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Vance Arrives in Switzerland; Iran: Closing Hormuz After Israeli Attacks in Lebanon; Ukraine: Five People Killed in Russian Strikes on Saturday; Albanians Protest Jared Kushner-Linked Resort Development; Storms Threaten Flood-Hit Gulf Coast; Military Enforcing Bolivian State of Emergency. Aired 4-5a ET

Aired June 21, 2026 - 04:00   ET

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

[04:00:00]

SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN ANCHOR: Hello and a very warm welcome to our viewers joining us from around the world and in the U.S. I'm Salma Abdulaziz in London. Let's get into the headlines.

U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance has arrived in Switzerland for talks on Iran. We're there with what's actually at the top of the agenda. Plus, parts of the Southeast are dealing with extensive flooding from severe storms. We're going to take a look at the weather there and see if there's any relief in sight. And more World Cup teams work to book their place in the knockout rounds. Team USA is already there. What they can expect coming up next.

ANNOUNCER: Live from London, this is CNN Newsroom with Salma Abdulaziz.

ABDELAZIZ: U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance has now arrived in Switzerland. That's where peace talks with Iran are set to take place. He said one of the top priorities is to set up the structure of these talks as negotiators face a 60-day deadline to reach a final deal. He also wants to make progress on the nuclear issue and on a ceasefire in Lebanon.

But for Iran, that is the most important issue, according to Iran's delegation. One official telling CNN that the talks will begin with an emergency session on Lebanon. Officials from Pakistan and Qatar are set to be mediators. It comes as Iran says it is closing the Strait of Hormuz. This is just days after signing an agreement with the U.S. Tehran is accusing Israel of violating the ceasefire in Lebanon after a new round of deadly strikes. CNN's Julia Benbrook gives us a closer look at what's planned for those talks in Switzerland.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JULIA BENBROOK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: As Vice President J.D. Vance departed for Switzerland, he said that these talks would likely take place for a couple of days, that they would take place at a high level, and then technical teams would likely stay on the ground to continue to work through some of the details.

When it comes to his goals for these talks, he said this, I can only be there for a day or two. I think we are going to hopefully make progress on the nuclear issue, make progress on the Lebanon ceasefire issue. Those are two big things that I think we're focused on, adding, I'm sure the Iranians are going to have issues they'd like to discuss as well.

Now, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, as well as President Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, were already on the ground dealing with some of the technical aspects of negotiations, and the administration said that that part of the process was, quote, "going well." A reminder that this memorandum of understanding what has been signed is really just a first step here, as it then leads to a 60-day negotiation period to work through some of the bigger issues, like Iran's nuclear program and the fate of its stockpile of highly enriched uranium.

Now, one of the topics that was addressed was the Strait of Hormuz, and recently, Iran said that it has once again closed that critical waterway. The U.S. military pushed back on that, saying that it will continue to make sure that vessels can pass through.

Julia Benbrook, CNN, the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ABDELAZIZ: I want to go now to Leila Gharagozlou. She is joining us live from Abu Dhabi with the latest. Good morning, Laila. I want to talk about the Strait of Hormuz, because yesterday Iran said that it is closing the waterway in response to those Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon, but then the U.S. military denied that Tehran had any claim to control and even threatened to impose U.S. tolls on the shipping lane. So, break this down for me. Is the Strait closed? Is it not closed? What's going on here?

LEILA GHARAGOZLOU, CNN PRODUCER: Yes. So, this is really the age-old question of this conflict. Is the Strait open or is it closed? Iran's IRGC said that they have closed the Strait in response to Israel's actions and airstrikes in Lebanon over the last couple of days.

They say that Israel has violated the cease-fire that was in that very first point of the Memorandum of Understanding, which was only signed about a week ago. And that cease-fire was a cease-fire on all fronts, including Lebanon. And this has time and time again been a red line for the Iranians. So, they say they've closed the Strait.

Now, as you said, the U.S. says the Strait is still open, so it's unclear whether it's open or closed. That being said, we're not really seeing any ships even go through the Strait, and that's for a number of reasons, one of which being that there are a number of mines in that waterway that Iran had laid earlier in this war. So, a lot of ships don't want to go through the Strait and risk those mines.

[04:05:00]

On top of that, because things are so fragile and we haven't seen these negotiations even begin during this 60-day period, a lot of companies, shippers and tankers are waiting to see what actually happens before they take any next steps.

So, we're going to have to see what comes out of this meeting with the Iranians and Americans in Switzerland to see if the Strait will reopen again. It was briefly open when that MOU was signed. Now, it's closed. Could be open again. We're just going to have to wait and see.

ABDELAZIZ: A great deal of uncertainty there on one of the world's key waterways. Our Leila breaking it down for us from Abu Dhabi. Thank you so much.

Now, the conflict, of course, over the Strait of Hormuz is having a negative impact, and it could have a more negative impact when financial markets open on Monday. They closed last week in positive territory, as you can see there. But that was before the back-and- forth in negotiations between the U.S. and Iran. One of the big unknowns is oil prices.

On Thursday, the West Texas Intermediate, which is the U.S. oil benchmark, settled at just over $76 a barrel. That's down nearly 10 percent on the week. However, those rates came after an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz was reached.

To break all of this down for us, we have Ryan Patel joining me now. He is a senior fellow with the Drucker School of Management at Claremont Graduate University. Good morning, Ryan. How are you today?

RYAN PATEL, SENIOR FELLOW, DRUCKER SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT, CLAREMONT GRADUATE UNIVERSITY: I'm doing well. How are you doing?

ABDELAZIZ: I want to start, of course, with where the markets closed. I know, of course, we were on a holiday Friday, so they closed Thursday. It seemed that the stock market had rallied and crude oil prices had dropped, following the signing, of course, of that U.S.- Iran memorandum of understanding. But it has been an eventful past three days. And over the weekend, that agreement has shown to be precarious at best, if not just outright weak.

Where do you think the markets will stand when they open on Friday? What can we expect to happen?

PATEL: Well, you have to call it what happened last week. The Iran- U.S. conversation was it. It was -- you know, the markets last week wasn't really addressing the U.S.-Iran deal. It was really dealing with the IPO of SpaceX. It was more of a high. So, the oil prices and conversation for the markets were really in the backseat, to be very honest.

Now, like you mentioned, things have changed these last three days. Even if you mentioned these last five years, the speed at which geopolitical events influence economic impact behavior is at an all- time high. So, I expect the markets to react a little bit now, because if it's going back to the back and forth, businesses now can adjust supply chains, pricing inventory, even capital spending faster than they did a decade ago.

So, I believe on Monday, you know, the businesses are going to be now back to the conversation of oil prices, the economic impact, because it wasn't on the top of the agenda last week because of what you said of the potential deal.

ABDELAZIZ: And so, when those markets open on Monday, what is going to be the one most important signal, the key indicator that you're going to be watching for first? Is it going to be oil futures? Is it going to be airline stocks? Is it going to be energy stocks? What is it you're going to be looking for and why?

PATEL: You're going to laugh when I say I'm going to ignore all of those right now. I'm actually paying attention more what companies are saying, CEOs are saying on their earnings call. So, just not on Monday, but those companies that have built stronger balance sheets and that have more liquidity, that means they have cash on hand. What are they doing? Are they still status quo like they were last week or are they just not responding to this?

So, my guess is that many of them probably won't respond on what is happening these last three days because that's the safest thing that they can do. However, should companies and CEOs start to respond quickly to this, then you can kind of start seeing the markets then play. You know, yes, if the oil prices, you know, we would assume and expect that the oil prices, you know, won't be -- you know, because of the uncertainty kind of jump, this kind of then goes back to the consumer behavior. So, it's kind of a trickledown effect. So, I kind of don't want to see where the cause of reaction is kind of seeing how people are reacting to it.

ABDELAZIZ: It's such an interesting point, because so much of this is about reading between the lines and you're saying it's about the CEOs and for President Trump, that's exactly what he's trying to push here. He said that he made this deal because he didn't want to see an economic catastrophe. Is he avoiding that with this deal? Are we going to actually see a result from this or is it too early to tell?

[04:10:00]

PATEL: I think it's too early and it ties back to the new Fed chair as well, right. The conversation this past week from the new Fed chair is, you know, to me, he's not trying to predict oil prices, right. The Fed and the U.S. has to determine whether businesses and consumers are going to change their behavior because of those prices, right. So, it's not the other way around.

And I think that's where the calmness needs to happen. And I think the uncertainty as of right now, the consumer and the businesses that are leading the markets, right, you know, especially in the U.S., two- thirds is on consumer spending, even with uncertainty, has been pretty resilient. So, I would expect, you know, the wait and see mode until something really changes drastically.

ABDELAZIZ: So, you say wait and see, but we did see oil prices fall. And if they continue to fall, let's say on the hopes that Iranian supply will be more available and there's going to be less regional risk. So, let's play that. What if game? What still has to happen before that actually translates into lower fuel prices for consumers at the pump?

PATEL: A lot of things, right, to be able to even feel that. They're not going to -- I would say it would take, you know, not that I would guess -- you know, I have to guess, you know, a few months to really feel that oil prices in their monthly, you know, spending budget to really feel it, right. Because over the last three or four months, they are trying to save the consumer as much as they can to absorb this price.

So, I feel like, you know, no news is good news, I guess, for many of the consumers of like, is things changing as long as it's not going the other way? And it shows that there's some hope that there's some relief to -- you know, to my expenses per month. I think that's a win right now. I don't think -- and yes, you see that Wall Street as well. They're not predicting the risk of things are going to de-escalate, that everything is going to be great and we're going to be back to normal

I think we're -- you know, I think we live in that uncertainty and I think that's probably the best-case scenario in the short-term where consumers are banking in the long-term. As you mentioned, everybody in the background trying to increase the ability for the consumer to spend more money.

ABDELAZIZ: Living on the uncertainty, a bit of wisdom there, no news is good news from Ryan Patel. Thank you so much.

PATEL: Thank you.

ABDELAZIZ: Ukrainian officials say at least five people were killed in Russian attacks on Saturday. Russia targeted the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia with guide bombs, according to the region's governor. Four people died and at least six were wounded. And some residents may be trapped in the rubble of buildings.

Officials in Kharkiv say a Russian guided bomb struck a residential building early Saturday and one person was killed. Nine more were injured, including two children.

CNN military analyst and retired U.S. Air Force Colonel Cedric Leighton explains how Ukraine's new drone strategy could derail Russia's plans for a summer offensive.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COL. CEDRIC LEIGHTON (RET.), CNN MILITARY ANALYST: What's different about this particular situation is that the supply lines in and out of Crimea are actually being hit. The Ukrainians had previously gone after some elements of the Russian oil and gas industry.

Now, they're really hitting it hard. And one of the things that they've done is they've been able to use the drones and the ability that they had to weaponize these drones to really great effect to basically limit the effectiveness of Russia's ability to not only supply its own troops, but also to supply its own citizens. There are long gas lines in Crimea right now and in other parts of Russia. In fact, there is gas rationing in Russia right now because of these drone attacks.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ABDELAZIZ: Relations remain stranded between Poland and Ukraine. The president of Poland has stripped Volodymyr Zelenskyy of the country's top honor. President Zelenskyy posted on social media that he has returned the order of the White Eagle back to Poland. He explained that Ukrainians believe the order was meant for the people and its army.

Mr. Zelenskyy had been given the award in 2023 by the former Polish president. However, it was revoked after Zelenskyy renamed a military group after nationalists that are accused of murdering Poles in World War Two. Poland's President Karol Nawrocki explained why he made that decision.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KAROL NAWROCKI, POLISH PRESIDENT (through translator): I have decided to revoke the order of the White Eagle from the president of Ukraine. At this point, I would like to emphasize this decision is not directed against the Ukrainian people. It does not signify a change in the strategic direction of Polish security policy. We have supported and continue to support Ukraine because we know that Russian aggression poses a threat to the security of Poland and all of Europe.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ABDELAZIZ: And the diplomatic grift between the U.S. in Italy is not healing. And it's all over a photo at the G7 summit. Italian media first reported that President Donald Trump had said Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni begged him for a photo with her.

[04:15:00]

Now, President Trump is making the same claim in a post on social media. He also suggested her popularity is down in Italy for not supporting the U.S. against Iran. Now, Prime Minister Meloni had previously posted a video vehemently 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.

A controversial luxury real estate deal in Albania is stoking anti- government protests. Thousands took to the streets of the capital, Tirana, on Saturday to demand government change. The initial demonstrations were against a luxury resort project linked to President Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner. It's set to be built on a protected wetland where flamingos' nest. Protesters are accusing their government of being, quote, "the most corrupt in Europe and insist that their country is not for sale."

President Trump is now claiming, without evidence, that vandals are responsible for damaging Washington, D.C.'s reflecting pool on the National Mall. Mr. Trump said some arrests have been made and that the algae-filled pool will need to be drained. One of those arrested is a three-time U.S. Olympian, David Hearn. Hearn told CNN that he only reached into the pool out of curiosity to touch a piece of blue material and denies damaging anything.

The reflecting pool is part of Mr. Trump's wider efforts to beautify the capital as America's 250th anniversary approaches. However, the recent renovation of the pool cost at least $14 million as crews attempt to clear away the algae.

After the break, we're going to take a look at the severe weather outlook for the U.S. Storms are continuing to threaten parts of the southeast, already battered by the remnants of Tropical Storm Arthur.

Plus, a strong start for the U.S. team has their fans excited about what could be possible in this North American World Cup. We're going to hear from some of them straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[04:20:00]

ABDELAZIZ: Forecasters are keeping an eye on a weather system that could worsen flooding along the Gulf Coast on Sunday. Days of severe weather linked to remnants of Tropical Storm Arthur left communities in Louisiana, Texas, and Mississippi underwater. The heaviest rain has moved out, but saturated ground means even a couple of inches could trigger additional flooding.

Meanwhile, strong to severe storms are pushing across parts of the Midwest, bringing the threat of damaging winds, large hail, and possible tornadoes. Those storms are expected to weaken today as they head towards parts of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic.

California's governor is declaring a state of emergency as Los Angeles fights a massive warehouse fire. The blaze began on Wednesday and was still burning as of Saturday night. Plumes of smoke can be seen rising from the privately owned cold storage facility, as you can see there in Boyle Heights neighborhood. The city's fire chief said the flames have posed a unique challenge because the building's insulated construction has been burning slowly and emitting gas. He also said it's been difficult for firefighters to see inside the warehouse. Local officials say no one has been injured so far.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STATE SEN. MARIA ELENA DURAZO (D-CA): We will fully investigate the causes, the safety practices at this facility, whether stronger regulations, inspections, or land use protections are needed to better protect neighborhoods like Boyle Heights. This is a working-class community. It's carried a lot of the burdens of the environmental problems. We must work closer together, not just to respond to emergencies, but prevent the next one.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ABDELAZIZ: Countries are starting to solidify their standing in this year's World Cup group stages. Earlier, Japan shut out Tunisia to mark the 1,000th match in World Cup history. The Samurai Blue took control, almost immediately jumping out to a two-goal lead by halftime before winning 4-0. On Saturday, another showdown in Group F saw the Netherlands beat Sweden. The lopsided 5-1 result 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. Substitute Deniz Undav kept Germany in striking distance with two goals, including one in stoppage time. And there was an action-packed match between Ecuador and Curacao. It ended in a scoreless draw. The game stayed level, thanks in part to 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.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

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.

[04:25:00]

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. And 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 were more confident than ever about a deep U.S. run.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

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 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: Quarter finals for sure.

SCHOLES: OK.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Then we'll see.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I got to say all the way.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All the way.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: 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.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

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.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ABDELAZIZ: After nearly two months of demonstrations, a national state of emergency is in effect in Bolivia. Just ahead, we'll detail why citizens took to the streets for so many days and what the president is doing to try to regain control.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) [04:30:00]

ABDELAZIZ: Welcome back to CNN Newsroom. I'm Salma Abdulaziz in London.

At this hour, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance is in Switzerland to start negotiations with Iran. But Israel's continued fighting with Hezbollah in Lebanon threatens to derail those talks. A source tells CNN an emergency session on Lebanon will be the first topic addressed today. That's according to one Iranian official. Ending the conflict in Lebanon is, quote, "the most important item on Tehran's agenda."

Now, dozens of people in Lebanon have been killed by the latest wave of Israeli strikes. That makes it some of the worst bloodshed since the start of this conflict. I want to get the view now from Beirut.

We're going to welcome Ronnie Chatah,. He is the host of "The Beirut Benyan" podcast, and he's coming to us live this morning from Beirut. Good morning, first of all, to you.

RONNIE CHATAH, HOST, "THE BEIRUT BANYAN" PODCAST: Good morning.

ABDELAZIZ: I want to begin by discussing, of course, that continued occupation by Israel of large parts of southern Lebanon. And Israel has insisted that it will continue its military operations there, of course, despite the agreement that's in place.

I know you're in Beirut, but do you have any sense of what life is like right now for families that are still trapped in the south? I know so many have been forced out of their homes. Do you have an understanding of how many remain and what their daily existence is like now?

CHATAH: Well, I'll offer perspective on both ends, and that there are some Lebanese that have been actually trying to return. There were hundreds of thousands of displaced Lebanese pushed out the south, out of the southern suburbs of Beirut as well. Some have actually tried to return since the ceasefire or whatever you want to call it. This lessening of hostilities went into effect over the past few days.

At the same time, there are many Lebanese that risked their lives simply by staying put. And too many Lebanese that did that, an acquaintance of mine as well, who died several days ago, succumbing to her wounds. Her wounds mean she was at the hospital for the past few weeks. Collateral damage to this war.

And of course, this is a war that she did not want. This is not a war that's popular in Lebanon. It's extremely unpopular. And at the same time, those braver of Lebanese that refused to leave their homes, some unfortunately paid a price for that.

At the same time, the good news, if there's any good news over the past few days, and I'll preface this by saying good is not necessarily always good, in that there is some relief that this round of fighting is coming to an end. And if that is to stick, there will be more possibilities for Lebanese to return to their homes. That said, I doubt the Israelis will let Lebanese return to what they've deemed as their yellow line or their buffer zone of sorts, where they have effectively permanently destroyed not just villages, but infrastructure, nature, too. I doubt those Lebanese will be returning to the south closer to the Israeli border anytime soon.

ABDELAZIZ: I'm so sorry, first of all, to hear about the loss of your friend. I'm very sorry to hear that. And you described that as collateral damage, because there are so many innocents that are caught up in this conflict. You see right now this playing out in Switzerland, where you have Iran saying, look, it is America that is responsible if there are any violations by Israel in this conflict in Lebanon.

Can the U.S. similarly point to Tehran and say, look, Hezbollah, you are responsible for any actions in Lebanon? Is that possible? Is there any way forward here when the two parties that are actually at war are not in the room in Switzerland?

CHATAH: Well, I'm glad you're asking this question. If I could just take a few steps back. Her loss, of course, is an Israeli strike that led to her wounds and her death. The war itself, though, is not a Lebanese-Israeli war. And more focused on your question now, Lebanon was opened as a second front for Iran. Hezbollah, as it emerged over the past 15 months in particular, since the earlier round of fighting that ended in late 2024.

Iran more or less hijacked the Lebanese state to the point that Lebanon is on the news. Not for any Lebanese interest, but for Iran's security leverage as it sees it throughout the region based in Lebanon.

[04:35:00]

These talks that are happening, if there's concerning news, forget the good news for a moment, let's say concerning news, it's that this ceasefire is not a ceasefire that's necessarily good for Lebanon long- term. This is a ceasefire that does lessen hostilities, but maybe unfortunately for Lebanese, keeps Lebanon as a battlefield, meaning Hezbollah remains armed. The Lebanese government has set its mission to not just delegitimize Hezbollah's weapons, but to disarm all sub- state groups.

That said, the Lebanese government is more or less a bystander to these recent negotiations. It is making diplomacy happen in Washington with these Lebanese-Israeli ambassadorial meetings. But when it comes to the ceasefire discussions that are happening --

ABDELAZIZ: And if -- you are describing, of course, the Lebanese government as a bystander, and I think everyone would absolutely agree with you on that, but that's also part of the problem here. Because next week in Washington, there's going to be talks, the U.S. Trump administration has said there's going to be talks between the Lebanese government and Israel. Israel is going to consider, as you just said, Lebanon as a bystander. What is the point of these talks? What can they accomplish? CHATAH: That's a good question. They're meant to accomplish Lebanon's sovereign role in this entire disaster. A ceasefire was agreed to several weeks ago between the Lebanese ambassador, Israeli ambassador, between the Lebanese government, the sovereign government, and it was entirely dismissed by Hezbollah and Iran.

What you're seeing now instead is really Iran determining where Lebanon remains long-term, meaning Iran is refusing to let go of what it built here over the past four and a half decades. Hence the sticking point of these negotiations, hence the reason why Lebanon is on the news with Iran concerned. Not concerned for Lebanon's sovereignty, concerned for preserving Hezbollah as it exists.

And if I can take it one step further, I think it would be unwise to simply assume Iran can negotiate Hezbollah as it's been degraded. I don't think this is true. Hezbollah turned into something far more reflective of the Iranian regime over the past 15 months to the point that IRGC officials are here in Lebanon determining Hezbollah's fate. This is less and less a Lebanese story, more about Iran's regime and how the regime operates. And I worry, I worry that what you're seeing now is a preference to regional stability that satisfies Iran, perhaps long-term could satisfy Israeli interests too, but has no concern for the well-being of the Lebanese state.

In other words, Lebanon's government will pay a price once more for not just being a bystander, but for completely being dismissed as an entity to negotiate with. And I worry that negotiations in Washington will end up in failure rather than success.

ABDELAZIZ: Ronnie Chatah there from Beirut, reminding us yet again of a Lebanon, which you describe as a battlefield where so many civilians are trapped in a conflict they did not choose. Thank you so much.

CHATAH: Thank you.

ABDELAZIZ: The war in Iran is just one reason Republicans are facing an uphill battle to save their House majority in the upcoming midterm elections. But despite an unpopular president and concerns over cost of living, they see glimmers of hope in districts along the U.S.- Mexico border. Voters there could help decide who controls the House for Trump's last two years in office. Democrats are also taking notice of this. CNN's Patrick Svitek explains.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PATRICK SVITEK, CNN REPORTER: As Republicans look to save their very narrow majority in the U.S. House, they're looking to the U.S.-Mexico border. They believe that they have their strongest candidates yet in the competitive districts in that region. And they believe that they can build on the inroads that President Trump made with Hispanic voters in the 2024 election. And they believe they have a good story to tell about President Trump's efforts to secure the border since he returned to office in 2025.

They're looking at candidates like Eric Flores, who's running for Texas's 34th congressional district. He's a former federal prosecutor, and he's running on a law-and-order platform and trying to undercut the moderate image of the Democrat incumbent Vicente Gonzalez.

Now, Democrats believe that they have a really good shot in these districts as well. They point out that, for example, Trump's approval rating with Hispanic voters has gone down significantly since he returned to office. And while maybe Trump has done a good job of securing the border, he's alienated Hispanic voters with his administration's tough tactics on deportations, including from ICE.

[04:40:00]

And so, they're looking at candidates like Bobby Pulido, who is a Tejano music star, who's running in Texas's 15th congressional district, challenging Republican congresswoman Monica De La Cruz. They believe that people like Pulido are relatively unconventional candidates, maybe compared to past candidates, but have a strong connection to their community, and especially have a strong connection to the Hispanic community in their districts.

At the same time, all these candidates are grappling with the state of the economy. Republicans are hopeful that the war with Iran will die down and that oil prices will come down and that the economy overall will rebound. Democrats, meanwhile, are hoping to use that against Republicans, but they also acknowledge that they want to see their party, in some cases, have a better economic message.

Bobby Pulido, the candidate I mentioned earlier, has talked about how he wants to see his party have a more aspirational economic message, especially for first-generation Hispanic families in his district, who he has said come from nothing and are looking for an economic pathway to progress from those humble beginnings.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ABDELAZIZ: 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.

Still to come, families of Mexican relatives in Mexico are using the World Cup to raise awareness of the humanitarian crisis. We will have details for you just ahead.

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ABDELAZIZ: Relatives of missing people and search groups in Guadalajara, Mexico used the World Cup to call attention to Mexico's disappearances.

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Many held up missing person posters styled like World Cup stickers. Some signs said Mexico champion in disappearances and welcome to the land of enforced disappearances. One father looking for his son says it's important to protest in spaces where there are large crowds to help raise awareness. He accuses officials of failing families of those missing.

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HECTOR FLORES, FATHER OF MISSING SON (through translator): It is frightening, especially when, as a person and as an organization, you are treated as a red flag by the presidency of the republic and the interior ministry. Of course, it is frightening, but getting tired? Never. On the contrary, it gives me more strength to say to the president, to the interior ministry, and to all those politicians, to their faces, worry about finding them missing. Here is my son's photo so you do not forget. This is who you should be looking for, damn it.

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ABDELAZIZ: Sunday is Father's Day in the U.S. It's normally a happy time for fathers and their children, but it can also be a tough day for dads who've suffered the loss of a child. Now, a team in England is helping some of those fathers find support on the pitch and a way forward. Here is a report from Christina Macfarlane.

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CHRISTINA MACFARLANE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is Steve and the snow globe that got him through his darkest hour. The loss of his twins, stillborn after years of IVF.

STEVE JACKSON, MEMBER, FORGET-ME-KNOT FC: It says, if tears could build a stairway and memories a lane, I'd walk right up to heaven and bring you home again.

MACFARLANE (voice-over): Steve is one of dozens of men powerfully bonded here by the crippling pain of child loss. Twice a month in the north of England, they talk through their grief. It's a rare and remarkable safe space.

ANTHONY SUTCLIFFE, MEMBER, FORGET-ME-KNOT FC: This is Teddy. This is something that my mother-in-law brought around on the day that she was born, and on the day that we lost her, and she said every little girl should have a teddy.

MACFARLANE (voice-over): Ten years ago, Anthony's daughter, Poppy, died during pregnancy.

SUTCLIFFE: There is nothing more masculine than a group of lads sitting around crying, hugging each other, supporting each other. That's manly.

MACFARLANE (voice-over): Football has given these men a reason to be here. Perhaps a way in the door without admitting vulnerability or weakness.

NICK BAMFORD, MEMBER, FORGET-ME-KNOT FC: I'll be honest with you. If it wasn't for football, I never would have made the phone call, sent the message kind of thing. But yes, the football was our thing.

MACFARLANE (voice-over): Nick's son, 10-year-old Jayden, died after a long battle with cancer 18 months ago. What has it been like sharing your story with these guys?

BAMFORD: Them all hearing what I've been through and me hearing what they've been through, you realize you're not alone with it.

MACFARLANE (voice-over): That's exactly what founder Sean Coleman hoped for when he started the club last year.

SEAN COLEMAN, FOUNDER, FORGET-ME-KNOT FC: It's OK to grieve. There's no stigma. And that's what I'm trying to break, like the stigma of men's grief, men's mental health, and maybe loss itself. It's all stigmas that need to be broken.

MACFARLANE (voice-over): While we're there, the team received a message from Premier League player and local Aaron Ramsdale. His wife Georgina miscarried on a flight home following England's 2022 World Cup campaign.

AARON RAMSDALE, SOUTHAMPTON FC GOALKEEPER: Yes, I thought I'd give you a message and just say well done and we're all in different situations. But when things like this happen, we're all in the same boat.

MACFARLANE (voice-over): Support from players like Aaron is a small step towards FORGET-ME-KNOT FC's new goal, expanding from Port Vale Football Club to other professional football clubs across the U.K., something Aaron Way is trying to spearhead while navigating his own pain.

Last year, Aaron and his wife Jemma suffered the tragic loss of their baby girl during labor. Here, in the place where Willow should have been, precious memories spent with her are cherished.

JEMMA HALL, LOST BABY DURING LABOR: We haven't got Willow. We weren't able to watch her change or grow. The only things we have got are those memories from the time that we had with her. She's our daughter. She lives in everything that we do.

MACFARLANE (voice-over): In the darkest months of their lives, Aaron said the club pulled him out of a spiral of gambling and depression, and enabled them as a couple to try again for a baby.

AARON WAY, MEMBER, FORGET-ME-KNOT FC: Without having Forget-Me-Knot, and having the dads that are involved, and especially like the likes of Sean who helped set it up, I don't actually think I'd be here in, in all honesty, but it's also to know that you're around like-minded men that have gone through exactly the same journey.

Christina Macfarlane, CNN, Stoke-on-Trent, England.

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ABDELAZIZ: We'll be right back after the break. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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ABDELAZIZ: Today is international yoga day. India's prime minister celebrated the 5,000-year-old practice by leading thousands of people in a workout. Narendra Modi said yoga has the power to bring people together and contributes to a healthier and more peaceful world. This year's theme is yoga for healthy aging. Yogis, as practitioners are called, celebrate the day almost everywhere around the world.

And in Washington, D.C., thousands lined the streets Saturday for the capital pride parade. Participants marched holding those rainbow flags up high to celebrate diversity and inclusion. One attendee said the LGBTQ plus community needs visibility, saying, quote, "If we didn't have pride, we would be a kind of silent minority." According to a recent CNN poll in the last year, both registered Republicans and independents have been more likely to say that society's level of acceptance has gone too far.

The first American Catholic saint was Mother Frances Cabrini, who dedicated her life to the plight of migrants. She was a naturalized U.S. citizen. And this weekend, Pope Leo honored her in a special place. Our Antonia Mortensen tells us the two shared another special connection.

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ANTONIA MORTENSEN, CNN REPORTER: The first American pope honoring the first U.S. saint in her birthplace of Sant'Angelo Lodigiano here in Northern Italy. And there's even a Chicago connection. Pope Leo was born in Chicago, and St. Frances Cabrini died there in 1917.

And despite the clear ties to America, this might be one of the strongest statements of how Pope Leo sees his role. Pope Leo was born in Chicago, and St. Frances Cabrini died there in not just as an American pope, but a global one.

Mother Cabrini, best known in the Catholic Church as the patron saint of immigrants, dedicated her life to migrants and the poor. She was sent to New York in the late 1800s by Pope Leo XIII on a missionary mission. When she arrived, she found thousands, many of them Italian immigrants, living in extreme poverty. In response, she built from the ground up, founding schools, orphanages, and hospitals, and ultimately establishing 67 institutions across the United States, Europe, and Latin America.

The visit comes after his trip to the Canary Islands, where he highlighted the plight of migrants. And ahead of his trip to Lampedusa, which is a very popular entry point for those migrants seeking entry to the European Union.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's a message for everybody, for all of us, to be good with the people, to open our doors and don't close ourselves. MORTENSEN: These moments point to something larger, a church that crosses borders, rooted in tradition, but deeply engaged with the realities of migration and global responsibility, a theme that is clearly emerging in Pope Leo's papacy.

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ABDELAZIZ: Thank you so much for watching. I'm Salma Abdelaziz. I'll be back with more news after a quick break.

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