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CNN International: World Leaders Attend UNGA Amid wars In Middle East, Ukraine; Trump To Meet Gulf Cooperation Council Leaders Amid Iran War; Constable In Critical Condition After Shooting Near Synagogue; Merz's Party Loses Ground In State Elections. Aired 4-4:30a ET

Aired September 22, 2026 - 04:00   ET

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

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[04:00:36]

SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello and a very warm welcome to our viewers around the world. I'm Salma Abdelaziz in London. Let's go straight to our headlines.

World leaders head to the United Nations as wars are raging in Ukraine and the Middle East. We'll check today's speakers list and the agenda.

Israel's Prime Minister is promising surprises during his address to the U.N. Why he's changing his plans for his trip to New York?

And the U.S. military admits it deployed weapons in space. What that means for those of us down here on Earth?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Live from London, this is "CNN Newsroom" with Salma Abdelaziz.

ABDELAZIZ: United Nations General Assembly debates get underway in the coming hours. President Donald Trump will be speaking in the morning, but the gathering is expected to be overshadowed by the U.S. war with Iran and the lingering Russia-Ukraine conflict.

The UNGA is also taking place amid President Trump's ban on CNN and other outlets from the White House.

While the world will be able to see Donald Trump's speech, thanks to U.N. T.V., the U.S. President's trip to New York will not be receiving the coverage it normally would. That is because major television networks are standing with CNN by declining to replace its White House pool crew after the Trump administration barred the network from fulfilling its assigned duties on Monday.

A preliminary hearing on the potential restraining order is scheduled for Wednesday. MS NOW and "POLITICO" were also banned from the White House and have joined CNN in this retaliatory lawsuit.

The network alleges that President Trump's ban violates the Constitution's due process protections. It also requires requests rather that journalistic access be restored immediately.

In a joint statement, the media outlets say the ban could not be a more direct assault on the First Amendment, nor a more blatant violation of our most fundamental constitutional principles.

In the show of solidarity, other major television networks decline to replace CNN's White House pool coverage on Monday. CNN issued a statement alongside four other networks responsible for covering live presidential events, that is ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox News.

All parties agreed that, quote, no administration should restrict a news organization because it objects to its reporting.

Federal Judge Tim Kelly, who will hear Wednesday's arguments, has previously ruled against the White House in First Amendment cases. And the president already appears to be anticipating a loss posting this on Truth Social that he expects to appeal the judge's eventual ruling.

President Trump insists his ban is not an attack against the free press, but rather on, quote, fake news, which he described as a cancer in America.

But Vice President J.D. Vance described the move differently.

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J.D. VANCE, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: He's not banning media outlets. What he's doing is saying, we're not going to give you special access to the White House if you engage in what is effectively propaganda.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ABDELAZIZ: Meanwhile, Iran's delegation is arriving in New York. That's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. The Trump administration says it has allowed a, quote, core delegation to attend.

And President Masoud Pezeshkian is expected to be at the U.N. General Assembly. Now, Araghchi says Iran plans to highlight that deadly U.S. strike on an Iranian elementary school at the UNGA.

Now, tensions between the two sides remain very high. There have been no publicly reported U.S. strikes in Iran in more than two weeks. But President Trump is signaling major decisions on the conflict may be coming while Iran is warning that any new attack would trigger strikes on U.S. targets across the Middle East.

CNN's Paula Hancocks is following all the developments for us and she joins us now live from Abu Dhabi.

So, what can we expect here, Paula, from -- from both Iran and the United States during this UNGA period?

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Salma, we've seen that the -- the Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has arrived on Monday in New York. We're expecting President Masoud Pezeshkian, who will be speaking on Wednesday to be arriving later today.

[04:05:06]

Now, it is a -- a smaller delegation, we understand from the State Department, but the U.S. obviously has to allow the individuals in as the host country. But the very fact that -- that the Iranian President will be speaking on U.S. soil at a time when his country is engaged in a war with the United States is -- is virtually unprecedented.

Now, we have had some indication from the foreign minister as to what the speech on Wednesday could entail.

Pezeshkian is expected to -- to bring up and slam the -- the attack against the elementary school in Minab, in the -- the early onset of the war in -- in Iran where some 120 students, at least 26 teachers, were killed.

And we were also expecting, according to the foreign minister, that this speech will be critical of European nations of the West, saying that they remain silent about events in -- in Gaza, in Lebanon and in Iran.

Now, of course, in the coming hours, we'll also be hearing from the U.S. President Donald Trump who will be making his own case for how he would like the world to perceive the war in Iran progressing.

Now, he has, in recent days, said that he's in a deciding mode. Very big things could happen soon. The -- the Iranian Central Military Command said that they had information that the U.S. backed by some of the Gulf nations would be carrying out further strikes against Iran, and if that were the case, that they would have substantive strikes against U.S. assets and bases in the region.

Now, those leaders in the region will be, obviously, in -- in New York as well, we understand later today this Tuesday there will be a meeting between President Trump and the GCC leaders.

There is a lot to discuss in that meeting, not just the war in Iran. And we know that some of those Gulf leaders have managed to persuade President Trump a couple of times in the past not to -- to -- to continue or to carry out fresh strikes against Iran, but to step back from the brink, but also to discuss what is happening in Yemen with the remarkable Houthi assaults and progression through the country at this point and attacks between the Houthi rebels backed by Iran and Saudi Arabia.

Now, we do have reporting saying that the -- the Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, did ask President Trump to get involved militarily to try and stop this Houthi advance, but sources tell CNN that President Trump ultimately declined to do so.

So, there will be a lot for the -- the leaders and President Trump to be discussing in that meeting in a number of hours as well. Salma.

ABDELAZIZ: A lot to discuss indeed and potentially the possibility there of some reconciliation of some ways too cool, at least that's what the Gulf countries will be hoping for during this U.N. General Assembly week.

Paula Hancocks in Abu Dhabi there with a preview. Thank you.

I want to bring into this conversation now Steven Erlanger. He is the chief diplomatic correspondent for "The New York Times," and he joins me this morning from Berlin. Good morning. It is so lovely to have you on to just continue this conversation that we just started with Paula Hancocks.

And I -- I really do want to start there with the UNGA, because as you heard there from Paula, both Iran and the U.S., President Trump and the President of Iran have these very fiery speeches planned, but you still have all the key parties of this conflict in the room, including the Gulf. Is this an opportunity for dialogue? Is this a possibility that we could see these peace talks that have been stalled, jumpstarted again?

STEVEN ERLANGER, CHIEF DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENT, THE NEW YORK TIMES: Well, I would say in Shaa Allah. It would be nice if that would happen. It is an opportunity, without question.

I think the Iranians have made it very clear they want to go back to talks, but they want to go back to the deal they already made with President Trump, which was the memorandum of understanding in June, which Mr. Trump now calls a dead letter.

And Iran will go into talks if it understands that what it -- it was going to get from the memorandum, which was, you know, sanctions lifting freedom of travel for its own ships through the Strait of Hormuz, if things like that can -- can come up front, then I think we have a chance.

I think though Donald Trump feels that the policy of squeezing Iran and trying to starve it to death is working in some fashion. And -- and I think he wants to avoid more kinetic warfare, more warfare in the run up to the November midterms, but with Trump, it's always very, very hard to tell.

[04:10:18]

Certainly, the Gulf States don't want a renewal of any military fighting because Iran has made it very clear that if so, they will also be attacked and not just American assets. So, that's one issue.

And, of course, Zelenskyy, Volodymyr Zelensky will be there, the president of -- of Ukraine. That's another war that's ongoing. The -- Mahmoud Abbas will come. He was been banned from coming, but he -- he will make a speech, but the -- the Gaza situation remains very, very dire.

And in all of this, the U.N. is a good place for people to meet. But as an institution, it -- it seems more and more irrelevant these days.

ABDELAZIZ: So, let me take -- let me take it from there, because that's absolutely the point. President Trump, in particular, is obviously very dismissive of the U.N. and of international institutions in general.

So, when you're speaking about all of these conflicts from Gaza to Iran to Ukraine to Sudan and so on, you've seen the Security Council, you know, deadlocked in vetoes. Can we actually see an impact when it comes to these crises from the United Nations? Or do you think we will yet again have a lot of rhetoric, have a lot of talk, but not much action?

ERLANGER: Well, we're always going to get a lot of rhetoric and talk at the U.N. General Assembly. But action, I mean, this is difficult because in the Security Council, which is really what matters, you have Russia and China, who are -- are much more openly antagonistic to the United States and to its policies, particularly in Iran, in -- certainly in Ukraine.

So, that -- that kind of blocks any real action. Now, you can have good conversations, for example, about artificial intelligence. You know, should the world be doing more? Can we get the main actors together to talk about regulating A.I. somehow?

The U.N. also does extremely good humanitarian work, which we shouldn't forget for refugees, for people who are ill, for young people, for children. The World Food Programme is excellent. World Health Organization, which Trump has pulled out of, but still is very important to -- to the rest of the world.

So, I mean, there is value in the U.N. It's just that it's idea in the beginning, which is that somehow the big powers would come and make sure the world stayed at peace. That seems to be failing. And it's very hard to imagine a reform that all would agree upon.

ABDELAZIZ: From governing the future of A.I. to trying to mitigate some of the conflicts and crises around the world, today, the UNGA will attempt it cautiously optimistic.

"New York Times" chief diplomatic correspondent, Steve Erlanger, there for us. Thank you.

ERLANGER: Thank you.

ABDELAZIZ: New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is doubling down on his criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is set to address the U.N. on Thursday.

Speaking with CNN's Christiane Amanpour, Mamdani pointed to the international criminal courts outstanding arrest warrant -- warrant for Netanyahu. The mayor said, no one should be above international law.

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ZOHRAN MAMDANI, NEW YORK CITY MAYOR: I have been clear about the way that -- that I see the world, and I always owe New Yorkers that honesty. And when it comes to Benjamin Netanyahu, I have described him as I believe him to be a war criminal and an architect of a horrific genocide of the Palestinian people. And I've also been honest with New Yorkers that New York City does not have the authority to carry out the ICC's warrant, which as you said has been issued for Prime Minister Netanyahu. And that I do believe that that is something that should be honored because what we want to see, and -- and we've been talking about this today, is a faith in our politics, a faith and accountability.

You know, I recently met the mayor of The Hague here at U20. And the key thing he kept emphasizing to all of us was the importance of the rule of law. And if the international criminal court deems someone worthy of an arrest because of a violation of those laws, then who are we to say that anyone should be above that? And I think very clearly that everyone should be held accountable to it.

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ABDELAZIZ: There is much more to come here on "CNN Newsroom," including new details about a shooting outside a synagogue in Canada. We're going to have the latest on the investigation.

[04:15:08]

And why state election losses in Germany are putting the chancellor's political future in doubt.

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ABDELAZIZ: A Canadian police constable remains in critical but stable condition. This is following Sunday's shooting outside a synagogue in Ontario. The incident has sparked calls for government action and protection against anti-Semitism.

CNN's Paula Newton has more.

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PAULA NEWTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Many in this community are now starting to come to terms with exactly how serious this incident was.

Now, Ontario officials with the Special Investigations Unit say that a suspect in a truck drove up to the synagogue. He was armed. He got out of his truck with a shotgun and started shooting at a police officer who was in an unmarked vehicle outside the synagogue.

The synagogue, in fact, had hired the police officer for security. It is something that they normally do before these Jewish holidays.

[04:20:01]

A shootout ensued, in fact, the constable is in serious but stable condition. The suspect is now listed in critical condition with life- threatening injuries.

Inside the synagogue, the worshipers all crouched down. They told CNN and they heard continuous banging. And now, the stained glass window in this synagogue is riddled with bullets. I want you to hear now from a spokesperson with that Special Investigations Unit.

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KRISTY DENETTE, SPOKESPERSON, ONTARIO SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS UNIT: There are dozens of bullet holes in the street behind me. And some homes have been hit. And there are some vehicles with shot-out windows, that sort of thing. So, it would have been quite-- quite the scene indeed.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We know the choice of the target, the synagogue, the exact timing, the beginning of Yom Kippur, and it just seems like a -- a premeditated attack. Would you say that there is evidence suggesting that this was a terrorist attack aimed at the Jewish community?

DENETTE: I mean, I'd be speculating, but I mean, I think that common sense would say that probably was the case.

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NEWTON: Thankfully, no one inside the synagogue was hurt, but it was an absolutely chilling event, not just in the city of Belleville, Ontario, but throughout Canada.

Prime Minister Mark Carney has new legislation that was just passed in the summer. It is anti-hate legislation, but it also offers protection to places of worship.

But the prime minister himself noted that acts of anti-Semitism recently in Canada, in his words, have been both specific and severe.

Police say the investigation continues and that the officer was wearing a body camera and they hope to learn more in the coming days and weeks.

Paula Newton, CNN, Ottawa.

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ABDELAZIZ: A journalist getting ready for a broadcast says, she witnessed, says he witnessed the deadly shooting of a political candidate in Peru. This video shows Susy Aponte moments before she was shot and killed at a campaign event in Caraz, Saturday.

Journalist, Victor Castillo, said Monday that he was recording when the shooting actually happened. Aponte was a candidate for regional governor of Ancash. She also hosted a Sunday digital news program where she addressed alleged acts of corruption inside her region.

Community members attended Aponte's funeral in Lima on Monday. They mourned her death and demanded justice. Two people have been arrested in connection with the shooting. And investigators are examining whether the attack was a contract killing.

The "Associated Press" reports Aponte had received threats against her on social media.

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JEANET FUENTES, MOURNER (through translator): We demand the shooter, no matter who falls. Let's see. Keiko Fujimori said that starting July 28th, there would be no more, that she would bring order to Peru. It's been two months of government and we have more deaths daily. So, what's happening? Who's governing, the mafia?

This shows us that the mafia is governing this country and we Peruvians are not going to continue tolerating so much crime, so much humiliation, so much poverty.

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ABDELAZIZ: Now to Germany where Chancellor Friedrich Merz is calling the weekend state election results a, quote, disaster.

After victories by far-left and far-right parties, the results mark a major setback for Merz and his center-right Christian Democratic Union, leaving the chancellor under increasing pressure to resign after less than 17 months on the job.

CNN senior international correspondent Fred Pleitgen reports.

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FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice- over): It's become almost a sad routine these days for German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. His opponents cheering after beating Merz's party in a state election.

In this case, the right-wing alternative for Germany whose leader tells me flat out Merz needs to resign. He is strongly damaged, she says. I believe the CDU cannot continue with Friedrich Merz with a weak Chancellor.

PLEITGEN: While Friedrich Merz is trying hard to dispel any notion that he might have to resign, there's no doubt that the German chancellor is on the ropes and currently fighting for his very political survival.

PLEITGEN (voice-over): Nobody has asked any questions about personal consequences or launched a debate about personnel neither last night nor this morning Merz said after meeting with his party's leadership.

But Merz's conservative Christian Democratic Union has now lost three state elections in a row, the winners in each case parties on the political fringes.

After getting beat by a landslide two weeks ago by the right-wing AFD in Saxony-Anhalt, this weekend in the northeastern state Mecklenburg- West Pomerania, the CDU didn't even get enough votes to make it into local parliament.

The winners again, the far-right AFD, which calls for mass deportation of undocumented immigrants and an end to all military aid for Ukraine.

[04:25:06]

Meanwhile, in the German capital Berlin, Merz's party lost to the far left, Die Linke, which wants to expropriate large real estate companies and faces allegations of anti-Semitism in its ranks, allegations the party's leadership strongly denies.

FRIEDRICH MERZ, GERMAN CHANCELLOR (through translator): We have been witnessing for several months growing, radical and openly expressed anti-Semitism that is even welcomed with applause.

PLEITGEN: Merz's vowed to fight on and continue what he calls his reform agenda, but Germany's economy remains sluggish. His popularity ratings are in free-fall, and even he acknowledges he's become a liability for those in his party fighting for re-election.

MERZ (through translator): I know that national politics played a major role, both in the state election two weeks ago in Saxony-Anhalt and in yesterday's election, as did my own role.

PLEITGEN: And that's claims he still believes he can fix his government's issues and bring Germany back on track, but the chancellor might be running out of time.

Fred Pleitgen, CNN, Berlin.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ABDELAZIZ: Still to come here on "CNN Newsroom," A.I. is high on the list of topics that to be discussed at the U.N. General Assembly, but a meeting between China and the U.S. on the matter could prove even more important.

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

We're looking ahead to the United Nations General Assembly, which kicks off in the coming hours. The U.S. President will address the gathering of world leaders later. The assembly will take place, of course, under the cloud.