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The Situation Room

Trump Mulling Attack on Iran; Celebrating Juneteenth; Interview With Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA). Aired 11:30a-12:00p ET

Aired June 19, 2025 - 11:30   ET

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

[11:30:03]

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: And that may reflect a broader problem of their arsenal now depleted, surely, after multiple days of Israel having air superiority over Tehran, Israel claiming it's taken about a half to two-thirds of Iran's missile launchers, and the increased damage to all of its military command.

It's clear today that they're on the third commander in a week of the Revolutionary Guard Corps' land forces. So, so much moving inside of Iran, clearly, diplomacy, if it's handled in a way that it doesn't make Tehran look weak, would be favorable to them if it gets the Israelis to stop their military action.

I think that's what we're looking at the germs of potentially in Geneva. Whether or not the U.S. provides some kind of position that's palatable to the Europeans to present, we don't know, although I was told by that same diplomat that, as we can see here, there's close coordination between the Europeans and the U.S. about what happens tomorrow in Geneva.

PAMELA BROWN, CNN HOST: What is the likelihood that Iran has changed its stance, that it really wants to make a deal here since this conflict has escalated?

WALSH: Yes, I mean, I think it's really Iran's reality that's changed from a week ago.

A week ago, they were talking diplomacy about whether or not they would permit giving up enrichment, was a sort of part of the negotiation process. But now it seems that even parts of their nuclear facilities that were inactive and could potentially have been restarted to assist in the creation of plutonium like Arak that was hit in the last 24 hours, they're being targeted by the Israelis.

Natanz, one of their key enrichment plants, sustained significant damage. We're talking about a nuclear program that is nothing like it was a week ago. And that will surely be reflected in any kind of discussions about a diplomatic off-ramp here. But probably more tellingly is the massive damage done to Iran's military command.

I mean, we forget now, but just six days ago we were going through lists of key military commanders, nuclear scientists who've been killed in the first wave of Israeli airstrikes just last Friday. And that's now, of course, compounded by multiple bits of pinpoint targeting by the Israelis, who now have free rein in the skies.

So it'll be interesting to see how Iran presents its diplomatic position. Clearly, everyone recognizing how their real military capabilities and political standing has certainly slipped after this kind of damage. So do they accept some kind of deal that enables them to claim, well, OK, we have given up our nuclear ambitions here, but at least the Israelis will stop bombing and we can keep parts of our military infrastructure?

Or are they going to get pushed into something slightly less palatable? Because, clearly, Israel at this point has the military upper hand, Pamela.

BROWN: All right, Nick Paton Walsh, thanks so much -- Wolf.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST: And just ahead, Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna will join us here in THE SITUATION ROOM. He's teaming up with a House Republican in an effort to limit the president's ability to strike Iran.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:37:22]

BROWN: And we have more breaking news.

As President Trump weighs possible military options against Iran, we are learning of new measures taking place in the region. Two defense officials tell CNN that the Pentagon has moved some planes and ships in the Middle East. And the military has also positioned extra supplies of blood in the event of any attack on U.S. forces.

We have also learned the military is evacuating all non-shelter planes from its sprawling base in Qatar and moving U.S. Navy ships stationed in Bahrain. One of the defense officials tell us that the moves are precautionary -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Joining us now, California Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna.

Congressman, thanks so much for joining us.

What's your reaction to these developments? How concerned are you right now that this conflict between Israel and Iran is about to escalate with U.S. military involvement?

REP. RO KHANNA (D-CA): Well, I have a lot of confidence in our military, as the senior person the Armed Services Committee. They are just doing their job to be prepared and make sure that our troops are protected.

But I have made it clear with Representative Thomas Massie that, before we take any action in Iran, we need to have authorization by Congress. Now, I believe that it is a national security interest of the United States for Iran not to have a bomb. But I don't believe that will be achieved by the United States getting dragged into a war with Iran. And I hope that the Congress will vote against that.

BLITZER: You don't think, if the U.S. got directly involved militarily with those B-2 stealth bombers and those heavy buster bombing -- very heavy bombs, they could destroy Iran's nuclear enrichment program deep underground in those mountains?

KHANNA: Wolf, it may, but we don't know. We don't know how deep underground Iran actually has those bombs. We do not know how much spread out Iran has that capability.

And we do not know how quickly they would be able to rebuild, given that they have the centrifuges and the know-how. The estimates range from one to three years. And that is not a solution to have Iran denied the capability of the bomb, especially because, if we do this, they're definitely going to withdraw from the NPT and kick out all inspectors.

I had supported President Obama's approach, which also I had supported President Trump's approach. There has to be a diplomatic solution. Iran gives up any aspiration to a bomb, and, in turn, we do things with sanctions and letting them back into the nations -- civilized nations.

BLITZER: I know you mentioned you indicated this bipartisan effort that's under way right now up on Capitol Hill. You're part of it. You're cosponsoring various aims to try to limit President Trump's ability to get directly involved militarily in this conflict.

[11:40:10]

If this legislation doesn't advance, are there any other options for Congress to get more involved?

KHANNA: Wolf, this is really our chance. I mean, the Constitution says Congress decides on war and peace. Thomas Massie and I have introduced a resolution of the House. Tim Kaine and Bernie Sanders have introduced one in the Senate.

We should have a vote on this. Some say, well, the president can just strike, as you mentioned, with the B-2 bombers Fordow and that's not really a war. But most military experts believe, if we do that, Iran would strike our troops, would retaliate. Then we would have to respond. And that would be a war. And this is a time for Congress to weigh in.

By the way, one other point. It cost us with Iraq $3.6 trillion, 10 percent of our national debt. For those Republicans concerned about the deficit and the deficit in reconciliation, a war with Iran could be potentially very costly.

BLITZER: Have you received support from other Republicans, Congressman, who oppose this war to support your resolution, including those so-called MAGA Republicans?

KHANNA: Well, certainly, there have been influencers like Steve Bannon, Tucker Carlson who have -- there are people like Marjorie Taylor Greene who have expressed their concerns on social media.

We are hoping some of them will join the resolution. What they say is, it's premature, President Trump hasn't engaged in any strikes. But this is the time for Congress to weigh in. If President Trump does engage in a strike and Iran retaliates, we're going to be in a war. And then, at that point, it doesn't really matter much what Congress says.

There's no congressperson, including me, who would say, do not hit back if Iran hits our troops. So right now is the time. And I want to make it clear, Wolf, I do not believe Iran can have a bomb. The question here is, how do we deny them that bomb for the long term? I believe military strikes may get us a year, three years. It's not the solution.

I actually support President Trump's initial approach of diplomacy to get a deal.

BLITZER: So you think diplomacy is still possible?

KHANNA: I do. President Trump thought that up until a few weeks ago. President Obama had a JCPOA, where he got assurances that Iran was not going to develop enriched uranium to get to a bomb, and, in turn, we were going to reduce some of the sanctions.

Now, people thought, OK, maybe that deal was not strict enough, the inspection wasn't enough to ensure that. And so President Trump came in and said, I'm going to get a better deal. And I don't think we should have ripped up the original deal. We should have strengthened it. Now President Trump said, he can get a better deal.

Fine. He has my support to do that. And I had supported him a month ago to do that. He says he's the ultimate dealmaker. That would be a long-term solution. Otherwise, I guess my question is, what are we going to do? Every one, three years, when they redevelop capability, are we going to go bomb them? I don't think that's what the American people want.

BLITZER: All right, Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna, thanks so much for joining us.

KHANNA: Thank you. Appreciate it, Wolf.

BLITZER: And we will be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:47:33]

BROWN: For Juneteenth, we have a SITUATION ROOM special report.

Today marks the 160th anniversary of the day when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, learned of their freedom.

BLITZER: The city recognized as the birthplace of Juneteenth plans to host events commemorating the day, including a parade and a festival. Take a look at this, looking at live pictures right now at the 54th annual Juneteenth Parade in Milwaukee.

It's the nation's longest running Juneteenth celebration. Juneteenth is also very deeply personal for two remarkable women we're highlighting today.

For more, let's go right now to CNN's Victor Blackwell in Atlanta.

Victor, tell us more about the deep-rooted connection you uncovered.

VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You know, Wolf, Pamela, happy Juneteenth, by the way.

We initially were going to travel separately to these two women and tell their stories just in one package. But they then became curious about the other, so we helped them meet for the first time, really strangers connected by history, General Order No. 3 and June 19, 1865. Watch.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLACKWELL (voice-over): Kelley Tealer has been to this church before, but the person waiting for her on this day is a first, not just for her. There's never been a meeting like this.

KELLEY DIXON-TEALER, DIXON FAMILY HISTORIAN: I'm jittery right now. I'm excited, and I hope they're just as excited to meet me.

BLACKWELL: Now to appreciate the excitement, you need to know Kelley's story. For years, she's been researching her genealogy.

DIXON-TEALER: That is a gift that keeps on giving. I don't sleep sometimes at night because I wake up trying to find more.

BLACKWELL: She used a Web site to trace her maternal line back to a man born about 1837 once enslaved and freed in Galveston, Texas.

DIXON-TEALER: Hawkins Wilson is my third great-grandfather on my mother's side.

BLACKWELL: Then she hit a wall, until a genealogist reached out to her with letters that Hawkins wrote in 1867. He was looking for long- separated relatives just a few years after emancipation.

DIXON-TEALER: "Dear sir, I'm anxious to learn about my sisters, from whom I have been separated many years."

BLACKWELL: But there was more.

DIXON-TEALER: Some of the details that was in the letters and those historians are the ones that told me that he was a part of the very first Juneteenth.

BLACKWELL: Not just at the inaugural Juneteenth celebration in 1866, but that he was also at Reedy Chapel on June 19, 1865, where enslaved people in Galveston learned for the first time that President Abraham Lincoln had freed them more than two years prior. [11:50:11]

Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, but, in Texas, enforcement was inconsistent. So Major General Gordon Granger and his troops were sent to Galveston to enforce General Order No. 3, which declared that, in Texas, all slaves are free.

And General Granger brings us to this woman waiting for Kelley at the front of the church.

CHAMPE GRANGER, GRANGER FAMILY HISTORIAN: He is my great-great- grandfather.

BLACKWELL: The general, as Champe Granger calls him, affirmed that Kelley's three-times great-grandfather was a free man at this very spot. Champe says the general was always president in her childhood home in portraits and through stories.

Granger was a 1st lieutenant during the Mexican-American war, Union general during the civil war.

(on camera): Did your father tell you the story of General Granger reading Order No. 3 here in Galveston?

GRANGER: No, he never did.

BLACKWELL: When did you learn of it?

GRANGER: It's been more recently. People have sent us articles about Juneteenth from different states.

And then this is his war service.

BLACKWELL (voice-over): She also has letters handwritten by the general, inherited treasures, but Champe is careful not to overstate the general's role on Juneteenth.

GRANGER: He was a Union soldier, so clearly he was not supportive of slavery, but he was doing his job. I don't want to give him too much credit.

BLACKWELL (on camera): You don't want to paint him as a civil rights icon.

GRANGER: Correct. Correct.

BLACKWELL (voice-over): And even with that context, Champe is looking forward to this meeting too.

GRANGER: I'm excited to hear their history. I love learning from other people and talking to people. And I hope I don't, like, get in your way, you know? I will try to stay to the side.

DIXON-TEALER: Hey, how are you?

BLACKWELL: But when the women meet for the first time, we stay out of the way, a few nerves at first, but then a conversation.

DIXON-TEALER: He was sold as a 6-year-old boy.

GRANGER: And they started the Freeman's board.

DIXON-TEALER: Thinking about where he started and then where he ended up.

GRANGER: Right. So who was he writing to?

DIXON-TEALER: It really started when both my grandparents were living.

GRANGER: He was brave. And I was talking to one of my family members last night.

DIXON-TEALER: And when we learn of him again, he's here in Galveston.

BLACKWELL: These descendants, these daughters of history, at the historic rebuilt Reedy Chapel, where their ancestors stood 160 years ago.

(on camera): Tell me about the first two minutes of conversation.

GRANGER: I want to go and have a glass of wine with her, right?

DIXON-TEALER: Exactly.

(LAUGHTER)

DIXON-TEALER: I almost didn't know what to expect, right, and just the nervousness behind that.

BLACKWELL: Because your ancestors were at this spot 160 years ago. How important is that story to share today?

DIXON-TEALER: I'm pushing back emotions. I'm sorry.

(LAUGHTER)

GRANGER: That's OK.

DIXON-TEALER: People are trying to silence us and silence the history. We cannot allow our history to be washed away.

GRANGER: And I would say I have had it easier because everything was dropped in my lap. And she's had to search and dig and look for everything.

DIXON-TEALER: It's important that we continue this conversation. It's important that I'm able to sit here with her.

GRANGER: My father was a history teacher, and he was also Gordon Granger IV. So it was everything to him. My father died a year ago. He was 96, but he lived to see Juneteenth become a holiday for the country. And that was amazing. BLACKWELL: What would your great-great-great-grandfather think about

this conversation?

DIXON-TEALER: You know, what I really believe that he would say is, thank you. Job well done.

BLACKWELL: Ah.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Thank you, and job well done to Victor as well, an excellent report. So emotional, yes.

BROWN: What a moving story. It's so emotional.

And to find these stories, Victor, and to bring these women together, it's just incredible what you did highlighting this and highlighting the history of their families. Tell us more about that conversation between them.

BLACKWELL: You know, as I said, there were a few nerves at first, and we backed away and kind of sat at the back of the sanctuary and let them talk. After the initial introductions, there were questions about families and what does your family think about what you found and have you found a picture of Hawkins and what's next?

And what's most important here is that my producer, Devon Sayers, has been in contact with Champe and Kelley. The conversation continues. They have still been speaking since the past couple of weeks that we shot that.

[11:55:02]

These conversations are difficult. Sometimes, they are uncomfortable, but they are necessary, especially, especially now.

BROWN: Yes, they really are.

BLITZER: Beautiful.

BROWN: Beautiful.

BLITZER: Good word.

BROWN: And what an important story on this Juneteenth.

BLITZER: Yes, special day.

BROWN: Victor Blackwell, thank you so much.

BLACKWELL: Thank you.

BROWN: You can catch Victor's show, first of all, every Saturday at 8:00 a.m. Eastern.

BLITZER: I watch it regularly. And, to our viewers, thanks very much for joining us this morning. You

can always keep up with us on social media @WolfBlitzer and @PamelaBrownCNN. We will see you back here tomorrow morning at 10:00 a.m. Eastern, every weekday morning.

BROWN: "INSIDE POLITICS" with Manu Raju is next after a short break.