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U.S.-Israel War with Iran; Man Shot by ICE Was Not Target of Warrant; Rising Antisemitism in U.K.; U.S. Forces Complete Latest Strikes against Iran; Trump Will Support Bipartisan Sanctions on Russia; France versus Spain in World Cup Final. Aired 10-11a ET
Aired July 14, 2026 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[10:00:00]
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): Live from CNN Abu Dhabi, this is CONNECT THE WORLD with Becky Anderson.
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST (voice-over): And welcome to the second hour of the show from our Middle East programming headquarters. I'm Becky Anderson
in Abu Dhabi, where the time is just after 6:00 in the evening.
A ceasefire in tatters with fresh U.S. strikes overnight and Iran continuing attacks on America's allies across the region.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a major flashpoint as the U.S. prepares to reimpose a naval blockade and Tehran warns of a devastating response.
Two fatal ICE shootings in the United States and no body camera footage. Fresh questions are raised over accountability as officials face pressure
to explain why yet another life has been lost and agents were not equipped with cameras.
France marks Bastille Day with a military parade focused on defense and support for Ukraine, as Les Bleus prepare for a World Cup semifinal
showdown with Spain.
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ANDERSON: New explosions or a new blockade and a ceasefire collapsing after a third straight night of U.S. airstrikes on Iran. President Donald
Trump says he'll resume the U.S. Naval blockade just hours away from now.
And it follows a dramatic escalation in the strait in the last day. The government here in the UAE says two of its tankers hit by Iranian missiles,
killing one crew member.
And a scary morning for Bahrain after Tehran launched its own strikes at that U.S. ally in the region.
Well, in addition to restarting the blockade on Iranian ports, the U.S. president now suggesting the idea of a 20 percent fee to compensate the
U.S. for securing the Strait of Hormuz.
News just in to CNN, the U.K. a traditional U.S. ally, doesn't like that plan, saying the strait should reopen without tolls or charges. CNN's
senior White House reporter brings us the view from Washington.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BETSY KLEIN, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: No signs of de- escalation for this conflict and we are seeing a third consecutive night of strikes across Iran. Iran, in turn, launching retaliatory strikes in Gulf
countries. And the Strait of Hormuz continues to be the main point of contention. That is that critical oil thoroughfare.
Prior to this conflict, no one had formal authority over this waterway. Iran now using it as a key point of leverage. And we've heard President
Trump announce that he is planning to reimpose that naval blockade for all ships going to or from Iranian ports.
At the same time, he says that the U.S. is going to be charging commercial vessels a 20 percent tax that he says is for the security services that the
U.S. is providing in that strait.
Now it's very unclear how this is going to work. Officials have raised major questions, including secretary of state Marco Rubio, who has
previously suggested that this could be in violation of international law.
But CENTCOM says that this blockade will be fully in effect starting at 4 pm Eastern time, just a few short hours from now. President Trump weighing
in on all of this in the Oval Office. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: We're taking out all of their capability for anything having to do with the strait, with the Hormuz Strait. And I think in the end, we will
end up just controlling the whole thing.
We're protecting a very rich portion of the world. We're spending money. And so what we've done is we are going to be reimbursed for protection.
We'll have it under control very quickly.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KLEIN: Now as we think about a path forward to this conflict, I want to draw your attention to some comments from President Trump on that
memorandum of understanding. That is that now defunct peace agreement.
[10:05:00]
When he first signed that just about a month ago, the president said that this agreement achieves everything he set out to accomplish. It prevents
Iran from having a nuclear weapon. It reopens the Strait of Hormuz. It ends the conflict.
Yesterday, in an interview, the president saying he would have preferred to skip this stage and go straight to a deal. He says that that memorandum of
understanding, quote, "doesn't mean much."
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: CNN's Anna Stewart joining us now from London.
Anna, oil prices have jumped sharply over the past 24 hours or so following the collapse of this ceasefire. I'm here in the UAE, where authorities say
two Emirati-linked tankers were hit by Iranian missiles overnight, killing one crew member and injuring a number of others.
We've also seen this threat by Donald Trump to impose a fee to guard ships as they move through these waters. You've got eyes on the tracking data.
What's happening in terms of shipping right now?
ANNA STEWART, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, there's been very little activity. Of course, some ships may be simply turning off their transmitters. But
effectively the strait, one of the biggest routes for global trade, is once again effectively closed at this point.
Oil prices up 13 percent on the week, which is significantly higher. We're essentially back at levels that we haven't seen since before the U.S.-Iran
deal. Now that's not just due to a potential 20 percent tax, if we can call it that, being, you know, the constraint of the strait, a shock to the
supply of oil.
This would be an inflationary tax not just on oil but on all global trade that passes through the Strait of Hormuz. We have little idea of how a tax
like that would even be calculated.
But analysis from PIMCO would suggest that if we were looking at a 20 percent tax on the value of the cargo for a very large crude carrier, that
would be around $27 million per transit. It would be a big catalyst for the Middle East to look at other ways of exporting their oil.
We're talking about pipelines, of course, longer term. And I would say looking at the oil price once again, yes, oil prices are higher but I don't
think this threat really being fully priced in, given what a massive impact that would have not just on oil but inflation around the world.
It's not up 20 percent at this stage. We're not looking at $120 a barrel at this stage. But clearly something that investors are not liking, not least
because, as you say, looking at the transit of ships.
How many vessels are going to make that transit right now, with or without a tax?
ANDERSON: Yes. And you've got to worry about what impact this is going to have on inflation going forward.
We have had the latest U.S. inflation data out. We've got a month-on-month drop in the Consumer Price Index. One analyst last hour telling me that's
pretty much to be expected after oil prices dropped back on that memorandum of understanding, signed a month or so ago.
But if you were a betting woman and we see this continue as things stand with oil prices back at around 80 plus, the potential for higher prices,
should the flareup between the Houthis and the Saudis get worse.
To the west, of course, in the Red Sea, another key transit point for oil. And we continue to see the escalation that we're seeing in the Strait of
Hormuz.
What is your betting with regard inflation going forward?
STEWART: Well, inflation and oil. And, of course, the two are very much linked to this point. There is so much risk on the table right now all
around the world. The geopolitical tensions are very clear. But also the unknowns of a U.S. president who does make these threats.
And we never know which ones to take seriously, whether or not it is cutting off trade with Spain or whether it is a tax on all trade going
through one of the biggest straits in the world.
What investors can bet on right now is that the conflict between Iran and the U.S. clearly isn't over at this point. The MOU is clearly not working
right now. And it wasn't working for very long at that. I think inflation is baked in at this point.
The only kind of good news or glimmer of hope for investors and this is more regarding oil, is the fact that in terms of oil supplies around the
world, the world has coped significantly better than expected over recent months.
There isn't as much demand as people had once thought, particularly from the likes of China. The world has managed to weather this major transit
being closed.
So once this transit opens, at some point, if it does, if the Strait of Hormuz opens significantly for a period of time, there is hope that the oil
price will come down again and should stay low to the end of the year. But, of course, that relies on the Strait of Hormuz being reopened. And that's
anyone's bet right now.
ANDERSON: Yes, it is fascinating to see the U.S. markets higher today. Investors seem to be today at least ignoring this geopolitical flareup.
[10:10:02]
We will continue to watch those markets. All three of those main indices are higher; not significantly so but they are in the green. Thank you.
Alex Vatanka is a senior fellow and founding director of the Iran Program at the Middle East Institute. He joins U.S. now from Washington, D.C.
Alex, let's start with these latest developments. We've seen quite the 72 hours. I know many of us sitting here in the Gulf we're hoping we wouldn't
see the likes of this again. But it's back and it does feel as if things are headed nowhere good fast at this point.
What do you make of them?
ALEX VATANKA, SENIOR FELLOW AND FOUNDING DIRECTOR, IRAN PROGRAM, MIDDLE EAST INSTITUTE: Becky, it's great to be back with you. Look, I mean, as
you know very well, the MOU was fragile to begin with.
In fact, again, as you know from first week, when about a week after the MOU was signed, we had the first attack on a ship. And I think that goes to
the heart of the matter.
I mean, the MOU was a rush document. If you look at the 14 points, every one of those points that specifically speak to a concrete issue, whether
it's the Strait of Hormuz and who's got sovereignty, who doesn't.
Or the situation in Lebanon or unfreezing of Iranian monies, every one of those things can be contested, because the language in that document is so
vague. And you just pointed out earlier about Donald Trump himself having an issue with the MOU.
So the problem is in many ways that they signed an agreement that obviously they don't agree upon, even if they, let's say, for the sake of argument,
they reach an agreement on what to do with the strait and engage in de- escalation today.
Tomorrow, they have to deal with other contested points in that memorandum of understanding, what happens to the sanctions policy on Iran, what
happens in Lebanon and so on.
So in many ways, the problem here starts with the so-called ceasefire and that document that came on the 17th of June. But look, that's one reality.
The other reality is, despite the flexing of muscle, neither U.S. nor the Iranians want to go back to a full-fledged war. That much is clear.
The question is, can they find another area to converge and de-escalate?
That doesn't mean peace forever. That could just at least buy us time for more serious diplomacy and, frankly, a better document than what the MOU
amounted to.
ANDERSON: On Trump's 20 percent Hormuz fee plan, you wrote, "The pushback has been immediate. Critics say this looks less like maritime security and
more like protection money."
I mean, you could argue that we should take this as a pinch of salt or part of the art of the deal. As far as Donald Trump is concerned, perhaps. But
you have a point here, I think, as do those critics.
I mean, I guess, you know, in defense of Donald Trump, you could argue, what choice does he have at this point?
VATANKA: Right. Yes. No, look, I mean, that takes us to a whole concept of burden sharing, something that Donald Trump is applying not just to partner
states, Gulf countries across the world.
I mean, you Europeans know that phrase concept of burden sharing probably better than the Gulf states. But that has been something he wants to do.
America should not be in the business, going around the world and protecting others and their security, at the expense of American taxpayers.
But there are ways to go about it and I'm not sure this style, this dramatic announcement of 20 percent of taxes being levied on everybody, is
the best approach. Obviously, there are legal ramifications, issues that need to be sorted out.
There are the practical ones.
I mean, who on Earth is going to actually do this?
Who is going to be sitting at the mouth of the Strait of Hormuz and issuing, you know, the proper permits and cash to 20 percent?
Who's going to do that?
The U.S. Navy is going to do that?
I doubt it.
Where is this multilateral coalition?
Where are Europeans?
Where are the others who should be joining something like this if this is beyond what the -- I mean, this is not just a sole American enterprise. The
-- if you had others join in, maybe you would make a case for it. But that's not what we see.
And frankly, the geopolitical consequences. Imagine where you're sitting, Becky, in the Gulf.
What does that mean?
You know, the Iranians are going to charge you maybe 1 or 2 million per ship. Now you're talking many millions more.
Who's -- who should you pay protection money to, the United States or Iran?
So lots of questions. And I know this morning we heard from the White House that he's serious. But I frankly think this is one of those cases where
Donald Trump spoke more from the heart than having calculated the cost/benefit carefully.
ANDERSON: Well, certainly in Tehran, they will be trying to work out exactly where his head is at this point.
And before I let you go, I want to talk about internal Iranian politics.
You wrote, quote, "For the first time since 1979, the central question in Tehran is not revolutionary but managerial.
[10:15:02]
"How much power sits with the leader, how much with the guards, how much with the elected bodies and how much with the security bureaucracy that
keeps expanding underneath all of them?
"Four camps will decide it and they overlap more than they collide."
The recent national security committee reshuffle saw some outspoken critics of the ceasefire process lose their leadership positions.
So as you look at what's going on in Tehran, what do you think about those latest moves to lose a number of characters who had been in support of a
deal?
And what is -- what does that say about what's going on and about the balance of power within the Majlis and Ghalibaf's influence going forward?
VATANKA: So Becky, I think, generally speaking, the regime as a whole felt that the United States was not doing what he had said he would do as part
of the MOU. That includes Araghchi, that includes Ghalibaf, that includes, frankly, Masoud Pezeshkian.
Pretty much everyone believed that the MOU was not being seriously implemented by the Americans, which is what -- why they, for example, just
to give you one example, they opened up that southern corridor going close to the Omani coast, which, by the way, has created a whole new set of
tension in Tehran-Muscat relations.
So there is a sense across the board in Iran that, look, the Americans weren't serious. The MOU was something that they looked at as buying time
and looking for alternative ways of bringing the oil back to international markets.
We need to get their attention. And that's why they started taking shots at the ships. This much there is an agreement on across the board.
Where there is disagreement -- and it's a serious one -- how far do you push your luck?
Do you take these shots at these ships like the Qataris, the Emiratis lately, as a way of getting everyone to understand that Iran means business
when he wants to have the -- everyone essentially implement the MOU?
Or there is no point in negotiating with the Americans at all, because you can't trust them, because America attacked Iran twice during the two last
round of diplomatic talks.
Those are the people who just got sidelined, the ones you're talking about in the Majlis, the national security committee, the individuals who are
embarrassing the regime have been sidelined.
To me, that suggests the bureaucracy, the deep state post-Ali Khamenei believes if they can get a deal that works for them, they should pursue it.
And this idea of fighting the Americans and pushing Americans out of the Middle East, this is nonsense.
This is a costly, risky endeavor. They shouldn't even try it. But -- and I'm pretty sure the hardliners in this case will lose. They don't have the
numbers on their side. What I'm not sure about is whether the Ghalibaf, the Araghchi and the Trump administration can actually reach a deal that might
work for both sides.
ANDERSON: Yes. Well, only time will tell. Meantime, no peace, no war; a frozen conflict, a forever war, call it what you will. It's an
uncomfortable situation and one that needs to be seriously addressed with some grownup thinking here. Good to have you. Thank you.
Still to come, another immigrant has been killed in a shooting involving ICE agents. It's the second such death in the U.S. in less than a week. We
are following developments for you.
And a major boost in funding for policing in the U.K.'s Jewish communities. Why that is happening and how much it is costing taxpayers is just ahead.
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ANDERSON: Well, the confrontation with ICE agents has left another immigrant dead, marking the second such fatal shooting in the United States
in less than a week.
The latest incident happened on Monday in the state of Maine. A neighbor identified the victim as this man, 26-year old Juan Sebastian Guerrero of
Colombia. U.S. Senator Angus King's office now say Guerrero was not the person named in the warrant that brought agents to the scene. CNN's Jason
Carroll picks up the story from there.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Initially Senator King came out and said that the person who was shot and killed was the target of the ICE
investigation. That was the information that he was receiving from the Department of Homeland Security secretary, who had told him that.
And then several hours later, Becky, we got an update from Senator King, who then said, no, that's actually not the case. He said that the person
who was killed was, in fact, according to the Department of Homeland Security secretary, he was not the intended target of the investigation.
I mean, already you have a community that has a great deal of distrust of ICE and the Department of Homeland Security and this just, in some ways,
just added to that. I want you to listen, for example, to what a local congresswoman said. This is her district. I want you to listen to what her
take was on what happened out here.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. CHELLIE PINGREE (D-ME): By all accounts, he was the wrong man, not the person that ICE had been targeting. He was headed off to work, lived
very close nearby and there was a nice operation going on looking for someone else.
But he was in the car and, by all accounts, shortly after the shooting, his wife and 3-year-old daughter in her blue pajamas with a pink backpack were
also on the scene. So they witnessed it, seeing their father's dead body.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CARROLL: So again, Guerrero, 26 years old, killed on his way to work. According to an immigrants rights group, he had a Social Security number.
His mother releasing a partial statement on social media. She's in Colombia.
She said, quote, "You went to search for the American dream. And that same country ended your life."
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: CNN has also learned the federal agents involved in a deadly shooting or that deadly shooting were not wearing body cameras. The detail
that has intensified calls for accountability.
Well, a troubling rise in anti-Semitism is prompting the British government to boost policing in Jewish communities in the United Kingdom. More than
$330 million will now be invested in increasing patrols and security.
The announcement follows a rise in anti-Semitic hate crimes over the past year. CNN's Jomana Karadsheh spent the day with one of London's specialized
Met Police units, observing their response tactics -- and a warning, that some of the footage in this report is disturbing.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They're responding to a call about a male with a knife outside a school. We were really close by.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK, where's the guy?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They were down the road. All I know is there was one with a knife and one was indecent.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And how long ago did they go?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Less than a minute.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK.
KARADSHEH: This isn't an ordinary police patrol. We're out with the Met Police's proactive patrols, additional forces dedicated to securing these
predominantly Jewish areas of London. They spot men matching the description.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And no shirt. They'll do.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh. Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. What did I do?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You got any idea why they'd give a description that matches you, mate?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No idea, sir.
KARADSHEH: After a quick stop and search, they find no knife, so they let them go.
So what we just saw now, that was an incident that wasn't -- it didn't seem to be targeting the Jewish community. But you responded.
SGT. SIMON VANDEPEER, LONDON'S METROPOLITAN POLICE: Our overriding aim as a police service is to protect life. So when a call comes out where a knife
is present and that could be a direct threat to someone's life, no matter who it is, then it's our job to respond to that.
KARADSHEH: Following a string of attacks earlier this year, mostly targeting the Jewish community, the terrorism threat level in the U.K. was
raised to severe. And the Met Police is on high alert, especially in this part of North London.
[10:25:00]
VANDEPEER: The demand has been astronomical. It's definitely the highest demand I've ever seen. I think that's because of the incidents that have
happened in the area and quite naturally, the communities that live within this area of London feeling unsafe.
We've also seen physical assaults. So we had one not that long ago where someone was making Nazi salutes and shouting "Heil Hitler" and "baby
killers" and things like that.
And then walked into a cafe and punched a random member of the public in the face simply because they were visibly Jewish.
KARADSHEH: These officers have also had to deal with what they say has been a steep increase in all kinds of anti-Semitic abuse.
Incidents like this one. Authorities say two young men traveled to a Jewish area to film themselves for social media, going, quote, "fishing for Jews"
with a banknote on the end of a fishing rod. They both pleaded guilty and were convicted of religiously aggravated harassment.
For many in this community, the visible police presence is welcome.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's been a lot of patrol cars driving up and down. Yes.
But also I feel it's needed.
KARADSHEH: Since the October 7th attacks and the war in Gaza, anti- Semitic offenses in London have hit record levels according to official
figures and have spiked again since the U.S. and Israel's conflict in Iran.
The Met works closely with local Jewish security groups. 24-year-old Nathaniel Fahidi (ph) says the police presence helps but he still feels
nervous about revealing his faith in public.
If you were to explain what it's like being Jewish in the U.K. right now to people outside the country, what would you say?
NATHANIEL FAHIDI (PH), JEWISH LONDON RESIDENT: Worrying. I mean, I'm not particularly religious but I now refrain from being openly Jewish and I
know lots of other families who are in my community who have now decided to move to different countries, because being here just doesn't feel safe
anymore.
KARADSHEH: With British Jews feeling the repercussions of what's happening thousands of miles away and anti-Semitic hate on the rise, what started as
temporary patrols is now here to stay -- Jomana Karadsheh, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD. There's a lot more news ahead. Stay with us.
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ANDERSON (voice-over): Welcome back. You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD with me, Becky Anderson. Here are your headlines.
New explosions have been heard in some Iranian port cities after the U.S. and Iran traded a third straight night of strikes. In the coming hours, a
U.S. Naval blockade of Iranian ports set to restart.
[10:30:00]
And this comes as Tehran continues to target U.S. Gulf allies.
Protests have been held in the U.S. state of Maine after the second fatal shooting by an ICE officer in less than a week. In a statement, the
Department of Homeland Security says a, quote, "illegal alien" tried to flee during a vehicle stop and an officer fired his weapon out of concern
for public safety.
France marking Bastille Day amid a show of international unity. About 30 world leaders, including the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, were
invited to watch today's parade, which comes after key allies met in Paris and announced an air defense coalition for Ukraine.
U.S. President Donald Trump suggesting that Gulf states could foot the bill for his 20 percent fee for U.S. protection in the Strait of Hormuz. Here's
what he told my colleague Kaitlan Collins.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: What we've done is we are going to be reimbursed for protection. We're protecting--
(CROSSTALK)
KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN HOST: By whom?
TRUMP: -- by the countries that we're helping.
For instance, you look at the five countries. You have Saudi Arabia. You have UAE. You have Qatar -- or Qatar, as I always say. You have Qatar;
Bahrain. And by the way, you have others. You have Kuwait and you have others. And they will do very well.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, it's quite a lot to unpack there and across this entire region, Will Wechsler joins us now live from Washington. He's senior
director of the Rafik Hariri Center and Middle East programs at the Atlantic Council.
Good to have you. Thank you. William. First, you actually predicted this 1.5 weeks ago. And I want to quote in part some of what you wrote.
"If current trend lines hold," you said about 10 days ago, "it's only a matter of time before Trump flips longstanding U.S. policy on its head
completely and commits to being a party to Hormuz tolling."
Some people have called that tolling services, service fees. Some are calling it protection money. It's certainly a threat coming from Donald
Trump. Just explain why you believe this is and why your thoughts and what your thoughts are on this wider escalating conflict right now.
WILLIAM WECHSLER, SENIOR DIRECTOR, RAFIK HARIRI CENTER AND MIDDLE EAST PROGRAMS, ATLANTIC COUNCIL: Sure. The specific question of tolling was
eminently predictable, Donald Trump's position, because he said it multiple times over multiple years.
Even the very day that he first announced the Abraham Accords, he said that we don't have to be patrolling the straits and wondered whether or not we
should get paid for this.
The conflict itself is escalating. It's been escalating for the last week, ever since Iran first targeted shipping and it's escalating for one clear
reason, because the memorandum of understanding that created the ceasefire led to two completely opposite conclusions about who owns Hormuz.
The Iranians concluded that the memorandum gave it to them. The Americans concluded that, no, it didn't. And thus we're in this situation.
ANDERSON: So I'm interested that you remind us that, on the signing of the Abraham Accords back in 2020, that Donald Trump said, we don't any longer -
- we won't any longer have to patrol these waterways.
You're talking about the Fifth Fleet, of course, being stationed in Bahrain and the American forces there, stationed there to ensure the protection of
these waterways, correct?
That's what you're reminding us of. And, of course, you know, he's still pushing to expand those Abraham Accords. Point being, I think, is the point
that you're making is that this was always about being able to withdraw U.S. forces from the region, correct?
WECHSLER: That's what he's -- that's what he has wanted. And it's been -- and President Trump has been very clear on this for a long period of time.
This of course, completely upends standard U.S. policy for basically 50 years.
Jimmy Carter created the Carter Doctrine to protect shipping in this area. Ronald Reagan made the Reagan Corollary to the Carter Doctrine to reinforce
that. That's been the consistent U.S. policy for many decades, Democrats and Republicans.
And frankly, it was the consistent policy just a few days ago, when secretary of state Marco Rubio was saying that it was improper and, in
fact, illegal for any country to think about tolling throughout the Gulf.
We have gone from being the greatest protector of the free flow of navigation from any military or economic constraints to now saying that we
are going to be part of those economic constraints.
ANDERSON: What's the message here to Gulf allies, many of whom are investing trillions in the U.S. economy at this point?
[10:35:03]
WECHSLER: It's a very confusing message to Gulf allies. They desperately need Hormuz to be open. They need to be ensured of the -- their -- the
security commitment from the United States.
Different Gulf allies have come to different conclusions on this question. From the UAE, which is probably the strongest with the United States right
now, to other questions from other countries like Oman, which is probably on the other end of the of the spectrum.
And every other country somewhere in between, all of them are looking for the United States to show a real commitment to their security.
We could do that in a variety of ways, not just what Donald Trump is doing now, which I commend him for doing, which is to stand up to Iran's attempts
to control the strait through military means, but by, for instance, committing to having an aircraft Carrier Strike Group in the region for the
remainder of the Trump administration.
By committing to restaffing, rebuilding, rearming our bases in the region, these are the kinds of things that the United States could do right now
that would -- that would create a greater sense of confidence in the Gulf about the long-term commitment of the United States
ANDERSON: I'm wondering, I wonder how just how concerned you are or we should be, about renewed military conflict between the Houthis and the
Saudis that, at this point, could escalate to the point of choking off the Bab-el-Mandab Strait, which is, of course, to the west of what we're
talking about.
The Strait of Hormuz one massively important geopolitical choke point at this point. The other could potentially be what we're seeing on the map, as
you and I speak, down there off Aden.
WECHSLER: Absolutely. Listen, the world has eight major maritime choke points. Fully half of them are where Africa, Asia and Europe meet. This is
amongst the reasons why this region is critically important.
When you combine that with the energy resources, the disproportionate energy resources in the region, this is why President Carter, President
Reagan and everyone else since has had this kind of commitment to the region.
What we're seeing on the Bab-el-Mandab is the Houthis trying to open up the same kind of mechanism that we're seeing the Iranians do on Hormuz. This is
the slippery slope. This is why it's so dangerous to allow Iran to believe that it has control over this strait, why it's so dangerous to talk about
tolls.
Because everyone else in the region says we can get into that business as well.
ANDERSON: Good to have you talking about what are two really key files at this point.
Diplomacy, meantime, is kicking into gear across other related regional files. Israeli and Lebanese officials held their latest round of talks in
Rome today. Next hour, Iraq's new prime minister, al-Zaidi, will meet with Donald Trump at the White House.
I want your thoughts on both, starting with the significance of this trip, of the new Iraqi prime minister to Washington.
WECHSLER: It's very significant. And President Aoun in Lebanon will be coming next week. it's all part of one wider story. The question in the
Middle East, the critical question is between the power of governments and the power of non-state actors that use military means to threaten the power
of governments.
That's what we're seeing in Lebanon with the -- with Hezbollah. That's what we're seeing in Iraq with all the Shia militias there. That's what we saw
in Gaza vis-a-vis the Palestinian Authority. That's what we're seeing with the Houthis in Yemen.
We're seeing -- and all of these are supported by Iran. That's the bigger picture across the entire region.
And what's going -- and the number one question before President Trump and al-Zaidi, when he -- when they meet, is this question of, what is the Iraqi
state willing to do now that it wasn't willing to do previously in trying to limit the power of these violent non-state actors inside of Iraq, who
take orders from Iran?
What are they willing to do to disarm them, to shrink their powers?
They've already taken some steps. They've already made some announcements in both countries in Iraq and in Lebanon. But so much more needs to be
done. And that's what will be top of the priority for President Trump.
ANDERSON: Navigating a new or different Middle East and what that will look like going forward is unclear at this point. Always good to have you,
Will. Thank you very much indeed for joining us.
Well, a White House official tells CNN that President Trump is now backing a bipartisan Russia sanctions package spearheaded by the late Republican
senator Lindsey Graham, who was until recently in Ukraine.
[10:40:07]
The endorsement comes just days after Graham's unexpected death after a trip there. If it is passed by Congress, this sanctions package would clear
a path for the U.S. to impose heavy tariffs on imports from nations that are buying Russian oil, uranium and natural gas. More on that as we get it.
Well, ahead on CONNECT THE WORLD. France celebrating Bastille Day -- it is July the 14th -- as the Coalition of the Willing agree in Paris to provide
new support for Ukraine. More coming. Up.
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ANDERSON: France marking Bastille Day with a little help from the group of countries which have come together to back Ukraine; 500 soldiers from the
Coalition of the Willing join the annual national day parade on the Champs- Elysees.
Among them, 25 from Ukraine. This comes one day after many of the leaders from that coalition gathered in Paris for a summit. CNN's Clare Sebastian
with more.
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CLARE SEBASTIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: There was that very overt show of force in Paris, as you see a show of force and unity. President Macron, of
course, using the Bastille Day celebrations to showcase Europe's increasing resolve to take charge of its own defense amid the U.S., of course,
stepping back.
But amid that, Ukraine facing what it said was its fifth assault by Russia involving ballistic missiles this month alone. So the frequency of that
does seem to be going up now. It was able to avert, shoot down or suppress five out of the eight ballistic missiles used, according to the air force.
It has not been able to do so in some of the recent attacks.
So what we're in now is a race against time. Ukraine and its allies racing to beef up Ukraine's defenses as it's clear that Russia is in escalation
mode.
On Monday, they announced this coalition, anti-ballistic missile coalition. The core of that is to come together, Ukraine and its allies, to build what
would be a cheaper alternative, a cheaper European alternative to the Patriot system.
President Zelenskyy has also called for a winter air defense package involving some 300 Patriot interceptors. That is a huge number, especially
given that the effective collapse of the ceasefire with Iran will put even more strain on U.S. stockpiles.
So this really is a race against time. And I think, look, the concentrating the minds around Ukraine, putting forward this package to, you know, what
it says would be to survive what will be its fifth winter at war.
And all the while we see from Russia's signals that it's not backing down from its maximalist goals and that it is in the mood to escalate here.
Becky.
ANDERSON: Clare Sebastian reporting there.
Well, the stakes are high for Spain and France today as the two face off in Dallas.
[10:45:00]
Or at the Dallas stadium, at least, for a spot in the World Cup final. We'll have more on what to expect after. This.
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ANDERSON: -- now suing to block Paramount's takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, CNN's parent company. The antitrust lawsuit filed Monday in
California. And as CNN's Brian Stelter reports, it sets up a huge legal battle that could complicate efforts to close this massive deal
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BRIAN STELTER, CNN CHIEF MEDIA ANALYST: The fate of one of the biggest mergers in American history may now be in the hands of a federal judge.
That's because the 12 states that are suing to block the Paramount Warner Bros. Discovery merger have asked the judge to step in and issue a
temporary restraining order.
That request was made late Monday night. And if a judge grants it, it would pause everything and stop the companies from completing the merger while
the legal process plays out.
A judge in northern California will likely have to weigh in on this sometime in just the next few days. This is the latest dramatic twist in
Paramount's nearly year-long quest to take control of CNN and the rest of Warner Bros. Discovery.
Monday's lawsuit, filed by those 12 states, could slow down or even stop the merger altogether. But first, there's going to be a titanic legal
battle. And Paramount is vowing to vigorously contest the charges made by the states.
Now these 12 state attorneys general, all Democrats, say the Trump administration is failing to enforce antitrust law. Last month, the Trump
Justice Department gave Paramount the green light for the merger, an approval that came under criticism over Paramount's cozy relationship with
the president.
So these states are stepping in, charging that Paramount's takeover of Warner will hurt Hollywood and hurt consumers. Paramount rejects all that.
It says the states are distorting antitrust law and says the deal, quote, "strengthens competition."
Here's a part of Paramount's statement, quote, "As numerous antitrust authorities around the world have already concluded after months of review,
this transaction creates a stronger competitor against dominant streaming and technology platforms who have harmed the market for theatrical
exhibition and jobs in the entertainment industry."
So Paramount is saying that Netflix is hurting movie theaters and taking away jobs and Paramount saying it has to be able to get bigger to compete
with the likes of Netflix and Amazon and Apple and other technology giants.
But the states are refuting that and saying this deal would violate antitrust law. And the impacts, as detailed in the lawsuit, are mostly
about the entertainment industry. But California attorney general Rob Bonta also alluded to the concerns that many people have about Paramount taking
control of CNN and potentially merging it with CBS News.
Bonta said, quote, "This merger will mean fewer journalists informing the electorate."
He said the deal is bad for democracy. His comments underscore the high stakes of this merger and now the high stakes of this legal battle.
Now when some of these same states filed a similar lawsuit last spring against two owners of local TV stations, Nexstar and Tegna, a judge sided
with the states and stopped the merger from taking effect, basically freezing Nexstar and Tegna in place.
So is this case the same or is it different?
Some analysts have said that the case against Paramount might not be as strong as the case against Nexstar and Tegna. Paramount certainly believes
so. But these states have spent months investigating this proposed merger. They believe they have a winning hand. And soon we will see what a judge
says -- Brian Stelter, CNN
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ANDERSON: European champions Spain will face a star-studded France in a few hours in the World Cups first semifinal in Texas. While Les Bleus are
the favorites to win, it's expected to be a tough match. They may be the favorites but you can't count the Spanish out by any stretch of the
imagination.
Last time these two teams faced off in a major tournament was in the Euros semifinal in 2024, where Spain claimed a 2-1 victory. So for more on what
we can expect, let's bring in "CNN SPORT"s Don Riddell, live outside the Dallas stadium, and CNN's Pau Mosquera from Madrid.
And, Don, let's start with you. Let's get you to just mark out the atmosphere, if you will.
What's going on there?
Who's saying what?
DON RIDDELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, welcome to Dallas, Becky. It's -- there's still a few hours to go until kickoff, what about for four hours or
so?
So it's a little quiet but we are seeing the fans starting to arrive. Of course, the Spanish in their iconic red shirts, the French in their iconic
blue. There's also Mexican fans, Canadian fans, USA fans as well I've seen kind of mingling around here.
But yes, the atmosphere is starting to build. Dallas is quite a big, sprawling metropolitan area, so we didn't really encounter any big, obvious
hordes of fans as we have seen in some of the other games, kind of in the leading hours.
But they're all going to make their way here pretty soon. And this is absolutely billed to be a monumental match. It could easily have been the
final. That's been said by the people, the players, the staff, the coaches who are involved in this.
And it's really, really difficult to call because, yes, we can talk about what Spain have done to France in the last couple of years. But this French
team is just absolutely irresistible. And the way they've been playing, I think they're going to take some stopping.
ANDERSON: Yes, absolutely. Let's talk about Mbappe. Let's talk about Olise. Let's talk about the other players in that French team, because I've
heard people say -- and I, you know, you and I have been watching France play football as long as we have been knee high to a grasshopper.
And I have to say, it does feel like this is one of, if not the best French team I've ever seen.
RIDDELL: Yes, you're right, it might be. To that Kylian Mbappe would say, well, I don't see a trophy next to us. And so until they're holding the
World Cup for a third time, the -- that conversation is completely moot.
But if they do go on, I think they will be remembered in that way because they are just so exciting to watch. And they can hurt you in so many
different ways. I mean, we talk about their attacking options. It's kind of a three-headed monster because you can stop one of these guys but you're
probably not going to be able to stop all of them.
Of course, we've got Kylian Mbappe leading the line with eight goals already in this tournament, three assists. Remember, he's not even a Ballon
d'Or winner. That's Ousmane Dembele, who has chipped in with five goals.
And then you've got Michael Olise, who's leading this tournament in assists with five. So these guys can just hurt you in so many ways.
And you know, people talk about the Spanish as being impenetrable because they've only conceded one goal. Well, France have only conceded two. They
haven't conceded any in the knockout stage. And they are the only team to have made it this far who has won every game within 90 minutes.
So they are also going to be the freshest team.
How do you stop France?
Well, maybe you just keep the ball away from them so they can't do any damage. Spain are the masters of possession, so maybe that's how it's going
to go.
But I mean it's just it's so hard to call. I'm really hoping.
ANDERSON: Yes.
RIDDELL: Because sometimes, as you know, Becky, the more you hype these games, the more disappointing they are.
It's hard to imagine that this one won't be a banger because it's just perfectly set up, right?
ANDERSON: Yes, absolutely. I mean, honestly, I feel like it's going to be a cracker but like you say, the Spanish are the masters of possession. And
so I'm hoping that, you know, we just don't see a sort of, you know, the whole thing moved around in midfield. No real action.
I can't believe that that's going to happen.
Pau, let me bring you in. There is a young Spanish player by the name of Lamine Yamal, who was 19 yesterday. It feels as if he's been around
forever. And he broke onto the scene at the age of 16.
He's called this the most important match of his life. I'm sure the mood amongst Spanish supporters is confident at this point.
But is the overarching feeling that their team will reach the final?
PAU MOSQUERA, CNN SPAIN CORRESPONDENT: Well, let me first tell you, Becky, that there's definitely a lot of tension here in Spain because this is a
massive match for La Roja with the victory meaning a direct ticket to the final, something that hasn't happened since 2010 when Spain won the World
Cup in South Africa.
[10:55:06]
But at the same time, there's also some confidence because Spain national team has shown a tremendous improvement from that slow start to the stage
group against Cape Verde.
Now unlike Don's location, here, it's still empty. Let me show you what we have here around. This is Puente del Rey Esplanade. This is the space that
Madrid City Council has taken for this afternoon's match.
As you can see here, an image. We have one of the two giant screens that the city council has set in this space to allow La Roja fans to closely
watch this match at 3 pm Eastern time, 9 pm local time.
This is not the only screen that we got here southwest of Madrid. There's another one. And we're just seeing the back, the behind of that screen,
because he's facing the other side of Manzanares River to allow people from the other side to watch this semifinal.
And I'm being told by the city council that all this space around is going to be able to allow the entrance of around 15,000 people, who will be
closely watching this semifinal -- Becky.
ANDERSON: OK. We've got to you early, there's absolutely nobody there. But I have no doubt, both there and around the stadium in Dallas, it is going
to be absolutely electric in the hours to come.
Good to have you both.
Best to both of those teams. That's it for CONNECT THE WORLD. Stay with CNN. "ONE WORLD" is up. Next.
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