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Early Start with Rahel Solomon

Air Raid Sirens Heard In Northern And Central Israel; U.S. Assessing Damage To Iran's Nuclear Sites After Strikes; Iran Warns Of "Everlasting Consequences" After U.S. Strikes; Oil Futures Rise Following U.S. Strikes On Iran. Aired 4-4:30a ET

Aired June 23, 2025 - 04:00   ET

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

[04:00:26]

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome to our viewers joining us in the United States and around the world. I'm Becky Anderson from our Middle East programming headquarters here in Abu Dhabi.

We begin this hour with news of air raid sirens going off across northern and central Israel. The Israeli Defense Forces warning residents to take shelter amid what the IDF say are missiles coming from Iran.

CNN international diplomatic editor Nic Robertson joining us now live from Tel Aviv.

And, Nic, what can you tell us at this point?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Yeah, you just saw some people coming beside me there, Becky. What's happening is that all clear has just been given. So, people are beginning to leave this shelter right now. That was quite an extended period of alarms and people being told to go in the shelter, perhaps about half an hour or so.

What we are understanding at the moment from the emergency medical authorities here, Magen David Adom, they're saying so far, although they've gone to responded to sites where there were reports of potential impacts. They're saying so far, they're not seeing any casualties.

And I think we have to caution here that this is the early assessment, what we saw over the last half an hour, 45 minutes was sirens go off in the north, then sirens go off in the center and then sirens in the south as well. So, it appears there have been perhaps, a multi wave number of incoming missiles.

Again, this is a very early assessment at the moment. Overnight last night at about 3:00 a.m. local time, so we're talking about eight hours ago now the sirens went off in Tel Aviv. Everyone came to the basements in the middle of the night, disrupting their sleep. And there was only one incoming missile. I think what the country has experienced just now are a number of

missiles incoming. Exactly how many we don't know.

But again, in terms of interruption to daily lives here, this has come mid-morning here in Israel, and most people have been used to the strikes coming overnight or in the very early morning hours. So, it appears that this wave of incoming missiles is, if nothing else, disruptive to daily life, and we're going to get an assessment very shortly of the exact impact, exact numbers, Becky.

ANDERSON: Nic Robertson is in a bomb shelter in Tel Aviv.

For the time being, Nic, we'll let you go and get more information for us. Thank you.

Well, the Pentagon is trying to learn the extent of the damage to Iran's nuclear program after the weekend U.S. strikes. The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff says it is way too early to determine if Iran still has nuclear capabilities.

But CNN analysis of these new satellite images found that the attack on Fordow, for example, left behind at least six large craters. They are likely from the U.S. bunker buster bombs, which are designed to go very deep underground before detonating.

And there is a dramatic difference in the before and after images from Isfahan. This is Iran's largest nuclear complex. It was hit by more than a dozen cruise missiles, according to one senior U.S. lawmaker. The key question now is if Iran moved any of its highly enriched uranium or HEU, as it's called, stockpiles, before the strikes.

And this morning, in a statement reported by Iran's state-run media, the head of Iran's armed forces says his country will never back down.

President Trump said Saturday night that the goal of the mission was to end Iran's nuclear program. And Sunday morning, the administration was clear that it was not trying to overthrow Iran's government.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PETE HEGSETH, DEFENSE SECRETARY: This mission was not and has not been about regime change. The president authorized a precision operation to neutralize the threats to our national interests posed by the Iranian nuclear program.

J.D. VANCE, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Our view has been very clear that we don't want a regime change.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, Pete Hegseth being very specific there. Sunday night, though, President Trump posted this on his Truth Social account. Quote: If the current Iranian regime is unable to make Iran great again, why wouldn't there be a regime change?

Well, Iranians have been speaking out following the U.S. strikes over the weekend. CNN's Fred Pleitgen heard from some of them as he took to the streets to see what life, frankly, looks like now for those who are in Tehran.

[04:05:03]

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Iran's leadership has absolutely blasted the Trump administration for bombing several Iranian nuclear sites. In fact, the country's foreign minister has come out and said that the United States has begun what he calls a dangerous war and that there would be, as he also says, everlasting consequences.

Now we are in the Iranian capital, in Tehran, and we've spoken to a lot of folks here on the street, and a lot of them say they are very angry at the United States. They voiced that anger to us and also absolutely ripped into President Trump.

(voice-over): "They attacked us," she says. "We were living our normal lives and they attacked us. If someone strikes the United States, would they not answer? Of course, they would. We're not doing anything but defending ourselves."

"Iranian people are people of honor, and we will definitely give a strong response," this man says. We will stand strongly like we have been for the past 40 years."

"There is no one dirtier than Trump," he says. "First, he gives us two weeks' time, but then after two days strikes us. We do not have nuclear weapons, so why does he strike us? Such a guy only thinks about his own benefit."

"I support the supreme leader with my life," he says. "I approve of him, really, because he's moving forward for the sake of our land.

So, as you can see, a lot of people saying that if anything, this has strengthened their support for their leadership. All this, by the way, comes as a lot of folks are coming back to Tehran. A lot of shops are opening again after many people had left fearing that there could be a big bombing campaign by the Israelis and by the Trump administration, Iran's leadership has warned the U.S. that Iran has many things at its disposal with which it could resist, as it puts it, the United States.

One of the things, of course, that they keep talking about is the militias in the Middle Eastern region that are loyal to Iran. There's Iranian commanders who have said, look next to almost every American military base in the region, there is a militia that is loyal to Iran, and that could cause trouble for the U.S.

At the same time, Iran's leadership says it understands that right now, it has entered into a phase of serious conflict with the United States.

Fred Pleitgen, CNN, Tehran.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: Well, CNN correspondent Paula Hancocks joining me now here in Abu Dhabi.

So, Iran mulling its options at this point, military officials vowing a strong response. The country's top diplomatic. The country's -- the foreign minister, the country's top diplomatic chief certainly suggesting that the options are out there. Fred speaking there about the indirect response that might come from still active militia around the region.

There are other direct responses, of course, that the Iranians could use, one of which might be the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, for example.

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, this is one that everyone's looking at now because its one that would affect not just Iran, not just the region, but it would affect the world. So, it's certainly one that that has many people concerned.

This is effectively the waterway where about a fifth of the world's crude oil travels through. It is a key waterway. It's a real chokepoint in some ways to try and transport the oil and gas to where it is needed.

And it would have a significant impact not just on the region but across the world and particularly to the United States and to the United States economy if Iran were able to disrupt what is going through this waterway. It's worth pointing out, though, it also disrupts what Iran is trying to do because they're trying to get their crude oil to China, for example, one of their biggest customers at this point.

So, it would have great economic repercussions. It's something Iran has threatened in the past. They have never closed the strait completely. They've come dangerously close in the past when there have been tensions and wars in the region. But that is definitely something they are holding in their back pocket.

ANDERSON: Yeah, and there are those who say, you know, use that as one of their options. You know, in response going forward and long term, that could be really reputationally damaging, because what people will find is a workaround. People have found workarounds when areas of conflict zones have meant that you can't rely on something going forward. But it's certainly a short-term could be very, very disruptive.

Look, what do we know about this latest overnight exchange of fire? I know we can't talk to what is literally just happened in Tel Aviv because we don't have the details as of yet. But there had been earlier and exchange of missile strikes between Israel and Iran.

HANCOCKS: That's right. Yes. So earlier at about 3:00 a.m., Tel Aviv time, as we as we heard Nick say there, there was just one single missile that was fired from Iran.

[04:10:06]

But what was going the other way, we understand from the Israeli side is that they were targeting airports overnight. The Israeli military said six airports were targeted. They took out what they say was 15 fighter jets and helicopters on the Iranian side.

Now, Israel has already claimed that it has aerial superiority. And I think we can see that that is accurate given what -- what the United States was able to do on Sunday. They also were targeting more missile launch sites and missile production sites, trying to whittle down the ability of Iran to be able to strike back.

One interesting thing we did hear from the chief of staff, though, from the Israeli military, is that they say they still have targets to strike. They still have objectives to complete, and they're saying that they're continuing to increase the amount of targets that they are hitting, and they will take as long as is necessary.

So, we're definitely not hearing from the Israeli side that they are wrapping things up. We've heard from the U.S. they're hoping that their involvement is has ended. They have done what they need to do, and they're hoping that's it. That is not what were hearing from the Israeli side.

ANDERSON: Yeah, certainly not a one and done as far as the Israelis are concerned. And we've seen that over the past eight days. Good to have you, Paula. Thank you.

Right. Well, we have learned new details on President Trump's thinking behind what was that supposed two-week window that he offered Iran late last week to return to the negotiating table? Several sources familiar with the plans now tell CNN that timeline was meant to conceal his attack plans and throw off the Iranians.

We're told the president had already been leaning heavily towards striking Iran for several days, but this was the statement he ordered. His press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, to give on Thursday, signaling to the world that his mind wasn't yet made up.

Let me remind you.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KAROLINE LEAVITT, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: Based on the fact that there is a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, that was Thursday Washington -- in Washington.

More coverage of our breaking news this Monday when we return. How Iran's hard liners are responding to the U.S. attacks on Iranian soil. That is just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[04:16:56]

ANDERSON: Welcome back. You're watching CNN.

Now, air raid sirens were activated across northern and central Israel today. And Israeli emergency officials say that crews have been dispatched to reported impact sites following the latest barrage of missiles fired from Iran. We're just getting information in as we speak here. Israel says it has also launched a new wave of strikes on Iranian military targets. The Israel Defense Forces say they struck Iranian missile storage and launch sites, as well as airfields, housing fighter jets.

Now, this comes as Iran promises a strong response to those United States strikes on three of its top nuclear facilities over the weekend. U.S. President Donald Trump claims the stealth bombing campaign caused, quote, monumental damage and obliteration. U.S. military chiefs, though, are voicing concerns, saying it is too early to accurately assess the full extent of that damage.

Well, Avi Mayer is the former editor in chief of the Jerusalem post and the founder of the Jerusalem journal. Joining us now live. What's happening there this morning, sir? Can you just explain.

AVI MAYER, FOUNDER, JERUSALEM JOURNAL: Well, good morning, Becky.

What we have had in recent minutes has been a series of sirens across the country, including here in Jerusalem. We all entered our bomb shelters, waited for the all-clear. It's become a bit of a routine over the past week and a half. Not to speak for the past two years.

But I have to say that life returns to some degree of normal right afterwards. I can tell you that right after exiting my bomb shelter, I went outside. There was a woman walking around with her child in a baby stroller. People were strolling outside.

This has become our routine over the past week and a half.

ANDERSON: So, as we await to find out from the IDF and emergency services, just what impact, if any, those incoming missiles have had. We've heard from Benjamin Netanyahu just a few hours ago. Have a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER (through translator): There is no doubt this is a regime that wants to destroy us, wants to eliminate our very existence. Thats why we launched this operation to remove the two concrete threats to our existence, the nuclear threat and the threat of ballistic missiles. We are progressing step by step towards achieving these goals. We are very, very close to completing them.

(END VIDEO CLIP) ANDERSON: So that that was the prime minister earlier, very, very close to achieving the goals, he says. What do you think it will take for the prime minister to claim mission accomplished at this point?

MAYER: Well, Becky, that's an excellent question. The truth is that this is regarded by many Israelis as truly an existential issue. We know that the Iranian regime has called for our destruction and has been developing the means to destroy the state of Israel for many years now.

And so, there's wall to wall support in this country for this military campaign. We understand that Israeli officials have signaled to the Iranians that if they were to lay down their weapons and stop attacking Israel, that Israel would respond in kind, essentially bringing an end to this round of the fighting.

[04:20:06]

But I think that anything short of a verifiable end to Iran's nuclear weapons program and some kind of ability to ensure that it is not developing the means to deliver nuclear weapons by means of missiles, that would -- I think that would be the end of this as far as Israel is concerned.

ANDERSON: So, from Israel's point of view, then this this mission accomplished would depend on the impact assessment of the U.S. bunker busters on Iran's nuclear program dropped over the weekend, correct?

MAYER: I think to some extent, there have been some concerns in recent hours over the past day or so that there could have been some material that was spirited out of, particularly a site at Fordow in the days before the U.S. aerial campaign. We don't know where those are, although we've heard from certain officials that they're tracking the situation there. They have it under control.

I think that there are certain elements here that need to be put in place, but the IDF has said that we could be in this for the long haul. This may not, in fact, be done in a matter of days. Israel doesn't want a war of attrition, but it will do whatever is necessary to keep its people safe.

ANDERSON: Right. Well, let's talk about what Israel might do going forward. Theres increasing talk of regime change as a goal, even from the U.S. president who talked about MIGA or make Iran great again. And he's suggesting that that would be through regime change.

Are Israelis themselves calling for regime change, or does the general public that you describe as wall to wall in support of what the government is up to at the moment? Do Israelis want to see an end to this conflict as soon as possible?

MAYER: Well, I think the two can go hand in hand. I don't think anyone enjoys being in a war zone. The sense of uncertainty, the destruction, of course, the deaths that we've seen over the past week and a half have been extremely disruptive and very upsetting to Israelis. But I think there's also a reality in case that we have to understand that this is not a regime that is peace-loving, that is not a regime that we can ultimately live with in the long term.

So, I think many Israelis would welcome a change in government in Iran, but ultimately its up for the Iranian people to decide what that government looks like. We would, of course, like for it to be a government that is in favor of peaceful relations with Israel as it existed before the Islamic revolution in the late 1970s. Israel and Iran have a long-standing tradition of close and friendly ties. We would love to see that again.

But ultimately, I think Israelis acknowledge that that is for the Iranian people to decide. We have no interest in appointing this or that government, only living at peace and securing our people.

ANDERSON: I've spoken to many voices across the region. I'm in the Gulf region, of course, today at the -- our Middle East programing hub in Abu Dhabi.

Many people across this region are concerned about the possibility of going from one bad actor effectively who is difficult to negotiate with or impossible, some will say, to have negotiated with to many disparate groups in a -- in a very fractured Iran.

And there is concern. I mean, there's no love lost from many countries around this region for this regime's behavior with regard to its nuclear file or its ballistic missile file or its proxies around the region. But there is concern about, you know, a day after regime change or collapse.

Does that concern is that reflected by those that you are speaking to within Israeli leadership?

MAYER: Look, there is, of course, this notion that the devil you know is better than the devil you don't. But I think the devil we know is a pretty bad devil indeed, and has been for decades. I don't think that there are many Israelis or quite frankly, anyone in this region who would bemoan the fall of this toxic and hostile regime.

Again, I don't think that it is for any nation but Iran to determine who would ultimately replace that regime whenever it falls, however it does. But I think that we are all hopeful that whatever comes in place will indeed be reflective of the will of the Iranian people and hopefully drive the country towards a more peaceful future.

ANDERSON: The perspective of Avi Mayer in Jerusalem this morning. Good to have you, sir.

It is 25 past 11:00 there, 25 past 12:00 here in Abu Dhabi. And it's just before midday in Tehran.

Still to come, we look at the potential impact on oil prices in the wake of these U.S. strikes in Iran.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) ANDERSON: Welcome back to EARLY START. I'm Becky Anderson in Abu Dhabi for you.

Israel says it launched new attacks over Iran overnight, hitting a number of targets including missile launch sites. This coming as Iran launches its own strikes. Earlier air raid sirens blaring across parts of Israel.

But our CNN international diplomatic editor Nic Robertson, reports from Tel Aviv minutes ago that the all-clear has been issued, allowing people to leave shelters. All of this playing out as the U.S. is assessing damage to Iran's nuclear sites following their weekend strikes.

A CNN analysis of these images found that the attack on Fordow, for example, left behind at least six large craters, and these show damage at Isfahan, which is Iran's largest nuclear complex. An assessment by the Institute for Science and International Security says the complex was heavily damaged.

Well, we're seeing what is a turnaround in the oil futures markets were higher, up more than 2 percent earlier, following.