will affect everybody in the world.

ANDERSON: You've written for Arab News about tomorrow's talks, quote, "What I can safely argue is that the Iranians, despite victory propaganda

directed internally, would not come to the negotiating table unless they knew they were backed into a corner. This time, the regime's very survival

is at stake. Equally," you say, "the U.S. would not send such a high profile delegation if they did not believe serious progress could be

achieved."

What evidence at this point do we have that serious progress can be achieved? And what do you believe Riyadh's expectations are for tomorrow?

ABBAS: Well, Becky, to call a spade a spade, there's very little evidence and a lot of hope. The hope is the Iranians would have learned from last

time that this administration, this U.S. administration, isn't like any of its predecessors. They (INAUDIBLE) and we hope that sticking points such as

insisting on the right to enrichment, which makes no sense if you were to develop a nuclear program, will be off the table.

You know, it's a complicated situation given that all sides concerned are, you know, preoccupied with saving face. So expect everybody to claim this

is a victory. However, nobody said that the negotiations will be easy. I quote George Mitchell on the Good Friday agreement when he said we had 700

days of failure and one day of success. And we hope this one day of success will be tomorrow.

ANDERSON: You also point out in your piece, Faisal, for Gulf and Saudi interests, very specifically, any talk of Iran controlling the strait is a

no go. And you just heard U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer talk specifically about momentum in building a coalition. It's been a huge

challenge to make any progress on that. Look no further than the U.N. Security Council vote that failed earlier this week.

[10:20:02]

You talk about this not being a Gulf issue, being, you know, an international issue. Everybody has to understand what is at stake at this

point. The Gulf countries aren't at the table. They were not at the table back in 2015 during the original JCPOA talks. And much consternation about

that. We are a decade on and with such sort of, you know, impact from these unprovoked attacks on this region, you know, how much do you understand has

been sort of directed at Washington of the Gulf perspective?

Are you confident that the Gulf perspective has been relayed very specifically and without, you know, without any sort of sense of

uncertainty to Washington and J.D. Vance as he goes into these talks?

ABBAS: Well, first of all, allow me to say you are right to point out the similarities between the JCPOA and what has happened now. And if I may add

to that, had the Obama administration at the time listened to Gulf advice that the Iranian threat isn't just the nuclear aspect, but it's militias

and ballistic missile program as well, we possibly could have averted the very situation we are in today.

However, there are some differences in the circumstances. Islamabad, Pakistan enjoys the highest level possible of trust. A few days ago, the

Saudi foreign minister, the Turkish foreign minister, the Egyptian foreign minister had a big four meeting with the Pakistani counterpart in

(INAUDIBLE) the Pakistani mediation efforts. I know for a fact that there are talks, constant talks on both the leadership and ministerial level,

both between Riyadh and Islamabad, and Riyadh and Washington, to try to do our best to ensure that these talks are a success, and that Gulf concerns,

including the absolute insistence on the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, are paid attention to.

And, Becky, if I may take just a moment, as a Saudi, I would just like to mourn my fellow countrymen who died yesterday in, sorry, who was announced

dead yesterday in an atrocious attack on one of our oil facilities. I'm talking about a man who was almost my age, 44, Abu Muhammad Zahra al-

Khalidi, died doing his duty (INAUDIBLE) preeminent attack, the Iranians.

I mourn him as well as the whole country. And the only compensation is the amount of generosity in people paying to charity for, you know, for praying

for his soul, exceeding their target towards orphans. This is just another reminder of how brutal this war is. And regardless of the financial cost of

the war, Abu Muhammad Zahra al-Khalid's life will never return. And he had no role whatsoever in this war except doing his duty, protecting our oil

fields.

ANDERSON: Well said. Condolences to his family from here.

Faisal, thank you very much indeed for joining us.

Well, ahead on CONNECT THE WORLD. with no halt in the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, can the U.S.-Iran ceasefire hold? Details of a new

proposal from Israel are just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:25:55]

ANDERSON: CNN reporting from Washington to Beirut to Islamabad is it the strikes that have continued between Israel and the Iran proxy Hezbollah in

Lebanon are a major threat to what is a fragile ceasefire at present between the us and Iran? Now, the issue of whether or not Lebanon is

included within this two-week truce has been straining peace talks even before they begin. They're supposed to -- well, scheduled to start, of

course, on Saturday.

The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel wants to directly negotiate with Lebanon, with a focus on disarming Hezbollah.

So joining me now to discuss this further is General Khalil Helou. He is a retired Lebanese army forces ranger, now a lecturing professor of

geopolitics at Saint Joseph University in Beirut.

Sir, it's good to have you. Very basic question. Why do you think the Israeli prime minister has agreed to talks with Lebanon now?

GEN. KHALIL HELOU (RET.), LEBANESE ARMY FORCES: Well, regarding the current situation, I think that it is in response to pressure from President Trump

because the Israelis were very clear since the beginning that they will not have any ceasefire in Lebanon unless they have the security or they secure

the north of Israel. This is, I think, their main objective until now. They are talking about disarming Hezbollah. This is a huge job.

But I think that the security of northern Israel is the most important part. Why? Because some missiles of Hezbollah cannot be shut down by the

Iron Dome or the anti-missile system in Israel. These missiles are the Russian made Kornet and the Iranian made Almaz. And they are shot from the

northern part of the Litani, the north of the river, because the range -- they are within range. The river on the eastern part of our border with

Israel is only five to six kilometers away.

ANDERSON: Right.

HELOU: So this is the main objective of Israel. Their ground operation started since five weeks. They have progressed. They have invaded in some

parts about 10 to 12 kilometers. In other parts four to eight kilometers. OK. They are bombing everywhere in Lebanon. But the ceasefire the Hezbollah

is asking for, I think that Israel is not eager to go forward with it. And they are talking about -- I'm talking about the Israelis, they are talking

about negotiations under fire.

Now, the Lebanese government is embarrassed because of what happened yesterday -- the day before yesterday. The strike was very huge. Hezbollah

operatives, they are within the disseminated among the Beirut population, concealed or they are hiding there. The Israelis came after them. And

unfortunately, what is unacceptable is the death of a huge number of civilians. And until now, the toll is about --

ANDERSON: It was the largest wave of strikes, of course, by Israel since this current conflict began. I mean, enormous amount of death and

casualties.

You're right to point out that Netanyahu says these negotiations in Washington, and this is a separate track from what is going on in

Islamabad, these Lebanon-Israel negotiations will focus on disarmament of Hezbollah. Your government, your government, the Lebanese government, has

vowed to do that in the last agreement without success. What needs to change to successfully disarm Hezbollah?

[10:30:01]

Does the LAF, does the Lebanese Armed Forces have anything like the capability to disarm this group?

HELOU: Well, the problem is majorly a political problem, not a tactical problem, nor a technical problem. The problem is that the current

government and the current president are there since 14 months, and the first time they decided to go forward with the disarmament of Hezbollah,

according to this, the ceasefire of 2024, it was in August. It means eight months after they were in office, and then they charged the LAF to do the

job.

Well, I want to focus on a point that is extremely important here. If the LAF opens fire on Hezbollah, let's suppose that they do that, the

repercussions will be political in the first beginning, social in the second part. So the government should in, in principle, when we are facing

such a situation, the government should be on a daily basis, 24/7 supervising every step that the LAF does.

What they did is they charged the LAF to solve a political problem that is lasting since 40 years, and everyone knows that Iran is against any, any

peace treaty with Israel since 1982. They undermined every attempt of negotiations with Israel. First time in 1982 and then during the '90s.

During the '90s, they operated through Hezbollah to undermine all this.

ANDERSON: Right.

HELOU: And now they are doing the same. So you cannot tell the LAF to do the whole job. There should be a political part and a political supervision

on a daily basis, and the LAF should be supported also, not only financially but also with material. You know that our budget, our defense

budget is very narrow, is not sufficient to assure the permanent mobility and the permanent operational, let's say, deployment of the LAF.

So personally, you know, I was a former LAF. I know what's about. So everyone is blaming the LAF. The ones who should be blamed are the

government and the president. They are responsible, not the LAF.

ANDERSON: Right.

HELOU: The LAF is not a political -- is not a political institution. They are the long hand of the government.

ANDERSON: I just want our viewers -- and I do just want our viewers to understand. When you talk about the LAF, you are talking about the Lebanese

Armed Forces.

I've run out of time with you. It's been terrific having you on getting your perspective, which is so important ahead of these talks. You are

sounding quite pessimistic, I think would be the way I would frame what you've just been saying. It is not the first time. What you're talking

about is, you know, what needs to go into these talks if they are to be anything like successful. As we get the opportunity to see those parties

come together.

Thank you for that.

Still to come, we are following the Artemis II crew as they head home today from a record setting trip around the moon. I do need to take a break, but

I'm going to speak to someone with firsthand perspective on space travel after this. Stay with us. A couple of minutes. We'll be back on the other

side.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:35:51]

ANDERSON: Welcome back. You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Becky Anderson from our Middle East programing hub. These are your headlines.

The U.S. vice president has now departed for Pakistan ahead of talks this weekend between the U.S. and Iran. J.D. Vance will be joined by U.S.

special envoy Steve Witkoff and the president's son-in-law, Jared Kushner. Key issues remain, including the status of Lebanon in the ceasefire.

Well, Hezbollah says it has launched fresh attacks on Israeli forces in Southern Lebanon and a border town in Israel. The attacks raised concerns

about the fragility of this current ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he has instructed his

cabinet to begin direct negotiations with Lebanon.

Astronauts aboard Artemis II are getting ready to return to Earth. In the coming hours, they'll face one of the riskiest part of their mission,

reentry into Earth's atmosphere, followed by splashdown.

Well, for more on this, let's bring in Emirati astronaut Hazzaa Al Mansoori.

Sir, it's good to speak to you. What a day. What a mission. It marks a visible step towards returning humans to the moon. From your perspective,

as the first Emirati in space and the first Arab aboard the IWS, what do you make of the experience that you've seen? Sort of, you know, broadcast

around the world for these astronauts?

HAZZAA AL MANSOORI, EMIRATI ASTRONAUT: Becky, thank you for having me. This is amazing. I mean, like, I was there for the launch and it was spectacular

just to see my colleagues launching to space. I worked with them. I flew with them. Even Christina Koch, I flew with her on board the International

Space Station back in my first mission. And it was spectacular just to see the launch. Never gets old with that view.

And I think it's something can ignite the whole world. It's a spark of hope that we needed at this time. And also it's just giving us a focus that we

need to focus on advancing humans and different aspects, especially in space exploration.

ANDERSON: Absolutely. And you're right, we need some hope at this point, particularly in this region. The UAE remains one of the key partners in

this wider Artemis program. So how is the country adapting its role to stay at the forefront as the mission involves? Can you just explain how the

Artemis mission sort of works through the UAE space story?

AL MANSOORI: So definitely in UAE, we are one of the first nations to sign the Artemis Accord back in October 2020. And that shows how we are

committed and how we are like interested in space exploration. And definitely through MBRC and our different partners in the UAE also, we

committed to be part of Artemis Accord and also missions to the lunar surface. So from what we saw, we are going to be part of the future

missions.

We committed to be part of that through our framing that we're going to be part of what's going to happen from the landing to the -- on the moon or

even going further with that. In UAE, obviously we have four astronauts ready to go on future missions, to be part of Artemis missions in future,

as well as different aspects of programs that involved lunar service. For example, Russia's rover, as we can see that's going to happen next -- this

year, end of this year, and it's going to also be part of what we can develop as appreciation also as a part of the Artemis program.

ANDERSON: Hazzaa, we are, as you speak, looking at some of these extraordinary images, these photographs that we've seen sent from this

mission. What do you think we are learning at this point?

[10:40:07]

AL MANSOORI: Definitely. You know, Artemis program is a huge program. And through Artemis II in particular, the focus is to go through the different

aspects of the Orion vehicle, obviously. So the pilot Victor Glover already went through different manual operation for the Orion itself for future

missions, going to come in the Artemis III, as well as looking to the different aspects of the vehicle itself, going to the further side of the

moon and understanding how the vehicle operates on the dark side and also with the from life support, from different aspects that how can we

accommodate humans on board this vehicle and can be safe also to bring them back.

And this is what we are looking at in the couple of hours from now. We're going to see that happening, reentry, which is very, very risky, very

crucial phase of the flight, obviously, because they're going to enter with the more speed, more than 32 Mach and they have to slow down to 19 miles

per hour to splash down.

ANDERSON: It's amazing. And we are actually looking at live pictures that are just being pumped to us from NASA now. So those astronauts awake and

facing this last and very risky part of the journey for what we all hope will be a, you know, a successful splashdown.

Finally beyond the moon, how much of today's work is laying the foundation for Mars and is that where you'd like to make your way towards next?

AL MANSOORI: Obviously I'm a space explorer. I would love to go further in space. I think now the focus on the moon, and I would love to be part of

human space flight going and landing on the moon in future, UAE is committed to be part of that efforts. And I would love to see Earth rising

from the moon and waving to everyone here on Earth.

ANDERSON: Well, we'll leave it at that for the time being. I know that SpaceX as well has sort of moved their kind of Mars ambitions, you know, to

fully focus on the moon at this point. So I expect that we will see more to come on this.

It's always good to speak to you. Thank you very much indeed. One of the moments of my journalistic career was talking to you, Hazzaa, live in the

International Space Station. It was remarkable. I enjoyed every moment of it. You spoke to me upside down at one point. It was brilliant. And you and

I have got to know each other well since then. Thank you.

And another update on the UAE's global cooperation efforts. Abu Dhabi will host the 2029 annual meetings of the World Bank and IMF. Deputy Prime

Minister Maktoum bin Mohammed posted on x, quote, "This milestone reflects the world's confidence in the UAE, its pivotal role in advancing global

financial stability and its proven ability to host and organize major economic events."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MELANIA TRUMP, FIRST LADY OF THE UNITED STATES: I am not Epstein's victim.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, this was a rare intervention from the U.S. first lady. Why she is also calling out Congress for Epstein's victims. That's up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:45:49]

ANDERSON: First Lady Melania Trump is blasting what she calls lies linking her to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Now she made these remarks

in what was a surprising on-camera statement on Thursday at the White House.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: I've never been friends with Epstein. Donald and I were invited to the same parties as Epstein from time to time. Since overlapping in social

circles is common in New York City and Palm Beach.

To be clear, I never had a relationship with Epstein or his accomplice, Maxwell. My e-mail reply to Maxwell cannot be categorized as anything more

than casual correspondence.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, she called on Congress to allow Epstein's survivors to testify, leading some of them to push back on the first lady's comments.

They said calling on victims to testify was, and I quote here, "a deflection of responsibility."

Alayna Treene joins us live from the White House. According to some reports, Donald Trump said he didn't know Melania was going to make those

comments. And it was a surprise statement. What more do we know at this point?

ALAYNA TREENE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: No, absolutely. Becky, and I think stunned a lot of people in this building and throughout the Trump

administration who were kind of caught off guard, not only by the statement by -- but by, especially the subject of what she was speaking about. And

particularly, of course, the timing of these remarks.

I will note it did spark a bit of rumors going around the White House questioning whether or not she was trying to get ahead of a story that

perhaps most people just did not know was coming. They're still trying to figure that out today, I should note.

Look, I will say, though, we were also told by people who are close to the first lady that it wasn't as surprising for them that Melania Trump had

been in recent months growing increasingly frustrated with all of the stories trying to tie her to Epstein and to Ghislaine Maxwell, and that she

wanted an on the record denial. And this was really the first time we heard her come out and speak to this.

But again, to get back to the timing part of this, I think that's also why so many people were caught off guard. I'd remind you, Becky, that so many

people in this White House have worked furiously for months to try and distance themselves from the Epstein files, from Epstein overall, trying to

put this story in the past, and I would note the only time that's really been successful has largely been over the last month and a half because, of

course, amid the ongoing war with Iran, that's really where everyone's attention is.

And so she almost drew back the attention, almost like the Streisand effect, you know, coming and speaking about it is drawing more attention to

it, again at a time when really not a lot of people had their focus on this.

One other thing I will add is to your point about whether or not the president and many top people in the West Wing knew about this. We were

told from a White House official that they were caught off guard, that the president did not expect him to say what she did, and the president himself

did an interview with MS NOW, essentially saying, I didn't know what she was going to say.

We will say others in the White House tried to push back on that claim, saying they were expecting her statement. But I would remind others as well

that when it comes to Melania Trump, unlike her husband, she is very, very intentional about what she says, especially in a statement like this, where

they had the podium set up, you know, in the main hall of the White House to give this -- these remarks.

She knew exactly what she was doing. It's just a question of whether or not, you know, the president and his team did. And apparently from our

conversations with sources, they did not.

ANDERSON: Fascinating, Alayna. Thank you.

Well, before we leave politics, just a word on the growing rift in parts of the MAGA movement, as it's known in the States. President Trump has taken

his feud with some conservative media figures to what is a new level, slamming them on Truth Social Thursday, saying, quote, "They're not MAGA,

they're losers. Just trying to latch onto MAGA. MAGA is about winning and strength," he said. In not allowing Iran to have nuclear weapons.

[10:50:07]

This was part of what was quite a long post, to be honest, showing Trump's once closest right wing allies, including Tucker Carlson, have frankly

shifted from strong supporters to some of his most vocal critics.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TUCKER CARLSON, CONSERVATIVE COMMENTATOR: There will be nothing like it. Open the effing strait. How dare you speak that way on Easter morning to

the country? Who do you think you are?

MEGYN KELLY, CONSERVATIVE COMMENTATOR: The president, 3-D chess, shut up. (EXPLETIVE DELETED) shut up about that (EXPLETIVE DELETED). You don't

threaten to wipe out an entire civilization.

ALEX JONES, CONSERVATIVE COMMENTATOR: How do we 25th Amendment his (EXPLETIVE DELETED) off?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The problem is to get the 25th Amendment is harder than impeachment.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, we will keep a close eye on this growing rift between MAGA factions. It's important as we consider what is going on in the us space.

Before that, of course, we will be right back with one of Trump's key European allies who may lose power. We're going to head to Hungary before

we close out this hour. And a Viktor Orban rally ahead of what is Sunday's pivotal election in this European country.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: As Viktor Orban and Peter Magyar gear up for this weekend's elections in Hungary, President Donald Trump could be losing his closest

ally in Europe. Magyar, who is an Orban loyalist turned nemesis, has held a double-digit lead over Orban for more than a year.

CNN's Melissa Bell is in Hungary looking at how the right-wing in both the U.S. and Europe have rallied around the incumbent Mr. Orban.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MELISSA BELL, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Hungary's prime minister, Viktor Orban, has had no shortage of friends

willing to travel to Budapest in his hour of need.

VANCE: Go to the polls in the weekend, stand with Viktor Orban.

BELL (voice-over): From the American vice president to the secretary of state.

MARCO RUBIO, SECRETARY OF STATE: Your success is our success.

BELL (voice-over): Not to mention that of the European far-right. Several of its leaders also traveled to Hungary mid-campaign to support the man who

leads their fight against the European union.

VIKTOR ORBAN, HUNGARIAN PRIME MINISTER (through translator): The left-wing elite in Brussels is weaker every day. On the other side, we, the patriots,

are getting stronger, getting stronger in Central Europe.

BELL: But as much as Viktor Orban rails against the European Union, he's never shied away from taking its money. Take this $1.5 million roundabout

in Western Hungary that was meant to be part of a logistics hub. It was built with money from European taxpayers, and yet the railroad and the

container terminal that it was meant to link were never built, leaving behind just this monument to Viktor Orban's vision of Europe.

(Voice-over): A road to nowhere. Instead, Orban has continued to milk Russia for cheap gas and oil in defiance of Europe, and to look to U.S.

President Donald Trump as a champion, with both leaders sharing disdain for Brussels.

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: My best wishes to Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who I am endorsing, as you know. I am endorsing his

election.

BELL (voice-over): On Sunday Orban and his Fidesz Party will come head to head with Peter Magyar, who's standing for the Tisza movement.

For all the support that Viktor Orban has received from abroad, it's been Peter Magyar's campaign inside the country on very domestic issues that the

polls suggest might be about to make the difference, even in traditional Fidesz strongholds like this town to the southwest of Budapest.

[10:55:11]

Melissa Bell, CNN, Szekesfehervar.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: Well, a final note on our top story today and all this week, the U.S., Israel's war with Iran, and the talks that we are now expecting to

end the conflict. Islamabad gearing up and the world holding its breath for make or break ceasefire talks in the Pakistani capital, now under 24 hours

away. Security is tightening and there is a sudden two-day public holiday. That is how the Pakistani government is preparing for its role as mediator,

one it doesn't often play.

Well, my colleagues Rhea Mogul and Sofia Saifi have more on how Pakistan emerged as an unlikely bridge between the U.S. and Iran. Check out their

great analysis on our digital platform.

And a quick programing note before we end the show, CNN will have live coverage of Artemis's return to earth from the moment they enter the

atmosphere to splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. That begins 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time, 4:00 p.m. on the Pacific Coast. It will be very early for our

viewers here in the UAE, but for those of you staying up or getting up for 3:00 a.m., it will be an historic moment on CNN.

And I will be back at 4:00 a.m. Eastern tomorrow, midday, UAE time for our continued coverage of the talks. For now, that's it for CONNECT THE WORLD.

Stay with CNN. "ONE WORLD" is up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

END