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The Brief with Jim Sciutto
CNN International: Trump: War in Ukraine Has "Nothing to do" With U.S.; World Leaders Discuss Iran at Gathering in France; U.S. Lawmakers Demand More Information on Initial Agreement; Russia Fires Warning Shots at U.K.-Flagged Yacht in English Channel; Alleged UFC Event Plot; SpaceX Shares Rise After Company's First Post-IPO Deal; Iran Says it's Allowed Some Ships Through Strait; Fans Face Complicated World Cup Over Iran. Aired 6-7p ET
Aired June 16, 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]
PAULA NEWTON, CNN ANCHOR, "THE BRIEF": Hello and a very warm welcome to our viewers joining us from all around the world. I'm Paula Newton in New
York. Jim Sciutto is off. You are watching "The Brief."
Just ahead this hour, President Donald Trump tells world leaders Russia's war in Ukraine is far away and has nothing to do with the United States.
The FBI uncovers an alleged plot to target the White House UFC event. And in the World Cup, Argentina prepare to take on Algeria. We will take you
live to the stadium in Kansas City.
But we do begin with the G7 Summit in France where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with his American counterpart Donald Trump. You see
them there. Mr. Zelensky is looking to get more air defenses for his country in its war with Russia. U.S. President says the meeting went well
and that Moscow should make a deal. But he tried to distance himself and the United States from Russia's war in Ukraine. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: We have nothing to do with it. We sell weapons to them. We don't even give them. It has no impact on us other than
we sell weapons. We're thousands of miles away.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NEWTON: So, another hot topic at the G7 is U.S. negotiations with Iran. Now, there's plenty of confusion, I have to tell you, about what's actually
in the tentative deal or agreement between Tehran and Washington. Mr. Trump has signed it virtually. But the text hasn't been revealed publicly. That's
left world leaders in the dark, although I am told he did speak to them about this at the G7.
Now, the Wall Street Journal, meantime, is among those reporting the agreement will lift sanctions on Iran selling oil immediately. That means
they will immediately be able to get that oil back on the world market.
Know this, though, that a senior U.S. official responded to that report telling CNN this is a performance-based agreement. Iran can only access any
benefits from the MOU if they abide by all of the points they agreed to, including no nuclear weapon, neutralizing its enriched material, and not
interfering with the free flow of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
Nic Robertson joins me now. This has been fascinating to watch, the way this has rolled out. But there is a lot of conflicting information. Have we
learned anything in the last few hours about what might be in this agreement?
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: I don't think we've learned anything substantive. And I do think that the tone that was set by
Vice President J.D. Vance yesterday when he said, you know, if Iran wants to be treated like a normal country, it needs to act like a normal country.
And that all the financial incentives, whether it's the $300 billion reconstruction that has variously been described as something that the Gulf
states would contribute to in terms of investment in Iran, huge sums of money that I don't think anyone can really sort of seriously countenance at
a single brushstroke, or the $12 billion that Iran said that it wanted to have, expected to have of frozen assets before it was going to begin to
negotiate some of the tougher issues in the second phase after that MOU is expected to be signed on Friday.
J.D. Vance has framed it really very simply. It's like this. If Iran behaves and does the right thing, then there are financial rewards from it.
But it does seem, and the question is raised by that Wall Street Journal article you just mentioned about Iran being able to sell its oil on
international markets. This is something they've been demanding, that all sanctions should be forgiven, should be lifted, whether they come from the
International Atomic Energy Agency, from the U.N., from the United States, from the European Union. They should all be lifted, and that would give
them the right, therefore, to sell their oil.
And at the moment, they've been using shadow vessels. There have been ship- to-ship transfers in some cases. So, it's been happening in a clandestine way. This allows them to make money legitimately, if you will.
So, these are the core issues for Iran, and that's what the U.S. is playing off of here. But have we actually learned anything new? I think what we've
learned is that the bigger gap you put between saying you have an agreement and telling everyone what that agreement is, remembering President Trump
said it would probably come after Friday, or after the agreement's signed, and he might even recite it in front of camera.
[18:05:00]
The Iranians have told their people that once the deal is signed, they will tell them what's in it. It's a cause for speculation in both countries and
for hardliners to try to take advantage of where they see weaknesses in the agreement. And I think it's fair to say both sides see plenty of that.
Certainly, the European leaders do see a lot of flaws in it, even though they don't have the details of it, as we understand.
NEWTON: Right. I do want to turn to Ukraine. You followed all the twists and turns in this. I mean, we had that extraordinary summit between
Vladimir Putin and the president, and yet here we are with President Trump, full-throated now, at a G7 summit, saying, really, this conflict has
nothing to do with us.
ROBERTSON: Which is fascinating, because just yesterday, when he arrived and was speaking with the French president, Emmanuel Macron, he said, well,
this Iran thing, that's all done. You know, it's finished. I want to move on to Russia and Ukraine.
You know, it's not atypical of President Trump to say one thing in the morning and another thing in the afternoon or the following day. So, this -
- I think, again, if you look at what he means in an underlying way, somebody else can solve it. Get on with it. We are selling the weapons, the
pressures on the European partners.
And remembering that for President Trump, it is often who he's heard from last and what they've said that will then, you know, perhaps sort of help
him formulate what he's going to say next, if you will. And in that context, I mean, he probably will have heard, you know, European leaders
saying, look, we'd like more help from the United States. We don't want to just buy your weapons to sell them to Ukraine. We're considering sort of
investing in our own arms infrastructure to provide weapons for Ukraine.
And President Zelensky himself today, you know, thanked the United States for its support, but asked not only for more air defense missiles, but for
the licenses to be able to make those Patriot air defense missiles in Ukraine. That's critical. That would be huge. And, of course, there's no
answer on that.
But, you know, if President Trump wants to view it as a problem thousands of miles away over the horizon, President Zelensky is offering an option
here. Let us build the missiles. But, of course, following the war in Iran, where a huge number of these Patriot and other defensive missiles have been
used countering Iran's attacks, there is enough to go round, but they're not in plentiful supply. I think that's the bottom line here. And Zelensky
also, you know, talking about we need to focus on next winter as well.
NEWTON: Yes, and Zelensky did have a positive take coming out of that, but we'll see what transpires in the next few weeks. Nic Robertson for us,
grateful to you.
Now, even as members of U.S. Congress are confused at this hour about what is in the text of the agreement, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham says
lawmakers would have to vote on any final deal involving Iran's nuclear program. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R-SC): I'm confident that President Trump won't sign a bad deal. The MOU as described by the vice president and administration
seems very promising. Iranian media reports about the deal seem concerning. Once the MOU is actually released, we can all look at it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NEWTON: Joining me now is U.S. Democratic Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi. I want to thank you for joining us as we try and parse exactly what's going
on here. I mean, you just heard Nic Robertson say that President Trump will release the text in the coming days and then submit it to Congress. What
specifically will you be looking for in that memorandum of understanding to judge whether or not this is a deal worth signing on to?
REP. RAJA KRISHNAMOORTHI (D-IL): Whether it actually brings a permanent halt to the conflict. And it ends the Iranian nuclear weapons program and
furthers our interests. Look, I think that right now, I don't know what is in the MOU. I have no clue. If it's so great, I don't still understand why
they aren't releasing the text. J.D. Vance said it's a one-page document, and he calls it a very general document, which doesn't really give me a lot
of confidence this moment.
NEWTON: J.D. Vance, in fact, has said that, look, it has to be choreographed in a certain way. He has reportedly also spoken to some
senators about the agreement. I noted, in fact, that the senator there had China changed between yesterday and today, so maybe he has seen some of it.
But who has been briefed on this? And why should lawmakers view this as a diplomatic breakthrough rather than simply a ceasefire?
[18:10:00]
And I know it as well, Lindsey Graham saying, look, we're going to get to vote on this.
KRISHNAMOORTHI: It sounds like a ceasefire to me. It doesn't sound like anything more than that, especially if it's one page long and they're not
willing to talk about it. So, I think that is why lawmakers are very skeptical. And as far as who's been briefed, I have no clue. I certainly
was not. I haven't been. I'm not aware of anybody in our leadership having been briefed as well. And so, it just feels like yet another kind of
ceasefire.
And again, this is an illegal, unconstitutional war. The American people don't want it. They're hurt every day it goes on, including at the gas pump
and economically, but also in terms of our national security. And they want it to end right now.
NEWTON: Congressman, I have to ask you, though, in terms of what happens, the way the president engaged in this war in the first place and even the
way it's happening, Congress has been completely impotent. Do you expect that to continue, especially when we're hearing things like even from J.D.
Vance that, you know, there could be access to a reconstruction fund that could be worth as much as $300 billion? Wouldn't that symbolize a victory
for Iran?
KRISHNAMOORTHI: It will be impotent until there's a change in management in Congress. You're absolutely right now. The War Powers Resolution did
pass the House, but it's going to be filibustered in the Senate by Republicans. And at the end of the day, I just don't think anything
significant is going to change unless and until the Democrats take back the majority.
And I think that this is an issue that's becoming an election issue. I'm hearing about it more and more. I'm hearing about it from Democrats and
Republicans, not just one part of the political spectrum. People are really, really upset about this.
NEWTON: I do want to get to Ukraine as well, which was also front and center. We just saw President Zelensky there. What do you make of Donald
Trump saying this war has nothing to do with us? We'll sell our arms to Europe, but that's about it. Do you think he will eventually come on side
in the next few weeks and get to some of what President Zelensky says he needs in order to really get the advantage over Russia?
KINKADE: I hope so. I mean, I think these particular comments show an utter kind of lack of understanding of the stakes of this war. Remember,
our NATO allies are potentially implicated by this war. And any kind of situation that could entangle them would immediately entangle us. And that
is why we have rushed so much aid to our allies and to Ukraine in the past. And we're still continuing to do so, although not on the scale that we need
to, especially given that Ukraine has finally gained, I think, the upper hand in the current situation.
It's one that has really changed in terms of its complexion in the last six to 12 months. And we should now take advantage of this situation to allow
Ukraine to have a better position on the battlefield so that they can have a better outcome at the negotiating table.
NEWTON: Yes. In fact, when we look at the leaders there at the G7, the European leaders in Canada continue to say that it is Ukraine they believe
that will now win this conflict outright. Congressman, we'll have to leave it there for now. Thanks so much. Appreciate it.
KRISHNAMOORTHI: Thank you.
NEWTON: Now, new tensions between the U.K. and Russia in the English Channel. Russia says one of its warships fired warning shots at a U.K.-
flagged yacht near the Isle of Wight. That was Tuesday. It says the yacht appeared to be on a collision course with its ship. Now, all of this
occurring just days after U.K. commandos intercepted a suspected Russian Shadow Fleet vessel in the Channel. Sebastian Shukla has our details.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SEBASTIAN SHUKLA, CNN PRODUCER: It's a part of British waters that sees a lot of activity, naval, military activity. We've seen Russian vessels
traversing the strait there quite regularly, including this particular frigate, the Admiral Grigorovich, which has been through the English
Channel some six times already this year.
But this incident could have been much worse, too. The incidences about what happened here is starting to be clarified very slightly. We have from
the Russian Ministry of Defense, they put out a statement recently, which is putting their side of this incident forward, which is that there were
three stages.
The first one, which was that they attempted to make contact with this vessel, which is known, which has been called the Bright Future Vessel.
This is the yacht, the civilian vessel that is at the center of this. They tried to make contact that didn't elicit any change in course. They sent
signal flares that elicited no change in course, either.
[18:15:00]
And then when this vessel was about 150 yards away, they fired a single small round, and then that prompted this yacht to move away.
The British military, for their part, have released a statement saying that they are looking into this incident. They have sent one vessel, the HMS
Mersey, which had been tracking this Admiral Grigorovich ship through the channel anyway, had been out there in the first place, and then they sent
another one to go on a fact-finding mission just to try to establish exactly what happened.
It is our understanding that The Bright Future, that small vessel is now continuing, unimpeded on its journey, wherever it was going in the first
place, but highlights once again that the choke point that this particular channel and strait between the U.K. and the European mainland has and the
importance it has for Russian vessels traveling through it, that can be escorting ships harmlessly through a strait like this.
But could also be transporting and moving those shadow fleet vessels, which we saw happening on Sunday, which prompted the British Navy and military to
board that ship and then take it because it feels, or the British Navy felt, that it was part of this shadow operation moving illicit Russian oil
around the planet, and it's something that European nations have been doing more and more frequently recently as they look to try to bolster their
stance, to be more aggressive, to be more positive against the Kremlin, because they see a changing tide on the Ukrainian battlefield, and they
feel that sanctioning ships like this is very important, but on this particular instance, it could well have been much, much worse.
What we are glad to see here, obviously, is that there have been no injuries, no casualties, and there was no damage reported, and that it may
well just be an isolated incident.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NEWTON: Thanks to Sebastian Shukla. Now, we are getting new details about an alleged plot to attack Sunday's UFC fight at the White House, attended
by President Trump, of course, and thousands of people, a plot that the FBI says it stopped cold.
Five suspects are now in custody and face criminal charges. They include a 19-year-old who was referred to police by his mother. According to court
documents, the would-be attackers chatted in private messages about detonating drones packed with explosives on the crowd, and then opening
fire on targets and law enforcement.
Brian Todd joins me now from the White House, where, in fact, they're dissembling the stage, the so-called claw right behind you. Brian, this is
incredibly disturbing when you see the details of this, and I am wondering, you know, how close authorities say that they got to actually making this,
you know, going from ideation to actually actioning any of this.
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, closer than many people are comfortable with, Paula, that's for sure.
You know, we have some new details now on this alleged plot, which could have resulted in chaos and multiple casualties in this area behind me, if
not for the actions of the mother of one of the suspects.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TODD (voice-over): An energetic, crowded UFC event at the White House, with President Trump in attendance, members of Congress, and VIPs, all
potential targets of an alleged planned attack using drones and snipers. And according to the Secret Service, there are still suspects on the loose.
According to a federal law enforcement official and criminal complaints obtained by CNN, a group of alleged online extremists planned and
coordinated an attack at Sunday night's UFC fight on the White House. In order to, quote, "jumpstart a revolution in the United States. But they
were thwarted."
MATTHEW QUINN, U.S. SECRET SERVICE DEPUTY DIRECTOR: It was a serious threat. It was an active plot, and it's ongoing.
TODD (voice-over): According to a criminal complaint, the plan was to, quote, "stage a demonstration on the north side of the White House," then
detonate drones over the arena, forcing the attending crowd to evacuate, where the group would act as snipers to conduct shootings of the members of
the crowd and HVTs, high-value targets, including, quote, "both wealthy people and politicians."
Retired FBI agent Richard Kolko says it's not likely the alleged attackers could have enacted their plot in full, but they could still have inflicted
some significant damage.
RICHARD KOLKO, RETIRED FBI SUPERVISORY SPECIAL AGENT: If they had brought firearms, brought explosives, come to the area, found out where the
perimeter was, and gone forward and carried out some sort of attack, people could have died, people could have been hurt, and it could have been very,
very serious.
TODD (voice-over): According to court documents, the online group were ex- military, Christian-based, and anti-government, with anti-Israel and anti- Jewish views. The Justice Department has charged five people across California, Missouri, Nebraska, and Ohio in the alleged plot.
The investigation began when the mother of a 19-year-old in custody, Tyson Proper, alerted authorities that she was concerned about her son, who she
says was communicating with radical people online and amassing an arsenal of weapons, including, according to Proper's father, an AR-style rifle and
several boxes of ammunition.
KOLKO: This mom did exactly the right thing. She knew something was up with her son, something was wrong, and she picked up the phone, made the
call, and probably saved lives.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
[18:20:00]
TODD (on camera): The charges include conspiracy to murder and conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States. Now, as for that one
defendant, Tyson Proper, the criminal complaint does not say that he actually purchased any drones, but the complaint says that he did purchase
multiple firearms and ammunition. Tyson Proper has not yet entered a plea. CNN has reached out to a public defender listed for him. Paula.
NEWTON: Again, the details as you outline them, Brian, so chilling. Grateful to you for the report, appreciate it.
Now, still ahead for us, SpaceX defying gravity again. The company shares advancing for a third straight session after that splashy Wall Street
debut. We will discuss that and the company's first post-IPO deal.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NEWTON: And welcome back. In today's Business Breakout, a mixed day on Wall Street, the Dow rose to fresh records, surpassing 52,000 at one point,
but tech stocks pulled back. Oil fell more than 5 percent, with both Brent and U.S. crude settling below $80 a barrel. The energy markets were
reacting, in fact, and in part, to a report in The Wall Street Journal that the U.S. agreement with Iran gives Tehran permission to sell oil
immediately on the global markets.
Now, more Iranian oil on the market would help ease concerns about the global supply. The U.S. official says it will only allow Iran to sell oil
if it abides by the terms of that agreement.
Now, the SpaceX rally on Wall Street lost a little bit of steam on Tuesday. Shares in Elon Musk's rocket company closed nearly 5 percent higher, but
that's way off their intraday highs. During the session, the company briefly became the fourth most valuable company in the world. SpaceX also
announcing its first post-IPO acquisition. It's buying the A.I. coding tool, Cursor, for $60 billion in stock to help it compete with OpenAI and
Anthropic.
Now, I spoke earlier today with Joe Brusuelas. He is the chief economist at RSM about the market enthusiasm surrounding, say, SpaceX.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE BRUSUELAS, CHIEF ECONOMIST, RSM: We are now moving towards the evolution of what we're going to call the space economy here as we begin to
see the build out, not just of what SpaceX is doing, which can be focused on two things. Satellites to support their ground link operations, or their
space link operations. And then, of course, what they're talking about broadly in Silicon Valley and other places is, can we build data centers in
outer space?
[18:25:00]
So, in many ways, it's a real speculative play on the next-gen version of the United States economy, which you got to tell you is very exciting.
NEWTON: It's exciting. And yet, when I looked at some of the stock trades today, it shocked me that even anyone that was SpaceX adjacent to a certain
point, some people, you know, had a rise in their stock, but others just fell apart. And even that was the chip makers. Why are we seeing that? And
how much is SpaceX dominating, especially the retail market right now?
BRUSUELAS: All right. So, what I saw today was more of a technical move. I don't think it really signified much of anything. But SpaceX really is
setting the stage to drive valuations here over the next couple of weeks. You know, we're really looking at what's going on in NASDAQ and their index
of SpaceX. It is actually integrated into it. That's going to give a broader boost to that index. And I really do think financial markets.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NEWTON: Checking some of today's other business headlines, the Bank of Japan is raising interest rates. It's hiking its key rate by a quarter
percentage point to one percent. That's the highest it's been in 31 years. Policymakers are signaling that they're ready to raise rates even more due
to inflation. The European Central Bank hiked its benchmark interest rate last week.
The U.S. Federal Reserve began its two-day policy meeting today. This is the first Fed meeting with new chair Kevin Warsh at the helm. Despite
President Trump's pressure on the Fed to lower rates, policymakers are expected to hold borrowing costs steady for now. The Fed is set to announce
its policy decision on Wednesday.
And restaurant conglomerate Yum Brands is selling its struggling Pizza Hut chain. Now, the majority of Pizza Hut's business will be sold to private
equity firm LongRange Capital for one and a half billion dollars, with its mainland China operations will be acquired by Yum China for $1.2 billion.
A game changer. That's what Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is calling the preliminary U.S.-Iran agreement. But has he actually seen it? What he's
telling CNN's Kaitlan Collins. We'll have that straight ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[18:30:00]
NEWTON: And welcome back to "The Brief," I'm Paula Newton, here are the international headlines we are watching today.
U.S. President Donald Trump is leaving world leaders and U.S. Congress guessing about the preliminary agreement with Iran. He declined to give
details today at the G7 in France, but says he will release the text this week and maybe even read it out loud on camera. The U.S. and Iran are
expected to sign the framework agreement Friday in Switzerland and begin talks on a final settlement.
An exiled Russian artist known for his unflattering portraits of Vladimir Putin has been shot dead in what authorities say was a suspected execution.
Police in Poland say they've detained two Belarusian citizens in connection with the artist's death. He had moved to Poland five years ago out of fear
of prosecution and persecution for his anti-Kremlin views.
A U.S. Air Force colonel says Monday's crash of a B-52 bomber at a California air base was tragic and unsurvivable. All eight crew members on
board were killed when the military plane went down shortly after takeoff on what was supposed to be a routine test mission. They included military
service members, government-employed civilians and two workers with Boeing. Relatives say one of those killed was a civilian flight test engineer and
father of two young boys. The cause of the crash is under investigation.
So, we're learning that President Trump's national security team met nearly every day over the past two weeks to discuss an evolving agreement with
Iran. Ahead of Friday's expected signing ceremony, an Iranian official says some vessels are being allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. This
says U.S. intel assesses Iran can now weaponize and shut down the Strait at will.
CNN anchor and chief White House correspondent Kaitlan Collins joins us now from Geneva. She sat down earlier with Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Kaitlan, I have to say you managed to gain significant insight into this agreement and speaking with the Prime Minister. And it is kind of
significant because we've had so few details from anyone about this agreement.
KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR AND CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Yes. I mean, the administration, the White House has refused to release the
details of this agreement. They've just kind of basically outlined it in broad terms and generic terms ever since it has been signed on Sunday. And
here we are 48 hours later and still they have not released the text of this agreement.
But the Canadian prime minister, who is here gathered with the other G7 leaders meeting with President Trump behind closed doors, having dinners
with him at the summit in France. He's actually seen the MOU, he tells me. And one question, of course, given there is so much skepticism from
Republican lawmakers back at home, from conservatives, from many people on the right, especially in Israel, over what this deal actually portends and
what it's going to lead to.
Prime Minister Carney is not one of the skeptics. He says that he and the other G7 leaders are actually emphatically behind where this preliminary
deal stands so far. And here's what he told me earlier on the sidelines of this summit.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Did you actually see the agreement itself?
MARK CARNEY, CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER: I've seen the agreement. Yes.
COLLINS: Oh, so the president showed it to you.
CARNEY: Well, I've seen the agreement. We have we have we have our sources just like you.
COLLINS: OK. Well, we haven't seen it publicly as it's been released. Is it true it's about a page and a half?
CARNEY: It's -- it is a reasonable length for an agreement, which is, in effect, it is a cessation of hostilities. It's a ceasefire for that 60-day
period, as you know. But it sets out a series of conditions and what will happen when they are fulfilled.
So, I think it's I think it's well-structured from our perspective. But I think as well is the regional countries are behind it. Of course, we met
with the UAE, with the Qataris, the Egyptians. We have contacts as well. And again, it's well structured. It creates -- I actually think -- you
know, I think it's a game changer, not just for this situation, because it starts to take off, certainly this issue. But it allows us, and this is
what's happened in the meeting. to step back, look anew at Ukraine.
COLLINS: Yes.
CARNEY: Ukraine situation. We had a very, very constructive conversation around Ukraine.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Now, Paula, you know, as well as I do, Prime Minister Korney, these other leaders that are gathered here want this war to come to an end.
They have been stuck between a rock and a hard place with President Trump ever since it started in late February without the coordination of these G7
leaders. So, the president later lashed out with him because he wanted them to have done more to help when it came to the war, when it came to the
straight and poor moves.
The prime minister did say Canada will be involved in reopening that to a degree. And as we got into the specifics of what this deal looks like,
given he's seen it and we have not.
[18:35:00]
He did hesitate a bit and say he didn't want to reveal too much publicly in terms of the agreement since it was an agreement between the United States
and Iran. But obviously, this is a level of detail in terms of the financial incentives for Iran and what this looks like that we just have
not gotten so far. And so, obviously, this is a chance to speak with someone who has actually seen this agreement when very few people, it
appears, have done so. Paula.
NEWTON: And so, I think it's going to be interesting to see how this deal plays out. And as I say, that's why it is significant. I'm glad you got a
chance to speak with him, Kaitlan, and we'll continue to watch the rest of the interview, which is also fascinating. He does speak a little bit more
about Ukraine. Kaitlan Collins from Geneva, thanks so much.
And remember, don't miss Kaitlan on her show, "The Source" with Kaitlan Collins. As the prime minister just noted, she has good sources and so does
he. She'll have more of that interview. I thought that was quite funny. That's tonight at 9:00 Eastern on CNN. Thanks again, Kaitlan. Appreciate
it.
Now, coming up for us on "The Brief" --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Any logo that has IRGC on it, to me, is an org terrorist organization, and I have no room to support it. I don't care who
they represent.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NEWTON: Some Iranian Americans have conflicting feelings about Iran's national team as they play the World Cup matches in the United States.
We'll have that next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NEWTON: A group of protesters in the U.S. are criticizing the Iranian government as its national team competes in the World Cup. Now, they're
highlighting the regime's repression of dissidents. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NASSER SHARIF, PRESIDENT, CALIFORNIA SOCIETY FOR DEMOCRACY IN Iran: We are here to tell the world that the Iranian regime continues suppressing,
killing political prisoners and athletes as we speak. Many athletes are under torture, waiting for execution. As we, again, speak, you see some of
the fallen heroes' pictures behind me. The nature of the regime hasn't changed. And the Iranian people they're rejecting this regime's entirety.
They want to free Democratic Republic Iran.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NEWTON: Now, others say they still want to support their national team, even though politics is, of course, on their minds.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SANAM AKHLAGH, IranIAN EMIGRANT: It's a very hard, complicated time for, I think, Iranian diaspora right now. But it's still, it's our team. And I
think, again, we all have a lot of mixed feelings. I think at the end of the day, we are here to support Iranians.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NEWTON: Holly Dagres is a senior fellow at the Washington Institute and curator of "The Iranist" sub-stack. And good to have you on the program.
[18:40:00]
You know, it was interesting and again a bit heartbreaking to listen to what we just heard from Iranians. This is the World Cup, everybody wants to
try and celebrate their national team, and yet it's so fraught with conflict and politics at this hour.
In your latest piece, you argue that ordinary Iranians have paid an enormous price for this war in so many ways, and yet the regime itself may
have emerged more emboldened. I mean, how did a conflict that was supposed to weaken the Islamic Republic end up strengthening it perhaps?
HOLLY DAGRES, CURATOR, "THE IranIST" SUBSTACK: Well, first, thank you for having me on the program. And I think to put it simply, it's because we're
dealing with an administration that went into a war that wasn't sufficiently planned or thought out, and I think just seeing how the
goalposts move just from the beginning to the end.
President Donald Trump promised help is on the way, told Iranians to take over their institutions after an unprecedented massacre of thousands of
Iranians, and at the first day of the war on February 28th, one of the main objectives were regime change.
Now, we're hearing the president has made this memorandum of understanding that will be signed on Friday, and effectively sending across the regime
that slaughtered these protesters in January and left Iranians in a situation worse off on so many fronts because of this three-month war.
NEWTON: You know, the administration is presenting the agreement that we haven't seen but apparently is on the table as a pathway to stability for
all of Iran, but under this regime. From the perspective of ordinary Iranians, does this deal create any meaningful opportunity for an opening
here politically? I'm just going to put aside the economics at this point in time, and I want to highlight the fact that earlier this year, President
Trump told the Iranians as they risked their lives, clearly, as thousands of them died in protests, he said, help is on the way.
DAGRES: Yes. And the reality is that the Islamic Republic is neither reformable nor redeemable, and I say this not because I'm an analyst here
in Washington of Iranian-American heritage, but because we've heard foremost activists like Nobel laureate Narges Mohammadi say this over and
over again, and actually call for a democratic transition in January that the International Community completely ignored.
And so, just say that the Islamic Republic suddenly is a different regime, one that basically went from father to son, that is the Supreme Leader
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to his son Mojtaba, for ordinary Iranians, that's not much of a change. That being said, for the past few months, they've
been living under a lot of economic hardship, renewed repression, and a war that has left their futures very uncertain.
And so, for those Iranians that had to deal with those daily bombardments, inability to sleep, fear of their own safety, with 1,700 civilians killed,
and there's some relief, but do they really think that change, positive change is coming suddenly because this memorandum of understanding, which I
should note, is just a document that's going to push for, that's going to kick talks down the road for another 60 days? Talks we're not even sure
will lead to anything, according to the CIA director, actually. So, I think that's really important to emphasize.
NEWTON: Right. Kick the negotiations down the road and possibly give billions more to this regime and the Revolutionary Guard. I've been
fascinated by seeing the reaction that I've read inside Iran, and that's the fact that hardline factions are openly attacking Iran's negotiators,
accusing them of selling out the revolution and turning Iran into a colony of the United States.
I mean, what is this opposition all about? Do you think it's artificial? Do you think they're trying to extract more concessions from Washington?
DAGRES: Well, actually, this is not a new opposition. These ultra-hardline voices are not exactly new. We saw them with the signing of the original
JCPOA, or Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, popularly known as the Iran Nuclear Deal, in 2015. And when the Trump administration withdrew from it
in 2018, the first term, that is, they celebrated it. They had a paper version in parliament that they set on fire and started chanting, death to
America and death to Israel. So, these are very much those same voices coming out and criticizing.
So, while there's different factions within the clerical establishment, they function the same way that Democrats and Republicans do. They're
fighting over their country's future.
[18:45:00]
And for them, that future is the Islamic Republic. It's just a matter of which direction do they take it.
NEWTON: Holly, thanks so much for giving us some insight into what's going on in Iran. As difficult as it is to really parse what's going on there, as
confused as we are about the details, there is a lot on the line for tens of millions of people in Iran. Holly Dagres, thank you so much. Thanks so
much.
Coming up for us, excitement is building as fans are getting ready for a World Cup match between Argentina and Algeria.
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NEWTON: So, defending champions Argentina will take on Algeria in their World Cup opening match in about two hours from now. Of course, superstar
Lionel Messi is set to play a record six, count them, six World Cups.
Elizabeth Perez is in Kansas City where the game will take place. I mean, I can't imagine the excitement there given the fact that Argentina have been
waiting for this moment. And obviously, expectations must be quite high.
ELIZABETH PEREZ, CNN EN ESPANOL SPORTS ANCHOR: Yes, Paula, it's a pleasure to be with you here from Kansas City where, as you said, very soon the
action is going to start in the stadium behind me where the Chiefs of Kansas City play.
And there is a lot of expectation for the city because this game is huge. All eyes, as you said, are going to be on Lionel Messi who is set to make
history by playing his sixth World Cup, one very special, we might say, because he's 38 years old, almost 39, and this could be the final World Cup
chapter in an incredible career. Many Argentinians flew from Buenos Aires and other places in the country to come to Kansas City to support their
team.
And of course, they left a mark painting the whole city baby blue and white with the T-shirts, with the hats, with their energy, with the flag. And
especially yesterday during the famous Banderazo, which is a celebration in a park to celebrate Argentinian football, something that surprised many
locals in Kansas City because even though they had championships in the past, like with the Chiefs and of course the Royals when they won in 2015,
the World Series, nothing like they have seen before, like yesterday in El Banderazo with all these crazy fans chanting, dancing, bringing their own
food to celebrate.
And of course, this is Argentina. This is the fever they have for soccer. They are the holders of the trophy won in Qatar 2022 and are aiming to
become the first nation since Brazil in 1962 to successfully defend a World Cup title.
[18:50:00]
successfully defend a World Cup title. It's not an easy feat taken into consideration, Paula, that besides the Verde Amarelo, Brazil, only Italy
was able to do it in the 1930s. In front, they have Algeria that returned to the World Cup after a 12-year absence, so it's not going to be easy.
Remember what happened in the last World Cup with Saudi Arabia.
NEWTON: Yes, Elizabeth, we know it's going to be tough, but that enthusiasm should propel them. Now, Cecilia Dominguez is at a watch party
in Buenos Aires. Are they matching the enthusiasm of what's going on in Kansas City? Oh, apologies, we lost Cecilia. She is in Buenos Aires. I
assure you that the enthusiasm is there.
Elizabeth, before I let you go, I want to ask you about what Kansas City believes this kind of a World Cup match will give them. I mean, you just
did a very good description of what's going on in the streets, but it must also be an economic boost.
PEREZ: Yes, definitely is an economic boost. Imagine so many people yesterday, I couldn't count them, of course, but there were hundreds, if
not thousands of people visiting the city for this, and I was able to talk to Americans, to locals, and they were telling me that they have never seen
something like this. They won the NFL trophy, the Super Bowl with the Chiefs, three times in this new millennium, but this time is different.
Soccer, it's a global movement.
Everybody's watching tonight the game against Algeria because Argentina, as we said at the beginning, are the defending champions, and Lionel Messi is
considered the best player in the world.
NEWTON: Elizabeth, stand by for me right there. Cecilia, I believe we do have you from Buenos Aires. Can you hear me?
CECILIA DOMINGUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Paula, how are you? We are here in the Fan Fest in Buenos Aires, in Palermo neighborhood, and if you
want to know what football means to Argentina, you have to take a look around. All you need to do is take a look around. That's what we're going
to do now.
Especially now, I was listening to Eli, this could be Lionel Messi's last World Cup. We are defending the title. Argentina arrives to this World Cup
as World Cup champion. So, there's, I mean, tonight it's very cold here in Buenos Aires, but it's like we're not feeling that cold. We are feeling
very energetic, excited, and that's the atmosphere. Many people are here, have been gathering throughout the day, families, groups of friends.
And we are -- we have been listening to many stories. For example, Junior's story. He was born in Brazil, and when he was eight years old, he decided
as a Brazilian to support Argentina, and he's a football player. Why did you decide to root for Argentina?
In France, '98, in the World Cup, that's when your passion for Argentina began.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
DOMINGUEZ: He was watching a match, and when Batistuta, one of the players, scored, what happened? You fell in love with Argentina? OK. And do
you feel that Messi is going to score tonight? OK. Thank you very much. Thank you. He thinks that Messi is going to score a goal.
And stories like Junior's story, he was born in Brazil. Brazil is a country really passionate about football, as we are in Argentina, but he decided to
support Argentina, and especially this World Cup is very special, and many people are feeling very nostalgic about it, because of our cup, in the last
World Cup, and because it could be Messi's last World Cup.
NEWTON: Yes. I'm sure they're excited and also a bit nervous. Elizabeth Perez and Cecilia Dominguez, thank you for bringing us the spirit of the
World Cup there, especially where Argentina is concerned. Thanks to you both. There are going to be anxious moments ahead.
Now, right now we want to tell you that Norway and Iraq are facing off in Boston Stadium, with both teams ending a decades-long drought at the men's
tournament. Norway are up at this hour 2-1. Today is the first day on the pitch for Group I. Now, about two hours ago, France, who were in the final
against Argentina last time, beat Senegal. That was one of Africa's strongest teams. They beat them 3-1.
But now we want to tell you about Japan's fans that are winning praise off the pitch once again. After matches, supporters have been spotted cleaning
the stands, collecting trash, and leaving their sections spotless.
[18:55:00]
This is something to behold. It's a World Cup tradition that's become almost as famous as the football itself. CNN's Hanako Montgomery takes a
look at the culture behind this gesture.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HANAKO MONTGOMERY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Japanese fans are cleaning up after themselves at the World Cup again. This goes viral at almost every major
soccer tournament, as the Internet and FIFA marvel at how responsible and respectful the Japanese are. Fans had trash bags ready, and even the
players were praised for leaving their locker rooms spotless.
Japan's fans first went viral online for this at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. But the idea of leaving a place cleaner than you found it has long
been a part of Japan's soft power and culture. Japanese people even grow up learning how to clean their own classrooms. Japan actually has very few
public trash cans because you're expected to bring your garbage home with you. And now, this simple gesture has become one of the World Cup's most
enduring traditions.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NEWTON: Something we should all emulate. I want to thank you for your company. I'm Paula Newton in New York. You've been watching "The Brief.
Stay" with CNN for more news.
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