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Connect the World

Trump: Called Off New Iran Attacks at Request of Gulf States; Egyptian Foreign Minister Talks to CNN About U.S.-Iran War; Police Investigating San Diego Mosque Shooting as Hate Crime; W.H.O. Chief Raises Alarm Over Scale of Ebola Outbreak; Former Detective Convicted of Lying During OJ Simpson Trial Dies. Aired 9-10a ET

Aired May 19, 2026 - 09:00   ET

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

[09:00:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST, CONNECT THE WORLD: Right, this is a scene in Washington where the U.S. President says he will hold off on striking Iran

after pressure from Gulf allies. It is 09:00 a.m. there. It is 05:00 p.m. here in Abu Dhabi. From our Middle Eastern Gulf programming headquarters,

I'm Becky Anderson.

This is "Connect the World". Also coming up this hour, a story of terrorism emerges after a deadly shooting at a California mosque. We're live in San

Diego with the very latest details this hour. And the Head of the W.H.O., says the growing Ebola outbreak in Africa is a major concern.

More of his message to the countries affected, and to the world. That's coming up. Well stock market in New York opens about 30 minutes from now.

Futures indicating a flat to negative start half an hour from now. Back to New York on the open. Well, a deal or renewed hostilities, for now at

least.

U.S. President Donald Trump says he is holding off attacking Iran again at the request of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. He had threatened to

resume attacks today, but cited growing optimism about the prospects of a deal.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: I was called by these three countries plus others and they're dealing directly with our

people and right now Iran and there seems to be a very good chance that they can work something out. If we can do that without bombing the hell out

of them, I'd be very happy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister saying that his country's latest proposal insists on continued uranium enrichment, one of several

critical sticking points in reaching a deal. Alayna Treene is at the White House with the very latest. What do we know about President Trump's

thinking on his options at this point?

ALAYNA TREENE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, look, I think what we heard from the president yesterday was interesting, and he was kind of

almost laying out his cards on the table by admitting that there had been plans for a potential military attack to have taken place today in Iran.

This comes, Becky, after, and I know I've been discussing this with you as well over the last week or so. I've been having conversations with my

sources who have told me that the president was closer to wanting to move forward with major combat operations in Iran, you know, resuming that

military operation closer than he had been throughout the entire ceasefire.

And look, we have heard the president on a number of occasions make these threats to Iran, that if they did not make a deal soon, that he would bomb

essentially the country to bits. But this time was different, because my sources told me that Trump's patience, you know, he has been always wanting

to prioritize a deal.

But his patience has really worn thin on one, the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz, and the impacts that that has had on global oil prices

and the economy, and of course the effects it has had back here in the states. But also, his frustration, which has hit kind of a fever pitch

recently with the Iranians.

This belief that he has that there are divisions within their leadership that are preventing them from coming to a significant compromise. Look, I

think what we heard from the president, he did say that these conversations with Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia, that, that really

did have a big impact on this.

But we're also hearing from the Iranians, we heard this from their deputy foreign minister today, that what they have put forward in their latest

response to the U.S. just does not cut it on the concessions that we know the White House, and specifically President Trump, needs them to make.

You mentioned it, but really, one of the red lines that Trump has repeatedly stated is one that they would, you know, commit to not enriching

nuclear -- enriching uranium further, and also to allowing the U.S. or some sort of ally to go in and get the enriched uranium that they already have.

Those are things that we are not seeing in this latest proposal, so it's very much unclear whether or not this latest push for diplomacy is going to

be successful, or if we could see him move forward eventually with more strikes in Tehran.

[09:05:00]

ANDERSON: Look, Alayna, leaders of several Gulf states, including here in the UAE, do appear to be having some influence on the president's decision

making, when I talk to sources here today, and over the past weeks. There's certainly some influence at the table, as it were, perhaps not at the

actual talks themselves, although Saudi, of course, very much involved in those Pakistan mediations, but there's definitely some influence there.

What are you hearing?

TREENE: No, you're exactly right, Becky. I mean, there's massive influence that these countries have, not only with the United States in Washington,

but I think with the President Donald Trump specifically. I mean, he is someone who has, of course, really tried to strengthen the alliance between

the U.S. and these Gulf nations, you know, through a number of different investment deals, and you know, different defense agreements, and whatnot

arms sales, the list goes on.

But even more importantly, you know, there has been an acknowledgement. And Trump has almost come out and kind of said this publicly, Becky, this idea

that the retaliation from Iran on U.S. allies in the region, like Qatar, like the UAE, like Saudi Arabia, was not expected at the level that it was.

This backlash that I have faced, and so there is a level that the U.S. recognizes they need to support these countries. And there's also been a

lot of input that they've given because of that on different moves that Washington has made. I'd note, you know, one of the most recent being when

Trump moved ahead with Project Freedom, that initiative to try and escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz.

We heard that there was some, you know, criticism from different partners in the Middle East to that decision, and being left out of that. And so

there is definitely, I think a big hand that these countries are playing, and it was definitely, I think, a big part of why we saw the president

argue that he was holding off on this attack scheduled for today, Becky.

ANDERSON: Yeah. Alayna, it's good to have you, as ever. Thank you very much indeed. Alayna Treene is at the White House. Egypt's Foreign Minister,

speaking exclusively to CNN about his country's role as mediator in what are these stalled U.S.-Iran peace talks.

Let's describe them as that for the time being, at least. Sat down with Christiane Amanpour, my colleague here as part of their conversation.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: President Trump's latest is that he is responding, he says, to appeals from his Gulf state

allies to not launch another hot war right now, but who knows what in the future. Where do you stand on that? What do you think is going on in the

state of mediation?

BADR ABDELATTY, EGYPTIAN FOREIGN MINISTER: Well, first of all, we commend President Trump wise policies and decisions in order to give more time for

dialog for de-escalation, that's highly appreciated. And it's indeed very, very important to exert our maximum efforts to push for dialog and for de-

escalation.

And I believe that things are moving in the right direction, maybe slowly but steadily.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: And you can catch that full interview in a few hours' time on Amanpour, airing today noon Eastern time in the U.S., 05:00 p.m. in London,

08:00 p.m. here if you're watching in Abu Dhabi. That is one hour earlier than usual, so do make a note of that.

Well, in California, authorities are investigating a deadly shooting at San Diego's largest mosque as a hate crime. Three people killed, including this

security guard, whose heroic actions are credited with saving lives. The police chief says two teen suspects were found dead in a car near the

mosque from self-inflicted gunship wounds.

One of the suspects had been identified by a sources Kane Clark. We're still waiting to learn the name of the second suspect. Listen as one nine-

year-old describes the frightening moments he experienced as he took cover during the shooting.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ODAL SHANAH, STUDENT FORCED TO TAKE COVER DURING SHOOTING: I felt a bit scared, my legs were shaking, my hands and my head was like hurting me a

lot. I felt like a rock. I heard like a bunch of bad stuff, like gunshots, and plus I went out. I went inside the closet with my whole class.

We heard like 12 or like 16 gunshots, and then the SWAT team said, if you open up them, they open the door.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: As part of their probe, authorities are reviewing hate speech scrawled on one of the weapons used in the attack, and a note that

contained writings about racial pride. Well, for more, let's bring in CNN's Kyung Lah. What more can you tell us at this stage about the victims, and

indeed the suspects in this case?

KYUNG LAH, CNN SENIOR INVESTIGATIVE CORRESPONDENT: Let's start with the victims, because this is where the shooting happened, and where we saw so

many of these children and parents traumatized. This is just right over my shoulder, where you see that police vehicle, that's where the shooting took

place.

[09:10:00]

The people who came here, this is also the entrance to a school connected to a mosque. These children are third grade and younger, according to the

parents who dropped their kids off at this particular location. And the person who greets these kids, a security guard, a large, bigger than life

protector of these children, that's how the parents and the children describe him.

He was known here as Brother Amin, Amin Abdullah is his name, and he is the person who confronted the two teenage gunmen as they approached this

mosque. And I want you to listen to one of the parents of these young children who go to school, who remembered Brother Amin.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SAM HAMIDEH, FRIEND OF SECURITY GUARD KILLED IN MOSQUE SHOOTING: I know that he knew he was sacrificing his life for the kids, because if he didn't

take that bullet, they would easily walk upstairs, and then there's just innocent eight and younger and women and you know people that couldn't

defend themselves.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LAH: So, what do we know about the timeline of all of this after the act -- two hours, let me back up, two hours before the act of shooting started. We

know that the mother reached out to San Diego police to say that she was concerned about her son, that he had disappeared with an 18-year-old

friend, both dressed in ammo.

He had taken her car, her guns, and she had left behind that suicide note with some concerning writings in it, described by police as racial pride.

And so, police had a couple of hours to try to go to this boy's high school, try to figure out what was going to be happening, and then the

active shooter shooting occurred here.

And just several blocks away from here, about a three to four-minute drive, Becky, we know that the young man, that's where he lived, and at this

point, what we do know is that law enforcement is now trying to piece together not just that they're treating this as a hate crime, but exactly

why. Why would a 17-year-old be motivated to do such a thing?

ANDERSON: It's good to have you. Thank you. Well, Edward Ahmed Mitchell is the National Deputy Director for the Council on American-Islamic Relations,

spoke to CNN about his perspective on the mosque shooting. Have a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

EDWARD AHMED MITCHELL, NATIONAL DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR THE COUNCIL ON AMERICAN-ISLAMIC RELATIONS (CAIR): This is a horrific tragedy, and it could

have been much worse if not for, thank God, the brave actions of Amin Abdullah, who did what he could to protect everyone inside and sacrificed

his life in the process.

You know, every mosque in America is aware of anti-Muslim hate, of the threats to mosques, of what happened to mosques in New Zealand and the

United Kingdom and Canada, but we never, you know, expected it to happen here, but we prepared for it. This mosque prepared, it was ready, and it

should not have had to do this.

You know, anti-Muslim hate is out of control in this country. This was the predictable result of it, and it's just a horrible tragedy for that

community, and for American Muslims, and I think for our whole country. The leadership of our San Diego chapter has been at the scene on the ground.

And what I've heard is that Amin Abdullah was respected, beloved in the community, as you said, a father of eight, and what's fascinating is the

last post that he made on Facebook was expressing the Islamic belief that dying for the sake of God, doing something righteous, is a wonderful way to

end your life if you have to.

And so, he ended his life saving the lives of children, saving the lives of people who are worshiping God in that mosque, and so you know he was

beloved before, he's even more beloved now. We pray for him. May God grant him peace and comfort his family.

And the community right now is rallying to support his family and the other victims. Two other people were murdered at this mosque by these anti-Muslim

extremists, and so the community is standing with all of them today.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well Russia's President Vladimir Putin kicking off a two-day state visit to China, and the wars in Ukraine, and indeed in the Middle

East, as well as cooperation across energy and trade, are expected to be at the top of their agenda. Ahead of the meeting, Putin said Sino-Russian

relations have reached a truly unprecedented level.

Well, their meeting, of course, come just days after President Xi rolled out the diplomatic red carpet for U.S. President Trump. CNN's Clare

Sebastian across the latest, she joins us live from London. And Clare, I want to, if you can just walk us through what is expected to come out of

this meeting, coming as it does just days after Trump visited Xi in Beijing.

CLARE SEBASTIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, Becky, look, I think we have to put this in context. It is a lopsided relationship, obviously it's deepened

since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the trade ties have increased between the two countries, particularly, of course, from China to Russia.

It is lopsided. Russia is more dependent on China than the other way around, but this coming at a time, in particular during the U.S.-Israeli

war with Iran, I think both sides have quite a lot to gain here, and especially when it comes to energy, because China, despite a known view

that they don't want to get too much of their fossil fuel imports from a single supplier.

[09:15:00]

Russia currently at their biggest supplier of crude oil. They will be likely looking at this again, given that half of their oil comes, half of

their fossil fuels come through the Middle East. They will be looking again at potential sort of new areas where they can build on this energy

relationship with Russia for cheaper supplies.

And this is something that's of critical importance to Russia. President Putin said just 10 days ago that the two sides were very close, he said, to

agreement on taking a highly significant step forward in oil and gas cooperation. I think we can assume that he is, at least in part, referring

to the power of Siberia 2 pipeline.

This is a planned gas pipeline that would, if it gets built, carry Russian gas supplies from the sort of northern portion of Russia, near the Arctic,

down through Mongolia to China, and would allow them to increase supplies. Now, they have signed a memorandum of this on this some nine or so months

ago, but progress has been pretty slow so far.

So, Russia certainly will be hoping for more on that, but I think you know, for Russia as well, this is about reassurance that they are still getting

the support that they need from China. It's hard to overstate just how critical this relationship has been in terms of allowing Russia to continue

to prosecute its war in Ukraine.

China has not only mocked up Russian oil, but has exported critical components to Russia, despite the fact that it denies this, that have been

used the dual-use components that have been used in its weapons. So, it's a crucial relationship, and I think critically for Russia, as I say, coming

at a time when they're facing pressure internally mounting Ukrainian drone attacks and slowing progress on the battlefield, Becky.

ANDERSON: Just coming back to the timing of this, let's be quite clear. Is there a message here that Putin and Xi are sending with the timing of this

meeting? I mean, should we underscore that?

SEBASTIAN: So, look, the meeting between Trump and Xi was supposed to happen a month or so earlier, but was delayed because of the war in Iran.

And I think we should also note that China will now have once he meets with President Putin, will have hosted all the other four permanent members of

the U.N. Security Council in the last six months or so.

We've seen a lot of world leaders in China recently. So, I think this is, you know, on paper more evidence of an ascendant China, of China's desire

to play a role as a sort of destination for diplomatic talks and economic solutions in the world, but certainly from the Kremlin's perspective they

are not letting this one go.

The Kremlin said ahead of this meeting, that this would be a chance to share opinions on the contacts between the U.S. and China. And I think

again this is about reassurance from China that they will continue to get their support. Both sides are united by this view that this hegemony, the

U.S. hegemony over the world, has run its course.

They are, according to the Kremlin, expected to sign a declaration on a multipolar world. So, I think that sends a pretty clear message. And I

think both sides will be signaling that they are not going to be pushed around or swayed in terms of the alliances that they seek in this world,

Becky.

ANDERSON: Good to have you, Clare. Thank you. All right, we're going to take a very short break. Just ahead, though, the World Health Organization

says the numbers will change in the Ebola epidemic. Well, the W.H.O. and others are doing to try to contain what is this deadly outbreak.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:20:00]

ANDERSON: A top health official is raising concern over the Ebola epidemic. Now, look, the health -- the head of the World Health Organization says he

is quote deeply concerned about the scale and speed of the outbreak in the DRC and in Uganda. The virus has been linked to more than 130 deaths now.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TEDROS ADHANOM GHEBREYESUS, DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION: This epidemic is caused by Bundibugyo virus, a species of Ebola virus for

which there are no vaccines or therapeutics. In the absence of a vaccine, there are many other measures countries, of course, can take to stop the

spread of this virus and save lives, even without medical countermeasures, including risk communication and community engagement.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, CNN's Larry Madowo joining me now live from Nairobi. What do you make of the latest there from the W.H.O.'s Chief?

LARRY MADOWO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: He's absolutely right. The concern from public health experts in the region is that there's a likelihood that many

people have could have been exposed to Ebola. They're just not showing symptoms yet. It might take until three weeks before that begins to happen

this area in Ituri, Northeastern DRC, which is the epicenter of the outbreak, has a lot of insecurity about 100,000 people are displaced.

It's a mining town. There's a lot of border traffic between this area in Bunia to Uganda, across the border. So, even though Uganda says there's no

local infections in the country, the two people who were confirmed were Congolese, one died and was sent back across the border, and the others

receiving treatment.

The people move back and forth. Some may be asymptomatic right now, but in a few days or a few weeks, they might begin to show symptoms, and they

might have been coming to contact with a lot of people. We've seen the numbers rise today, Becky, to more than 513 suspected cases, more than 130

deaths associated with Ebola.

So, as they do more lab testing, contact tracing, and surveillance, the numbers might as well skyrocket, and that affects a huge number of people

within these countries Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and possibly South Sudan as well. And you've seen these reported even in

Kampala, which is a few 100 kilometers away.

So that is why the W.H.O. and many other experts say this could be much deeper of an outbreak than they currently know, and it could have already

been spreading for a few weeks in the community before it was detected and confirmed.

ANDERSON: Yeah. Yeah, it's really worrying, isn't it? The W.H.O. says that it has sent tons of health supplies to the virus hit region. Do we know

what other steps are being taken to help at this point?

MADOWO: There's a lot of different international bodies, countries helping. The U.S. CDC has sent PPE, they've sent experts, the World Health

Organization, the Africa CDC, the Congolese Health Ministry, they're all pitching in, sending PPE, sending first responders, sending experts to deal

with it.

They have set up three different treatment centers in Ituri Province to deal with that. They are doing aggressive lab testing, contact tracing to

try and detect as many people as possible, encouraging the local population also to show up and receive treatment if they're necessary.

Part of the problem here is that there's not enough testing available. So, for instance, one W.H.O. official in the region telling Reuters that they

can only do six tests for the Bundibugyo virus in every hour. They did have some tests available, but that is for the more common zaire strain.

This has ended up not being the zaire strain. This Bundibugyo has only been seen two other times before, so they just don't have enough testing

available, especially in such a remote area. That's complicating it. The World Health Organization's emergency committee meeting right now to

determine what more they can do.

A lot of emergency temporary measures to try and support the DRC to make sure that this does not get out of control, because if the DRC cannot get

this under control, every country on earth should be concerned.

ANDERSON: Yeah, absolutely. Good to have you, Larry. Thank you very much indeed. Let's get you up to speed, folks, on some of the other stories that

are on our radar right now.

[09:25:00]

And today, one of the busiest primary days of the year in America, with voting in six states. Now, one key story line to watch President Donald

Trump's political revenge campaign against Republican critics, that includes Kentucky, where he is aggressively targeting Congressman Thomas

Massie, whom he calls disloyal.

Well, some 33, sorry, let me start that again. Some 33,000 people have been ordered to evacuate parts of Simi Valley in Southern California as this

massive wildfire continues to rage there. Firefighters have made progress taming the fire before it was reinvigorated by wind change.

The so-called Sandy fire now covers 1300 acres or 500 hectares. Well, the Former Los Angeles Police Detective convicted of lying during the OJ

Simpson murder trial has died at the age of 74. Mark Fuhrman was the officer who reportedly found a bloody glove at the home of Simpson.

His credibility came under attack during the trial after a recording showed him repeatedly using racial slurs. 30 years or more ago, 35 years ago.

Trading is about to begin on Wall Street. U.S. shares set for a lower open. We'll have the opening bell, up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: I'm Becky Anderson. You're watching "Connect the World". We get you the very latest headlines at this point of the day. U.S. President

Donald Trump says he is holding off on resuming attacks on Iran after requests he says from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.

He cited serious negotiations to end the war. A top Iranian official says his country's latest proposal insists on the right to enrich uranium, which

is a major sticking point in reaching any sort of deal. Well California authorities are investigating a deadly shooting at a mosque as a hate

crime.

Three people killed at the Islamic Center San Diego, the city's largest mosque. Two teen suspects were found dead in a car near the premises from

self-inflicted gunshot wounds. Russia's President Vladimir Putin is kicking off a two-day state visit in China. The wars in Ukraine and the Middle East

expected to top the agenda in talks with his Chinese counterpart.

His visit comes just days after President Trump, of course, visited Beijing. Well, the Head of the World Health Organization says he is deeply

concerned about the scale and speed of the Ebola outbreak in the DRC and in Uganda. Health officials suspect more than 130 deaths are linked to the

virus.

[09:30:00]

The W.H.O. is mobilizing tons of health supplies for the region. We get you to New York, where the trading day is about to begin. Ringing that in today

is -- CAVA, which is the restaurant brand launching there today. So, a good day for CAVA. Let's see how stocks get on at the opening.

We were expecting to see a mix to weaker start. There is no conclusion at all, obviously, to any sort of deal at this point with regard to U.S.-Iran.

Strait of Hormuz was effectively closed, that having an impact on investor sentiment. So that's the story today. And we'll check in with the NASDAQ

and the S&P shortly.

Yields on U.S. Treasuries are moving higher as fears over inflation persist. Remember, inflation is the nemesis of the bond market. The 10-year

note hit its highest level in over a year on Monday, while 30-year yields are hovering around highs not seen since before the financial crash in

2007.

Bond yields have soared since the Iran war began, driven by concerns over price rises and bets that interest rates will rise to curb inflation, and

this is a picture that's being repeated globally. Bond yields in the UK and Japan also at levels not seen in years. The yield time, in the price of

these assets, of course, are lower.

I want to bring in Noureldeen Al Hammoury, who's the Chief Market Strategist at Fintech Firm Equiti Group, it's good to have you.

NOURELDEEN AL HAMMOURY, CHIEF GLOBAL MARKET STRATEGIST AT EQUITI GROUP: Thank you for having me.

ANDERSON: You say the bigger risk here is not actually these higher yields, but what these higher yields will trigger next. Just explain your thinking

here.

HAMMOURY: Yeah, I mean, when you have a look at what is going on, at least across the board, we have a higher borrowing cost, while the Strait of

Hormuz keeps on feeding into inflation expectations, and also inflation. I mean, the recent data from the U.S. wasn't actually something positive.

It is on the contrary, because the lifestyle, we've seen in inflation data at these levels, the Federal Reserve was actually getting ready to raise

rates, not to cut rates. That's from one side. In addition to that, now you're hovering over 30 years at levels not seen since 2007.

10-year yields today at 4.65. And we're afraid that the same scenario that we saw back in between September and August in gold is repeating in the

yields.

ANDERSON: Yeah.

HAMMOURY: And what is -- basically in simple terms, when you look at the bond market is basically investors are sending signals to central banks, if

you don't want to intervene, and if you don't want it to actually be restrictive, and to be ready for the next wave of inflation, we need higher

premium to take that risk off -- until then they're going to keep on dumping bonds.

ANDERSON: And this isn't going to be a picture that Donald Trump is going to like very much, given the enormity of that U.S. debt.

HAMMOURY: Yeah --

ANDERSON: At the heart of all of this, of course, is our oil prices. Oil prices significantly higher since the beginning of this conflict. Donald

Trump knows this. Here's what he said overnight.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: Gasoline is going to come tumbling down as soon as the war is over, and they want it. Iran wants it to end soon. They've taken big punishment,

and it's very simple. They cannot have a nuclear weapon to blow up Kentucky, and to blow up every place else. We're not going to let that

happen.

So, we're getting very close, and as soon as we get that one finished, you're going to see the right, the gasoline and energy is going to come

tumbling down.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: That's assuming, of course, that the Strait of Hormuz is reopened.

HAMMOURY: Yeah.

ANDERSON: And opened as effectively as it was before this conflict started. Do you share Trump's confidence that prices, gasoline prices in the U.S.,

he's speaking about specifically, but we're talking about oil prices across the board here. Do you share his confidence that those prices will drop

significantly and quickly?

HAMMOURY: I don't think so, if it's going to be significantly and quickly, because also opening the Strait of Hormuz, it's not about, like, you know,

switch of a button that you can just say, OK, the strait is open, let's go and let's leave, you have over 700 tankers that is actually stuck in the

Gulf.

You think that we can actually get over 700 tankers to basically get loaded and be ready to leave the strait before the war. The average tankers, or

the average amount of tankers, were about 114 or 140 tankers per day. And now, if we have 700 this is going to take at least a couple of weeks in

order for us to just say that yes, this is all the traffic has been kind of cleared.

[09:35:00]

That's one side -- the other side, also, you have to look at the backwardations, and we have to look at the rebalancing, and how the market

is going to be basically rebalancing between the paper market and also the physical market, which remain tight, especially that we're still using also

and draining the reserves.

That's one of the reasons also that why oil is still elevated, despite the fact that, yes, there are some other -- we've heard a lot of other plans,

and that the flow of oil will continue in a way, or so. But at the same time, markets are still also worried that this is not something that's

going to end.

ANDERSON: Yeah.

HAMMOURY: And if it's going to end today, it's going to take a lot of time to rebalance.

ANDERSON: So, those watching this, and we're not suggesting that you're giving investment advice, you know, through the CNN platform, because

that's not what we do, but there will be people sitting here thinking about their portfolios and thinking, look, you know, what should I do, you know,

given what you've just said with regard waiting on equities and on bonds and other assets.

We are seeing many investment managers saying they are now overweight equities, underweight bonds. Do you expect that to continue?

HAMMOURY: At least for the time being, markets are still happy. I mean, look at, don't forget that most of what basically happened after the

conflict is that we had more and more proofs that AI is actually generating enough revenues for a lot of companies that basically prove that they can

optimize AI.

Now, on the other hand, it's a positive and a negative thing at the same time, positive thing that there's a new revenue stream for a lot of tech

stocks or a lot of tech companies, but on the other hand, you have a lot of companies that is announcing a haircut or announcing at least a labor or

cutting in their workforce because of AI.

So, this is some sort of like a balance in between positive and negative, but at the same time here is that underweight when it comes to bonds, yes,

it will take some time, but overweight in stocks, that's something that we've always seen. And at the same time, I think the -- that we saw over

the past couple of weeks proved the concept of AI generating revenues.

But at the same time, we don't want to be too optimistic, because the situation now still continues to show that the risk of stagflation is much

higher than any time before.

ANDERSON: Yeah.

HAMMOURY: And this is at some point I think that the market will understand it over the next couple of weeks.

ANDERSON: So, really interesting time, isn't it? Quite a lot of what is going on.

HAMMOURY: That was --

ANDERSON: -- very little sense. It has to be said at present. That's your job, not mine, though. It's good to have you. Thank you very much indeed.

You're watching "Connect the World". I'm Becky Anderson. Up next, reports that one of the most successful managers in the Premier League, the English

Premier League, is getting ready to move on. More on that after this.

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[09:40:00]

ANDERSON: Huge news out of the English Premier League, where one of the most outstanding managers in football history looks to be on his way out

after an incredible run of success. Amanda Davies joins me now. And if these reports, Amanda proved to be true, we really will be witnessing the

end of an era.

AMANDA DAVIES, CNN WORLD SPORT: Yes, we will. I have to stress. There is nothing official that has been confirmed. Nothing official coming out of

Manchester City, nothing official coming out of Pep Guardiola, the man himself. But it does seem all the reports coming that fascinatingly started

emerging midway through Arsenal, Manchester City's title rivals' game on Monday night, or that the weekend, the final weekend of this Premier League

season will bring Pep Guardiola's 10-year tenure at Manchester City to an end.

Fascinatingly, they have a game this evening against Bournemouth that they must win City, in order to stop Arsenal winning tonight's -- winning this

season's Premier League title to make sure that the title race goes all the way down to the final weekend. So, the timing is less than ideal of these

stories to be emerging.

ANDERSON: -- Yeah.

DAVIES: But there is no doubt Pep Guardiola and City will need to address them at this game this evening, and then they hope put them to one side to

be able to focus on the job in hand, and perhaps let him see him go out on that high.

ANDERSON: Yeah, and I'm sure the players will want to absolutely perform for him, not like they don't perform sort of week in, week out for him

anyway, I have to say it will be the worst kept secret here in Abu Dhabi, if he is off. I'm sure that there is a role for him within the kind of

wider city football club, if that is, or the city football group, if that is the decision that he is making, but it will be tougher, it will be tough

for those fans, and for that club, if indeed he decides that this is the back end of his managerial career there.

It's good to have you. Thank you very much indeed. "World Sport", with more on that after this.

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