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One World with Zain Asher

Israel: Haifa Among Several Places Hit by Missiles Friday; Democratic Congressional Leaders Want to be Consulted on Iran; Putin: World Faces Economic Challenges, "Regional Conflicts"; Trump to Decide on Potential U.S. Strikes on Iran Within "Two Weeks"; Trump Draws MAGA Backlash Over Potential U.S. Strikes on Iran; L.A. Dodgers and Trump Administration at Odds Over Presence of Federal Agents at Dodgers Stadium. Aired 11a-12p ET

Aired June 20, 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)

ZAIN ASHER, CNN HOST, ONE WORLD: Iran launching new strikes at Israel as the conflict enters its second week. "One World" starts right now. Plus, no

sign of de-escalation as Iran fires a fresh barrage of missiles towards Israel with a strike reported in Haifa. This is President Trump is giving

diplomacy a chance for now.

California Democratic Congressman Ami Bera joins us live now to discuss the ongoing conflict as well. And America's pastime gets caught up in President

Trump's crackdown on immigration, we'll explain. Live from New York. I'm Zain Asher. My colleague, Bianna, is off today. You are watching "One

World".

One week into the Israel-Iran conflict, there is literally no sign of de- escalation, with both sides exchanging airstrikes and intensifying their war of words as Western diplomats scramble to broker a deal. A critical

meeting between European Foreign Ministers and their Iranian counterparts is underway right now in Geneva aimed at reducing tensions.

Tehran's top diplomat is taking part in these discussions, but he's responding to Donald Trump's two-week negotiation window by saying Iran

will not talk with the U.S. while it's under attack and accused Washington of being complicit in Israeli strikes before that meeting began, here's

what Abbas Araghchi told at the Human Rights Council.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ABBAS ARAGHCHI, IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER: Israel has launched an unprovoked aggression on Iran, in a stark violation of article two, paragraph four of

the charter, and in bold defiance of all the principles and rules that this council stands for. This is an unjust war imposed on my people since early

hours of Friday, 13 June, when Israel perpetrated a mix of unlawful and criminal operations against off duty military personnel, university

professors and ordinary people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ASHER: The IDF, meantime, says Iran fired a new barrage of missiles across Israel today. Here you can actually see video from Haifa. This is in

northern Israel. Short time ago, we learned that more than a dozen people were wounded in the latest attacks. And Israel's military says it struck

military targets in Iran overnight, including missile production sites and a nuclear research facility.

CNN's Nic Robertson is in Haifa, Israel for us. So, Nic, let's start with before we get to obviously, what's happened in Haifa, I want to start with

this sort of two-week diplomatic window that President Trump is laying out here. How are the Israelis responding to that?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: There's a hope that diplomacy may play out. I think the narrative among a lot of people,

particularly officials here, is that President Trump will make up his own mind of what's right for the United States. And no one really wants to be

in the position here of sort of cornering President Trump and kind of force it in one direction.

But a lot of people I talked to do want the United States support. Do think that, if that is absent, then this conflict with Iran goes on longer,

because it takes Israel longer to achieve what it wants to -- what it says it wants to achieve in Iran, which is the destruction of Iran's nuclear

capabilities.

That said people also hear talk about and they want peace as well. I mean, they can just bring you a little bit of what we're witnessing here at this

strike about two hours ago, here in central Haifa. This building, we believe, is a government building, and I don't know if you can -- if you

can go high up on the building.

You might just see some of the rescue recovery workers going through the building. What they're doing at the moment is just going through, making

sure there's no explosives inside there, making sure you just see the yellow helmets up there, making sure that no one is trapped in the

building.

And this is an operation that goes on after every single strike. What makes this strike a little different from some of the previous is it happened

during the day. It happened midafternoon, and we ran on the streets here. The sirens went off. Everyone ran for the shelters. We went into the

shelters a deep underground car park with other people.

[11:05:00]

We didn't really have a sense of what had happened until we came out from that car park. Most strikes here have been at night, so this has been

different in that regard. And I think after a relatively calm night like last night, it really sort of unsettles people. One of the ladies we spoke

to in the underground car park, the bunker said it was the first time today that should come in that her nerves now, over a week of all these strikes

have just become rattled so much.

She really felt that she needed to go and take shelter. Look, you're looking at more of these recovery crews coming and going. It is an active

scene here. 20 people lightly injured. We're told three people have been seriously injured. Teams coming and going. The first phase recovery of the

injured has happened.

And I think what we're beginning to see is the clearance of this building that there's no one else left stuck there. And that's what we were hearing

earlier from officials.

ASHER: And Nic, just in terms of the officials that you have actually been speaking to. Just walk us through what they've said specifically about this

attack in Haifa.

ROBERTSON: Yeah, I was speaking a little earlier with the mayor. He's been mayor here for 20 years. This is a city that's very mixed. It has a big

Jewish population, but it's also 15 percent Arab. There are Christians, there are Muslims, there are Druze here. That's something that is proud of,

that this city has a reputation of the country for everyone getting along, getting on well together.

But I asked him about this window of diplomacy that is happening, perhaps with President Trump waiting two weeks to make a decision the diplomacy

that's happening in Geneva. He told me he hopes for peace. This is what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

YONA YAHAV, MAYOR OF HAIFA, ISRAEL: Look, I don't like wars. I've been personally in 10 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 should 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. There's 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 for from this different diplomatic peace?

YAHAV: Peace that the peace treaty will come out of free.

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?

ROBERTSON: Well, what -- there's more destruction.

YAHAV: They have to sit now and negotiate and design a treaty. It's not a big deal and do it.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROBERTSON (on camera): And I think that's one of the takeaways from a lot of people here. They hope for U.S. support but they also don't want this to

go on longer, because this is what happens to their city and everyone here that really, they don't feel it's in their control. It's down to their own

politicians. Diplomacy that's happening outside of the country.

ASHER: Right. Nic Robertson, live for us there. Thank you so much. All right, thousands of people took to the streets of Tehran after Friday

prayers earlier to protest against Israel. Many of the demonstrators were waving flags and chanting anti-Western slogans. And as you can see one of

those flags on fire.

It's actually an American one. Others carried images of Iranian commanders killed by Israel. Protesters said they wanted to send a message, not just

to Israel, but to its biggest and most powerful ally as well.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: With our presence here today, we are proving that we are on the ground. We are here, and we fear no one. It is -- people are

hiding in shelters and are nowhere to be seen. We are here and for as long as our leader gives the order, our lives and our blood are devoted to this

land, this country and Islamic Republic of Iran.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right now, Israel has fallen into a deadlock. It has no way to continue, and its master America knows it must pull back. First it

will collapse from within, then it will face our attacks.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ASHER: CNN's Frederik Pleitgen and Photojournalist Claudia Otto are getting very rare access to report from Tehran during this conflict. Here's a look

at what they experienced this past night as Iranian air defense has responded to incoming Israeli strikes.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: So, what we've been hearing tonight is really an increase in aerial activity over the

skies of Tehran. There's been a lot of outgoing anti-aircraft fire, seemingly coming from Iranian anti-aircraft guns.

[11:10:00]

We've seen in the skies the sort of burst of those munitions exploding in the skies. It's unclear what the air defense forces here are firing at,

whether or not there's drones or planes or something else that they're trying to intercept. We're also hearing quite a few thuds that seem to be

coming from the ground or could also be from that outgoing anti-aircraft fire, or even from outgoing anti-aircraft missiles, but it is definitely

something that we're noticing.

There's a lot of noise tonight over Tehran. It's unclear whether or not that means that there's a big attack going on, but if we listen, we can

hear the fire coming out. So, you can see, those are the things that we've been hearing. Those are the things that we've been seeing as this evening

has been progressing. There certainly is a lot going on in the skies over Tehran. Fred Pleitgen, CNN, Tehran.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ASHER: Well, the talks are happening in Geneva and the missiles are flying over Iran and Israel. Washington is right now in a holding pattern. Donald

Trump is meeting with his national security team, and you can bet that. Of course, the Middle East conflict is the main major topic of conversation

there.

Thursday afternoon, Trump made it clear that, though there is time for a diplomatic solution, that time is running out.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KAROLINE LEAVITT, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: I have a message directly from the president, and I quote, based on the fact that there's 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. That's a quote directly from the president for all of you today.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ASHER: Trump's two-week deadline comes as Congress is demanding to have a say in what action the U.S. takes. Joining us live now is Democratic

Congressman Ami Bera. It's worth noting that he's also a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Congressman, thank you so much for being

with us.

What do you make of Donald Trump's negotiation strategy here, just in terms of first, telegraphing, you know, that the U.S. may or may not join in the

attacks alongside Israel, attacking primarily the Fordow nuclear site, also telegraphing that the U.S. could, if it wanted to kill the Ayatollah, that

the U.S., obviously, knows where he is, but the U.S. is deciding against that for now.

And then, saying, listen, you guys should come to the negotiation table. I'm giving you two weeks to do so. What do you make of the strategy by the

president?

REP. AMI BERA (D-CA): Look, it's not exactly how I would do it, but if it gets around to the negotiating table, if the Europeans are successful today

in negotiations, then that's a good thing. Let's figure out how to de- escalate things. You know, this is not like a war in Gaza.

You know, Iran's a country of 90 million people that has capabilities, and we don't want a nuclear armed Iran. So, what is a middle ground where we

can try to find a long-term peace in the Middle East?

ASHER: So, what should be next? If say, for example, Iran, you know, isn't willing to meet certain criteria. Let's say Iran says no to zero

enrichment, for example. What should be the U.S.'s next step?

BERA: You know, at this juncture, I would urge the president to come to Congress, brief us. We'll all be in session next week. So lay out the

options if there are going to be troops on the ground in the Middle East. He's got to come to Congress and ask for our permission, the authorization,

to use military force. I don't think there's an appetite in America for a prolonged war in the Middle East again.

ASHER: Typically, that has been sort of the right way that presidents have gone about it. I mean, you think about the War Powers Resolution enacted

back in 1973. Typically, the presidents have resorted to asking Congress for permission. But in more recent years, they've actually gone around that

what is the right way at this point in time to really reign the president in, especially because this is a president like that, likes to sort of goes

his own way.

BERA: You know, the right way to do it again is to come to Congress, the House and Senate. Have all of America be on the same page. And we'd want to

know what the objectives are. What's the long-term goal? Is this about regime change? Is this about denuclearization?

Is this a long-term effort where the United States is going to get pulled into a long-term conflict? Now, Israel is making its own decision. They're

sovereign nation. They do seem to be from a military perspective, winning this and controlling the skies. That said again, what's the long-term goal

here, to find peace and stability in the region?

ASHER: They are definitely controlling the skies. But can Israel really win this just in terms of completely destroying and dismantling Iran's nuclear

capabilities without America's help?

[11:15:00]

BERA: Yeah, I think that's a question, you know, if it's about these larger bombs, the bunker busters, per se, you know, only America has that

capability. On the other hand, you hear the Israelis talk about doing ground operations and dismantling Florida via ground operation.

Again, I'm not privy to what the Israelis are thinking. I'm on the Intelligence Committee. We will get briefed on what we're seeing from our

intelligence community in Iran. And then hopefully the president will come to Congress brief us, and then I would like to see the president also talk

directly to the nation.

ASHER: Obviously, very few Americans are comfortable with seeing a sort of nuclear armed Iran. But obviously, as you point out, what is in, question

is the right way to go about it. Is the military solution the right way, or is the diplomatic route better, just in terms of what Americans are

thinking and feeling.

But among Democrats, and we've talked a lot on this program about the sorts of fissures we're seeing among Republicans, especially Republicans who are

traditionally loyal to the president, just the level of divide. How United are Democrats about the right way to go about this?

BERA: Yeah, I think this is less a partisan issue. I think there, you see the America First movement, the MAGA movement that elected Donald Trump. In

that movement, a lot of folks like Sue Bannon, Tucker Carlson, Joe Rogan, are really squeamish about getting into another forever war.

You know, I know Tulsi Gabbard, very, very well. You know, she's someone who, also, my perspective is, would be reluctant unless there's a strategy

to get in and get out. And again, that strategy should be, how do you get around to the negotiating table? How do you negotiate a longer-term

solution that's good for the people of Iran but also creates peace and stability in the region.

ASHER: And that is an important question, especially when you consider what Iran's Foreign Minister has just said. I mean, he's essentially just said,

listen, like the diplomatic route is going to be very difficult for us unless Israel stops its attacks, which, of course, that is, there's very

little chance that's going to happen anytime soon. So, how hopeful is you at this point in time for a diplomatic solution?

BERA: Well, diplomatic solutions don't happen until they do happen. So, if there is a temporary ceasefire by Israel, which then Iran, then has to do

something, maybe allow inspectors to go in and take a look again. The contours are going to be difficult, but I think it's in the best interest

of the people of Iran.

I think it's probably in the best interest of this Ayatollah and this current regime, and it's in the best interest of trying to find a longer-

term solution. So, you don't have a nuclear armed Iran, but you do allow Iran to start coming into the fold of responsible nations.

ASHER: What does the U.S. risk, Congressman by getting involved in this?

BERA: Yeah, it opens up U.S. assets and other things to be targeted. They've been targeted in the past, obviously, by Iran and the Iranian proxy

groups. Israel has done a good job degrading Hezbollah, Hamas. We've seen the Assad regime go away. We've been targeting assets by the Houthi rebels

in Yemen. So, Iran is not in a strong position militarily, but they still obviously have capabilities.

I would urge the Iranian regime to look for a path forward that is good for the Iranian people, that does de-escalate tensions and then let's take it

from there and see what we can accomplish.

ASHER: And just final question on the L.A. protests, I mean, just this federal court ruling that we just got that essentially allows Donald Trump

to maintain control over the National Guard. Your reaction to that ruling?

BERA: Yeah, I actually think it's the wrong ruling right now, from everything that I can see, things have tensions are eased in Southern

California and Los Angeles. The local law enforcement seems to have things under control. I would prefer that the National Guard be under Governor

Newsom's control, and I think that's the right thing to do at this --

ASHER: Right, Congressman Ami Bera, thank you so much. Appreciate your perspective. All right, still to come here on "One World", a warning you're

about to see some really graphic images out of Gaza, where more death and desperation engulfing civilians as Israeli strikes continue amid the Iran

conflict.

Plus, Russia's President is trying to woo Kremlin allies as an economic forum dubbed Putin's Davos. A deep dive into what he's been telling would

be investors, after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:20:00]

ASHER: Right, scores of people, including children, were killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza on Thursday. A warning you're about to see some really

graphic images of the aftermath. Israel's campaign in the shattered territory shows no sign of ending even as it carried out more air strikes

overnight against Iran.

The Palestinian Health Ministry says that some of the children who died had been sheltering in tents at a refugee camp. The Israeli Defense Forces says

it was not aware of any strikes in the area. The latest strikes come as the U.N. repeats its warning about hunger in Gaza. More now from CNN's Paula

Hancocks.

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The United Nations warning that famine is looking ever more increasingly likely in Gaza. We want to play you a

message from one 12-year-old boy. He was waiting at a flower distribution site in Gaza City, Mohammed Al Darby (ph), he saw a photographer who was

working for CNN at the time, and he said, please start filming, I have a message for the world.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: 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 costs 20 shekels $5.70, a loaf this little.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HANCOCKS: Mohammed (ph) said he walked for eight hours with his father to get to that spot where they believed aid trucks were going to be. He said

he did actually secure two kilos of flour. He was then attacked by thieves and they stole it. Now we spoke to his father as well, who said that people

are killing each other just for a bag of flour that people are turning into monsters because of the desperate lack of food.

We spoke to his mother as well, who said that she was using old, dried bread, which is being used as animal feed, or was being used as animal

feed, and she was soaking it over and over in water and then baking it over and over to be able to feed her children. Mohammed and his father, two of

those risking their lives to try and secure food, two of the tens of thousands who were desperately trying to get anything they can to feed

their families. Paula Hancocks, CNN, Abu Dhabi.

ASHER: Right, many thanks to CNN's Paula Hancocks for that report. Right, it's often called Putin's Davos. And the annual St. Petersburg

International Economic Forum is currently in full swing. President Vladimir Putin is hosting government leaders, including Indonesia's President, South

Africa's Vice president and China's Vice Premier.

[11:25:00]

Russia's flagship business and investment event offers a chance for Putin to court foreign investors as his company, country, excuse me, grapples

with high inflation. The Russian President told the gathering about some of the challenges Russia and the world are facing.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VLADIMIR PUTIN, RUSSIAN PRESIDENT: These challenges include tectonic shifts in global economics and demographics, including the dynamics of the world's

population. They also include social, societal and geopolitical controversies that manifest themselves through crises and regional

conflicts that are flaring up anew with greater force. Unfortunately, this is something we are witnessing currently in the Middle East.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ASHER: CNN's Melissa Bell is following this story for us. So, Melissa, he, Putin talked about just how he's restructuring the Russian economy, and

also how important it is for Russia to pivot towards non-Western markets. He talked a lot about the BRICS.

MELISSA BELL, CNN PARIS CORRESPONDENT: Exactly. This was all about saying that this pivot of Russia towards the BRICS and away from western markets

was not just the logical necessity of need to move away from the sanctions, the countries imposing sanctions on him, but actually the logical next step

because of the strength of the BRIC economies.

It's long been an argument of his. What was interesting about what he had to say today is that just before he got up to speak at this meeting, as he

does each year. Zain, there was a video to show the history of the global economy, how it evolved, and it suggested, in it, very dramatic pictures of

the Hollywood sign engulfed in the flames of a blazing L.A., as it described the United States as sort of dying financial hegemon.

So that was the opener to Vladimir Putin standing up and speaking of this need to move further closer towards the BRIC, something he's long been

talking about. But clearly this summit all about trying to show even at a time when his economy minister is warning of the potential recession, the

risks of recession, rather in Russia, that his economy is still going strong and what he plans for its future, Zain.

ASHER: All right. Melissa Bell, live for us there. Thank you so much. Still to come, the U.S. is taking precautionary steps in the Middle East,

securing military ships and aircraft as President Trump figures out his next move. A live report for the White House just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:30:00]

ASHER: Right, welcome back to "One World". I'm Zain Asher in New York. Here are some of the headlines we are watching today. A high stakes meeting in

Geneva is underway with Iran's Foreign Minister meeting with European officials. The talks open a critical window for diplomacy as the conflict

between Iran and Israel rages on.

French President Emmanuel Macron says the diplomats will offer Iran, quote, complete negotiations over its nuclear program. Israeli strikes killed more

than 70 people in Gaza on Thursday, including children, as according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. They say the attacks come as Israel continues

its military campaign and the besieged enclave amid the conflict with Iran.

The IDF says it was not familiar with the strike. A U.S. federal appeals court has ruled that President Trump can maintain control of about 4000

National Guard troops from California. He federalized troops and sent them to L.A. amid growing protests against his immigration crackdown.

Governor Gavin Newsom's argument that Trump violated federal law was rejected. Cleanup is underway after Hurricane Erick slammed into

Southwestern Mexico, Thursday as a dangerous category 3 hurricane. It unleashed powerful winds, heavy rain and flooding across the region,

leaving uprooted trees and damage to homes.

Right, CNN's Fred Pleitgen is in Iran and has just filed this interview with the spokesperson for the Iranian presidency. Fred asked him about

President Trump's two-week window for diplomacy to work before making a decision about entering the conflict.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MAJID FARAHANI, IRANIAN PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESMAN: I think that Israeli thought that they can be win, for example, in two or three 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 this attack 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: 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. Is that Iran believes to civilian dialog.

PLEITGEN: The U.S. has talked about using a gigantic bomb called a bunker buster against the installation in Fordow, what would happen if America

bombed Iranian nuclear sites?

FARAHANI: If America involved to the war, Iran predicted all choices, and we are not hand back. And there are so many options. And as I know, all

these options are on the tables.

PLEITGEN: So, you think that American military bases, for instance, would be under threat, that Iran will use its militarism --

FARAHANI: There are so many options at only this, 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, for instance, join a consortium?

FARAHANI: No, no, no. Iran announced that so many times the enrichment, we will do the enrichment, and we don't accept the supplement of enrichment.

Maybe the enrichment can be lower, but we don't stop it anymore.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ASHER: Our Kevin Liptak joins us live now from the White House. So interestingly, the spokesperson for the Iranian President did say quite a

bit. He essentially said that he would be willing to -- Iran, rather, would be willing to lower enrichment levels, but they wouldn't stop at 100

percent this idea of zero enrichment is simply not on the cards for them, that they would have the right to retaliate. And obviously we knew that

they would retaliate if the U.S. were to get involved.

[11:35:00]

But you saw him there saying explicitly that Iran would absolutely retaliate if the U.S. was to get involved. And that this idea of this sort

of two-week window that the U.S. is opening up for diplomacy. The Iranians have said, not just the spokesperson there, but also the foreign minister.

They both said that Israel needs to stop this war. In order for that to happen or to give diplomacy a shot, Israel has to stop this war. Walk us

through what President Trump's likely reaction is going to be to all of this.

KEVIN LIPTAK, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Well, and it was interesting what he said, which is that President Trump does have the power to tell the

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to stop the bombing to allow this diplomacy to continue. But really, just on Wednesday, when we heard from

President Trump and we asked him what his message to Netanyahu in all of this has been, and his words were, keep going.

So, there's no indication that the president, even as he views this two- week window to try and reach a negotiated settlement to all of this. There's no indication that he's telling the Israelis to pull back and to

hold back on their bombardment. So, it's not precisely clear how that bridge will be gapped, nor is it explicitly clear how each of these sides

will walk away from the red line on enrichment.

We just heard yesterday from the White House, from the Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, who said that one of the sorts of basic tenants of any

diplomatic agreement will be that Iran is not able to enrich uranium. We just heard from the spokesman here saying that Iran will not agree to that.

And so, you do see sort of these unmoving positions on either side of this that remains to be seen how all of that will be resolved. The one thing

that he did say that is perhaps a difference from the position that Iran had taken previously, is that he says that Iran is now open to direct

negotiations with the United States.

Previously, all of the meetings that had occurred between the U.S. representatives, including the president's foreign envoy, Steve Witkoff,

had been indirect. Had been mediated through Oman, through that Gulf nation, at various capitals throughout the globe. They had not necessarily

spoken directly, except sort of these brief exchanges.

Now Iran does appear to be open to these direct communications. And as we understand it, Witkoff has been communicating directly, either through text

messages or other correspondences, with the Iranian Foreign Minister. So, I think it's clear from this interview that Iran does remain entrenched in a

lot of the positions that had made it difficult to reach a deal before the Israeli campaign began.

But through that sort of assertion that they're willing to engage in these direct talks, you do see a little bit of a window cracking open to try and

reach some sort of diplomatic agreement. The question, I think, is how, and whether the Trump Administration, Steve Witkoff, potentially, J.D. Vance,

who has been floated as a potential negotiator in all of this.

Now try and seize that opportunity, and whether Iran, now that it has been under bombardment by Israel for the last six or seven days, views the offer

that had been on the table as somewhat more attractive. It doesn't appear from this interview that they're backing off that position on enrichment in

any way.

But of course, that is what these negotiations are for. That's what this diplomacy, I think, is meant to suss out as this two-week window is now

open.

ASHER: Right, Kevin Liptak, live for us there. Thank you so much. For more on this, I want to bring in Former NATO Supreme Allied Commander, General

Wesley Clark. General, good to have you on the program again.

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK, FORMER NATO SUPREME ALLIED COMMANDER: Thank you.

ASHER: Just in terms of the sort of difficulty that the Israelis are in right now. I mean, obviously they really want the U.S. to get involved.

They know that it's going to be very difficult for them to end this war cleanly without U.S. involvement, just in terms of achieving their

objective about destroying Iran's nuclear capabilities.

Now there's this two-week window and there is this sort of diplomatic track that President Trump has opened. I mean, obviously there is so much

uncertainty on that front, just in terms of what's going to happen next, what sort of a bind does this put the Israelis in, and what options are on

the table for them if the U.S. chooses not to get involved at the end of this?

CLARK: I think the Israelis have always believed that if they started this that the United States would eventually jump in and support them. And so,

Israel has a large stock pile of bombs. We've given them a lot of stuff under the guise of Gaza, but really, most of us suspected all along it was

going to be if they went into Iran or need to do something against Hezbollah.

So, they've got quite a stockpile. They're not using their highest technology. They're using dumb bombs, in some cases, against Iran at this

point, because they have air superiority, so they can probably sustain this campaign for many, many weeks.

[11:40:00]

Iran is -- its supply of missiles. It probably has some other missiles with larger warheads that could be used against Israel that would do more

damage. It probably has some terrorist opportunities, so this could intensify. But just think about how crazy this is, if you stand back and

look at it.

Iran can have a nuclear reactor, and all the nuclear power wants, if it just wants to buy it, it won't be able to enrich because it could lead to a

nuclear weapon. Now, why shouldn't Iran have a nuclear weapon? Because they've committed to the destruction of another country.

Why don't they just say we will agree that Israel can survive? I think the world is big enough for Shia Islam and for Judaism, big enough for Iran and

Israel. So instead, we've got this crazy situation of this war going on and diplomacy. And the only thing that's going to happen if we can't change and

work the diplomacy is the military pressure against Iran will ramp up.

And eventually President Trump will say, Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, and therefore we're going after it, and we're going to use our forces in

conjunction with Israel. Iran has to realize this. Iran is stubborn, determined. They're not going to say up -- OK, OK, we'll give up on the

enrichment. But could they give up on their passion to try to destroy another nation?

Pakistan has nuclear weapons. India has nuclear weapons. They're not trying to destroy Israel. There's no issue. Why can't Iran live in peace with

Israel? That's another question that I wish our diplomats would ask.

ASHER: You brought up a lot of good points there, but just in terms of, you know, obviously you asked very good wider questions, but it's just looking

out the situation over the next couple of weeks, though, general, when you have a situation whereby, as you point out, the Iranians are unwilling to

go to zero enrichment.

And then on top of that, before they engage in, you know, full-fledged diplomacy, they want Israel to stop all attacks on their country. With

those two things just really being major barriers to progress on the diplomatic front. I mean, are you confident that we're going to see

progress diplomatically over the next two weeks?

CLARK: No, I'm not confident. I'm not confident because, Zain, if you looked at them how we did Kosovo in 1999. We bombed because they were doing

ethnic cleansing. So, NATO said, if you do that, we're going to use airstrikes against you. They continue to do ethnic cleansing for over three

weeks before we could get negotiations started.

And then it took four weeks. So that was a seven-week campaign. We're only at the end of the first week in this. It takes people who are in top

leadership positions in countries, get there because they're very forceful, they're very determined, they're very hard headed. They don't give up

easily.

That's what you're dealing with in every country. That's Bibi, but that's also these Iranian leaders. They're going to have to go to bed every night

and think about this and realize every day they're losing more and more and that the end is inevitable. When they finally see that they cannot win,

they cannot prevail, they cannot break the will of the Europeans or the Americans, then they will come to the realization that something has to

change, but that may take more than two weeks.

ASHER: All right. General Wesley Clark, live for us there. Thank you so much, appreciate it. Right, still to come here on "One World", Donald Trump

is facing criticism from some of his most fervent supporters. The promise they are urging him not to break, when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:45:00]

ASHER: Some of President Trump's most loyal supporters are making it clear, they don't want the U.S. to join Israeli strikes against Iran. Donald Trump

campaigned on a promise to keep the U.S. out of foreign wars. And now MAGA isolationists are urging him not to break that promise. Donie O'Sullivan

has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TUCKER CARLSON, HOST OF THE TUCKER CARLSON SHOW: This isn't a regime change effort and why not just say that and but oh, you're a holocaust denier for

saying that. Stop. Let's have a rational conversation about what our aims are here.

DONIE O'SULLIVAN, CNN SENIOR CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): That's Tucker Carlson the war skeptic today.

CARLSON: We learned today for certain that Iraq has weapons of mass destruction and has chemical and biological weapons, and the question

remains, what do we do about it? And neither you, nor any other Democrat I know, has an answer to that question.

O'SULLIVAN (voice-over): This was Tucker Carlson, back when he co-hosted CNN's "Crossfire in 2003.

CARLSON: Senator worth the president last night summed up, I thought, well, the rationale for going into Iraq later this week, here's what he said.

GEORGE W. BUSH, THEN-U.S. PRESIDENT: The danger is clear, using chemical, biological or one day nuclear weapons obtained with the help of Iraq, the

terrorists could fulfill their stated ambitions and kill thousands or hundreds of thousands of innocent people in our country or any other.

The United States and other nations did nothing to deserve or invite this threat, but we will do everything to defeat it.

O'SULLIVAN (voice-over): Back then, Carlson was a strong supporter of America's war in Iraq.

PAUL BEGALA, THEN CO-HOST OF CROSSFIRE: Question here is the president's credibility. He wants to lead us into war, and the majority of his

countrymen and women are worried that he's lying to us -- for that reason.

CARLSON: That is not the question. The question is, there's a lunatic with weapons that could kill the civilized world. What do we do about it? And I

waited --

O'SULLIVAN (voice-over): It was a position Carlson would come to regress.

DAVE SMITH, COMEDIAN & PODCAST HOST: When the war drums were beating for Iraq, there was just nothing like what we have today. I mean, like the

biggest shows in cable news that they were all for it, they were all --

CARLSON: I was for it.

SMITH: Yes --

CARLSON: I was for it. Until I went to Iraq in 2003, I immediately apologized. I would say my defense. And I feel very stung by what happened

in Iraq, if I'm being honest, possibly because, unlike you, I guess I supported it, and I saw us get drawn into it in a way that nobody

anticipated.

And I saw the cost just $3 trillion and the cost on so many levels to the United States was just so profound.

O'SULLIVAN (voice-over): Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is warning Iran could have a nuclear weapon within months. U.S. intelligence,

however, suggests Iran is years away from having a nuclear bomb.

CARLSON: Can you feel the frustration of people, including your voters? Every, you know, every American at the emphasis on foreign countries and

the threat we supposedly face, a lot of which is fake, obviously. Over, the kind of slowly unfolding tragedy of what's happening to our country.

O'SULLIVAN (voice-over): Carlson is a frequent supporter of Israel, but Senator Ted Cruz did not appreciate Carlson's questioning of the Netanyahu

government's policies toward Iran.

CARLSON: How many people live in Iran, by the way?

SEN. TED CRUZ (R-TX): I don't know the population.

CARLSON: At all?

CRUZ: No, I don't know the population.

CARLSON: You don't know the population of the country. You see to topple.

CRUZ: How many people live in Iran?

CARLSON: 92 million.

CRUZ: OK, yeah --

[11:50:00]

CARLSON: How could you not know that?

O'SULLIVAN: And you can see now how much of this debate is really playing out in the world of podcasts and online video streams. The MAGA-verse, as

it is, called, all these pro Trump MAGA media influencers really growing in influence. Back to you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ASHER: Donie O'Sullivan reporting there. All right, it's game on between the L.A. Dodgers and the Trump Administration. The team claims ICE agents

actually showed up at the stadium trying to get in. Fed say that's not what happened. More details coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ASHER: All right, a U.S. federal judge will hear arguments today over California's request for a court order limiting how President Trump can use

the American military in Los Angeles. That comes after a federal appeals court ruled on Thursday that Trump can maintain control of about 4000

National Guard troops from California.

Last week, a lower court ruled the president had to give up control of those troops after he'd federalized and sent them to Los Angeles amid

growing protests against his immigration crackdown. All of that happening the same day as outrage from protesters about U.S. Immigration and Customs

Enforcement or ICE at the L.A. Dodger Stadium on Thursday.

The Dodgers say they blocked the ICE agents from entering, but the Department of Homeland Security claims the agents were not from ICE and

their present quote had actually nothing to do with the Dodgers. CNN's Natasha Chen, has more.

NATASHA CHEN, CNN U.S. NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Protesters gathered outside of Dodger 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, in unmarked vans, 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 -- and that it had nothing to do with the Dodgers.

[11:55:00]

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.

ASHER: Stay with CNN. I'll have much more "One World" after this short break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

END