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New Video Reveals Third Strike In Gaza Hospital Attack; At Least 18 Killed in Massive Russian Attack on Kyiv; Supreme Court in 1989 Declared Flag Burning a Protected Form of Speech; Interview with Rafael Grossi on IAEA Returning to Iran; Call to Earth: The Aquatic Underworlds of Amazonia; World's Tallest Bridge Passes Final Load Test. Aired 10-11a ET
Aired August 28, 2025 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): Live from CNN Abu Dhabi, this is CONNECT THE WORLD with Becky Anderson.
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST (voice-over): Welcome to the second hour of the show from our Middle East programming headquarters. I'm Becky Anderson in
Abu Dhabi, where the time is just after 6:00 in the evening.
Tragedy in Minneapolis has left communities mourning and calling for a change in U.S. gun laws.
Meanwhile, new, exclusive reporting out of Israel on the bombing of Nasser Hospital in Gaza.
And the U.S. CDC left leaderless as the new director is ousted.
This, as Fed governor Lisa Cook files her lawsuit, challenging her dismissal by president Trump.
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ANDERSON: Well, we start with a CNN exclusive with new video obtained by CNN, revealing that Israel hit Gaza's Nassar Hospital Monday not twice but
three times, the third strike being the most deadly with more than 20 people killed in total. CNN's Paula Hancocks has our report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A live Reuters feed of the Gazan city of Khan Younis at 10:08 am the shot freezes and the sound drops.
Israel has targeted the fourth floor of the Nasser Hospital where the camera stood. Reuters cameraman Hussam Al Masri is killed.
Emergency and health workers rush to the scene along with journalists from a ground floor media tent. It is all broadcast live by Al Khad TV from the
street below, the damaged camera and live streaming unit are held up and shown to the crowd. Visible on the staircase is Mariam Abu Dagga, working
for AP. Al Jazeera cameraman Mohammed Salama and freelance journalist Moaz Abu Taha in the final moments of their lives. Reuters cameraman Hatem Omar,
seen here in a red T shirt, films the scene on his phone.
A rescue worker says they carried two body bags down as they gathered remains of a third body. There was a second explosion. It was 10:17 am nine
minutes after the first strike. Footage filmed seconds later is too horrific to show lifeless bodies piled on top of each other.
New video obtained by CNN reveals that this second explosion was in fact two near simultaneous strikes. The second and third strikes, less than a
second apart, appear to have caused most of the deaths. One weapons expert says, quote, it suggests a more carefully coordinated attack rather than a
single vehicle firing at a target of opportunity.
DR. MOHAMMAD SAQER, DIRECTOR OF NURSING, NASSER MEDICAL COMPLEX: What is the point of weighting the humanitarian and medical standards staff to
arrive to a specific area and target them once they arrive.
HANCOCKS (voice-over): Israeli statements have evolved over the past 48 hours. Israel's prime minister called the deaths a, quote, tragic mishap.
The IDF now says it was targeting a camera, quote, positioned by Hamas in the area of the Nasser hospital that was being used to observe the activity
of IDF troops.
No evidence was offered. The IDF claims six terrorists were killed, disputed by Hamas and health officials in Gaza. The IDF has not addressed
the double strike, adding gaps will be examined, including the decision making process and approved munition.
Satellite images show Israeli combat vehicles, including tanks stationed nearby the hospital. An Israeli security official tells CNN the military
fired on the hospital with tank shells. The staircase was often used as a live camera position by Reuters, AP and other global media outlets, with
international media kept out by Israel. Local journalists grouped together here searching for cell signal to feed their material to the world. The
last functioning hospital in southern Gaza already struck multiple times.
The United Nations says targeting hospitals, journalists and rescue workers is forbidden under international law, calling for accountability and
transparency, adding neither have been readily apparent in previous incidents where Israel has investigated itself.
[10:05:00]
Paula Hancocks, CNN, Abu Dhabi.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Well, if you were watching at this time yesterday, you'll have seen the closer look that we took at Israel's investigations into alleged
IDF wrongdoings in Gaza and indeed in the West Bank.
If you did not see that special report, you can find it online on my social media.
As mentioned yesterday, CNN approached Israel with the report from the British nonprofit Action on Armed Violence. That report concluded that of
52 cases, 88 percent of them are currently stalled or were closed without any finding of wrongdoing.
Well, the IDF said they were looking into it and they have since come back to CNN with a lengthy statement that begins --
"In accordance with its obligations under Israeli and international law, the IDF conducts examination and investigation processes into exceptional
incidents that occurred during operational activity and may raise suspicions of violations.
"In some cases, the initial information suggests a reasonable suspicion of a criminal offense. In such instances, a criminal investigation is opened
immediately."
The statement went on to outline in detail two specific processes; one, the military police criminal investigation division and, two, the general staff
fact-finding and assessment mechanism.
As regards that second process, the statement said, "To date, the mechanism has gathered extensive information on many incidents from the current
conflict and has completed its assessments on dozens of the incidents from them.
"These findings have been forwarded for review by the military prosecution. At the end of the review, a decision will be made on whether there is a
basis for opening a criminal investigation."
I will make this full IDF statement available on my X account, where you can also see yesterday's full, closer look at what we know about IDF
accountability.
Well, an American community left reeling after a deadly attack on children, school children, who were praying. Wednesday morning, a shooter fired
through the stained glass windows of a Catholic Church and school in Minneapolis, while the students were celebrating their first mass of the
year.
Two children, just eight and 10 years old, were killed; 14 other kids were injured, along with three parishioners, all in their 80s.
Well, outside the church today, a memorial is taking shape as people bring flowers and stuffed animals to remember so many lives changed forever. The
father of an 11-year-old student told CNN his daughter was inside when the attack happened and is too scared to go back to school.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VINCENT FRANCOUAI, STUDENT'S FATHER: We had a session with a counselor and she told the counselor that she thought she was going to die on that day.
So, so, you know, we're really at the bottom right now. And there is no -- there's no really any rule or books for it. So we -- we're just going to do
the best we can.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, CNN law enforcement correspondent Whitney Wild is on the scene in Minneapolis.
And just listening to that father, it's heartbreaking. Authorities say the shooter posted a video manifesto online, which they say they are reviewing.
This is, of course, all part of the investigation that is now open.
What can you tell us about the latest on that investigation?
WHITNEY WILD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Becky, there were four search warrants executed. Three of them were at residents connected to the shooter. At this
point, law enforcement has not recovered any more firearms.
We do know that the firearms that the shooter purchased were purchased legally. They were purchased recently. That is very common in situations
like this.
The videos show the illogical musings of a twisted mind. I mean, they show anti-Semitic, anti-Black, anti-religious sentiments. In one moment the
shooter is saying that that the shooter is sorry. In another moment, there's a diagram of the church.
There is much more to learn here, Becky. But what is very clear is that this person was absolutely that this was, you know, ramblings; that they
were illogical, that the motive is not immediately clear. Law enforcement is trying to zero in on that. But Becky, there's a volume of evidence to
work through at this point.
ANDERSON: We'll check back in with you as and when you get more. Thank you.
Well, ahead on CONNECT THE WORLD, in today's U.S. federal workforce, independent thinking can get you fired, even if you are a Trump appointee,
apparently. The White House's latest drive to purge all who stand in the president's way. More on that is after this.
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ANDERSON: Ukrainian officials say the death toll keeps growing in Kyiv after Russian strikes overnight. At last check, at least 18 people were
killed in a massive drone and missile attack on the capital overnight. An urgent search is underway for people who may still be trapped under the
rubble.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemning the attack.
In a post on X, he said, "Russia chooses ballistics instead of the negotiating table."
Well, CNN's Salma Abdelaziz following this for us.
And this deadly attack comes as a Ukrainian delegation is set to meet with U.S. officials on Friday. Just bring us up to date on what we know happened
overnight and where any talks may be headed at this point.
SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT: Well, we understand from Ukrainian officials that this is the second largest aerial attack on Kyiv
since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began by Russia. Ukrainian officials saying around 600 drones and nearly 30 missiles were fired
overnight by Russia into the capital.
Some families endured a nine-hour-long air raid siren. And you mentioned the victims; of course, 18 people killed so far. Among the dead are four
children. The youngest victim, just 2 years old.
And these strikes hit residential buildings, homes, a kindergarten. They even struck a European Union mission building and a building for the
British Council. Both of those parties have summoned top Russian diplomats to discuss these strikes.
And President Zelenskyy is, of course, speaking out, calling this -- the response -- let me read you his direct quote.
"These Russian missiles and attack drones today are a clear response to everyone in the world, who, for weeks and months, have been calling for a
ceasefire and for real diplomacy. Russia chooses ballistics instead of the negotiating table. It chooses to continue killing instead of ending the
war."
The timing of this, Becky, is, of course, critical. It is just two weeks after president Trump had his face-to-face meeting with President Putin in
Alaska. Afterwards, he said he would try to initiate a bilateral meeting between President Putin and President Zelenskyy.
But there are no signs of progress on that with Russia dragging its feet. It also comes as European Union diplomats are meeting this week in Europe
to discuss those all important security guarantees.
Yet another issue on the table, which Russia has simply batted away and dragged its feet on. And President Zelenskyy says his top diplomats, his
top officials will be meeting with administration officials in New York tomorrow, again, to push forward on that peace process, which yet again
seems to be stalling, staggering and failing.
And in that we have seen a tried-and-true Russian strategy. As these diplomatic efforts falter, it intensifies its offensive on Ukraine.
[10:15:00]
Just yesterday, Ukrainian researchers saying two more cities were taken by Russian forces in Eastern Ukraine. Today, of course, residents in Kyiv
waking up to these horrifying attacks, which continue to claim more lives while the peace process simply stalls, Becky.
ANDERSON: Salma, thank you.
You are up to speed on what we understand to be happening there.
Meantime, the leadership of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in chaos after the White House said its director had been fired.
Now a spokesperson said that Dr. Susan Monarez, appointed by Donald Trump just a few months ago, was not aligned with the president's Make America
Healthy Again agenda.
This is an important role in the world of global health. The CDC plays a crucial role in preventing and managing global pandemics.
And from one high-profile firing to another, Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook has filed a lawsuit challenging president Trump's attempt to fire her.
The suit sets the stage for a high-stakes legal battle with major implications for the independence of the U.S. Central Bank. CNN's Katelyn
Polantz is here with more.
And just walk us through what is happening and where you believe this goes next at this point?
KATELYN POLANTZ, CNN SENIOR CRIME AND JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Becky, it goes to court. That's where it is now. And I'm very much looking to see
if there's going to be activity on this today where a judge steps in.
We do have a judge assigned to this case, Judge Gia Cobb, a Biden appointee to the bench in Washington's federal court. And we do have Lisa Cook's
attorneys asking for emergency intervention from that judge.
Becky, what this is going to be is a major battle between the independence of the Federal Reserve and the power of the presidency, as Donald Trump
sees it.
And the Fed is arguing -- or Lisa Cook, as a Federal Reserve governor, is arguing that the Fed needs to remain independent in order to ensure
confidence and credibility around banking in the U.S. and the economy.
And that they are saying that Donald Trump should not be able to remove a Federal Reserve governor such as Lisa Cook.
But on the legal side, there's even more of a issue the court's going to have to work through. And that's because Donald Trump is saying that he is
firing (AUDIO GAP) that have arisen by another Trump appointee, who has looked at that.
Lisa Cook, though, in court, her lawyers are saying those allegations are totally unproven and they predate her being confirmed by the U.S. Senate to
take on this role on the seven-person board at the Fed.
Also, she's saying that she hadn't even been given a chance to respond, that these allegations are not investigated. So that should not be enough
for Donald Trump to be able to remove her from the Federal Reserve board.
There have been several people in independent agencies within the U.S. government that Donald Trump has fired since he (AUDIO GAP) president
earlier this year and the courts have let those firings take place. Those people no longer are part of the government or working in the government.
Will Lisa Cook be similar to that?
ANDERSON: Yes.
POLANTZ: That's going to be the question.
ANDERSON: Katelyn, good to have you.
And to our viewers who will have noticed that your sound was dropping out just every so often there, apologies for that technical glitch. But we got
pretty much all of what Katelyn was explaining there, which is important stuff.
Thank you.
And from firings to actual fire: at issue, the burning of American flags in protest.
But are American flags regularly burnt across the USA?
Well, president Trump insists that it's happening all the time. And one of his latest executive orders instructs the Justice Department to get tough
on it. But it's not at all clear that flags are being burnt as much as the president thinks.
And even if they are, is it actually a crime?
Well, in a 1989 opinion, the U.S. Supreme Court said burning the flag amounted to protected speech under the First Amendment.
Well, Tim Marshall is the author of "Worth Dying For: The Power and Politics of Flags" and he joins us now from London.
And we couldn't have a better guest to work through this, Tim. We have already had one person arrested for burning the American flag in D.C., in
Washington this week. We see the video here.
[10:20:00]
What's your take on this executive order, on Trump's ban, firstly?
TIM MARSHALL, AUTHOR: He's tapping into nationalism, which is -- or patriotism, which is perhaps one rung down and not necessarily a bad thing.
I think what's really behind this is he intends to test the Supreme Court ruling that you just mentioned, because, when you look at what was drafted
and put out on the White House website about this executive order, firstly, it says that it should go down to the federal level; the arrests and a
subsequent court case should go at the federal level.
But then what I found really interesting was the wording. They say at the White House, notwithstanding that ruling that you've mentioned, 1989,
they're saying that the court never held that flag desecration -- and this is the important bit -- conducted in a manner that is likely to incite
imminent lawless action.
They're saying the court never constitutionally protected that. So they're trying to have this gap through and then go through the gap that, if you
have burnt that flag in a manner which could then incite a riot, you could be culpable.
So there probably are going to be court cases at the federal level. It will probably, at some point, end up, in the Supreme Court, although the one you
mentioned took three years to get there.
So I think that's what's really behind it, getting this back to the Supreme Court in the future.
ANDERSON: And I just want to get our viewers Donald Trump's response, very specifically to what you are speaking about.
"When you burn the American flag, it incites riots at levels that we've never seen before. People go crazy. In a way, both ways. There are some
that are going crazy for doing it. There are others that are angry, angry about them doing it."
Look, Tim, he isn't wrong about the level of outrage over this, is he?
MARSHALL: It goes very deep, this stuff because some people would say, oh, it's just a piece of cloth with some paint on it. And that's quite light.
But it's incredibly heavy with meaning, especially for a lot of people.
In most countries around the world, because you imbibe these colors from birth and they are they are linked with beliefs. And when you burn that,
sometimes you're, you know, you're saying you're burning my belief system here.
And, of course, it's in the eye of the beholder, what you see when you look at it. But it doesn't surprise me. You know, people that say, oh, it's just
a piece of cloth seem not to understand the significance of what it means to people.
And this is this is true all over the world. And, of course, you're not your country, Becky. But the United States has been through this. It went
through this during the Vietnam War. The union survived; went through this with Nixon. It went through this with Reagan. The union survived. It'll
probably get through this again.
But it does show that you're not dealing just about the flag; you're dealing with people's emotions and beliefs.
ANDERSON: Yes. And to that point, you're in the U.K. of course. And that's where I'm from originally. We're seeing flags used in anti-immigration
protests there; where you are, we see both the St. George's Cross and the Union Jack flags. Explain for international viewers why this is
significant.
MARSHALL: Firstly, the Union Jack, the flag of Great Britain, the United Kingdom, is the better known one. Within it, after the Scotland and England
came together, is the cross of St. George. That's a red cross on a white background.
And the United Kingdom has -- it is united. It is one kingdom. But there are four countries in it. And since power was devolved, this -- the
Englishness has come to the fore, which is the majority population of the islands. Anti-immigration protests have just swept the country recently,
particularly about hotels that migrants are being put in.
And from that, how do the people that take that political position convey, we're English, we -- this is us?
Now you could say he could bring a teapot along. Let's face it, Becky, a teapot is pretty English; scones with jam, pretty English. But you're not
going to do that. You're going to bring your symbol of us. Doesn't mean you necessarily don't like them but it often does.
And so hence the flag. And it's spread across the country. People are painting them on roundabouts. They're flying them from lampposts. They're
putting up at pedestrian crosses. It really is taking off.
And unfortunately, although patriotism does not have to be racism, there are elements that are that are hijacking this.
[10:25:00]
And, you know, I think it's going to be with us for some time. We rescued the English flag from the extreme far right in the 1990s. I think there's
going to be this fear that, if you fly it, you'll be tarnished with that brush, which is unfair. Patriotism is not necessarily racism. The
intellectual class don't understand that. But ordinary people do.
ANDERSON: Yes. In both the U.S. and the U.K., Tim, it does seem to be often youngsters -- young men, more specifically -- who are using flags
more often.
From your perspective there and in the U.K. and seeing what's going on there and watching what's going on in the U.S., what do you make of this
growing sense of nationalism?
MARSHALL: The flags and, in fact -- and the protests are actually part of something much bigger and deeper. And that is the backlash against
globalization.
Now you can make strong economic arguments for globalization. You can make strong arguments that it's helped a lot of people. But I think it's also,
without question, there's a lot of people it hasn't helped. A lot of people, the left behind.
So in the U.S. you could talk about steelworkers in Pittsburgh or whatever who feel, hang on a minute, you know.
Why isn't my culture respected?
Why am I looked down upon?
Why am I an undesirable or whatever it was that Hillary Clinton said?
And how do you manifest that?
Actually, I'm not ashamed of this. You manifest it with this symbol. And it's exactly the same here. We have, particularly amongst the white working
class, a very, very strong sense that we're getting left behind. And when you say you're going to push back against --
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I can hear you very well, loud and clear.
Can you hear me?
ANDERSON: Yes.
MARSHALL: I may have lost you at that point, Becky.
ANDERSON: Good to have you, Tim. Yes. And I think we're struggling just a little bit with the -- with the sound on you there. But we've got most of
what you were talking about there. And important stuff. And it's always good to have you. Thank you very much indeed for joining us.
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ANDERSON (voice-over): Let's get you up to speed, folks, on some of the other stories that are on our radar right now.
And in Florida, the controversial immigration detention center known as Alligator Alcatraz will likely be empty in a matter of days. That is
according to a state official. On Wednesday, a federal judge denied requests by the Trump administration and the state of Florida to halt an
order to cease operations there.
Well, U.S. special envoy Tom Barrack has canceled a planned visit to two Lebanese towns amid protests. That's what we are hearing from Lebanese
state media, at least. Earlier this week, he sparked outrage when he ordered Lebanese journalists to act, quote, "civilized and not be
animalistic" during a news conference in Beirut.
Well, Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un will join more than two dozen other foreign leaders for China's massive military parade in Beijing next week.
The parade is part of China's commemorations to mark 80 years since Japan's formal surrender in World War II.
It is expected to showcase China's military might at a time when it is establishing itself as a major power.
Right. You're watching CNN. I'm Becky Anderson. This is CONNECT THE WORLD. Up next, inspectors from the United Nations are back in Iran, despite being
banned earlier this year. I'm going to speak to the chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency, up after this short break. That is
Rafael Grossi.
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ANDERSON (voice-over): All right. Welcome back.
You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD with me, Becky, Anderson. Here are your headlines this hour.
Investigators are searching for the motive of the shooter who killed two children during mass at Catholic school in Minnesota on Wednesday; 14 other
kids and three elderly adults were injured.
The attack has sparked renewed calls for stricter gun laws in the U.S. Police say the shooter was found with a rifle, a shotgun and a pistol, all
acquired legally.
Well, exclusive reporting from CNN now points to what an observer says could be a coordinated attack by Israel on Nasser Hospital in Gaza earlier
this week. This video shows not two but three strikes on the facility, killing at least 22 people, including five journalists.
Israel says it was targeting a Hamas camera at the hospital.
Well, Ukrainian officials say at least 18 people have been killed in a massive attack on the capital overnight. President Zelenskyy condemned the
attack in a post on X, saying "The Russian missiles and drones are a clear response to everyone in the world who has been calling for a ceasefire and
real diplomacy."
Well, just in to CNN, the United Kingdom, France and Germany have just triggered the United Nations' mechanism to reimpose sanctions on Iran. We
were expecting this today.
The E3, as the countries are known in the nuclear negotiations, have been threatening to do this if Iran did not resume full cooperation with U.N.
inspectors. Well, now, this announcement coincides with those inspectors returning to Iran this week.
The Iranians banned the international atomic nuclear agency back in July, accusing it of giving Israel a pretext to attack its nuclear facilities.
While the Iranians have confirmed the inspectors are in the country, they deny any new agreement for cooperation has been reached.
Well, we've got the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency here with us to discuss. Rafael Grossi joins us live from Vienna.
Well, it's good to have you.
Have you reached agreement with Iran to have those inspectors back in the country and doing their inspections?
RAFAEL MARIANO GROSSI, DIRECTOR GENERAL, IAEA: Well, thanks, Becky. Good to talk to you again on this matter of great importance for international
peace.
Well, I would say there's a process. And a first step in the right direction has been taken. We have to say it because, as you were saying in
your introduction, after the attacks and the 12-day war, as it has been called, and attacks on nuclear facilities, of course, there was a de facto
suspension of the inspection work.
Because you cannot inspect a country that is being attacked or is in a state of war or quasi war. So there was -- there was this -- and some were
fearing that the return of the international inspectors to the -- to Iran would be perhaps very difficult, if not impossible.
So I believe the fact that inspectors, IAEA inspectors, are back in Iran is a good sign, which we -- which we, which we recognize. But -- and this is
where the latter part of the argument comes.
We haven't reached an agreement on the -- I want to be precise here. What we are talking about, Becky, is the technical modalities, the practical
steps that we have to undertake to resume this inspections. We don't need, strictly speaking, a new agreement. There is an agreement.
[10:35:00]
And Iran -- I think it's the right thing to do -- has not said that they want to leave the treaty on the nonproliferation of nuclear weapons. So all
of this legal, if you want, structures are in place there.
Admittedly, after the attacks and the fact that some facilities -- Natanz, Isfahan, Fordow -- have been severely damaged and, in some cases, access
may be difficult, physically difficult. We need to consider that. And we need to agree as to how to do this work. So this is what is still pending.
Yes?
ANDERSON: The E.U. has just triggered the process to reimpose U.N. sanctions on Iran.
If those, what are known as sanctions snap back, are you concerned that will impact negotiations between you and Iran on further site access?
GROSSI: Well, everything is interconnected and it's the same people at different tables. And, of course, there are in some cases, cross-references
to what is being done by the agency or what it expected from Iran to do vis-a-vis our access.
So we cannot say that there is no impact. I don't know; it's a good question for the Iranians and I hope --
ANDERSON: OK.
GROSSI: -- one thing. I think, you know, my approach in this regard is that always try to look for a diplomatic solution. And whereas this
communication, as you said just now, has been made to the Security Council, now there is a period of one month, which I think we should take advantage
of.
Because if within this 30-day period, we can, together with Iran, the IAEA can establish a good mechanism to return to the places and especially to
verify or to check what happened with the material, with the 60 percent high-enriched uranium.
I think there will be elements, positive elements on the table, that perhaps could help avert this possibility of these wide, you know, ranging
sanctions.
ANDERSON: Yes. So what you're saying is -- and you said yesterday, don't forget that there's still some time. That's what you said to reporters in
D.C. yesterday. The Europeans have said they're giving Iran 30 days to resolve concerns.
And you're saying you think 30 days is enough time to resolve the concerns between the E.U. and Iran, right?
GROSSI: In my opinion, Becky, it's quite straightforward. We know exactly what we want to do. This is not a political -- of course, it's a political
decision. But the discussion per se is a very straightforward, technical conversation where we are saying we want to -- we need to go to these
places.
They may say, well, you can come or not. And then this is where things will be judged.
ANDERSON: Rafael, you said on FOX News earlier this week -- and I want to quote you here -- "The work of the inspectors is indispensable. Without us
being there, checking on what is going on, you can't enter any serious negotiations," end quote.
If the IAEA fails in gaining access to these Iranian facilities, would any form of talks between Iran and the U.S. or Iran and the E.U. be dead on
arrival as far as you're concerned?
GROSSI: Well, again, as you were mentioning, I was in Washington. And I was having very important discussions with secretary Rubio, with special
envoy, ambassador Witkoff.
And while we cannot say that they are dependent on what we do, they are looking at what is happening.
And how can you, in abstract terms, Becky, how can you enter negotiations without knowing what is the situation on the field?
And the only way, internationally agreed, that we have is allowing the inspectors to go and check.
For example, let's say our Iranian colleagues say, well, you cannot access this place because it's destroyed.
Well, let the inspectors go, confirm that this is the situation. And there are, you know, techniques and methodologies, even without sometimes without
having the physical access, to determine that the material or some material is still there or not.
So we can have an objective determination that this is the case. And so this will help Washington, Berlin, Paris, London and, of course, also
Moscow and Beijing.
[10:40:08]
All those former players that were once together --
ANDERSON: So --
GROSSI: -- they are not longer.
ANDERSON: -- let's remind ourselves that the inspectors were thrown out when Israel attacked Iran and then, subsequently, the nuclear facilities
were attacked by the U.S.
On June the 12th this year, the IAEA Board of Governors passed a resolution, accusing Tehran of noncompliance regarding Iran's nuclear
program. The day after, June the 13th, Israel attacked Iran.
Did you know that Israel would attack Iran's nuclear facilities?
And what do you say to your -- that Israel would attack Iran's nuclear facilities?
And what do you say to your critics in Iran that the IAEA resolution gave a, quote, "green light" for Israel to attack?
GROSSI: This is, Becky, utterly absurd. Absurd. Of course, the IAEA and myself, we are not aware, never, of any national decision involving the use
of force, as you can imagine. This is the ultimate ratio of a decision in the life of a country when they are going to -- and they are not going to
be telling people what they are going to do.
This report, people talk about a report that they haven't read, I believe, as is often the case in life. This report, if anything, was repeating
things that you and have discussed for -- since you've been following this dossier.
We were not, you know, bringing any surprise and even more, for those who cared to read that report, I said in that report that Iran does not have a
plan nuclear weapons. So if that was a trigger, how bad it was, because I was saying completely, completely the opposite.
I think this was a very disgraceful attempt to pin their responsibility on an international organization who is working for peace.
ANDERSON: I ask, of course, because you have been accused in this report by Iranians as having gone beyond the technical parameters of your role and
that you've become a political operator in this file.
Do you think you still have the neutrality that your position requires to carry on with these tasks?
I have to ask.
GROSSI: But, of course, I have the full support of the membership. Don't forget, I am an elected official. All right? And I have the support of the
Board of Governors. I'm not acting on my free will here.
And we have been -- we are serving 180 nations that we are inspecting and working with them. And I must say that the dialogue with Iran must
continue. I am in conversation with the foreign minister and with others, in spite of all of these accusations and even threats, as you know which
have been out there.
We continue. We believe in diplomacy and we believe in the possibility of a solution that will be satisfactory for all, including Iran.
ANDERSON: Israel and the U.S. attacked nuclear facilities in Iran. You say that you are still in contact with and have regular discussions with senior
diplomats there. Iran remains a member of the NPT and we've talked about why that is important within the context of getting access to the sites.
Do you condemn the attacks on nuclear facilities of an NPT member?
GROSSI: We have said very clearly, Becky, I have said it to the Security Council, to the Board of Governors, that nuclear facilities should not be
attacked, should never be attacked because of the potential radiological consequences that exist.
And there is a tradition and there is a corpus of resolutions and decisions by the policymaking organs of the IAEA in this connection. When it comes to
the territory of pointing fingers and saying this country this, this country that, you may remember that I -- that we have been also criticized
in the context of the Russia-Ukrainian conflict.
When people want us to take sides -- and we are not going to take sides, ever -- we have to be neutral. We have to be impartial. We are saying, very
clearly, nuclear facilities should not be attacked. This we have said and we will continue to say it. Now this has happened. And we have a
possibility to move forward.
[10:45:00]
And to restore an inspection regime, which Iran has voluntarily entered into and which allows Iran to do the nuclear activities that they were
doing and they intend to do in future.
ANDERSON: Very briefly, do you have any idea where the uranium stockpiles are in Iran today?
GROSSI: Yes; well, we have a pretty good idea. And I think the -- in general, the assessment, which has not been contradicted by Iran, on the
contrary, is that most of this highly enriched uranium is still in the places where it was at the time of the -- of the attack.
ANDERSON: Rafael, it's always good to have you on. Thank you very much indeed for your time out of Vienna, for you today.
And we are back after this.
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ANDERSON: Well, I don't have to tell you that inspiration can come from anywhere and often it comes from unexpected places.
Well, today on our series "Call to Earth," we visit an award-winning photographer at his home in South Africa for a behind-the-scenes peek at an
epic journey, one that showcases the planet's most vital ecosystem on a scale never documented before. Have a look at this.
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ZAIN ASHER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Greyton, South Africa about a two-hour drive east from Cape Town, the quaint mountain village is an idyllic place
to slow down and reconnect with nature.
For conservation photographer Thomas Peschak, it's also the kind of backdrop that can inspire life's next great adventure.
THOMAS PESCHAK, CONSERVATION PHOTOGRAPHER: I'm an ocean photographer who has spent the last 25 years exploring the world's wildest seas and secret
shorelines. But it is only since I moved into these mountains about 12 years ago that I began also falling in love with rivers.
I never would have thought that these rivers here would eventually lead me to spending two years exploring the aquatic underworlds of Amazonia.
ASHER: It's a journey that began in April, 2022 as part of the Rolex and National Geographic Perpetual Planet Amazon Expedition. Over the course of
396 days, Peschak followed seven teams of explorers
and scientists from the High Andes in the west to "The Atlantic" Ocean in the east.
PESCHAK: My mission was to rebrand the Amazon and take it from an ecosystem that most people associate exclusively with trees and forests and
monkeys and macaws and transform it into an aquatic wonderland.
[10:50:00]
The Amazon River is also incredibly threatened at the moment. Not only, you know, is this region being impacted by dams but you know, there are also
threats from overfishing and climate change and pollution from mercury and plastic.
Not only is it immense in size, it is also incredibly diverse. This isn't just a single ecosystem. I mean, the diversity of habitats within the
Amazon River basin is as diverse as the habitats you find in the ocean.
That was clearly one of the most crazy and insane encounters of my life. I just had a half an hour in this river with a lowland tapir.
ASHER: But an expedition of this magnitude starts long before the fieldwork begins. And as a former marine biologist himself, Peschak's
preparation was a deep dive to say the least.
PESCHAK: For the Amazon project, I read an excess of 1,000 scientific papers. I think I read over 400 books. I spoke to dozens and dozens of
experts in various fields. I tried to arm myself with as much knowledge as possible, because that makes me a more informed storyteller.
ASHER: When all was said and done, he had compiled a first of its kind photographic archive of the aquatic and wetland habitats of the Amazon
rainforest. And he returned home reenergized and ready for more.
PESCHAK: After two years of not feeling the sweet embrace of saltwater, my heart grew bigger and fonder for marine ecosystems.
And having this break has really reinvigorated my love for ocean storytelling. And personally, I can't wait to go back to telling marine
stories once again.
But my relationship with the Amazon is also not over yet. And there are plenty of places and locations that I can't wait to come back to and to use
my photographs and stories to try to protect these places well into perpetuity.
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Well, let us know what you're doing to answer the call with #CalltoEarth. That is #CalltoEarth. We will be right back.
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ANDERSON: Well, the world's tallest bridge has reportedly passed the final test before it opens to traffic late next month.
According to the testing team, the five-day process confirmed that the Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge in southwest China did meet safety standards.
Now look at this.
It rises about 625 meters above the river and is almost three kilometers long, making it the world's largest span bridge in a mountainous area. Wow.
Stress tests were done by 96 trucks on designated points of the deck.
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LEI MIN, ONSITE LOAD TEST DIRECTOR, HUAJIANG GRAND CANYON BRIDGE (through translator): We simulate extreme conditions with 3,360 tons of load to
activate the maximum capacity of the bridge structure under normal use.
[10:55:00]
Today, we focus mainly on monitoring the displacement of the main towers on both banks, the bending moment at the tower roots and the maximum tension
in the anchor span cables.
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ANDERSON: Wow.
Well, Spain hosted one of its messier festivals on Wednesday and it was a, quote, "smash." More than 20,000 people threw 120 tons, yes, of overripe
tomatoes at each other in the eastern town of Bunol, as part of the annual food fight festival called Tomatina.
It lasted for just an hour and ended with the town's longest street being, well, covered in tomato pulp. This year was the 80th anniversary of the
event, which was inspired by a food fight between kids back in 1945.
That's it for CONNECT THE WORLD today with CNN. "ONE WORLD" is up next.
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