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Vance Hoping For Progress In Switzerland; Paz Declares State Of Emergency In Bolivia; What's Next For U.S. Men's Soccer Team. Aired 3- 4a ET

Aired June 21, 2026 - 03:00   ET

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

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BEN HUNTE, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Hello wherever you are in the world. You are now in the CNN Newsroom with me, Ben Hunte, in Atlanta, and it is so good to have you with me.

Coming up on the show, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance arrives in Switzerland for the next round of negotiations to permanently end the war with Iran.

Bolivia's president declares a state of emergency after weeks of anti- government protests.

And what's next for the U.S. men's soccer team as they prepare for the knockout round?

Welcome. U.S. and Iranian negotiators are descending on Switzerland to kick off the next phase of high-stakes peace talks. That includes U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, who landed there just a short time ago. He says he hopes to start making progress on the nuclear issues and on a ceasefire in Lebanon.

The U.S. and Iran agreed to a 60-day negotiating window to finalize a peace deal. A delegation from Tehran is already on the ground in Switzerland. Officials from Pakistan and Qatar are set to mediate, and a source tells CNN that the talks will begin with an emergency session on Lebanon.

Tehran is accusing Israel of violating a ceasefire in Lebanon after a new round of deadly strikes. That led to Iran claiming to close the Strait of Hormuz just days after signing the agreement with the U.S.

Let's go to CNN's Leila Gharagozlou joining us live now from Abu Dhabi. So, where do things stand right now, and what are we expecting to see?

LEILA GHARAGOZLOU, CNN PRODUCER: So, things are very fragile right now. As you said, Vice President J.D. Vance has arrived in Switzerland, the Iranian delegation headed by Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of parliament, also in Switzerland to begin these technical negotiations. But as sources told CNN's Becky Anderson, these will begin first with an emergency session on Lebanon. Now, J.D. Vance, before he got on to his flight in Switzerland, said that he really wants to see progress on the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah that was originally announced on Friday. The Iranians have said that if Israel doesn't stop its actions in Lebanon, it very well could derail these negotiations. So, Lebanon is at the forefront of these talks rather than, you know, the bigger issues of the nuclear deal.

Now, the Iranians have said over the course of the war, and even in the discussions leading up to the signing of the MOU, that Lebanon is a priority and that peace in Lebanon is a priority for them. So, they're going to be watching this very, very closely to see what Israel does in Lebanon and if the U.S. itself can curb Israel's actions in Lebanon.

That's going to be a key priority to resolving things so that they can get talks back on track. As I mentioned to you yesterday, they only have 60 days for these talks, so it's a very tight turnaround. And if they're focused on just trying to enforce the MOU, it's going to make it very difficult to really tackle the issues that we still need to see discussed, like the ballistic missiles program and the nuclear program. Ben?

HUNTE: Yes. And Iran did accuse Israel of violating the ceasefire, and then apparently took action yesterday. What more do you know?

GHARAGOZLOU: Yes. So, Iran accused them of violating the ceasefire and that MOU, the very first point of the memorandum of understanding that was signed just about a week ago, talks about a termination of the conflict on all fronts, including Lebanon.

So, they very much are seeing this as a violation. They've closed the Strait of Hormuz. We don't know how long that will be closed given that we're seeing these talks now start to move forward. If talks go well, we could very well see them reopen it. We're not quite sure where things stand.

Already, though, we're not really seeing that many ships pass through the strait as of yet. Things really are a very fragile balance to see whether this conflict will finally come to an end. Ben?

HUNTE: Okay. Leila, thank you so much. I appreciate it.

Earlier I spoke with Negah Angha, a former senior adviser at the U.S. State Department and National Security Council. I asked her what she sees as the single biggest breakthrough that is needed in Switzerland for these talks to be a success.

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NEGAH ANGHA, VISITING FELLOW, KING'S COLLEGE LONDON: What's happening right now on the ground is really sort of, you know, showing that the talks are beginning in some sort of earnest, and that the United States is serious and has sent the vice president. I think the vice president's trip right now is less about this victory lap and more of a rescue mission of those talks.

So, I think merely being able to move forward with the talks, having those conversations will be a clear win for the next couple of days. You know, as you've been reporting quite a bit, you know, the Lebanon sort of component was the real spoiler in the conversation, and it's one of the more difficult bits of this sort of memorandum of understanding of being able to move forward. There are a lot of more parties involved.

And so, you know, Washington is really just trying to keep this framework alive so it can then turn into those technical negotiations.

HUNTE: The talks were, of course, delayed. Does that underline just how vulnerable this whole process remains to events that are outside of that negotiating room?

ANGHA: Yes, absolutely. I think, again, there are just so many different layers to this. I think, you know, two main components for both parties essentially is the Lebanon file and is the Hormuz Strait. The Lebanon file, again, you have different parties that are involved in those conversations who are not necessarily direct parties of the memorandum of understanding, so making sure that that front stays quiet.

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HUNTE: The diplomatic rift between the U.S. and Italy isn't healing, and it's all over a photo at the G7 Summit. Italian media first reported that President Donald Trump said Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni begged him for a photo with her. But now President Trump is making the same claim in a post on social media. He also suggested her popularity is dropping in Italy for not supporting the U.S. against Iran.

Prime Minister Meloni previously posted a video denying this claim, and now she's responding to Mr. Trump's latest social media post saying, President Trump, these constant and gratuitous attacks are senseless. In any case, my popularity is none of your concern. I suggest you focus on yours. CNN has reached out to the White House for comment.

Bolivia is under a state of emergency after weeks of anti-government protests. The nationwide declaration went into effect on Saturday, and now the military and police are patrolling the streets and clearing blocked roads. At least 14 people have been killed since May 1st.

Protests started after President Rodrigo Paz ended fuel subsidies to try to reduce the budget deficit. For 50 days, people took to the streets over the rising cost of living, and demanded Mr. Paz resign. The road blockades caused shortages of food, fuel, and medical supplies.

Voters in Colombia will head to the polls on Sunday to cast their votes in a presidential runoff election. The race has narrowed to two candidates, the Trump-endorsed Abelardo de la Espriella, who you see on the right, and the leftist senator, Ivan Cepeda, seen here on the left. The candidates offer competing visions for their country, especially on how to tackle Colombia's internal armed conflict.

They also differ on diplomacy, with de la Espriella favoring closer ties with the U.S., while Cepeda insists his country must remain independent.

One of the main concerns among Colombian voters is the ongoing armed conflict that has plagued the country for decades now. CNN's Stefano Pozzebon shadows a Colombian demining unit to see the threat up close.

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STEFANO POZZEBON, CNN CONTRIBUTOR (voice over): Colombia is at a crossroads between two different visions for how to put away half a century of violence, and a far-right populist with Trump's backing, who promises to go after criminal groups with all guns blazing.

To understand Colombia's conflict, we joined a demining unit from the army. A legacy of decades of guerrilla warfare, Colombia is one of the countries most affected by landmines in the world.

Last year, Colombia recorded 137 landmine incidents. Everyone working here must wear protective gear as a precaution. A deminer can clear only ten square meters of forest every day, and this unit has 37,000 to deal with in this location alone.

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A quick fuse, and the landmine is taken care of.

In town, even the children learn about the landmines.

The army sends instructors to primary schools every month to hold classes like this.

They're using puppets and videos and cartoons. They can all seem very funny, but actually, the core of the lesson is that in this part of the world, that touching or even poking with a stick a weird object can be very dangerous.

While landmines have been used in Colombia for decades, attacks have grown in recent years. The war on drugs and the violence stemming from it are at the core of this week's presidential election. Behind armored glass, far-right candidate Abelardo de la Espriella promises a new offensive, including joint operations with the U.S. military.

Colombia is the largest cocaine producer in the world, and production remains at record levels despite government efforts to replace coca with legitimate crops.

Farmer Maria Pena says the state must support people like her who started growing cocoa beans instead of coca.

MARINA PENA, COCA FARMER: We saw criminal actors entering our territory, and we didn't want to go back to the same violence as before. I bet against coca for my children. POZZEBON: Outgoing President Gustavo Petro tried a new approach to the war on drugs. Dubbed Total Peace, it meant engaging in negotiations with insurgents rather than prosecution.

9,000 hectares of coca have been cleared in the last year, he claims, but many believe this is too little too late.

If this strategy is so successful, why have the U.S. criticized it? Was it a diplomatic defeat that you couldn't present this new plan to go beyond the war on drugs?

GUSTAVO PETRO, COLOMBIAN PRESIDENT: The Trump administration decided to decertify Colombia because they saw cocoa crops explode at the beginning of my mandate and not my program in action.

POZZEBON: This month, Trump-endorsed de la Espriella has managed to turn this election into a vote on Petro's peace efforts. Colombians will decide whether to give him a strong mandate to resume the conflict or stick to peace negotiations with Petro's ally, Ivan Cepeda.

Teacher Karen Martinez, who sees the scars of war every day in a town surrounded by minefields, says that neither option convinces her. She has a dream of a Colombia free from conflict, but how to get there remains an open question.

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HUNTE: All right. Fans from all over the world have come to North America for the 2026 World Cup. Just ahead, we'll get some tips on how they can take the pain out of getting around one of the host cities, Dallas.

See you in a moment.

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HUNTE: Welcome back. India's education minister is facing renewed calls to resign as millions of students prepare to retake a very critical medical school entrance exam. Supporters of India's Cockroach Janta party rallied in New Delhi on Saturday. That was the day before the new exam was scheduled.

The Gen Z-led movement began after officials canceled the results of the original test that took place in May over allegations that the questions had been leaked across social media. Young Indians say the test scandal showcases the lack of opportunities that they do have in the country, and also the lack of accountability from government officials.

A very controversial luxury real estate deal in Albania is stoking anti-government protests. Thousands took to the streets of the capital, Tirana, as you're seeing there on Saturday, to demand government change. The initial demonstrations were against a luxury resort project that was linked to President Trump's son-in-law, that's Jared Kushner. It is set to be built on a protected wetland area where flamingos nest.

Protesters are accusing their government of being, quote, the most corrupt in Europe.

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ALKETA COBO, ALBANIAN PROTESTER: Albania is not for sale. We are here to protect our country. We want to build our future here. Albania is a place from God. We have everything. We have rivers, beaches, mountains, everything we can be. You are not poor. You are just stolen. That's why you are here. We want to build our future here. I want to raise my kids here.

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HUNTE: Heading to Serbia now. In Northern Serbia, student-led activists and protesters too are demanding that the government hold some snap elections. Thousands gathered in the country's second largest city on Saturday to mark a disaster in 2024 when a railway station awning collapsed and killed 16 people.

That tragedy has since sparked protests, at times very violent, against the longtime populist leader, Aleksandar Vucic, and his Serbian progressive party.

All right, let's talk football, also known as soccer. Countries are starting to solidify their standing in this year's World Cup group stages.

Earlier, Japan shut out Tunisia to mark the tournament's 1,000th match. The Samurai Blue took control almost immediately, jumping out to a two-goal lead by halftime before winning 4-0.

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On Saturday, another showdown in Group F saw the Netherlands beat Sweden. The very lopsided 5-1 result now leaves the Netherlands tied at the top of their bracket.

Meanwhile, Germany hustled for a nail-biting 2-1 victory over the Ivory Coast. Despite trailing in the second half of that match, substitute Dennis Undav kept Germany in striking distance with two goals, including one in stoppage time.

HUNTE: An action-packed match between Ecuador and Curacao ended in a scoreless draw. The game stayed level thanks in part to Curacao's goalkeeper, Eloy Room. His 15 saves set a FIFA record for a 90-minute match.

The U.S. Men's National Team has clinched a ticket to the next round following back-to-back wins against Paraguay and Australia. The dominant performance has fans hoping for a deep tournament run.

CNN's Andy Scholes brings us a closer look from Seattle. ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT: Well, Team USA is leaving Seattle after another amazing performance, and now for the first time ever in modern World Cup history, the U.S. has won their group after just two games. So, now for Thursday's last group stage game against Turkey, the U.S., there's no stakes. They can rest all of their players if they choose to do so, which is great for Christian Pulisic as he continues to deal with that calf injury.

Now, Mauricio Pochettino's squad, they just completely controlled the first half against Australia on Friday here in Seattle, and they did so without Pulisic, who wasn't able to make it back for this game. The U.S., they got two goals in that first half. Folarin Balogun, he didn't score, but he created the opportunity that led to an own goal.

And get this, the U.S. is the first team in World Cup history to benefit from own goals in consecutive games. The team then later got a header from Alex Freeman, the 21-year-old son of former Packers wide receiver Antonio Freeman, really turning into a rising star.

Australia had some chances in the second half, but Team USA able to put up a clean sheet and win 2-0.

And check out the fan zone in Atlanta watching the U.S. get the win. It was just pure chaos after the first goal. They actually had to stop letting people in, it got so packed. In Centennial Olympic Park there in downtown Atlanta, it's pretty big, so that's an impressive crowd.

And the atmosphere here in Seattle, it was also electric. And afterwards, I talked to the fans who are more confident than ever about a deep U.S. run.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That was unbelievable. They look -- they're looking so good.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Man, they came out great today. They hit it, and Australia didn't know what had it coming.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm starting to believe. I think we're pretty dominant. I think we're dangerous.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think they have a really good chance of winning this whole thing.

SCHOLES: The whole thing?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The whole thing.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Quarterfinals for sure, and then we'll see.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I got to say all the way.

SCHOLES: All the way?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, all the way. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: USA all the way. Red, white, and blue, you know what I'm saying? No matter what, let's go.

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SCHOLES: Now, Balogun has become one of the breakout stars of this World Cup, and how he came to play for Team USA, it's rather amazing. So, Balogun's Nigerian parents, who lived in London, were visiting New York some 24 years ago, and Balogun's mother was seven months pregnant at the time. And when it came time to get on the plane and go back to London, an airline employee would not let her board because of health concerns due to how pregnant she was.

So, Balogun ended up being born in Brooklyn before heading back to the U.K. when he was two months old, and Balogun could have chose to play for England or Nigeria, but he chose the USA after fans flooded him with messages.

Now, we don't know what the future holds here at the World Cup, but that one airline employee could very well have changed the course of history for Team USA.

HUNTE: Thousands of World Cup fans will be in Dallas on Monday for a highly anticipated match as Argentina face off against Austria. CNN's Carolina Pagura has some tips for newcomers on how to get around the city and what to expect.

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CAROLINA PEGUERO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): In the midst of an all-time high of tourism traffic and fans from all over the world supporting their favorite teams, I met with Julieta Lorenzo, a content creator and tour guide, to get tips on how to get from the Dallas Fort Worth Airport to the World Cup fun.

JULIETA LORENZO, CONTENT CREATOR: Make sure that you know exactly where you are going, to have that information. Anyways, you can scan like a Q.R. code, that they're everywhere in the airport, and you'll find all the information there.

PEGUERO: The host city has provided several options to get to and from the Dallas Stadium and the FIFA Fan Festival.

LORENZO: If you want to go from the airport to the Fan Fest you should go directly to downtown Dallas, and then from there, you can take a train directly to the FIFA Fan Festival that is located in Fair Park.

PEGUERO: Which is why I purchased a FIFA day pass train ticket and get to the Orange line right in the airport to make my way.

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Here, there's music, activities, concerts, food, and different game watch parties. From Fan Fest, shuttle buses go to the Dallas Stadium in Arlington. I met with the mayor there, and he tells me they are making sure security is a top priority during this World Cup. JIM ROSS, ARLINGTON, TEXAS MAYOR: This weekend's game was a perfect example of what preparation does for you. We went off without any real events, whatsoever. People were able to get in and get out efficiently, safely.

PEGUERO: Once at the Dallas Stadium, you will have many entertainment options as well.

ROSS: From there, everything's within walking distance, the museums, the stadiums, the -- you name it.

PEGUERO: How you guys are handling heat and high temperatures, and what you recommend for the fans that are coming in and experiencing the Texas weather for the first time as well?

ROSS: Yes. It can get really hot really quick, but we've set up cooling stations. Our fire department has about 24 cooling stations around the entertainment district so people can jump in there and cool off.

PEGUERO: And one thing is for sure, the arrival of Lionel Messi and the Argentina team is another great task the city and the fans say they are ready to take on.

ROSS: Argentina is -- they're crazy good. They are the world champions. Everybody's looking to knock them off. And their fans travel well.

LORENZO: To receive all these Argentineans coming from my country, once in a life thing. So, I'm really exciting to be part of this celebration here.

PEGUERO: Carolina Peguero, CNN, Dallas.

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HUNTE: Okay. That's all I've got for you. Thanks for joining me and the team. I'm Ben Hunte in Atlanta. I will see you tomorrow.

Quest's World of Wonder is next. Enjoy that. And then there's more CNN Newsroom at the top of the hour.

See you tomorrow.

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(QUEST'S WORLD OF WONDER)

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