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One World with Zain Asher
Israel Strikes Iran Oil Storage And Missile Launch Sites; Oil Prices Surge To Four-Year High, Pass $102 Per Barrel; CNN Speaks To Iranian Supreme Leader's Foreign Policy Adviser; Analysis Suggests U.S. Responsible For Iran School Strike; Trump: Will Grant Asylum To Iran Football Team If Australia Doesn't; Iranians Living IN L.A. Show Their Support For U.S.- Israeli War; Gulf Air Travel Impacted By Iran War; Saudi Arabia Accuses Iran Of Attacking It Based On False Claims; Aired 12-1p ET
Aired March 09, 2026 - 12:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:00:37]
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is CNN Breaking News.
ZAIN ASHER, CNN ANCHOR: All right. Coming to you live from New York, I am Zain Asher.
BIANNA GOLODRYGA, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Bianna Golodryga. You are watching the second hour of "One World."
A top Iranian official tell CNN that Tehran is ready for a long war.
ASHER: Yes. It is already the 10th day of the U.S. and Israel's war with Iran. Here are the latest developments.
The foreign policy advisor to the supreme leader is ruling out diplomacy. For now, as Iranians were called together nationwide to pledge their
allegiance to the new supreme leader.
Israel is striking Iran and intensifying attacks on southern Beirut. Lebanon says it is ready to resume negotiations as well.
GOLODRYGA: Tehran is escalating attacks on Gulf energy infrastructure. Experts say it's driving the worst oil disruption in history.
And E.U. leaders held a video conference with Middle Eastern leaders today to discuss the worsening crisis, as G7 finance ministers met earlier and
decided not to release oil from strategic reserves.
ASHER: And U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the U.S. is on track with its war objective. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARCO RUBIO, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: The goals of this mission are clear and it's important to continue to remind the American people of why it is
that the greatest military in the history of the world is engaged in this operation. It is to destroy the ability of this regime to launch missiles,
both by destroying their missiles and their launchers, destroy the factories that make these missiles, and destroy their navy.
I think we are all seeing right now the threat that this clerical regime poses to the region and to the world.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: All right. Let's bring in CNN's Jeremy Diamond who joins us now live from Tel Aviv, Israel.
And for a second day in a row, Jeremy, Israel has been on the receiving end of ballistic missiles that have actually landed. We've seen a couple of
casualties this weekend, a number of injuries as well. This bringing the deaths toll to 11, as Israel is also intensifying its battle with Hezbollah
to the north. What is the latest on that front?
JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT: Yes, that's exactly right, Bianna. Earlier today, we saw the sirens have sounded multiple times here
in the Tel Aviv area. In one instance, we saw one of those ballistic missiles that appears to have been outfitted with some type of cluster
munition, multiple of those small bombs that kind of disperse from that larger warhead, carrying -- striking multiple areas here in central Israel,
resulting in several serious injuries and killing one man near a construction site on the outskirts of Tel Aviv.
Moments ago, we had an incoming missile fire from Hezbollah as well, with one impact reported in central Israel near the town of Ramla, no serious
injuries as a result of that strike.
And now, we are once again under that early warning siren of incoming missiles from Iran. So in a moment now, we could have those air raid sirens
go off, in which case, we'll stay with you and start to move to the bomb shelter.
Israel, for its part, has been carrying out yet another day of intense wave of strikes in -- inside of Iran, where we have seen the Israeli military
continuing to try and strike at military targets, but also targets that would try and weaken the hold that the Iranian regime has on the country.
In Lebanon as well, Israel continuing to carry out strikes, and that is leading to calls now from Lebanon s president, Joseph Aoun, for direct
negotiations with Israel for an immediate ceasefire as well. That is not happening at this stage, however.
And the Lebanese president also underscoring the depth of the humanitarian crisis now gripping his country with more than half a million people
displaced, according to the Lebanese president. Bianna.
GOLODRYGA: All right. Jeremy Diamond, thank you.
ASHER: All right. Anna Cooban joins us live now with a closer look at how this war is affecting oil markets.
Interestingly, Anna, we know that the sort of G7 finance ministers just met, they've decided not to release additional sort of oil reserves in
order to sort of stabilize markets.
However, the problem at hand is clear. You've got oil at $100 a barrel. If this war continues, if it is sustained, I mean, that could eventually, at
some point, lead to a recession. Just walk us through what's that stake here.
ANNA COOBAN, CNN BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS REPORTER: Yes. Well, the big question there, Zain, as you've pointed out, is really, how long is this
going to last? That is the big question on the lips of traders or of investors.
[12:05:03]
And if we just think back to last year, we had that 12-day war between Israel and Iran, which the U.S. we know joined, oil prices spiked, but then
they fell pretty rapidly once it was quite clear that the conflict had ebbed away.
But we have some big signs now that this conflict could potentially go on for -- for quite a lot longer. And we've seen oil soar past $100 a barrel.
The first time it's done that since Russia invaded Ukraine.
And the two big reasons behind this is, one, you've got that choking off of that all-important oil choke point, the Strait of Hormuz, through which
you've got about a fifth of the world's oil traveling every single day. Iran has threatened to attack vessels going through that Strait.
And then secondly, you've got attacks on oil infrastructure around the region. We saw these plumes of smoke coming from an oil depot in Tehran
yesterday. And then Bahrain's energy company, oil company, has said that it's declared a force majeure, which is basically when a company throws up
its hands to say that there is a reason why we cannot fulfill our contractual obligations, in this case producing oil. And that reason is
completely out of our control.
And the irony here, Zain, is that we were in an oil glut. There was so much oil sloshing around the world to the point where prices were relatively
low, around $60 a barrel. That has all changed, not because there's not enough of the fuel, but because it just cannot get to the market.
And the fear, as you've alluded to there, is that high oil prices will push up inflation, which will then have a knock-on impact on the economy, which
is something that politically President Trump definitely does not want before the midterm elections, particularly in November.
So there's quite a number of dynamics going on here, but I think it's quite fair to say that this conflict looks like it's not ebbing away anytime
soon, Zain.
ASHER: Anna Cooban, live for us there. Thank you.
GOLODRYGA: And now, a CNN exclusive, our Fred Pleitgen has just spoken with the supreme leader's foreign policy adviser, Kamal Kharazi. He tells Fred,
this war is an existential threat to Iran.
ASHER: Yes. Keep in mind, CNN operates in Iran only with the permission of the Iranian government, as required under local regulations, but maintains
full editorial control over what it does report. Here's Fred interview.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Iran has a new supreme leader. What does that mean for your military effort and the
confrontation with the United States and in Israel?
KAMAL KHARAZI, SUPREME LEADER'S FOREIGN POLICY ADVISER: That means the system is quite functioning.
PLEITGEN: So the United States says it's drastically degraded the Iranian military, the capabilities, as far as missiles is concerned, drones is
concerned. How much longer can you do this?
KHARAZI: That is one of the false narratives that the United States government is covering, has produced. Iranian military is quite strong, as
you see, because they have the motivation, they have the arms that they need, which are producing Iran. As a matter of fact, we are not dependent
on any other country for weapons and arms.
PLEITGEN: So your side is ready for a long war if the United States and Israel choose that? Do you consider this an existential threat to the
Islamic Republic?
KHARAZI: It is an existential threat to the Islamic Republic, and therefore, we have to say with full mind as we are doing now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: All right. Now that Iran has appointed a new Supreme Leader, questions remain for how the U.S. and Israel will respond.
GOLODRYGA: Yes. President Trump previously said that Mojtaba Khamenei would be an unacceptable choice. And Israel has vowed to target any successor.
A short time ago, I spoke with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar. This marks his first CNN interview since the start of the war in Iran.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: Is Mojtaba Khamenei now a target for Israel?
GIDEON SA'AR, FOREIGN MINISTER OF ISRAEL: Well, you'll have to wait and see. But it is clear that he continue the very extremist and mad policies
of his father. He's a hardliner. He -- he's anti-American. He's anti- Western.
And you can see already the cracks inside this regime. And I'll give you one example that demonstrated that during last week, and we had heard the
Iranian President, Pezeshkian, speaking about that, that they are apologized in front of their neighbors, and they will not attack them again
if they will not be attacked from the states.
But eventually, you heard the speaker of their parliament saying, no, we will continue to attack. And on the ground, they continue to attack their
neighboring states. So you can conclude, first, you have cracks which are already open. And second, it is clear that the hardliners are still calling
the shots there in Tehran.
And frankly, with these people, you cannot do anything serious if you want to solve conflict, as we saw in all the efforts that the U.S. had done
before June and before this attack during the time of Khamenei.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[12:10:15]
GOLODRYGA: And you can see my full interview with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar in about 45 minutes time on "Amanpour."
ASHER: And we are gaining new insight into a deadly airstrike on an Iranian all-girls elementary school. This newly released video reportedly shows the
U.S. strike on an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps naval base on February 28 that killed at least 168 children and 14 teachers at a nearby school.
GOLODRYGA: Over the weekend, President Trump claimed Iran was responsible for the deadly attack, but an analysis by experts appears to show the
munition in the video is consistent with an American BGM or U.S. Tomahawk land attack missile.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth tells CBS News that the U.S. is still investigating the incident.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAJOR GARRETT, CBS NEWS CHIEF WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Have you made any conclusions about whether or not the United States inadvertently or not was
involved in any military strike at that school?
PETE HEGSETH, U.S. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: Well, we're still investigating, and that's where I'll leave it today.
But what I will emphasize to you and to the world is that unlike our adversaries, the Iranians, we never target civilians.
GARRETT: There was a report late in the week from two officials that it was likely U.S. involvement. Is that report false?
HEGSETH: I've already said we're investigating.
GARRETT: If you could tell the American public it definitively was not us, you would tell us, wouldn't you?
HEGSETH: I would -- I would say that it's being investigated, which is the only answer I'm prepared to give.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: CNN's Isobel Yeung has more on this story for us.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ISOBEL YEUNG, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Just over a week after a strike killed scores of students in Iran's Minab, it seems more and more
likely that the U.S. was responsible.
A new satellite image shows an Iranian Revolutionary Guards base and an elementary school in Southern Iran. Here, you see craters in several of the
buildings, including the school. They were hit in their exact centers, suggesting precision strikes. Experts say, a wall separates the school and
the base.
Satellite images from December show dozens of people in what appears to be a handball court at the school.
Reuters now reports that U.S. Military investigators believe U.S. forces were responsible, though they haven't yet reached a final conclusion.
N.R. JENZEN-JONES, DIRECTOR, ARMAMENT RESEARCH SERVICES: It paints a picture of multiple simultaneous or near simultaneous strikes. And it looks
like these were delivered with explosive munitions, probably air-delivered.
I think the most likely scenario in this case is that it's a U.S. or Israeli airstrike going on awry. It's probably a targeting failure
somewhere in the targeting cycle and intelligence failure.
YEUNG (voice-over): The Israeli military say they weren't operating in the area.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: To date, we've hit over 2,000 targets.
YEUNG (voice-over): American military officials say they carried out extensive strikes in this area and released this map showing strikes in
Southern Iran. The base and the school in Minab are located here.
HEGSETH: We, of course, never target civilian targets, but we're -- we're taking a look and investigating that.
JENZEN-JONES: The damage we've seen is quite significant. And it's unlikely it was something like an air defense missile fired by the Iranians, for
example.
YEUNG: When we try to assess who is responsible for airstrikes, we typically try to examine the weaponry fragments left behind. But in this
instance, there's an internet blackout in Iran. It's been really difficult to obtain that. And so, this investigation is still not conclusive.
Isobel Yeung, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ASHER: All right. In response to CNN's findings, the U.S. military spokesperson said it would be inappropriate to comment given the incident
is still under investigation.
GOLODRYGA: For more on this, let's bring in U.S. Army retired Lieutenant General Mark Schwartz. He's also serves as a CNN military analyst. Thank
you so much, General, for joining us.
Listen, we know that accidents, tragedies happen in war. No one is accusing the United States, at least no serious person, if the United States was
behind the strike of doing this deliberately or intentionally. But, of course, that is how Iran is spinning it right now, not -- despite the fact
that they themselves have thousands of lives in terms of blood on their hands.
But from what you're seeing from Pete Hegseth and how the United States is responding to this thus far, does that bring you or give you any cause for
concern? What should be the appropriate response, aside from we're conducting investigation?
LT. GENERAL MARK SCHWARTZ (RET.), CNN MILITARY ANALYST: Well, I-- I think that what is happening now, Central Command is certainly doing, you know,
an intensive investigation.
I've personally been involved with these of potential civilian casualty, you know, occurring or allegations and gone through that entire
investigative process. It does take some time. And as it was reported right before I came on, we -- we don't have the benefit of actually doing on-the-
ground battle damage assessment to look at the shrapnel that, you know, and actually assess the type of munition.
But, you know, based on what has been put out thus far, and you -- you see the precision fire that came into all those structures around the, you
know, the girl's school, it is consistent with the types of targeting and weapon earring that -- that we -- we do and have done in the past. We being
the United States.
[12:15:15]
So, I do think it's important, you know, to allow for the investigation process to take place. And as important, the transparency once the
investigation is concluded is extremely important.
You know, the -- I think the -- the quick response by the president after the transfer, dignified transfer ceremony on Air Force One the other day
with the secretary in the background, you know, I think the point was being made, hey, we don't deliberately target civilians and we don't.
Certainly, it's not part of our rules of engagement in any circumstance, but I do think it's quick to say that it wasn't us. We -- we owe that due
diligence that we typically do in the United States military.
So, I think it's good that we're still looking at this and -- and keeping this, you know, at the forefront given everything else that's been going on
over the course of the last week, and I guess about eight days now since the operation's commenced.
ASHER: So, Mark, explain to us how does a mistake like this, and this is quite a great mistake, how does a mistake like this actually happen?
SCHWARTZ: Well, part of it is you make your -- the intelligence that you have in terms of -- before a target is struck typically, especially a
deliberate target, they have what's called a pattern of life. So you look at the activity that's going on. If you have the ability to, you know,
observe it either through satellite still imagery or, you know, a full motion video, real -- almost near real time video. So potentially, we
didn't have that ability, whoever struck this school.
But, you know, historically and certainly in -- in my experience, you -- you have that as you're trying to build up, you know, the level of
confidence that the targets that you are striking are in fact viable military targets.
But sometimes you don't have perfect intelligence and accidents happen. I personally have approved strikes when I was in service that resulted in the
loss of -- of civilian life. And it's tragic, obviously.
But, you know, the transparency of what occurred and how it occurred and the lessons learned so that ideally you can reduce, you're never going to
eliminate but reduce the likelihood that it could happen again are extremely important.
GOLODRYGA: General, with this war now entering its 10th day and expanding in the region, you see Gulf member countries on the receiving end of
hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones that have been sent from Iran since this war began. And now for the second time, Turkey has actually shot
down a missile from Iran.
How concerning is that to you that this could, at some point, bring in other NATO members and then perhaps even trigger an Article Five type of
scenario?
SCHWARTZ: Well, that potential is certainly there. And it could be offered in the coming days particularly when you look at the amount of maritime
assets and air assets that are going to be required to open up the Strait of Hormuz again. Now, that is going to be an intensive operation.
And while the U.S. has, you know, a lot of capability in the region right now during the course of this or in support of this -- this war, there are
still additional assets that are needed.
We haven't seen Yemen come into, you know, into the fray yet, but I will not be surprised if that happens in the coming days, particularly as we
look to open the Strait of Hormuz and try to provide maritime and air escort for ships that are trying to transit that very tight choke points.
So that'll -- that'll open up other areas of vulnerability because we can't, we being the United States, can't be everywhere all the time. It's a
vast area to cover both at sea and in the air.
GOLODRYGA: Yes. And we know how costly these interceptors are. And at some point, there does come the concern about whether or not the U.S. has enough
interceptors to sustain potentially weeks long war, and as you're right to note, the Houthis have yet to enter the picture as well, though we have
seen Hezbollah join.
Mark Schwartz -- General Mark Schwartz, thank you so much for your time. Appreciate it.
SCHWARTZ: Thank you.
ASHER: Thank you.
All right. Still to come on "One World," save our girls. The cry from soccer fans for raising concerns about the Iranian women's team after a
match in Australia. Now, we hear new details about some of the players.
GOLODRYGA: And later, hopeful for a better future but worried about what may come next. CNN talks to Iranians living in Los Angeles about the
announcement of the country's new Supreme Leader and what that might mean.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:20:23]
GOLODRYGA: All right. To new developments around the Iranian women's football team, who have been competing in the women's Asian Cup in
Australia.
Now following concerns for their safety, U.S. President Trump says that he is willing to grant the players' asylum if Australia does not do so.
ASHER: Yes. Supporters gathered around their bus after the team's final game on Sunday shouting, "Save our girls to police."
Christina Macfarlane is following this story from London.
And, Christina, we have been taken with these girls in their bravery after what was notable and their lack of participating in the national anthem
last week, now, this new reporting.
Just give us the latest. And has Australia actually made a statement as to whether or not they will give them asylum?
CHRISTINA MACFARLANE, CNN SENIOR SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Well, on that last point, Bianna, no, they have not. They have not said anything publicly just
yet. But as you say, developments have been coming thick and fast on this story today. And I've been speaking to sources who are close to the
players.
You'll remember, of course, after they took that stance not to sing the national anthem, Iranian state T.V. came out and branded them as traitors
saying they were the pinnacle of dishonor and pressure have been growing on the Australian government since then to provide them asylum to not have
them sent back to Iran. And there were questions too as to whether the players themselves would seek asylum after their play was done in
Australia.
Well, today, we heard that five players are now safe with the Australian police having left the team and the team hotel. And they are saying that
they do not want to return to Iran.
This tournament has been incredibly fraught for these players. We know that they have been closely monitored by the IRGC. And in fact, one of the
travelling members of the team, a man that is thought to be affiliated with the IRGC. And we know that their phones have been tapped coming into this
tournament.
And now many of them are facing an impossible decision. The decision to go home and to be punished or even honestly face death because that is the
charge for -- for treason or to stay and risk the fact that their families, their loved ones, might also face similar consequences.
And I was told by a source earlier today that three of those five players have said that their families have actually been threatened already back on
-- on the -- on the ground at home in Iran.
So you can just see how difficult, fraught, and urgent the situation is there on the ground right now.
GOLODRYGA: It is indeed and notable that the president said that he would offer them asylum here in the United States. And I would imagine that there
are -- there's a huge number of Americans who would welcome them with open arms after we saw their bravery this week.
[12:25:07]
Christina Macfarlane, thank you so much.
ASHER: All right. Still to come, celebrations in Iran, but a very different scene in other parts of the world. Ahead, what Iranians in London's little
Tehran district are saying about their country's new supreme leader.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GOLODRYGA: Welcome back to "One World." I'm Bianna Golodryga.
ASHER: And I'm Zain Asher.
Iran is signaling to the world that hardliners remain in charge in a defiant message to U.S. President Donald Trump.
Mojtaba Khamenei, the late supreme leader's son, is taking over the role his father held for decades. And many Iranians took to the streets in
celebration after the announcement. Iran had called on the nation to gather to pledge their allegiance to him.
ASHER: But reaction around the world was much more tempered. In London's little Tehran district, the scene was strikingly different with some
Iranians wondering, what exactly will change?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MEYSAM AGHAKHANI, SHOP WORKER: My personal perspective or my personal wish is to, you know, get rid of this one as well. And that's for the good of
the world, good of the Middle East.
NASER KAYVANI, OWNER OF DRY CLEANER: For my view, I think it's nothing happening. Maybe it's getting worse because this person is same of Ali
Khamenei. It's not so different.
AZAM KALANAKI, OWNER OF DRY CLEANER: In my opinion, he is not qualified -- qualified for this position. I think he is very similar to his father. And
he -- and has the same way, think. He believes that religion and politics should be together in the government.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: Fearful of what could come next, but also hopeful for change. America is host to a large Iranian community living in the diaspora,
particularly in Southern California.
[12:30:05]
ASHER: And while many are grateful for the U.S. and Israeli war that killed Iran's supreme leader, they're also worried about what comes next.
CNN's Julia Vargas Jones has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JULIA VARGAS JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This is one of the largest communities of Iranians in the United States. It's the second weekend in a
row where this community has come out to say thank you to President Trump and to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for striking Iran. We were
here when they first heard about the death of the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei last week.
Right now, what they're saying, what they're chanting is long lived the shah. They're referring, of course, to Reza Pahlavi, the son of the last
shah of Iran, who many here believe should take power and lead Iran into a democratic era.
Now, there is, like any diaspora, a variety of opinions. And ever since last week, as we're approaching now eight, nine days of this war, a slight
change and a little bit more subtlety, more nuanced on how Iranian- Americans here in Los Angeles are seeing this war. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Almost the same time I'm fighting against this regime, I was an anti-war activist. So that's very complicated. Of course, from the
killing of the Khamenei, I am excited. I cannot hide my feeling. World with no Khamenei is better world for everyone. But at the same time, I don't
like the war.
Yes. Right now, that's already -- that's -- we are moving forward. Khamenei is dead. That's a good thing. They're clear to victory and lead.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Trump, although we are thankful to him, it took him a little bit of long, right? And then Iranians lost a lot of lives. And I
think now, he has to finish it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VARGAS JONES: And those mixed feelings, those mixed emotions, they really percolate throughout the Iranian to ask for not just here in Los Angeles,
but across the United States.
We've spoken to people who say they are very hopeful for this moment. They hope that this could bring change for Iran, but they're not very happy
about how this is being carried out.
One of the things that I've heard from multiple Iranian Americans is that they're just very suspicious of the motivations for the United States and
Israel to carry out this war.
Now, and they say they're fearful of what could come next morning, that they are afraid that their country could become a next Iraq or Afghanistan.
But still here in Los Angeles, the overall feeling of -- of this particular part of the diaspora is of hope for change in Iran.
Julia Vargas Jones, CNN, Los Angeles.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ASHER: All right. Maziar Bahari is a journalist and founder of the news website, IranWire. He joins us live now from London.
So just walk us through the overall reaction of this selection by the Iranian regime that it was going to be the Ayatollah's son chosen. You
know, a lot of people are saying that he's simply not qualified for this position. Yes, while his father was alive, he was in charge of a lot of the
sort of political and security affairs. He's obviously very close with the Revolutionary Guard Corps.
But your -- your take specifically on -- on this selection and what it signals about how Iran is willing to fight this.
MAZIAR BAHARI, JOURNALIST AND FOUNDER, IRANWIRE: Well, I think the regime officials, the Revolutionary Guards and many senior clerics, they were
surprised by the scope of the protest in January, last January, January 2026, and also by the massacre that happened during those protests and then
a number of the people were killed. So they were shocked by that.
And then that shock was followed by the bombing by -- by U.S. and Israeli forces and killing the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. So they're still in a state
of shock and they cannot think properly.
So the easiest thing to do for them, the most expedient thing to do for them to do the easiest and the most predictable thing to do, which was
choosing Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Ali Khamenei.
Mojtaba Khamenei is not qualified because he's not a high-ranking ayatollah. He's definitely not an object of emulation. He does not have
followers. Most probably, they're going to make him a grand ayatollah very soon if he survives an Israeli assassination, of course, and he will have
some followers like the -- the way that his father was made into grand ayatollah back in 1989.
But one thing that's very important about the supreme leader in Iran is that he's not only a political leader, he's also a religious leader. And
Shia Islam has many ceremonies. It's very much like Catholicism. It is full of rituals. It is full of ceremonies.
[12:35:05]
And the person who is the supreme leader of Iran should not only be a political leader, but also has to be a religious leader, and as a result,
has to be a performer.
The late rites of Ali Khamenei, Khamenei 101, I think, we can't call it. He was a -- he was a good orator. He was someone who was interested in poetry.
He knew how to use words.
And as a result of that, after he became supreme leader in 1989, he managed to charm many people into becoming part of his followers. He managed to
talk to different people. He managed to have dialogue with different factions within the Islamic Republic establishment.
Mojtaba Khamenei has been acting in the shadows for the past 56 years. He's a 56 years old. And as a result of that, he's not experienced in terms of
speaking in public. There is not even a single public speech by Mojtaba Khamenei.
There's only one video, very bad quality video of him addressing some of his students in the seminary. So as a result of that, he's not only not
qualified, but he's also not experienced.
And as a result of that, he has to rely heavily on the Revolutionary Guards in order to prop him up and in order to get rid of his enemies.
I would think that if he survived an Israeli and American attack, that's a big if, of course, he has to do something drastic about the opposition
within the Islamic Republic establishment, something very similar to what Adolf Hitler did in 1934, a year after he came to power in -- in the night
that they called The Night of Long Knives, during which he killed hundreds of Nazi officials and S.A. commanders in order to establish his own
authority.
Mojtaba Khamenei, in order to be able to lead Iran, he has to do something like that.
GOLODRYGA: Yes. And he's not an ayatollah. I mean, there are so many credentials that he lacks. And we do know that his father was very much
opposed to dynastic rule. So in a sense, we've gone from one monarchy now to a theocratic monarchy with his son now being appointed.
But you make an interesting point about his relationship and how close he has been in all of these years cultivating with the IRGC.
So, does that suggest to you that this appointment was an act of desperation or basically that he is just the figurehead of the IRGC that
itself now controls the country?
BAHARI: He's been close to a part of the IRGC because IRGC is not a monolith. There are different units, units within the IRGC. IRGC is not
only a military organization, it is also an industrial organization. There are very rich IRGC commanders. IRGC also has universities, hospitals, et
cetera.
But Mojtaba Khamenei is strategically has been close to the IRGC intelligence unit and also very close to the current IRGC commander Ahmad
Vahidi, who is also one of the people responsible for bombing of the Jewish center in Argentina in early 1990s.
So Mojtaba Khamenei is close to a very powerful faction within the IRGC. And they're going to help him and support him as much as possible.
But there are other parts of the IRGC. IRGC commanders who have their own aspirations. There are other politicians in Iran, like the current chief of
the security -- National Security Council of Iran, Ali Larijani, the former president Hassan Rouhani, who has -- he also has aspirations to become the
supreme leader.
The Khamenei family, the grandson of the late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the revolution, they have their own aspirations. And they're
going to do their best in order to undermine Mojtaba Khamenei's authority in order to make him as ineffective as possible.
And as a result of that, if again he survives the -- an Israeli assassination, he has to do something very drastic in order to put them in
their place and continue with his leadership.
ASHER: Just in terms of the U.S.'s approach here, I mean, obviously, you have President Trump saying that he should be actively involved in who
Iran's next leader should be.
And then on top of that, there is some reporting that it is highly likely, if not just sort of highly possible, that the U.S. was responsible for that
strike on the girls' school in Iran that killed almost 200 young girls. And obviously, the U.S. has said there's an -- there's an investigation going
on. Some people feel though the Americans have been quite dismissive of this and they're not sort of taking it seriously enough.
[12:40:12]
I mean, this is so tragic just at the onset of this war, not even two days into this war to have this kind of mishap and mistake.
In terms of how the Iranian people feel about those two things, this idea that the Americans who are supposed to be their savior, especially people
who are against the regime, might now be responsible for this tragic killing.
You can't generalize with over 90 million people, I understand that, but how might that change the calculation and the sentiment among Iranians?
BAHARI: It's not going to change the calculation that much because people, like I spoke earlier, but officials being shocked about the massacre that
happened in January earlier this year.
People of Iran, they still are in shock about that massacre because tens of thousands of people were killed. Everyone in Iran knows someone who was
killed at that time.
And they are also understanding, this is a regime that does not care about people's lives. This is a regime that puts schools next to military bases,
that has military bases in residential areas.
Right now, when the American and Israeli forces are bombing military bases, many of the military units are sheltered in schools, they are sheltered in
stadiums, they are in sports arena, in different civilian places.
Although it is very tragic that those innocent girls were killed, most probably by American bombs from what we know, but many people in Iran, they
blame the Iranian government for its warmongering. And also because they know this regime, they know that for the past 47 years, it did not care
about these lives of most Iranians. It - it's -- it does not even care about the lives of its own supporters.
So most people still, they -- they blame the Iranian, the Islamic Republic government for what happened to that school and also for any atrocity that
happens.
But that is the situation at the moment. If this war continues, if mistakes such as bombing the oil depots the other night, why the Israeli forces
happen again and again, Iranians will change their minds and they are going to rally around the regime.
And also on top of that, there are some talks of supporting secessionist groups, the separatist groups in Iran, the Kurds, the Balochis (ph), the
Arabs, the Azerbaijanis. And that is also going to unite some people around the regime because the -- the national integrity, the -- the geographic
integrity, the territorial integrity of Iran is very important for people, all around the country.
ASHER: All right. Maziar Bahari. Thank you. Thank you so much for your perspective. We appreciate it very, very much.
We'll be right back with more after this short break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:45:07]
ASHER: All right. Oil prices are surging as the war with Iran raises fears about disruptions to Middle Eastern energy. The price crude climbed above
$100 a barrel for the first time since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
G7 finance ministers are holding an emergency meeting to discuss a possible joint release on strategic oil reserves to stabilize markets.
GOLODRYGA: Meanwhile, President Trump dismissed concerns over rising oil prices. He said, quote, "Short-term oil prices, which will drop rapidly
when the destruction of the Iranian nuclear threat is over, is a very small price to pay for USA and world safety and peace. Only fools would think
differently."
ASHER: Yes. The head of the International Monetary Fund is warning the war in the Middle East could push global inflation higher.
Kristalina Georgieva says, if oil prices rise 10 percent and stay elevated, global inflation could increase by about four-tenths of a percentage point.
She's urging policymakers to think of the unthinkable and prepare for it.
GOLODRYGA: Around 8,000 passengers have been stuck in Qatar since the conflict began. Well, now nearly two weeks later, airlines are beginning to
reopen some routes.
CNN's Bijan Hosseini is at Doha's Hamad International Airport, where Qatar Airways has started to offer flights for travelers desperate to get home.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BIJAN HOSSEINI, CNN SENIOR PRODUCER (voice-over): At Doha's Hamad International Airport, departure boards that sat frozen for more than a
week are beginning to move again.
The regional conflict forced Qatar to close its airspace after repeated missile and drone attacks.
HOSSEINI (voice-over): For most of these travelers, their stay here in Doha wasn't supposed to last this long. A lot of them were just transiting
through 10 days ago before finding themselves in the middle of an escalating regional crisis. But now, limited flight corridors are opening
and they're finally able to go home.
HOSSEINI: Among the passengers leaving today, Derek and Madeleine.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is your baggage.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think so.
HOSSEINI (voice-over): Their flight home to London couldn't come soon enough. Derek has a heart condition and his medication soon ran out.
DEREK, TRAVELER: We had no complaints. Everything is fine until my tablets ran out. So we're now getting really urgent. And I've already missed two
appointments in England through the delay. So I've got two serious appointments I missed. Yes, so we're hoping to go today.
HOSSEINI (voice-over): The couple say help from home has been hard to find.
MADELEINE: I registered for the U.K. government and we had an email, an acknowledgement, and that's been it communication with them has been
nailed. Yes, not impressed.
HOSSEINI (voice-over): Madeleine says many people have tried to make the unexpected stay a bit easier. Qatar is covering hotel stays and providing
food vouchers for stranded travelers.
MADELEINE: It's been lovely.
DEREK: Lovely.
MADELEINE: The people couldn't be more helpful. They're lovely. Hold up.
DEREK: It's (INAUDIBLE).
MADELEINE: Sorry.
HOSSEINI (voice-over): Derek and Madeleine are just two of the roughly 8,000 passengers who were stranded in Qatar, according to government
figures.
HOSSEINI: What have the last 10 days been like?
DARIA, TRAVELER: Nervous. Because almost every day, we got the alarms on our phones, like saying that it's dangerous and don't go out from the
buildings.
HOSSEINI (voice-over): Others say disruption has put their lives and livelihoods on hold.
MOHAMMED, TRAVELER: I was trying to connect with my company, you know, like I can't work. They give me a leave of absence. One week notice and then
we're going to terminate to work, right?
So there's a lot of pressure from different points from my perspective, but I'm -- I'm sure other people have the same issues as well. Yes, it's
terrifying. You know, in addition to seeing all the rockets above your head.
HOSSEINI (voice-over): Officials stressed these flights are operating under temporary authorization and they don't mean that normal commercial
operations have resumed.
The fragile reopening also comes as tensions across the region remain high. But for Derek and Madeleine, today is about one thing, finally, boarding a
flight home to London.
[12:50:03]
DEREK: Thank you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ASHER: All right. Some breaking news into CNN. President Trump is going to be holding a press conference in about four and a half hours from now,
expecting to get a lot of questions about the war in Iran, particularly the selection of Khamenei's son as the supreme leader. Many Gulf Arab states
are reporting fresh aerial attacks today as well.
GOLODRYGA: Yes. Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry says Iran is attacking them due to, quote, baseless claims. This includes what it calls false
allegations that fighter jets and refueling aircraft had left the kingdom to participate directly in the war.
So let's discuss more with Nic Robertson who is joining us live in the Saudi capital of Riyadh.
And, Nic, thus far, if Iran's calculation had been that by attacking its Gulf neighbors, that that would put more pressure on the United States to
end this war from them specifically, well, 10 days in thus far, that -- that has been quite a miscalculation on the part of the Iranians. And in
fact, it's only generated a lot of anger and frustration from these nations at Iran.
Just tell us about the latest threats back and forth between the Saudis and the Iranians.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Yes. And -- and I think it's the GCC hit -- ripped slightly larger as well here, along with Jordan,
that are trying to sort of prepare some language to put before the U.N. Security Council, which really reflects the language that we've heard from
the Saudi Foreign Ministry today, which is Iran's actions, which have been targeting civilian infrastructure, which includes, they say, airports and
oil infrastructure, contravenes international humanitarian law.
And they say Iran is doing this knowingly on a false pretest, the one that you just outlined. And -- and they've been saying Saudi, specifically has
been saying for a week, Saudi Arabia is not a base for attack against Iran, but that anything military, aircraft, defensive systems that are operating
out of Saudi -- Saudi bases are purely defensive, defending against Iran's missiles, against those civilian infrastructure across the whole GCC.
And the message is, you said very simply, the Saudi ministry of foreign affairs is saying, Iran is not acting wisely, that this will lead to a
greater widening and escalation of the conflict. And in that scenario, it's Iran that will come off worse.
[12:55:02]
Now, all the Gulf states here don't want to get drawn into the war, but it's become absolutely clear to them that is Iran's intent to hit them
where it hurts, even when there's no pretext, no -- where it's against international law and there's no pretext for doing it. So it's a strong
diplomatic message that's being sent here.
ASHER: And, Nic, just sort of quickly, in terms of over the weekend when Iran's president basically apologized initially for attacking Gulf states
in -- in the sort of one week that the war had happened. Obviously, the attacks continued after that. Explain what that tells you about the rift
within Iran's leadership.
ROBERTSON: It -- it certainly showed at that moment. It put President Pezeshkian in a position of almost sort of challenging the -- the hard
lines, the IRGC, the -- the -- the -- the proxies, the regional proxies, challenging them to follow his word. And within a few hours, they didn't.
And that does show that political rift against the IRGC.
And the guests you had on speaking before in detail about the new supreme leader really laid out how much he leans in towards the IRGC. And for the
IRGC, he's very much the front person that they want, even though he lacks theocratic legitimacy.
ASHER: All right. Nic Robertson, live for us there. Thank you so much.
GOLODRYGA: All right. That does it for "One World" today. I'm Bianna Golodryga.
ASHER: I'm Zain Asher. Appreciate you watching. "Amanpour" is up next with Bianna at the top of the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
END
