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One World with Zain Asher
Israel and Iran Trade Strikes for a Fifth Day; Israeli Defense Minister: Iran's Supreme Leader could Face Similar Fate to Iraq's Saddam Hussein; Minnesota Lawmakers Fear for Safety Following Attacks; Last Day of Talks to Focus on Ukraine, Trade, Israel-Iran Conflict; Trump's Sons Announce New Wireless Service; Ohtani Pitches for First Time in Nearly Two Years. Aired 11a-12p ET
Aired June 17, 2025 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[11:00:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHRISTINA MACFARLANE, CNN HOST, ONE WORLD: President Trump says what he wants is a real end to the Israel, Iran conflict. "One World" starts right
now. Just back from the G7 Summit, Trump says he's working on something much bigger than a ceasefire proposal, as the conflict between Israel and
Iran continues into a fifth day.
Plus, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is at the G7 Summit today, but he is not getting the key meeting he wanted with President Trump. We'll
take you live to the Canadian Rockies with the latest. And for the first time since his surgery, Baseball Star Shohei Ohtani makes a long-awaited
return to the mound. CNN's Coy Wire joins me live to break it all that.
The live from London. I'm Christina Macfarlane. This is "One World" Now, last hour we heard air raid sirens go off in Tel Aviv Israel, as the Israel
Iran conflict drags on for a fifth day. This as we closely watch the White House to try to pass a series of statements from U.S. President Donald
Trump.
Earlier, he said he's seeking a real end to the conflict, arguing that outcome would be better than a ceasefire. Today, President Trump is
expected to meet his national security team at the White House, after abruptly cutting short his time at the G7 Summit in Canada, early he spoke
to reporters on Air Force One on his way back to Washington.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What specifically is better than a ceasefire? What are you looking for here?
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: A real end, not a ceasefire, an end.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So, something that will be paramount?
TRUMP: Yeah, or giving up entirely. That's OK too.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you closer is that possible? Is that possible next 24 --
TRUMP: Why not? Certainly possible. A complete, give up. That's possible, yeah.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MACFARLANE: Well, as we see a new wave of attacks between Israel and Iran. Israel's military says it intercepted and eliminated some 30 drones from
Iran overnight, which caused damage but no injuries. In Iran state media reports say defenses were activated over Tehran and that a number of
explosions were heard in the capital.
Alayna Treene is at the White House. But let's begin with CNN's Nick Paton Walsh joining me here, live in London. So, Nick, there has been an awful
lot of mixed messaging from Donald Trump in the past 24 hours. He stated he wants more than a ceasefire deal.
But has been somewhat non-committal to this point on renewing talks with Iran. So where does this leave Iran, as Israel continues to assert pressure
on the U.S. to become more involved in this conflict.
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: I think it's clear that the pressure on Iran is essentially mounting day by day
here. They do appear, according to the tallies we've seen overnight, to be launching less of their ballistic missiles every night. Some more drones
fired some cruise missiles, potentially over the last 24 hours.
But only 30, according to Israeli officials fired, and many of them intercepted. A sense, perhaps on the ground inside Israel, that the damage
that Iran is able to afflict mightily is diminishing. We are still hearing, though, of strikes by Israel inside of Iran and Israel now claims it has
their superiority.
So, at this particular moment, it seems that the military advantage is certainly with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and clearly, they've
already had an extensive list of military targets they wish to hit, and that may still have a number on it that they still want to pick out.
But this, of course, means that we've increasingly heard some sense of noise from Iranian officials about diplomacy. Their foreign minister
speaking to his British and German and French counterparts today and discussing the possibility that maybe diplomacy could hit here. But Iran
has had some key conditions that it wants to see Israeli strike stop first, and indeed has earlier said that it wanted to feel its retaliation had been
meted out upon Israel.
But as we see this day-by-day pass, it does seem that Iran's ballistic missile stocks that are able to hit Israel are indeed diminishing,
potentially to below thousand or so, according to some experts I've been speaking to, which could be an existentially small number in terms of
having a deterrent going forwards.
And I think for President Donald Trump, this is a very complex moment in that, frankly, he does appear to have tried to give equal potential option
here some weight, diplomacy, military force, MITT, et cetera.
[11:05:00]
But the fast-changing nature of the last five days does mean that the options ahead of him are constantly changing. And so, it may well be that
yesterday, he felt perhaps to talk out of it was the best option. Now maybe Iran is looking weaker and weaker, and maybe increased pressure will lead
to a better negotiation.
Different type of nuclear deal, though, even if one is in the offing, here is what both sides will be addressing. Iran's nuclear program and military
infrastructure, I think, massively depleted over the past five days, Christina.
MACFARLANE: Nick, thank you. Let's turn to Alayna Treene, who's at the White House. Alayna, President Trump now meeting with his national security
advisers now back in Washington, and all the while, we're still trying to unpick what he may have meant by those comments on Air Force One about
seeking a real end to this.
Any sense yet of the meaning behind those words, and also what brought him so abruptly back to Washington from the G7 Summit?
ALAYNA TREENE, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: There's a few things, I think, to note here. Well, one, also just the meeting in a Situation Room has not yet
been gone. I've been told by people here at the White House, it will be the president's first official thing on his agenda today.
But after he came back from that trip this morning, he has been in the residence, waiting until -- we're waiting to see now until when he will
enter the Situation Room to meet with his National Security Council. But look, I do think the rhetoric and the language that the president used on
the plane there in saying that he wants a permanent end to this conflict, not a ceasefire deal.
But also, I think even more significant was when he had said that he is open or that there's a possibility that, you know, they give up on
negotiations with Iran. That is very different rhetoric, as Nick had pointed out, than we had been hearing from the president and top Trump
Administration officials over recent days.
Now, part of this is we are increasingly seeing the president grow frustrated with the Iranians and not really having them come to the table
in a way, I'm told that the president has wanted to see. We did hear him as well this morning say that he's, quote, I'm not too much in the mood to
negotiate with Iran right now.
Very different again, from what I've been hearing up until he had decided to abruptly, you know, leave that G7 Summit in Canada so early. But part of
this is also part of the reason I'm hearing that he did make that decision to cut his trip short by a full day to come back to Washington is because
he knows that this conflict between Israel and Iran is escalating.
They anticipate -- the president kind of signalled this during his remarks and speaking with reporters on Air Force One that he believes Israel could
really ramp up some of these strikes in the next couple of days. And he said that he wanted to be physically in Washington, physically in the
Situation Room, to have these in person meetings, rather than do them over the phone.
He said, sometimes I worry that people are listening in to those conversations. But a very other notable moment from what he has been
telling reporters on that journey back to D.C. was when he disputed something that his Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, had
said back in March.
He had testified that it was the belief of the intelligence community that the intelligence that they had gathered had shown that Iran was still kind
of far off from having developed or being close to developing a viable and usable nuclear weapon. But we heard the president say that he didn't care
what his Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard had said, that he believed that they had been very close.
And I think that is also quite significant, because one of the key things we're of course, watching is this tension that we've seen really this
daylight between the U.S. intelligence community and Israel, with the U.S. intelligence community saying they did believe that it would take Iran
still some time to develop a nuclear weapon.
That they didn't necessarily see that as an immediate threat, whereas we have heard from the Israelis kind of use this idea that it was an immediate
threat to justify these unprecedented attacks on Iran. All to say there is so much still to be watching. This is a very kind of ever evolving
situation. We have to -- hopefully we can learn more from what goes down in that situation meeting -- that room meeting later today, we'll bring you
all the details once we get them.
MACFARLANE: All right, Alayna at the White House there. Thank you very much to you and to Nick Paton Walsh in London as well. Let's now bring in Trita
Parsi, the Executive Vice President of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft. He's also the Author of "Losing an enemy, Obama, Iran and the
triumph of diplomacy". Trita, thank you so much for joining us this hour.
We have been talking, as I'm sure you heard there, about the multitude of mixed messaging that has coming from Donald Trump in the past 24 hours. And
I want to get your broader sense of what the strategy may be behind this. But first, I just want to get your take on President Trump's potential
meaning when he said that he wanted more than a ceasefire deal on Air Force One that he wanted to end this. And how those words are being received
across the region?
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TRITA PARSI, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, THE QUINCY INSTITUTE FOR RESPONSIBLE STATECRAFT: What he wants is total Iranian capitulation. And the Iranians,
I think, have an extremely hard time agreeing to capitulation because they have completely lost faith in Trump's ability to accept capitulation and
end it there.
They believe that if they capitulate on the nuclear issue, the Israelis are going to go after their missile program. They're going to go after their
conventional forces, and as a result, they will be completely exposed and defenses, and after that, the Israelis will push for regime change.
So, capitalization does not come across as an end to this conflict for the Iranians, which is why I think at this point, if Trump goes for war, the
Iranians will probably conclude that they have no option but to fight back. And I think some of the commentary I heard earlier on, I'm not sure I
completely agree.
The Iranians have wreaked havoc in Israel, and their missiles have penetrated on a daily-basis Israel's air defense systems. That is, their
long-term missiles, long distance missiles, they have a much larger arsenal of short-and-medium-term distance missiles, which they would be targeting
U.S. personnel and bases in the region.
That's not to say that Iran would win the war, but it would say that it would cost the U.S. tremendously to go to war, just as much as it has been
costly for Israel as well. So, I think that they're left in a position, given how Trump has acted, that they think that they don't have any choice
but to fight back.
And then Trump will get the war that he promised the American people he would not only start; he would end all of those wars instead; he's now
starting one.
MACFARLANE: I mean, that may be true, but in this moment, we have seeing what appears to be a weak -- weakened Iran, because the Israelis have
targeted the reduction of its nuclear facilities its senior command, and they are under increasing pressure.
How much do you think they will be reaching and seeking for diplomacy now with the U.S., even if we don't know if that is on the table? But how much
will they be seeking a return to the negotiating table like the one that was promised last Sunday?
PARSI: Well, I think first of all, we have to remember, as you mentioned, there were talks that were supposed to take place on Sunday was the sixth
round. They had been talking for five rounds. The reason why that didn't happen is because the Israelis blew up the negotiating table, not because
the Iranians pulled out of the talks.
But now, after the Israelis have started this war, the Iranians, I'm not so sure, would come to the table. There is a chance that they will. I hope
that they will. But I think again, it goes back to what I said earlier on. From their standpoint, what would be the point of this if they think that
Trump is under the impression that the Iranians are so weak that they have to capitulate, and even if they capitulate, that would not be the end of
the story.
This is part of the problem with the manner in which Trump has conducted himself. He said that he wanted talks on Sunday, but then he gave a yellow
or a green light to the Israelis to start a war two days before those talks started. What that does to in terms of destroying confidence is such that
even a capitulation offer will not be taken seriously.
MACFARLANE: And if we do move to military escalation, if I mean, it's a big if the U.S. do join forces with Israel? What moves can we expect from Iran?
There's a lot of concern about disruption to energy infrastructure in the region, escalation perhaps around the Strait of Hormuz, and the blocking of
that which we know would, of course, deeply disrupt oil prices, but cause a lot of disruption to the region in general. What is your sense of the cards
Iran having to play?
PARSI: The main cards that Iran have in their arsenal is that they will be able to target 17 or so bases around the Middle East with American soldiers
there. As well as targeting some of the countries that are hosting those bases, as well as targeting the traffic in the Persian Gulf.
All of that does not mean that Iran will win any war, nor does it mean that Iran has not been significantly weakened by the last week. It means that
Iran still has a dramatic ability to inflict massive pain if a war starts. And so, it is not this cake walk that the Israelis are telling Trump, that
it is indeed.
If it was so that the Israelis have been so successful, why are they coming back to the U.S. and asking the U.S. to step into the war? If they were so
successful, they should be able to finish it on their own,
MACFARLANE: Just finally, a short while ago, Gideon Saar Israel's Foreign Minister, said, regime change is not an objective of this war, but it can
be a result, but is not an objective we put on ourselves in this war. How much do you believe that to be true? And given what it would take
militarily to make that happen. Do you think this messaging is more about psychological warfare?
[11:15:00]
PARSI: Almost everything that is said by the Iranians, by the U.S. or by the Israelis of course, at this point, has a significant element of
psychological warfare in it. I do think, however, that the Israelis are not necessarily looking for regime change. What they're looking for is regime
collapse.
The difference is that in the regime change operation, you have another government that you're trying to put in place, as the U.S. did in Iraq.
Regime collapse means that you just destroy the state and then you let the chaos fester. I think that is the Israeli objective.
MACFARLANE: Trita Paris, always extremely helpful to have your comments at these perilous moments that we're in right now. We appreciate you spending
time with us. Thank you.
President Trump's early departure from the G7 Summit means he will miss a key meeting about Ukraine scheduled for this hour. Ukrainian President
Volodymyr Zelenskyy will be attending as talks are expecting to pivot on Russia's war on Ukraine, and there you can see President Zelenskyy arriving
at the G7 Summit meeting there with Canada's Mark Carney.
Zelenskyy have been hoping to positive meeting with Donald Trump could advance Kyiv's case as Russia has ramped up its airborne attacks.
Meanwhile, on the ground in Ukraine, Russia launched a barrage of hundreds of drones and missiles on Kyiv overnight, killing at least 15 people. And
as CNN's Clare Sebastian tells us it was the deadliest attack on the Ukrainian Capital in almost a year.
CLARE SEBASTIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, even in the pattern of escalating air attacks we've seen in recent months from Russia. This one stood out
first by its scale. The number of drones used, 440 according to Ukraine's Air Force, was close to a daily record, and combined with 32 missiles, a
very high number.
And also, by the level of destruction, this was the deadliest attack on the Capital Kyiv in almost a year, according to the U.N. Human Rights
Monitoring Mission in Ukraine. Now, Russia says it was targeting military industrial facilities, but look at this the moment a drone slams into a
high-rise Kyiv apartment block.
And this the aftermath of a direct hit by a Russian cruise missile on another residential building, graphic visual reminders of why air defenses
matter so much to Ukraine. Well, even as Russia has ramped up air attacks on Ukraine, it is not only facing no additional sanctions from the U.S.,
but this latest attack came just hours after Trump told reporters at the G7 Summit in Canada that it was a mistake to kick Russia out of what was then
the G8 in 2014.
And Trump has left the door open to Russia's offer to mediating between Iran and Israel, a move that would allow Putin to rebrand himself as a
peacemaker. Well, Trump's early departure from that G7 Summit also meant he skipped a planned meeting with Ukraine's President Zelenskyy, a crucial
opportunity for him to try, once again, to convince Trump to ramp up the pressure on Moscow, Clare Sebastian, CNN, London.
MACFARLANE: Our thanks to Clare for that. And we'll have much more on this later in the hour, when we take you to the Canadian Rockies for the G7
Summit. But still to come, also on "One World", new details in Saturday's violent attacks on Minnesota lawmakers' authorities say there were others
on the suspects hit list. Plus, an expert view on the conflict between Israel and Iran, with Colonel Cedric Leighton, CNN's Military Analyst. Stay
with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:20:00]
MACFARLANE: Minnesota residents have been gathering to honor victims of Saturday's attacks on state lawmakers and their spouses. These are images
from a vigil held at a local church. Is pastors say prayer, unity and healing are needed right now. Amid the tragedy, members of the community
are calling for an end to political violence.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PAUL BRANDT, BROOKLYN PARK RESIDENT: We just can't allow the violence to permeate and skew our political process. We need democracy. We need public
participation. We need to be able to talk freely about the issues without fear of retribution.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MACFARLANE: Meantime, we're learning stunning new details about the Minnesota man charged with fatally shooting State Representative Melissa
Hortman and her husband and severely injuring State Senator John Hoffman and his wife. Authorities say suspect Vance Boelter stopped at the homes of
two other state lawmakers on the nights of the shootings, and even encountered a law enforcement officer at one of those stops.
Also, new images show the weapons that authorities recovered from inside Boelter's SUV and around the scene. He's facing six federal charges, in
addition to four state charges for murder and attempted murder. Let's bring in CNN's Security Correspondent Josh Campbell. So, significant details
there, Josh just walk us through a little bit more what we're learning.
JOSH CAMPBELL, CNN SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Well, everything that we're learning paints a picture of a premeditated attack allegedly by this
suspect, Vance Boelter authority, saying that he had planned this for some time, and actually going so far as to gather weapons, going so far as to
get a vehicle that looked as though it was a police car.
And what they say is that on Saturday, he actually goes to the home of these legislators there in Minnesota and announces himself as a law
enforcement officer. He was dressed in tactical gear, he had a flashlight that he was shining at them, and then at one point, he then allegedly opens
fire at the first house, and then later he then goes to another legislator's house, where she and her husband are both shot and killed.
But as you mentioned, we're learning that amid all of this, he had actually gone to the homes of two other legislator -- latest -- legislators. In one
incident, no one was home, and a second really chilling incident, he is there, and a local police officer arrives, but thinks he's a police
officer, because, again, he's dressed like one.
He's in his police vehicle. She does a check, and then she ultimately leaves. Now, as you mentioned, in addition to state charges, the U.S.
Federal Justice Department now stepping in, he has now been charged federally. Take a listen here to the top federal prosecutor in Minnesota
talking about this heinous act.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOSEPH THOMPSON, ACTING U.S. ATTORNEY, DISTRICT OF MINNESOTA: It is no exaggeration to say that his crimes are the stuff of nightmares. Boelter
stocked his victims like prey. He went to their homes, held himself out as a police officer and shot them in cold blood. This was a political
assassination.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CAMPBELL: Now we're also learning that he had this so-called hit list that had the names of dozens of officials, mostly elected democratic officials.
And so, there was a big question about who, what was the scope of his intended targets? This is obviously someone who had done the research.
A lot of those lawmakers are now having security protection provided just for their own safety. And then the last thing I'll say, we're kind of
learning from those who knew this suspect, Boelter, they described him as someone who was a voter of Donald Trump. He was a registered Republican at
one point, but then he kind of takes a turn in his life where he's gone through a series of different jobs.
At one point, he leaves and goes overseas to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where he tried to start a security business. He also did a lot of
sermons and ministries and the like at one point. And one sermon that we -- that we were able to view talking about anti-gay rights and the like.
[11:25:00]
And so, a lot of big questions about, what was this pathway to violence, as the FBI calls it, you know, in so many of these incidents. So, they say
that someone doesn't just snap. This is someone who potentially has various different grievances that continues to boil until they ultimately decide to
act with violence.
Of course, the big question right now for investigators, although he's in jail, did anyone else in his orbit know that something like this was about
to occur? Again, the FBI has studied these in the past, and they say that so often there are warning signs that are exhibited by suspects, just no
one picks up the phone and calls police, Christina.
MACFARLANE: Yeah. It just paints such a terrifying picture. It doesn't know this, this campaign, eventually, of stalking and violence, and obviously it
is still ongoing. Josh, we appreciate the details you can bring us today. Thank you.
All right still ahead, more military might or diplomacy. We'll take a closer look at the Israel Iran conflict as the two nations trade strikes
for a fifth day. Plus, Ukraine's President and NATO Leaders are in Canada for a key meeting. What can we expect from the last day of the G7 Summit?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MACFARLANE: Welcome back to "One World". I'm Christina Macfarlane in London. Here are some of the headlines we're watching today. U.S. President
Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer have signed a trade deal at the G7 Summit in Canada. It includes commitments by the UK to buy
Boeing jets and to ease trade barriers on American farming exports.
In exchange, the U.S. will lower tariffs on 100,000 British car exports from 25 percent to 10 percent. The UK still faces a minimum 10 percent
tariffs on most of its exports. The U.S. and Japan have failed to reach a trade deal at the G7 Summit, which would have lowered or eliminated
tariffs.
Japan's Prime Minister says the two countries remain divided on certain points, President Trump suggested there's still a possibility of reaching a
trade deal, describing the Japanese as being, quote, tough.
[11:30:00]
And the last day of the G7 summit is underway in Canada. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is attending the talks, which are expected to
cover the war with Russia.
President Trump's early departure from the summit means he will miss this key meeting. Our Paula Newton joins us from the Canadian Rockies. And
Paula, we're just seeing images there of President Zelenskyy arriving in the Rockies, shaking hands with Carney. And obviously now we have no Trump
at this G7 summit.
After abandoning the summit, Paula, what is this going to spell for Ukraine and President Zelenskyy, who obviously was scheduled to have a one on one?
PAULA NEWTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It is a blow, no doubt. And remember the Prime Minister Mark Carney hosting this G7 meeting. Really went the
distance to try and be able to set up that bilateral meeting, not just him with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, but crucially, the president, who has now left
having said that the G6 leaders now around the table will continue.
And the NATO Secretary General, I might add, will continue to offer their support, military and sanctions support in any way they can. I will say
that Prime Minister Mark Carney was just speaking at the head of this bilateral meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy calling Russia's attack
overnight as barbarism, and saying it was an outrage.
And again, Christina, committing not just sanctions, which there is some debate about how effective the sanctions are, but also stepping up with
military aid. I want you to hear now from Volodymyr Zelenskyy himself, at the top of this meeting, listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE: It's a big tragedy for us, and we need support from our allies, and I'm here, and thank you for the
military package. It's important for our soldiers to be strong at the battlefield, to stay strong until Russia will be ready for the peace
negotiations. We are ready for the peace negotiations, unconditional ceasefire.
I think it's very important. But for this, we need pressure. And of course, I want to speak with Prime Minister today about sanctions, additional
sanctions, and thanks for the real unwavering support from --
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NEWTON: You know what's crucial here, Christina, is although Donald Trump is not there. Mark Carney indicated that the G7 leaders last night with
President Trump present, had a robust discussion about what was needed going forward, in terms of trying to make sure that Russia would go to the
table.
He will continue to brief Volodymyr Zelenskyy on that. And all of them will continue to try and come up with a strategy that includes the United States
to at least put some pressure on Russia. But you heard Volodymyr Zelenskyy there. Obviously, he calls Russia's actions overnight terrorism.
And again, another indicator right now, that there is no sign that Russia is ready to come to the table and declare a ceasefire, let alone any kind
of peace plan.
MACFARLANE: Yeah, and as for Iran, Israel, Paula, I mean, ahead of Donald Trump's departure, was there a sense that any there was any consensus among
the leaders over the conflict? Because we know that French President Macron appeared to make some comments about an agreed to ceasefire that were later
walked back, or -- more accurately, by President Trump.
NEWTON: He certainly was blunt, wasn't he?
MACFARLANE: Yeah.
NEWTON: President Trump about the fact that this was not a ceasefire, and President Emmanuel Macron in the president's word, had gotten it wrong.
What I can tell you is, again, a good discussion around the table that actually led to a G7 statement that President Trump agreed to sign on to.
And I just want to give you some of the key points there, Christina, in that G7 statement, it says that, Iran is the principal source of regional
instability and terror. We have been consistently clear that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon. We urge the resolution of the Iranian crisis leads
to a broader de-escalation of hostilities in the Middle East, including a ceasefire in Gaza.
And obviously that addition of Gaza there being quite important. Now, although President Trump, he was wavering earlier in the day, then decided
there was no harm in really putting his name to the statement. I think the G6 leaders left around the table still had no idea where the United States
was headed on this that if it had any leverage to bring to bear in this conflict, whether or not the president was actually willing to use any of
that leverage.
So, in many cases, a lot of those leaders, just like us, waiting to see what the president's next move will be. I will say, and it is important to
highlight, Christina, that a lot of those allies are also reaching out to allies in the Middle East to see if there's any pressure they can bring to
bear to this conflict, to try and get Iran and Israel to some kind of ceasefire in the coming days.
[11:35:00]
What was also interesting, Christina, is that the leaders highlighted the impact on the global economy with this as we continue to see that oil
prices are headed on the way up, and it is not, you know, loss on any of those leaders, Christina. What's on -- what's at stake for them, given the
geopolitical instability they're dealing with right now here at that G7 table.
MACFARLANE: Yeah, there is so much isn't there in the mix here to consider for leaders, not just at the G7 but obviously Arab leaders as well, who are
definitely involved behind the scenes currently with the U.S. President. Paula Newton, we really appreciate your reporting for now. Thank you.
Now sirens sounded in Tel Aviv a short while ago, on the fifth day of the Israel-Iran conflict. Iran says it struck an Israeli military intelligence
center in Tel Aviv. As new waves of attacks are launched on each side. We're waiting for the news from the White House, where Donald Trump is
expected to meet with his national security team.
This as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he has almost daily contact with the U.S. President and has no intention of easing up attacks
on Iran. Speaking to ABC News, he refused to rule out assassinating Iran's Supreme Leader. His defense minister had those words for the Iranian leader
earlier.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ISRAEL KATZ, ISRAELI DEFENSE MINISTER: I warned the Iranian dictator from continuing to commit war crimes and fire missiles at Israeli citizens. He
should remember what happened to the dictator in the country, neighboring Iran, who took this path against the State of Israel.
We will continue today as well, to operate against regime targets and military targets in Tehran. As we did against the propaganda and incitement
broadcasting authority.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MACFARLANE: Prime Minister Netanyahu says Israeli attacks have set back Iran's nuclear program by a very, very long time. Well, joining us now is
CNN, Military Analyst Retired U.S. Air Force, Colonel Cedric Leighton. So great to have you on the show again. Thank you.
Now there is a lot at stake in this moment. We are in a perilous moment, and if diplomatic efforts are going to fizzle, as we have been discussing
this past hour, we're going to look to what may come next militarily in this conflict, if the United States decides to enter this conflict
directly, what would be the implications of that, Cedric? And how much of a major change to long standing U.S. policy would this be?
COLONEL CEDRIC LEIGHTON (RET.), CNN MILITARY ANALYST: It will be a huge change, Christina. It's great to be with you again. One of the key elements
here is that for decades now, the U.S. has basically warned Israel against attacking Iran, and one of the key provisions of that policy was that the
United States did not want to get dragged into a war with Iran itself.
We had basically, the relatively low boil conflicts that occurred between Iranian proxies and the United States, especially in Iraq, but to some
lesser extent in Afghanistan and in obviously a few other places. But primarily, Iraq and Syria were areas where there was some degree of
conflict between the U.S. and Iranian proxies.
So, this would be a sea change. One of the reasons for the U.S. to get involved is the fact that the Israelis actually don't have the weapons
capability that would be required to eliminate the Iranian nuclear program. And even with the U.S. weapons, it would be questionable whether the
program would be truly eliminated because of the dispersal of a lot of the Iranian nuclear assets.
So, it's a very huge gamble either way you do it. But if the United States were to get involved, it would do so using probably heavy bombers like the
B2 and they would use the bunker busting.
MACFARLANE: Yes.
LEIGHTON: So called bunker busting massive ordinance penetrator, the GBU 57 in order to do that.
MACFARLANE: And just to break that down, Cedric, for our viewers, in reference to what you mean and where those would strategically be used. I
mean, we know that Israel, Israel stated goal is destroying Iran's nuclear sites, and in particular Fordow right the second nuclear site, as you say,
this would require U.S. intervention.
So, talk to us more about what that would entail. Are we just talking military air force here, or would there potentially be the need for troops
on the ground as well?
LEIGHTON: Well, there's always a potential for using troops on the ground, and I say that as a former U.S. Air Force person, but the initial phase
would almost certainly be using air power, and specifically, as I mentioned earlier, the B2 bomber that would be the most likely weapons platform that
would be used.
[11:40:00]
And the type of weapon that would be used is known as a massive ordnance penetrator, and it's designed to penetrate hardened and deeply buried
targets. And Fordow is a classic example of that. It basically goes down to about 100 meters where you actually have the facility, and, you know,
underground depending on the type of earth that is used, the type of soil that you know could mean certain requirements in terms of, you know, the
detonation, the targeting, and, you know, those kinds of things.
So, the way in which this would work is the site would have to be attacked, probably a couple of times at least, for there to be appreciable damage to
the centrifuges and the other aspects of the nuclear program at this enrichment facility. So that would be, in essence, what would happen first,
the problem with something like that is it would require a further escalation of troop movements.
It would require the placement of naval assets in the Persian Gulf. It would also probably require the eventual introduction of ground troops. So
that's why this is a very dangerous area to be in, and we're definitely at a tipping point, as you mentioned.
MACFARLANE: Yeah, we do not know if that is the U.S.'s decision, obviously yet Donald Trump is meeting with his national security team. What would be
the strategy Cedric, in targeting these nuclear facilities without the U.S.'s assistance, because we've heard Benjamin Netanyahu today speaking
about the fact that they have the upper hand in air superiority right now.
There's no indication they're going to take their foot off the gas. So, what could be the strategy for Israel moving ahead alone in that?
LEIGHTON: Yes, so that could be a possible choice, but it would take longer for the Israelis to achieve their goals, and they may never achieve them
directly if that goal continues to be the elimination of the Iranian nuclear program. But the way they would do it is they would continue to
attack sites like Fordow and the others you know that, such as Natanz for example.
And what that could mean is they would attack things like the power supply to the actual site. They've already done that in at least one and possibly
multiple cases, and that has a significant impact. There are reports that it had a significant impact on the Natanz site. And if that's true, that
has a way of setting back the Iranian nuclear program.
So, the Israeli reports that the nuclear program has been set back by some degree may quite well be accurate. So, if that's the case, they would
continue to do those kinds of things at multiple sites. And we have to remember, there are at least a dozen or so sites that have something to do
with the Iranian nuclear program.
And the Iranians have been pretty good at hiding some of the more sensational aspects, some of the more advanced aspects of their nuclear
program, from inspector's views, you know, such as the IAEA inspectors. And that will present a challenge, both operationally and from an intelligence
standpoint for the Israelis.
MACFARLANE: Well, we will wait to see where this tipping point leads. But for now, Colonel Cedric Leighton, we appreciate your analysis. Thank you.
LEIGHTON: Thank you, Christina.
MACFARLANE: Even as Israel seeks to bomb Iran into submission, there's no end to the suffering of people in Gaza. Local authorities say Israeli fire
killed at least 51 people who were waiting for aid trucks to arrive in Khan Yunis today. 200 others were injured.
The World Health Organization says hospitals in Gaza are treating a significant number of casualties from strikes on aid centers. Israeli
military says a gathering was identified near an aid truck that got stuck in the area where the IDF troops were operating. It says it's reviewing the
incident.
For more information about how you can help those impacted by the war in Gaza, go to cnn.com/impact. I'll be back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:45:00]
MACFARLANE: President Trump's sons have announced another new venture, Trump mobile. They've licensed the family name to launch a wireless service
offering monthly cell phone plans. CNN's Hadas Gold has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TRUMP: My new Trump watches --
HADAS GOLD, CNN MEDIA CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Trump fans can already wear a Trump branded watch and sneakers. Soon, they'll also be able to have
a Trump phone in their pocket. Eric and Donald Trump Jr. announcing Trump mobile. Cell phone plans that will use other wireless carriers' networks
and eventually sell their own gold-colored phones.
Plans are set a symbolic monthly price of 47.45 a nod to Trump's presidencies. But they'll also bundle in tele medicine and road side
assistance.
DONALD TRUMP JR., EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF TRUMP ORGANIZATION: A big part of what we've done right now in the world has been focused on
technology for people who have been underserved, whether that's been in crypto or anything else, but one of the places where we felt there was
lackluster performance was in the mobile industry.
GOLD (voice-over): The Trump sons claim their mobile phone will be entirely made in America, taking on device giants like Apple and Samsung, which
President Trump has threatened with high tariffs if they don't start building their phones in America.
TRUMP: If they're going to sell it in America. I wanted to be built in the United States.
GOLD (voice-over): But manufacturing high quality phones in the U.S. would be logistically impractical and much more expensive. Trump mobile says
their phones will be $499 which experts say means it probably won't be like an iPhone.
DIPANJAN CHATTERJEE, VICE PRESIDENT & PRINCIPAL ANALYST OF FORRESTER: There is a version of a phone that will be good enough for many people, and
particularly for people who are already bought into the Trump value proposition, as long as you make a firm that's good enough for them, and if
it comes in at a reasonable price point, hey, maybe that is the magic solution.
GOLD (voice-over): Trump mobile is just the latest money-making venture for President Trump's family, as they capitalize on his presidency in
unprecedented ways. Many of those businesses have benefited the president himself, who made more than $600 million last year according to financial
disclosure forms and Reuters.
Much of that is from recent ventures like Trump media and his Trump crypto coin. He's also made money last year from Trump watches, Trump sneakers,
Trump fragrances, Trump guitars and even Trump Bibles. Though, Trump has ceded control of the Trump Organization to his children, experts have
called out the many conflicts of interest as the federal government regulates many of the industries, he's making money from, including
wireless phones.
GOLD: Experts I've been speaking to who manufacture cell phones, who understand the market, they say that this made in America phone is almost
completely unlikely to actually be fully made in America. Only one company is known, as of now, to domestically produce a cell phone, and even some of
their parts have to, by necessity, come from abroad, and those phones go for nearly $2,000.
So, we'll see when this phone actually comes out, whether and how much of it is actually made in America compared to what the Trump Organization
claims. Hadas Gold CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MACFARLANE: Oklahoma City is one win away from the NBA championship after last night's victory. So, will they make thunder history? Or can the paces
catch up World Sport's Coy Wire shares his thoughts, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:50:00]
MACFARLANE: The Oklahoma City Thunder are one win away from their first NBA championship after an incredible night from Jalen Jdub Williams and his 40-
point game, Monday night, the Indiana Pacers put the pedal down on a late game comeback, but were held off by the thunder in a 120 to 109 win. CNN,
World Sport's Coy Wire is joining me. And Coy, I don't want to steal your thunder.
COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT: Yeah --
MACFARLANE: But the stat, right? One win away from the first NBA title in 46 years, right?
WIRE: So good to see you C. Mac. Good to be with you and talk about this team who is so refreshing. They're like this breath of fresh air seeing
them out there, the youngest team to reach the finals in 48 years. Another one win away from bringing Oklahoma City its first NBA title average age,
just 24 years old.
They've got the league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and that dude, Jalen Williams, putting up a monster game, 40 points. He was everywhere. Now,
Pacer star Tyrese Haliburton was essentially nowhere. He left the game with a leg injury for a bit, he came back, but he didn't make a field goal all
night.
He went, 0 for 6, SGA. He was everywhere as well. 31 points for OKC, 10 assists. He passed LeBron and Jordan for the most, 30 in five games in a
single season, 12 of them, many comparing, C. Mac, SGA and Williams performances in these playoffs to Jordan and Pippen, they played like it,
71 points combined in 120 to109 win, OK, see handing the Pacers their first back-to-back losses in three months. Here's 24-year-old Jalen Williams,
after his superhero like night.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JALEN WILLIAMS, OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER FORWARD: My teammates instill a lot of confidence in me and go out and be me. Marks done a good job of telling
me, just be myself. I don't get to be anything more. And that's giving me a lot of confidence learning through these finals. That's what makes the team
good. And I thought we were able to do that, and we were able to collectively get stops and win the game.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WIRE: All right. Next game is back in Indiana. We'll see if the Thunder can pull it off. But you can see there in that post-game interview, one of the
things I love about that team, it's never about me, me, me. They always bring their teammates in with them to join in those post-game interviews.
It's really cool.
MACFARLANE: Yeah, it's such a young team as well. It would be great. Wouldn't it be? Great to see them do it. So Coy, let's turn to baseball
now, the L.A. Dodger Superstar Shohei Ohtani, making his long-awaited return to the pitcher's mound. How did it go?
WIRE: Well, you and I both have young kids, so you can relate to this. You know, sometimes you go to the playground and it's a great day, just because
nobody got hurt. This has been a long, calculated and careful return to the mound for Shohei. First time since his elbow surgery 21 months ago.
He made this highly anticipated return to the mound pitching in a Dodgers uniform for the first time.
[11:55:00]
And facing the Padres, so tiny pitch, just one inning allowed a run. But this was a welcome sight, nonetheless, after that long recovery, the NL
home run leader, he went two for four, hitting, knocking in two runs in a 6-3 win. Here he was after the game.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHOHEI OHTANI, JAPANESE BASEBALL DESIGNATED HITTER: I --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm not quite happy with the results, but there were a lot that I was able to take away from today's out and today's game.
DAVE ROBERTS, LOS ANGELES DODGERS MANAGER: I thought it was great, obviously, you know, gave up a run, but I thought the stuff was really
good, much better as far as the fastball velocity, than I think anyone anticipated. But I think that just a competitor, adrenaline came out in
him. And, yeah, they built an inning. I thought he made some really competitive pitches, but overall, just really positive day for us.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WIRE: All right. C. Mac, you heard this manager, Dave Roberts, there saying the velocity in his rehab. Shohei was going about 94, 95 miles per hour. He
averaged 99 and even hit 100 in his game.
MACFARLANE: Wow.
WIRE: So, look out to all the future batters to come.
MACFARLANE: If that's average. I mean, I don't know what to make of it. It's insane. Coy, always appreciate you. Thank you so much. And stay with
CNN, there is more "One World" with my colleague, Bianna Golodryga, after this short break. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
