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Connect the World
U.S. & Iran Send Delegates to Doha as 60-day Deadline Looms; Venezuelans Deported from U.S. Missing After Hotel Collapse; South Africa Police Deployed Over Anti-Immigration Protests; Wildfires Burns 12,000 Hectares Along Colorado-Utah Border; Morocco Defeat Netherlands in Dramatic Penalty Shootout. Aired 9-10a ET
Aired June 30, 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: Well, this is the scene outside the U.S. Supreme Court, where we expect major opinions on key
issues to be handed down next hour. Right now, it is 09:00 a.m. in Washington. It's 05:00 p.m. here in Abu Dhabi from our Middle East
programming headquarters.
Hello, I'm Becky Anderson. You're watching "Connect the World". Also coming up, the U.S. and Iran won't meet face to face in Doha this week, but that
doesn't mean a halt to negotiations. The latest on what is this diplomatic dance in region, just ahead. And Monaco Manhunt police search for a suspect
who targeted a Ukraine-born tycoon in a shocking bomb attack.
The stock market in New York opens about 30 minutes from now. Futures indicating a flat to weaker open this Tuesday, June 30th more when those
markets open later this hour. We begin with a new diplomatic push in this region, following mixed signals by both the U.S. and Iran.
U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, are expected to meet with Qatar's Prime Minister and other
mediators in Doha today, that's according to the White House. Iran also sending a delegation to Doha this week. Tehran says the focus will be on
the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding, especially around releasing frozen assets.
Both sides will not meet face to face, despite earlier reports, a short time ago, Qatar's Foreign Ministry explained why.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAJED AL-ANSARI, QATARI FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESPERSON: The U.S. envoy, Mr. Steve Witkoff, and Mr. Jared Kushner are here in Doha to meet with the
negotiators, with the mediators, meaning with the Qatari officials. And the talks will be around all regional issues, which are of concern, including,
of course, negotiations with Iran, but also including Lebanon and other files in the region.
So, they are not here for direct negotiations with the Iranians or related meetings, as we have made clear in the past that the high-level meetings
will only happen when the technical meetings are producing results for them to take place.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Look, this is complicated. Nic Robertson joining us now. What are we expecting to come out of these discussions then today between the U.S.
and, as we expect, the Qatari Prime Minister? And why is the Iranian delegation not present? Nic, is it clear?
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Well, I think there are several ways to answer the why is the Iranian delegation not present, and
one of them is quite blunt. They don't like negotiating with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, and they'd far rather than negotiate with other U.S.
officials.
That said, it seems that they are trying to keep this separation that they do not want to go face to face with the U.S. team at the moment, and the
Iranians are making it quite clear here that they're coming in for a specific purpose to meet separately with the Qataris, and they seem to be
focusing on the frozen assets.
This is something they've met many times with the Qataris on over the last month or so, as the MOU came into land. And there is a point of contention
on that issue, as there is with many in the MOU between the Qataris and the U.S. side that doesn't seem to be fully resolved.
But the Iranians have said very clearly that under Clause 11 of the MOU, there would be a relief from, or they would be able to get some of their
frozen assets. So, if that's what this is about, and Iran says that it can't progress to other issues until things like the frozen assets are
dealt with, you know, this indicates a sort of a step-by-step process.
You hear the Qataris there saying that also the discussions with Witkoff and Kushner are going to involve Lebanon, of course, the Iranians saying
that unless there's a ceasefire in Lebanon, then they can't push ahead with other elements of the conversation.
[09:05:00]
Everything is linked to everything else, but I think fundamentally here the difference and perhaps the reason they're not going face to face is, if you
remember, just a week or so ago, Vice President J.D. Vance said that the only way that the Iranians would get their frozen assets is if they got a
green light from not just the Qataris, but from the United States as well.
And that money, Vance said would have to be spent, or was going to be spent, on U.S. agricultural products, which would then go to the Iranian
people. The Iranians push back on that, so even what happens to that money differences over the money and getting it released, they still seem not to
be resolved.
ANDERSON: Yeah, all the while, of course, the 60-day deadline closes in, Nic, the MOU, of course, does leave room to extend that, but be that as it
may, you could argue that what we are seeing here doesn't inspire huge confidence, especially following the violence last weekend. What's your
take?
ROBERTSON: It doesn't. There are another 20 days to go for Iran to make good on its commitment to open the Strait of Hormuz freely within the first
30 days. So, there's time, there is time to go backwards and forwards on this, but the lack of trust, which the Iranians continue to stress in the
Americans, the -- as far as we know publicly failure to sort of deliver on some of the technical aspects that iron out, for example, you know, what is
good.
What is the -- what are the frozen assets going to be spent on the recourse to violence as well there in in the Strait of Hormuz by both sides, that
doesn't augur well. And I think the other thing, of course, is the way that the MOU is written, that you don't get to the final agreement, which
involves the nuclear issues, which is a thorniest one.
This is going to take more than 60 days, realistically, until you have met some of the others, the sanctions relief, the freezing, unfreezing of
assets, the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, the lifting of the U.S. naval blockade, all of that, that inter linkage there really signals that these
60 days is going to become much, much longer. We are going to get more of this incremental and steps back to.
ANDERSON: Yeah. Our International Diplomatic Editor, Nic Robertson, in the house for you folks. Thank you, Nic. Right, I want to get you to
Washington. There is D.C., that is, there is a lot of attention focused on the U.S. Supreme Court. A short time from now, justices will hand down the
final opinions of the court's term, including two major cases.
One involves birthright citizenship, which says the babies born on U.S. soil are automatically American citizens. President Trump tried to end the
longstanding policy as it's been understood for more than a century. The second involves transgender students and whether states may ban them from
playing on girls' sports teams, and those Supreme Court decisions are expected next hour, starting at 10:00 a.m. Washington time.
And we will get you those as they come down right here on CNN. Well, the desperate search for survivors is still underway in Venezuela, where more
than 1700 people are now confirmed dead, and 5000 others are injured after last week's devastating earthquakes.
There was a rare moment of hope earlier today as a Jordanian search and rescue team called a three-year-old child alive from the rubble after six
days. Meanwhile, families in Venezuela and in the United States, desperate for information on what happened to nearly 150 people deported from the
U.S.
That group, including seven kids, arrived in Venezuela the day the earthquakes struck. The hotel where they were staying collapsed in that
disaster. CNN's Isa Soares is in Caracas with more on the devastation.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ISA SOARES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: So, this is roughly the plan of this eight- story building here in the Caracas. They've broken it down into floors to get a sense of who lived and what floor, it tells you how many people have
died. 12 people. How many people have rescued three so far?
20, approximately. Families, people still missing here from this eight- story building in Caracas.
SOARES (voice-over): But over the last two days, no one has been found alive. Still, the rescue operations continue, and families wait for however
long it takes.
MIRELLA HERRERA, RELATIVES MISSING AFTER EARTHQUAKE: It's maddening because in the same way that I feel desperate. I walk. I stay hydrated. I wonder
how must they be if they're still alive. They must be desperate to get out of there.
SOARES (voice-over): It has been an agonizing wait for Mirella Herrera, who has been here every day, longing for signs of life, waiting for her son,
her daughter-in-law, and her granddaughters, both in their 20s.
HERRERA: I feel that my son is strong, and I feel that he's waiting for me that he knows that I'm here waiting for him.
[09:10:00]
For that reason, I don't want to give up.
SOARES (voice-over): There's also fury from those who say that Venezuela was not prepared for a tragedy of this magnitude. It's certainly the case
at the main pediatric hospital in Caracas. Right now, they're treating a 12-year-old girl for multiple and life-threatening injuries.
Her little body in excruciating pain as she was crushed by the weight of the collapsed floors.
DR. HUNIADES URBINA-MEDINA, INTENSIVE CARE PEDIATRICIAN: We could receive at least 10 patients here in this area, but since at least 10 years ago we
don't have enough personnel, we don't have enough medicines, we don't have enough mechanic ventilators, so we only can work with four patients here in
this area --
SOARES (voice-over): More than 100 children have ended up here following last Wednesday's back-to-back earthquake. Tells me Dr. Huniades Urbina-
Medina, who has been a pediatrician for 20 years.
SOARES: You're not prepared. Venezuela's hospitals are not prepared --
URBINA-MEDINA: Not prepared -- any hospital in no, no one, no hospital in Minnesota is prepared for the day by day, but with this catastrophe, it's
worse because we don't have enough medicines, equipment, personnel.
SOARES (voice-over): The tragic consequence of years of crisis and mismanagement now coming to the fore. Isa Soares, CNN, Caracas, Venezuela.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Well, South Africa is on edge as massive crowds gather in Johannesburg and in Durban as part of a nationwide protest against
undocumented immigration. Now police there have been deployed. And many foreigners are staying at home over fears that these demonstrations could
turn violent.
Organizers have set a deadline for today for all undocumented migrants to leave the country. The government doesn't recognize that deadline.
Protestors are also asking for increased deportations and for stronger immigration enforcement. Well, CNN's Larry Madowo is on the streets of
Johannesburg.
And Larry, I just want to get our viewers a sense of where you are and what is happening where you are. Just explain.
LARRY MADOWO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Becky, we are at one of these protests in Johannesburg. We've been marching with some of these protesters throughout
the day. They're unhappy about unchecked illegal migration here in South Africa, and they have set this deadline for undocumented migrants to leave
South Africa.
I'm here with Musa (ph), who's one of the protesters. You've been out of the street since 10 in the morning.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: -- 10 in the morning until now, I think now it's quarter past three, and I'm still here because we are all tired. I mean,
our world is something else. It does not belong to South Africans anymore, so that is why we are saying this is the end of it. We are tired. Yeah,
MADOWO: There are people who criticize these protests as being xenophobic. What do you -- how do you respond to that?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Because of this march is a peaceful march, so I am not taking it as being xenophobic. We cannot be xenophobic when we are asking
people to go back to their countries, because we just want to have our time as South Africans -- with everything that is happening here.
MADOWO: Right. OK, there's -- we have more protesters coming, so let's just give --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yeah.
MADOWO: Give them some way. Is this specifically for African migrants or all migrants?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: All migrants, not only African migrants, all migrants that are here,
MADOWO: Right.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yeah.
MADOWO: Do you feel -- what exactly do you have against all of the undocumented people here?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Someone, I have an experience of what is actually happening.
MADOWO: Yes,
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: These people are doing drugs, obviously they are killing our world. As someone who has a sister that is on drugs today, the
person that has passed at school would be, and that has got the best grades at school. But today he is out there on the street taking drugs.
That is the reason why we do not want them here. We are dead, because you'll never see a Nigerian out here taking drugs. You'll never see someone
outside from out of here taking it up. It's only our people. It's only the South Africans. That is why we are saying we are tired.
MADOWO: Musa (ph), thank you so much.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you so much.
MADOWO: So, you hear that sentiment? I wanted to bring it to you directly from the people who are marching here. There's been sporadic marches here
in Johannesburg, in other parts of the country. Some of them not even affiliated with the official movements that are declared this June 30th
deadline for undocumented migrants.
Do you want to talk to us? We're live on CNN.
Yes. Yes.
MADOWO: Why are you marching today?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We are marching --
MADOWO: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: For -- corruption -- drugs --
MADOWO: You hear that, that's something you hear again and again and again. Many South Africans feel that foreigners deal drugs and are criminals,
which is not supported by the facts, but they say that a lot, and it's been one of the animating factors, Becky, for why so many people have come out
of the streets, not just here in Johannesburg, in KwaZulu-Natal, and other parts of the country.
[09:15:00]
ANDERSON: Absolutely. Good to have you on the ground, Larry. Thank you very much indeed. Larry Madowo in the house for you. Ahead on "Connect the
World". A manhunt -- I let me start again. A manhunt underway following a bombing in Monaco. A Ukrainian-born businessman among those seriously
injured.
And football fans in Morocco celebrate the team's thrilling win at World Cup coming in a penalty shootout. We're going to get you live to Casablanca
with reaction.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Well police in Monaco are calling a bombing Monday night an assassination attempt. A parcel bomb exploded at a residential building,
injuring three in what is this wealthy city state. CNN Affiliate BFMTV is reporting that the target of the explosion.
Was Ukrainian-born businessman Vadym Yermolaiev. He was sanctioned by Kyiv in 2023 for doing business in Russian-occupied Crimea, which he has denied.
Well, authorities say a manhunt has branched into neighboring France as a man was caught on camera fleeing across the border.
Well CNN's Senior International Correspondent Melissa Bell has more from Paris. This is extremely unusual violent crime, pretty much nonexistent in
Monaco. A shocking story. What's the latest firstly, on the manhunt?
MELISSA BELL, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Becky, I think no one could quite believe just after 09:00 p.m. local time, when
we started to hear about this bomb that had gone off in Monaco, as you suggest, possibly one of the safest places on earth, and certainly not
known for its violent crime.
And the more we've learned, the murkier this has become. What Monaco authorities are now saying is that this was a -- an assassination attempt.
It was just after 09:00 p.m. that this bomb went off in this residential building. It was a parcel bomb. We understand that went off as we pieced
together elements of what may have happened as the family got back to their apartment building.
And whilst French and Monaco authorities are saying very tight-lipped about the victims, we understand from the Ukrainian side that the family that was
wounded is indeed a Ukrainian family, with French news outlets giving us a lot more information about this particular character.
Now, as you say, he renounced his Ukrainian citizenship in 2019. He himself explained in news articles, for tax reasons, and because he didn't have
much faith in the Ukrainian justice system. He is now, we understand from publicly available records, a citizen of Cyprus, and he lives with his
family in Monaco.
Now we understand is that amongst the wounded are Yermolaiev himself, his wife, and his son, all three we believe critically.
[09:20:00]
Now this manhunt continues, caught on CCTV was this character we understand, wearing a hat and black trousers, who may have slipped across
the border into the French town of Beausoleil, but even as that manhunt continues, all kinds of questions about what may have been behind this
assassination attempt.
We know, as you mentioned, that Yermolaiev was the subject of sanctions from Kyiv back in 2023 for business dealings that he was alleged to have
had in Russian-occupied Crimea, something he himself denied. He also has a son who has been convicted of fraud in Estonia, did some jail time there,
and then had to leave.
So, there are a lot of very interesting characters involved in this story, and we don't know yet anything, Becky, about the motive, about who may have
been responsible, or indeed, for the time being, what the identity of this person who delivered the bomb is. So many questions yet to be answered, but
just an extraordinary story as it unfolded last night, and right through until these latest pieces of information that we're getting, Becky.
ANDERSON: It's good to have you. Stay on it for us as we get more, of course, we'll get it to our viewers. Thank you. Well, let's get you up to
speed on some of the other stories that are on our radar right now. And progressives in the United States face another test today.
Voters in Colorado will decide whether to keep a longtime Democratic congresswoman or boot her out for a 29-year-old Democratic Socialist. Our
Democratic senator also facing a challenge from the left. Progressives hope to build on wins last week in New York.
A fast-growing wildfire along the Colorado-Utah border has burned more than 12,000 hectares, and prompted Utah to impose sweeping restrictions on
fireworks for America's Fourth of July holiday this weekend. It's one of the dozens of fires raging across the western United States.
Well, happening today, a former top aide to President Bill Clinton is on Capitol Hill for questioning in the Jeffrey Epstein investigation, Doug
Band is expected to be asked about Clinton's ties to the convicted sex offender and his own communications with Epstein associate Ghislaine
Maxwell, seen here.
Or -- thrilling finishes and two upsets on the second day of World Cup's round of 32. These are the knockout stages, of course. Morocco, the second
of nine African teams to play in this stage of 32 advancing to the last 16, beating the Netherlands on penalty kicks outside Monterrey, Mexico.
Morocco scored a 91st winner equalizer to take the game to extra time before stunning the Dutch to win what was a dramatic shootout, 3-2 penalty
shootout, that is earlier outside Boston, Paraguay delivered an even bigger shock, knocking out four-time World Cup champions, Germany also in a
penalty shootout.
Germans do not lose those normally. And in Houston, five-time winners, Brazil left it very, very late, coming from behind to beat Japan 2-1 with
the winning goal in the sixth minute of injury time. Right, I want to concentrate on that Morocco victory with Amine El Amri, who is Deputy
Editor-in-Chief of 2M TV's SKWAD Sports Platform.
That's a mouthful. Joining us from Casablanca, good to have you on board. Thanks for joining us. Look, knocking out the Netherlands is no easy feat.
Let's just start with how you think the Atlas lines played.
AMINE EL AMRI, DEPUTY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF SKWAD BY 2M TV: Hi Becky, thanks so much for having me. It's so good to talk to you. I think I'm buzzing. I
barely slept, and the adrenaline is keep popping up. I think this was one epic game, not only from the side of Morocco, but also Netherlands.
But I think this is one for the ages. They, Moroccans just kept believing, kept hoping, and like you said, they scored the equalizer at the 91st
minute. But then in the extra time, they completely controlled the game, and it was obvious that maybe sometimes football can be unjust, but
yesterday we were just fair game, and Morocco, when it won it fair and square.
ANDERSON: Let me tell you, I mean, it's not just a win for Morocco, it's a win for Africa, it is a win for the Gulf and Middle East, where I am.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, the Dubai ruler, tweeting out congratulations last night, alongside a whole slew of leaders from around this region.
[09:25:00]
I mean, the team has millions and millions of people behind it. They reached the semis in Qatar, of course. They're currently the strongest men
aside in both tournament performance and official rankings. How far do you think they can go at this point?
AMRI: Well, this is the biggest challenge, I think, you remind -- you remember how it was just as the same in Qatar, where everybody rallied up
behind Morocco. I think it is the case now, but for Morocco, the biggest challenge is to confirm, because they were obviously the underdogs, the
fairy tale in Qatar.
Now they have to be up to the status of a powerhouse, and I think what happened yesterday against Netherland is something of historic, because not
only, we've showed that Africa and the Arab nation could compete at the highest level, but also that they have belief and hope.
ANDERSON: You actually previewed this match in "The Guardian", and I have - - on writing for "The Guardian". I think they do a superb job when it comes to football. They've got some fantastic journalists themselves, but you, in
your piece, pointed out that Moroccans began moving to the Netherlands in the 1960s lending this match in Mexico, a feeling akin to derby.
Just explain the social and cultural background of this matchup. And how you think that sort of played out on the pitch?
AMRI: Well, the Netherlands, as well as France, for example, in the aftermath, in the 20 years after the second world war was lacking, you
know, manpower, and they looked out to Morocco, for example, to, you know, to work in their minds, to work in their train ways and motorways, also.
So, they have got a big chunk of Moroccans that went there from the mountain reef region in the northern Morocco, and then they settled there,
and then the second generation, and maybe the third generation, was able to excel not only in football but also in politics, in the media, and culture.
And now there is a trend also because of the amount of hate speech fueled by outright and extreme groups and parties that are pushing off these kids
to choose Morocco, basically. But also, there is this part of Morocco that is present in every household of a Moroccan diaspora, so, you got to have,
you got to find some items that remind them of Morocco, of course, speaking Arabic, Darija.
ANDERSON: Yeah.
AMRI: And this is a kind of an image of Morocco, because Morocco has got a lot of phosphate, for example, but the GDP is also contributed by this
diaspora, so I think this is a mirror of our country.
ANDERSON: Yeah, you know, I think you're making a really, really good point, and I want to get your perspective on how much of Morocco's identity
in this tournament is also shaped by faith, with moments like the subdued on the pitch and the emotional family celebrations like Cyber East moment
with his mom after the win?
What do you make of those images? I think these really resonate around the world. It's bigger than football, it's football, but it's a beautiful game,
and it's bigger than what's going on the pitch.
AMRI: Of course. Of course, Morocco is a very ethnically diverse country, there's Amazigh Berbers Sahara, there's African descent, also European and
part of Spain descent in Morocco, so there is actually no real tie biological tie. The only tie is the family. This is the Moroccanity.
This is the identity of Moroccans. If you ask any Moroccan, well, first of all, its food, because our food is the best, and then the family, and
especially the mom. The mothers have got this huge part in every family, they are the foundation of our families, and I think this is where our
identity comes from.
ANDERSON: It's so good having you on. Listen, we are absolutely rooting. We've been rooting for all the teams from this region. We're broadcasting
from the Gulf, of course, so we will be rooting for the Atlas lines. I'm also an England fan, so forgive me. That's also I'm throwing my weight
behind the England team.
[09:30:00]
But it's fantastic to see Morocco, in the form that they are in, and having been in Qatar and watched them play there, it's just brilliant to see.
Thank you, sir. And we're going to take a very short break. The U.S. trading day will begin shortly on Wall Street.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Right, welcome back. I'm Becky Anderson in Abu Dhabi. You are watching "Connect the World". And I want to get you the opening of the
markets this Tuesday trading day. You can see almost no change, the futures indicating exactly this. Keep an eye on the NASDAQ, of course, that tech-
laden index on the move up by about eight for 1 percent there.
But yeah, I mean very little sort of movement on these markets at the moment, keeping one keen eye, I am sure, on what is going on with these
talks in Doha about the U.S.-Iran deal. Traffic in the Strait of Hormuz picking up slightly after a weekend dip amid tensions in those waterways.
Tracking data showing 40 ships transited Monday, that is well below pre-war levels of more than 100 a day, but significantly better than in the first
couple of months of the war. Thousands -- the evacuation of thousands of seafarers stranded in the strait, though, does remain on pause.
The Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization, the IMO, which is the U.N. agency handling the operation, posting this quote,
seafarers should never become unintended victims of wider geopolitical conflict. We must remember that every ship carries more than cargo, it
carries people.
And Arsenio Dominguez, joining us now live from London. It's good to have you on, sir. You have been steadfast throughout this conflict in trying to
get these seafarers freed. Let's just have a look at the numbers, 2500 evacuated from the strait before the operation was temporarily suspended
last week, 8500 as I understand it still stranded.
I know that you've been in touch with many of these, mostly men, of course. Tell us, what have they been telling you about what they've been through,
the hardships that they've been experiencing.
[09:35:00]
ARSENIO DOMINGUEZ, SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANIZATION: Let me start by thanking you for actually putting the
seafarers first in addressing the difficult circumstances that are ongoing there. I had the opportunity, as you said, to speak to several of the
seafarers, some of them still traveling the Strait of Hormuz, others have been lucky enough to actually be evacuated.
And it's all the stress the mental health in the fatigue that they are experiencing because the uncertainty continues to remain one of the main
factors for them to even question what will be required to return and operate in this region. They were explaining and sharing stories of how
they help each other from ship to ship, how sometimes at night it looks like fireworks, and the concerns that debris can fall on these vessels.
Some of them carrying dangerous goods, which of course can lead to fires and explosions of the vessels, but they remain resilient. And one message
that they do have for the whole population is, do not forget the innocent seafarers onboard the vessels. There's a lot of focus and emphasis on
trade, on the impact on the global economy, particularly in the oil prices.
But it is relevant for them that seafarers remain visible in order to continue to maintain the trade that is so important from this sector that
80 percent of the goods go around the world for all of us to benefit from. So, I want to leave you with that particular message at the beginning of
this conversation.
ANDERSON: Yeah, Arsenio thank you for that.
DOMINGUEZ: Yeah.
ANDERSON: Your agency, I know, is in active discussions with Iran, with Oman, and with the United States to secure renewed assurances, and we're
talking about security here before restarting these evacuations. What guarantees do you need before that operation is resumed? And any idea of a
timeline of when this could happen?
DOMINGUEZ: So, right now, good conversations are taking place, particularly between Oman and Iran in the resumption of the evacuation framework,
because for me it's important to take this step by step. Once the reassurance comes back that no vessel that is being evacuated, and I want
to reiterate, the word evacuated will not be targeted.
We are ready to immediately reactivate that. We maintain very close cooperation with also the industry sector in shipping, in order to
immediately help us in sending the necessary information to the vessels, the ship owners, the ship operators, and in that way, we will be able to
resume the evacuations of the approximately 8500 seafarers, but I will not put the lives at risk.
So, until the parties in the region, particularly those engaged in the negotiations, of those engaged in the conflict that thankfully it is paused
right now, thanks to the MOU, until I have those guarantees that innocent seafarers, innocent commercial vessels will not be targeted by transiting
either north part of the south route of the Strait of Hormuz, then I will not be able to reactivate this southern channel for evacuation.
ANDERSON: Yeah. Right, understood? Look, you've made it very clear your first priority is the evacuation of these seafarers, and rightly so. Next,
of course, is the demining of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran said today it alone would carry out the removal of mines from the strait, pushing back on
remarks from the French President Emmanuel Macron that France, Oman, and others could collaborate on that.
How significant is it that Iran is resisting any international role in demining, is making these demands about the northern route? And how
confident do you believe the world can be that commercial ships can and will return, you know, in their numbers, you know, upwards of 100 a day at
some point soon?
DOMINGUEZ: For me this is a progressive approach. The situation was fine with relations to operations in the Strait of Hormuz before the conflict
started, and there is a lot of rhetoric that actually takes place during this period of time. But what is important for me is that there is
engagement from Iran, from Oman, and from other countries, even beyond the region, in relation to what are the next steps.
Of course, de-mining is critical for us. As soon as the traffic separation scheme is de-mined, we will be able to start resuming the normal transit of
vessels in step by step are increasing to the numbers that we were more accustomed, 135 vessels on average a day. It is good that there are
countries that are prepared to provide this assistance.
ANDERSON: Right.
[09:40:00]
DOMINGUEZ: The United Kingdom and France led this coalition, and the conversations are actually taking place with Iran as well. So, it is as we
progress, as the Memorandum of Understanding also continues to be implemented. This is what I will see more engagement in order to bring back
all those guarantees that everybody wants for trade to resume.
ANDERSON: Yep, it's good to have you, Arsenio. Thank you very much indeed for joining us today. Important stuff, and we'll check in again with you as
this progresses. Thank you. Well, we told you about Morocco's win earlier in the show.
DOMINGUEZ: Thank you.
ANDERSON: There was another European giant who suffered penalty kick heartbreak. More on that, after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Well, Germany suffered the shock defeat of the round of 32 so far in the World Cup, the four-time winners failing to impress over 120 minutes
against Paraguay before falling on penalties. My colleagues at "World Sport" will have that, and all the details on that nail-biting finish,
right after this.
I'll be back in about 15 minutes with more news, including the U.S. Supreme Court rulings. We're expecting to drop at 10:00 a.m. in Washington, that is
06:00 p.m. here, about 15 minutes from now. More after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[09:45:00]
(WORLD SPORT)
[10:00:00]
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