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Isa Soares Tonight
Israel And Iran Exchange New Strikes; Diplomats Scramble For A Solution As Urgent Talks Take Place In Geneva With Israel And The U.S. Not At The Table; Gaza Faces Man-Made Drought As Its Water Systems Collapse; Starving Palestinians Forced To Take Desperate Measures; Trump Just Met With His National Security Team; L.A. Dodgers: ICE Agents Denied Access To Stadium; Author Nussaibah Younis On Fundamentally Novel; Sunken Bayesian Superyacht Lifted From The Seabed; Restoration of Gaudi's Casa Batllo Uncovers Hidden Gems; No. 1 Is Lima, Peru's Chef Mitsuharu Micha Trumura's Maido. Aired 2-3p ET
Aired June 20, 2025 - 14:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[14:00:00]
MAX FOSTER, HOST, ISA SOARES TONIGHT: A very warm welcome to the show, everyone, I'm Max Foster in for ISA SOARES TONIGHT. The deadly conflict
between Israel-Iran moves into its second week with a new wave of airstrikes on both sides. It comes as experts warn against hitting Tehran's
nuclear sites.
Meanwhile, diplomats scramble for a solution as urgent talks take place in Geneva, but neither Israel nor the U.S. is at the table. Plus, with the
eyes of the world on a new Middle East crisis, scores of people are killed in the latest wave of Israeli strikes in Gaza, including children. Well,
we're going to start with the breaking news then, on the conflict between Israel and Iran.
So far, there are no signs of de-escalation as diplomats try to turn down the temperature in that crisis. A barrage of Iranian attacks on some
Israeli cities today, including Haifa, sent people running for cover. Israeli officials say at least, 23 people were injured in those strikes.
Our Nic Robertson is there and spoke to the city's long-time mayor, who stressed the need for peace.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: You revived this part of the city. You've been mayor for 20 years. How do you feel personally
when you see it being your work, your work for the city, this happening?
MAYOR YONA YAHAV, HAIFA, ISRAEL: Look, I don't like wars. I've been personally in ten wars. This is not the name of the game. The name of the
game is peace. And we have a lot to help others, and we shall do it. You know, the most important universities are situated in Haifa.
ROBERTSON: It is a mixed city, and it gets on for the most part.
YAHAV: It's the only mixed city in the world which is exercising for more than 100 years, full peace between Jews and Arabs.
ROBERTSON: So, let me ask you this question then. Does diplomacy going on in Geneva right now with the Iranian Foreign Minister, some European
Foreign Ministers, President Trump right now has said he's going to wait two weeks before he makes a decision, what to happen next. What are you
hoping from these different diplomatic pieces?
YAHAV: Peace, that the peace treaty will come out of it.
ROBERTSON: And President Trump waiting two weeks to make a decision. What do you think about that?
YAHAV: It's too much.
ROBERTSON: Why?
YAHAV: Because we have no time. You see what's going in the middle time.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FOSTER: Well, Israel says it struck missile production sites and the nuclear research facility in a new wave of attacks on Iran that involved
more than 60 Air Force fighter jets in Tehran and other cities. Thousands of Iranians took to the streets to protest against Israel, some burned
Israeli and American flags.
Iranian and European diplomats are meeting in Geneva today, we'll go there live in a moment. But before the talks, Britain's Foreign Secretary said a
window now exists to end the crisis. He was referring to U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement that he'll make a decision on whether the U.S.
should get involved militarily in Iran within the next two weeks.
Key buildings at Iran's nuclear facility were damaged on Thursday by Israeli strikes, according to the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog agency. Here are
some before and after pictures for you. The International Atomic Energy Agency says damaged buildings in the Khondab heavy water production plant
include the distillation unit.
Iran's Foreign Minister says the bombing violates the United Nations charter. He wants the U.N.'s Security Council to hold Israel accountable.
Israel says the facility was inactive, and the attack was aimed at keeping Iran from using it for nuclear weapons development in the future. Well, to
the meetings then between top European and Iranian diplomats in Switzerland today, it's the first confirmed face-to-face talks since the conflict began
last week.
Before those meetings started, Iran's Foreign Minister spoke to the U.N. Human Rights Council, accusing Israel of abandoning attempts at diplomacy
and of violating international law.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ABBAS ARAGHCHI, FOREIGN MINISTER, IRAN: We were supposed to meet with Americans on 15th June to craft a very promising agreement for peaceful
resolution of the issues fabricated over our peaceful nuclear program. It was a betrayal of diplomacy, and an unprecedented blow to the foundation of
international law and U.N. system.
Let me be clear. If there is any use of costly systems and mechanisms we have created for the past eight decades to preserve human rights and
dignity, now is the time to do it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[14:05:00]
FOSTER: Kylie Atwood monitoring developments from the U.S. State Department, all eyes then on Switzerland today, Kylie. But big question is,
you know, does Europe really have a role here? Does it not just confuse things when really the people in the room need to be Israel, Iran and the
U.S.?
KYLIE ATWOOD, CNN U.S. SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: I mean, you could really make the case either way here. Of course, for there to be any sort of
actual breakthrough here, the United States has to get in the room with the Iranians to hash out a deal. However, that isn't happening right now. The
Iranians are saying that they will not sit down and have discussions with U.S. officials.
They have nothing to say unless Israel stops its operations in Iran. We have been given no indication that U.S. officials are pressuring Israel to
do that at this moment. So, the temperature for U.S.-Iran talks, at least, as of today, as of this moment, it can always change, isn't exactly ripe.
That is why these talks today in Geneva are significant.
The Europeans did have discussions with the Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, here in the United States, briefing them on what the approach was
going to be going into this meeting with the Iranian Foreign Minister. We also heard from a White House official that the Trump administration was
supportive of these talks, so long as they could get Iran to accept the deal that Trump has already put on the table during those two months of
diplomatic negotiations between the U.S. and Iran before Israel started carrying out its operation in Iran.
But the key question here still remains, is Iran going to be in a place where it is softer, it is more open to actual negotiations over that key
question of enriching uranium inside its country, or are they going to hold that line? And the Trump administration continues to say that Iran cannot
have any uranium enrichment.
So, if they're holding that line, it's hard to see how the conversations today would present an opening for future diplomacy. But maybe they will
demonstrate that they are in a place where they're willing to talk about that key question in a different way, and we'll just have to watch and see
what these European officials say coming out of this meeting.
FOSTER: OK, Kylie, thank you so much. Since I was talking to Kylie, we actually heard from Iranian officials speaking to CNN about those talks in
Geneva, and it paints a pretty colorful picture. The Iranians are saying -- yes, these are Iranian sources speaking to CNN, saying it was very tense at
first, but then they took a break and it became much more positive.
So, we'll wait to hear -- we're going to speak to Matthew Chance who is in Geneva, who's got all that reporting. But clearly, very tense moment, but
crucially, have they reached a deal on uranium enrichment and the Iranian sources saying no, because that's a bold red line for us. But it is for the
other side as well, I think.
Meanwhile, then in Iran, tensions over the conflict are fueling mass demonstrations. Thousands of people have taken to the streets of Tehran and
other cities to protest against Israel. They're waving flags, as you can see, chanting anti-western slogans and carrying images of Iranian
commanders who have been killed by Israel since that conflict began.
Our senior international correspondent Fred Pleitgen, and senior producer Claudia Otto, are the first western journalists to enter Iran since the
conflict began. And we're going to hear more now from Fred, who is in Tehran.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(CROWD CHANTING)
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Massive crowds have turned out here in central Tehran to protest against
Israel's strikes against Iran, but also against the policies of the Trump administration as well. Many of them were chanting "death to America", were
chanting "death to Israel". We saw them burn American flags and burn Israeli flags.
"We punch the United States and Israel in the mouth", he says. "Trump, you are threatening my leader", this woman says. "Don't you know my nation
believes death is sweeter than honey?" "What do you have, Israel?" He says, "you have nothing. You are occupiers. Unreligious. You're killing people,
killing women. You kill everyone. You're terrorists."
So, you can see that anger here being voiced by many of the folks who are walking here in this protest, whereas the Iranian government has said that
as long as the Israelis continue their bombing campaign of sites here in Iran, there will be Iranian missiles flying towards Israeli territory.
They're calling on President Trump to try and end this direct confrontation, otherwise, they say, there could be a direct military
confrontation between Iran and the United States.
[14:10:00]
The Iranians say it's not something they want, but they also say it's something that they're ready for. Fred Pleitgen, CNN, Tehran.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FOSTER: Fred also had the opportunity to speak with Majid Farahani. He is the deputy Vice President of the Iranian presidency. Fred asked him about
President Trump's two-week window for diplomacy to work before a decision really is made from the U.S. about entering the conflict.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAJID FARAHANI, DEPUTY VICE PRESIDENT, IRANIAN PRESIDENCY: I think that Israeli thought that they can be -- win, for example, in 2 or 3 days. But
now, you see that the control is with Iran. And in every attack to Iran, will be -- there will -- some missiles to Israel against. And as I know,
Iran announced that until these attacks has continued, the missiles will continue.
PLEITGEN: What about President Trump? President Trump says he wants to give diplomacy a chance. What diplomacy do you think can happen now?
FARAHANI: The United States President Trump can easily stop the war by only one telephone to Israel. But I don't know why he didn't do that. We believe
to all parts of diplomacy. So, I think if Mr. Trump ordered to Netanyahu to stop the attack, the diplomacy can be -- start again easily.
PLEITGEN: Do you think Iran is willing to speak directly to the Trump administration now?
FARAHANI: Directly or indirectly is not important. The important is that Iran believe to civilian dialogue.
PLEITGEN: The U.S. has talked about using a gigantic bomb called a bunker- buster against the installation in Fordo. What would happen if America bombed Iranian nuclear sites?
FARAHANI: If America involve with the war, Iran predicted all choices, and we are not hand-bagged. And there are so many options. And as I know, all
these options are on the table.
PLEITGEN: So, you think that American military bases, for instance, would be under threat that Iran would use its militias in --
FARAHANI: Oh, there are so many -- there are so many options. Not only these, it is only one option. There are so many options, and all options
has been planned very carefully.
PLEITGEN: Do you think that Iran would be willing to give up enrichment and --
FARAHANI: No --
PLEITGEN: For instance, join a consortium or something?
FARAHANI: No, Iran announced that so many times the enrichment, we will do the enrichment, and we don't accept the stop of enrichment. Maybe the
enrichment can be lower, but we don't stop it anymore.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FOSTER: Let's speak to Jeremy Diamond. He's in Tel Aviv with more from Israel. We've just heard there the Iranian point of view. Give us the
Israeli one, Jeremy.
JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT: Well, certainly, Israeli officials like Iranians are waiting to see exactly what President Trump
will decide, and whether this two-week window of diplomacy, whether it will actually be two weeks, first of all, and ultimately, what the results of
that will be.
Israeli officials in recent days have certainly been more optimistic that President Trump was leaning towards a direct military action in Iran,
specifically to carry out a strike on that Fordo nuclear facility, which is buried deep beneath a mountain in Iran and can only presumably be reached
from the air with those enormous 30,000 pound bunker-buster bombs.
But now, Israeli officials are certainly re-calculating, re-assessing and trying to determine, you know, whether they will have to act on their own,
whether this diplomacy will be fruitful at all, and preparing for a prolonged military campaign in Iran.
That was certainly the message from the Israeli military's Chief of Staff, General Eyal Zamir today, who said that even as Israel has achieved some
successes in Iran in terms of destroying about half, he said of Iran's ballistic missile launchers, some of those minutes before missiles were
about to be launched towards Israel.
His message was also to the Israeli public to prepare for a prolonged military campaign in Iran, and therefore, for prolonged Iranian retaliation
here in Israel. And indeed, as President Trump is giving this new diplomatic window, we are seeing that the strikes are certainly not
stopping on either side.
In Israel today, we saw a barrage of more than 20 ballistic missiles from Iran, which struck sites in southern as well as in northern Israel. The
most significant damage happening in the city of Haifa, very close to Haifa's port, but not striking the port, which likely would have been the
intended target of that missile.
[14:15:00]
Instead, significant damage to buildings in the area as well as to a Mosque that was very close by. One person was seriously injured, two in moderate
condition, and more than two dozen others were lightly, injured in that strike. Once again, a signal that even as Israel has damaged Iran's
ballistic missile capabilities, the Iranians certainly still do retain significant capabilities that have wrought significant destruction here in
Israel. Max?
FOSTER: Yes, I can see that from the images. Jeremy, thank you so much. We just want to bring you some breaking news just in. A federal judge has
ordered the Trump administration to release pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil; the Columbia University graduate student who hasn't been
charged with a crime, has been held in Louisiana for more than three months now.
The Trump administration had been trying to deport Khalil, a legal, permanent U.S. resident. We'll have more on the story as we get the
details. Let's bring in human rights lawyer Gissou Nia, though, however, on the Iran story. She's a director of the Strategic Litigation Project at the
Atlantic Council. Thank you so much for joining us.
Can we just get a sense from you what you're hearing from the regular Iranian about what's happening? We've seen these images of people fleeing
the cities, seeing, you know, missiles fly, seeing their politicians try to resolve things. But have you got any sense about what it feels like to be
on the ground right now, caught right in the middle of this?
GISSOU NIA, DIRECTOR, STRATEGIC LITIGATION PROJECT, THE ATLANTIC COUNCIL: Well, it's actually been very difficult for any of us to speak to our
contacts because there's been a shutdown of internet. So, the government in Iran has shut down the global internet in the country, and we're past 48
hours now of global internet shutdown in the country.
And the regime has done this before. But it's a bit difficult to get information. What I will say is that while initially the mood was of
jubilation in some quarters around regime officials being killed, that has of course, swiftly dissipated as civilians are fleeing densely-populated
civilian areas on evacuation orders and the threat of bombing.
FOSTER: We had some pictures earlier. We can perhaps show them again of flags, western flags, Israeli flags being burned in Tehran. Just explain to
us, you know, where loyalties are right now, because of course, there are many people in the country that don't like the regime. But there -- feels
like, you know, there's a great sense of nationalism, which is really rallying in the country at the same time.
NIA: Yes, so, one thing that I've heard is that some Israeli authorities were surprised that Iranians had not come out on the street to immediately
demand regime change and take to the streets and push for that change. And it's really hard to see how the Iranian people who have been calling for
that for, you know, decades now, how they would be doing that when bombs are also being thrown, they're being issued evacuation orders, and they're
really worried about their security, right?
So, I think there's been a miscalculation in terms of thinking of what people will do and how they will react. I would caution, of course, that
some of the images that one sees, some of that might not be organic. Of course, the regime is going to be very invested in making sure that there's
a certain narrative that's presented to the world, but certainly, there are many people who are fearful for their security right now.
And as I said, any of that initial jubilation quickly dissipated once they realized they were in a war-time situation.
FOSTER: In the last few minutes, we've had word from the talks in Geneva, this is where the Europeans are meeting with the Iranians, isn't it? Trying
to do some sort of parallel negotiation alongside, you know, any that may be happening with the U.S. And one of the sources was asked if they've
agreed to end its uranium enrichment capability.
And the Iranian source said no, because that's a bold red line for us, but it's also a red line for the other side, isn't it? So, how much hope do you
have that there will be any sort of negotiation or deal-making here with Iran?
NIA: I think that the only thing that we can expect from the meeting with the Europeans is perhaps more information collection, more Intel
collection, obviously, the major player in this is the United States in terms of what they're going to decide about entering the conflict or not
entering the conflict, what they're going to decide in terms of putting bombs on Fordo.
I think that this is basically just an information collection session, and that nothing concrete would come out of that. What I can say is that, now
that kinetic action is being used against this regime, and the goals went far beyond just striking nuclear facilities, we're in really dangerous
ground.
[14:20:00]
If remnants of this regime continue on, they're going to crack down a lot more on the population domestically. And I feel this has been a very
reckless campaign and very ill-planned in terms of objectives, goals and scope.
FOSTER: Is there a risk with these talks taking place in Geneva? As you say, Europe isn't really a player in this. It's the U.S., Israel and Iran.
What happens if there are European leaders who start pushing for something that America doesn't want? Could that just cause more disruption to the
whole process? Shouldn't they just stay out of it right now because it's so sensitive?
NIA: I think that any efforts at diplomacy can be helpful for different reasons. Obviously, when we're in a war-time situation -- but the thing
that I would actually want to address to European leaders is that some of them have been meeting with a group called the Mojahedin-e-Khalq, which is
a, you know, self-professed opposition group in Iran. They have no organic support in the country.
But we've seen, you know, photo-ops with these individuals with European leaders and the head of the MEK. The MEK has weapons, and I fear that in a
might is right situation, if there is regime instability and if different actors want to come into the fray, I mean, what I would caution the
Europeans on is definitely don't be doing photo-ops with opposition leaders that have absolutely no organic support in the country.
FOSTER: Yes, OK, Gissou Nia, thank you so much for your perspective. As ever, it's absolutely fascinating to hear from you. We'll be back in just a
moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
FOSTER: Breaking news into CNN. A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to release pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil; the
Columbia University graduate student who hasn't been charged actually with a crime at all, has been held in Louisiana for more than three months now.
The Trump administration had been trying to deport Khalil, a legal, permanent U.S. resident.
We're going to -- we're going to speak to Mark Morales, actually, who's got the latest on this. Does this mean it's over for him? Does it mean that the
Trump administration has given up? I mean, how do we read this, Mark?
MARK MORALES, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTER: Well, Max, this court case, this case is still going on. But what we can tell you for right now is that
he has been ordered out of where he is. He's been ordered out of detention. It should happen at some point today, we're not sure when, probably pretty
soon. But he's been ordered to be released from where he is.
[14:25:00]
And this is really significant because this really caps off this roughly 100-day saga that Mahmoud Khalil has been going through from way back when
he was taken into custody outside of his apartment near Columbia University. The judge made this ruling as we've said, and the judge really
pointed to several factors here that were very big as to why he felt that Khalil should be released.
He pointed to the fact that there was no evidence that Khalil was a danger to the community. There was no evidence that he was a flight risk. And
given those two factors, the judge called it highly unusual that somebody like him would be kept inside of a detention facility in light of the fact
that he's not a danger, and he has no -- he's not a flight risk.
That being said, there were also other bigger issues at play, which is what the judge is pointing to, mainly, this discussion about First Amendment
issues. As we know, Khalil was very outspoken, he was protesting, organizing protests, he was a conduit between protesters and Columbia
University, and that was something that he felt an immigration judge would not be able to tackle those bigger issues.
Lawyers for the government argued that this could open the door to other people, sort of using First Amendment issues as what he called sort of a
magic defense to try and get out of these situations. And the judge pushed back, saying that in Khalil's case, he was protesting before he's given
every indication that if he were to get out, he would protest again. And at least in this case, it wasn't magic words. Max?
FOSTER: OK, thank you so much, Mark Morales for that update. We'll be bringing you more as it comes in on that, of course. Still to come though,
a warning -- you're about to see some graphic images from Gaza. While the Israel-Iran conflict takes center stage, we need to remember that death and
heartbreak continue to engulf civilians in Gaza. Details ahead on the latest Israeli strikes there.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:29:59]
FOSTER: Very disturbing scenes coming out of Gaza. Scores of people including children killed in Israeli strikes on Thursday. You're going to
find these images pretty graphic. The Palestinian Ministry of Health reports more than 70 deaths. This as Israel's military campaign shows no
signs of stopping. Health officials say some of the young lives lost have been sheltering at a refugee camp west of Gaza City. The IDF says they were
not familiar with any strike in that area.
While much of the focus this week has been on the worsening Israel-Iran conflict, the U.N. is repeating its warnings about Gaza. The risk of famine
grows as safe places from bombardment shrink. CNN's Paula Hancocks has the details.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Muhammad al- Darby is 12 years old. He has a message for the world.
MUHAMMAD AL-DARBY, 12-YEAR-OLD GAZA RESIDENT (text): We in Gaza have no flour, every day, 24 hours. They tell us there are trucks coming and we
come and find nothing. We eat this sand, we have no food, we have no food. We have no flour, we have no food. Have mercy on us, we have no food. We
are eating sand instead of flour. Have mercy on us, mercy. We are eating sand instead of bread. A loaf of bread cost 20 shekels ($5.70), a loaf this
little.
HANCOCKS (voice-over): Muhammad walked eight hours with his father to a flower distribution point in Gaza City. He finally collected two kilos of
flour but thieves attacked him and stole it.
He says, I saw the journalist filming and I asked him to pass on my message to the world, that I was robbed and I ate sand because I had no flour, and
I was so depressed.
Muhammad's mother says she uses old dried bread used for animal feed, soaks it with water, and bakes it over and over to feed her children.
His father says people are killing each other over a bag of flour. Five or six individuals attack each other because people want to eat. And they have
become monsters due to the lack of food.
Muhammad and his family only two of tens of thousands of starved Palestinians risking their lives to feed their families. Dozens have been
killed by Israeli fire this week as they waited for aid, hundreds since Israel lifted an 11-week blockade on Gaza in late May, allowing a trickle
of aid in according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
The Israeli military says it operates to minimize harm to those seeking aid while maintaining the safety of its troops. The United Nations warns the
entire population of Gaza, more than two million people, face impending famine without a drastic increase in aid.
Paula Hancocks, CNN Abu Dhabi.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FOSTER: Last year, violence against children caught in the middle of a deadly conflict reached what the United Nations is calling unprecedented
levels. The new U.N. report cites Gaza, the West Bank, Congo, Somalia, Nigeria, and Haiti as having the highest number of violations. U.N. Chief
Antonio Guterres says more than 36,000 grave violations against children were committed in 2024. Now, this amounts to a "staggering 25 percent surge
compared to the prior year."
U.S. President Donald Trump meeting with his national security team to discuss the conflict between Iran and Israel. This comes as the president
says he'll wait two weeks before deciding on any potential U.S. military intervention. The president wants the two weeks to be a diplomatic window
to broker a deal with Iran.
Joining us now, CNN's Kevin Liptak. We haven't heard from him, have we, very recently? Any sense from your sources what he's weighing up here?
KEVIN LIPTAK, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: No, and we just saw him leave the White House. He's heading to his golf course in New Jersey for at
least a night. He'll be back here tomorrow to continue these meetings with his national security team. And you do get a sense in talking to officials
that the president just hasn't made up his mind here.
Yes, he's opening this diplomatic window. Yes, he's hopeful that his foreign envoy Steve Witkoff might be able to restart those negotiations
with the Iranians that had been essentially deadlocked before Israel began its strike a week -- strikes a week ago, but there is not a sense yet that
the president has made a final determination.
Yes, he's looked at all of the options. Yes, he believes that the U.S. at this point is the only entity, only country that would be able to destroy
the Fordow nuclear facility in Iran. But at this point it appears as if he's concerned that doing that would drag the U.S. further into conflict.
That's something that he's been trying to avoid. It's something he promised his voters he would do on the campaign trail.
And in discussions over the last week, over and over again, the president has made clear that he doesn't want the U.S. to get bogged down in another
Middle East conflict. And I think, you know, the answers to that from officials at the Pentagon and at the White House haven't necessarily been
satisfactory. There's no one that can necessarily guarantee that even one strike on an Iranian nuclear facility will prevent the president from
overseeing a new conflict.
And so, these are all sort of the considerations that the president will be considering over the next several days. There are also some potential
logistical considerations that this new two-week window will allow for. The U.S. sending a host of military assets in the region. This will allow them
more time to be in position should the president decide to go ahead with this. It also provides a window for Israel potentially to take its own
actions covert or otherwise targeting the Fordow facility. And so the president now opening this window.
We do know that the foreign ministers from Europe have been in Geneva today discussing all of this with the Iranian foreign minister. They had been in
close touch with American officials including the Secretary of State Marco Rubio. There had not been a great deal of expectation at least inside the
White House that those talks could yield anything significant, but a White House official did say that they viewed any attempts at diplomacy as a
positive development.
And so, the president I think still very much in the decision-making phase, planning to meet with his team over the next several days before heading to
Europe for a NATO summit in the middle of next week. So, a lot for him to think about and discuss as this two-week window now opens in earnest.
[14:35:29]
FOSTER: Yes. I'm just looking at this from, you know, a regular Iranian's point of view. You know, they've been sent out of their homes. They can't
be in Tehran or wherever they live. And they just want to know what happens. And this window creates so much uncertainty for them.
Do you read it that Donald Trump is allowing Israel a free reign in that period to do what they want or -- I mean, is there some sort of discussion
between the U.S. and Israel about what they're allowed to do in that window?
LIPTAK: I mean, I think we have to take the president at his word. He was asked on Wednesday what his message to Netanyahu has been over the course
of all of this. They've had several telephone calls. And he said that his message was, "Keep going." And so, I don't think that there is any attempt
at this point from the White House from the president himself to try and reign in Israel as it conducts this campaign. And that at the end of the
day could be the big sticking point.
The Iranians as recently as today, you know, the spokesman who Fred Pleitgen talked with earlier said specifically that they would not engage
in any serious diplomacy with the United States until President Trump tells Netanyahu to ease up. And so, I think that is going to be the big obstacle
for the president as he tries to reach this diplomatic solution.
You know, Netanyahu has now dealt with so many American presidents who appear either unwilling or unable to reign him in, whether it was President
Biden in the conflict in Gaza or whether it's President Trump when it comes to Iran. At this point, it doesn't seem like there's any willingness on the
part of the White House or on the part of President Trump to tell him to stop doing this if they think that it could allow for some of this
diplomacy to continue. But obviously these men remain in very close touch.
And if President Trump I think sees a window where this could all come into some sort of negotiated settlement that he thinks will be successful, I
think he will make that known to Netanyahu. But whether or not Israel listens I think is an open question.
FOSTER: OK. Kevin, thank you.
Differing stories tonight over what happened at the Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles, meanwhile. That was on Thursday. The Los Angeles Dodgers say they
blocked ICE agents from entering the stadium. However, the Department of Homeland Security says not only were the agents were -- not only that the
agents were not from ICE, but their presence "had nothing to do with the Dodgers."
CNN's Natasha Chen tries to explain it.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NATASHA CHEN, CNN U.S. NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Protesters gathered outside of Dodgers Stadium ahead of Thursday night's game. This has been a buildup
of two weeks of anxiety and for some resentment against the Dodgers for having stayed silent in their opinion about the immigration raids happening
throughout Los Angeles, affecting a lot of the immigrant community that make up such a big part of the Dodgers fan base.
Now, these feelings really bubbled up and reached a fever pitch Thursday morning when federal agents were spotted at Dodger Stadium in tactical gear
and unmarked bands wearing masks. The Dodgers organization said that agents showed up asking for permission to enter their parking lots and were denied
entry.
Now, we also heard from the Department of Homeland Security after that saying that that was not ICE at all, claiming that it was Customs and
Border Protection, that it was not related to any operation or enforcement, and that it had nothing to do with the Dodgers. In fact, DHS said that CBP
was here briefly on the grounds because of a car malfunction. So, a couple of different messages going on here.
Overall, it's clear that the community is extremely rattled by the presence of federal agents and also at odds in some ways with the team about what
they are saying or not saying about the current climate in Los Angeles.
Natasha Chen, CNN Los Angeles.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
[14:40:21]
FOSTER: Now, Isa is not here but her book club is. She sits down with the author of Fundamentally. It's a funny, fearless new novel about a fictional
U.N. department that rehabilitates ISIS brides. Stay tuned.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ISA SOARES, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Joining us today on the book club is Nussaibah Younis, the author of Fundamentally. Nussaibah, welcome to the
show.
NUSSAIBAH YOUNIS, AUTHOR, FUNDAMENTALLY: Hi! Thanks for having me.
SOARES: Look, this has been quite impressive an impressive book for a lot of us who read it on our book club. I finished it reading last week on
holiday. I laughed out so many times. It is funny. It is sharp. And it's about a pretty complex and dark thematics, dark themes in it. Tell us first
of all the plot of the story without giving too much away.
YOUNIS: Yes. Well, I'm so glad that it had you laughing out loud on the beach. That was definitely one of my goals was to make people laugh so that
everybody looks around and says, what are you reading? So, the story of Fundamentally follows Nadia who's a heartbroken academic. She's just been
dumped by her girlfriend, Rosie, and she's been downed by her mother. And instead of going to therapy, which is what Nadia really needs to do, she
accepts a job in Baghdad with the U.N. where she is tasked with deradicalizing ISIS brides.
That is not a job that Nadia is equipped to do, but she accepts it anyway. And when Nadia realizes she's in over her head, she thinks gosh, I have to
give up. This is -- this is not going to go anywhere. But just before she leaves, she visits the refugee camp and she meets Sara for the first time.
And Sara is a young ISIS bride who joined when she was just 15. She comes from East London and she's funny and witty and precocious and Nardia feels
so connected to her and decides that she is going to commit herself to saving Sara regardless of whether or not Sara wants to be saved.
[14:45:10]
SOARES: Just explain first of all where that idea came from. Because I know you worked for an NGO. I know that you've advised the Iraqi government --
correct me if I'm wrong -- on the deradicalization. How much of what you're writing about here with a lot of humor, how much did you -- of your story
is in this book?
YOUNIS: So, this -- the book is really informed by my own life. I grew up in a conservative Muslim family in the U.K. I was very deeply religious as
a teenager myself. And I was taught when I was 17 by a cleric who did end up joining al-Qaeda. And I felt very fortunate that I wasn't radicalized.
Nobody tried to radicalize me. But that kind of close brush with it has always got me thinking that what would have happened had somebody at that
very vulnerable age tried to radicalize me.
And so, fast forward kind of 15 years, I'm an expert on Middle Eastern politics. I was working in Iraq and I was asked to advise the government on
a deradicalization program for ISIS brides, and it just brought everything rushing back that kind of close brush I'd had when I was a teenager myself.
SOARES: From your experience, first of all, in Iraq, what did you hear from some of these women? Did you speak to some of these ISIS women who had
been, you know, radicalized?
YOUNIS: Yes. So, I was working with Iraqi women.
SOARES: Yes.
YOUNIS: And for a lot of the Iraqi women, the vast majority, had just no choice in the matter. But what -- the question that that raised in the
policy community was, well, what about the women who traveled across many continents, right, from the Western world to join ISIS? You know, they did
so voluntarily. And so,. what is the appropriate punishment for them and how do you deal with those women?
And of course, once I started doing research into that topic, I realized just how incredibly diverse the experiences were and what the motivations
were for some of those women who did come to join, especially for those who were still teenagers. I found it very troubling.
SOARES: I mean, Sara was what, 15?
YOUNIS: She was 15. Yes, the character in the book was just 15. And you see in the book her naivity and how little she has understood about what ISIS
is, and how she has fallen for the propaganda.
SOARES: And Nadia kind of fails in in her mission to rehabilitate ISIS brides, in particular in Sara's case. And I wonder why you decided to take
that narrative rather than finishing off with, you know, she can change -- she can change these women. It's more of a personal journey. Why that --
why that aspect? Why that narrative?
YOUNIS: Yes. So, that was really inspired by the academic research on deradicalization. So, there's a difference between deradicalization which
is trying to change somebody's beliefs and demobilization which is trying to change people's behavior. And what the research has found is that trying
to change people's beliefs is rarely effective and it can in fact have the opposite of the intended consequence and can make people hold on to their
beliefs much, much harder. But what is effective is demobilization which is trying to change the incentives for how people behave.
SOARES: That's interesting because much of your book -- and there's lots of different themes. There's, you know, there's religion, there's also family,
but there's also an aspect -- well, you kind of make fun throughout of extremism, right? It's making fun of extremism. I wonder whether you felt
it was easier to do with humor rather than playing it straight.
YOUNIS: I just love reading funny books. I just -- I love satire. I think it's so -- It's so enjoyable. When you sit down to read a book for
entertainment, I think you want to have a good time. And I love -- I will never forget the books that made me laugh out loud. And that --
SOARES: But this is a -- these are complex themes.
YOUNIS: Yes, but I don't think there's any -- I don't think there's any contradiction between dealing with a complex theme and telling jokes.
SOARES: That is brilliant. Look, this is fant -- it's a great read. It is - - it's really gripping. It's fearless. I loved all the characters. I couldn't put it down. And it's, you know, laugh out loud. Nussaibah, I
really appreciate you coming on the show. I'm going to pass you the book and ask you to sign it for us.
YOUNIS: Oh, thank you so much.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FOSTER: Isa's book collection forever building. And coming up on the next book club for her, she sits down with beloved and award-winning author Matt
Haig to discuss his new novel The Life Impossible. Here's a little extract of that conversation.
[14:50:06]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MATT HAIG, AUTHOR, THE LIFE IMPOSSIBLE: Seeing the distance I'd gone from who I was made me think about how do I channel that feeling, quite an
overpowering cathartic feeling of recovery into a book that wasn't literally autobiographical but just captures that sort of feeling.
SOARES: Personal --
HAIG: And so, you know, it ended up being in some ways my strangest book because it's very science fiction, it's very sort of magic realism, but at
its heart is me trying to capture a feeling of recovery. Like, just when you feel like, life has nothing to offer you, it can surprise you in the
most sort of magnificent ways.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FOSTER: Don't forget you can check out all of the interviews from Isa's book club on her website. Just look up Isa's Book Club. Quite simple. You
can now get a new look at one of the most famous places on earth, meanwhile. Barcelona's Casa Batllo has been given a new lease of life.
Colorful details after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
FOSTER: The sunken Bayesian superyacht is being lifted from the bottom of the sea where it's been since it sank last August. A salvage crew have
managed to partly lift it 50 meters earlier. The luxury yacht owned by the British tech tycoon Mike Lynch sank off the coast of Sicily in the sudden
storm. Certain people died, including Lynch and his daughter. The top hull now visible and will be lifted fully out of the water on Saturday.
You can now see a world-renowned architect Antoni Gaudi's original vision for one of his most famous buildings. This comes after a multi-million
dollar restoration of the rear facade of the iconic Casa Batllo in Barcelona. Previously lost features like ceramic tiles on balconies, hidden
colors, they've all been restored. The UNESCO World Heritage Site already draws nearly two million visitors worldwide each year.
Now, if you like eating at the world's best restaurant, I can certainly help you with a tip or at least let you know where it is, at least. A fine
dining's fan -- fine dining fans can now head to Lima, Peru where the coveted number one spot delight its food lovers.
Maido was given what is considered the Oscars of innovative great restaurant's top prize. It was rank number one, five -- this year. It was
five last year, so it's getting better all the time. It's owned and run by the Chef Mitsuharu. and Tsumura as well. Maido's cuisine is said to blend
meticulous Japanese techniques with vibrant Peruvian ingredients. The annual list is based on votes of the world's 50 best restaurants academy of
the industry experts, really, food writers, chefs around the world. So, they should know what they're talking about.
[14:55:39]
Now, on this day 50 years ago, a new movie with an iconic score warned moviegoers to stay out of the water. Jaws opening theaters on June the
20th, 1975 becoming the original summer blockbuster. The movie is the first ever to earn more than $100 million in U.S. ticket sales. Not bad for a
1975 if you think back. Jaws also turned the shark into one of the most feared animals on the planet, though it also launched the career of a
little-known filmmaker named Steven Spielberg who went on to become Hollywood's top director for many years.
Thanks for watching tonight. Stay with CNN. Don't be scared of sharks. I'll have more in "WHAT WE KNOW" coming up in the next hour.
END
