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U.S. Strikes Another Alleged Drug Vessel as Tensions Rise with Venezuela; U.S. to Designate Venezuelan Group as Terrorist Organization; Top Two Candidates Head to Runoff in Chile's Presidential Election; Trump Reverses Position, Urges GOP to Release Epstein Files; One-on-One with Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister; Dolphins Take 16-13 Victory Over Commanders in Spain; The World Lights Up for the Holiday Season. Aired 12-1a ET
Aired November 17, 2025 - 00:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
POLO SANDOVAL, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, everybody. I'm Polo Sandoval, live in New York. This is CNN NEWSROOM. And here's what's coming your way.
[00:00:43]
The U.S. continues building up military assets near Venezuela as Trump hints of a diplomatic option that could still be on the table for Maduro.
And Trump makes a 180 on the Epstein files. This just days before the House is set to vote on the release of those Epstein files. How this may impact his rift with one longtime ally.
And with the winter holidays right around the corner, we're going to take you to communities around the world to see how people are preparing to celebrate.
ANNOUNCER: Live from New York, this is CNN NEWSROOM with Polo Sandoval.
SANDOVAL: All right. Let's begin with rising tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela. This as Donald Trump continues weighing possible military action inside the South American country.
Well, it now appears that there might be a diplomatic offramp, with the U.S. president telling reporters on Sunday that Venezuela's president, Nicolas Maduro, that he wants to talk, apparently, though he didn't offer a whole lot of details on that.
A day earlier, the U.S. military carried out its 21st known strike on an alleged drug trafficking boat, killing three people. In all, 83 people have now been killed in these U.S. strikes since early September.
Venezuela's government, it's condemned these U.S. operations, calling them, quote, "extrajudicial executions."
The Trump administration now planning to designate a Venezuelan cartel known as Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist group, linking it to President Maduro as part of its justification for ramping up the U.S. military presence in the region.
Let's begin with CNN's Betsy Klein, who reports on President Trump's possible next moves.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BETSY KLEIN, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, we do not know what President Donald Trump intends to do in Venezuela, and that strategic ambiguity may be by design.
But what we do know is that the U.S. has amassed significant resources in the region, and that President Trump has authorized --
KLEIN (voice-over): -- the CIA to operate inside of Venezuela.
The president was briefed by his team multiple times in recent days on a range of options. Those options include airstrikes on military and government facilities and drug trafficking routes, as well as the possibility of a more direct attempt to oust the country's leader, Nicolas Maduro.
And on Venezuela, the president indicated Sunday evening as he departed Florida that a diplomatic path out might be possible.
Sunday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio had announced that the State Department intends to designate Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist organization. That group is headed by Nicolas Maduro.
The president was asked whether that move allows the U.S. to target Maduro's assets and infrastructure. Listen.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Does that mean that the U.S. government can target Maduro's assets or infrastructure inside Venezuela?
DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: It allows us to do that, but we haven't said we're going to do that. And we may be discussing we may be having some discussions with Maduro, and we'll see how that turns out.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Mr. President --
TRUMP: They would like --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Mr. President --
TRUMP: They would like to talk.
KLEIN: Now, experts have described that U.S. military buildup in the area as significant.
KLEIN (voice-over): There are more than 15,000 U.S. military personnel in the region, as well as more than a dozen warships, ten F-35 fighter jets, and the world's largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, arriving in Caribbean waters early in the day on Sunday.
Now officially, the Trump administration says that they are going after illegal drug trafficking. However, regime change could also be a side effect of any action the president chooses to take.
This is extremely high risk. It's unclear who could rise to power in Venezuela in the absence of Maduro. It would require significant U.S. commitment going forward.
KLEIN: This is all what the president is weighing as he returns to Washington to begin the work week.
Betsy Klein, CNN, traveling with the president in West Palm Beach, Florida.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANDOVAL: Let's dive deeper into this so-called Cartel de los Soles. Venezuela, for its part, it's long denied that it even exists, even rejecting claims that President Maduro is, in any way, tied to drug trafficking.
Stefano Pozzebon is in Caracas with more reaction.
[00:05:05]
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
STEFANO POZZEBON, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: The streets of Caracas were calm on Sunday night, and the whole Sunday felt a much quieter day, for example, than the day before, than Saturday, when we saw several government officials participating in ceremonies all across the nation, with regular Venezuelans, civilians, being asked to take an oath --
POZZEBON (voice-over): -- and to swear that they will defend the country in the case of a U.S. attack.
We're yet to hear from the presidential palace, from Nicolas Maduro himself, a reaction to the recent remarks by President Trump late on Sunday night, saying that he would be open to discussing with -- with Maduro himself and that Trump said Maduro has reached out.
That is not to be surprising. Maduro has tried for weeks and months to speak directly to the American people and to reach the White House directly.
POZZEBON: This is, for example, what he said on Saturday.
NICOLAS MADURO, VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT (through translator): I reiterate this every day to the people of the United States. The people of the United States, listen to me. War in the Caribbean, war in South America. No. War eternal. No. Peace? Yes. Peace for America? Yes.
POZZEBON: At this moment, CNN cannot independently verify whether there has been -- or there have been conversations between Miraflores, the presidential palace here in Caracas, and the members of Donald Trump's team up in Washington. But we'll keep you posted on that.
Also, on Sunday night at the same time -- POZZEBON (voice-over): -- the U.S. Department of State has announced their intention to designate the Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist organization.
POZZEBON: Now Cartel del los Soles is a collective member (ph) used to designate members of the Venezuelan high government and government officials involved in drug trafficking --
POZZEBON (voice-over): -- with Nicolas Maduro at its head. It's at the center point of the strategy of prosecuting Maduro for drug trafficking.
And that is to be seen as a sign of further escalation coming down from the State Department, while instead, Donald Trump seemed to suggest that he would be open --
POZZEBON: -- to a more diplomatic solution.
For CNN, this is Stefano Pozzebon, Caracas.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANDOVAL: Joining us now is Eric Farnsworth. He's a senior associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Welcome to the program, Eric.
ERIC FARNSWORTH, SENIOR ASSOCIATE, CENTER FOR STRATEGIC AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES: Thanks, Polo. Thanks for having me.
SANDOVAL: Of course. It's our pleasure.
You know, you've previously called this current deployment of the military assets just off the coast of Venezuela the most significant buildup this century.
So, given that scale of the U.S.'s mobilization, Eric, what do you believe to be President Trump's ultimate goal when it comes to Venezuela? Basically, when you take into account everything we've seen the last few weeks.
FARNSWORTH: Well, I think we're getting pretty close to an end game here. Or at least a decision point.
You have the core, the Ford Carrier Strike Group is on station in the Caribbean. And you have 15,000 U.S. troops ready to do something there.
You have overflights that are continuing to be conducted, and you have exercises with Trinidad and Tobago and other regional countries that are being conducted.
So I think that there is clearly an intent to this build-up. What that intent is, we don't actually know. The president will be the one who makes that -- that final determination.
But I do think there's a window here that we're looking at, probably in the next week or so, because once you have this type of buildup with the world's most advanced aircraft carrier, the Gerald Ford, as well as all its support elements, you can't keep assets like that on station forever. They're very expensive. And you take them out of the rotation of other parts of the world, as well.
If you add that to the fact that the United States has designated the Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist organization, a designation, that's going to go into effect on November 24, which is a week from today, you have, really, a window of about a week to see what could happen here.
SANDOVAL: Given that mobilization of forces out there, this is much more than just a few patrol boats in the Caribbean. Is it -- do you get a sense that the White House has to respond and has to do so soon?
FARNSWORTH: Well, I think that that's where things are heading. I mean, at the end of the day, the president can decide to do nothing. But you certainly have the assets in place and the momentum behind it that would argue for some sort of action here in the near term.
I think it's very clear that the White House and the administration want Mr. Maduro to go. There is a president-elect who is Democratically elected, who's waiting to take office, that Maduro will not allow to occur.
And so, I think the question is, tactically, what's the best way to try to resolve this really complicated and difficult standoff; at the same time, recognizing that it's the Venezuelan people who ultimately are the ones who are going to have to pay the highest cost here, if -- if nothing changes.
So, there is a lot at stake. And I think the administration is trying to work through what are all the permutations about potential action.
[00:10:00]
SANDOVAL: And finally, from Eric, out of the many possible scenarios and possible outcomes, do you see one in which the U.S., the Pentagon, does not have to actively deploy troops or take further military steps and end up instilling some sort of change regime change in Venezuela? Is that possible?
FARNSWORTH: It is possible. And I think that's what, in the back of people's minds, they're really hoping will occur.
This massive buildup, this -- intents that's been expressed by the Trump administration, really, to take the steps that would remove Nicolas Maduro, could encourage him to really seek an exit, a safe haven somewhere outside of Venezuela; to leave and perhaps take his lieutenants with him and his ill-gotten gains and just -- just get out of the country. That would be A -- you know, the best-case scenario.
Is it the most likely scenario? Is it -- I mean, I can't say. Is it possible? Sure, it's possible.
The question is, what is Maduro's determination to stay? And does he believe that what the Trump administration is saying and threatening is real? Or does he believe it's a bluff?
And if he believes it's real, then he's probably going to have to negotiate an exit strategy. If he thinks it's a bluff, he's going to stay and try to ride it out.
So, we're going to see pretty -- pretty soon in terms of what he decides to do.
SANDOVAL: Giving us a lot to think about as we continue to watch, to see what comes next between the -- between Venezuela and the United States. Eric Farnsworth, as always, thanks for your analysis and your time.
FARNSWORTH: Great to be with you. Thanks a lot.
SANDOVAL: Well, one of Ecuador's most wanted criminals is now in custody. In a joint operation with Ecuador, Spanish police say that they've arrested Pipo Chavarria.
He's the alleged leader of the group known as Los Lobos, which is the country's most powerful and violent drug trafficking gang.
Ecuador's president, Daniel Noboa, says that the gang leader faked his own death, changed his identity, and then continued to run this criminal enterprise from abroad, splitting his time between Spain and Dubai.
Officials are accusing him of orchestrating at least -- get this -- 400 killings, and even collaborating with Mexican drug cartels.
And Chavarria's arrest, this comes on the same day that Ecuadorian voters rejected four key proposals in a national referendum, and that includes two measures that President Noboa himself had framed as critical to improving security in that country.
Ecuador has become a major drug transit hub, leading to a significant rise in violent crime.
Preliminary results showing that voters rejected measures to allow the return of foreign military bases and to draft a new constitution.
The president had argued that the present constitution actually limits the ability to crack down on organized crime. Initiatives to reduce the size of the national assembly and eliminate public funding for political parties also appear to have failed.
And no candidates won a majority in Chile's vote for president on Sunday. And that means that the top two contenders will be facing each other in a runoff election that's scheduled to happen on December 14.
One is a member of the Communist Party, the other an ultraconservative veteran politician. CNN's Christopher Ulloa with more from Santiago.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRISTOPHER ULLOA, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Chile's presidential race is going to a runoff between communist and hard right candidates after neither of them gained the necessary votes to become --
ULLOA (voice-over): -- the president of Chile in a first round.
With 99 percent of the votes counted, Chileans have decided between eight candidates who will be the two options for a second round on December 14th to finally decide who will be the next president of Chile.
In the first place, we're talking about Jeannette Jara from the Communist Party and foreign minister of President Gabriel Boric, who got at least 26 percent of the preferences.
And the other hand, the veteran politician Jose Antonio Kast, the founder of the Republican Party in Chile, who got at least 23 percent of the votes.
We have to remember that this time, the vote was mandatory. And there were more than 12 million people who assisted to the polls to also decide the new members of the Congress.
The president, Gabriel Boric, gave the congratulations to both candidates and said that he trusts that dialogue, respect and love for Chile will prevail over any differences.
But what are the topics that most worried to the Chileans? Security, the fight against organized crime, illegal immigration, and improvement of the economy.
The final results of this presidential race will be known in one more month, when Chileans will have to go back to the polls to decide if Chile will keep on a left government, or if Chile turns to a hard right government.
ULLOA: For CNN, Christopher Ulloa, Santiago, Chile.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANDOVAL: Donald Trump changes his opinion when it comes to the Jeffrey Epstein files ahead why he's now telling Republicans in Congress that they should vote to release the documents.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[00:19:29]
SANDOVAL: Welcome back to CNN NEWSROOM. Let's get you some positive post-shutdown updates now.
After more than a week of cutbacks and delays, flights at U.S. airports are expected to finally start returning to normal in the coming hours.
You see, the FAA says that its mandate to reduce airline operations will end starting Monday morning. The agency had ordered 40 airports across the U.S. to cut back on flights during the government shutdown due to short staffing, and that, as we all know, led to thousands of flight delays and cancellations the last couple of weeks.
And this comes a little over a week before the Thanksgiving holiday travel rush in the United States, when air travel picks up significantly.
However, some airlines do say that it may still take some time to recover from that disruption.
Donald Trump is now calling on Republicans to vote to release the files of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
In a sharp reversal of his previous position, Donald Trump posted this on social media on Sunday night. And I quote, "House Republicans should vote to release the Epstein files, because we have nothing to hide, and it's time to move on from the Democrat hoax perpetuated by radical left lunatics." Again, the president's own words there.
Trump's earlier opposition to the effort, it was partly behind his feud with Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, who supports releasing the files.
Greene was once a staunch Trump ally. We saw her at many of his campaign events wearing that trademark red hat. But after President Trump called her a, quote, "traitor," she told this to CNN.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE (R-GA): Unfortunately, it has all come down to the Epstein files, and that is shocking. And you know, I stand with these women. I stand with rape victims. I stand with children who are in terrible sex abuse situations. And I stand with survivors of -- of trafficking and those that are trapped in -- in sex trafficking.
And I will not apologize for that. I believe the country deserves transparency in these files. And I don't believe that -- that rich, powerful people should be protected if they have -- if they have done anything wrong.
And -- and so I'm standing with the women, and I will continue to do my small part to get the files released.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANDOVAL: Representative Greene says that she has received death threats since Mr. Trump ended his support for her and started insulting her. But the president dismissed her concerns.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: Marjorie Traitor Greene, I don't think her life is in danger. I don't think -- frankly, I don't think anybody cares about her.
(END VIDEO CLIP) SANDOVAL: Well, the House is expected to vote on releasing the Epstein files this week. House Speaker Mike Johnson says that it's time to get it over with, and then eventually send it to the Senate.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. MIKE JOHNSON (R-LA): So, it will be on the floor again next week. I suspect there'll be lots of votes that will just get this done.
President Trump has clean hands. He's not worried about it. I talk to him all the time. He has nothing to do with this.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANDOVAL: So, let's look back on Sunday developments and look ahead on what's likely going to be yet another busy week in Washington with Ron Brownstein. He's a CNN political analyst and Bloomberg opinion columnist, joining us now to discuss.
Welcome back to the program, Ron.
RON BROWNSTEIN, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Good to be with you.
SANDOVAL: So, we'll talk about that vote in just a second. But first, I'm curious what your initial reaction is to the president's sudden change of heart on releasing the Epstein files. Why now, you think?
BROWNSTEIN: Yes, look, by all indications, he worked, and the White House worked, really hard to try to deny, to block the number of votes needed to -- to pass this demand in the House.
And then, I think, they reversed when they knew they were going to get run over.
You know, there are various versions of an old saying that, as a politician, it's better to lead a parade than get run over by a parade. And I think that's what we have here. We have kind of a desire to get out in front.
The question I have is that this is a president who has been willing to shatter all of the historic norms on maintaining any independence from the Justice Department and the White House.
And he has been willing to directly order Pam Bondi to investigate adversaries. And she has been more than willing to accept those, you know, demands from the White House.
Rather than asking the House to vote on this, I -- isn't it within his power to basically say, if he really wants this out, he can put -- put these files out?
SANDOVAL: And so, considering what you said at the top, technically, wouldn't voting for the bill be seen as a significant rebuke of Trump and Speaker Johnson?
BROWNSTEIN: Yes. SANDOVAL: I mean, both of them explicitly fought against this. Of course, that is President Trump up until Sunday night.
BROWNSTEIN: Yes. Look, I think once those emails came out last week, with kind of the -- you know, the direct contact between Trump and Epstein, even if there's no suggestion in those emails of, you know, any kind of direct involvement in abuse, just kind of the degree to which the president was part of this world, I think, made it impossible for all Republicans to hold the line.
Certainly, many would. But, you know, we're hearing today predictions of anywhere from dozens to maybe even 100 Republicans breaking from the White House to vote to release this.
And I think it was against that kind of open rebuke, as you say, that -- that kind of evidence of losing your -- your power that they chose, I think, this as the path of least resistance: to basically say, all right, fine. You know, you're not -- you're not running me over. I am, in fact, leading this demand.
[00:25:08]
SANDOVAL: Yes. As you said it, it was inevitable.
Now just slightly shifting gears here, on Sunday, Georgia representative and former Trump loyalist Marjorie Taylor Greene --
BROWNSTEIN: Yes.
SANDOVAL: -- she doubled down on calls to release those files.
So, now that President Trump at least appears to support the release, do you think that we could maybe see a rekindling of that political alliance, or do you think that that's beyond repair at this point?
BROWNSTEIN: No, I mean, look, I mean, even today, she was, you know, she went out of her way on CNN to say that she supported Trump and wanted Trump to succeed.
I think the real lesson here for all congressional Republicans is something they -- they already know, but really is underscored: that Marjorie Taylor Greene has been as slavish in praising Trump and as resolute in defending Trump as anyone could be. And as soon as she broke from him on something he cared about, all of that prior service was instantly erased, and she became Marjorie "Traitor" Greene.
And it was, you know, kind of a reminder to them that, for Trump, loyalty has always been a one-way street. And unless your last name is also Trump -- and who knows, maybe even if it is -- you know, there's no guarantee that, no matter what you've done in the past, that he will not turn on you in the future.
And I think it was just a reminder to all of the other Republicans of kind of the world they are living in.
Now, you know, they saw the other side of this a couple of weeks ago. You saw Republican gubernatorial candidates in Virginia and New Jersey refuse to criticize Trump, even when he was taking actions that unequivocally and unambiguously hurt their states. And each of them were routed by double digits, including losing over 90 percent of voters who disapproved of Trump.
So, they are caught in a very -- on a very narrow ledge between the reality that, in many jurisdictions, refusing to show any independence from Trump can be dangerous. And as he showed with Marjorie Taylor Greene, showing any independence from Trump can be very dangerous, as well.
SANDOVAL: And Ron, staying on the Georgia representative, for viewers around the world, I want to play just a little bit more of her interview on CNN's STATE OF THE UNION, including her apology for what she described as involvement, or her role, as she put it, in toxic politics. And then we'll discuss.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE (R-GA): I would like to say humbly, I'm sorry for taking part in the toxic politics. It's -- it's very bad for our country. And i -- it's been something I've thought about a lot, especially since Charlie Kirk was assassinated, Is that we -- I'm only responsible for myself and my own words and actions.
And I am going -- I am committed, and I've been working on this a lot lately, to put down the knives in politics. I really just want to see people be kind to one another.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANDOVAL: Look, without dismissing any call for unity, call for peace. That is certainly important here. But just looking beyond that for a second, Ron. I mean, what do you think is at play here, and how do you expect Republican voters to -- to respond? Both -- both moderates in the party and the MAGA world?
BROWNSTEIN: Yes, that was kind of -- that was a genuinely extraordinary moment. I mean, because look at who it -- you know, to frame who is making that -- who is making that comment, Marjorie Taylor Greene was at the far -- the deep end of the pool in terms of toxic politics; in confronting, you know, AOC and, you know, making really, you know, terrible remarks about people on the other side. Posting or kind of reposting claims of violence or calls for violence against Democratic politicians.
And that seemed a very genuine moment. I mean, you know, you can say there's political animus in her moves against Trump and that she wanted to run statewide, and the White House was clearly discouraging that.
But she -- whatever else is going on, she does seem like someone who is genuinely on a journey about the kind -- her role in politics and, you know, kind of the way she has contributed to this widening polarization and increased hostility. And I thought that was a genuinely remarkable moment for her to describe that. We'll see what it's like going forward. But to have that -- have that
come from Marjorie Taylor Greene was pretty extraordinary.
SANDOVAL: Absolutely. I agree.
Ron Brownstein, thank you so much, as always. Let's look at the next couple of days, see how things turn out. Appreciate your time.
BROWNSTEIN: Yes. Thanks for having me.
SANDOVAL: Well, the U.S. has taken a new approach to try to link Venezuela's president to drug trafficking. We're going to have much more on the mounting tensions in the Caribbean. All that and more, right here on CNN NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[00:34:23]
SANDOVAL: Welcome back to CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Polo Sandoval in New York, and these are today's top stories.
A joint operation between Ecuador and Spain has led to the arrest of Pipo Chavarria. He's the alleged leader of Los Lobos, which is Ecuador's most powerful and violent drug gang.
He's accused of at least 400 killings and collaborating with Mexican drug cartels.
The FAA ending an order for some major airports to reduce their operations during the government shutdown. It was originally made to counter major staffing shortages across the country.
But the FAA reporting only one staffing issue on Sunday, and that's down from more than 80 just one week ago.
Authorities in India say that they have arrested a man accused of helping plan last week's car bombing near Delhi's Red Fort. They say that the suspect is a resident of India-administered Kashmir, and the car involved in the attack was registered in his name.
Investigators added that the alleged suicide bomber was also from the same region. At least ten people were killed and more than 30 injured in that attack.
Well, President Trump says Venezuela would like to talk and this as tensions between Washington and Caracas threaten to boil over into a conflict.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, announcing that the U.S. will designate Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist organization next week, attempting to tie the criminal gang to the Venezuelan president, Nicolas Maduro.
President Trump suggesting that the label allows the U.S. to target Maduro's assets inside Venezuela's borders. While the U.S. president weighs his next steps, his Army secretary said that the military would be ready if asked to take action.
And the comments come as the world's largest warship, the USS Gerald Ford, arrived in the Caribbean to give the U.S. some better striking capabilities.
Some lawmakers in Washington, they're afraid of how a clash with Venezuela could potentially impact the roughly 15,000 U.S. military personnel in the region.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JEANNE SHAHEEN (D-NH): I don't think it's clear what the endgame is for this administration with respect to Venezuela.
They are escalating in a way that -- talking about a land strike through Special Operations that puts at risk our men and women in the military. We have so much firepower now in the Caribbean.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANDOVAL: And joining me now from Brisbane, Australia, is Mick Ryan. He's a retired major general with the Australian Army and also the author of "The War for Ukraine: Strategy and Adaptation Under Fire."
Welcome to the program, Major General.
MAJ. GEN. MICK RYAN (RET.), AUSTRALIAN ARNY: Thank you. It' s great to be with you.
SANDOVAL: So, after weeks, perhaps months now of escalating tensions, do you have any sort of sense of what kind of possible conflict could be looming on the horizon in the Caribbean?
RYAN: Well, I think what we're seeing here, first and foremost, is the U.S. administration is trying to intimidate the Maduro administration into talking with the Trump regime and, certainly, compromising.
But if that doesn't work, it's not very clear what the strategy is here or what the strategic objectives are for the U.S.
The U.S. military is extraordinarily powerful. But as we saw in Iraq and Afghanistan, a power -- powerful conventional military is not always the right tool for stopping drugs or regime change that we might be thinking about here.
SANDOVAL: Yes, we've heard from multiple experts, essentially echoing that same opinion, who believe that this is simply military posturing, hoping to send that message to the regime.
Now, in that case, though, do you -- do you believe that that could potentially be working when it comes to Maduro? When you look at how he's behaved, what he shared publicly.
RYAN: Well, he hasn't stepped back a lot, although he has been a little bit more compromising over the last week or two. But we've also seen mobilization of military reserves and military exercises. I guess that could be for domestic consumption there.
But at the end of the day, the U.S. has to be prepared for, if Maduro basically goes, OK, well, bring it on. What then does the military do? What are the U.S. objectives and what kind of conflict will the U.S. military be engaged in?
SANDOVAL: And I'm really interested in that, because that's -- if Maduro is dismissing any possible warnings coming from the U.S., you know, what does the Pentagon do next? I mean, you touched on that briefly. I'm wondering if you could expand.
I mean, does the Pentagon -- essentially does it -- is it up against a -- would it be up against a wall here and forced to either use those assets or pull them back? I mean, these aren't just a couple of patrol boats. This is, you know, a massive, massive deployment. It can't be cheap to maintain there.
RYAN: No, it's not. And we should also note that America's adversaries don't always act rationally. Even though the rational thing for Maduro might be to pull back, he may decide not to do that.
I mean, the U.S. does have a powerful striking force there. Whether it's enough to take down the entire Venezuelan military is another question. It may not be, and it might find themselves with a tar baby in Venezuela. With a very significant commitment over time that it was not prepared for, which will drain U.S. military resources and distract it from its other commitments, which are more important, in the Pacific and Europe.
SANDOVAL: You may have -- you certainly have heard this in a week that the U.S. will be considering Venezuela's Cartel de los Soles as a -- as a foreign terror group.
[00:40:06]
The U.S. alleging that Nicolas Maduro himself is likely a part of that cartel leadership, which is something that they deny. Would that designation, though, would that allow the U.S. military to engage land targets in Venezuela?
I mean, even if drug runners aren't presenting an immediate, imminent terror threat against Americans?
RYAN: Well, I think that designation, if it does go through and if it gets through Congress, it will be an important step in a bunch of legal and diplomatic and probably covert measures against the Maduro government and the cartels there.
But whether it requires high-level military action is another question.
At the end of the day, what is the real objective that the Trump administration is seeking here? Is it to stop the drugs, or it is something more profound? We're not quite seeing the full picture here. SANDOVAL: Yes, we've seen these kinds of steps. And typically, that is
more to give the green light to the U.S. Treasury Department, for example, to seize various assets of these transnational criminal organizations. So, we'll see how it plays out.
Mick Ryan, it's always a pleasure to have you on our program. Thank you for your time.
RYAN: Thank you. Great to talk to you.
SANDOVAL: Well, a CNN exclusive is straight ahead. Our Fred Pleitgen sits down with Iran's deputy foreign minister, talking about the country's nuclear program, just months after U.S. and Israeli strikes targeted some of its main facilities. That interview on the way.
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[00:46:13]
SANDOVAL: Ukraine will get a massive supply of American natural gas from Greece. President Zelenskyy signing the deal on Sunday in Athens. It will cover Ukraine's winter supply from December until March 2026.
The Greek prime minister says that the agreement will help stem the flow of Russian natural gas into Europe.
And this comes as the Kremlin ramps up attacks ahead of winter, heavily targeting Ukrainian energy infrastructure. On Friday, at least six people were killed during one of Russia's largest aerial assaults on Kyiv.
In the next hour here on CNN NEWSROOM, we'll take you live to Ukraine for the latest on the ground.
And five months after the U.S. and Israel carried out strikes against Iran's nuclear facilities, it remains unclear just how much damage was actually done there.
U.S. President Donald Trump, you'll recall, he initially claimed that the Fordow nuclear facility had been, quote, "obliterated" last summer. But U.S. intelligence assessments later suggested that Iran's nuclear program may have very well been just set back only by about two years.
CNN's Fred Pleitgen sat down for an exclusive interview with Iran's deputy foreign minister to talk about the strikes and the state of Iran's nuclear program.
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SAEED KHATIBZADEH, IRANIAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER: If the other side accept the logic of compromise, the logic of negotiation, and which is give and take, and abandon the -- some delusions that they do have. And -- and abandon this tendency to achieve whatever they couldn't achieve through military campaign, through any sort of political or diplomatic means, then we think, within the framework of what Grand Ayatollah Khamenei said, we can move on.
FRED PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Are you already rebuilding your nuclear program? And is it going to be as strong as it was before?
KHATIBZADEH: The nuclear program, the peaceful nuclear program, is intact as we are speaking. Yes. They have attacked. They have ruined many of our, you know, infrastructure, machineries, buildings.
But the program is very much based on our indigenous knowledge, very much spread across our country, which is a huge country. Ninety million people, 1,600,000-square-meter country.
And this country is not a country that you can bomb. And then -- and then think that, you know, you are going to ruin everything.
This is a science and this is a knowledge, and this is a know-how that we actually possess. And we are going to be protecting that.
PLEITGEN: Does that mean expanding and strengthening your missile program?
KHATIBZADEH: The battle of repair and recovery started the moment that ceasefire happened. The battle of repair and recovery happened in Tel Aviv by receiving thousands of shipments full of military equipment from the United States and NATO members. And also, we started our battle of repair and recovery.
Our aim was to prevent another war. The other side, the now aim was to be prepared for another war.
So, we think that, you know, any means of defense, legitimate means of defense should be -- should be boosted by Iran, because no country on Earth compromises on its national security. And Iran is not an exception.
PLEITGEN: What is your message, then, to the Trump administration as it looks at the situation in the Middle East? What would you say to them as far as dealing with Iran?
KHATIBZADEH: Iran -- Iran is the oldest living continuous civilization on earth. I repeat, Iran is the oldest living civilization on earth.
This country and this nation is master of survival and master, you know, of just conquering all the turbulences and all the -- and all -- and all ups and downs.
The language that we -- we respond is the language of respect and equal footing. And I think this is the language that, based on which, we can talk to other side, even if there are those aggressors.
PLEITGEN: President Trump said that the U.S. is now in wars to win them. Are there people in Iran who think, at the higher level, that Iran must rethink its stance on nuclear weapons?
[00:50:10] KHATIBZADEH: We are a member of the IAEA. Even after all these atrocities and crimes that President Trump and his administration did by bombing over U.N. -- U.N.-safeguarded, peaceful nuclear facility -- facilities, we decided not to withdraw from NPT, Nonproliferation Treaty.
And you know that this is why Israelis, by possessing hundreds of nuclear warheads, they are not actually party to the Nonproliferation Treaty.
Why Iran is -- has decided to remain in the realm of NPT, because Iran is very clear about its peaceful nuclear program. Not only we do have, you know, a fatwa by -- by our leader, Grand Ayatollah Khamenei, but also in our doctrine.
The only thing that we are following is peaceful nuclear program. And also legitimate military program to defend our national interests and our national security.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANDOVAL: And still ahead, it is certainly beginning to look a lot like Christmas around the world. Up next, some of the holiday displays from Paris to Bethlehem.
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SANDOVAL: Look at this amazing video. This is the moment a volcano in Japan erupted, sending those massive plumes of smoke and ash high into the air, as high as four kilometers. That's nearly three miles.
Well, the volcano, called Sakurajima, is one of Japan's most active volcanoes, clearly. Multiple eruptions throughout the day caused dozens of flight cancellations, though fortunately, no reports of any injuries or worse.
And it is going to be a long flight -- a long flight home for the Washington Commanders after losing to the Miami Dolphins in the first ever NFL regular season game in Madrid on Sunday.
The teams faced off in the home stadium of the world-famous Real Madrid football club.
CNN's Pau Mosquera was there to talk to fans after the game.
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PAU MOSQUERA, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: After four quarters of intense play and some overtime, the Miami Dolphins have emerged victorious in quite an historic showdown.
This is because this Sunday was the very first time that an NFL regular season game has taken the field in Spain, a clash that has been celebrated in no other place than the Real Madrid stadium, the Santiago Bernabeu, and has been enjoyed by around 80,00 people.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Go, Dolphins!
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I thought it was a good game. Just a little disappointed, but yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My husband is the 12th man on the field. Diehard Commander fan. So, we traveled here so that we could get the win, and we didn't get it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I thought we could have played a little bit better. I feel like we should have won that game. But I mean, it came down to the end.
So, we played -- played OK. You know, it could have been -- could have been worse.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think our coach made some bad decisions. But we got lucky, and we pulled it out at the end.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They always do it to us. How -- I don't know how we've gone from last week to this, but we won, so that's all that matters.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It was honestly one of the best football games I've ever seen, because I don't -- some are boring. This one was very intense. And I'm so happy that we won!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We had a great time. A lot of fun. Some sloppiness, but we came with the victory. That's all that matters, right?
MOSQUERA: After welcoming this international experience, the Santiago Bernabeu has made it clear that it's ready to host other global events.
[00:55:04]
And that's why the fans are already wondering if the NFL will disembark again next year in Spain.
Pau Mosquera, CNN, Madrid.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANDOVAL: So, some, including yours truly, might say that it's simply too early. But cities around the world, they are turning on the holiday lights and also bringing out traditional decorations out of storage.
Here's CNN's Ben Hunte.
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BEN HUNTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT/ANCHOR (voice-over): A dazzling tradition in Paris. With the flip of a switch, the Champs-Elysees goes from grand to spectacular. The annual lighting of the glitzy thoroughfare is just one of the
signs of the start of the holiday season.
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in London, too, with its streets bedazzled in twinkling lights.
The Christmas light trail at London's Kew Gardens is also shining. Organizers say they expect about 300,000 people to stroll through the redesigned path in the next few weeks. A sign of how popular the light show has become after 13 years of illumination.
ADAM THOW, KEW GARDENS HEAD OF COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES: So, this is year 13. Lucky for some, I think. Because I think it's one of the best yet.
And it's really changed year after year. It started as a way of how do we get people to come to Kew on the quietest time of the year when it's dark, it's cold, daylight hours are diminishing.
HUNTE (voice-over): In Bethlehem, another tradition is set to return after a two-year pause in the West Bank town. The mayor says the Christmas tree in Manger Square will once again be lit this year after going dark since the beginning of the war in Gaza.
Shopkeepers say they're looking forward to a more festive time and, hopefully, tourists returning to the area after many holiday observances were canceled or subdued in recent years.
DIYAA' HIJAZI, VENDOR (through translator): Hopefully, the situation becomes better, God willing. They are saying that the new year shows promising signs. Hopefully, the economic situation will get better, because we suffered a lot in the last two years.
HUNTE (voice-over): The Christmas tree in Bethlehem's Manger Square is scheduled to be lit on December 6th.
Ben Hunte, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANDOVAL: And we really appreciate you joining us for the last hour of news. I'm Polo Sandoval in New York. The news continues after a very short break.
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