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The Brief with Jim Sciutto

CNN International: Hezbollah Rejects Lebanon-Israel Ceasefire Plan; Iran Marks 37 Years Since Death of Islamic Republic's Founder; CNN Live in Iran as Negotiations Stall; Trump Attacks Republicans Who Voted to Limit War Powers; U.S. Government Surveillance Program Due to Expire Next Week; Rare Access with Hezbollah; Mexico City Braces for World Cup. Aired 6-7p ET

Aired June 04, 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]

JIM SCIUTTO, CNN ANCHOR, "THE BRIEF": Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us from all around the world. I'm Jim Sciutto in Washington, and

you're watching "The Brief."

Just ahead this hour, we are live in Tehran as the U.S. and Iran send contradictory messages over the status of peace talks. CNN gets rare access

inside Lebanon as Hezbollah rejects a ceasefire deal. And Mexico City's transit system is being put to the test with the World Cup now just one

week away.

We begin once again in the Middle East with Hezbollah and Israel trading new military strikes hours after Lebanese and Israeli negotiators agreed to

implement a ceasefire. Hezbollah has rejected that deal. It is worth noting the Iranian-backed militant group did not have a seat at the table at those

negotiations. Hezbollah's leaders said the ceasefire agreement, which was approved in Washington on Wednesday, is, quote, "a roadmap to exterminate a

segment of the Lebanese people and enslave the rest," end quote.

The deal forces the group to stop fighting and withdraw entirely from southern Lebanon. President Donald Trump said a short time ago he has been

speaking with the leaders of Hezbollah.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: And it would be really nice if Lebanon could have some peace. Lebanon's been under attack for so many years and always

like an underdog. And it would be really nice if it could end. And I spoke to Bibi Netanyahu about that. And I speak to them about it. And I actually

spoke to Hezbollah about it. And I think progress has --

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCIUTTO: Well, the firing continues. As to ceasefire talks between the U.S. and Iran, we're hearing mixed messages there as well. President Trump

has said a deal could be reached by this weekend. Iran's foreign minister, on the other hand, says there has been no significant progress.

Inside Iran, the great-grandson of the founder of the Islamic Republic tells CNN that Tehran should not compromise on its core demands in order to

end the war. Striking a defiant tone, Seyyed Ahmad Khomeini said Iran has no reason to back down.

Our Fred Pleitgen spoke to him. He joins me now from Tehran. We should note, CNN operates in Iran only with the permission of the government, but

maintains full editorial control of its reporting. So, Fred, in these conversations, I wonder what you're hearing from Iranians there, including

Iranian officials.

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Jim. Well, the Iranians, and certainly Iranian officials that we've been

speaking to, do believe that they are in a fairly strong position.

One of the things that we keep hearing from them is that they acknowledge that, of course, right now Iran is in some difficulties as far as the

economy is concerned with that blockade that we've been speaking about. Also, of course, the many sanctions that also continue to be in place, and

just the fact also that Iran certainly was hurt also when the fighting was going on between Iran, the United States, and Israel.

At the same time, of course, they realize they have that chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz. They realize that their missiles and drones are still

doing damage, as we all saw only about 48 hours ago when we had the back and forth between the United States and Iran, then targeting some

installations both in Kuwait and in Bahrain.

And that is why you do hear from Iranian officials that they believe that they have a pretty strong hand in these negotiations. It does seem as

though right now the efforts to try and reach that memorandum of understanding that could then pave the way for further negotiations is

going through a process that could actually be correct, that there has been little progress made, but that at the same time a memorandum of

understanding could be reached fairly soon.

Nevertheless, what we saw on the ground today, we were at an event commemorating the death of the first Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah

Khomeini, was also many people calling for revenge for the attacks by the U.S. and Israel. Here's what we saw.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PLEITGEN: We're at an event here in Tehran to mark the death of the Founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ayatollah Khomeini. And as you can

see, a lot of people have turned out here to pay their respects.

[18:05:00]

Now, in this year, as Iran is in this conflict with the United States. Of course, this event also has a special meaning for the people who have come

here. There's a lot of people that we are seeing who are waving red flags that say revenge on them, because, of course, there are still a lot of

people here who want revenge for the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and that's also something that was voiced here by

the crowd.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): We don't trust American, never.

PLEITGEN: Never?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): Ever.

SEYYED AHMAD KHOMEINI, AYATOLLAH KHOMEINI'S GREAT-GRANDSON (through translator): There is no reason for the Islamic Republic of Iran to grant

concessions. We have no reason to back down from our position. We were not defeated in war, nor have we've defeated in diplomacy. We demonstrated that

we are capable of resisting, and that we are highly resilient.

PLEITGEN: At the same time, of course, the context that all of this happens in is extremely important. There are talks that are going on

between the U.S. and Iran, where both sides say they are trying to get to a memorandum of understanding that would then pave the way for broader peace

talks to try and end the war between Iran and the United States for good.

Also, though, of course, the security situation, especially in the Persian Gulf, remains extremely volatile, with the U.S. hitting some targets on

some Persian Gulf islands, the Iranians, for their part, saying that they were hitting targets affiliated with the United States in places like

Kuwait and in places like Bahrain as well.

So, the security situation, very volatile, the ceasefire, very fragile. At the same time, both sides say that they are trying to find a way out of the

impasse.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PLEITGEN: So, as you can see there, Jim, still a pretty difficult situation here on the ground in Iran, certainly on the ground in the

Persian Gulf area as well, and in the Strait of Hormuz.

I was actually at another event later tonight where we also spoke to some more people, and many of them were actually skeptical whether or not this

effort to try and get these negotiations going would be successful in the end, simply because there has been so much back and forth and certainly so

many setbacks over the past months, really, that the two sides have been trying to get this going.

Nevertheless, Iranian officials do say that for them, the better option, they believe, is still an agreement with the United States, especially if

it brings with it, which they say is key, major sanctions relief for Iran's economy, which, of course, has been in big trouble for a very long time

already, Jim.

SCIUTTO: To your point, though, their sense is they're in a strong position in those back-and-forth talks. Fred Pleitgen in Tehran, thanks so

much to you and your team there.

Here in Washington, President Trump took aim at four House Republicans who defied him by joining Democrats to vote to limit his war powers on Iran.

The president called those lawmakers unpatriotic. If that legislation is passed by the Senate, Trump would be required to withdraw troops or get the

approval of Congress to continue the war.

Kristen Holmes is at the White House. Kristen, as you hear there, Iran is feeling it's in a strong position here. There's still an exchange of fire.

And you have patience, at least, with the war thinning, even among Republicans. Does the White House feel under pressure at all here? Does it

feel at all that its options are limited going forward?

KRISTEN HOLMES, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Jim, they felt under pressure for the last month, if not longer than that. They have felt boxed

in, and it is very clear, by what you've seen from President Trump. He has been looking for an off-ramp. He has been optimistic about some kind of

diplomatic resolution. And it's been weeks of the same conversation, that the U.S. is getting closer to deal with Iran, that these negotiations are

going well, and then it seems as though everything stalls. They're still trading fire.

It's unclear whether or not there ever is going to be a resolution, or at least within the time period, that Republicans, that Americans are hoping

for, were obviously way beyond the time period that President Trump had originally offered, promising that it would only be three to four weeks.

Then it went to four to six weeks. Obviously, we're well beyond that at this point.

And there's a lot of frustration. We saw, even just today, Chris Wright, the Department of Energy secretary, trying to deflect questions about the

rise in gas prices, saying, this is what he said, the bigger threat to energy prices in the United States is Democratic green energy policies.

That's driven up energy policies more than the conflict in Iran.

So, it gives you an idea of where they're trying to go with this. On the midterms, they're trying to make it more about scary Democratic policies.

But people are looking at this war in Iran, and they blame the White House. They blame the White House and President Trump for that, and Republicans

know that. And that's why you're starting to see this fraying at the seams of the Republican Party pushing this through.

Now, to be clear, it doesn't seem likely that the War Powers Act is going to go through in any way. It's going to have to be a back-and-forth, the

Senate and House. Then it would land on President Trump's desk, and he would obviously likely veto this.

[18:10:00]

But it is symbolic of where these Republicans stand and really where the country stands right now, as the White House is looking for any way out of

this and just not able to find one.

SCIUTTO: And where the oil market stands, right? Because, as you know, the oil prices went up with the Iran war. They were not reacting to renewable

energy measures, et cetera. Kristen Holmes at the White House, thanks so much.

Well, Senate Republicans have rejected efforts for now to remove president -- the president's payout fund from a $70 billion immigration bill, this as

President Trump has declined to commit to scrapping that $1.8 billion fund, he calls it an anti-weaponization fund, to compensate people who claim they

were victimized, well, not by his administration, but the previous one. Many critics say it is a taxpayer-funded slush fund for Trump allies.

It remains unclear if Trump's party can secure enough votes to pass the immigration bill, as a group of Republican senators have raised concerns

about supporting a measure which still includes that payout fund.

Joining me now, Larry Sabato, director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia. Larry, always good to have you.

Thank you, Jim.

SCIUTTO: So, the first effort to block this rejected by Republicans, but as you know, fact is, many Republicans don't want to be anywhere near this

so-called anti-weaponization fund. Reading the politics here, do you see a bipartisan group in the Senate getting to a place where they pass this

immigration bill, which is a priority for Republicans, but find some way to make it clear that fund ain't coming back to life?

SABATO: They're trying. I give them credit for that. They're trying because Democrats oppose it, as do the Democratic constituents by massive

margins. They want it gone. Independents oppose this slush fund. But Republicans now do, too, because they're seeing both the public and private

polls, not just of President Trump's decline in popularity, of their decline in popularity.

Some of the people in the Senate who are up for re-election are losing. They're actually losing to their Democratic opponents when they weren't

expected to. In states like Ohio, where you have three times a massive majority for President Trump, three presidential elections, and yet the

Republican candidate for senator is well behind the Democratic challenger.

This is not good for them, and they know it. They want to get out of it, but they also don't want to be blamed by Trump, because you may notice he

has a tendency to seek revenge.

SCIUTTO: He does. When you connect the dots here, Republicans opposing this quote-unquote anti-weaponization fund, Republicans opposing a billion

dollars for the White House ballroom, which the president always said that was going to be funded purely by donors, Republicans, at least some,

joining in this War Powers resolution in the House. Do you see quite a rocky period ahead through those November elections? As to your point,

Republicans, they read the polls as well.

SABATO: Well, the answer is obviously yes. That's one reason why Congress won't be in session for very many days, Jim, through the end of the summer,

through the fall. But yes, it's a big problem for Republicans.

And I think this is really the beginning of a new phase of the Trump presidency, which is Trump once again going out, doing things by executive

order, avoiding Congress if he can, because he's not going to have the kind of unanimity in the Republican caucuses that he's gotten used to over the

first two years.

SCIUTTO: Yes. I mean, listen -- I mean -- and sometimes those executive orders don't work. For instance, CNN has a story today that his renaming of

the Kennedy -- the Kennedy center has to stop, that they got to remove his name, that he put over the name of the assassinated president.

I mean, assuming things go as the polls seem to point them going in November where Democrats take the House, possibly have a chance at the

Senate. I imagine, have we reached the point of peak Trump power as president? And again, I do not want to minimize or underestimate what he

can do via executive order or through his immense powers as commander in chief, wage war, et cetera. But do you see something longer lasting here?

SABATO: Yes, I do. Although we have to remember, as you're suggesting, Trump will fight every encroachment on his authority, on his perks, and

people will know they've been in a fight, if in fact they have to fight him.

But yes, I think we have passed peak Trump. I really do. There may be a few days that are exceptional and war powers are always presidentially

centered, maybe unfortunately, but that's the way the American system is.

[18:15:00]

But yes, I think the peak Trump period has ended. And you're starting to see the cracks develop everywhere.

SCIUTTO: Before we go, just because I know you're watching not just the House, but the Senate races, The New York Times is out with a new story

today in which a number of women make allegations against Graham Platner, of course, the Democratic candidate in a main Senate race, which is one of

beyond the import of those allegations. That is one of the races Democrats need to win to get control of the Senate, which is already, I don't want to

say a long shot, but far from guaranteed.

Do you see Democrats at some point losing patience with Platner and trying to go another way in November?

SABATO: Well, some already have, and there's still people who are actually promoting the governor of Maine who withdrew from the contest because she

was losing so badly to Platner. She's still on the ballot, and she made a point of reminding voters in Maine that she's still on the ballot. So,

we'll see what happens, but it's tough to fight against a nominee and likely nominee at this point in the scheme, though I've heard a number of

senior Democrats say in the past couple of weeks, boy, did we make a mistake.

SCIUTTO: Larry Sabato, thanks so much for joining.

SABATO: Thank you. Thank you, Jim.

SCIUTTO: Still coming up on "The Brief," why President Trump's recent pick for acting National Intelligence Chief could threaten renewal of a key

government surveillance program and details about that program. What you should know, we'll explain next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SCIUTTO: U.S. lawmakers will soon decide the fate of controversial U.S. surveillance powers. Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance

Act, or FISA, is due to expire next week. It allows the government to gather communications of foreign targets without a warrant. However, it can

scoop up the data of Americans in that process. And it does.

The program's renewal could be hindered by lawmakers upset not so much at those powers, but at President Trump's pick for acting Director of National

Intelligence. There are a lot of legal and political questions intertwined here.

Joining me now is Liza Goitein, the co-director of the Liberty and National Security Program at the Brennan Center for Justice. Liza, good to have you.

ELIZABETH GOITEIN, CO-DIRECTOR, LIBERTY AND NATIONAL SECURITY PROGRAM, BRENNAN CENTER FOR JUSTICE: Thanks so much.

[18:20:00]

SCIUTTO: So, first, tell me about Section 702 because its supporters, who by the way we should note are, it's a bipartisan group of senators who

support this, say that there are reforms here. Your argument is that actually this gives the government more, not less, leeway to collect

Americans' communications.

GOITEIN: Sure, so Section 702, as you said, authorizes the government to target foreigners overseas and collect all of their communications,

including communications with Americans, without a warrant. And it's important to know that there's no requirement that the foreign targets be

suspected of any wrongdoing.

So, this surveillance does sweep in, can sweep in, entirely innocent conversations between Americans and their friends and relatives and

colleagues overseas. And under current law, the government has warrantless access. The government kind of does go searching through these

communications without a warrant to try to find Americans' private communications.

And there's actually -- there's bipartisan support for Section 702, there is strong bipartisan support for reforming the law to require a warrant

before the government goes through all of this information looking for Americans' private communications.

The bill that the Senate is going to vote on tonight, not only does it not have a warrant, and I should mention that this bill was drafted by Trump

allies in consultation with the administration, but it makes no changes to either the standard or the procedure for conducting these backdoor

searches, these searches for warrantless access to Americans' communications.

SCIUTTO: OK. So, why, given, as you note, that there are Democrats and Republicans who wanted to rein in that capability?

GOITEIN: The reason is because leadership controls what gets voted on, or at least they can, the leadership controls it unless the members who oppose

reform actually -- I'm sorry, oppose support reform, actually exercise the leverage that they have. And they have a vote tonight. And if there is

sufficient opposition to this bill, that will force leadership to negotiate, to come to the table, maybe to allow amendments, which might

include a warrant requirement, or to, you know, open up the text for negotiation.

SCIUTTO: Now, you have this other issue, which is the president's controversial, might be too weak a word, selection as acting Director of

National Intelligence, a housing official and real estate developer who is a strong, as you know, Trump ally and supporter, Bill Pulte. You have some,

Mark Warner, for instance, ranking Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee saying, if that doesn't change, you know, you're not going to get

the votes for FISA renewal.

Is it possible that that issue creates a spark or at least circumstances where actual reforms end up in the bill, or perhaps even kill the whole

thing?

GOITEIN: Yes, it is possible. Now, Trump just recently announced that he is not going to nominate Pulte to the permanent position of DNI, but he has

very conspicuously not backed off of his plan to appoint him as acting DNI when Tulsi Gabbard steps down. Pulte could hold that position for 210 days.

That is through the midterm election.

SCIUTTO: A long time, yes.

GOITEIN: And there's really nothing to stop Trump at the end of that period from saying, whoops, I changed my mind. I am going to nominate him.

And so, you know, we -- there is valid concern that Pulte or someone very much like Pulte, because we also have to think about who else Trump might

nominate, will have this warrantless access.

SCIUTTO: For folks who are watching now, including folks both overseas and in the U.S., can you help them understand what their own vulnerability to

these warrants might be?

GOITEIN: Yes, that's a great question. Significant. Significant. Because the collection of communications and other information under Section 702 is

authorized against any foreigner outside the United States as long as a significant purpose, not even the entire purpose of the collection, is to

obtain foreign intelligence. And that term is defined extremely broadly in the law to include any information that is relevant in any way to the

conduct of U.S. foreign affairs.

So, if there is a British journalist who speaks with members of the British, you know, British officials, members of the British government,

those communications would constitute foreign intelligence. And that journalist could be a target.

SCIUTTO: As you know, there are concerns about this particular U.S. administration's use of its powers. And this extends even when you look to

an A.I. company like Anthropics, you know, saying it does not want its tools to be used for domestic surveillance. Are there particular concerns

from your point of view and the Brennan Center's point of view as to how this administration might use this law?

GOITEIN: Absolutely. And I think you only have to look at Bill Pulte to understand those concerns. This is somebody who is under investigation GAO,

the Bipartisan Government Accountability Office, for misusing his position as director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency and his access to

government information.

[18:25:00]

SCIUTTO: Yes. Going after mortgage information to target Trump's enemies.

GOITEIN: Exactly. His perceived political enemies. And that's what Bill Pulte was able to do with the very limited information that a housing

agency collects. Imagine what Pulte, or someone like Pulte, could do with all of the surveillance authorities and capabilities of the intelligence

community. That's really the fear.

SCIUTTO: And for, even as an acting, for 220 some odd days. That's not, that's no small thing. That's no small thing. Liza Goitein, thanks so much

for joining.

GOITEIN: Thank you.

SCIUTTO: And just ahead this hour, CNN Inside Lebanon, speaking to members of Hezbollah, as well as those whose lives will never be the same because

of Israeli operations in southern Lebanon.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SCIUTTO: Welcome back to "The Brief." I'm Jim Sciutto. And here are the international headlines we're watching today.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is proposing a direct meeting with Vladimir Putin. Why? To end the war in Ukraine. In an open letter to the

Russian leader, Zelenskyy says Ukraine is, quote, "ready for a full ceasefire for the duration of the negotiations." Russian state media

reports the Kremlin has seen Zelenskyy's letter and that Putin will be briefed on it.

Former Trump national security adviser John Bolton is expected to plead guilty over the mishandling of sensitive national security information.

Sources tell CNN that Bolton, who is a staunch critic now of President Trump, has reached a plea deal. He's agreed to pay more than $2 million in

fines and could face up to five years in prison.

[18:30:00]

Hezbollah is rejecting the latest ceasefire agreement between Israeli and Lebanese leaders. The militant group's leader calls the deal, which was

signed in Washington on Wednesday, a, quote, "roadmap to exterminate," a segment of the Lebanese people. Israeli forces and Hezbollah traded fresh

strikes shortly after that agreement went into effect.

The leader of the Iran-backed Hezbollah group even said the deal was an imaginary ceasefire and that allows Israel to continue its aggression in

southern Lebanon. The IDF issued a new warning to residents of southern Lebanon, saying Israel will continue to target Hezbollah facilities in the

area. CNN's Isobel Yeung gained rare access inside Lebanon and spoke with drug dealers, fighters and civilians now paying a devastating price for

war.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ISOBEL YEUNG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: So, we're here in the Beqaa Valley, where Hezbollah still have a very tight grip on control. After months of trying,

we have managed to persuade a man who we believe is an arms dealer providing these weapons to Hezbollah to meet with us.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Follow him. Follow.

YEUNG: That's the car?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. Yes.

YEUNG: It seems to be just off this road. So, we're now just going off the dirt track. I can see a building just over here has been struck by an

airstrike. Let's put the cameras down.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You think this is the house?

YEUNG: Yes.

YEUNG (voice-over): We were asked to put our cameras down and not to reveal this location or the identity of this arms dealer, who says he's a

target for the Israeli military as they try to stop the flow of weapons entering Lebanon.

YEUNG: What is this?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): This is a grenade launcher.

YEUNG: It's quite a lot of weapons you have here.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): Yes, Kalashnikov, RPGs, projectiles, machine guns.

YEUNG: Who is it you're selling these weapons to?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): We sell to whoever wants to buy weapons. I cannot give names.

YEUNG: I mean, if you're selling to people in the Beqaa Valley, I mean, could be working for Hezbollah, right?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): It is possible they are taking them to Hezbollah. But I don't know. I just sell the weapon, and they do

whatever they want with it.

YEUNG: You think that these weapons are needed to defend themselves against Israel?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): They shouldn't invade Lebanon. They crossed into Lebanon. They are causing destruction and killing

families.

YEUNG: And it never keeps you up at night that these weapons are obviously used to kill people?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): Why should I be concerned?

YEUNG: I mean, there is obviously a war going on in this country right now. You're not worried that these weapons are helping to fuel that war?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): I am far away. Let people do whatever they want with these weapons.

YEUNG (voice-over): Driving much of the demand for weapons is Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group designated a terrorist organization by the

U.S., U.K., Canada, and others.

Hezbollah is an incredibly secretive group, but we wanted to understand how they're still standing and what they're fighting for. After months of

working with contacts on the ground, we gained exclusive access to key parts of the group and to those most affected by the war.

Hezbollah struck Israel in solidarity with the Hamas October 7 attack, triggering a massive Israeli bombardment across Lebanon, even since the

November 2024 cease-fire, accusing Hezbollah of failing to withdraw from the border areas.

In March, Hezbollah fired rockets on Israel after Israel and the U.S. attacked Iran. This sparked a large-scale ground invasion, displacing over

a million people and killing more than 3,000, according to the Lebanese government.

Hezbollah's fight could be existential. Under pressure from the U.S., the Lebanese government has been trying to disarm the group. But Israel's

offensive has given Hezbollah new zeal, and it has vowed to fight on, despite heavy losses.

YEUNG: Thanks.

MOHAMAD ALI HAIDAR HASSAN, COUSIN OF HEZBOLLAH FIGHTER: This is my friend. His name is Sam Mortado (ph). It's 2007. This is his sister, and this is

his sister. This is his grandfather, and this is mother.

YEUNG: You know, a lot of people who have died in here?

HASSAN: Yes. I know my -- another friend, Azer.

YEUNG: When did he die?

HASSAN: From three years, I think.

YEUNG: OK.

HASSAN: Andav Jenob (ph).

YEUNG: Was he a fighter?

HASSAN: Yes, he's a fighter.

YEUNG (voice-over): Mohamad (ph) from the Beqaa Valley says he's not a member of Hezbollah, but he and many others here see the group as their

best protection from Israeli aggression.

YEUNG: This was your cousin?

HASSAN: Yes.

YEUNG: And he was fighting for Hezbollah?

HASSAN: Yes. Yes. But Hezbollah defends us and defends of -- Lebanon.

[18:35:00]

YEUNG: Does everyone here support Hezbollah?

HASAN (through translator): We all support Hezbollah. Their blood won't go wasted, God willing.

YEUNG (voice-over): Perhaps Hezbollah's greatest strength are the thousands of fighters willing to sacrifice their lives for the group. They

rarely give interviews to Western media.

YEUNG: We have managed to secure a meeting with a member of Hezbollah who's been fighting in the south of Lebanon for the last few months, and

he's agreed to meet us in a very remote location, which we're heading towards right now.

Why did you join Hezbollah?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): First, no family was spared Israeli attacks. Civilians are being killed. They want to take our land.

They have a plan to occupy our land to achieve their goal.

YEUNG: You have seen a lot of fighters die. How does that make you feel?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): This makes us proud. I envy them because they are martyred. Martyrdom is something we are proud of. We die

defending our homeland.

YEUNG: Do you think that firing towards Israel and Israeli troops is going to create a safer Lebanon? I mean, surely, that puts Lebanese people at

more risk, knowing that what -- the Israelis will hit back with.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): No, we are not responsible for this. We will never give up our land. In the end, we either get martyred or

get victorious.

YEUNG: But I guess it doesn't feel like that to a lot of people. It feels like Hezbollah is triggering and creating more war, rather than peace.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): If it wasn't for Hezbollah, there would be no peace in Lebanon.

YEUNG (voice-over): Not everyone agrees. Recent polls suggest that, while most Lebanese view Israel as an enemy, even more are critical of Iranian

involvement in Lebanon.

Among those forced to flee their home is Mona Jahamy, a Shia Muslim schoolteacher from the southern City of Tyre.

YEUNG: So, many displaced people across the whole of Lebanon. It's crazy.

MONA JAHAMY, HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER DISPLACED FROM SOUTHERN LEBANON: It's the most miserable displacement ever that happened in Lebanon.

YEUNG: Is this an Israeli drone overhead?

JAHAMY: I can't see it, but we hear it.

YEUNG: You can hear it.

JAHAMY: We could have been better without getting involved in this war. What the hell did we have to do, put ourselves in the middle of hell?

In 2024, my house was almost devastated. It took me a year to reconstruct it, to redo everything. I haven't even took a deep breath, then another

war. This is too much. This is too much for the people of Lebanon.

YEUNG: Israel are the ones who have displaced people, destroyed entire neighborhoods, killed thousands of people.

JAHAMY: We know that Israel is a very hostile and aggressive country, and it is highly and technologically armed. Nobody has doubts about this. Take

this example. There is a ferocious lion. I tell you, keep your hand away from the lion. He might bite you. He will bite you, OK? But you keep on

teasing him. So, he bites you. And more than that, you release the lion against everyone around you, OK? This is what Hezbollah has done. Let the

lion stay in its place.

YEUNG: Well, what is your message to the Hezbollah leaders?

JAHAMY: Let us live in peace. If you want to fight for Iran, go to Iran, but let us live in peace.

YEUNG (voice-over): Lebanon's government has tried to contain Hezbollah and to stop it from attacking Israel, but its ability to do that is

limited. Many fear that a direct confrontation with Hezbollah risks igniting sectarian strife and even civil war.

NAWAF SALAM, LEBANESE PRIME MINISTER (through translator): We're not seeking a confrontation with Hezbollah. On the contrary, I'd prefer to

avoid a confrontation with Hezbollah. But, believe me, we won't be intimidated.

YEUNG (voice-over): For decades, Hezbollah has stepped in where the state has failed, providing health care, social services, security. Hezbollah

officials like Ibrahim Moussawi even hold seats in Parliament.

[18:40:00]

YEUNG: The U.S. and Israel want Hezbollah disarmed. The Lebanese government itself also wants Hezbollah disarmed. What would happen if the

Lebanese government, the Lebanese military tried to do that?

IBRAHIM MOUSSAWI, LEBANESE PARLIAMENT MEMBER: This will not happen, I can assure you. We want our army to defend our country. Your army is not strong

enough.

YEUNG (voice-over): Hezbollah decided to enter this war on March the 2nd. You knew before starting this war that the Israeli response would be huge,

that thousands of people were likely to die, which they have. What made you decide that that level of human suffering, which we have witnessed over the

last few months, was worth it?

MOUSSAWI: I don't want to go into the philosophy of life and death here. The Israelis continue to carry aggression, so there was one point when we

have to respond to all of these aggressions. When the Israeli-American war -- again, they started the war against Iran. We felt this is a proper

window to respond.

YEUNG: Hezbollah strikes have killed several people in Israel. They have caused some civilian harm. They have also been targeting some civilian

areas. The -- that has triggered a huge Israeli response, and we have seen thousands of Lebanese people killed. We have seen over a million people

displaced.

MOUSSAWI: You know why is this happening?

YEUNG: Do you take any responsibility?

MOUSSAWI: Do you know why --

YEUNG: I'm going to ask you. Let me ask. Let me ask. Do you do take any responsibility at all for your actions on March the 2nd triggering this

mass human suffering?

MOUSSAWI: Do you take any responsibility? Does your government take any responsibility? Does the American government take any responsibility for

unleashing the Israeli full, mighty power of killing and making genocide? Do they do this? We're defending ourselves.

YEUNG: I'm asking you about your role in this conflict.

MOUSSAWI: I'm asking you about right of resistance.

YEUNG: But you acted. You acted on March the 2nd. I'm asking if your actions on March the 2nd bear any responsibility for thousands of people

killed, including hundreds of children?

MOUSSAWI: Absolutely not. The International Community bears the responsibility. America bears the responsibility. When Trump is capable to

restrain the Israelis, the criminals, I believe the American administration hold the first and exclusively responsibility for all of the killings that

happened.

YEUNG: But apart from appeasing Iran, what else has this war actually achieved? There has been a huge amount of mass human suffering.

MOUSSAWI: You're using the same equation, but in journalistic terms, that the Israelis are doing. What the Israelis are doing? Simply, they -- if you

carry an operation or if you defend yourself against their incursion into a certain village, they will destroy the village. To tell you what?

Never think to defend yourself again. Never think to stand up for the Israeli mighty force. I want to break this cycle.

YEUNG: What would you say to the parents of the hundreds of kids who have died? What did they die for?

MOUSSAWI: I believe, this question, you should say to Donald Trump and to Benjamin Netanyahu. We are defending our people. Go back to the people who

are in the funerals and ask them. You're in Lebanon now. And you can see.

YEUNG (voice-over): Since March, around 200 children have been killed in Lebanon.

YEUNG: Just absolutely heartbreaking. These are body after body after body, tiny little bodies. These ones happen to be carried on the bed

because there's just only parts and remnants and pieces of them left.

YEUNG (voice-over): In just one strike in March, five children were killed, 6-year-Old Yasmina, 9-year-old Malika, 11-year-old Sadiq, 12-year-

old Zahra, and 13-year-old Zainab.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): Were there any Hezbollah martyrs? We're a family. The people of the south do not bow down, not to Israel, not

to America.

YEUNG: These kids obviously have been out of school since the beginning of the war, and this group now is trying to do some activities with them, try

to have some semblance of normalcy in their lives, which have obviously been completely disrupted.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): While we were eating, they started bombing. So, I got scared. I'm scared one of us will be killed.

YEUNG (voice-over): As the Trump administration tries to rein in both sides, the people of Lebanon are trapped between a die-hard militant force

backed by a newly emboldened Iran and the Israeli military waging a brutal war.

YEUNG: What would you say to the people who have power over this war right now?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): God didn't create you to do this to us. Children can't continue their education or do anything. You have

ruined our lives.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[18:45:00]

SCIUTTO: An important view from inside Lebanon. Now, to some new CNN reporting, my own, along with my colleagues. And it's based on exclusive

video obtained by CNN involving the world's biggest aircraft carrier.

Back in March, you may remember, the USS Gerald R. Ford took part in operations in the war against Iran, in the Red Sea, in the case of the

Ford, when a fire broke out. The U.S. Navy then released a statement saying the blaze had, quote, "been contained," that two sailors had non-life-

threatening injuries and that the carrier was fully operational.

But new video, as you're seeing here, video obtained by CNN, shows the fire was, in fact, far more severe and damaging than the Navy let on. You can,

among other things, see wires dangling from the ceiling, bunk beds covered in ash. A senior U.S. official says that the Navy's public statement

downplayed the impact of the fire as the Ford was supporting U.S. military operations against Iran, and that that fire affected the Ford's

capabilities. You could see the rest of that story on cnn.com and the CNN mobile app.

Please do stay with "The Brief." We'll be right back after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SCIUTTO: In today's Business Breakout, a mixed day on Wall Street. The Dow rallied more than 1.5 percent to yet more all-time highs. The NASDAQ pulled

back amid weakness in A.I. chip stocks. Broadcom shares tumbled 12 percent after reporting weaker than expected quarterly results. That hit shares of

other high-flying chip makers, including Micron and AMD.

Also, today, new concerns over the health of private credit. Financial giant Blackstone is restricting withdrawals now from its main private

credit funds due to rising investor redemptions. The Swiss asset manager Partners Group is also capping withdrawals, citing industry-wide

volatility. Never a great sign.

Meantime, environmental groups are slamming President Trump's newly announced aid to the U.S. coal industry. The White House is invoking a Cold

War-era Emergency Powers Act to direct some $700 million to coal firms. That money will be used to finance new plants, that is, new coal-fired

plants, and upgrade more than a dozen others.

[18:50:00]

The Sierra Club says, quote, "It is disgusting and reprehensible that the president of the United States is giving away our tax payer dollars to

deadly and expensive coal plants." It says it will fight the measure in court.

Well, the countdown is on for the biggest World Cup in FIFA's history. Fans from across the world, some of them making their way to North America to

cheer on their countries. Just ahead, how one host city is racing to prepare for a massive transportation spike due to the matches.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SCIUTTO: Well, we're now just one week away from the biggest sporting event of the year. Perhaps every four years, the FIFA World Cup. Teams and

their fans already making their way to North America. Earlier this week, the Brazil squad landed in New Jersey, which will host the finals with some

waterworks and a rainbow. Perhaps a good omen for the most decorated team in World Cup history.

In Mexico, the governor of Nuevo Leon gifted sombreros to players from Japan's national team as they arrived. CNN's Valeria Leon has the latest on

how Mexico in particular, who's sharing host duties with the U.S. and Canada, is tackling a massive transportation spike ahead of the matches.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

VALERIA LEON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (through translator): Traffic jams are a part of daily life in Mexico City. Now, with millions of World Cup fans

expected to arrive, officials are racing to keep one of the world's busiest capitals moving. New bike lanes, improved sidewalks, upgrades to public

transport.

Among the biggest projects is a new 34-kilometer bike lane that stretches south toward Estadio Ciudad de Mexico. The venue set to host 5 of the 13

matches played in the country. But underground we found more than a few snacks.

LEON: This is the new bike lane in Mexico City, but as you can see here, pedestrians and also public transportation crossing through. Cyclists are

taking risks at this point.

LEON (voice-over): Ana Gonzalez uses this route frequently to get through, she often has to touch busses, cars, and people walking across the bike

path.

ANA GONZALEZ, CYCLIST (through translator): Pedestrians still need to adapt, especially when busses drop off passengers who cross without paying

attention. A lot of pedestrians also walk along the bike lane instead of the sidewalk.

LEON (voice-over): Mobility experts say the project is a step forward, but only a first step.

GONZALO PEON, DIRECTOR, INSTITUTE FOR TRANSPORTATION AND DEVELOPMENT POLICY (through translator): The Tlalpan bike lane is really isolated. We no need

to build lanes perpendicular to it.

LEON (voice-over): But the city's mobility plan goes far beyond cycling. Officials say they're also ramping up the city's metro system, which has

been plagued in recent years with interruptions of service.

ADRIAN RUVALCABA, DIRECTOR, MEXICO CITY METRO (through translator): Rain can affect service, so we're increasing the fleet from 28 to 32 trains to

reduce wait times, even during the rainy season.

[18:55:00]

LEON (voice-over): Public transport will be critical to meeting the spike in demand from the World Cup. According to the research group "Mexico Como

Vamos" the metro already moves around 6 million passengers every day. But its director warns the system is already overwhelmed.

SOFIA RAMIREZ, DIRECTOR GENERAL, "MEXICO COMO VAMOS" (through translator): Mexico City sees an enormous number of trips every day. In a city of 9

million people, the demand for transportation is already extremely high.

LEON (voice-over): For Mexico City, the World Cup will be more than a global celebration of soccer. It will be a test of whether millions of

people can move effectively through the city and not miss a match.

Valeria Leon, CNN, Mexico City.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SCIUTTO: Thanks so much for joining us today. I'm Jim Sciutto in Washington. You've been watching "The Brief." Please do stay with CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[19:00:00]

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