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Iran Warns Retaliation as Donald Trump Demands a Nuclear Deal; U.S. Senate Reached a Deal to Avert Another Government Shutdown. Aired 3-3:45a ET

Aired January 30, 2026 - 03:00   ET

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

[03:00:00]

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KIM BRUNHUBER, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome to all of you watching us around the world. I'm Kim Brunhuber. This is "CNN Newsroom."

Iran is warning that it will retaliate against any U.S. attack. President Donald Trump wants the regime to give up its nuclear ambitions.

The U.S. Senate has a deal to avert another government shutdown, but the ultimate fate of the compromise still isn't clear.

And anxiety mounts in Cuba following the removal of Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro. How Havana is coming to terms with the realization that its closest ally is under de facto American control.

UNKNOWN (voice-over): Live from Atlanta, this is "CNN Newsroom" with Kim Brunhuber.

BRUNHUBER: The U.S. and Iran are heating up their rhetoric as President Trump demands a nuclear deal and an end to Tehran's crackdown on protests. Iran's top army spokesperson is firing the latest verbal salvo, saying any attack from the U.S. will be met with an immediate response. He says targets could include U.S. military bases, aircraft carriers and other naval assets.

He adds, these aircraft carriers are vulnerable to the missile and hypersonic missile capabilities of the Islamic Republic of Iran. President Trump has been threatening military action for weeks after security forces killed thousands of protesters. Here's his exchange with reporters on Thursday night.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REPORTER: Have you had any conversations with Iran in the last few days? And are you planning on it?

DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: I have had and I am planning on it. We have a lot of very big, very powerful ships sailing to Iran right now. And it would be great if we didn't have to use them.

REPORTER: Can you say what the message was that you shared with Iranians?

TRUMP: Well, I told them two things. Number one, no nuclear. And number two, stop killing protesters.

They're killing them by the thousands. You know, I stopped 837 hangings two weeks ago. But they're going to have to do something.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRUNHUBER: Diplomats from a number of countries are working to bring down tensions. U.S. and Saudi officials met in Washington this week and talks between Iran and Turkey are scheduled for the day ahead. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have said the U.S. can't use their airspace for any operation against Iran.

But the U.S. Defense Secretary says other plans are in the works.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PETE HEGSETH, U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY: Same thing with Iran right now, ensuring that they have all the options to make a deal. They should not pursue nuclear capabilities. We will be prepared to deliver whatever this president expects of the War Department.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRUNHUBER: The European Union has voted to designate Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization. Iran calls the move irresponsible and spiteful, threatening to unleash hazardous consequences directly on European policymakers.

And European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says terrorist is how you describe any regime that crushes its own people's protests in blood, a sentiment echoed by the E.U. foreign policy chief. Here she is.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KAJA KALLAS, E.U. FOREIGN POLICY CHIEF: In Iran, horrific crackdown on protesters has come at heavy human cost.

The E.U. already has sweeping sanctions in place. And today, ministers agreed to designate Iran Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization. This will put them on the same footing with Daesh, Hamas, Hezbollah, Al-Qaeda.

Those who operate through terror must be treated as terrorists. Ministers also imposed sanctions on those responsible for the brutal crackdown of protests, including the Minister of Interior. Repression cannot go unanswered.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRUNHUBER: We have more now on the simmering U.S.-Iran tensions from CNN's Natasha Bertrand.

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NATASHA BERTRAND, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: President Trump is weighing a major new strike on Iran after preliminary discussions between Washington and Tehran over limiting the country's nuclear program and ballistic missile production have failed to make progress. Now, options the President is currently considering include U.S. military airstrikes aimed at Iran's leaders and the security officials believed to be responsible for killing protesters earlier this month, as well as strikes on Iranian nuclear sites and government institutions, according to multiple sources.

Now, President Trump has not made a final decision on how to proceed, according to sources, but he believes that his military options have been expanded from earlier this month now that a U.S. carrier strike group is in the region.

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The USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group entered the Indian Ocean on Monday, and it's continuing to move closer to Iran, where it could support any potential operations against the country, both in terms of aiding in strikes themselves and in protecting regional allies from potential Iranian retaliation.

Now, President Trump's latest threats were met with indignation by Tehran, which vowed an immediate response to any U.S. military action, with one top advisor to the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, threatening to target Israel if an attack goes ahead. Broadly, though, it's a rapid refocusing of the administration's publicly framed objectives for Iran and comes only weeks after Trump seriously considered military action that he had framed as potential aid for nationwide protests in Iran.

It's worth noting, though, that the U.S. and Iran had been exchanging messages, including through Omani diplomats and between Trump's foreign envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Aragchi, earlier this month about a possible meeting to ward off a U.S. attack, which Trump had been threatening in response to the protesters' killings. But there have been no serious direct negotiations between the U.S. and Iran as Trump has ramped up his threats of military action in recent days.

Now, the U.S. has also demanded that Iran place very serious restrictions on the range of its ballistic missiles before any meeting can actually take place, and Tehran has pushed back very strongly on that. Now, amid all of this, a U.S. official on Monday told CNN that the administration is still willing to engage with Iran as long as, quote, "they know what the terms are."

Natasha Bertrand, CNN, in Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BRUNHUBER: I spoke last hour with Maha Yahya, the director of the Carnegie Middle East Center, and I asked her about President Trump's changing rationale for striking Iran and if he's just looking for any excuse to act. Here she is.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAHA YAHYA, DIRECTOR, CARNEGIE MIDDLE EAST CENTER: There's a massive military buildup in the region. President Trump shifts the targets constantly, and it's not just on Iran.

Overall, we see him shifting positions very rapidly. Usually it's just a tweet or something on social media. So it's not clear.

What a lot of us are struggling with is trying to understand how the United States is going to leverage its military capacities with some sort of a political outcome. And that political outcome, until now, is not clear.

If they're looking for regime change, this is incredibly complicated in a country like Iran. The repercussions, the regional repercussions, will be massive. The Iranian regime today, as we saw with the degree of violence with which the protests were met a few weeks ago, we're hearing astronomical numbers of people killed.

So the regime is seeing this, the Iranian regime is seeing this as an existential crisis, even more so than the 12-day war with Israel last year. So it's not clear what President Trump and his administration is aiming for. If it's to weaken and bring in, we hear talks of diplomacy, and yet a military buildup, it could be used for greater pressure on Iran.

But again, the outcome that they're looking for, to my mind, is still not clear.

BRUNHUBER: Yes, so if the outcome isn't clear, I suppose neither are the targets. I mean, do you think Trump could actually go directly after Iran's leadership?

YAHYA: Oh, I think he's more than capable of doing that. And that's extremely worrisome because it's not, I mean, there's the political leadership, but then there's the religious leadership. Khamenei today is not just a political leader, he's also, at least for some Shias around the world, he's their kind of higher authority, a semi-pope, if you like.

So the repercussions there are significant. It will aggravate religious tensions with at least part of the Shia community worldwide, not all of it, of course, so that's one. The other repercussions on the immediate vicinity, we're talking Afghanistan, we're talking Pakistan, we're talking Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Iraq, the regional repercussions are enormous.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRUNHUBER: Well, we're on the cusp of yet another U.S. government shutdown. Senate leaders have a bipartisan funding deal in hand but haven't yet held a vote, which means a partial shutdown is likely in less than a day. President Trump supports the compromise bill and wants to avoid what

would be the second shutdown of a second term. We're told the deal separates funding for the Department of Homeland Security from the overall spending bill. Democrats are demanding reforms to U.S. immigration and customs enforcement.

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As sources tell CNN, President Trump will nominate Kevin Walsh to become the next chair of the Federal Reserve. That announcement is expected later today.

Walsh had served as a Fed governor for five years under former President George W. Bush. Walsh met with Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday, that's according to a person familiar with the matter.

The White House announced nothing is final until we hear it straight from the president. Fed Chair Jerome Powell's term ends in May. Powell has been repeatedly bashed by the White House for not lowering interest rates as quickly and dramatically as President Trump would like.

All right, still ahead, Palestinians are waiting for the vital Raqqa crossing to reopen. Have a look at where things stand now for the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. That's coming up next, stay with us.

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BRUNHUBER: The International Committee of the Red Cross says it has facilitated the return of 15 deceased Palestinians to Gaza. This comes days after Israel recovered the remains of the final deceased hostage from the enclave.

The ICRC says it's now completed the months-long operation to reunite families under the terms of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. Since October 2023, the ICRC has supported the return of 195 hostages, more than 3400 Palestinian detainees, along with the transfer of 360 deceased Palestinians to Gaza.

Well Palestinians are now waiting for Israeli authorities to reopen the critical Rafah crossing, which links southern Gaza to Egypt. The ICRC says reopening the crossing would play an important role in addressing people's immediate needs. Humanitarian conditions in Gaza are improving but remain extremely dire.

Alright, joining me now from London is Jasmin El-Gamal, who's a former Pentagon Middle East adviser, now host of "The View From Here" podcast. Good to see you again. Thanks so much for being here with us.

So the reopening of this crossing for people in Gaza who've been essentially, you know, sealed in for so long, I mean, what does this actually mean for their day-to-day lives? JASMINE EL-GAMAL, FORMER PENTAGON MIDDLE EAST ADVISER, AND PODCAST

HOST, "THE VIEW FROM HERE": Well, good morning, Kim. It's always good to be with you.

I mean, this is obviously a very significant moment for many Palestinians who have been effectively stuck in the Gaza Strip for months on end as this war has been waged between Hamas and Israel and now are waiting for the possibility that they may be able to leave for various reasons. There are people who need urgent medical care, who need to get out of the Strip to seek treatment.

There are people who want to leave and study elsewhere, people who want to be reunited with their families. A lot of families in Gaza have been split with people going and living in Cairo and other places and others staying behind, now talking about reuniting. So various reasons that people want to be able to leave and really just to have freedom of movement, something that they haven't had for such a long time.

Now that the Strip is open, people are waiting to see just how free that movement will be. And more importantly, Kim, whether that movement will be allowed equally going out and coming in. Right now, the Israeli government is saying that more people will be allowed to leave the Gaza Strip than those who will be allowed to return.

BRUNHUBER: Yes, I want to ask you about that because, you know, we don't know a lot about the numbers. I mean, Prime Minister Netanyahu says the crossing will open in an unlimited way. Just talking about, you know, 50 Palestinians a day being allowed back in.

We've heard other numbers as well, but we know, you know, all the people you talked about, thousands and thousands of Palestinians in Cairo wanting to return. You know, is that going to be enough to make a difference? And then, as you said, do we have any evidence that there's been pressure from Israel to allow more Palestinians to leave than to come back in?

EL-GAMAL: Well, that's something that has been explicitly stated, and the Egyptians are actually pushing back against that. Because, as you know, since the beginning of the war, the Egyptian government has always been very wary of being implicitly complicit in what they call the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians, which is effectively the forced displacement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip.

So the Egyptian government is trying to be supportive and participate in the reopening of the crossing, facilitate the re-entry of Palestinians back into Gaza, at the same time being very clear or trying to be clear with the Israelis that they want to see an equal flow in and out. But it's not just about the number of people who are going to be allowed in and out. It's also about how easy that travel is going to be.

So from reporting that we're seeing, there are expected to be much more stringent conditions on Palestinians trying to come back into the Strip in the form of biometric screening, background checks, things that will make it very difficult for just anybody to come back into the Strip. Of course, the Israelis will say this is a security precaution. But those who fear that this particular Israeli government's intent has always been to try to facilitate the exit of Palestinians from Gaza worry that this is just another mechanism to do so.

BRUNHUBER: I want to look at the bigger picture now. Phase two of the ceasefire officially underway.

[03:20:01]

Hamas is supposed to give up its weapons, but Hamas says it won't disarm while Israeli troops still occupy more than half of Gaza, Israel says it won't withdraw until Hamas disarms. I mean, how do you break a deadlock like that?

EL-GAMAL: That's right. I mean, it is pretty much a catch-22.

But President Trump, and I've heard this from sources I've been speaking to as well, feels confident that Hamas will eventually disarm. His team has been working very closely with other actors in the region on this issue, particularly the Qataris and the Turks, who seem to have given assurances to the Trump administration that they believe Hamas will disarm. But of course, that won't be a simple or straightforward process.

Hamas will be expecting things like potential amnesty for some of their members, potential options to leave the Gaza Strip if they give up their arms. There's also the question of about 40,000 civil servants and police forces who operated under a Hamas-led government who are going to be wondering what role there is for them in a post- ceasefire Gaza. And so there are a lot of issues still to be hammered out.

Definitely, as with any conflict, Kim, disarmament of a major party to the conflict is never a straightforward process. But the Trump administration believes that they have the right assurances in place for that to happen. Of course, we'll see whether the Israelis also adhere to their promises as well, including withdrawing slowly back to the borders of the beginning of the war, pre-war borders.

BRUNHUBER: Yes, interesting that they seem to have confidence that this would happen. I mean, do we know any more about the mechanism, things like verification, for example?

EL-GAMAL: Not as of yet. I mean, the details are going to be, you know, really delved into in more detail, I believe, starting this week.

But initial talks, as I said, the Americans do believe that they have assurances that this will happen. They seem pretty confident about it behind the scenes as well as publicly. You've seen President Trump talking about this.

And so I think we'll have to see. It really will depend, I think, on the conditions under which that disarmament happens. What kind of assurances are given to Hamas, both about their current state protections for them moving forward and the role for their security police forces, sorry, and civil servants moving forward? And of course, disarmament is going to have to be a two way street.

What are the Israelis going to do in return as part of that roadmap of the ceasefire? All of that still needs to be hammered out, Kim.

BRUNHUBER: Yes, so many details, crucial details still to be decided. Jasmine El-Gamal in London, thanks so much for being here with us. I appreciate it.

EL-GAMAL: Thanks for having me.

BRUNHUBER: Well, the U.S. President makes a big claim that Russia has agreed to pause some of its strikes on Ukraine. But Moscow isn't indicating that it's necessarily on board with that. We'll have that story ahead.

And uncertainty in Cuba in the aftermath of the U.S. removal of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. When we return, a report from the island is being pushed to the brink. Stay with us.

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BRUNHUBER: Welcome back to "CNN Newsroom," I'm Kim Brunhuber. Let's check today's top stories.

Iran is warning it could strike U.S. bases, warships and other targets if President Trump decides to take military action against Tehran. Iran's military says it's added a thousand strategic drones to its stockpile and plans live fire naval exercises in the Strait of Hormuz next week.

We're less than a day away from what could be the second U.S. government shutdown in just a few months. The top Senate Democrat says negotiators have reached a compromise on government spending, but the bill hasn't passed yet. And whatever senators agree upon still has to go through the House, which is unlikely to happen before next week.

Sources say President Trump will nominate Kevin Walsh to become the next chair of the Federal Reserve. That will happen later today. Walsh is a former Fed governor who served five years under former President George W. Bush. Walsh met with President Trump at the White House on Thursday, that's according to a person familiar with the matter.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: I personally asked President Putin not to fire into Kyiv and the various towns for a week, and he agreed to do that, and I have to tell you, it was very nice. A lot of people said, don't waste the coal, you're not going to get that, and he did it, and we're very happy that they did it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRUNHUBER: That was, of course, U.S. President Donald Trump claiming the Kremlin has agreed to pause some of its strikes on Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy later thanked Trump for that effort, but Russia remains tight-lipped on the announcement. When a Kremlin spokesperson was asked to confirm the pause, he said he couldn't comment on it.

Meanwhile, another Kremlin aide is pouring cold water on U.S. optimism about the ongoing peace talks. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said this week the negotiations are down to one issue, the territory in the Donetsk region, but the Kremlin aide told a Russian news agency many issues are still being debated.

President Trump says Americans may soon be able to visit Venezuela. He made the announcement during his Cabinet meeting. He also ordered airspace over Venezuela to be reopened.

[03:30:06]

He said last year it should be considered closed, even though the then-Maduro government regarded it as open. U.S. airlines haven't been able to travel to the Latin American countries since 2019.

Venezuelan lawmakers have approved a new law that will make it easier for foreign companies to access their country's oil industry. The recent reform was backed by acting President Delcy Rodriguez as she attempts to meet the demands of U.S. President Donald Trump.

Meanwhile, Trump rolled back some key provisions on Venezuela's energy industry following the announcement of the new law. This comes as two sources tell CNN that the U.S. is planning to use private military contractors to protect oil operations on the ground.

Well President Trump has signed a new executive order declaring a national emergency against what he calls Cuba's malign influence. Under the measure, Trump is threatening to impose tariffs on goods from countries that provide oil to the island. Politico is reporting that the White House is about to implement a new naval blockade against Cuba barring any shipments of oil into the country, this would be the first one since the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962.

So now that Havana's closest ally is effectively under American control, a sense of unease has gripped the island. CNN's Patrick Oppmann has more now on why the country he's reported from for 14 years suddenly feels very different.

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PATRICK OPPMANN, CNN HAVANA BUREAU CHIEF (voice-over): In the U.S. attack on Venezuela to capture Nicolas Maduro, over 100 people were killed, among them 32 Cuban soldiers, including Maduro's closest bodyguards operating there in secret.

Now Cuba's closest ally and more importantly its biggest oil supplier appears to be under de facto American control. And this is sending a chill through Cuban society about what may be next.

TRUMP: Cuba is really a nation that's very close to failure.

OPPMANN (voice-over): It is a prediction many U.S. presidents have made. But the revolution founded by Fidel Castro has endured.

I've been a foreign correspondent in Cuba for 14 years, a country that suddenly feels very different to me. And I want to find out what the operation in Caracas means for the future of 9 million Cubans who live in this island nation.

The Cuban government received the remains of their fallen soldiers from Venezuela with a hero's welcome after decades of denying their presence there. Thousands of people lined the streets that day and waited hours to pay their respects.

OPPMANN: This direct confrontation between the U.S. and Cuban soldiers, that's not something we've seen for decades. And it's left many people here wondering, you know, the loss of their ally in Venezuela, how is that going to impact them?

OPPMANN (voice-over): Outside in the line, I meet Iliana Medrano.

OPPMANN: What would happen if there was an invasion of Cuba by U.S. troops?

ILIANA MEDRANO, CUBA RESIDENT (translated): We would confront whatever comes. We don't know what will happen, but we are willing to die.

OPPMANN (voice-over): Cubans are no strangers to economic hardship. Since Fidel Castro's 1959 revolution, they have weathered America's embargo and their own government's disastrous economic missteps. After the Soviet Union collapsed, Venezuela emerged as Havana's lifeline.

Here's how the agreement worked. Cuba sent thousands of doctors, teachers, sports trainers, as well as military and intelligence officials to Venezuela in return for oil.

OPPMANN: Now with Maduro in jail and out of the picture, it's not clear if Venezuela can or will continue the oil shipments that the Trump administration has vowed to block.

OPPMANN (voice-over): To make matters worse, Havana's second largest oil supplier, Mexico, has also reportedly suspended oil shipments. Already we are witnessing the impacts, it can take weeks to get a spot in a gas line using an online system. Gerardo tells me he's waited 29 days.

GERARDO, GAS STATION CUSTOMER (translated): Things are going to get tough. I'm glad I was selected today, because I don't know if I will be next time.

OPPMANN (voice-over): As night falls, many here will be left in the dark. And so longer and longer apagones, blackouts, are becoming the new normal. In many parts of the island, the power is off more hours a day than it is on. Some people tell us they are fed up, but they're too scared to speak

to us on camera. Others, like Angel, who sells his coconut sweets on the street, say they are resigned to a worsening power situation.

ANGEL, COCONUT SWEETS VENDOR (translated): We Cubans adapt to everything, to any circumstances. But one adapts. What else can we do?

OPPMANN (voice-over): The Trump administration vows the pressure will continue on Cuba. For now, the Cuban government is defiant, calling for one of the largest demonstrations outside the U.S. Embassy in Havana in years.

[03:35:03]

UNKNOWN (translated): Cuba does not have to make any political concessions.

OPPMANN (voice-over): Even some of the younger people in the crowd, like Ivan, say they feel the mood in the country has changed.

OPPMANN: When you saw bombs falling on Caracas, how did that make you personally feel?

IVAN ERNESTO BARRETO LOPEZ, CUBA RESIDENT: In the 21st century, seeing these kind of actions violating totally the international law, acting unilaterally, that's something very worrying.

OPPMANN (voice-over): For those of us who cover the normalization of diplomatic ties between the U.S. and Cuba under the Obama administration, there's a sense of whiplash.

OPPMANN: I've even heard from a U.S. Embassy source that diplomats there have been advised to, quote, "have their bags packed" as the Trump administration explores new ways to stabilize the Communist-run government.

Patrick Oppmann, CNN Havana.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BRUNHUBER: We'll be right back with more here on "CNN Newsroom." Stay with us.

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[03:40:00]

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BRUNHUBER: Welcome back to CNN. This is your Business Breakout.

Looking now at some Asian stock markets. Japan's Nikkei is down 53 points, the Hang Seng in Hong Kong has lost 580 points, and the KOSPI in Seoul is up three points.

And checking some of today's business headlines. President Trump says he is decertifying all aircraft made in Canada,

he's also threatened a 50 percent tariff on those planes until some U.S.-made Gulfstream aircraft are certified in Canada. It's not clear whether the president has the legal authority to decertify aircraft or what the impact of the measure on air travel will be. It's the latest skirmish between the nations since President Trump returned to office.

President Trump and two of his sons are suing the IRS and Treasury Department for $10 billion. They claim the government failed to protect their personal and corporate tax information when a former contractor leaked the records to the press. That contractor has been sentenced to five years in prison.

Saks Global is closing nearly all of its off-fifth and last-call locations. The company, which owns Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman, filed for bankruptcy earlier this month, now plans to focus on those luxury retailers. Saks says a dozen off-fifth locations will remain open to move the remaining inventory.

In southeastern Australia, a sweltering heat wave has temperatures close to 50 degrees Celsius or 122 degrees Fahrenheit. The highs are close to Australia's all-time heat record set in 2022. The soaring temperatures have fueled out-of-control wildfires in parts of rural Victoria, a state of disaster is in effect as crews fight at least five major blazes.

Well this koala named Kevin had to be rescued by farmers, local authorities warn thousands of native animals are at risk as fires continue to burn.

One of the most treasured features in Alexandria, Egypt, is nearing the end of the line. The beloved single and double-decker tram carriages are being replaced by a digitally controlled light rail system.

The trams have been transporting commuters along its 14-kilometer or nine-mile route since the 1860s. The new line is expected to cut travel time and boost passenger capacity. Authorities say the renovations will take about two years.

All right, that wraps this hour of "CNN Newsroom," I'm Kim Brunhuber. "World Sport" is next, and then stay tuned for "Amanpour" in about 15 minutes.

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(WORLD SPORT)