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Sources Say Iranian Foreign Ministry And Chief Negotiator In Qatar For Talks; Benjamin Netanyahu Says He Is In Touch With Donald Trump About Iran Negotiations; Iran's Perspective In Efforts To End War With U.S.; Pope Leo Addresses A.I. In Letter Titled "Magnificent Humanity"; Donald Trump Urges Muslim Countries To Sign Abraham Accords; TSA: 2.8 Million Americans Expected To Fly Today; Scotland Fan Walks From L.A. To Boston Ahead Of World Cup. Aired 10-11a ET
Aired May 25, 2026 - 10:00:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:00:36]
ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN Abu Dhabi, this is CONNECT THE WORLD with Becky Anderson.
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN ANCHOR: Well, welcome to the second hour of the show from our Middle East programming headquarters here in Abu Dhabi. I'm Becky
Anderson. The time is just after 6:00 in the evening this Monday.
And we begin right here in the region with efforts to end the U.S.-Iran war in the past few hours. Iran's chief negotiator and its foreign minister
arrived in Doha, in Qatar, according to a diplomat briefed on the visit. Iran's foreign ministry said earlier that a, "Degree of understanding has
been reached with the United States, but there's still no final agreement."
Well, President Trump has posted that negotiations are, "Proceeding nicely." He has also said the number of Muslim and Arab countries,
including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, and Pakistan, should sign the Abraham Accords, a diplomatic agreement to normalize relations with Israel.
Earlier, the U.S. Secretary of State said the nature of the discussions is still in flux.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARCO RUBIO, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: We're still a work in progress, so we have what I think is a pretty solid thing on the table in terms of their
ability to open up the Straits, get the Straits open, enter into a very real, significant, time-limited negotiation on the nuclear matters, and
hopefully we can pull it off.
As the president said, he's not in a hurry, he's not going to make a bad deal. The president's not going to make a bad agreement.
So, let's see what happens. We're going to give diplomacy every chance to succeed before we explore the alternatives.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, let's take you to Doha, Qatar then, where discussions are underway with the Iranian delegation. Rashid Al-Mohanadi is fellow at the
Middle East Council on Global Affairs. It's good to have you.
Let's start with Iran's Ghalibaf and Araghchi, the foreign minister, arriving in Doha today. How significant is this very public stepping back
into mediation by Doha, especially after being attacked by Iran during this conflict?
RASHID AL-MOHANADI, FELLOW, MIDDLE EAST COUNCIL ON GLOBAL AFFAIRS: So, it's worth mentioning that until now the Qatari government and the news agency
haven't officially confirmed the visit, but it has been confirmed by Iranian news agency and Reuters and multiple other outlets.
With my discussions with the officials here in Doha, I wouldn't see that this visit, or even the previous engagement over the last few days, is
Qatar's attempt to become the main mediator. Everybody here is telling me, is telling us that the main mediator is still Pakistan, but now there is a
regional approach to trying to find a finalization to this issue.
Can you hear me? Sorry, I mistakenly muted myself. Can you hear me?
ANDERSON: I can hear you, yes, can you hear me?
AL-MOHANADI: Oh, excellent. Yes, yes, loud and clear. So, I wouldn't see this as Doha's attempt to replace the mediator. I think what we're seeing
here is a regional approach, and we can see this through the phone call the multiple Arab and Islamic leaders had with President Trump a couple of days
ago, you know, pushing for a negotiated end to this conflict, because I think the conclusion that most regional states have made is that a military
end for this conflict is very far-fetched, and you know, the consequences have been disastrous on the regional and global economy.
ANDERSON: So, this trip, just to be clear, has been confirmed to CNN by a diplomatic source familiar with the matter, and that source told us that
the trip to Doha by Ghalibaf and Araghchi is part of the ongoing talks with mediators who are seeking to thrash out the final details of the agreement.
Take a listen to Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, for example, on the Strait of Hormuz.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ESMAEIL BAGHAEI, SPOKESPERSON, IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY (through translator): In this agreement, we are not discussing details regarding how
the Strait of Hormuz is managed, that is the topic of discussion for the coastal states of the Strait.
[10:05:00]
Naturally, in the course of this process, certain services are provided, such as navigational services and the necessary measures to protect the
environment of the Strait of Hormuz, the Persian Gulf, and the Sea of Oman. These involve costs that must be collected. They should not be described as
tolls or duties.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: And an effort there to sort of move away from the language of tolls to the language of services rendered for safe navigation through the
Strait. It's a -- it's a narrative that I've heard, sort of during the rounds as we have moved through these past what, 10, 12 weeks.
Would Gulf states accept any scenario do you believe in which Iran maintains some level of control or oversight there? And let's be quite
clear, I'm sure you're going to point out, you know, the Gulf isn't monolithic here, and what Oman might accept may be different from, for
example, where you are in Qatar.
AL-MOHANADI: Well, I would actually disagree with that. I think that the concept of Iran having control over the Strait, be it through
administrative means, as the spokesperson is mentioning now, or through the previous use of language, which was told, is unacceptable by all Gulf
states, and we see that through -- well, we see that through the official statements by all of the Gulf states. We see that through the official
statement of the Ministry of Transport of Roman, and the recent visit by a technical team from Iran to Roman, where they made it very clear that the
Strait is an international Strait, and any sort of control over it is unacceptable, and it's against international law.
And, by the way, I have to remind everybody that Iran did sign the U.N. close, but they did not ratify it, and by factor of signing it, they are,
you know, required to adhere it.
I think, and this is my, you know, analytical angle to this, is Iran is using this as a negotiation chip in the negotiations to exert as many
concessions as they can, the Iranian economy, from the open source data we have, is in tatters, and is hemorrhaging money, and they need -- they need
as much economic gain out of this negotiation as they can, if the regime is to survive.
So, my, you know, assessment is that the Strait is being used as a negotiation chip rather than, you know, them being seriously considering
exerting control, because it will be a very dangerous international precedent, you know. Then, what would stop Indonesia or Malaysia trying to
exert the same control over the Strait of Malacca or Bab el-Mandeb Strait. So, it's a dangerous precedent, and I think there is enough global pressure
for stopping this from happening.
ANDERSON: I mean, Iran have been very clear, they see the Strait of Hormuz as very useful leverage, important leverage, successful leverage, they
believe in all of this.
President Donald Trump says he told Gulf leaders in a call over the weekend that any deal ending the Iran war should be followed by peace agreements
with Israel. He posted, "After all the work done by the United States to try and pull this very complex puzzle together, it should be mandatory that
all of these countries, at a minimum, simultaneously sign on to the Abraham Accords."
Now, these are, let's be quite clear, diplomatic agreements between a number of countries signed, including the UAE and Bahrain. He mandatorily,
his word requested that Qatar and Saudi sign up to those. What do you make of his comments?
And I wonder, how you believe they will be received very specifically tying any U.S.-Iran deal to the mandatory signing up to the Abraham Accords by,
for example, Qatar, where you are in Saudi Arabia, amongst others.
AL-MOHANADI: Well, I always remind people not to follow everything President Trump posts on Truth Social, but it is understandable that this
agenda would have been pushed anyway from a Gulf point of view, especially from Qatar and Saudi. I think, you know, from a basis of engaging with
Israel that was always acceptable, but in a framing of, you know, resolving the Palestinian issue. The Palestinian issue is the oldest regional issue
in the Middle East. It's been 70 plus years old, with no resolution, and you know, discussing with officials here, and even in Saudi Arabia, the
conclusion has come, especially after what happened in the seventh of October, that pushing this regional issue under the rug every 10 years
would only make it come back with a vengeance.
[10:10:17]
Qatar actually developed ties with Israel as the first Gulf state in the 1990s post Oslo, of course, through a trade office that was closed later on
in the 2000s because of different disputes and most relating to the war in Lebanon and Gaza.
So, I think Gulf states, in principle, don't mind reaching some sort of regional bargain, but it has to resolve our issues rather than pushing it
down the rug, and I think this is the critique with the Abraham Accords, it resolves the bilateral issue between Israel and a Gulf or Arab state, but
it does not resolve the issue of the -- of the Palestinian statehood, even though you know the Emirates has and Bahrain, you know, pushed the policy
that part of the Abraham Accords is to stop annexation of the West Bank, but what we're seeing on the ground is the West Bank being annexed.
ANDERSON: Yes, and it has to be said, Qatar signing up to a statement, which included the UAE the other day, on decrying what is going on in the
West Bank, and indeed, you know, the National Security Adviser, the National Security Minister's taunting of Gaza flotilla citizens, as well.
It's good to have you. Thank you very much indeed.
Well, Israel's Prime Minister says he is in touch with President Trump about the negotiations. Jeremy Diamond is in Tel Aviv with more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT: Well, it was only a few days ago that the Israeli Prime Minister was on the phone with President Trump,
telling him that he thought it was a mistake to call off planned strikes against Iran. The Israeli Prime Minister was advocating on the phone for a
return to all-out war against Iran, but now President Trump indicating that a deal with Iran is nearly negotiated and the Israeli Prime Minister got
back on the phone with President Trump on Saturday evening.
But this time, the Israeli Prime Minister understood where things were headed, and now in a post on social media the Israeli Prime Minister is
trying to diminish any notion of daylight with the U.S. President. This is the post that the Israeli Prime Minister posted, in which he says that he
and President Trump agreed that, "Any final agreement with Iran must eliminate the nuclear danger." He also said that his and President Trump's
policies remain unchanged, that, "Iran will not have a nuclear weapon."
But this is perhaps the most interesting part of this post. He says that President Trump, "Reaffirmed Israel's right to defend itself against
threats on every front, including Lebanon," and that is very notable, because this points to one of the potential points of disagreement here
between the U.S. and Iran, and how each side is interpreting this budding agreement, and we've seen this movie before as it relates to Lebanon.
The Israeli Prime Minister here is trying to retain the ability to carry out strikes against Hezbollah, despite the fact that Iran seems to believe
that this agreement would mean that there would be a total ceasefire in Lebanon, and what we've seen over the last month and a half, as there has
been already a cease fire in Lebanon, is daily Israeli strikes against Hezbollah, and Hezbollah also carrying out attacks against Israeli troops
in southern Lebanon.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Well, that's Jeremy reporting from Israel. CNN's Frederik Pleitgen was the only U.S. network reporter in Iran, as or just after the
war broke out. He joins us now with more on the Iranian perspective and the efforts to end this conflict.
I just wonder, given that you are speaking to those inside the country, how is this being viewed from Iran?
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, certainly I think that the Iranians believe that they're negotiating with the United
States from a position of strength. One of the things that I keep hearing, Becky, when I speak to Iranian officials, as they say the United States
needs to understand that they came at us with overwhelming force, that yes, large parts of the Navy were destroyed, large parts of the air force, where
it was destroyed at the same time, though they say that the armed forces of Iran did stand firm, and certainly they say they have shown that they are
able to project power not just into the Strait of Hormuz, but of course into the wider region as well, as we've saw during the military operations
when they struck all sorts of countries in the Gulf region, of course, also managed to shoot rockets and ballistic missiles all the way to Israel.
So, the Iranian military and certainly the Iranian leadership believe that they certainly are in a fairly firm position at this point in time, and
they say they believe that the negotiations need to reflect that.
[10:15:07]
But it was really the Iranians who said that they wanted this process to be a two-stage affair, where they say that the hostilities needs to end, and
Iran needs to have certain guarantees that they will not restart again, certainly not as long as negotiations are going on.
And then, of course, the big thing that the Iranians want is some of their frozen assets back. I think we talked about the fact that right now there's
a delegation of the Iranian leadership, including the foreign minister and the chief negotiator, who are on the ground in Qatar, where a lot of those
assets are frozen. They want some of those unfrozen assets back, they want sanctions relief, and of course, they also want the U.S. naval blockade to
end.
The vibe that you're getting, or that we're getting from on the ground in Iran, is that they certainly want the negotiated settlement, but they also
say that they are more than ready if hostilities should begin again, Becky.
ANDERSON: Yes, well, as officials deem, then the U.S. sort of strategic deterrence is over, and see their survival as a win, and we're talking
about the officials here. The Iranian people have suffered the most, of course, from this war. Where do they go from here?
I mean, there's no regime change. They're left with a crippled economy. We know some, you know, 20 percent of the population is supportive of the
regime, the Revolutionary Guard sort of regime set up. What about that other sort of, you know, 80 percent of the population?
PLEITGEN: Well, first of all, you're absolutely right, obviously, that there wasn't a significant change as far as the actual governing body is
concerned, as far as the Islamic Republic is concerned, the structure of the Islamic Republic is concerned.
But at the same time, I think that even Iranian officials will say and will acknowledge that there certainly was a good degree of renewal, which, of
course, was forced upon them, because so much of their leadership was killed, but right now they do feel as though they are very much firmly in
power, and certainly also believe that the current leadership is a lot more nimble than maybe the leadership was before the war started.
So, certainly, the Iranian leadership believes that it is very much in control of the situation right now, but at the same time, of course, you're
absolutely right, large parts of the population have been suffering to a great degree, that was the case while the hostilities were going on.
As you noted, I myself was in Tehran, we saw a lot of those very heavy bombardments happen that many times probably hit the targets they were
supposed to hit, but also caused considerable damage also to civilians, simply because of the size of the munitions that were -- that were used.
And then, of course, you have that effect of sanctions and of the blockade, and in general, the economy suffering because of the attrition that
happened because of the war.
One of the things, of course, that the Iranian ship is banking on, and why it's so important for them is to have some of those assets unfrozen, that's
something where they believe that they can -- that can get them fairly fast relief to some of the most pressing problems, and then, of course, one of
the big things that they've been gunning for is extensive sanctions relief, which they hope could then jump start the economy, if indeed it's plugged
back into the world economic order.
And, of course, first and foremost, Iran is able to export oil and gas, but one of the things that's extremely difficult right now for the Iranian
population, things that we're hearing as well, is the big degree of people who have lost their jobs, unemployment, inflation also a big problem, as
well. That's something where the Iranian leadership, I think, has acknowledged that for them a negotiated settlement and sanctions relief is
definitely of very high importance, Becky.
ANDERSON: Good to have you, Fred. Always a pleasure. Thank you.
Well, Pope Leo is speaking out on the dangers of artificial intelligence. How he is using a 400-year-old tradition to lay out his vision for the
future.
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[10:20:59]
ANDERSON: Pope Leo is taking on the rapidly advancing world of A.I., issuing stark warnings, both the Catholic Church and the global community.
In his first papal encyclical, as it's known, he warns that A.I. must not be controlled by a, "Few" and should face the most rigorous ethical
constraints, especially in warfare.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
POPE LEO XIV, HEAD OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH: Artificial intelligence needs to be disarmed. The word is strong, I know, but deliberately chosen because
this moment needs words capable of attracting attention, awakening consciences, and indicating paths forward for humanity.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, CNN's Christopher Lamb, following this for us from Rome. We talked about this last hour, and I just wonder if you will expand on the
significance to your mind of the Pope inviting the Anthropic co-founder Chris Olah to the unveiling of his papal, Encyclical.
CHRISTOPHER LAMB, CNN VATICAN CORRESPONDENT: well, Becky, I think it is very significant because it shows that Pope Leo really wants to try and
talk to the key players who are involved in developing this technology.
Now, in the past, the Catholic Church, when it -- when popes issued encyclical to the Catholic Church. It was perhaps more of a conversation
amongst the Church, more internal, whereas Pope Leo is really wanting to take his message outside of the confines of the Catholic Church and address
the creators and the makers of this technology directly.
So, having Chris Olah, a co-founder of Anthropic, on the same platform as the Pope sent a very strong signal, and of course this was the first time
that a Pope has personally presented an encyclical letter to the world, and doing so with the co-founder or a founder of Anthropic shows that the Pope
doesn't want to just debate about this topic from the sidelines, he really wants to be involved, influencing and having a dialog with those who are
creating this technology.
Because he sees it as raising profound questions about what it means to be human. This is not just a technological development, but it is something
about that raises profound questions around, you know, philosophy and theology, which Chris Olah himself recognized in his remarks.
And when I spoke to him later, he says that he welcomes the pope's intervention, because this is not just about science and scientific
development of technology. These are really profound questions that have to be faced by a wide range of people.
ANDERSON: And of course it is Anthropic as an organization that has clashed with the Trump administration, particularly the DOJ when it comes to
conversations around guardrails in how you use A.I. in warfare, so I thought it was really interesting that he chose to invite the CEO of
Anthropic today.
It feels as if, of all the big tech companies, perhaps Anthropic is sort of more in tune with Pope Leo's thinking than the others are at this point.
Chris, great to have you. Thank you very much indeed. You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD. There is a lot more news ahead. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:27:02]
ANDERSON: Welcome back. You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Becky Anderson. These are your headlines this hour, a crack in an overheating
chemical tank may reduce the explosion risk in Southern California. Here's what we know: crews have been working overnight in Southern California to
prevent this tank from triggering an explosion. Evacuation orders are in place for roughly 50,000 people around this area in Southern California due
to this threat.
Pope Leo has just released a landmark encyclical focused on protecting humanity from the dangers surrounding A.I. In his document, he warns that
A.I. must not be controlled by a few and should face the most rigorous ethical constraints, especially, he said, in warfare.
Top Iranian officials have arrived in Qatar for talks with the U.S. to discuss ways of bringing the war to an end. The two parties are expected to
discuss critical issues like the Strait of Hormuz and Tehran's nuclear ambitions. Iran's frozen funds also expected to be part of those
discussions.
President Donald Trump demanding meantime that Muslim countries sign the Abraham Accords if this U.S. deal with Iran is reached. That is the Abraham
Accords, of course, the 2020 agreement normalizing diplomatic relations between Israel and some of its Arab neighbors, including Bahrain and the
UAE, where I am.
The president posted on social media that joining the Accords should be required because of U.S. efforts to reach an agreement with Iran.
Joining us now live is Hasan AlHasan, senior fellow for Middle East policy at the International Institute for Strategic studies.
And I want to start with Donald Trump's post just in the past couple of hours about the Abraham Accords and sort of wrapping the U.S. Iran deal up
in those Accords, as it were. He mandatorily requests his words, not mine, that countries sign up to these Abraham Accords, of course, Bahrain and the
UAE already part of those Accords.
I just wonder, how you believe this post, and possibly, as he says, you know, we have to assume that this reporting is correct. The fact that he
brought this up with other Gulf leaders, including Qatar, and Saudi and other Muslim countries, Pakistan, Turkey, and -- Pakistan and Turkey.
Sorry, on a call over the weekend, how do you think this is all going to land?
HASAN ALHASAN, SENIOR FELLOW FOR MIDDLE EAST POLICY, INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES: So, President Trump may have brought up
the issue of establishing diplomatic relations with Israel and joining the Abraham Accords in calls with these countries' leaders, but I don't think
that this really means that they will comply. To begin with, regional perceptions of Israel are not at all flattering.
[10:29:57]
A lot of countries look at Israel with great suspicion, especially as they watch Israel increase and expand its -- the territory that's under its
control and occupation in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria. With reports stating that Israel has added roughly over a thousand square kilometers of
territory under its occupation since October 7, 2023.
So, I think a lot of countries in the region see Israel's actions as highly dangerous, destabilizing. Israel was one of the two main actors that began
this regional war, and I think countries increasingly are coming together to counterbalance Israel's strategic aggressiveness in the region.
We have seen Egypt, Turkey, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia come closer together, partly to establish themselves as a counterweight to Israel.
So, I don't think that countries in the region share President Trump's optimism about the future of relations with Israel, and it's not entirely
clear what President Trump, himself, has to show for, by way of his track record in running or managing this war, that he feels sort of able to
impose such a demand on regional countries.
So, I don't think that this will -- that this will (INAUDIBLE).
ANDERSON: Yes, that's not -- yes.
And that's not to say that there couldn't be recognition of Israel going forward by the likes of Qatar, for example, who recognized Israel back in
the 1990s, of course, and Saudi Arabia going forward could establish bilateral relations with Israel, and we've heard that conversation before.
Both of those countries will point out that until recognition of a Palestinian state by an Israeli government is a done deal, that there will
be no sort of further moves along that journey, as it were, and none of this suggests that the Abraham Accords, very specifically the Abraham
Accords, which are these diplomatic accords, are the way forward.
I wonder what you make then of where we are at. Over the weekend, we learned from Donald Trump that negotiations are very close to being done on
a memorandum of understanding between the U.S. and Iran to end this war, at some point, in the next couple of months.
As far as a source, a diplomatic source familiar with the issue tells me, in the last couple of hours, this Iranian delegation is in Doha as part of
the ongoing talks with mediators who are trying to thrash out the details of any deal.
What do you make of what we are hearing at this point?
ALHASAN: I think, the bottom line from the Gulf states' perspective is that a bad deal is preferable to war at this stage, because clearly, they have
been at the front lines of this conflict, and Iran has centered the bulk of its retaliation, not against the U.S. or Israel, but squarely against the
Gulf states. But that said, I think we shouldn't discount the fact that really this could turn out to be a pretty bad deal in multiple ways from
the Gulf states perspective.
On the one hand, kicking the can down the road on the nuclear negotiations and extending essentially the deadline by 30 or 60 days, or however much,
leaves the region in a state of limbo. It's a state of no war, no peace. Everyone will be looking at the next deadline, and there is always the
chance that some of the toughest questions on the future of Iran's nuclear program do not become the subject of agreement, and therefore, we could go
back to war.
So, a deal that simply extends the ceasefire, obviously, is at risk of leaving the region in a state of limbo. Let's remember that Israel is not
going to be a signatory of this deal either, and so, it will remain tempted to spoil it, as well as opposed to a deal with Iran in principle, it
doesn't think that Iran is trustworthy, and it wants to achieve a number of strategic objectives that have to do with militarily degrading Iran's --
military capabilities even further, if not trying to topple the regime.
(CROSSTALK)
ANDERSON: Yes.
ALHASAN: And so, Israel could potentially remain a spoiler, it could initiate unilateral military action the way it did last year. And then,
finally, I think for the Gulf states a bad deal, even if we don't go back to war, could simply render permanent a bad arrangement, which gives
essentially Iran access to its unfrozen funds, which Iran rearmed without doing anything to address the core elements of Iran's power projection
capabilities, which are, of course, are its missiles, drones, and regional proxy networks.
ANDERSON: Yes, this fear of a sort of frozen conflict, I think, is certainly a very real one. I would be remiss if I didn't ask you, are you
in Manama in Bahrain? I've got 30 seconds. You know, how are things there?
[10:35:05]
ALHASAN: Very quickly, returning back to normal. Life feels quite normal. There weren't any major interruptions to services during the war, and so,
now, everyone is back to work, everyone back -- is back to school, the tourists are back in to a large degree, and so, it's really feeling as
though life has pretty much gone back to normal.
ANDERSON: Good, Hasan. I'm glad to hear it. Thank you very much indeed, for joining us.
Well, the Iran war has sent fuel prices soaring, but it has not slowed millions of Americans from traveling this holiday weekend. The U.S.
national average for a gallon of gasoline is about $4.50. That makes it the most expensive Memorial Day in four years if you're filling up.
AAA estimates, a record breaking 45 million people are on the move, most of them are in their vehicles, nearly 4 million that will also be flying.
Let's bring in our reporter, Pete Muntean, who is at Reagan National Airport outside Washington. I wonder how travelers are faring there at the
airport today, Pete.
PETE MUNTEAN, CNN AVIATION CORRESPONDENT: The way they are faring here, Becky, is the fact that they are paying more to fly. The latest data from
travel site, Going is that fuel prices, because of the war on Iran, have caused airlines to hike fares by about 20 percent for Memorial Day weekend
flight compared to last Memorial Day.
Although, it doesn't mean that people are not flying. It has been very packed here at Reagan National Airport. 750,000 people anticipated to be
handled by American Airlines alone. 2.8 million people at Airport TSA checkpoints on Friday. That's a huge number.
A little bit lower today, but we are only about five percent off from the all-time air travel record here in the U.S.
So, these international implications really not keeping people from traveling during this huge holiday weekend. Here is the big problem,
though: the weather is the thing that is impacting most people here on the East Coast. You can see the gray conditions here at Reagan National Airport
right now.
And that has the Federal Aviation Administration's command center in Warrenton, Virginia, warning about delays. There was a ground stop here at
Reagan National Airport. Here is the departures board here, mostly yellow on the board, signifying delays.
Those numbers have gone up. The cancelations have remained relatively steady. We'll probably see delays today. Huge international hub in Atlanta
for Delta Airlines, also San Francisco, New York. One of the most delay- sensitive pieces of airspace in the country.
So, we will see, as the day goes on, this does have a trickle-down effect, not just here in the U.S., but everywhere else as well, for flights coming
into or going out of the United States. Becky.
ANDERSON: Yes, it's good to have you, Pete. My heart sinks for those who are trying to travel from there, when you show us those boards. But let's
hope they get to where they are headed quickly. Thank you, sir.
After the break, from L.A. to Boston, now one man is walking across the United States to see his team play at the World Cup. That's coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:40:29]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In 2026, the champions are the Arsenal!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: 22 years. It has been 22 years since Arsenal lifted the English Premier League trophy. They have finally done it again. And somehow that
just feels like the headline, not the whole story, what a season it has been.
Mo Salah leaving the pitch in tears, Sunday, rightfully given in the guard of honor, after what felt like the end of a Liverpool-era.
Pep Guardiola waving farewell after turning Manchester City into a football empire. Tottenham surviving by the skin of their teeth, and honestly, as a
Spurs fan, I'll take survival at this point.
And West Ham relegated to the championship, ending their 14 years stay in the Premier League after a season of despair, despite a thrill 3-0 victory.
On Sunday, none of this felt like the end of a regular season. It felt like the final curtain on an era, quite frankly, that as a football fan, we've
been caught up in over the past decade.
"WORLD SPORTS" Coy Wire joins me now with more excitement from what was this weekend's final action. Of course, it all comes down to the final
Sunday, 4:00 p.m. in the afternoon in England, 7:00 p.m. here in the UAE. I had four games basically on different devices, glued to Spurs, of course,
to ensure just to hope and pray they didn't get relegated.
But I was watching the other matches sort of out the corner of my eye as well. What a final day to the season in the world's most popular sports
league.
COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: Yes, Becky. You weren't the only fan in survival mode. This Premier League season felt more like a 10-month long
soap opera, with every club having their own plot twist. We had on this final day the world's most popular sports league, hundreds of millions
tuning in from across the globe.
And yes, your Tottenham Hotspur seeing rivals Arsenal and their two-decade Premier League title drop. While Spurs, they were looking to avoid their
first relegation since the 70s. They had to beat Everton to survive. And Joao Palhinha delivering the kind of scrappy goal that belongs in survival
stories and action films alike, getting the ball over the line like a man carrying the hopes of North London on his back.
Look at the wild scenes.
Meanwhile, in East London, West Ham were desperately trying to pull off the great escape, as well. They needed a win over leads in hopes Spurs would
lose. The Hammers ahead through Valentin Castellanos midway through the second half. Jared Bowen made that goal. He then scored one himself, 11
minutes from time to double the Hammers lead.
But this was a tough situation, Becky, because even a win might count for nothing. The Hammers, they kept swinging with Callum Wilson making it three
nil in the 94th minute, but all they could do after that was wait and hope.
Still 1-0, Tottenham in North London, but Everton made them sweat at the death. Antonin Kinsky, with a huge save to preserve their lead. Meaning,
Spurs hold on for their victory in another season of Premier League footy, celebrating like they would won a trophy, while Hammers were left staring
into the heartbreak of relegation.
Becky, what a season it became for Manchester City -- or Manchester United, rather. They were on the struggle bus for half of it, but turned things
around with new manager Michael Carrick, and ended up in the third and back in the Champions League.
And it turned out to be a record-breaking campaign for their captain, Bruno Fernandes. His 33rd minute assist for Patrick Dorgu against Brighton was
his 21st of the season, more than anyone has ever managed before. And he made it a day to remember by getting a goal for himself later on, as United
East to a 3-0 win.
Now, mixed emotions for Man City, as you mentioned on their last day of the season, saying farewell to their legendary manager, Pep Guardiola, best
haircut in soccer, stepping down after 10 incredible years in charge. He won the Champions League, six Premier Leagues, and 17 major trophies in
all. It is the end of an era at the hot.
He also mentioned saying goodbye, Mo Salah, at Liverpool. The Egyptian star, he established himself as an Anfield legend, helping the Reds end a
30-year Premier League title drought, and also winning a Champions League.
[10:45:05]
This has been a difficult final season. But he is moving on. Liverpool, by the way, have secured Champions League footy next season. Eight Premier
League sides will play in Europe next year, Becky.
Chelsea not among them, as they lost to Sunderland, and that means Sunderland are heading to the Europa League, their first European
appearance in over half a century. The joy, palpable.
And if football fans feel sad, Becky, about the Premier League season being over, we have got the Champions League final on Saturday between Arsenal
and defending champs PSG. Then, few weeks after that, kickoff and World Cup right here in America. Book that flight, come on over, you can stay at my
house, Becky. We can put four screens up and make it worth your while.
ANDERSON: Well, in honor of my father, I will be watching Scotland, but I'm an England fan, so, I'm not sure you are.
So, we can watch at least three screens. You have the USA on, I'll have England, and I'll have Scotland on the -- on the third, as it were.
Thank you, mate. Thank you. I mean, what an end to the season, and you rightfully really sort of wound it all up for us beautifully there. Thank
you. All eyes, as Coy says now, turn to the upcoming World Cup, taking place across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. We are 17 days out from the
first matches, the tournament set to last over a month before the final, of course, on July the 19th in New York.
Now, one football fan can't wait to watch his team, Scotland, play in the World Cup after almost a three-decade absence.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
I am walking the entire length of the USA, starting in LA, finishing in Boston, and I'm hoping to arrive in time for the World Cup.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, Craig Ferguson has been on the road since February, walking thousands of miles across the United States. He started in L.A. He hoped --
hopes to reach his finish line, Boston, in a few weeks, and that is where Scotland will play their opening World Cup match.
He is walking with a purpose, hoping to raise more than a million dollars for a Scottish Mental Health Association.
And Craig joining me now from, as I understand it, Craig, is it Washington D.C.? You are in your R.V.? Is that correct? Yes, you are. How are you
getting on?
CRAIG FERGUSON, SCOTLAND FAN: As in -- as in beast (PH) yes, today --
Later today, we are hoping to arrive into the capital of the U.S., 24th of February, started all the way back in California, and it seems like I've
blinked, walked over 3,000 miles, and now we are here in the capital.
(CROSSTALK)
ANDERSON: Yes. It's unbelievable. You are so deep into this trek. Let's call it a trek now, around what? 90 days. What's been the toughest part so
far?
FERGUSON: I think, there is been so many hard moments. I think being a Scotsman, I'm definitely not used to the heat of the Mojave Desert, and
sort of different terrains like that. Even the past week here on the East Coast have been coming up and over the Appalachian Hills, where we've had
33-degree heat. With that heat wave, and now I've been in the rain, but, being from Scotland, I'm a little bit more used to. So, there is been
challenges all the way through, but just got to persevere and keep going.
ANDERSON: Oh, you are impressively doing what you call the Tartan Trek, and let's just explain for our viewers, you are doing it in a kilt, that's some
style. I've got to ask you, what does that signify to you? How important is that to you?
FERGUSON: The kilt means everything, and I think that it sums up what this challenge is all about. Obviously, the deeper message behind why I do this
walk is to try and raise as much money and awareness for mental health along the way, but at the heart of it, I'm just like any other Scottish
football fan. I just love my country so much, and want to go and support them at the World Cup, so that's where the kilt signifies.
You know, the kilt shows the Tartan Army out here in the lengths that we are willing to go to watch our nation play at the World Cup, which you
rightfully pointed out we've not been able to do so in 28 years, so, it's such an amazing occasion.
(CROSSTALK)
ANDERSON: Yes.
FERGUSON: And for me to be able to wear that symbol of Scottish pride all along the way, it's the best thing ever.
ANDERSON: I'm so happy for you. I really am. I remember 1978, I'm old enough to remember '78 when Scotland qualified and England didn't. I have
to say, my dad was all over that like a rash. Scotland hasn't qualified, as you say, since 1998. They find themselves in a tough group. You are
alongside what, Morocco semifinalists in 2022; Brazil, five times winners; and Haiti may be all right.
What are you expecting? I mean, what your -- what are your real expectations for Scotland this summer? How far do you think they can go?
FERGUSON: I think, it's the traditional Scottish way, we don't do anything easy, or like my challenge suggests, you know, willing to walk there to get
to the game, but I never -- we never make it easy for ourselves, and this draw is just another example of that.
[10:50:11]
I think, that Brazil and Morocco are two teams that are literally on top of the world right now in terms of international football.
So, we'll see, but we are Scotland, and we never give up. So, I'm hopeful that we're going to get out the group for the first time in history, and
who knows, maybe we'll go on a little special run. But knowing Scotland will probably get beat off Haiti and then beat Brazil in Miami, that's
probably the way that we'll do it.
ANDERSON: Good on you. And I certainly don't want to write off Haiti. I'm so pleased that they have -- they have made it to this expanded World Cup,
of course.
You are walking over 3,000 miles. You are raising money for mental health issues. Why are you -- why have you chosen that cause? What concerns you
most about mental health at this point?
FERGUSON: It's a cause that's extremely close to my heart, and I think millions of people all across not just Scotland, but the entire world as
well. I think a lot of people have stories with mental health issues, and whether it's them that have suffered or they know someone personally.
One of my, the kind of spark that lit the flame for this challenge was that tragically, around seven years ago, my best friend Strands, father,
Russell, took his own life, and that for me was kind of the first moment, especially growing up, where I was like, oh, OK, this is real, and mental
health problems.
Especially in men. But a real thing, and there are unfortunately people out there who are taking their own lives, and I wanted to kind of throw the
kilt on and go and do these walks, is to try and show people that there is a little bit of hope out there, you know, it doesn't matter who you are, or
you know where you come from, there is a Scotsman out there who is willing to walk 3,000 miles to kind of show to people that they are not in this
alone, and also give back to my best --
ANDERSON: Good on you, Craig. We are all supporting you. Thank you. I think, we have just missed -- just lost him. But what a good guy, and we
wish him the absolute best. I'm sure he is going to -- I hope he is going to make it.
There is more news just ahead. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: All right. Before we close out this hour, oil prices for you falling on signs of some progress in U.S.-Iran talks. Brent crude slipping
to around $95 on the barrel, U.S. crude down to about 91. Traders clearly watching whether a deal could reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which is a key
route for about a fifth of global oil supplies.
CNN's Anna Cooban, joining us with the very latest from London. Anna.
ANNA COOBAN, CNN BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS REPORTER: Yes, Beck. So, as you can see there, prices are down very sharply. I think this is really about the
optimism about a potential conclusion to this war. And also, over the weekend, we saw over 20 tankers move through that all-important Strait of
Hormuz. On those tankers was fertilizer, crude oil.
So, there are signs of, you know, quite literate -- quite literally movement in this situation. But I do want to pour a bit of cold water on
that, because even if the war is to end in the next few hours, let's say hypothetically, it will take months, most likely, to get back to where we
were before the war.
You've got to repair all that damaged infrastructure, the LNG facilities, the oil refineries. You have also got to restart production of the oil
that's been shut off. It's not like turning on a light switch. You know, 15 million barrels of crude and refined products need to be pumped again from
below the earth's surface, and then, you've got to, you know, unwind that backlog of ships.
[10:55:03]
Those ships that are still in the Persian Gulf, and that need to come out, and then get other empty ships back in to refill them up with oil. So, this
is a situation that is going to take months to properly unwind.
And prices, you know, we have JPMorgan anticipating that the average crude oil price will be around $97 a barrel for the rest of the year, even if the
Strait of Hormuz reopens in early June.
So, Becky, optimism today from traders. But the reality is going to be somewhat different.
ANDERSON: And these prices, of course, even if they remain around the point at which they are at the moment, some 2025, nearly $30 higher than they
were at the beginning of the war. Just want to pick up on one thing that you said, you know, just how long can't just turn the taps back on? Just
how long it might take? What's the best guess? We are talking months here rather than weeks, correct?
COOBAN: Yes. Well, an analyst at Kpler, speaking to CNN, was saying that if we are just talking about unwinding this backlog of ships. This will take
around three months, and then we had, you know, a few weeks ago, QatarEnergy saying that it might take about, you know, five years to get
one of their facilities fully repaired and their full capacity back online.
So, this is a long-term situation, Becky.
ANDERSON: Yes, absolutely. Anna, always good to have you. Thank you very much indeed.
And folks, that's it for CONNECT THE WORLD. "ONE WORLD" is up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
