Return to Transcripts main page
Erin Burnett Outfront
U.S. Embassy In Baghdad Under Attack For Second Day In Row; Key U.S. Intel Official Quits: "Iran Posed No Imminent Threat" To U.S.; Cuba Regime Change? Aired 7-8p ET
Aired March 17, 2026 - 19:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[19:00:25]
ERIN BURNETT, CNN HOST: OUTFRONT next:
The breaking news, the U.S. embassy in Baghdad tonight under attack again as Israel issues a new threat to take out Iran's new supreme leader.
And an American warship believed to be carrying 2,000 marines now headed to the Middle East. Take you to the ground.
And a major defection. Key member of Trump's team breaking with the president, saying there is no imminent threat from Iran. New reporting from the White House, including a meeting with Vice President Vance before his resignation.
And more breaking news, the Trump administration calls for regime change in Cuba grow louder. Is Cuba the next target?
Let's go OUTFRONT. And good evening. I'm Erin Burnett, and welcome to a special edition of OUTFRONT, "The War with Iran".
The breaking news this hour, under attack. We're talking about the United States embassy in Iraq now attacked tonight. We understand this is the second day in a row. And according to officials, what happened now is that the compound has been targeted by at least four projectiles, images here of that embassy. And you can see those explosions in the distance.
Obviously, it's the most heavily fortified American embassy in the world, perhaps the largest. And it is part of the Green Zone in Baghdad. This attack coming at the same time that Israel, America's ally in this war, is now vowing to, quote, neutralize anyone who poses a threat to Israel. Now, that includes Iran's new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not been seen or heard from since he was elected to take over from his father.
And now Iran is vowing to avenge the deaths of top leaders who were taken out overnight. The most significant assassinations of any sort since the war began. In a statement, the Iranian President Pezeshkian promising to get revenge after that Israeli airstrike killed top security official Ali Larijani.
Larijani was the public face of the Iranian regime. He was in the Middle East and Gulf countries just a few days before the war began. He already was the face of the regime.
New video just in OUTFRONT shows a huge cluster munition meantime, tonight. That right over the skies of Tel Aviv. We don't have word tonight on whether there were any injuries from that, as they've been using more and more of these cluster munitions over Israel. And it all comes as President Trump is moving American troops closer to being able to actually go into Iran.
Tonight, a U.S. warship believed to be carrying thousands of marines is making its way to the region. We've got new video of the ship. It is heading towards the Middle East. You see it there.
President Trump was asked today if he's concerned that a ground operation could result in a large number of American deaths. And this is what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REPORTER: The Iranian regime has told Sky News, if you put boots on the ground in Iran, it will be another Vietnam. Are you afraid of that?
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: No, I'm not afraid of -- I'm really not afraid of anything.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNETT: Trump claiming he's not afraid of anything just hours after a major defection from his own team, his director of the counterterrorism center, a retired green beret, longtime supporter of President Trump's, today quit. Joe Kent is his name, and he resigned. He said, got his letter here. It's actually worth reading.
He says, "I cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran. Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby."
Obviously, it's a damning statement coming from a person in his position and it has Trump and his administration in damage control mode tonight.
Listen to Trump now defending his decision to go to war.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: We have to put out this this cancer. It's a cancer. We had to take that operation and we did. I just do want to say that the war is proceeding very, very strongly. We're doing very, very well. They were two weeks away, in my opinion, two weeks away from having a nuclear weapon.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNETT: His opinion not, of course, the assessment of U.S. intelligence. It was just about nine months ago, though, that Trump had claimed that Iran's nuclear facilities were obliterated. The word that he's now using to describe the Iranian navy. So now he's saying they were two weeks away from having a nuclear weapon obviously, I know we keep bringing this up, but it's worth pointing it out right? Those two things don't add up.
And Kent's comments obviously weigh in on this. Trump and the White House now trying to cast Kent, though, as somebody who no longer was in the know.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: I always thought he was a nice guy, but I always thought he was weak on security, very weak on security. I didn't know him well.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNETT: Well, of course, if he thought he was weak on security, why did he name him as his counterterror chief? That's one question.
[19:05:00]
The other reality, given what Trump just said though, is this Trump does know Kent. In 2022, he took credit for launching Kent's political career. He met him for the first time back in 2019 during the dignified transfer of Kent's wife, who died in a suicide bombing in Syria.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: A very incredible guy and with a tremendous future in my opinion, a very special person. Thank you very much. Come on over, Joe.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNETT: The split within team Trump comes as Trump's frustration is growing over America's allies' refusal to help secure the Strait of Hormuz. Obviously, as you know, about a fifth of the world's oil supply is at a standstill for what is now the 18th day of a war that at the beginning was projected to last days, maybe a couple of weeks.
Jeremy Diamond is OUTFRONT live in Tel Aviv, Alayna Treene is outside the White House.
I want to begin with you, Jeremy, in Tel Aviv. I know obviously, you know, you just had cluster munitions above where you are -- a lot happening. Where -- what are you learning right now?
JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, as I'm speaking to you, Erin, there are rescue crews pouring over multiple different impact sites across the Tel Aviv area, and paramedics have just confirmed to us that two people were killed in this latest Iranian ballistic missile attack -- a ballistic missile that was outfitted, it appears with cluster munitions. You can see in some of the images of that missile coming in that this actually appears to be a much larger ballistic missile, likely the Khorramshahr missile, which can carry up to 80 of these smaller bombs that fall indiscriminately over residential and commercial areas.
And so, we are seeing tonight, multiple impacts including a train station in Tel Aviv, several of the suburbs of Tel Aviv. And again, two people who were killed in Ramat Gan, a city just outside of Tel Aviv. And this is all coming as we are watching, that this war is certainly widening rather than ramping down in any way. Israel confirming today and Iran also confirming that Ali Larijani, Iran's security chief, was killed in an Israeli strike.
Israel's assassination of Larijani is hugely significant. Probably the most significant one that we have seen since the killing of the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in those opening strikes carried out by Israel more than two weeks ago. Larijani was a hugely significant figure in this regime and he was, you know, overseeing the brutal crackdown on the protests at the beginning of the year. He oversaw nuclear negotiations.
And now the fact that he has gone, though, is being viewed by some as a question mark about the future of this war and the possibility of any kind of diplomatic off ramp, because for all of Larijani's deeds, he was also viewed as a pragmatist, Erin, and someone who could potentially negotiate a ceasefire agreement. But now that he's gone, a lot of Iran analysts wondering whether this means that the hardliners in Iran will be further emboldened. Hardliners like Iran's revolutionary guard corps -- Erin.
BURNETT: Yeah. All right. Thank you very much, Jeremy.
And everyone's here with me.
Colonel, I just want to ask you -- start with something that Jeremy just said, talking about a new missile, perhaps a strong, you know, stronger missile, for lack of a better word, with 80 cluster munitions on it and we've been seeing in recent days more and more use of cluster munitions. But this coming with so many. And now two confirmed dead on the ground.
What does that say to you? Just in the context, I guess, of the question that's been out there, which is we've seen what they've been using relative to the arsenal of what they are believed to have had and they hadn't used some of the more sophisticated weapons that they had. Does this way into whether that was strategic or not?
COL. CEDRIC LEIGHTON (RET.), CNN MILITARY ANALYST: Well, it certainly is a move by the Iranians in some ways, it's changing their tactics. They're employing a weapon that we've known about, the Khorramshahr missile as Jeremy mentioned, is basically one of their longer range missiles, at least 2,000-kilometer range. And what it can do is as he mentioned, it can carry up to 80 different of those different cluster bomblets and those cluster bomblets are what's really confusing the air defense system.
So, we always talk about the Iron Dome and really what we need to talk about is a three-tiered system that the Israelis have. And that three- tiered system is designed to go after all these threats. The problem that that system has is that it's now being overwhelmed by all these different, it's like multiple warheads going off, but a large number of them.
BURNETT: And even in recent days, I left Israel a few days ago, but I mean, there was --there had been sort of a -- phones would go off and then alarms, there'd been a clockwork to that and that had already broken down, to be honest with you. They were putting alarms everywhere because it was unclear if they knew where it was going or not. Or I mean -- you know, it's anecdotal what we observed. It's -- but it is real, Alex, I mean, in terms of what's happening.
So, you served with an office of secretary of defense at the Pentagon. You're a veteran. You've served in Iraq. You've served in Afghanistan. And here we are.
Look, you've got Ali Larijani now assassinated by the Israelis, and they're making it clear that was their assassination. It's unclear where the Trump administration stands on this.
[19:10:02]
I guess that feeds into the question of does the Trump administration -- did they plan for where they are right now?
ALEX PLITSAS, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST: I mean, I think they planned in the sense that they approached us with I call Caracas goggles in the sense that they thought this was going to be a targeted operation that would last somewhere from three to five weeks, and then after that, they would sort of deal with the remnants of whatever was left. And we do talk about Larijani being a pragmatist, but in the context of this regime, that's like saving up to be poor.
So, he wasn't exactly the most pragmatic individual. He was said to be responsible for oversight for the deaths of the protesters and elements of the war. And up until the last few weeks, you know, and speaking to folks in the region, mediators, I actually saw him about two weeks before the war broke out actually, in Doha randomly as he was passing by that he was said to be running external operations for the country in addition to the IRGC.
The President Pezeshkian is basically -- he was a person who didn't want to be president, more or less. He was reluctant to take the role.
BURNETT: Yeah.
PLITSAS: He was domestic focused along with the head of the court.
BURNETT: Well, it's interesting you talk about Larijani. I know even -- I think even four or five days before the war, he was in the gulf again in another country I'm not naming. But, you know, he had been that face of external diplomacy very clearly.
So, for the gulf, now that's -- that's gone. Seth, you know in that context of where we are, that U.S. warship believed to be carrying thousands of marine ground troops to the Middle East has been tracked. We showed an image a little bit ago as we began the program off Singapore. And I know that you've been looking at what a ground assault would
look like in several scenarios, which is sort of incredible to imagine that that's where we are, but this is where we are including Kharg Island, which some of our viewers saw last night as Colonel Leighton was walking us through what had been hit there and what it might look like.
How risky would such an operation be putting those marines on the ground, even on such a small island as Kharg?
SETH JONES, FORMER ADVISER TO COMMANDING GENERAL, U.S. SPECIAL OPS FORCES IN AFGHANISTAN: Well, Erin, it would be a risky operation. I mean, a MEU, for example, is essentially a reinforced battalion plus enablers. It's got aviation. The U.S. could also add special operations forces or CIA paramilitary on the ground so there are other types of forces in addition to aircraft overhead and a quick reaction force.
But I think the reality is that there do appear to be Iranian actors on the ground right now, including Revolutionary Guard, the island itself is within range of the Iranian mainland. So, strikes from ballistic or cruise missiles as well as drones the Iranians would have to be kind of careful because 90 percent of their production -- oil production comes through that island. So there probably are some incentives not to utterly destroy it.
But it does pose a threat. U.S. boots on the ground does certainly pose a threat. And it risks increasing U.S. casualties and fatalities. And the same would be the case if the U.S. put boots on the ground to extract the uranium, the enriched uranium in and around facilities like Isfahan.
So, both scenarios, I think we've been looking at do pose risks as well.
BURNETT: I mean it certainly real risk to American lives. You're talking about a couple of thousand marines could be involved in an operation. I mean, that's what would be available he just called MEU, obviously marine expeditionary unit.
LEIGHTON: That's right. Yeah. The marine expeditionary units there and are absolutely designed to do these kinds of amphibious operations and also, if you're going into a nuclear site that would require either, you know, size like that but I personally think it would be much -- have to be much larger than that, probably double the size of a battalion so that would be 2,000 -- 2,000 men.
BURNETT: It's incredible to think, you know honestly, that were having these kinds of conversations, it's very sobering, which brings me to Joe Kent and his letter.
PLITSAS: Sure.
BURNETT: You know, he's a controversial guy. Okay? But his letter is Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation. No, in a sense, that's not really a controversial thing to say. It shouldn't be. It matches with U.S. intelligence assessments. But obviously it contradicts what the argument Trump has made about who is going to strike first. Israel, Iran bases, all of -- all of those kind of confusing messaging that they put out there.
What's the significance of this though?
PLITSAS: So, I mean, I've known Joe for a few years, you know, not particularly well, but he is a legitimate, you know Green Beret combat veteran. He served at the CIA as well. And he's got principles and beliefs when it comes to, you know, whether or not we should be engaged in a war, particularly. He lost his wife, as was mentioned, you know in the opening of the show here.
For him, I think this was more based on the military targets right now. So, in terms of the nuclear program being characterized as having a weapon in a week or two, that's not accurate. Where we were at is if they had all of their centrifuge technology still there, enriching the uranium that they have about 400 kilograms, which is enough for about 11 weapons from 60 percent to 90 percent, which would be weapons grade, would take one to two weeks.
But then you still have to build a bomb. First time you build one --
BURNETT: Right, you have to build the delivery mechanism.
PLITSAS: Yes.
BURNETT: That's the hardest part.
PLITSAS: Yeah, the delivery they have is because they have the ballistic missiles right? So, they have the ability to deliver it. What they're missing is the bomb itself.
And that -- the first time you build it the size of a Volkswagen, that's six months to a year, then you got to miniaturize it and stick it on top of a warhead. So, they were not close.
And for the ballistic missiles, the Israelis also said that they were, you know, they were planning for an operation because this was a ticking time bomb math equation. This was a missile interceptors and ability to defend against Iranian ballistic missile production.
[19:15:02]
And the Israelis said that their operation wasn't going to take place for six months.
So, if you look at the timeframe the Israelis laid out, clearly, it wasn't imminent or else they would have struck now. They were not ready to have a nuclear weapon. So, unless they were getting the Iranians were going to do a preemptive strike. Theres nothing in the target package right now that we're going after. That suggested there was an immediate threat.
BURNETT: There was -- right and then he is very making it very clear that this is because of Israel, that this is Israel's war. That's what he's saying.
PLITSAS: Yeah. I mean, the tropes are dangerous when we start to go down that road, the words that he used there.
BURNETT: Yeah.
PLITSAS: But in terms of that, I think what he's -- what he's referring to there is that he believes that we were pressured into this by the Israelis. The White House has pushed back against that but it's pretty clear Prime Minister Netanyahu wants regime change.
BURNETT: Yes. I mean, and they've said that. And even when there was a few days over there where they seemed to be a little bit quiet, Seth, they were still saying it when it was clear that that was not where Trump was going. Right? And now with Larijani they're making it clear that is where they're going, sort of devil may care what, what, what Trump may or may not think. And we don't know the U.S. opinion on that.
But, Seth, you have been speaking to U.S. and European officials and you've learned some new information about Russia's involvement here, specific things that they are doing to aid Iran more than just sort of helping target American troops or base locations, which we've known about. This is new.
JONES: Yeah. Erin, the several European and U.S. officials have said that they're growing increasingly concerned that the Russians have an incentive to prolong this war, especially if there are U.S. boots on the ground in some capacity, whether it's Kharg Island or elsewhere that they are providing increasingly, helpful information to the Iranian satellite imagery.
And you know, one of the things that's been interesting is -- I was told by one senior official that they've got pretty good evidence that the Russians were likely helpful in the strike against the U.S. THAAD TPY-2 radar which those THAADs do not work without that radar system. It's roughly $1 billion radar system. There are only eight THAADs that the U.S. Army has.
So, if indeed the Russians are providing assistance to the targeting of major U.S. Weapons systems, and actually, the Russians may have blood -- American blood on their hands by helping target U.S. bases that have led to U.S. casualties and fatalities, this is not a -- this is not a friend. I mean, it's worth noting this is the same government in Moscow that President Trump has just relieved sanctions against so that it can make more money off of oil.
BURNETT: Right, right, and obviously, one of the biggest beneficiaries of oil at $100 a barrel.
Thank you all. I appreciate you.
And next, our breaking news coverage continues with new reporting tonight that Trump's top counterterror official, Joe Kent, we just mentioned actually spoke to Vice President J.D. Vance the day before announcing his resignation, which is really important because there's been a lot of questions about where Vance stands on this. New details about that meeting coming up.
And the administration refusing to rule out special forces on the ground to seize the highly enriched uranium. We just referenced that. So, what would that operation look like? We're going to break it down on the magic wall.
And more on the breaking news. The U.S. military just announcing it's fired several massive 5,000 pound missiles at Iran's coastline in an attempt to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[19:22:39]
BURNETT: Breaking news about the intelligence official who just defected from the Trump administration over the war with Iran. National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent meeting with Vice President Vance and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard yesterday. That's a day before his very public resignation, where he explained his opposition to the war.
Alayna Treene broke this reporting and is OUTFRONT from the White House.
And, Alayna, what more can you tell us, okay, about this meeting? Because this is really important. Theres been a lot of discussion about Vance's role and his standing here. The meeting that Kent had with Vance and Gabbard.
ALAYNA TREENE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Yeah. I think you make an excellent point, Erin, which is that the reason this is also so notable is because Kent, Vance and Gabbard, all three of them are known for their anti-interventionist views, and have -- you know, particularly Vance and Gabbard have previously shown restraint when it comes to getting involved in foreign conflicts, particularly in the Middle East.
But what I'm told, this is also reporting with our colleague Kaitlan Collins, we're told essentially that this meeting came yesterday at the White House, of course, before Kent went public with his letter of resignation. And he essentially laid out his reasonings, the same ones we saw today in his letter, for why he was resigning, this idea, essentially, that he believes he could not, in good faith, continue in his role. You know, beneath Gabbard at within the National Intelligence Center to move forward with this, because he believes that there was not an imminent threat posed by Iran before the U.S. went forward with these strikes.
And it's something we have seen. Of course, many officials try to push back on today. We've seen a number of White House officials and Trump administration officials come out arguing that Kent was already sidelined, that they had removed him from Iran planning. But this is a huge move, and id remind our viewers that Kent was someone who was appointed by the president himself.
Just 13 months ago, the president was singing his praises, noting that he was a former green beret. And so, it's quite a striking difference. But again, very notable given that Vance and Gabbard have also in the past shown, you know, more restraint with wanting to go into foreign wars. And one other quick thing is, I am told that Vance did tell Kent to please speak with the White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, before submitting that resignation. I'm told that he did ultimately do that, but of course, he did move forward with it and announced it today.
BURNETT: All right. Well, thank you very much, Alayna, and so much, so much new reporting from you and the entire team on this.
[19:25:04]
And it is significant when you think the context of J.D. Vance and his very low profile, to say the least, on this war.
OUTFRONT now, Democratic Congressman Pat Ryan. He's on the House Armed Services Committee, served two combat tours in Iraq with the U.S. Army.
And, Congressman, I appreciate your time. There's a lot of news happening tonight. You know, we've got the use of one of Iran's longer range missiles against Tel Aviv tonight with up to 80 cluster munitions. We've got those 5,000-pound bombs that we understand the U.S. has just used along the coast, along the Strait of Hormuz there. So, all of this happening as you've got that MEU, marine expeditionary unit, heading right now towards the Middle East.
And you've got Alayna's reporting here about the Trump appointed director of the National Counterterrorism Center, Joe Kent.
So, you know, I was I was showing his letter before. He posted it online. And in it he says, and I quote, Congressman, Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation. And it's clear we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby.
Do you think he's right?
REP. PAT RYAN (D-NY): I think he's half right. Clearly, there was no imminent threat. But the responsibility for this decision lies fully at the feet of the president of the United States who, with no explanation to the American people, no point in his almost two hour State of the Union did he even make an attempt to make a real case for this and then throughout after this war, as we've lost now. 13 patriotic, brave Americans continues to act and behave as if this is some sort of a video game. It's disgraceful.
And unfortunately, what we're seeing now, as you reported, is an escalation because anyone that has seen war, including Mr. Kent who, to be clear I disagree with on many issues. But anyone who has seen war will be the first to say we have to avoid it at all costs, and it should only be a last resort.
And instead, we had a five-time draft dodger who loves to talk tough from his parties at Mar-a-Lago but then is quick to leave people hanging out to dry when it gets bad. BURNETT: I want to get to the other breaking news I just mentioned, and this is what we are learning now. CENTCOM is announcing just now, actually congressman, that U.S. forces have dropped multiple 5,000 pound penetrator bombs on Iranian missile sites along the coast near the Strait of Hormuz.
Obviously, the goal seems pretty clear there to prevent their ability to fire missiles from the shore to ships. Obviously, they've got underwater missiles, they say, and attaching bombs to the hulls of boats that tanker CEOs have told me that is what their main concern is.
But obviously, if you're talking about several of these 5,000 pound bombs, does that move the needle? Do you think does that help secure the strait or is this really just the start?
RYAN: Well, when I talk to my constituents, their main concern is they're seeing prices skyrocket already because of what was a very predictable move by Iran to close and disrupt the straits and the American people are paying the price, not only in the blood of 13 Americans, but now the treasure of every American who's paying more.
And what we're seeing play out is two things at once, which is an exceptionally effective operational ability of our U.S. military, the best in the world to hit and strike targets effectively. But at the same time, an inability to link that tactical and operational success to a real strategic end state.
We've seen the president all over on whether is this regime change. Are we going to leave in place sort of a Delcy Rodriguez, like individual like we did in Venezuela? And that lack of any clear strategic aim means that even if we continue to have tactical military success, it's very hard to ultimately pull out of what is now an escalating situation. And the people who pay the price for that are our troops in theater as we've seen. And all of us at the pump and the grocery store and everywhere else. And this was sadly predictable, unfortunately.
BURNETT: So, you have -- you have bombs being dropped on Hormuz tonight. You have a missile that has not yet, to our knowledge been used so far in this conflict used against Israel tonight with 80 cluster munitions. You have the marine expeditionary unit with 2,000 marines heading to the region. You have all those things happening and as all of that is happening, a top pentagon official, my understanding today is, Congressman, told your committee that he is quote, not aware of any plans to invade. And you think the next words out of my mouth might be Kharg Island or Iran? No, that's not what I'm talking about. Cuba, Cuba.
But Trump yesterday said he can do whatever he wants with Cuba. He said taking Cuba -- that's his word -- taking Cuba would be a great honor.
[19:30:00]
Do -- are you open to this? Are you open to supporting possible American action of some sort in Cuba?
RYAN: Absolutely not. We've seen a president again who promised to lower costs and stop wars, start multiple wars this calendar year alone and we're only in March and we're seeing the cost of that. And now, again with no clear strategy, no attempt to consult with the American people, no articulation of our aims and the costs required. He's threatening because he's not succeeding, sadly and tragically, in this war in Iran. I think he's trying to distract and frankly psychologically just sort of flailing now, which it would be sad and almost comical if there weren't American lives that have been the cost of this.
So, we need to get this in check. And I'm glad that, you know, in the committee today, the Armed Services Committee, one senior individual said that that is not a plan. But we all know that how mercurial this president is. That's why my colleagues in the Senate have introduced a war powers resolution to block the ability for any military action in and around Cuba without consultation with the Congress.
And if we haven't learned by now with Venezuela and Iran that without the check, as our founders intended, of the Congress that Trump will take these dangerous actions. And we better learn that quickly here.
BURNETT: Yeah, well, it's pretty stunning. There's no check.
All right. Thank you very much, Congressman. I appreciate your time. And thank you very much.
Our breaking news coverage continues. Team Trump now is weighing whether to send ground troops into Iran specifically to seize the highly enriched uranium there. So, we're going to show you how that operation could go and truly how risky it could be.
Plus, Iran vowing revenge after two of its top leaders were just taken out, could the death of one of those leaders, though truly backfire on the U.S. this time?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[19:36:04]
BURNETT: Welcome back to a special edition of OUTFRONT, "The War with Iran". The breaking news, Iran saying a moment ago that a, quote, hostile projectile struck the site of one of its nuclear power plants in western Iran. Now as of now, no known casualties. The facility was not damaged as far as we understand, that's about Bushehr, which is their nuclear power plant for power had formerly at one point been run by the Russians.
It comes as President Trump today is claiming the war with Iran is a, quote, "little excursion" meant to eliminate its nuclear program.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: We had to do a little excursion, if you don't mind, a little excursion to take care of nuclear weaponry in the hands of maniacs (END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNETT: Now it's -- one idea the administration refuses to rule out is special forces on the ground to seize Iran's highly enriched uranium. Colonel Cedric Leighton saying we would be looking at a battalion size force, which would be about 1,000 military personnel. U.N. nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi telling CNN that around 200 kilograms of Iran's highly enriched uranium is probably still at Isfahan tonight.
And Colonel Leighton is back with me at the -- at the magic wall. I mean, so -- I mean, this is this does presume a knowledge of where things are, which, you know, we don't necessarily know. I mean, we know they had tried to obliterate it, but if they were going to send in special forces to Isfahan, which is where they believe that much of or all of this highly enriched uranium may be, what would that look like?
LEIGHTON: So, this is Isfahan basically in the center of Iran right here. And let's go to a close up, Erin, and this is what the site basically looks like. So, you've got a perimeter wall all around this area. You have basic installations that they have right here. So, this is a fairly complex operation and it is --
BURNETT: And massive, right? I mean, it's not just one site or a building --
LEIGHTON: Yeah, this is more than a couple football fields large and that, you know, it presents a fairly important type of situation here because when you look at the way in which they've done this here, they've got tunnels everywhere that you can see right here and these tunnel entrances. Oh, by the way, have remained open ever since we went through this exercise in June when we attacked the nuclear site. So, these tunnel entrances that you see pictured right here are still open.
BURNETT: Which is incredible. And also what's incredible is that there's very little visibility on what's under there, right, where the tunnels are, where they run. I mean, we don't -- we don't know in a sense perhaps what we don't know which I guess raises the question of if you're going to go ahead and put special forces in.
Okay, first of all, you don't know if it's all even being stored in that particular location. And then you say, okay, it is then you say its massive but then you say how? I mean, how would they actually -- how hard would it be for them to do this?
LEIGHTON: Well, it would be -- it would be pretty difficult because, you know, let's take a look at when you see what this actually looks like. So, this is a before and after picture. But every single thing that you that you take a look at here is terrain that they would have to actually work through. And whether its damaged or not it is still in the middle of Iran and it presents the topography here is extremely tough to work through.
It's dry land. It's an area that where there's no cover, basically, in terms of where you can conceal yourself or do anything like that. So, this is --
BURNETT: Yeah. There doesn't seem to be any concealing. And even if you control the air, you're in the middle of the country.
LEIGHTON: And that is a prerequisite. In order to do this operation, you would absolutely have to control the air and also what kind of missiles are being fired. And make sure that those missiles are taken out before you --
BURNETT: Which raises the question of they attack this the summer before. This has been the focus. Okay? So, if any -- if Iran is prepared for anything to be attacked, it's this.
LEIGHTON: Yes.
BURNETT: How prepared are they?
LEIGHTON: So, let's take a look at that because that's actually a great question. This was what was damaged in July after the June attacks. So, you have missile craters right here at these entrances. You have all of these damaged buildings.
Well, guess what? This has all been rebuilt now.
BURNETT: They rebuild all the buildings.
LEIGHTON: All the buildings. Now, temporary structures. In all likelihood, you know, getting it looks like corrugated metal roofs, things like that. But it's still a viable building, a viable area and even building new buildings.
So, all of this stuff basically shows that they have this and then take a look at this so this is a tunnel that is built for the navy. In this particular case, the Iranian navy. You've got the mines, you've got the boats.
But this is the kind of stuff that they can actually put together, Erin. And the reason they do this is they have the construction capability. They understand hardened concrete. They actually study hardened concrete. That's also where they put their drones and they hide this stuff.
So not only are they putting these kinds of weapons in there, but they're also taking the canisters of enriched uranium. And that enriched uranium is actually going to be critically important because we're talking about over 400 kilograms of this. That's about ready to make 10, 11 different bombs and that is the kind of thing that becomes critically important because if you get rid of this, then you have achieved your mission.
But getting rid of this, finding that in places like this becomes really difficult.
BURNETT: I mean, you know, needle in a haystack gets a gets a new -- new meaning.
LEIGHTON: Absolutely.
BURNETT: Colonel Leighton, thank you very much. And our breaking news coverage continues. A chilling threat tonight from Iran after two of its top leaders have been killed by Israeli airstrikes. How serious are these new threats by Tehran?
And a Republican running to replace Florida Governor Ron DeSantis making headlines for controversial proposals, including a 50 percent so-called sin tax that targets adult content creators.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[19:45:45]
BURNETT: The breaking news tonight. Iran vowing revenge after Israel says it killed two of the regimes most prominent figures, the two most prominent since they killed the supreme leader himself. It includes the top security official, Ali Larijani, who had been the diplomatic foreign face of Iran and one of the most outspoken voices during this war, with sharp attacks on President Trump, including posting Trump has betrayed America first to adopt Israel first, saying he must pay the price, he is martyred our leader and our people, and then warning Trump he could be killed like Khamenei posting, watch out for yourself not to get eliminated.
Well, also the IRGC is confirming that the head of its paramilitary force, who is known for cracking down on dissent inside Iran, has been killed by the Israelis in that strike so both of those individuals killed.
Nazila Fathi is OUTFRONT now. She's a "New York Times" correspondent based in Tehran for ten years and she was forced to flee with her husband and children. But, of course, family and friends are still there tonight.
Nazila, Larijani obviously was core. In the week prior to the war, he was in the Gulf, for example, right? He was he was a diplomatic force. And I know you have concern that his death could backfire on Israel as well as the United States. How come?
NAZILA FATHI, FORMER NEW YORK TIMES CORRESPONDENT BASED IN TEHRAN FOR TEN YEARS: So, first of all, Iran is going to retaliate and whenever Iran retaliates it doesn't fight on one front. It usually coordinates with its proxy forces. And it attacks on various fronts. So, it is very possible that it would launch multiple attacks through its proxy forces. It did announce today that it's going to intensify missile attacks on Israel.
But the loss of Larijani was not just a big blow to Iran but also, I believe it's going to be a strategic problem for the United States, because Larijani was the kind of person that had the internal ties within the Islamic Republic to become the person the United States could negotiate with when the dust settles. And without him, there are not a lot of Iranians left within the establishment who have the kind of cross factional ties who can be in that kind of position. BURNETT: So, you know, obviously, I mentioned this is the most
significant blow to Iran's leadership since the beginning of the war, right? With the supreme leader and so many around him killed. You know, I guess the question is, what is the -- what is the best that you can ascertain from how people -- regular civilians on the ground are feeling about this? You know, some, some of these leaders, of course, have done horrific things to people, but how are they perceiving what's happening now when it comes to their elimination?
FATHI: Erin, I think Iranians are numb. First of all, all these men had the blood of Iranian people on their hands and Iranians are deeply scarred by what happened. Just a month ago, thousands of innocent Iranians were basically massacred. But at this stage, they are numb. First of all, there are so many leaders who are being assassinated one after another.
On the other hand, they are under very intense bombing. Every time I speak to someone inside Iran, they tell me last night was the last the worst night. They talk about the magnitude of the bombings that are increasing. They talk about the timing of the bombings that they happen like every two, or three hours and how powerful they are, their homes shake.
So, you know, and Iranians are also in a communication blackout. They have not had access to the Internet since the war broke out. They are getting their information either from Iranian TV or from satellite programs that are beamed inside the country. So, they are not shedding tears for any of these leaders, but they are looking forward to the end of this conflict.
BURNETT: Yeah. Nazila, thank you very much.
[19:50:00]
I appreciate your taking the time tonight.
FATHI: Thanks.
BURNETT: And next, a Republican running to replace Florida Governor Ron DeSantis wants to impose a so-called sin tax on people making money off certain kinds of websites.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think that there are bigger problems in this world that we need to be focused on, instead of trying to regulate women's bodies.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BURNETT: Tonight, a controversial Florida Republican running to replace Republican Governor Ron DeSantis is making headlines denouncing aid to Israel supporting a moratorium on immigration and now proposing a 50 percent syntax for Florida content creators on OnlyFans, a subscription based site known for its explicit content.
Donie O'Sullivan is OUTFRONT.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DONIE O'SULLIVAN, CNN SENIOR CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): OnlyFans has made some women millionaires.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I have just hit 100 million.
O'SULLIVAN: A hundred million dollars.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Uh-huh.
O'SULLIVAN (voice-over): But in Florida, a Republican candidate for governor wants to bring in what he calls a 50 percent sin tax.
[19:55:02]
JAMES FISHBACK (R), FLORIDA GOVERNOR CANDIDATE: On whatever you so- called earn via that online degeneracy platform.
O'SULLIVAN (voice-over): Now, a political target, OnlyFans women are speaking out.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Before you want to tax thousands of women, just because we actually took this into our own hands, start taxing the companies that are flooding into here.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A Florida politician trying to start beef with me for clout.
O'SULLIVAN (voice-over): So I'm driving across the Sunshine State to meet the OnlyFans creators and the candidate for governor who are in the middle of a very public debate about the adult entertainment industry.
FISHBACK: I don\t want to catfish any of you. Even though I was on Tinder last week. And I joined and I said I want to meet young female voters where they are, I said.
O'SULLIVAN (voice-over): James Fischback wants to be the next governor of Florida. He's running in the Republican primary against Trump, endorsed and heavy favorite, Congressman Byron Donalds.
O'SULLIVAN: Do you think for the voters of Florida that OnlyFans is really a major issue?
FISHBACK: We don't want our women in Florida to feel as if the only way they can make a living is by selling nude images or videos on the Internet to complete strangers.
And the men who spend their money, their time their resources. I'm not letting them off the hook either. I think they are just as complicit by handing over money to see these nude images. My view is really simple. OnlyFans did not exist in Florida we would be better off for it. I will not tolerate cultural filth and moral degeneracy in my state.
O'SULLIVAN (voice-over): OnlyFans is an online subscription platform for creators, but it's especially popular for women who make pornographic content like Anya Lacey.
ANYA LACEY, ONLYFANS CREATOR: You guys are going to get a kick out of this one. Make America great again.
O'SULLIVAN (voice-over): Anya is 20 years old and calls herself a red- blooded conservative.
O'SULLIVAN: How quickly did your OnlyFans grow?
LACEY: Oh, it was pretty, pretty big even that first day. I mean, I made like more money than I thought I would
O'SULLIVAN: When did you first hear about James Fischback? And how about his sin tax?
LACEY: I think it's grandstanding. I think it's a publicity thing which has worked. I mean, you guys are here. I mean, the state is covered in strip clubs. It's silly to say like, oh, we're going to have morals now.
O'SULLIVAN: A lot of your volunteers here are young men especially. What is it about you that has drawn interest from them?
FISHBACK: I'm speaking the truth, singular, not plural. Masculinity is not toxic. There's nothing toxic about hanging out with your guy friends. Nothing toxic about watching football. What's toxic is telling young men that they are responsible for the sins and the ills of society.
O'SULLIVAN (voice-over): Fishback has also gained support from influencers in the online manosphere, like Sneako and Nick Fuentes, figures known for antisemitism and misogyny.
One of the world's most famous OnlyFans creators also lives in Florida.
O'SULLIVAN: You're going to stay a Florida girl.
SOPHIE RAIN, ONLYFANS CREATOR: We'll see if James Fishback becomes governor. Might push me out.
O'SULLIVAN (voice-over): Sophie Rain has been singled out by Fishback who says she would owe $42 million if he becomes governor.
O'SULLIVAN: I say, you know, there is a thriving space online that like, actively despises women, right? I mean, what do you have to say about toxic masculinity?
RAIN: It's sad. That word just sends chills down my spine, if I'm being honest. I think it's the same kind of both weaponized incompetence, you know what I mean? Like, there's -- there's no reason to be acting like this. We are all adults at the end of the day, and I think that there are bigger problems in this world that we need to be focused on, instead of trying to regulate women's bodies.
O'SULLIVAN: OnlyFans, it's freedom of speech though, right? I mean if you want to go on there and you want to express yourself in this way or make money this way
FISHBACK: This is not an argument about the First Amendment or free speech. This is an argument about what kind of society we want to live in. Sophie Rain could be doing so much more.
O'SULLIVAN (voice-over): Actually, both Anya and Sophie say the platform has done a lot for them. It's helped make their lives better.
RAIN: It just has created so many opportunities for me and I'm so thankful to even be here. It helped me build a business.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BURNETT: Donie, this is all fascinating. You also, though, as part of your reporting, spoke to young men I know who do support Fishback. Okay. So, what did they tell you?
O'SULLIVAN: Yeah. Erin, look, I mean, what Fishback is doing very effectively is tapping into this online space, manosphere, whatever you want to call it. But basically, where young men are online and look, he talks a lot about the economy. He talks a lot about affordability issues. And there are the issues we heard people talking about.
But more broadly and how he's getting attention and how he is communicating this is true. Issues like the so-called OnlyFans sin tax and from sort of following this space quite closely that's something that we've heard this idea, this fascination with OnlyFans girls and sort of coming after them has been something we've seen developing in this space from Tucker Carlson to others in the last couple of months.
Also, finally, I should mention that he is very critical of Israel. And again, that is something that we're seeing with younger people, especially under 30 in the online space that is resonating with them as well.
BURNETT: Yeah, yeah, I've seen that in some of the polling.
All right. Thank you very much, Donie.
And Donie's full story is streaming online. You can find it by scanning the QR code or, of course, at CNN.com/watch.
Thanks for joining us.
"AC360" starts now.
