Return to Transcripts main page

Connect the World

16,000 Evacuated From Homes in Philippines Due To Typhoon Koppu; Possibility for All Southern Hemisphere Semifinal at Rugby World Cup; Clashes Continue in Jerusalem; Adoption Day For Iranian Nuclear Deal; Egyptian To Vote In Parliamentary Elections. Aired 11a-12p ET

Aired October 18, 2015 - 11:00   ET

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

[11:00:11] BECKY ANDERSON, HOST: More security amid more attacks this weekend even as some Israelis and Palestinians say enough.

An update on the rising tensions in just a moment. Plus, behind the scenes insight from one of our veteran international correspondents who has been

reporting what is this complex story.

Also ahead, more than 16,000 people forced from their homes as Typhoon Koppu batters the Philippines. We look at where it's headed next.

Plus, smash and grab: Argentina claim a place in the Rugby World Cup semifinals. How they did it coming up.

ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN Abu Dhabi, this is Connect the World with Becky Anderson.

ANDERSON: A very good evening. Just after 7:00 here in the UAE. It's been another tense day in Israel and the Palestinian territories after new

violence over the weekend. Isareli authorities reported five knife attacks on Saturday. They also say that four of the attackers were shot dead.

You're looking at the aftermath of one of those incidents. In some of the cases, Palestinians have offered different versions of what happened.

Also on Saturday, hundreds of Palestinians and Israelis marched in a joint peace rally calling for an end to the violence and fresh dialogue.

Let's cross straight to Jerusalem now where CNN's Oren Lieberman joins us live. And Oren, fear on both sides, what's the mood there at present?

OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, everyone here is tense and everybody is very much on edge as these very heavy security

restrictions remain in place in and around the old city of Jerusalem. Israel has these in place because of this wave of attacks. There has not

been an attack today, but as you mentioned five yesterday. And that has lent itself, that has resulted in these security restrictions making it

very difficult for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in East Jerusalem to move around.

The latest example we're seeing is what looks like a portal wall going up in the Palestinian neighborhood of Jabhat Muqabet (ph) is East Jerusalem.

Israel says this is for security reasons, to prevent Palestinians throwing Molotov cocktails over this wall and onto Jewish homes that are nearby, but

Palestinians say it's very difficult, even perhaps dehumanizing the checks they have to go through, the security checks, the ID checks that they go

through. And we've seen a number of these throughout Jerusalem.

Now these security measures have lent themselves to a sort of quiet here, but not a quiet of peace and calm, a quiet of tension with many people here

on edge. There's still a lot of fear here because of this wave of attacks and these clashes and violence that we're seeing. But so far today, Becky,

it has been relatively quiet in its own tense way.

ANDERSON: Yeah, that's good to hear.

There have been international efforts, of course, to calm things down. Are they having any effect do you think, Oren?

LIEBERMANN: Well, nothing that we're seeing on the ground yet.

It's U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry who spoke last week with not only Prime Minister Netanyahu, but also Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and

King Abdullah, King of Jordan, to try to get these sides talking in hopes that talks, even if they don't have tangible, immediate results will at

least calm the situation even just a little bit, which we're seeing people call for it at this point.

There was also the French putting forward a proposal to put an international presence on one of the most sensitive sites here, the al Aqsa

compound, known to Jews as the Temple Mount, and knowns to Muslims as al Haram al Sharif, really perhaps the source, the origin of these latest

round of tensions that started about a month ago.

That proposal, the international presence on that holy site rejected by Israel saying the proposal makes no mention of what Israel says is the

Palestinian incitement around that holy site.

ANDERSON: Oren Lieberman is in Jerusalem. CNN's reporters on the ground following every side of this situation for you. Thank you, Oren.

Up ahead, we'll show you exactly what it takes to bring you the story from the West Bank, including having homemade bombs, rocks and bullets all

around you, that is in about 25 minutes time.

Turkey's government says it's ready to help reduce the unprecedented flow of migrants into Europe. The prime minister met with the German Chancellor

Angela Merkel in Istanbul to discuss the crisis earlier on. He says his country is willing to do more, but European leaders must speed up Turkey's

accession process into the EU in return.

Well, the Prime Minister also warned that a surge in fighting around the Syrian city of Aleppo could spark a new wave of refugees.

Senior international correspondent Nick Paton Walsh covering this for us. He joins us from Istanbul tonight.

And let's just start across the border. Who controls Aleppo, Nick, at present? And what are you hearing from your sources about any advance by

the regime's forces on Syria's largest urban area?

[11:05:09] NICK PATON WALSH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, who controls it? It's split roughly down the middle between an east, which is

controlled by a number of rebel groups. I think it's fair to say that militarily the al Qaeda affiliate Nusra have a pretty strong presence in

there, at least certainly that was the case back in June when I was last there. Little have been done, really, to change that military equation.

But the west is controlled by the regime. And we've also seen around the northeast of that area to ISIS moving around, not taking large swaths of

territory, but certainly trying to.

What's happening now, well there's a lot of noise, a lot of rhetoric from pro-regime sides Iran, Hezbollah, and the regime military that they want to

make a move towards Aleppo. And monitors for the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights are saying they are noticing the kind of the southwest of the

city, those forces are moving towards certain key villages, most recently trying to move towards the Quedis (ph) air base, which is a key part of the

area there currently in rebel hands.

So, moves on the ground certainly.

But does it amount to a larger offensive to take what was the biggest, most populous city in Syria back before this hideous unrest started? Well, not

quite yet.

Remember, this is an enormous task, Becky. We are talking about potentially a couple of hundred thousand people, civilians, rebel-held

areas in the east. They've experienced moments of siege or roads accessing them cut off. In fact, last week, the key road was certainly imperiled by

the fighting happening around it between ISIS and more moderate rebels. This is the huge patchwork of messy militants groups fighting for that

city.

But, the regime, which really -- in a matter of months ago, was struggling to put ground forces in place to hold its vital coastal enslave in Latakia,

does it really have suddenly the forces to take over a city of that size? Unclear.

It's got Russian air power now, but that's a massive task ahead, even though, still, many in the world deeply concerned now of the potential for

many more refugees if Aleppo does come under the crosshairs of this new emboldened regime onslaught -- Becky?

ANDERSON: So many refugees from Aleppo, of course, a city of somewhat 2 million in the past. You're talking about some 200,000 or so left in the

rebel controlled areas.

Angela Merkel clearly looking to Turkey for help in stemming the flow of refugees to Europe from what is the heart of this crisis, particularly from

Turkey and those who have crossed over, we know, are now in their millions, what two-and-a-half million I think Syrian refugees in Turkey.

So, she's looking for some help.

What's the quid pro quo?

WALSH: Well, it's the two countries, really, that are on the beginning and the receiving end of that large swaths of Syrian refugees.

Now Turkey wants to see financial aid for the $7 billion it said it spent on dealing with the millions of refugees currently on Turkish territory,

but wants ahead of a November 1 election, it wants to see liberalization. So, its citizens can travel to the EU Schengen area of which Germany is

part of, without a visa.

Today, that seems more likely on state media, the prime minister is basically saying that they believe these liberalization may happen by July

of next year.

Angela Merkel, according to Reuters, has been suggesting to her part that Chapter 17, 23 and 24, that's judicial, economic and justice initiatives

that have to be undertaken by Turkey to speed up its EU accession, but they could also be open for discuss, too, now as well.

So, the quid pro quo is basically better access to Europe for Turkey in the event that perhaps they crack down on the passage of Syrian migrants and

refugees from Turkey towards Europe and maybe also agree, as they've said they would do today, to tackle people smuggler more hard and maybe also get

financial assistance to keep those refugees here in Turkey in finance -- camps financed by non-Turkish partners, so to speak, Becky.

ANDERSON: Human rights activists encouraging Angela Merkel to put her principles before her politics. Clearly, an awful lot of concern about

human rights abuses, of Kurds specifically by activists concerned about what the Turkish government is up to at present.

Did you hear her elude to anything, but trying to get help from Turkey and clearly offering something in return?

WALSH: I think probably now, given the scale of the domestic challenge Angela Merkel faces in terms of dealing with growing domestic opposition to

what she's accepted to do in taking on nearly a million Syrian and other refugees and migrants into Germany, perhaps now is not the time to be

lecturing President Erdogan and Prime Minister Dautoglu on the well known challenges that Turkey faces in terms of getting to that sort of EU

accession level of human rights.

But bringing up the notion of speeding up talks about Chapter 17, 23, and 24 implicitly suggests a discussion which would include those issues like

freedom of the press. Turkey, by some counts, having more journalists in jail then any other country, the treatment of the Kurds, too.

Many other broad issues that are a sore point for Turkey right now, but obviously something the EU wanted to see movement on, if Turkey is closer

to Europe any stage in the years ahead.

But I think now there is a simpler deal really on the table, it's urgent, it needs to happen in the months ahead. It's about stopping people leaving

Turkey on their journey to Europe. So Germany has an easier (inaudible), but at the same time giving Turkey something for President Erdogan to offer

those people who didn't give him the majority he wanted in parliament, or his prime minister wanted in parliament in the last election, hence the

snap election here. And that will be simply access to the EU, and easier Visa regime.

If he gets that, I think that will be quite a concession. They're also holding out for more, though, Becky. These talks aren't finished.

[11:10:49] ANDERSON: Yeah, and Erdogan's naysayers will say this is a perfectly timed meeting, one assumes, for him and Angela Merkel given that

it is, what, two weeks before that snap election.

All right, Nick, thank you.

Still to come tonight, a banned opposition party and widespread apathy. Egypt heads to the polls once again. We're going to get to the capital for

you to check how the beginning of that process is getting on.

And next, a deadly typhoon has forced thousands of people from their homes in the Philippines. We are tracking that storm.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Well, a powerful typhoon is now being blamed for at least one death in the Philippines. The storm has caused major flooding, destroyed

homes and forced thousands to evacuate, I'm afraid.

Civil defense officials say strong winds toppled a tree in Manila, killing a 14-year-old boy and injuring four others. And the storm is still far

from over.

Allison Chinchar has been tracking it and she joins us now from CNN Center.

What can residents expect next?

[11:15:03] ALLISON CHINCHAR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the real key thing - - the big threat next is now the mudslides. As that rainfall begins to accumulate and pile up, that's going to be the next big threat. And part

of that reason is the topography that's at play here.

So, let's take a look. Here we have a map of the Philippines. Now as we zoom down into Manila, because this is where a very heavy dense population

lives, you can see it's very flat. And in addition to that, we have a lot of the rivers that kind of flow through these cities, OK.

Now, when you take a look behind the city of Manila, we have all of these mountain ranges that go through here. The problem is when the rain comes

down as heavy as it does, it doesn't stay on the tops of the mountains, it begins to flow down towards the city. So, all of that rain that has just

fallen on the top of the mountains flows down into the city on top of the rain that is already fallen on the city.

Now it begins to flow into those rivers, those rivers overflow, start to spread out into the city in addition to all of the rain that's come down.

So, again, you have multiple problems there. Not just the rain that's coming from above you, but also the rain that's now starting to come from

atop the mountains. So, you get flooding events.

Take a look at this image. This is from Nueva Viscaya (ph) in the Philippines. This is actually one of the rivers that is now overflowed.

And you can see this boy trying to push his bike through some of the flooded waters. Again, this is the Magat (ph) River through there.

And again, we expect to see more of that, perhaps not in just that river, but there are numerous rivers and creeks throughout the Philippines that

could deal with the same threat.

Right now, the storm has started to weaken ever so slighly. Now the equivalent of a category 1 hurricane, winds up around 150 kilometers per

hour, gusting to around 185 kilometers.

Forward movement also very slow, only about 9 kilometers to the northwest. And again it's that slow progression that's really causing a lot of

problems with the flooding.

And the reason for it is we've got a series of high pressures that are kind of off to the north of it. And it's blocking this system from being able

to move to the north, which is where it would normally go. In a day or two, it would quickly normally be up to Taiwan or even perhaps Japan. But

those high pressure systems are blocking it, keeping it right where it is at least for the next few days. Once we get about 72 hours out still not

even expected to make landfall over Taiwan even at that point.

So again, because of that, we expect even more rainfall to be dumped on the same spot over and over.

Take a look at some of these numbers already. We're talking about 650 millimeters already has fallen. And again, we expect more on top of that.

We've had several areas picking up over 200 millimeters as well. And again the key thing that I cannot emphasize enough is the rain is not done.

So those numbers that you saw, one, two, three, 600 millimeters, they're only going to go up, especially along the western portion of the islands of

Luzan, because now we still expect an additional 250 to 500 millimeters on top of what has already come down.

And again, that can also not only trigger the flash flooding, but also mudslides and landslides as well.

And winds also still expected to be up around 70 to 90 kilometers per hour.

ANDERSON: My goodness.

All right, so the worst not over yet. Thank you for that.

Live from Abu Dhabi, this is Connect the World. Coming up, adoption day: the ball gets rolling on putting the Iran nuclear deal into place. What

does this mean for international investors? Well, let's find out a little bit about that later in the show.

First up, thoguh, three down, one to go. We're going to have the latest on the Rugby World Cup as the semifinals lineup almost complete.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:21:53] ANDERSON: All right, Rugby World Cup is well on its way to the semifinasl with three of the four spots already taken. Just over an hour

ago, Argentina booked their place in that last stages, booting Ireland out of the tournament. They'll take on either Scotland or Australia who are

playing right now.

On Saturday, New Zealand thrashed France 62-13. That's the biggest margin ever in a World Cup knockout stage match.

Well, for more let's speak to CNN's World Sport's Don Riddell who joins us now live from CNN Center.

And there is now a prospect of an all southern Hemisphere finals. But let's just hold our horses, because I know that the Australia-Scotland game

has started. And at present, at least, Scotland up 10-5.

What, though, does this say about rugby today, do you think?

DON RIDDELL, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Well, certainly we have the prospect of an all-southern hemisphere final, Becky. We actually have the

prospect of an all-southern hemisphere semifinal for the first time in the history of the Rugby World Cup. I know that the Scots are winning right

now, but it's early days. And the Wallabies went into that game heavily fancied to win and perhaps go on and win the Webb Ellis Trophys for a third

time.

So, you know, what it says about the world game is that it is hugely lopsided. It's absolutely clear that the southern hemisphere sides are

completely out muscling and doing much better than the sides in the north. And I think that's a real worry for the global game.

I mean, this has been an amazing tournament so far, Becky, up until Saturday, I would say. And world cup organizers probably won't admit it

publicly, but I think they'll be very, very disappointed if we end up with four teams from the south contesting the semifinals and beyond that. That

will certainly harm their television ratings and global interest in the tournament. And I think there's going to be some questions asked about why

that is.

I know that the postmortem has already begun in England who didn't even make it out of the pool stage. They will probably look to the fact that,

for example, all of Argentina's team is based in the north. One-third of the Springboks team is based in the north. That's great for their players,

particularly when they're in a tournament played in the northern hemisphere, but of course they weaken those countries by doing so. And

that's perhaps something that those northern leagues might want to address.

ANDERSON: Yeah. You can believe it's 13-5 now. I know it is early days, but the Scots do seem to be holding their own. Excuse me.

(inaudible) minutes. And you wouldn't have picked the Scottish team to be the northern hemisphere team that could possibly still go through.

The All Blacks have really clicked into gear now, haven't they?

RIDDELL: Yeah. They were absolutely awesome against France yesterday. It was a humiliating defeat for the French. They knew they'd lost it kind of

early on. They'd rather pack their bags and went home early.

And the All Blacks are a team who just will not take their foot off the peddle. I mean, scoring nine tries. A fantastic win for them, disastrous

for the French.

It sets up an absolutely brilliant semifinal next weekend. They're playing South Africa, the Springboks. This is the biggest rivalry in world rugby.

It's kind of a legacy rivalry built on years and years of really, really intense test matches. And this is going to be fantastic.

Of course, South Africa began this tournament with that completely unexpected defeat against Japan. They have managed to recover from that.

They know that they can beat the All Blacks. They did it last year. But on this kind of performance, Becky, New Zealand will fancy themselves to

get the Springboks out of the way and compete in another final

[11:25:28] ANDERSON: Fantastic.

All right. Good stuff. Thank you.

Don in house for you tonight.

The latest world news headlines are just ahead. Plus...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: If you plan to come to the clashes, remember three things: gas mask, helmet, flak jacket.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: And that's not all you need to know. We're going to show you what it takes to report on clashes in the West Bank as violence there

flares.

Also on the show, is Joe Biden planning to enter the race for U.S. president afterall? Why some say time maybe running out for him to decide.

Taking a very short break. Back, after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Welcome back. This is Connect the World with me Becky Anderson. Just before half past 7:00 in the UAE.

The headlines for you.

A typhoon is now being blamed for at least one death in the Philippines. Civil defense officials say that strong winds toppled a tree in Manila,

killing a 14 year old boy and injuring four others. The storm has caused major flooding as you can see and forced thousands to evacuate.

Turkish prime minister says his country is willing to work with Europe to reduce the flood of migrants into the country. Speaking with the German

Chancellor in Istanbul, he said the crisis can only be resolved by ending the conflict in Syria.

Egyptians are going to the polls to choose a new parliament. More than 5,000 candidates are running. Critics say there is little opposition to

the rule of President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi who has cracked down on opponents since coming to power in 2013.

And Israeli authorities say there were five knife attacks in -- five Palestinians on Saturday across Israel and the West Bank. And four of

those five attackers were shot and killed by police. In some of the incidents, Palestinians had offered different versions of what happened.

This month alone, 43 Palestinians and seven Israelis have been killed.

Well, the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians has rarely been out of the outlines over the years, isn't it. And the constant skirmishes between

the two sides punctuated by all-out war. CNN's Ben Wedeman has reported extensively from the region and shows us the risks of bringing us the story

from the front lines.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[11:31:19] WEDEMAN: OK, so we're now in Bethlehem. We've been covering clashes here that have been going on for about five hours. But covering

clashes is something that we've been doing for many years. In fact, this spot right behind me. 20 years ago I was with cameraman Mohammed al-Assad

(ph) when he got hit in the head with a rock in clashes that aren't much different than what's going on now.

What goes on is after -- in this instance -- Friday prayers, you know the air is still thick with a bit of tear gas, so my tongue and throat are

burning and my eyes.

After Friday prayers, youth start to assemble down the road here. This is the main road, the old rad that led from Bethlehem to Jerusalem, but is now

blocked by the wall.

They come here and they gather. And it starts with maybe a dozen, two dozen and then it'll grow to several hundred. And now I -- there's

probably about 200 down the street. And they try to get as close as possible to this wall right here. This is a compound eight meter high wall

that surrounds Rachel's tomb, a holy site for Jews and Muslims a matter of fact.

And as they get closer to this spot, things get hotter and hotter. The protesters will light tires, fills the air with black smoke. And then the

fun and games begin. They'll be shooting things like this, marble, throwing steel bolts, throwing things like this, which are homemade

explosives.

And the Israelis fire back with these steel-coated rubber bullets. You don't want to get hit by one of those. And they fire hundreds, probably

thousands in the course of a week of these: tear gas canisters.

And of course if you're covering a clash what you need is something like this. It's dirty, but it's an effective gas mask. Without a gas mask,

you're in big trouble.

And of course then there are the rocks, the rocks, lots of rocks coming the whole time. And you usually get hit by a few in the course of the day. If

you're lucky it won't be direct, but you'll be helped by something like this, a helmet, which you wear as much as possible.

Still going on up there.

And of course a flak jacket. Now nobody has been shooting at us, but it's a very good protection against the rocks. So if you plan to come to the

clashes, remember three things: gas mask, helmet, flak jacket. Back to you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: He's been reporting for some time on those clashes.

Egyptians are at the ballot box once more for the eighth time in less than five years. This time, the world's most populous Arab country is voting on

a new parliament. Over 5,000 candidates are running, but critics say there is little real opposition to President Fattah el-Sisi who has cracked down

on opponents since taking power in a coup that outsted his Islamist predecessor in 2013.

Well, let's get you live to the Capital of Cairo where CNN's Ian Lee joins us.

How do these elections work this time?

IAN LEE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Oh, this election, likes similar elections. We're seeing seeing it over the course of multiple days. This

one is broken into two different sections. This round there's going to be 2 million eligible voters, that's not saying that all these people are

going to vote, that's about half the population that can vote. And next month we're seeing the second half of that population.

This has been a huge security operation. 300,000 security personnel securing the roughly 19,000 polling stations. We went out to a lot of

those today seeing them. Lines weren't really there to begin with. There were a few people who would stream in, but we hadn't seen the lines that

we've seen in previous elections. And the government was concerned that voter turnout was going to be low.

That has been a trend. Last night we saw Egypt's president come out on TV urging Egyptians to go out and vote, calling it their national duty. But

this election so far from what we've seen -- and granted, this is the first day, it has been a low turnout.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[11:36:01] UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Of course, the new parliament needs to look at the constitution again. They need to look at all the lows. They

need to look at the poor people, because they need a lot of attention. They need to look at our economy and make sure that our economy moves. You

see?

I think here's a lot for them to do. It can't be done overnight, it will take at least a couple of years to three years.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEE: Well, Becky, that is just one of the voters we talked to today.

You know, the interesting thing about this election from previous elections talking to people, they were talking more about issues this time, about the

economy, about health care, about education. In previous elections, it was all about security and stability.

So it seems like at least those two things for the time being are not top on the priority for voters, although Egypt still is facing a very serious

situation -- serious security situation with this insurgency. But a lot of the voters we talk to looking to the future, talking about issues that they

want to see resolved by the next parliament -- Becky.

ANDERSON: Ian, the shadow of one man does seem to be hanging over this election, the former president Hosni Mubarak. Millions took to the

streets, of course, to oust him in 2011. Yet four years later, many members of his inner circle are back in the fold expected to do well.

Is there a risk that the revolution has gone full circle?

LEE: Yeah, there are some people who were part of the previous government who are running in this election, although the previous party that was

Hosni Mubarak's party has been banned.

It doesn't look like we are going to return to the days of Mubarak, though. There are a number of parties that are running in this election. There are

a number of independent candidates. And talking to people, there really wasn't -- doesn't seem to be one clear cut party that is going to sweep

this all.

Now it's still early in this election. And one party could come out quite victoriously, but it really didn't seem like there was one that everyone --

that was on everyone's lips.

And so if there is a parliament that has multiple parties, multiple different independents, it doesn't look like they will have that cohesion

that we saw under Mubarak.

But the one thing that I saw talking to everyone across the board no matter who they were voting for, they all said that they want this new parliament

to help support the president, Becky.

ANDERSON: Ian Lee out of Cairo for you.

Well, three months after international negotiators struck a nuclear deal with Iran, this is the day when what was agreed to on paper starts turning

into reality. It's being called adoption day in order to move things forward.

A lot of procedural steps must be taken on both sides. Iran, itself, has become working with the International Atomic Energy Agency to allow

inspectors into the country's nuclear sites in return for scaling back its nuclear activities of course. World powers would lift sanctions against

Iran.

And they've already started laying the groundwork for that. Just hours ago, U.S. President Barack Obama ordered his government to take steps

towards lifting sanctions.

For more on the importance, then, of today I'm joined via Skype by Ali Vaez. He's the senior analyst on Iran at the International Crisis Group.

I guess we should consider this an historic day. What exactly do we mean, though, by adoption day, do you think?

ALI VAEZ, INTERNATIONAL CRISIS GROUP: Becky, this is where walking the talk basically begins. We've talked for two-and-a-half years and now we

put the UN into action. It comes into force. Iran will start for the first time in 10 years rolling back its nuclear program, reducing the

number of centrifuges to about 16,000, reducing the size of stockpile of enriched uranium by about 10,000. And taking out the core of its heavy

water reactor and putting cement in it and starting additional cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency.

And for the first time in 10 years, the U.S. and Europe will start rolling back their sanctions.

So, in a matter of a few months, Iran will become from the most sanctioned country in the world to a country with the most transparent nuclear program

in the world.

[11:40:38] ANDERSON: All right, what's the next key date?

VAEZ: Well, the next key date is when the IAEA verifies that Iran has completed all the nuclear steps that it has to do based on the joint

comprehensive plan of action, the final agreement. Most estimates put it in three to six months from now. The Iranian president says two months,

the U.S. government says six months to nine months. But I think most realistic expectation is somewhere in early spring next year.

And that is called he implementation day.

ANDERSON: All right. While Iran and the U.S. were able to reach agreement on the nuclear issue, that's where Iran's supreme leader draws the line.

Have a listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

AYATOLLAH ALI KHAMENEI, IRANIAN SUPREME LEADER (through translator): Negotiation with the U.S. is forbidden, because of the numerous

disadvantages that it has and the benefits that it doesn't have.

This is different to negotiating with the state which has no such facilities and no such motivation.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: So what chance, then, of further talks or cooperation between the U.S. and Iran, for example in Syria, despite what the Supreme Leader

says, or is his word final?

VAEZ: Look, I think the chance of having bilateral negotiations between Iran and the U.S. on issues of common interests is not very high, it's not

very likely. And this is not only Iran and Ayatollah Khamenei who is skeptical of the other side, but in the U.S. there are also a lot of

politicians who are extremely skeptical of Iran and its intentions.

The rhetoric in Tehran and Washington is always the mirror image of one another.

But I don't rule out negotiations between Iran and the United States in a multilateral framework where other countries and other regional players are

also involved.

ANDERSON: There will be those who question the timing of the ballistics missile test, what was it a week or so ago on the day that the Iranian

parliament passed this deal. What's the motivation for that sort of activity? It doesn't go down well with the international community, of

course.

VAEZ: Look, both in rhetoric and in actions, I think both sides, both in Tehran and Washington, want to reassure their core constituents, and also

their regional allies, that this nuclear agreement is a very narrow transactional deal, it's not a transformational deal. It's not going to be

the beginning of a slippery slope when things on the ground and the balance of power in the region will completely change.

And I expect in the next few months we will see more of these kind of actions and rhetoric, but at the end of the day if the deal really is

implemented and it's implemented successfully it is in itself very unique trust building and confidence building exercise.

ANDERSON: With that, we're going to leave it there. Ali, thank you.

You're watching Connect the World with me Becky Anderson out of Abu Dhabi this evening. 43 minutes past 7:00.

Coming up, U.S. vice president Joe Biden is being watched as many expect an announcement soon about his presidential ambitions. We're going to take a

look at the places, clues and the wider story of the presidential campaign 2016 after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:47:14] ANDERSON: You're with CNN and Connect the World with me Becky Anderson. Welcome back.

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden still hasn't announced whether he intends to run for president, but many watchers expect an announcement this week. A

source says that Biden spoke with -- Friday with the head of one of the most influential labor groups in the U.S., the International Association of

Firefighters and hinted that he was entering the race as CNN's senior White House correspondent Jim Acosta explains, if Biden doesn't make a decision

soon, one could be made for him.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JIM ACOSTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's the big question all over Washington, will he or won't he? When Joe Biden's political future came up

in the Oval Office, the vice president was just a few feet away, listening with his lips sealed. President Obama later brushed off the question.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I'm not going to comment on what Joe is doing or not doing. I think you can direct those questions to

my very able vice president.

ACOSTA: But a decision appears to be coming soon, so says Biden's former Senate chief of staff Ted Kaufman in a message to the vice president's

political network: "I am confident that the vice president is aware of the practical demands of making a final decision soon."

Kaufman also described what a Biden campaign would be like, in other words.

JOE BIDEN, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: They will put y'all back in chains.

ACOSTA: Lots of Biden being Biden. "I think it's fair to say, knowing him as we all do, that it won't be a scripted affair. After all, it's Joe."

But Democrats are all but begging Biden to hurry. As one senior party official put it, if the silence goes into next week, friends think the

decision is made for him.

Hillary Clinton is practically pushing herself in this interview with CNN's Jake Tapper.

HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: A decision has to be made, but certainly, I'm not in any way suggesting or recommending that the vice

president accept any timetable, other than the one that is clicking inside of him. He has to make this decision.

ACOSTA: Plus, the longer Biden waits, the more it hurts. The latest poll in New Hampshire shows Clinton and Democratic rival Bernie Sanders way out in

front of the vice president. When Democratic voters were asked if Biden should enter the race, half said no.

HILARY ROSEN, CNN POLITICAL CONTRIBUTOR: I think he knows this is -- this is D-day, and he's got to make a decision. A lot of people are waiting. And

people who really care about him and want to help him are waiting, too, and so he needs to move on there.

ACOSTA: Democrats are starting to compare Biden's lengthy deliberations to those of the late New York governor, Mario Cuomo, who actually had a plane

waiting to take him to New Hampshire in 1992, but Cuomo pulled back at the last moment. And a Clinton went on to become president.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[11:50:05] ANDERSON: That was Jim Acosta reporting. Taking us back a little bit.

On the Republican side, front runner Donald Trump and Jeb Bush are trading barbs, once again. Trump says the September 11 terror attacks would never

have happened if he'd been president at the time, but says he's not blaming Jeb's brother, former President George W. Bush who of course was on CNN a

few hours ago.

Jeb Bush defending his brother saying he united the nation through a crisis.

Well, for some presidential politics is a laughing matter on the American sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live. They poked fun at Hillary Clinton

and our own Anderson Cooper with a special appearance by Larry David as Bernie Sanders. Have a look at this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What does the email scandal say about your ability to handle other crises as president?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, Coop, I wlecome this question, becuase I rehearsed this one the longest.

LARRY DAVID, COMEDIAN: You know what, you know what, can I -- can I just jump in here. This may not be great politics, but I think the American

people are sick and tired about hearing about your damn emails.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you. Thank you, Bernie. God, it must be fun to scream and cuss in public.

I have to do all mine in the tiny little jars.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: For another light-hearted look at the race for the White House, do take a look at CNN.com for babies for Bernie. The latest social media

craze has parents dressing up as -- or Photoshopping their little ones to look like Republican (sic) candidate Bernie Sanders. Believe me.

There's even a website selling Babies for Bernie shirts.

Live from Abu Dhabi, this is Connect the World. A very short break for you. After that, some poultry performances off the field at Rugby World

Cup and some paltry ones on it. I'm going to show you some of the latest images from the tournament up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:55:17] ANDERSON: If at first you don't succeed, try, try and try again. And nowhere is that more true than in Rugby, of course.

But in tonight's parting shots, it's all over for Ireland. Their luck run out with the winning touch just out of the reach of the rugby team. That

means, some fans will need to pack their outfits away for a couple more years, at least.

They're not alone though, the French saying adieu to the tournament as well after biting off more than they could chew with New Zealand.

But maybe some of the players can take comfort in the fact that there are worse places to be than out.

Are you delighted, or are you disappointed today when it comes to rugby? If you didn't know about it before, have you learned a lot? Let us know,

we always want to hear from you, of course. You can write to us, you can follow the stories that the team is working on throughout the day. Use the

Facebook page, Facebook.com/CNNConnect. Lots of good stuff on that.

And get in touch with me. If you're a regular viewer, you'll know how to do that. Tweet me @BeckyCNN. That's @BeckyCNN.

I'm Becky Anderson, that was Connect the World. From the team here and those working with us around the world, it is a very good evening. CNN,

though, continues of course after this short break. Don't go away. Your headlines at the top of the next hour.

END