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The Brief with Jim Sciutto
CNN International: Missiles Fires into Northern Israel; Trump Claims "We Won" in Iran; Israel Begins "Large-Scale" Strikes in Beirut Area; Major Airstrikes Hit Tehran; Source: Russia Giving Iran Advice on Drone Tactics; IEA Countries Agree to Historic Release of Oil Reserves; China Eyes Economic Risks as Middle East War Rages; Source: Iran's New Supreme Leader Injured on First Day of War. Aired 6-7p ET
Aired March 11, 2026 - 18:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[18:00:00]
ERICA HILL, CNN ANCHOR: Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us from around the world. I'm Erica Hill in New York. Jim Sciutto is off. You're
watching "The Brief."
Ahead this hour, Hezbollah firing a barrage of missiles into northern Israel as the Israeli military carries out large-scale strikes in the
Beirut area. President Trump declaring in just the last few minutes the U.S. has won the war with Iran. An exclusive CNN report, an intelligence
source says Russia is helping Iran with advanced drone tactics to hit U.S. and Gulf nation targets in the Middle East.
We do begin this hour with this expanding conflict between Iran, the U.S. and Israel. A new video to show you here. It's a barrage of missiles flying
from southern Lebanon into northern Israel. You can see a number of those missiles being intercepted. Across the border thick smoke blanketing Beirut
suburbs following new Israeli strikes.
Earlier, three ships were hit by projectiles. This happened near the Strait of Hormuz, according to the U.K.'s maritime agency, and three crew members
on board this Thai vessel remain unaccounted for at this hour. Iran, for its part, says it will target ports across the Gulf region if its own ports
are attacked. All of this coming as the U.S. military accuses Tehran of using civilian ports to conduct military operations.
And just a short time ago, President Trump claiming the U.S. has actually already won the war.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: Over the past 11 days, our military has virtually destroyed Iran. Tough country. Their air force is gone, totally
gone. That took that took the better part of about three hours. They no longer have radar. They don't have anti-aircraft equipment. They don't have
anything. Their missiles are down 90 percent. Their drones are down 85 percent. We're blowing up the factories where they're made left and right.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HILL: Jeremy Diamond is in Tel Aviv live for us another day. Quite a number of developments, Jeremy.
JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT: Yes, without a doubt. And we have been witnessing over the course of the last couple of hours an
intensification of this war, at least here in Israel, in particular in northern Israel, where there was a huge barrage of rockets that was fired
by Hezbollah. More than 100 rockets fired at the same time towards northern Israel, as well as being fired simultaneously as ballistic missiles from
Iran.
And this is something that we reported earlier tonight was expected, as two Israeli sources familiar with the matter told us that they expected a,
quote, "significant expansion" of attacks from Iran and Hezbollah. The Israeli prime minister even gathered with his security cabinet tonight to
talk about the issue, as we are witnessing certainly an intensification of the northern front, but also now the possibility of the Houthis in joining
this conflict as well. That group has stayed on the sidelines of this conflict so far, but now there are indications that the Houthis could
potentially fire missiles at Israel for the first time during this conflict.
But before we saw what we are seeing tonight, what we've been witnessing over the course of the last week and a half has been a new tactic by Iran,
and that is in the types of munitions that they are outfitting their ballistic missiles with. An Israeli military official telling me that about
half of those ballistic missiles are outfitted with cluster munitions, which are indiscriminate and intended to evade Israel's air defenses.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DIAMOND (voice-over): Their orange glow streaks across the night sky, each speck of light a small bomb carrying up to 11 pounds of explosives and
raining down indiscriminately, sometimes in densely populated areas. They are cluster munitions, and Iran is increasingly packing the heads of its
ballistic missiles with dozens of them, aiming to pierce Israel's sophisticated air defenses.
[18:05:00]
DIAMOND: One of those small bombs struck the roof of this residential building, and you can see the hole is only a few inches wide. And yet, this
is the kind of destruction that just one of those small bombs can cause, one of multiple impact points from a single missile.
DIAMOND (voice-over): We confirmed nine separate impacts from that one missile. They include this strike on a Tel Aviv car wash that severely
wounded one man and another in a neighboring suburb. The impacts are spread out across seven miles of mostly residential neighborhoods, illustrating
why using these munitions in populated areas violates international law. The next day, another cluster missile attack sends bomblets tumbling south
of Tel Aviv, at least five impacts scattered across eight miles. One bomb hit a street here. Nearby, two construction workers were killed, the first
fatalities in Israel caused by these weapons.
Israel's military, which has itself deployed cluster munitions in other wars, says about half of Iran's missile attacks use these munitions,
vehicles overturned, shrapnel slicing through anything near the impact. Iran's missiles are more destructive when equipped with a single large
warhead, but the clusters are much tougher to intercept.
TAL INBAR, SENIOR RESEARCH FELLOW, MISSILE DEFENSE ADVOCACY ALLIANCE: It's a mechanism to bypass active missile defense. In some cases, you can hit
the target with an arrow or with a TAD missile, for example, but the bomblets will continue and will get to the target.
DIAMOND (voice-over): The Israeli military does try and intercept these bomblets, expending a costly and finite quantity of interceptors in the
process.
DIAMOND: So, if there is a strategy here by Iran, that could be it to try and deplete Israel's air defenses, right?
INBAR: We know it. In some cases, the solution by Iran is a salvo of a very large quantity of even single warhead ballistic missiles and try to
fire and coordinate the launch sites. I think Iran doesn't have the capability at the moment of orchestrating a large barrage of ballistic
missiles. So, if Iran wants to cause a lot of damage, even with a small number of ballistic missiles, then a submunition missile, a missile with
bomblets, will be the weapon of choice.
DIAMOND (voice-over): The weapon of choice as Iran pursues a war of attrition, one missile at a time.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
DIAMOND (on camera): And indeed, we have been watching an intensification of these ballistic missile attacks carrying cluster munitions by Iran over
the course of this conflict so far. A new chapter in this war as Iran perhaps is ultimately seeking to wear down not only Israel's air defenses,
but also the resolve of its people.
Every time you have one of these ballistic missiles fired, particularly with a cluster munition that can spread out over several miles, that one
missile can send millions of people into bomb shelters. And certainly, that's been happening night after night, day after day over the course of
the last week and a half. Erica.
HILL: Yes, absolutely. And of course, we've seen it happen oftentimes in real time when you're on the air, you and Erin, as we saw last night, of
course. Talk to us more if you could as well, Jeremy, about, you know, Israel's promise to intensify its own strikes and what we talked about this
blanket of smoke over Beirut tonight. What more do we know about those strikes?
DIAMOND: Well, as Hezbollah began firing this very large barrage towards northern Israel tonight, Israel immediately hit back, not only in southern
Lebanon, where they said that they were striking at Hezbollah rocket launchers as they were preparing to launch more rockets into Israel, but
also in the southern suburbs of Beirut, known as Dahiya, that Hezbollah stronghold, where we witnessed these absolutely enormous explosions as a
result of Israeli airstrikes there. You can see those huge plumes of smoke rising up into the sky.
And it's also important to talk about beyond the impact on Hezbollah, the impact that all of this is happening -- having on the Lebanese people. The
Lebanese president said earlier this week that some 600,000 people are now displaced from their homes as a result of these Israeli strikes and
Hezbollah's rocket fire towards Israel. And these are people who are in some cases living on the streets now in dire humanitarian circumstances.
So, this whole war is having so many different snowball effects, both geopolitical, of course, financial, as we are watching with the oil
markets, but also, of course, in terms of the impact on people, average people in Lebanon, in Israel, across the Middle East right now who are
facing the consequences of the decisions of political leaders to go to war. Erica.
[18:10:00]
HILL: Absolutely. So, many lives disrupted and interrupted. Jeremy, appreciate it as always. Thank you. Inside Iran, a close call for CNN's
team on the ground as Tehran came under aerial bombardment on Tuesday. Take a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: OK. We're hearing jets overhead. There's anti-aircraft currently going out. We're
supposed to be getting out of here as fast as possible.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HILL: Tehran hammered by a fresh wave of strikes overnight. Fred Pleitgen does have more from Northern Iran. I do want to note CNN operates in Iran
with the permission of the Iranian government as required under local regulations. But CNN does maintain full editorial control over our
reporting.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PLEITGEN: The U.S. and Israel's massive aerial campaign seems to be continuing in full swing. Overnight, the position that we were, we heard
jets streaking overhead and then massive explosions in the distance. It's unclear what exactly the target was of that aerial raid that we witnessed,
but certainly it wasn't the only one in the past 24 hours.
In Tehran, the Iranian capital, there were major airstrikes also overnight and into the morning hours. Some of the targets appeared to have been in
the east of the city, in east Tehran. That's the area that's gotten hit quite a lot over the past couple of days. But then also once again, the
area around Mehrabad Airport, that's sort of the second airport of the Iranian capital that is very much within the city limits.
Also, outside of Tehran, there's a satellite town called Karaj, which has been hit in the past couple of days quite frequently, and apparently was
now hit once again. All this comes as the Iranian government is trying to project that it is in a strong position in its standoff with the U.S. and
Israel.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which is of course the elite wing of Iran's military, sent out a text message to people here inside Iran
detailing the costs to the United States of the ongoing war with Iran, the Iranians trying to say that they are the ones who are now in the driver's
seat.
Meanwhile, politicians here in Iran continue to say that right now the Iranians are not interested in negotiations with the United States and
instead are gearing up for what could be a very long war.
Fred Pleitgen, CNN in Northern Iran.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HILL: Well, the extent of Russia's involvement in Iran is coming to light a new exclusive CNN reporting which finds Russia is helping Iran with
advanced drone tactics to hit U.S. and Gulf targets in the Middle East. Now, this is according to a Western intelligence official who tells CNN
Moscow is giving Tehran detailed drone advice.
Iran has been using domestically designed jihad drones to penetrate the air defenses of Gulf nations, and these are the same type of drone being mass
produced by Russia and used in its war with Ukraine. Our chief international security correspondent, Nick Paton Walsh, has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Well, U.S. officials have said a few days ago that Russia was providing general
information to assist targeting of U.S. assets in the region. But a Western intelligence official I spoke to goes one stage further and says that while
this general assistance has turned into something they consider to be more concerning, and that they believe that Russia is providing targeting
strategies to Iran based on their experience inside of Ukraine.
Now, the official I spoke to didn't go into precise detail as to what these strategies indeed involve, but we know from seeing Russian drones in action
over Ukraine that Russia is employing all sorts of different tricks to try and get through Ukrainian air defenses. They often launch 1,000 drones in
one particular night against Ukraine. I've seen them on radars moving in one direction, suddenly changing, going in loops at times as well, anything
to evade Ukraine's constantly adapting air defenses.
And indeed, it's that issue, I think, of the adaptation that's key here, because we've seen Russia adapting its tactics, Ukraine adapting its
interceptors. It now has $2,000 cheap interceptors to hit the Shahids that cost $30,000 each. And the idea, I think, that concerns the official I
spoke to, is that you could potentially take that three years' worth of battlefield experience that Russia's gained in firing these Shaheds,
originally of Iranian design, now mass produced in Russia, these Shahed attack drones at Ukraine, and give it all to Iran in just a 10-day period,
giving them a massive advantage.
Bear in mind, too, that the innovation cycle on the Ukrainian front line is thought to be about six weeks. That's how fast new ideas come into action.
So, this could be a significant advantage. We've already heard Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, saying that he believes Russia is giving
drones to Iran. He also thinks they're giving missiles, too.
And indeed, I'm in Jordan, one of the several Gulf countries who have indeed asked Ukraine to send experts and, indeed, technology to help them
with the threat of drones. That's something that Ukraine has complied with. So, an evidence here, I think, certainly according to the official I spoke
to, of a growing Russian involvement in a more real-time, granular kind of way to boost Iran. The Kremlin didn't respond to our request for comment,
but ultimately, they may see this after the U.S. intelligence and weaponry assistance to Ukraine to fend off the Russian invasion as some kind of tit-
for-tat.
[18:15:00]
The official I spoke to, though, also concerned about the increased threat of sea drones, even low-tech fishing boats, DALs, to be potentially used
against U.S. carrier strike groups in that particular region as well. A fast-expanding, changing threat, but one, it seems, in which Russia is keen
to provide the up-to-the-minute assistance that it can to Iran.
Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, Amman, Jordan.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HILL: And our thanks to Nick for that report. Still ahead here this hour, a special report from Will Ripley about the relationship between China and
Iran.
Also, ahead this hour, emergency measures. Countries about to tap into massive oil reserves to help bring down gas prices, but will it work, and
for how long? We'll discuss.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HILL: Welcome back. In today's Business Breakout, U.S. stocks finishing Wednesday's session mostly lower as traders monitored the latest from the
Iran war. Oil prices moving higher as Brent Crude settled back above $90 a barrel. As for U.S. gas prices, well, they rose for an 11th straight day.
Investors seemingly unimpressed by word that nations will soon be tapping into their emergency oil reserves in an effort to bring down prices. More
than 30 countries have agreed to release some 400 million barrels of oil. This would be the largest release of emergency stockpiles ever.
The head of the International Energy Agency cautions, though, that this move will not erase supply concerns caused by the effective closure of the
Strait of Hormuz.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FATIH BIROL, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, IEA: This is a major action aiming to alleviate the immediate impacts of the disruption in markets. But to be
clear, the most important thing for a return to stable flows of oil and gas is the resumption of transit through the Strait of Hormuz.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HILL: G7 nations said a short while ago they are working to restore freedom of navigation in the Persian Gulf. That includes the possibility of
escorting ships once there are security conditions in place. President Trump had said earlier he sees no reason why ships can't pass through the
Strait.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you talking to CEOs of various oil companies encouraging them to use the Strait of Hormuz?
DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: Yes, I think they should. I think they should. I think they should use it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Have they laid any mines in the Strait of Hormuz?
TRUMP: We don't think so.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HILL: Robert Thummel joins me now. He's the senior portfolio manager at Tortoise Capital. It's good to have you with us this hour.
[18:20:00]
I mean, when we look at where things stand, in your view, what have these past nearly two weeks revealed about the vulnerability of this sector?
ROBERT THUMMEL, SENIOR PORTFOLIO MANAGER, TORTOISE CAPITAL: Yes, it really shows how important energy is, I guess, and it also really reveals how
important it is to produce your own energy and not have to rely on foreign sources of energy. So, in the U.S., we're fortunate that the U.S. energy
industry is net energy independent and we produce mostly all the oil that we use.
And then natural gas, it's even a bigger deal if you look at what international natural gas prices are relative to the U.S. Natural gas
prices internationally have gone up, oh, I don't know, 40, 50, 60 percent. In the U.S., they're barely up at all. So, I think it shows energy security
is really, really important.
HILL: There's also a conversation to be had about energy infrastructure here and how important that is.
THUMMEL: Absolutely. So, the exact point, that's exactly the point that you're making is a very important one, because the problem is that the oil
can't move. And if the oil could move, then we wouldn't have oil prices. And that's what energy infrastructure does. And so, the good news in the
U.S., we've got the world's largest energy infrastructure network in the world, and it's very effective at transporting U.S. energy where it needs
to go. And so, that allows the U.S. to be a low-cost supplier of energy, not only domestically, but also around the world.
HILL: So, to your point, right, I mean, oftentimes what we see, there is so much focus here in the U.S. on those gas prices because they are
increasing significantly. It is a major hit for a lot of people. But the U.S. is far better positioned than much of the rest of the world. So, what
do you think we're missing in this conversation as we do look at the broader impact here and potentially how long it could last?
TRUMP: Well, I think what we're missing is the opportunity in what's going on in natural gas. If you look at natural gas prices internationally,
they're so much higher than what they are in the U.S. This is a huge opportunity for the U.S., because think about it this way. If we're going
to win this global A.I. race, we're going to need a lot of electricity. How is that electricity going to be produced? It's going to be generated using
natural gas.
We have some of the lowest-cost natural gas here in the U.S. And we're going to win because the U.S. can actually tap that resource, utilize it,
generate the electricity needed to expand A.I. and allow A.I. to be the next economy. And in fact, in the next economy, electricity will be the new
oil. So, we won't even be talking about oil, we'll be talking about natural gas.
HILL: We'll be talking about natural gas. We'll be talking about electricity. When we look at where things stand, you know, as we started
this segment here, we were talking about what's been happening in the Strait of Hormuz. The fact, too, that you have the International Energy
Agency now releasing all of these barrels, a unanimous decision there.
Let's say the Strait of Hormuz was deemed safe for passage tomorrow. The reality is, from what I've been told, it would take several weeks, probably
at least a month, to really get things flowing at the same rate as before, which is not just, of course, about ships being able to move, but it's
about getting production facilities back online.
When you look at that, where are the areas that have the most vulnerability moving forward, knowing, right, that if ever anything happens again, this
is going to be the reality?
THUMMEL: No, that's a very good point. And I'll tell you, if you've got ships moving out of the Strait of Hormuz and it was consistent and it
seemed secure, you'll see oil prices decline quite rapidly, I think. And you would see them back into the 60s, well, definitely into the 70s and
potentially even into the 60s again, pretty fast.
Who has vulnerability? That's a good question. And I think it's the users who relies on that Strait so much to get their oil. Oil is still relevant,
and that's an important point. Oil is still relevant for the global economy. China and India in particular, they're big economies, obviously,
but they also import a lot of oil because they don't produce that much themselves.
And so, those two of the largest economies in the world are heavily reliant on sources of oil that are -- that have to come from outside the country.
The U.S. does not. And that's a competitive advantage. But those are where the vulnerabilities are.
HILL: Does this start to bleed, in your mind, also into the economic hubs that we have seen now grow and prosper in the region, often because they
offered relative security, right, and almost an immunity from regional conflict? We're seeing that is not the case.
THUMMEL: Yes. You know, I think -- no, no, I don't -- you know, I think economically -- well, here's the way to think about that, I think, is if
you think about oil is relevant. Oil is an important component to the global economy. It drives the global economy. And when oil prices go up, it
does create inflation. And so, if we can get oil prices down, then obviously we won't have as much inflation, I guess, to make it as simple as
it can be.
[18:25:00]
So, we hope oil prices do come down. So, there is more money in consumers' pockets, especially as we get moving towards the summer driving season.
HILL: Robert Thummel, appreciate the time. Thank you.
THUMMEL: Thank you.
HILL: Let's get you caught up on some of the day's other business headlines we're following. Pro-Iranian hackers are claiming responsibility
for a cyber-attack on Stryker. That's a U.S. company that makes medical equipment. Cybersecurity executives who work in health care say they are on
alert for any impacts. U.S. intelligence officials have also been warning about hackers linked to Tehran.
The Trump administration reopening the global entry program at U.S. airports. The program itself had been suspended last month because of the
partial government shutdown involving the Department of Homeland Security. Global entry allows travelers who have been vetted and paid for that
program to move through U.S. customs more quickly.
Shares of Oracle soaring 9 percent on the company's strong earnings. Oracle raised its sales guidance for the entire year. The company barred heavily
to build out A.I. data centers. Its results helped ease concerns about the massive spending.
We'll have much more news right here after a quick break. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HILL: Welcome back to "The Brief." I'm Erica Hill. Here are the international headlines we're watching today.
The U.K.'s Maritime Agency says three vessels were hit by projectiles near the Strait of Hormuz today. Iran claiming responsibility for two of those
attacks. Meantime, President Trump says he does not believe Iran successfully placed any mines in the key waterway, saying the U.S., he
believes, destroyed nearly all of Iran's mine ships in a single night.
Jeffrey Epstein's accountant testifying on Capitol Hill. Richard Kahn answered questions from the House Oversight Committee focused on the late
sex offenders' financial dealings. The chair says he wants to know if Kahn was involved in creating any settlements for Epstein's victims.
Several states in the U.S. under tornado watches right now. This comes a day after a tornado killed an elderly couple in Indiana. This drone video
shows the devastation in that area. At least 10 people have died so far this month in tornadoes across the United States.
[18:30:00]
Returning to our top story here, the Middle East conflict, take a look at this.
So, what you're seeing there is video which appears to show the moment an Iranian drone hit an oil storage facility at a port in Oman. And in this
video, you can see a huge fire, that thick black smoke coming out of the facility following the attack. It comes after shipping giant Maersk had
announced operations at that port in Oman are halted until further notice.
With oil prices fluctuating, with markets rattled, the economic impact of the war with Iran is being felt far beyond the Middle East. China is the
world's largest buyer of oil, with Iran highly dependent on exports to the country. Now, Beijing has spoken out against the conflict, and the
criticism is widely apparent on social media too. Here's Will Ripley with more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WILL RIPLEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In China, this A.I. generated video shows President Donald Trump trying to
make Iran's supreme leader disappear. But instead, his son pops up, a not- so-subtle jab at the United States. Another viral video goes even further. This one shared by Iran's embassy in Beijing, untouched by China's army of
online censors, implying President Trump started the war to distract from the Epstein files, accusing the U.S. of bombing a school. Then showing the
destruction of American military bases, aircraft carriers and the Israeli prime minister's compound. Across Chinese social media, the message is
blunt. America started this war.
Publicly, President Xi Jinping's government is striking a more diplomatic tone, calling for restraint. China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi says, this is
a war that should never have happened and a war that benefits no one. China has long been Iran's economic lifeline. Beijing buying most of their oil
exports, despite years of U.S.-led sanctions.
And now, U.S. officials say they're watching signs Beijing could soon provide more crucial financial support to Tehran. The war is shaking global
energy markets, oil prices surging to four-year highs, attacks threatening shipping routes in the Middle East. For China, the world's biggest energy
importer, that's a serious risk.
But strategically, Beijing may also see opportunity, as the two superpowers compete on the world stage, with the CIA putting out these official
recruitment videos, brazenly and openly luring Chinese officials to spy for the U.S. Analysts say a prolonged war could pull American attention and
military resources back to the muscle around Taiwan, in the South China Sea, and disputed islands near Japan, without U.S. interference.
Will Ripley, CNN, Taipei.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HILL: Iran's new supreme leader has not been heard from or seen in public since the announcement of his appointment earlier this week. And that
absence is prompting questions about Mojtaba Khamenei. A source telling CNN Khamenei suffered a fractured foot and facial lacerations on the first day
of the war.
Alex Vatanka is a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute. He's also the author of "The Battle of the Ayatollahs in Iran" and joins us now. Alex,
it's good to have you with us. I mean, what do you make of the fact that we haven't seen him? There have been videos put out. I mean, what does that
tell you in this moment?
ALEX VATANKA, AUTHOR, "THE BATTLE OF THE AYATOLLAHS IN IRAN": Erica, it's great to be with you. Look, he was obviously most likely in that compound
where his father, Ali Khamenei, and much of his family were also there, and many of them were killed. And we know the United States and Israel pretty
much put a price tag on his head.
So, he has every reason right now to essentially, you know, protect himself to the extent that he can I'm not sure that's going to be good enough. That
depends on the intentions of the U.S. and Israel in terms of whether he should live or not. But he has certainly reason to want to hide because
certainly the Israelis have a proven track record in terms of if they want to assassinate somebody, even within Iran, they've had a good track record
in doing so.
HILL: Is there any interest for the regime, though, perhaps, in putting out a photo or more video, proof of life, if you will?
VATANKA: So, Erica, what I would say is Mojtaba Khamenei is a 56-year-old, second son of the late Ali Khamenei. He's been a behind-the-scenes operator
for as long as I can remember. He really sort of emerged back in 2005 when he was seen to have been a player in the emergence of the then-President
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. There are only a few videos of him, two videos where we hear him speak. He's not someone who has cultivated a public persona.
[18:35:00]
For now, his appointment to me is a continuity of the regime as a whole, as opposed to representing, you know, Mojtaba Khamenei having a particular
world vision that might go a certain direction. The Revolutionary Guards, the state within the state in Iran, basically put him forward to keep the
facade of the theocracy, and now they have to figure out which way they want the regime to go.
HILL: Which way do you think that is? I mean, based on what you're seeing, people that you're speaking with, is this an even more hardline agenda,
potentially?
VATANKA: Not necessarily. Not necessarily, because they have a lot that they have to go through. They have a war with the U.S. and Israel on the
one hand, and they have an Iranian population that could come out of the streets at any moment. So, the regime could actually take a moment once the
war is over, if they survive the war, to decide to go in a different direction.
And the fact that there is a new supreme leader, again, symbolically speaking, that could just create the grounds for a change, of course. And
who's going to blame Mojtaba Khamenei to want to have reform? He's a hardliner, and a hardliner in this context actually might be the better
candidate to pursue reform than a reformist who has been hit back by the hardliners.
HILL: You mentioned there could be an uprising any day at this point in Iran. I was struck by there was a piece in the Financial Times, which I
believe you retweeted, talking about where things stand in Iran, and that there is actually a certain segment of the population who is not happy with
the regime, but also very unhappy with what is happening right now. They're living in a war, and then that could actually turn them to be more
nationalistic.
So, where do things stand, in your view, in terms of the possibility of any sort of uprising?
VATANKA: So, Erica, this is the most sensitive issue for the United States in terms of the military campaign. We saw over the course of the last few
days how Iranian society turned nationalists when they started seeing civilians being killed, refiners being hit, civilian infrastructure being
hit. That's not what the people of Iran roughly were expecting.
We're expecting this is a war between the United States, Israel, and the regime, which by and large the people don't like. But when you start seeing
Iranian civilians getting killed, the narrative is going to start benefiting the regime, that this is a war between Iran and the Iranians,
and the United States and Israel. Again, that's why the United States has to play this so carefully in terms of targeting and making sure ordinary
Iranians don't get killed in large numbers. Obviously, this is war. You can't prevent all deaths, but it's something to look out for.
HILL: To that point, do you see that this could in any way change, perhaps, what we are seeing from the United States? And I ask that because
there are questions, too, about whether the U.S. may have underestimated the resiliency in some ways or the power of the regime. And there are
questions about that.
VATANKA: Look, the regime has so far been doing exactly what they promised they would do. They said for months in advance, if we are attacked, we will
attack the Gulf, because what they're trying to do is inflict pain. What the regime is trying to do is to make sure this doesn't happen to them
again in six months' time, if they survive this war.
And the easiest place for them to go after are the Gulf states, the energy, the global energy infrastructure that the rest of the world, including the
United States, we depend upon. So, that's what they're doing. There's nothing surprising about the attacks on the Gulf. But I also say this. If
they feel that the United States might prepare to escalate, start going after civilian infrastructure with the sort of future of Iran as a unitary
state becomes a question mark, that's when this regime in the Revolution Guards with Mojtaba Khamenei at the top, they might decide, you know what,
maybe we should look for off-ramp.
I'm already hearing today that they're talking about the economic compensation. To me, that suggests maybe they're looking for a way out.
HILL: Alex Vatanka, it's so good to have your insight, your expertise. Thank you.
VATANKA: Thanks so much.
HILL: The war in Iran, of course, is disrupting life across the region in a number of Gulf nations, including in Kuwait, where our Nic Robertson is
now reporting from a Kuwaiti market with a closer look at the economic impact and how it is really filtering through.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Even fish could become a new front in this war. Reason, really simple. It's harder for the
fishermen to get out to sea. The government's giving them fewer permits. So, here in Kuwait's famous fish market, there's fewer local fish coming
in. There's fewer international fish being bought in. This is all because of the war with Iran, the Strait of Hormuz not far away. Iran, even closer.
The fishermen here going out to sea every day. Their caches are down, and that risks pushing the prices up. So, even in the crowd here, you've got
government officials monitoring the prices, making sure there's no price gouging. Everyone thinks of Kuwait and the oil exports, and that's the
effect on the economy and the Straits of Hormuz being closed. But there are ground realities even in the local domestic economy. The fish market is
part of it.
[18:40:00]
Government officials here, their buildings have been hit by missiles, they're working from home. Celebrations during Ramadan, they're being
affected as well. People aren't gathering the same way. Life is being affected here. But this fish market is a place where you can see how much
life is being upended by the war. The prices are a measure of that. The government's here to make sure the prices don't go through the people's
feelings about the war. There's nothing they can do about it, they say. They wonder why Iran, a friendly neighbor formerly, is doing this to them.
The ground reality is the longer the Strait of Hormuz is closed, the longer the waters that they fish in are dangerous, the longer the impact and the
bigger the impact is going to be here. The government's doing everything they can to mitigate against it.
But it's a war that they don't control. It's a war that they feel caught up in. And the fish market here, it's a war they're just trying to survive in.
Everyone just trying to get by as best they can.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HILL: And our thanks to Nic Robertson for that report out of Kuwait. Coming up here on "The Brief," new developments on the asylum case
involving the Iranian women's soccer team. One player reversing her decision to stay in Australia. Those details are next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HILL: Iran's sports minister says under no circumstances can the men's football team compete at this summer's FIFA World Cup co-hosted by the
United States. FIFA President Gianni Infantino said Donald Trump had assured him Iran would be welcome at the tournament despite U.S. strikes on
Iran. Iran's sports minister today, however, seemingly ruling out that possibility. Speaking on Iranian TV today, saying, quote, "Considering that
this corrupt regime has assassinated our leader, under no circumstances can we participate in the World Cup."
Meantime, there is a new wave of controversy for the Iranian women's football team. Earlier today, the team arrived in Malaysia after competing
in a tournament in Australia. Seven members had stayed behind in Australia. They were granted asylum. We have now learned, however, that one player has
changed her mind, a decision causing new concern for the other six. Here's Christina Macfarlane with the latest.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRISTINA MACFARLANE, CNN SENIOR SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: This is the Iranian women's soccer team arriving in Malaysia after the asylum case involving
some of the players in Australia took another twist. One of the players who had initially accepted Australia's offer to stay has now changed her mind.
Australia's home affairs minister said Mohadeseh Zolfi contacted teammates who'd already left the country and asked to rejoin them.
[18:45:00]
Australian officials say that Zolfi shared the players' secret location to the Iranian embassy after her teammates and coach advised her to contact it
and get collected. That decision meant the remaining players who had sought refuge in Australia had to be moved immediately from the secret location
where they were staying under police protection.
It's not yet known what prompted Zolfi's reversal, but this could be part of it. The head of Iran's football federation on state TV Tuesday night
saying that players who return home will no longer face punishment. The controversy began after members of Iran's team refused to sing their
country's national anthem before the opening match of the Asia Cup in Australia. Iranian state media later branded the players traitors.
Australian officials then offered members of the delegation the option for a private meeting away from Iranian government minders. Seven women, six
players and a member of the support team were granted humanitarian visas.
But Iran's football federation has continued to accuse Australian authorities of pressuring the players to seek asylum, something Australian
officials deny. Meanwhile, the rest of the team has now arrived in Malaysia where Iran's embassy says they will remain before returning home.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HILL: This just into us here. An old NASA probe has reentered our atmosphere. And here's the thing. The reentry wasn't expected. I mean, the
reentry was expected. It's the timing that wasn't expected. The Van Allen Probe A is actually years ahead of schedule. NASA says that's because the
sun has been more active than expected. So, it's triggered intense space weather, increasing the drag on the spacecraft. It's not immediately clear
whether any of it survived.
Stay with us. Much more to come after this quick break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HILL: Resilience, it is one of the greatest gifts you can give your child, but just how do you teach it? Well, that's the goal of "The Nature of
Change." A new children's book by CNN Correspondent Rene Marsh. It follows the story of siblings, Kit and Amal as they move to a new home. It's aimed
at families, though, going through any kind of significant life change, whether it's a move, divorce, a loss.
Author and CNN Correspondent Renee Marsh joins me now. I love that we have a new book from you, Rene. First of all, tell us about these characters,
Kit and Amal, and what they're struggling with.
RENE MARSH, CNN U.S. NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT AND AUTHOR, "THE NATURE OF CHANGE": So, thanks so much for having me, Erica. Yes. This book is really
about these two kids who -- brother and sister, they hate this new home that they've moved into. I mean, when I say hate, hate with a capital H,
but it is not until they go out into their new backyard. It's their encounter with nature that they have this total mind shift after they
experience the wisdom of nature that helps them to see things from a different perspective, whether it is the tree with the broken limb that is
still standing and still growing tall, showing and modeling determination, or the spider whose spiderweb has gotten washed away for the hundredth
time, but yet there it is rebuilding again.
[18:50:00]
And then they understand that they can rebuild, they can have hope and determination all again from these messages of wisdom from nature. And I
very much feel like this is a book for now because there is so much uncertainty and so much change. We cover it every day. And the question
that I often ask myself is how are kids doing? Are kids OK?
We have the headlines, but within these headlines, children are impacted, whether we talk about it daily on the news or not. And I often wonder, are
they OK? So, I hope this book is a tool to start the conversation for parents to use, to begin to check in with their kids to make sure that
they're navigating this head spinning change every day and doing it in a mentally healthy way.
HILL: You know, when you say start the conversation, that's what's so important. I think for a lot of parents, that's the hardest part is, how do
I bring this up without raising concerns that maybe my child didn't have before? But this is such a great way to get at it and telling the story
through nature that can be applied over and over again to so many situations. We can keep coming back to this, Rene.
MARSH: Yes, we can. And really these, you know, these three lessons of hope, determination and resilience, these are not lessons strictly for now.
These are lessons for a lifetime because as someone who has lived a life that has been marked with personal tragedy, losing my son to pediatric
cancer, I can tell you that the only way to survive challenges are if you do have hope, if you do have resilience and you do have determination. I
like to say those three things, if they are not in your life survival toolkit, you're going to have a tough time and life definitely guarantees
challenges.
And, you know, whether you're a kid in a conflict zone or you are a child here in the United States, there is a lot of uncertainty, financial
instability, mom or dad's job situation has changed. My two-year-old just last week saw explosions on our television screen and had the presence of
mind to say, what's that? And so, these are all very complex and difficult things that are happening in the world that, again, overwhelming for us as
adults.
But I just challenge parents to think, well, if it's overwhelming for us, how is it for our children? And then think, are we doing enough to help
them navigate it? And that is my hope, that this is something to help with that.
HILL: You mentioned the loss of your son, Blake. I believe he was two years old when he passed, which inspired your first book, I know, which is
a beautiful book that I have at home and proudly display. This is what inspired to this other part of who you are now, right? Your philanthropy
and your storytelling. And I know we're a little tight on time, but I know your mission with this storytelling is about impact moving forward.
MARSH: It certainly is. Not only do I want to inspire, but I also want to attack this problem that is pediatric cancer. That is the thing that took
Blake away from me. I donated 14 percent of my advance from this book to pediatric brain cancer research. Some people may say, why 14 percent?
Blake's birthday is on the 14th of this month, so I took the 14 percent pledge.
And I'll just continue to do that in all of my work outside of CNN, sewing back into trying to solve a problem that really irritates me, and pediatric
cancer is that.
HILL: Yes, and it certainly needs the attention because as we know, pediatric cancers are rare cancers and they're chronically underfunded.
Rene, I am so grateful that you were available tonight and congratulations on the second book of many to come. Good to see you.
MARSH: Thanks so much, Erica. Thanks for having me.
HILL: Well, at a time when there is so much uncertainty as we were just discussing, a little monkey named Punch may also be a dose of what the
world needs right now. Punch and his stuffed animal friend have of course captured the hearts of millions.
You may know this guy. The soft toy was given to Punch by his human handlers at a zoo in Japan after his mother abandoned him. And as Hanako
Montgomery reports, Punch really offers us all a little lesson of his own in hope and resiliency.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HANAKO MONTGOMERY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Amid a constant stream of unsettling news, this little monkey has brought comfort to millions,
young and old.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We need this warmth and love right now. You know, when you're scrolling through the feeds, there's going to be negative,
negative. When you see something like an animal coming up and just hopefulness and just -- they have nothing but care and love to give.
MONTGOMERY (voice-over): Japan's Punch is the internet's latest star. Videos of him dragging around a stuffed toy, his adopted mom, or getting
bullied by bigger monkeys have tugged at heartstrings around the world.
[18:55:00]
MONTGOMERY: As you can see, Punch has quite the fan base. Hundreds of people are here from all around the world just to see this baby monkey.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, I think we all could relate to him to some sense, being in an unfamiliar environment, not knowing the people around you and
then just trying to fit in as much as we can.
MONTGOMERY (voice-over): These days, Punch may have found a friend. His keeper says he's relying on the toy mostly holding onto it when he sleeps,
relaxes, or after getting scolded by older monkeys.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): He's been doing his best to grow, learning from those early experiences. Now, he's communicating with other
monkeys and it's great to see him reaching those milestones.
MONTGOMERY (voice-over): Punch still spends a lot of time alone and isn't fully part of the group yet. But when things get tough, Punch still has
someone to cling to.
Hanako Montgomery, CNN, Chiba.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HILL: Finally, for you tonight, a historic moment in the NBA. The Miami Heat Bam Adebayo clocking the second highest scoring game in NBA history on
Tuesday night, scoring a staggering 83 points in Miami's victory over the Washington Wizards, and in doing so, passed Kobe Bryant's 81-point game. He
did not, however, get close to breaking Wilt Chamberlain's record. That still stands when he scored 100 points in a single game. That happened back
in 1962.
Thanks so much for your company. I'm Erica Hill in New York. You've been watching "The Brief." Stay with CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[19:00:00]
END
