Return to Transcripts main page
Connect the World
Young Girls Murdered In Pakistan; California Buried Under Mud; Will The Iran Nuclear Deal Survive; Aired 10-11a ET
Aired January 11, 2018 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:00:22] BECKY ANDERSON, CONNECT THE WORLD, CNN: Helplessness and outrage. Incredible anger in Pakistan after 12 young girls brutally
murdered in a year. The latest and child on the details on what is this horrendous situation, just ahead. Suffocating large parts of California
just after wildfire incinerated parts of it. We are going to look at some of the incredible scenes of survival. Then will he or won't he as Europe
and Iran nuclear deal on track. Donald Trump could pull it apart.
A very warm welcome. You are watching Connect the World I am Becky Anderson it just after 7:00 in Abu Dhabi. We begin with tragedy from
outrage in Pakistan. Protest have erupted for a second day in the city over the brutal murder of a 7-year-old girl. Now she is the 12th young
girl killed in the same area. Many, the local communities say authorities haven't done enough to keep their children safe. Adding to the anger at
least two people had been killed as protesters clash with police. CNN Sam Kiley following this story for us live with me here. Sam.
SAM KILEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Just in the last few hours the chief minister of the Punjab has ordered the police to come up
with some kind of solution for the 24 hours. Now local community obviously question why that was an appeal that was done on the 11th child was found
murdered. A lot of this victims have been found near dumpsters or piles of trash and garbage. The police also offered $90,000 million rupees for
information leading to an arrest. Also demanded the police hand over all of the evidence relating to the previous murder, because of course the
police themselves have said that there are -- there is DNA evidence that link at least five of this killings together. That would naturally has led
to speculation within the media and Pakistan that there's a serial killer on the loose. But this is a village with a reputation for this sort of
activity gang back some years, so this clearly being some very problematic, sociological breakdown.
ANDERSON: Explain what we know about this village, this area and what has been going on in the past.
KILEY: The Southeastern border of Pakistan close to India, it is a poor area, it is an area that local people feel very much that is been neglected
and ignored the nonetheless it does have this reputation that has been investigations in the past in a particular family or clan were involved in
forms of abuse, now a lot of these allegations have been unproved but what is not in doubt is that there have been of these 11 killings of a recent
times and now a 12th of the reaction of this and the failure allegedly, certainly with the locals all the civilian government, the civilian places
led to the sucking of senior police officers, but again not before time that is why this was such violent demonstrations directed against the
police yesterday even with throwing stones and sticks back at demonstrators before live fire was used on some two demonstrate at least were killed.
Nonetheless also spreading to Peshawar on the other side of the country that's interesting, because that's an area where demonstrations
particularly by women that had been attacked in a past by the ultraconservative religious extremist that these demonstrations that we
have seen in Peshawar that you been pretty peaceful, but it has been a time that I think is really, really shaken Pakistan. A bit like those murders
and rape that we have seen of young women in neighboring India. Sometimes these issues really galvanized in time they seems at the moment that maybe
wildly.
ANDERSON: Sam Kiley on the story for much more on this ahead. We are thank you Sam. I am going to speak with the former human rights activists
Anis Harum who is a former chairwoman of Pakistan's national commission on the status of women, stay with us for that. The muddy horror in Southern
California as rescue workers, frankly fall off through debris trying to find survivors. Officials say large fires followed by heavy rains and
rivers of mud down hillsides catching people quite unprepared.
Johnson said he and his family's survive by running to the second level of their home, he became emotional as he described funny baby submerged in
four feet of mud.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (Inaudible)
(END VIDEO)
ANDERSON: CNN Chad Myers joins me live from the CNN world weather center. What is the forecast at this point?
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Well the forecast is dry, Becky. We are not going to give you more rain for at least eight more days, but this is a
debris flow, this is the mud and the ash in the bushes in the limbs that were burned by a wildfire a month ago mixing with the 150 millimeters of
rainfall that came down in just two days and this may not end. And this area here that mud and that ash that burn is down the hill, but there are
tens of thousands hundreds of thousands of hectare are still that haven't washed downhill. Let me show you why that's so important. The rain came
in very fast and it left very fast as well, but that was the problem you got everything wet and everything want to go downhill rather quickly since
this is a true mudslide or an avalanche or landslide this is a debris flow this is the stuff that was left over from the fire up on top of the hill
were talking about thousand meters of downfall from up here on the top of the mountain down to where the people live so it rained on top of the
mountain and all of that stuff just started to slide it at times it was moving 35 mph or somewhere in the ballpark of 60 km/h down the hill now we
have some pretty dramatic video is just a little bit of what it looked like as the water was rushing down the hill also rushing down towards what we
call the 101 or Pacific Coast Highway, covering that completely the Pacific Coast Highway looks like a river bottom right now and it is not that's
where the asphalt this is where the cars should be driving and they had days and days and days of cleanup, but they also have days of rescue and
recovery because there are still at least a dozen people that we know that are unaccounted for Becky.
ANDERSON: Chad Myers in the story for you. Thank you. Up next the countdown is on in less than 24 hours against the advice of allies and
advises Donald Trump effectively destroying the Iran nuclear deal. We speak to one man who helped bring it together. British former foreign
secretary Jack Straw. And get his thoughts here on the show. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:10:46] ANDERSON: Welcome back 10 minutes past 7 in the UAE, this is our Middle East programming hub and I am Becky Anderson, you are watching
Connect the World. Right now we are on the deadline which could derail the entire Iran nuclear deal which matters where ever you are watching. On
Friday Donald Trump will decide either to agreements all time to effectively scrap it all boils down to whether or not the U.S. president
will when you wave it switch provide Iran relief from U.S. sanctions and are intrinsic to the deal and it survival. CNN has than the U.S. advises
on encouraging the president to renew those, but its high-stakes is and reaches further than the U.S. and Iran, the multilateral deal, do you
remember that, this is a multilateral deal is the product of years of different government, various U.S. administrations and five other world
powers U.K., France, Germany, China, Russia and if Donald Trump chooses to kill the waivers they could view it as a violation of the agreement which
is now hanging in the balance.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SARAH HUCKABEE SANDERS, DEPUTY WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: We had made a final decision on that and we certainly will in the coming days and will
make sure and once again you guys are some of the first to know.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: The White House not getting much away as Donald Trump ways his options on the Iran nuclear deal, so what are Donald Trump's main choices?
One scenario is that he certifies Iran's compliance with the deal and extends functions relief. The other on certain scenario is that he
doesn't. Iran desperately needs sanctions relief the recent unrest there has been a big wake-up call for the government it has to speed up economic
growth anymore sanctions would make that very difficult.
If the president doesn't certify the agreement then the U.S. would be in contravention of the deal and this could trigger its collapse altogether.
We had been here before.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Today I'm announcing our strategy along with several major steps we are taking to confront your
writing regimes hostile actions and to ensure that Iran never and I mean never acquires a nuclear weapon.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: 90 days ago the president didn't certify the deal either. That then it went to Congress not much changed, this time around the Iranians
are fed up threatening to walk away if the U.S. fails to respect the commitment. It is a high-stakes game while the American maybe holding many
of the tag, they are not the only players, China, Russia and the European Union all oppose any move to sabotage it.
Britain's foreign minister highlighted the importance (inaudible) as
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We will continue and that agreement which prevents the Iranians from acquiring nuclear weapon in exchange with a greater economic
partnership with the rest of the world. That agreement remains useful, remains valiant, we continue add our friends in the White House.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Two and half years the deal has health issues and nuclear crisis. The international atomic energy agency certifying Iran's complaint
eight times. President Trump insist Iran's compliance is hard to enforce and is not addressed that missile program.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: The Iran deal, was one of the worst and most one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into.
ANDERSON: It is not just Donald Trump advises we hear urging him to protect the Iran nuclear deal. Europe's top leaders throwing their weight
behind saying it is essential and there is no other alternative, meeting in Brussels on 30. The E.U. foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini had this
to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[10:15:00]FEDERICA MOGHERINI, EU FOREIGN POLICY CHIEF: The deal is working it is delivering on its main goal which means keeping the Iranian nuclear
program in check. It is a key element of the nuclear preparation global architecture and it is crucial for the security of the region, but also for
the security of Europe.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: You have to remember is that the Iran deal is the product of years of on-again off-again negotiations between Iran and world power they
haven't dragged on and on until finally there was an agreement back in 2015 it is a quick hold down memory lane for you, 13 years in fact, this was May
25, 2005 and then Iran nuclear negotiator now Iranian president Hassam Rouhani was meeting with Britain then Foreign Secretary Jack Straw in
Berlin to talk to Iran's nuclear program. Jack Straw was in Tehran in the last few days and he joins me now live from London. Jack how much concern
is that inside Iran and the U.S. president will refuse to sign these waivers and effectively rip up what he famously called the worst deal in
history?
JACK STRAW, FORMER BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY: Well there is a great deal of concern in Tehran, the moment we felt that when we met senior ministers
including foreign minister Zara's and vice president (inaudible) who runs the Iran's nuclear energy commission and they are concerned, because of the
economic impacts of the renewal of sanctions of direct sanctions upon the Iranian economy. They have been complying without question was all her
obligations under the nuclear deal, the truth is that Western European countries have not been able to do so is that I want to, but because of
extraterritorial banking sanctions imposed by the United States.
Now President Trump refuses to continue with the result directs U.S. sanctions, nuclear relations sanctions this will delay further blow to the
Iranian economy, but normally that rules out to other impacts one is that it will the production solidly to increase a hike in the oil price one of
pretty respectable forecast sorted I suggested that the oil price rise by five dollars, because these extraterritorial sanctions was the U.S. imposes
would make it very difficult, big impulses of a regular like Japan and South Korea to carry on those transactions the other thing that would
happen this is a great (inaudible) here that was why this is something a bad deal for United States is a very good deal is that after a period of
consultation within the agreement of the JCP right if they still couldn't get United States back on board the Iranians will be entitled to walk away
from the deal and guess what, the run pop the nuclear programs in place of the current very highly controlled nuclear power program at the moment they
would clear up. They have 400 international inspectors all over their nuclear facilities at the moment they would go and President Trump would
get the opposite of that which he seeks and the moment Iran can't do anything in terms of its nuclear power program without international
inspection.
ANDERSON: Jack you have been in Tehran just in the past couple of days, are those either threats or deem by the fact that is likely to happen a lot
a consequent should Donald Trump rip up this still. And if he does, is it clear whether the U.S. has a better alternative at this point? That is
what the Europeans are saying, isn't it? And those others who signed, those other world powers, there is no better alternative at this point?
STRAW: Absolutely. This is why President Trump rhetoric about the Western history just a piece of totally empty rhetoric. I have not seen one line
from him one of his advisers about how else they could control Iran's nuclear power program and ensure that Iran does not create a nuclear
weapons program without any question at all. As the Iranians walking away from it, I mean there is a procedure within the applicable JCP area the
nuclear deal under article 36 by which says provided for negotiations were to take place with Russia and China on the European policy and see what
could be salvage, but after that under the terms of the deal international law, Iran would be entitled to walk away from it, one other thing I would
like add here, what he is talking about is not U.S. action on U.S. entities that United States business. What is this extraordinary Imperial power
with United States exercises and every other country in the world, because so many transactions are in dollars and if the United States ever faced
example extraterritorial sanctions by Russia or China or the European Union which impacted on the U.S. economy and U.S. entities in the way that it's
sanctions impacted across the world the United States would be up the wall about this one rarely mad. One day would carry on like this with his
Imperial power, the world will turn.
[10:20:29] ANDERSON: the question is this, if the U.S then mistaken for taking more, I think they would describe if we often as annalistic view of
Iran at this point by saying Iran's ballistic missile program needs attention as well as regional hegemonic behavior with any nuclear issues
the deal is actually working that is a question U.S. secretary of state rex Tillerson, at least address when he spoke to my colleagues CNN Elise Labott
last week, have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REX TILLERSON, SECRETARY OF STATE: But Iran's support fir Houthis and Yemen, there support for the destabilization efforts in Syria, the
militias, the Singaporean fighters arming terrorist organization in the region Lebanese, Hezbollah, that has to be dealt with. Then our sanctions
are targeted in Iran's destabilizing activities within the region was still maintaining our efforts to ensure Iran never acquires nuclear weapon.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Jack Straw, does he have a point?
STRAW: Here is the point, I mean yes that needs to be discussions with Iran to try and reach agreement for example over the extent of the missile
program and indeed over their involvement elsewhere in the region, but the missile program of Iran is not part of the nuclear deal. Iran at a moment
an international law has a rights to develop a missile program. Its missile program by the way is limited to 2000 km and needs to be seen in
the contracts as so much as in Iran over the Iran-Iraq war were Saddam Hussein invaded Iran in 1980 without any provocation at all. And the West
and then the Soviet Union, Russia back Saddam Hussein of all people to try and crush the Iranians but failed to succeed. They have no missiles, at
that time had they were the victim of huge numbers of SCUD missiles from Iraq, and if they had a missile system the outcome of the war would be
rather different. As for Iran's involvement elsewhere in the region will have as much right to be involved and to be concerned about stability in
Iraq and in Syria. The army as they should be working pretty well with the Americans in Syria to remove Daesh, the ISIL from Iraq and to some extent
out from Syria. There is a long history about Iran's involvement with Hezbollah on the sheer himself up Lebanon and that I am afraid it will
continue, but if Rex Tillerson, who is very concern, I know indeed about the possibility of President Trump acting impetuously here and if rex
Tillerson and the American administration once a resolution of these things, and what they need to do is to stick by the deal and then have
negotiations directly with the Iranians.
ANDERSON: You are making a very good point, it's a pleasure to have you on and Jack Straw and in-house for you in London as always we are across all
angles of the story for you, Senior International Correspondent Nick Paton Walsh also in London for you. CNN reaction now to Europe today our Oren
Liebermann is in Jerusalem with the view from there. Oren standby, Nick the current British foreign minister saying today show us a better
alternative Washington or just keep the deal on. Is that what the European is saying as well?
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They are backing it up Becky, yes. This moments of weird solidarity almost in Brussels remember as Donald
Trump is very publicly out by now weighing what is going to do next and it does seem like you probably followed his closest allies advised remarkable
that I actually have to say that those same allies are sitting at a table with the Iranian foreign minister and so you that quite clearly projecting
a message of proximity to that deal that presumably also try to provide the motor of government of Hassam Rouhani, the chief diplomat, a message of
solidarity is obvious that the protest of being and hitting around in the past weeks and unsettled. Both hardliners and moderates inside Iran are
ruling circle, but yet you have this vision of these European leaders being absolutely clear that there is no better option and quite happy to sit with
Mrs. Arif McKee Arctic sold that particular deal at this vital moment in Washington. Becky more broadly it is hard to see what better options there
really is. I mean it is a narrow deal frankly, it is not the deal was supposed to fix the entirety of Iran's increased influence across the
Middle East that the (inaudible) in a decade, but this was about making sure nuclear program stopped in his tracks providing limited sanctions
relief as a results and bear in mind too that to some degree the Iranians are having a tougher deal out of this, because they hope on the moderate
side at least to get the economy going, because America is still talking so tough.
[10:25:43] European companies are pretty reticent that money on the table now must not giving the relief economically the President Rouhani had
certainly sold as part of the deal hardliners on the Iranian people, Becky.
ANDERSON: Oren from Jerusalem.
OREN LEIBERMANN, CNN CORESPONDENT: If Nick is one side of this argument representing European position on the Iran nuclear deal but it is very much
Israel on the other side of that argument. It was Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who is calling the phrase fix it or nix it. When he spoke at the
United Nations General assembly back in September refer specifically the nuclear deal and that terminology was copied by President Donald Trump just
a month later it is Israel that has tried to influence Trump and the White House, the Trump administration to either alter the deal in some way,
renegotiating. But because the European State and others have back at that instead the deal is good as is. It is Israel that has push for Trump to
scrap the deal and presumably with congress offer no other options and with nobody willing or seemed to move forward toward renegotiation that would be
presumably with Israel's pushing for at this point, to scrap the deal. In fact there was a delegation for NATO here. Netanyahu speaking at that
delegation, took the chance to criticize against Europe position on the nuclear deal and on Iran. Criticizing them again from being silent in the
face of protest in Iran. So Netanyahu has made his position clear at first it was fix it or nix it at this point he's been fairly quiet about the
nuclear deal itself. He certainly made his point repeatedly and now will be what comes to the final decision here and what statements were made in
reaction to Trump's decision tomorrow.
ANDERSON: Oren Liebermann in Jerusalem to the Israeli perspective. Nick on London on the British and European perspectives. More as we hear from
Donald Trump Friday. Still ahead enough is enough. Protesters in Pakistan demand officials to do more to get their kids safe, after yet another
little girl was found brutally murdered.
[10:30:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN ANCHOR: We'll get you to our top story this hour, outrage in Pakistan over was an unthinkable and despicable crime against a
7-year-old girl. Protesters filling the streets again in town known as Kasur, demanding authorities do more to keep their children safe.
The body of Zainab Ansari was found in a garbage dumpster earlier this week. She is the 12th little girl murdered in that area over the past
year. Well, I'm very pleased to say we're joined now by human rights activist, Anis Haroon.
She is the former chairwoman of Pakistan's National Commission on the Status of Women, and a current member of the National Commission on Human
Rights. Your response firstly to what is this awful incident.
ANIS HAROON, FORMER CHAIRWOMAN, PAKISTAN'S NATIONAL COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN (via Skype): Well, this is really, really sad incident.
You know that this is same place where this -- our victims have vanished.
The national commission has been asking the government (Inaudible). We have even a complete report on the past incident and still they are waiting
of the state it going to comply. And there are rules implemented. But unfortunately....
ANDERSON: Well, what...
HAROON: ... when this has happened so far, and even.
ANDERSON: What can you -- what can you tell us about what has happened in the past and there is clearly a sense of rage and helplessness from a
community who simply doesn't believe that authorities about care about them or their kids.
HAROON: Actually, there was again, which was busted two months ago or maybe a year, who was involved in child abuse, and a number of children who
have been abused and were kept in a place in custody, where they were being abused.
So when the abuser bring to commission (Inaudible), we have talk to authorities, they have talk to the police officers and we had even a report
-- a complete report to the government and ask them to implement the laws, (Inaudible), and also want the police to keep an eye on these gangs and
arrest them.
And most of them are still at large. And they said the state is not implementing the laws when they are not really giving punishment of those
who are quickly going their hands with weapons when these things are going to (Inaudible). People are really firing with the incident of Zainab dying
like this...
ANDERSON: In the speech in December, and I know you have said this before and you will continue to say the things that you -- you are well aware of
how important it is that you continue to say this, you said, gender equality is a basic human right and is critical to achieve a just and
egalitarian society. Fact is...
HAROON: Definitely.
(CROSSTALK)
ANDERSON: You do not demand an egalitarian society, do you?
HAROON: No, we are tied from it. They have been demanding the -- the women's groups have been demanding that all laws, all crime against women
should be considered crime against state.
[10:35:00] And state should help problems for crimes against women and girls. But it seems that the laws not being enforced properly. And the
state has to take on its responsibility. And worrying crimes against women will (Inaudible).
ANDERSON: Well, leave it there, Anis Haroon, who was a human rights activist. It's a pleasure to have you on. We'll be right back after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: All right. This is CNN buzzing out. I'm at the Middle East, you are watching prime time with me, Becky Anderson on Connect the World.
Back to this region's biggest story right now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BARACK OBAMA, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The United States, together with out allies and partners has reached a historic understanding
with Iran.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This historic deal in both strong and fair.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through a translator): It will be a great pity of disagreement were to be destroyed by rouge newcomers.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We continue to our job in the White House, not to trail away.
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: One of the worst and most sided transactions, the United States has ever entered into.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Well, it really doesn't seem that way though. Much of the world likes this deal. But now, as soon as tomorrow, the American president
could all but kill it, the Iran nuclear deal is what we are talking about - - an extraordinary, diplomatic achievement by any measure.
It was meant to open Iran backup to the world. Look at these scenes, deadly week long riots crossing into the New Year -- Iranians angry that
it's hard to make ends meet, angry that it's hard to find good jobs.
Just look at how it erupted, up and down, the entire country -- those violent scenes spurred by a weak economy that is closely linked to the
deal. Iran has some $55 billion -- billions with a, B, in deals singed and ready to go but it can't be delivered.
So there is a lot of money and a lot of politics at play here, to bring it all down, let's bring back CNN's brand new senior international
correspondent Sam Kiley, and our very own John Defterios.
Let me start with you, John, break down the numbers for us if you will. Is growth being held back by Donald Trump's position with regard this deal?
JOHN DEFTERIOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, in fact, Becky, it been the uncertainty from the White House and particularly, Donald Trump for sure.
And I think there has been a challenge that President Hassan Rouhani played the peace dividend card if you will, very early on when the agreement was
signed.
And then again during the election last year and has been in dealt a very bad hand in the sense that the president has called this a worst deal ever.
[10:40:05] So the European Union today try to give some back into Javad Zarif, the foreign minister and the Rouhani government overall by holding
that high-profile meeting in Brussels but the reality is that the European companies themselves are handcuff.
Now we have a list at some of the big five German and French industrial groups. We're talking about ideals of $55 billion, that includes the only
deal as well. But they shift have the bonus deals, $40 billion of the European companies.
They wanted to send a signal. They were ready to do business with Iran right now but there is a commonly link between all of those. They have a
U.S. interest. They have U.S. business at play here.
And they are lingering U.S. treasury sanctions in place, that done a lot of into trade in dollars if they are involved in Iran, so instead of having a
green light for investment to go into the country.
The last major emerging market in the world that hasn't been opened yet, it is a yellow light of caution because we don't know every 120 days -- 160
days or any particular waiver period here, what the Trump administration plans to do.
So it's holding back growth. Overall growth is four percent, Becky, but as you suggested in your lead in here, it doesn't feel that way on the ground.
Particularly, these are unemployment of above 25 percent, household savings are being eroded. Now we see inflation shooting up again. So don't say
that's the average Iranian, that's not the case.
ANDERSON: Yes. Sam, in some ways you can then, I guess connect to pretty straight line from talks in European's helms, right?
SAM KILEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, I mean, there has been a direct signal coming out of Europe voiced by Jean-Yves Le Drian, the French Foreign
Minister but a unanimous position held by not only the French, for the Germans, the Brits, the European Union more widely, and of course, the
Iranians all meeting in Brussels. And this is what the French Foreign Minister had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEAN-YVES LE DRIAN, FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER (through a translator): It also remains very vigilant on the full implementation of the Iranian
accords which were essential and we see no alternative.
They should be respected all parties. There is also no indications to doubt Iran. It is also necessary for our U.S. allies to do the same.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KILEY: Now that is that sending a direct signal, a signal that the French and others are being consistent about. But the French President Macron is
not being a patsy over this if you like.
I mean the Europeans led by the French are very concerned as all the Americans, and Saudis, and indeed the Israelis about the growing influence
of Iran in the region in the form off a competitive near cold one.
The reason I say near cold one, is actually quite a hot war by proxy between Iran and Saudi Arabia, between the Shia blocks if you like, and the
Sunni dominated blocks which has cost a great deal of insecurity right across the region. A lot of the critics of Iran place in that very
squarely at the foot of Iran.
And of course, internally, that has been a major issue as well as part of these recent demonstrations, a great deal of frustration within Iran at
these external adventures if you like. Not at least in places like that of Yemen where the situation has got extremely difficult for the locals of
civilian populations.
ANDERSON: Messy start in the region to 2018. John, I know you call Iran, the last great emerging market. A lot of that has caused, you say gas and
oil, tell us more.
DEFTERIOS: Right, Becky, oil and gas, if you put the two together, they have the largest proven reserves in the world. And in fact, this is one
second that has bounced back quite handsomely after the nuclear agreement.
Iran was producing just 2.8 million barrels a day, when the deal was signed, they boosted their production 1 million barrels a day. Now the
third-largest producer within OPEC, but that investments has been driven by three major players all from the emerging markets ironically, that's China
India and Russia.
For Iran to get to this target to add another 600,000 barrels a day over the next five years, they need Western investment, in fact, Total, the
French oil giant has a deal with China for $4.8 billion into Iran on the gas deal.
And the CEO Patrick Pouyanne recently said to me, look, I'd like to go into Iran. It offers great potential but I have stakes in U.S. companies right
now.
So I can't move ahead at a very fast pace and this is what exactly is happening, people are being held back because of that cloud of uncertainty
it is holding up by the Trump administration, not happy with the Iranian deal that it's holding back the growth and the investments into the oil and
gas sector. And I would add the mineral sector, which is worth nearly $1 trillion in Iran as well.
ANDERSON: And, Sam, it's not just where the money is going inside Iran that, John, has been alluding to there. But when how much is outside, of
course a lot of Iranians upset about that.
Like this for example, the regime spending money abroad in the broader context of it if you will, regional Cold War as you rightly pointed out.
And Saudi Arabia, notably in Yemen where Iran supports rebels and Riyadh, wages a large air campaign.
[10:45:00] To bring this bang up today, what is going on there?
KILEY: In Yemen, well I mean it is -- if you like is a paradigm of exactly what is going on that arguably in South Lebanon, inside Iraq because it's
where that spider's web map that you just refer, we take another look at it.
You can see where particularly these flashpoints are coming out because essentially what's going on is, whether you're looking at South Lebanon,
whether you are looking at Iraq.
And above all when you're looking at Yemen, the Iranian are being accused of financing proxy militias that are fighting against either Western
interests or Sunni interests all very often both when it comes to somewhere by Yemen, where of course the Saudi coalition is heavily involved along
with other Arab repugnant nations in a campaign against the Iranian backed Houthi rebels who recently have been very heavily bombarded.
They are claiming 800 air strikes over the last few days, they told CNN. As a result, they are threatening to close Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. Now that
strait is the chokepoint in the Red Sea, pretty much half the world's trade at least goes through that Strait.
If it would be close, it would be catastrophic forward to transfer oil, LPG and other things into Europe for example. As a consequence of that, the
Saudi's have said that they actually have intercepted a boat, they told CNN concerned by a Houthi folk that there was mines as threat to this strait.
Ultimately, it will be impossible to close that strait in a meaningful period of times because it would actually provoke an international
intervention.
That is one thing the international community wouldn't allow and that is the choking of the major artery like that. But it is a sign, both of how
desperate the Houthis are.
But also how -- suddenly from the critics of the Iranians are concerned, they feel empowered to make those sorts of threats because it is allegedly
that they are getting a lot of help military, IN other words, from the Iranians.
ANDERSON: Sam Kiley is in the house, John Defterios, actually outside today. John, we'll have you back in shortly. John Defterios and Sam, my
colleagues here in the UAE. Live from Abu Dhabi, thank you chumps (ph). This is Connect the World.
Coming up, a braze and jewelry highs in the heart of Paris. A hunt is underway for the thieves who got away. We will take you live to the French
capital after this.
[10:50:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: All right. Welcome back. You are watching CNN. This is Connect the World. I'm Becky Anderson. It is 10 to 8:00, living here in
the UAE, we have though got a few minutes left on the show. I know we have.
Well, I'll tell you a man hunting is underway in Paris after the world's famous Ritz Hotel on the Right Bank was targeted in a smashing grand
jewelry heist, also a bit odd, old school, really, isn't it?
Authorities say thieves wore hoods and carried access, they say are holding three suspects and looking for two others. CNN Jim Bittermann out of Paris
for you. Jim, what do you know at this point?
JIM BITTERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Becky, a hunt now switch from Paris to the suburbs because they have found one of the getaway cars,
totally burned out, out in the suburbs.
And so the police said last report were checking over the car for the DNA evidence to determined who might have been driving the car.
There were two getaway vehicles, a motorcycle and a car, and the two robber who escape basically took off in two different directions. Three of the
robbers were caught, however, inside the hotel basically because of the security system at the hotel.
They had allow them to lock the doors and the security forces in the hotel were able to spot this robbery going on. Basically the robbers came in,
they attack the jewelry store inside the hotel and broke the windows, grab some jewelry.
It was estimated 4 million Euros, they took almost $5 billion and they tried to make off with it, how much of it they up, it is unclear of this
point.
The police have not been talking about it that much. But the three who were caught inside were caught by the system of the door closing and the
police have them in custody and are questioning them right now.
One of the people who was right on the same as where the police right on the scene immediately afterwards was the mayor of the (Inaudible), who the
head of security for that part of Paris. And here is what he had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEAN-FRANCOIS LEGARET, 1ST DISTRICT OF PARIS (through a translator): I would say that this was a very violent attack by a large well organized and
professional gang. They are people who were known by the police services.
If possible to stop or completely prevent this far in attack, with weapons access threat on pitied people who they can save, is that the police were
on the scene very quickly, where an efficient intervention, even the three of the perpetrators were neutralized right away.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BITTERMANN: Well the, mayor, was kind of talking about there is something that has happened by a video in Paris and that there have been this kind of
smash and grab robberies that have taken in London broad daylight and after each one, they step up the security.
And in fact, the security was very tired around that square, not only because the Ministry of Justice is located there, but also because of this
previous attacks.
And the security was such that there were two different groups of police who responded within seconds of the first notice of the robbery taking
place.
So they got there at the same quickly but there are still two robbers who were on the loose and they may have some of the loot with them. Becky.
ANDERSON: Jim Bittermann, in Paris with the story and the context to the story. Thanks, Jim. Well, it is that time of the day again, the time to
your Parting Shots.
We have talking about Paris, Pakistani, the Iran nuclear deal all of this hour, all places one man, had a lot to do with Barack Obama.
Former chief in the White House coming back to our screens, I hear on Netflix with talk-show host and comedian David Letterman's brand-new gig,
comes out Friday. But we can take you out now for a sneak peak, have a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: Prince asked Sasha to come up and dance, and she's an excellent dancer. Then Sasha pulls me up, which surprises me because she always
mocks my dancing.
But, I have dad moves. And I think the key is what is what we call staying in the pocket, right? So, you got to stay in the pocket.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: That is big in a half, and let him in there. And finally, Diet Coke, is getting make over and Coca Cola is hoping that millennials will
want to taste, its adding new flavor like, I'm told, ginger bear or ginger lime, sorry, and Zesty blood orange in what is a new slim can Coke.
Trying that for you younger consumer it seems has appetite for soda, shrink side Coke sales fell four percent in the last quarter of 2017.
[10:55:00] So, the Paris (Inaudible), nuclear Iran -- the Iranian nuclear agreement, Trump, North Korea, all of one thing in common, not Obama but
our Facebook page of course because on this show, we are connecting you to all the stories that you care about.
It's your show, pretty as such. Follow us on Facebook.com/CNNconnect for the richest of stories. I'm Becky Anderson, that was Connect the World.
Thank you for watching. From the team working with me here in the UAE and those working all over the world, thank you for watching. CNN continues
after this short break. Don't go away.
END