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Marco Rubio Sees "Slight Progress" On Iran Talks; Marco Rubio In Sweden For NATO Foreign Ministers Meeting; Outrage Over Slush Fund For Trump Allies; Backlash Over Israel's Treatment Of Activists Grows; Board Of Peace Envoy Publishes Roadmap For Gaza Peace Plan; Iran Sticks To Its Resolve To Control Strait Of Hormuz; New E.U. Sanctions On Iran Over Closure Of Strait Of Hormuz; U.S. Gas Prices Climb To New Wartime High Ahead Of Memorial Day. Aired 10-11a ET

Aired May 22, 2026 - 10:00   ET

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

[10:00:34]

ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN Abu Dhabi, this is CONNECT THE WORLD with Becky Anderson.

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Welcome to the second hour of the show from our Middle East programing headquarters here in Abu Dhabi. The

time is just after 6:00 in the evening. I'm Becky Anderson for you.

Well, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has just addressed reporters after meeting with NATO foreign ministers in Sweden. While there, he has

been reinforcing President Trump's push for allies to boost defense spending. And he reiterated in his remarks last hour that U.S. troop

presence in Europe will be, quote, "adjusted." He also said there's been some progress in negotiations with Iran to end the war. But there is, he

said, still a lot of work to be done.

Here's more from the U.S. secretary of state.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARCO RUBIO, SECRETARY OF STATE: Well, the primary interlocutor on this has been Pakistan and continues to be. And they've done a, you know, I think,

an admirable job. And that's who we continue to work through. Obviously other countries, you know, have interest because, especially Gulf countries

that are, you know, in the middle of all this, they have their own situation going on.

We talked to all of them, but I would just say that the primary country we've been working with on all of this is Pakistan. And that remains the

case. And it's my understanding he was supposed to go yesterday, but it could be as early as today that Field Marshal Munir could be traveling

there very, very soon. And we're in constant communication with him. At the highest levels of our government are constantly talking to him.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, the U.S. secretary of state says that the Trump administration is awaiting word about the progress of talks between

regional mediators on Iran. Iran's foreign minister met with Pakistan's interior minister to discuss proposals to end the conflict yesterday.

Well, I'm joined now by Vali Nasr, professor of Johns Hopkins University and author of "Iran's Grand Strategy: A Political History."

I just want to pick up with a little further of what we heard from Marco Rubio. This was just sort of moments ago when asked for that update and any

progress in any deal with Iran. He said, and I quote him here, "There's been some progress. We're not there yet." He said he is neither optimistic

nor pessimistic. He said he hopes for an agreement where the Strait of Hormuz is open and that the Iranians abandon their nuclear weapons

ambitions as he described them.

He also said, Vali, "We do need a plan B. We need to start thinking about what that looks like because someone needs to do something about that," if

indeed the Strait of Hormuz isn't reopened and functional and the Americans don't get what they want on this sort of nuclear framework. Your thoughts

at this point about where we are at?

VALI NASR, PROFESSOR, JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY: I think right now it's touch and go. I think his assessment is correct. There is no yet a path

forward on a letter of intent, which is what is being negotiated in Tehran. We'll know by later today whether there is scope to be optimistic. But I

think right now the negotiations are proceeding. That's where things stand.

ANDERSON: I want you to listen to what Anwar Gargash, senior diplomat adviser to the UAE president, had to say on Iran earlier. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANWAR GARGASH, SENIOR DIPLOMATIC ADVISER TO THE UAE PRESIDENT: Iran has been at the center of various Middle Eastern crisis and Gulf crisis in the

last, I don't know, three, four decades. And many of these crises are because there are many issues that are left undealt with. And clearly, the

nuclear program, Iran's nuclear program is part of that. There are also a subset of issues that were born out of this crisis. So part of these issues

is the sort of break in trust with all of Iran's southern neighbors.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: That's the UAE position. I wonder what -- how you assess that and the position and influence of the other Gulf States at this point.

NASR: I mean, first of all, Iran's nuclear program, to which he refers was dealt with in 2015 in a deal.

[10:05:06]

And actually UAE, Israel and then President Trump undermined that deal and the deal collapsed, and partly we are dealing with the consequences of that

collapse. Secondly, this current war was brought to the region by the United States and Israel. And yes, he's correct that given the way in which

the conflict has unfolded, Iran attacking UAE, attacking other Gulf countries and closing the Strait of Hormuz has now created a breach of

trust between Iran and its southern neighbors.

None of that can be remedied until there is an end to this war, which is what currently is being negotiated between the United States and Iran. I

don't think that Iran's Arab neighbors right now have a card to play, in a sense, until there is a clear path forward in terms of when and where and

how this war ends.

ANDERSON: There has been very public back and forth between Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu, culminating in what sources describe as a very

tense phone call with Donald Trump later saying he, Benjamin Netanyahu, will do whatever I want him to do.

Clearly, many will suggest that there are cracks emerging between Washington and Jerusalem over the Iran strategy at this point. Again, how

do you assess what you are hearing and reading?

NASR: Well, the war that we are dealing with, the war that has pulverized security and damaged the economies of the Gulf countries as well, was

precipitated by Israel based on essentially a bill of goods that Prime Minister Netanyahu sold President Trump on how easy and straightforward

this war would be. That Iran's regime will be toppled, that the Iranian public would rise in rebellion.

There'd be a new regime, and Iran's nuclear program, its role in the region, all of these things would be resolved. Clearly, this was not true.

Now, President Trump is now put in a position that has to deal with the fallout of a long war. On the one hand, Bibi Netanyahu is pushing him to go

and finish the job. But that's easier said than done. And it would be at the cost of the American military and also at a great risk to both regional

and global economic and energy and other security assessments.

The other side of it is that the United States has to arrive at a deal with Iran. Ultimately, regardless of the shape of that deal, at the end of the

deal, it means Islamic Republic will remain there and would have certain degree of economic relief and the future of the Strait of Hormuz, security

in the Persian Gulf, security of the Arab countries that neighbor Iran, they're all still open ended questions.

But this, in the end, is a situation that Israel created. The current war is Israel -- was Israel's project. However, Israel was not able to deliver

while the war was going on and is still not capable of delivering. Israel wants -- Prime Minister Netanyahu wants the United States to fight Israel's

war for it to realize Israel's war objectives. But it's very clear that President Trump is not prepared to do that. So as a result, there is a

breach. And President Trump will have to control and contain Israel's position if he has a way forward on the negotiations front.

ANDERSON: You say this was Israel's war, and it is Israel's sort of war now, sort of to deal with, as it were. But from the perspective where I am

sitting here in the Gulf, Iran has for a long time been sort of perceived threat with the nuclear program and the pursuit of enriched uranium with

its ballistic and drone missile capabilities, with its proxy efforts around this region, and always the opportunity to leverage the Strait of Hormuz.

So whilst I understand you're -- the conceit of your argument here, ultimately, you know, and in the weeks going forward, where do you believe

we are going to land in any agreement? And what does a day after an agreement look like for Iran, for Israel, and indeed for these Gulf States

who have ultimately shown the world they say what a threat Iran is and could be going forward for this region?

[10:10:07]

NASR: I mean, all of these things, even if taken at face value, this war started on February 28th at the behest of Israel. I mean, it was Israel

that pushed the United States for a final solution to Iran's nuclear program and to all of the other threats that it perceived. And in the end,

it also pushed for that war on the basis that the war would be easy and there would be an easy solution to the so-called Iran problems.

Those have all proven to be not correct. And in the end, right now, given everything that you said, the choices between the United States are pretty

straightforward. Either it prosecutes a much larger war at a much greater cost actually to the Gulf economies if Iran begins to retaliate at a much

greater scale against energy, trade and infrastructure across the Gulf, and that the United States might ultimately have to put boots on the ground to

deal with Iran and its nuclear program, or it has to find a negotiated settlement to this.

And there's no other third choice here. And ultimately, what Israel promised, which was a final solution, a very clean and conclusive end to

the Iran -- to the threat that Iran posed to the United States or to the region, is clearly not achievable. So either President Trump has to decide

with a total war with Iran, or he has to come to some kind of a settlement. And the settlement would not address all the issues that you put forward.

And ultimately, there has to be a further considerations about how you deal with the situation in order to be able to bring back security and stability

to the Persian Gulf region and to the broader Middle East.

ANDERSON: Vali, it's always good to have you. And I do note your line I think sort of recently that Iran will look to consolidate what it sees as

its strategic gains at this point, rather than look to a narrow nuclear deal.

NASR: Right.

ANDERSON: I note that because I thought it was, you know, a well-crafted thought and I think sort of encapsulates perhaps where we are ultimately

at, at this point. Where we are headed is still unclear.

It's good to have you. Thank you very much indeed.

NASR: Thank you.

ANDERSON: I want to bring in CNN's Melissa Bell. She has been following Marco Rubio's movements at the NATO foreign ministers meeting in Sweden

last hour. The U.S. secretary of state hosted, you know, a sort of impromptu news conference. He spoke about Iran, and we've discussed that.

He was neither optimistic nor pessimistic about a deal, although he said there has been some progress.

What were the -- some of the other key takeaways from that event?

MELISSA BELL, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Essentially, what he was saying is that plan A is that a deal is struck, but a plan B needs to

be found if Iran insists on continuing its blocking of the Strait of Hormuz. And, you know, we talked about this earlier, Becky, there had been

this idea that was floated for a while that beyond the coalition that is building around the idea of securing the Strait of Hormuz, once 33

countries strong. In fact, coalition of securing Hormuz once hostilities have ended, came up this idea, you know, of course, a lot of President

Trump's anger with NATO is to do with its lack of support, as he sees it, with a war in Iran.

The NATO position and that of NATO allies is that, well, they were never consulted about this. This was never NATO's thing. One of the ideas had

been, perhaps as a step towards placating the United States, creating some kind of NATO specific mission in terms of securing the Strait of Hormuz.

The trouble with that, Becky, is that it will take 32 countries to agree unanimously, and that's looking very unlikely.

As the French have pointed out, it is not called the North Atlantic Treaty Organization for nothing. It has nothing to do with the Middle East. So I

think they're likely to be disappointed on that front. What we have had a lot more clarity about, and remember, this was a meeting of foreign

ministers ahead of the big leaders' meeting of NATO in Ankara this summer, what we do have more clarity on at the end of the day that we did not have

earlier today is about troop movements in Europe.

There had been the announcement of the removal of 5,000 troops from Germany. More -- several thousand more were to be removed from Poland. What

we understand is that Polish lobbying efforts appear to have been successful. President Trump, in the name of his friendship with the right-

wing Polish president, has announced that, in fact, the numbers in Poland will be staying the same in terms of American troops. And that's been

confirmed by the Polish foreign minister as well.

So a little more clarity when it comes to that. Marco Rubio also speaking to that just now, Becky, and saying these are troop movements that have

been expected. They are not punitive. They have nothing to do with what's happening in Iran or with our disappointment with our allies.

[10:15:02]

This was something that was afoot well before is what he explained -- Becky.

ANDERSON: It's good to have you. Thank you.

Well, sources say the White House has, and I quote here, "No plans to make any changes to President Trump's $1.8 billion so-called anti-weaponization

fund. Now, that is despite the growing backlash from Republicans on Capitol Hill. This fund, let me explain, would use taxpayer money to compensate

people who claim that they have been unfairly treated by the Justice Department. That could possibly include January the 6th defendants who

attacked police officers on Capitol Hill.

CNN's Betsy Klein, joining us now from the White House.

Betsy, senators left Washington for their Memorial Day recess on Thursday, with Republicans saying that they were blindsided by the DOJ's announcement

of this fund and at odds over how to rein it in. Some of them frankly suggested they didn't understand what it was about and sort of, you know,

gave the impression it was a bit of a stitch up.

What more can you tell us?

BETSY KLEIN, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Well, Becky, I think it's fair to say that they were not given a heads up about this. And

we have seen President Trump maintain really an unprecedented and remarkable aspect of loyalty and influence over lawmakers in his party. But

Senate Republicans are now openly in revolt after the Justice Department unveiled this $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund and now a major

legislative priority for President Trump is hanging in the balance.

So just a couple of days ago that the Justice Department announced the creation of this fund, this fund is funded by taxpayer money, and it is

going to compensate people who are allies of the president who believe that they were unfairly investigated by the Department of Justice during the

Biden administration. But Senate Republicans almost immediately lashing out. We heard, for instance, from Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. He

described this plan as, quote, "utterly stupid and morally wrong."

The White House seeking to do some cleanup. They deployed acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to Capitol Hill yesterday for what was, by all

accounts, an incredibly tense meeting where he got an earful from the Republican conference. And there's so much frustration that this

weaponization fund is being tied to a broader immigration enforcement bill. This is tens of billions of dollars for Immigration and Customs

Enforcement, along with Border Patrol, that it's very unclear at this point whether they're going to have the 60 votes that are needed to get this over

the finish line in the Senate.

But for now, sources telling us that there are no imminent plans to change any major aspects of this fund. President Trump also making that clear in a

post to social media just moments ago. He says, quote, "I gave up a lot of money in allowing the just announced anti-weaponization fund to go forward.

I could have settled my case, including the illegal release of my tax returns and the equally illegal break-in of Mar-a-Lago for an absolute

fortune. Instead, I am helping others who are so badly abused by an evil, corrupt and weaponized Biden administration receive at long last justice."

Now, all of this comes as the president has also taken aim at incumbent Republican senators whom he deems to be disloyal. And we've seen that as

Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana lost his primary over the weekend. Also, the president announcing that he would not be endorsing Senator John

Cornyn, who is a former member of leadership, a beloved figure in the Senate among Republicans.

Republicans are also now standing up to Trump on his ballroom project. This broader immigration package was expected to have a couple hundred million

dollars for ballroom security, but as of now, we are learning that that provision is expected to be stripped from the broader package -- Becky.

ANDERSON: Always a pleasure, Betsy. Thank you so much.

Coming up, international outcry. An Israeli government minister is condemned for the humiliation of detained activists aboard an intercepted

aid flotilla. I'm going to get you the very latest from Tel Aviv.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:21:29]

ANDERSON: Israel is facing backlash over its treatment of activists aboard a flotilla aiming to deliver aid to Gaza. And a far-right national security

minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, released this video of him taunting activists, many with their hands tied. More than 400 were detained by Israeli forces

and then deported Italian activists on returning to their home country say they were mistreated while in detention.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ILARIO DEL MASTRO, ACTIVIST AND NURSE (through translator): They even took our shoes away. We walked barefoot on the wet ground. They soaked us and

kept us wet in the cold. There was an escalation and there were sexual abuses, so it's undeniable that their violence increased. Psychological

violence, too, obviously, because you were forced to keep your head down, you couldn't raise it. You always had to stay silent.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, CNN's correspondent Jeremy Diamond has been following this story, and he joins us now.

And there's some quite significant allegations there. What's been the response?

JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT: Yes, that's right. As we have been seeing some of these activists who were deported from Israel following

their, you know, detention and custody in Israel, many of them are making some serious allegations of physical abuse at the hands of Israeli

authorities. Some of them say that they were tased. Others said that they were beaten, and many of them are talking broadly about the dehumanization

that they faced during their time in Israeli custody.

We saw some of this on camera, of course, you know, namely people who were zip tied and, you know, on prostrate on the ground, their heads on the

floor as the Israeli far-right national security minister walked around and taunted many of them. Now, what we are seeing is the kind of fallout from

numerous allegations of physical abuse by these detainees in the form of potential consequences from European countries.

Italy has indicated that E.U. members are discussing imposing sanctions on that far-right national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. In addition to

that, of course, we have heard the foreign minister of Canada also talk about these, quote-unquote, "egregious abuses" that Canadian and other

foreign citizens suffered while they were in custody. We've just gotten a comment, actually, from Israel's prison service, which says that, quote,

"The allegations raised are false and entirely without factual basis."

They also say that all prisoners and detainees are held in accordance with the law, with their full regard for their basic rights, and under

supervision of professional and trained prison staff. But of course, this is not the first time, Becky, that we have heard of allegations of serious

abuses by individuals held in Israel's prison system, not just these foreign activists, of course, but also numerous Palestinians who have been

detained by Israel, oftentimes without trial, without charge.

Most recently, I interviewed the Palestinian journalist Ali al-Samoudi, who lost about half of his body weight during a year spent in Israeli prison

held without charge. We have heard other allegations of abuse, and some of these foreign activists now are also alleging sexual abuse during their

time in Israeli custody. Again, the Israel prison service, denying all allegations of abuse being made by these foreign activists. But European

nations are taking this very, very seriously. Not only the allegations of abuse, but also saying that Israel had no right to detain these individuals

in the first place because the Israeli military boarded these ships in international waters.

[10:25:08]

ANDERSON: Yes. Nickolay Mladenov, who is the diplomat charged with overseeing Donald Trump's Board of Peace plan for Gaza, described the

taunting of detainees as unacceptable and shaming. He just this week has laid out the plan, as we understand it, going forward for Gaza. What did we

learn?

DIAMOND: You know, not a lot of surprises here. A lot of this had already been previously reported by us and by other outlets. But, you know, it is

the first time that we are seeing it all kind of laid out with the most current form of this 15-point plan. Mladenov stressed that this plan is

based on the principle of, quote, "reciprocity and verification," basically making the case that both sides need to be held accountable for

implementing their obligations under the cease fire agreement.

The plan talks about going from, you know, the cease fire obligations now, which Israel is not upholding in terms of no strikes in Gaza, in terms of

the amount of humanitarian aid that still remains insufficient. It then talks about Hamas giving up governance and weapons in Gaza, which so far

Hamas has refused to give up its weapons. Following that would be the introduction of this international stabilization force.

And eventually, once all of that is completed, Israeli military withdrawal from more than half of the Gaza Strip that they now control, and eventually

the entry of reconstruction materials and funding in order to rebuild a devastated Gaza Strip. Mladenov made the point to the U.N. Security Council

yesterday that the council needs to use all of its means at its disposal to, quote, "get Hamas to disarm."

He also made the point that none of these weapons that are going to be confiscated from Hamas and other armed factions inside of Gaza will be

handed over to Israel, but rather that they would be handed over to a Palestinian transitional government. The broader point that has been made

by Mladenov, as well as by U.N. officials yesterday, was the notion that holding up the progress on actually moving to the next phases of the cease

fire is harming only one group of people, and that is the two million Palestinians still living in about half of the area of the Gaza Strip.

Many of them still living in tents dealing with pest and rodent infestations. Still, insufficient levels of humanitarian aid and no real

path towards broader reconstruction because, as Mladenov has said numerous times, no country is going to provide the billions of dollars in

reconstruction funding until there is a kind of conclusion to this war altogether, and there isn't still the threat and the possibility of Israel

resuming its military offensive should Hamas continue to refuse to disarm - - Becky.

ANDERSON: Yes, and he has said a number of times, you know, this, you know, the world is running out of time here. The clock, I mean, it's a cliche,

but the clock is really ticking at this point.

It's good to have you, Jeremy. Thank you.

Well, just ahead, the E.U. taking fresh action as Iran ramps up its claim to control the Strait of Hormuz. An expert on geopolitics and security with

a keen focus on this part of the world, the Gulf and Middle East, joins me after this break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:30:58]

ANDERSON: Welcome back. You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Becky Anderson. These are your headlines this hour.

The head of the World Health Organization says the Ebola outbreak in the DRC is spreading rapidly. At least 117 deaths, sorry, at least 177 deaths

are now believed to be linked to the disease, with hundreds more cases suspected. Situation in Uganda, where one death has been reported, it's now

considered stable.

Well, protesters are demonstrating in front of the U.S. embassy in Havana in Cuba. They are angry over a U.S. decision to indict former Cuban

president Raul Castro in connection with the downing of two civilian planes 30 years ago. The pro-government rally comes amid growing tensions between

Havana and Washington.

Well, sources tell CNN that China may engage more in diplomacy in an effort to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, following U.S. President Donald Trump's

recent visit to Beijing. However, they warn that China is unlikely to serve as a mediator on the Iran crisis and that it will not exert economic

pressure on Tehran.

Well, Iran is asserting its control over the Strait of Hormuz with a new map here. Let's have a look at that. Tehran's new Persian Gulf Strait

Authority, as it calls itself, published this map claiming military control across an area that extends into the territorial waters of Oman and the

UAE. After today's meeting of NATO foreign ministers, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the U.S. is looking at all angles involving

this key waterway.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RUBIO: But I'm saying plan B needs to be what if Iran says no, we refuse to open the straits, then someone is going to have to go in and do something

about it. That doesn't mean we couldn't do it. We could. The United States could do it. But there are countries that have expressed an interest in

potentially being a part of something like that if, in fact, we get to that point. We don't need their help, but they're willing to do it, and I think

we should take them up on it if they are.

But I don't think there's been any firm commitments or firm asks today. It would be premature, but I just raised the issue that this is something we

may need to confront at some point.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, my next guest has been commenting on this saying, quote, "If Tehran thinks that Muscat, capital of Oman, and Abu Dhabi, the capital

here of the UAE, will sign up to this, they are dreaming. The Iranian regime is claiming control over Omani and Emirati Maritime Territories via

this proposal. This is just trolling. Surely."

Those are the words of H. A. Hellyer, who is a senior associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, the world's oldest defense and

security think tank, joins me today from Cairo. Regular guests on this show.

And always good to have you, H. A. Let's start then with this new map outlining Iran's claimed oversight in and around the Strait of Hormuz. You

have suggested how the UAE and Oman are likely to interpret this move. Can you just expand?

H. A. HELLYER, SENIOR ASSOCIATE FELLOW, ROYAL UNITED SERVICES INSTITUTE: Thank you very much, Becky. Always a pleasure to be on the show. So,

there's several things here. First, the Strait of Hormuz itself is a recognized internationally as an international waterway. So that's one

aspect. It's one that is disputed by the Iranians and it's not a dispute without basis because of course the Iranians haven't actually ratified,

although they did sign the relevant treaty on freedom of navigation sea laws, but they didn't ratify it.

So they could argue that they're not obliged to uphold freedom of navigation as such within the strait. Having said that, if they want to

control the strait in any shape or form, they will have to have the cooperation of the Omanis. The Omanis have not said that they will

cooperate. The Omanis do uphold the existing treaties on freedom of navigation and then this new map that was released yesterday extends and

expands that arena of control beyond Omani waters and Iranian waters, and goes into Emirati waters, including, very significantly, Fujairah, which is

where the UAE planned to actually bypass the Strait of Hormuz altogether.

[10:35:18]

And now the Iranians are claiming to have control over that space of water as well. And I frankly don't think that there's any chance the UAE is going

to sign up to this. And I doubt very much that the Omanis would either.

ANDERSON: I want you to listen to Amal Gargash, who is the senior diplomatic adviser to the UAE president. He had this to say about control

over the strait. Have a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GARGASH: I think today also, the way that the Iranians want to control the Strait of Hormuz, which has been since time immemorial, an international

waterway, is again the same sort of mentality of trampling over international law in order to increase influence. And I think this is not

how you handle yourself if you want to be a reasonable regional power.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: So where do you assess we are at, at this point? You're absolutely right to point out, you know, conceivably, you know, this is

just trolling as, and as Marco Rubio pointed out about an hour or so ago, as there is progress made, as he describes it, in mediation efforts for

talks, for a deal of some sort.

HELLYER: So I think we have to keep in mind, this isn't just about the United States and Iran. This very much impacts the countries of the Gulf.

It includes the six Arab Gulf States. Most significantly, of course, UAE and Oman, because this is their waters that are being directly implicated

here, but also further afield, the Saudis, the Kuwaitis, the Qataris, the Bahrainis.

They are not going to be enthusiastic at all about placing control over not just the strait, but further beyond as this new map indicates into the

permanent and regularized control of the Iranian regime. So I do think that until we have some sort of open confirmation from the Omanis, we have to

regard these reports as incredibly dubious. I think that the Omanis have already gone on the record multiple times saying that they uphold sea laws,

that they uphold the existing regime around freedom of navigation through the strait, that they're not interested in a toll booth system.

If they were to sign up to something like that, which I don't think is in their interest in the slightest, but they would be going against their Gulf

neighbors. And I'm not sure what sort of exchange they would be getting from that. I don't think Muscat is thinking in this sort of fashion. I

think rather they're trying to hold negotiations together. They're trying to play an effective mediation role so they're not necessarily responding

and contradicting everything that comes out of Tehran every single day because they don't want to up the tension.

But I don't think that there's any chance that such a scheme like this could actually be regularized by the GCC more widely. And it would have to

be in order for it to succeed.

ANDERSON: European Union today imposing new sanctions on Iran over the close of the strait. The statement said in part, "The E.U. will now be able

to introduce further restrictive measures in response to Iran's actions undermining the freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz."

I just wonder whether you've got an assessment of European response at this point and whether this is the beginning of a tougher European response, and

whether that at this stage is significant.

HELLYER: So I think it's significant only insofar as the E.U. has been a bit sluggish on this particular file. Within the region itself, I think the

E.U.'s response to crisis and catastrophe has been viewed with a great deal of criticism, particularly as a result of Israel's war and genocidal

actions in Gaza. So I don't think that the E.U.'s efforts in this regard are being taken as seriously as one would hope that they would be.

It's not good enough to simply express statements when, you know, your last report, which I thought was excellent, talked about how the minister in

Israel treated these detainees, who were simply trying to express solidarity with the people of Gaza. There's been an uproar in the E.U., of

course, about that. But there continues to be an association agreement with the Israelis. So all of that is viewed in the background as we talk about

Iran and the impact, the rhetoric, the level of rhetoric, the level of response when it comes to Iran, as compared to what's happened in the past

over very serious actions indeed.

[10:40:16]

ANDERSON: Understood.

HELLYER: With regards to the Israelis.

ANDERSON: Always good to have you, H. A. Thank you. H. A. Hellyer in the house.

Look, we talk about the Strait of Hormuz, of course, because it is crippling the access for oil and other petroleum based products to be

exported out of this region, which is having a huge impact, of course, on prices around the world, not least in the United States, where gas prices

have hit a wartime high for Americans, many of whom are hitting the roads this weekend for what's known as Memorial Day.

CNN business and politics correspondent Vanessa Yurkevich joining me now from Ridgefield in New Jersey.

What are you doing and seeing there?

VANESSA YURKEVICH, CNN BUSINESS AND POLITICS CORRESPONDENT: Well, I'm talking to drivers who some are not traveling this Memorial Day weekend.

Some who are biting the bullet with very high gas prices, gas prices we haven't seen in nearly four years.

So today, the national average here in the United States for a gallon of regular gas is $4.55 a gallon. That is up more than $0.50 from a month ago,

and up more than $1.50 from a month ago when the war started -- excuse me, up more than $1.50 from more than two months ago since the war started with

Iran. The last time we saw gas prices this high was in 2022 heading into the Memorial Day weekend, when the average price was $4.61 a gallon.

But AAA here in the United States still expecting a record number of travelers, 45 million. The majority of those, 39 million, hitting the road,

driving across the country or to various destinations for this holiday weekend.

I've been speaking to drivers here along the New Jersey turnpike. This is an area that gets people to a lot of different states across the northeast.

Some drivers telling me that they aren't going to be taking a Memorial Day vacation because gas prices are so high. A lot of drivers still making the

trip, but putting in just $15 or $20 or $50 just to see how far that will get them. And a lot of drivers saying that they're planning to make changes

across the entire summer holiday travel season because of higher gas prices, maybe resorting more to public transportation instead of driving.

Here in the United States, now every state has a national average above $4 a gallon, and you have seven states like California, Hawaii, Oregon that

now have an average above $5 a gallon. This, of course, is all because of the war with Iran, the Strait of Hormuz has effectively been closed,

pushing oil prices much, much higher. Oil is traded on a global scale. And so prices here in the United States have been at four-year highs.

According to GasBuddy, the anticipation is that if that all of that continues, we could see an average gas price from Memorial Day to Labor Day

of $4.80.

Becky, that is quite high. It's not where we have seen the record set in 2022 of $5 a gallon. But of course, looking at $4.80 for the entire

vacation travel summer season is not that alluring for drivers here in the United States -- Becky.

ANDERSON: Absolutely. It's good to have you. Thank you. And Happy Memorial Day.

You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD. There is a lot more ahead. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:45:58]

ANDERSON: 2,000 gamers are packing their bags for Paris this year instead of Riyadh. The 2026 Esports World Cup will be held outside Saudi Arabia for

the first time ever. Organizers say the relocation is due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Yet another example of how the Iran war is

rippling across this region, and this time hitting one of Saudi's bets to diversify its economy beyond oil.

Well, Thomas Tuchel's World Cup England squad is out, and as always, the loudest conversation isn't about who's making it onto the plane. It's about

who isn't making it onto the plane. No Phil Foden, no Cole Palmer, no Harry Maguire, who is quite upset. But for all the noise, there are still big

names in the squad. You've got Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Arsenal's Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice. And because my producer is a Brentford fan,

I'm going to have to bring up Jordan Henderson.

Sadly for me, only one Spurs player. I grew up in the U.K. and back then England squads felt packed with proper legends. You had Gary Lineker, Glenn

Hoddle, Paul Gascoigne, players, everybody expected to see on the team sheet and of course they played for Spurs. Well, I'm excited to see what

this group this year can do.

Don't be surprised if you see me on the show with an England shirt on at some point, but we are also going to really concentrate on the teams from

this region, the Middle East and North Africa. So if that is where you're watching, stand by because we're going to really do a lot to support those

teams when the tournament kicks off mid-June, of course.

It is now officially confirmed the Pep Guardiola era at Man City will come to an end. It's after 10 years at the helm, 17 major trophies including six

Premier League titles and this year's FA Cup. This news, of course, comes just three days after the club were beaten to this year's Premier League

title by Arsenal.

Let's bring in CNN's Amanda Davies from "WORLD SPORT."

Look, I mean, you know, we talked the other day. It's the worst -- it's the worst kept secret in football this one I think. But we didn't know when the

announcement would come. I want to read part of the statement from Pep today. He said, "When I arrived my first interview was with Noel Gallagher.

I walked out thinking, OK, Noel is here. This will be fun."

He's talking about the Oasis frontman Noel Gallagher. Of course, he's a lifelong die hard City fan who supported the club for more than 50 years. I

mean, he will be as upset as anybody else. He calls Pep just the king. Talk to me about his legacy.

AMANDA DAVIES, CNN WORLD SPORT: Yes. I mean, there is no doubt that Pep Guardiola is up there with, you know, the greatest football managers of all

time. And he was up there even before he joined Manchester City, let's not forget, because of what he'd done with Barcelona, because of what he had

done with Bayern Munich.

We were talking earlier, though, that there's been a very, very special relationship between Pep and Manchester City. It has worked for all parties

and taken all of them to the next level. It's the way he's transformed not only the club but the style of football. So many players and now coaches

that he has worked with and really guided them and developed them as individuals. The likes of Vincent Kompany, who was such an integral player

in Pep Guardiola's Manchester City's side, who's now the manager of Bayern Munich.

Mikel Arteta, who was his right hand man on the touchline for a period of time who has just guided Arsenal, their rivals, to that long awaited

Premier League title at City's expense. Pep Guardiola is a man who, you know, for a long time it was leveled you can't win the Champions League if

you haven't got Leo Messi in your side. But he has said to me, he said to me when I've spoken to him, for me it is about the players.

[10:50:03]

If I don't have the players, I am not going to win those top titles. And he can identify the talent. He knows how to nurture that talent and very much

bring out the best in that talent, and we've seen that with Erling Haaland in this current lineup. And, you know, but he is a man who puts his heart

and soul and the rest into the job that he does. We saw it with the passion he spoke in his press conference a little bit earlier today.

And that takes a toll on any human being. As superhuman as some of these football managers seem, we've had those moments where Pep has appeared with

his post-match interviews, with those scratches on his face. We knew that he had that period of time where he, you know, he had a break between

Bayern Munich -- Barcelona and Bayern Munich. He had a break in his tenure at City and he says this is, you know, this is the time -- don't ask me for

a reason, but this is the time, the right time for me to walk away.

ANDERSON: Yes. Well, you talk about that special relationship that the club have. A really special relationship, Amanda, of course, between Pep and the

owners, Sheikh Mansour here in Abu Dhabi, Khaldoon Al-Mubarak, the man who got Pep to the club for the fans, especially the younger ones, the boys and

girls here in Abu Dhabi, in a city that has a home team they call Manchester City these days, and one that they really feel an attachment to.

There are Man City academies all over this Emirate. It's been amazing to watch, as I've been living here over more than a decade, to watch the rise

of the sort of, you know, the fervor for Man City and so much of that is down to Pep as well and the way that he's led that team.

It's good to have you. Thank you very much indeed.

You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD. There is a lot more ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: "K-EVERYTHING," A CNN Original Series with Daniel Dae Kim. We're exploring the global rise of Korean food, including high end cuisine. It

can take months to book a table at Mingles in Seoul. It's currently South Korea's top ranked restaurant on the world's 50 best list. Daniel and

Korean American Chef Corey Lee are lucky enough to have booked themselves a place.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DANIEL DAE KIM, CNN HOST, "K-EVERYTHING": Twenty years ago, Korean fine dining wasn't a thing anywhere. Now there's places like Mingles.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Welcome to Mingles.

KIM: Chef Min-goo Kang says his tasting menu tells the story of a country rapidly changing.

This looks delicious.

Like bite sized, locally sourced flounder topped with caviar.

I love that texture. Damn, that's good.

(Voice-over): Thinly sliced Hanu beef on persimmon. Hanu is Korea's premium beef.

[10:55:05]

Whoa, that's like a burst of flavor.

(Voice-over): Steamed cabbage sun, lightly cooked clam and sliced pear with that fiery mother sauce Gochujang.

That's so light and refreshing. And the clam is so soft.

COREY LEE, CHEF: This is the kind of dish that I think like fine dining is about. It's delicious and satisfying. Just the most basic level, right? But

it really does feel like an original flavor.

KIM (voice-over): The growth of this kind of cuisine is one of the most dramatic changes I've seen here. Overseas, too. In 2010, there were no

Korean restaurants with Michelin stars. By 2025, there were 31. Firmly establishing Korean as one of the world's great cuisines, alongside French,

Japanese, or Italian.

KANG (through text translation): There have been many changes in the past 20 years. I believe that Korean food culture, Korean chefs, and this fine

dining culture have been able to grow more quickly thanks to pioneers like Chef Corey Lee who have set an example and paved the way.

LEE: Yes. But, you know, I think, and Min-Goo is being very humble about a lot of this. And I saw Min-goo bring some of that culture from what he

experienced abroad and bring it back to Korea. He started inviting chefs from abroad so they could experience Korean food and Korean culture and

learn from them, expose Korean diners, too, to foreign food. That was something that wasn't happening before.

I just saw how he was trying to create and cultivate this restaurant culture industry in a way that has been really positive, I think. And I

think everyone is benefiting from that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: And you can see that full episode of "K-EVERYTHING" this Saturday on CNN. You can stream that full series in the U.S. on the CNN app and

globally on HBO Max.

Well, that's sure all from us. From the team working with me here in Abu Dhabi, it's very good evening. Stay with CNN, though. "ONE WORLD" is up

next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

END