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Connect the World
U.S.-Israel War with Iran; Oil Volatile as Trump Threatens Iran's Energy Sites; Israeli Parliament Votes to Expand Death Penalty for Palestinians; SCOTUS Backs Challenge to "Conversion Therapy" Ban; New Video Shows Aftermath of Strike on Beirut; Russian Oil Tanker Arrives in Cuba; "Reborn" Dolls. Aired 10-11a ET
Aired March 31, 2026 - 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 London, this is CONNECT THE WORLD.
CHRISTINA MACFARLANE, CNN ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Welcome to the second hour of the show. I'm Christina Macfarlane in London.
The U.S. Defense Secretary says the U.S. needs to be unpredictable when it comes to putting boots on the ground in Iran. What you need to know from
the Pentagon press briefing that happened just over an hour ago.
And this Kuwaiti oil tanker is the latest ship to be damaged as Iran maintains its iron grip on the Strait of Hormuz, sending gasoline prices
above $4 a gallon in the U.S. for the first time in years.
Israel's far right is celebrating a win in the Knesset after passing a controversial death penalty bill that critics say exclusively targets
Palestinians and won't be applied at all to Jewish Israelis. I'll be speaking to the rabbi spearheading the petition to the supreme court
against this law.
And breaking news on one of the world's best-known golfers, we have just learned about Tiger Woods' arrest for driving under the influence of the
release of the arrest affidavit.
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MACFARLANE: But first, the very latest on the war with Iran. In the past couple of hours, the U.S. Defense Secretary has said regime change has
already happened in Tehran and that the primary focus for the U.S. is to reach a deal to end the war.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PETE HEGSETH, U.S. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: Tehran is wise. They will cut a deal. President Trump doesn't bluff and he does not back down. You can ask
Khamenei about that. The new Iranian regime should know that by now. This new regime, because regime change has occurred, should be wiser than the
last.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MACFARLANE: Pete Hegseth spoke alongside Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force General Dan Caine, who outlined the current U.S. military
offensive.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEN. DAN CAINE, CHAIRMAN, U.S. JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF: First, the Joint Force continues to destroy Iran's ballistic missile and UAS capabilities.
We remain focused on interdicting and destroying the logistical and supply chains that feed these programs.
And this remains a truly joint effort prosecuted around the clock from air, land, sea, space and cyberspace.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MACFARLANE: In other developments, a key desalination plant has been taken out of service by a strike, according to the semiofficial ISNA outlet. The
island, Qeshm Island, is considered a key part of Iran's defense near the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran has faced heavy bombardment elsewhere, reporting more than a dozen deaths in the cities of Zanjan and Mahallat.
Israel has also reported attacks in the center of the country. You're getting a glimpse here of some of that damage. Jennifer Hansler was
following developments from the State Department and joins us now.
So Jennifer, just break it down for us, what we heard from the Pentagon in the past few hours and how significant that might be.
JENNIFER HANSLER, CNN STATE DEPARTMENT CORRESPONDENT: Well, Christina, the clear message we heard from the Pentagon is that they are trying to bolster
these diplomatic efforts with this continued military operation.
You heard from secretary Hegseth just there, saying that they -- we continuing to militarily pressure what he called this new regime. At one
point, he said they would continue to negotiate with bombs as this diplomatic process is playing out.
This comes, of course, as president Trump has claimed, that they are dealing with a more reasonable regime and that there has been progress in
those talks. Now this is a pattern we've seen in the past from the U.S. where they have sought to pressure militarily Tehran to come back to the
negotiating table.
And after, there have been strikes in the midst of these diplomatic negotiations. This happened last year in the 12-day war, when the U.S. and
Iran were due to sit down. And then there was the Israeli military operations against Iran and then ultimately the U.S. operations against
Iran.
We saw that again just a month ago with what happened here with the war in Iran, where the U.S. and Iran were due to sit down yet again to discuss
their nuclear program. And those talks were sidelined by this military operation.
So the U.S. is continuing to pressure Iran to return to those talks to deal with the nuclear program. They said that is at the top of the list of
concerns. Iran, for its part, has rebuffed publicly the idea of these talks.
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They say that the U.S. demands have been unreasonable. Now, of course, all of this comes amid the looming specter of Trump's threats against
desalination plants, oil fields, civilian infrastructure on the ground.
General Caine was pressed on this and the potential civilian harm for this. He said they have processes to ensure that they are mitigating those risks.
But there are concerns about retaliation if the U.S. were to take these actions, as well as the potential of civilian crimes, civilian harm that
could be a war crime, Christina.
At the same time, too, the Strait of Hormuz continues to be snarled. Hegseth echoed the president and said that it is time for allies to step up
to open that strait. This is in contrast to what secretary Rubio said last week after meeting with his G7 counterparts on Friday.
The secretary of state said that this was something that would need to be considered after the fighting had stopped, that this was something that the
U.S. would help on but not necessarily take the lead on.
But he framed this as something that would happen when a ceasefire was reached. So a lot of mixed messaging here on the Strait of Hormuz and a lot
of questions about how this process moves forward as the U.S. both bolsters its military options as well as calls for diplomacy here, Christina.
MACFARLANE: Yes. All right, Jennifer, thank you very much.
A lot of mixed messaging, as Jennifer was saying there. And that, of course, is being reflected in the markets and more pain at the U.S. pump.
Gas prices hit an average of $4 a gallon today. The AAA says that's the highest level since 2022. Average prices at the U.S. pump are now higher
than at any point during president Donald Trump's two terms. They've surged along with the price of crude oil since the start of the war with Iran.
Well, here's a look at how Brent crude is trading right now, almost up $120 a barrel. And this is where West Texas crude, the U.S. oil benchmark,
stands right now, down at the moment but still trading up over 100. CNN's Matt Egan is joining us from New York to discuss.
And this is a concerning time for Americans, Matt, U.S. gas now hitting $4 a gallon, certainly being felt, I'm sure, by a lot of people at the pump
today.
MATT EGAN, CNN SR. BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Christina, absolutely, $4 a gallon for gas in March. That's kind of an unthinkable outcome if you had
asked us just a few months ago. But here we are. And analysts are warning that, yes, prices could go even higher if this crisis drags on even longer.
So the new national average for gas in the United States, $4.02 a gallon, highest since August of 2022. This is more than a dollar higher than where
gas prices were before the war started and significantly higher than at this point last year.
And some analysts are saying that gas prices could hit $5 a gallon in the coming months if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, that that would be a
new all-time high if it goes above $5.02, which was the high from 2022.
And some drivers in some parts of the country are paying a lot more right now. In Washington state, in Hawaii, California is approaching $6 a gallon.
And we're looking at oil prices as we speak.
You can see that U.S. crude, after finishing above $100 a barrel yesterday for the first time in four years, staying above that level. And Brent crude
also very high right now. And, of course, the problem is that the Strait of Hormuz remains shut, right.
This is the biggest oil supply disruption on record, right. Bigger than after Russia invaded Ukraine, bigger than the first Gulf War or the second
Gulf War, the biggest on record.
And analysts are warning that, if this war lasts through June, according to investment bank Macquarie, you could see oil prices hit $200 a barrel and
that translates to not $5 or $6 but $7 a gallon gas.
Now I know $200 sounds extreme but some of the experts that I'm in touch with, they're not dismissing it. Veteran analyst Bob McNally, he told me
that, look, you could see oil prices in the high hundreds or even, yes, above $200 a barrel if this situation with the Strait of Hormuz remains
shut.
And just overnight, we learned that a fully loaded oil tanker was hit off the coast of Dubai by what Kuwaiti officials have blamed as a drone attack
from Iran. And earlier in this crisis, it seemed like investors were giving the president, president Trump, a lot of credit when he promised a swift
ending.
But now there's a lot more disbelief. Bob McNally, he told me the market has stopped listening to Trump. He said they're not buying it anymore.
And so, look, I think the bottom line here is this is all about the Strait of Hormuz. If it can reopen soon, you could see prices crash back to Earth.
But if not, then the pain at the pump could get worse before it gets better.
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Back to you.
MACFARLANE: Yes, it's certainly extreme, isn't it?
But it is the reality. Matt, appreciate it. Thank you.
EGAN: Thanks.
MACFARLANE: Now Israel's defense minister says the IDF plans to keep control of parts of southern Lebanon at the end of its ongoing operation.
This includes maintaining control over the entire area up to the Litani River and prohibiting 600,000 residents in southern Lebanon from
immediately returning home. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ISRAEL KATZ, ISRAELI DEFENSE MINISTER (through translator): At the end of the operation, the IDF will position itself in a security zone inside
Lebanon along the defensive line against anti-tank missiles and will maintain security control over the entire area up to the Litani.
Including the remaining bridges, while eliminating Radwan (ph) forces that infiltrated the area and destroying all weapons found there.
In addition, the return of more than 600,000 residents of southern Lebanon, who evacuated northward, will be completely prohibited south of the Litani
until the safety and security of northern residents are ensured and all houses in villages near the border in Lebanon will be destroyed.
According to the model of Rafah and Beit Hanoun in Gaza, to remove once and for all the threats near the border to northern residents.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MACFARLANE: Well, as we've reported, Israel's current push to expand its military operations inside southern Lebanon comes at a high cost.
The IDF says four soldiers were killed today in combat with Hezbollah fighters and civilians continue to suffer heavy losses, Lebanese officials
say more than 1,200 people have been killed since March 2nd.
And we're turning now to the Knesset, where the Israeli parliament has finalized a controversial bill that will effectively expand the death
penalty for Palestinians convicted of terrorism and nationalistic murders. It has been a cornerstone issue for the country's far right for over a
decade.
And as you can see, some lawmakers here wore a noose-shaped pin to show their commitment to advancing this legislation.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ITAMAR BEN-GVIR, ISRAELI MINISTER OF NATIONAL SECURITY (through translator): From today onward, every terrorist shall know and the whole
world shall know, he who takes life, the State of Israel will take his life. This justice needs to be seen and done. And starting tomorrow
morning, with the help of the blessed God, it will be done well.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MACFARLANE: A coalition of human rights and civil society organizations in Israel condemned the bill, which is already facing a legal challenge.
For more on this, let's bring in Rabbi Noa Sattath in New York. She's the executive director for the Association for Civil Rights in Israel. Her
organization is spearheading a petition to strike down the legislation with the high court of justice.
Thank you so much for your time.
RABBI NOA SATTATH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ASSOCIATION FOR CIVIL RIGHTS IN ISRAEL: Thank you.
MACFARLANE: So as we were saying, just there, I mean, this bill has been slammed by human rights activists, labeled discriminatory by a number of
European nations in the wake of this, including Spain's prime minister, actually, in the past few hours, who condemned it, calling it an
asymmetrical measure.
Can you first just give us your reaction to this new law and what it signifies?
SATTATH: So any death penalty law and legislation is anti-human rights. It devalues the sacred value of human life. And it has been proven again and
again to be ineffective, an ineffective tool. And that could have disastrous ramifications.
But this specific legislation, which, on top of all of the rest of the ills of the death of the death penalty, is also discriminatory and inhumane, is
another level of Israel distancing itself from international law, international norms and democratic values and going in a direction that no
other country in the world is going to right now.
Which is expanding capital punishment, where everywhere around the world it's being reduced.
MACFARLANE: Yes. And to that point, you know, going to where no other country is going in the world right now, I mean, we know, of course, that
the death penalty exists around the world, notably in the United States. And there are some who might think it is right for those who commit deadly
acts of terror to face the death penalty.
But can you just lay out for us why and where this process, this case, is so problematic?
SATTATH: So the -- we've been following the deliberation around the law in the Knesset for months now. So we sit in these very long deliberations,
where they're discussing the length of the rope and the width of the rope and it's all about brutality and cruelty.
And in these deliberations, it is clear that the legislators were trying to find a language that would make sure that only Palestinian citizens or
residents of the West Bank would be executed and that no Jews would be executed ever. And that is the discriminatory language of the law.
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Which basically says that only people who committed nationalistic murders, who are aimed at undermining the Jewish state, will be executed. That is
the language that is designed to make sure that only Palestinians are executed.
And that is the language that we hope and believe that the supreme court will strike down. We've already filed a petition minutes after the law
passed.
MACFARLANE: And I want to ask you about that. Just to go back on the detail of this. I mean, it says that Palestinians could be executed by
hanging within 90 days.
How unusual is that?
SATTATH: It is extremely unusual. So just to talk about the hanging part, again, this is not a normal practice. The reason for the hanging is both
that the esthetics are very compelling to the extreme right in Israel but also because the Israeli Medical Association has said that Israeli doctors
will not participate in administrating (sic) lethal injections.
So because there were no doctors willing to perform the death penalty, the far right said, OK, so the prison service professionals will hang and then
you do not need a doctor. So both the act of the execution is extremely brutal, violent and painful in a way that it doesn't need to be.
And the short term time to appeal is also against international law and international norms and conventions. And that's another part of the law
that we believe the supreme court will strike down.
MACFARLANE: Well, yes. I mean, you have filed this petition with the supreme court, demanding the repeal of the bill.
What do you think is going to be the likely response from the supreme court on this?
How effective do you think that you know, repeal -- the repeal of this bill could be?
SATTATH: I think the case is very good and I think it's going to be very hard for the supreme court to ignore it. This bill is -- this law is part
of the attack on the democratic institutions and checks and balances in the system.
The idea of a death penalty is completely not new in Israel. It's been pushed for at least 20 years by far right extremists. The fact that it
passed today, yesterday, is because the -- Netanyahu has been able to replace the head of the secret police, the Shin Bet in Israel, to a
loyalist to him.
So the traditional position of the Shin Bet, which was that death penalty would not increase the security of Israelis but actually would detract from
it. Then he got a new loyalist who was able to reverse that opinion from the Shin Bet and make it happen.
And so this is a part of the attack on the system. And the supreme court is a major target of the anti-democratic attack. But I think that the petition
is so strong, be very, very hard for the supreme court to ignore it.
MACFARLANE: And in addition to the appointment of the Shin Bet, new Shin Bet, as you just said there, how carefully do you think is Israel's
political right have chosen this moment, you know, while the world's attention is on Iran to move forward with this?
SATTATH: I think -- I think, you know, Israel's been engaged in the war in Gaza and now in the war in Iran committing all sorts of human rights and
international law crimes. And Israel has been using that to commit other crimes in the West Bank and now to pass this legislation.
So the far right in Israel is very strategic in choosing the moments. And this is very crucial to today. And today is the last day of the session of
the Israeli Knesset.
And it had to pass all sorts of bills in order for the government to survive a few more months and the far right condition, their support for
the budget, which can only pass a day or the -- disassembles with the support for the death penalty. So this is the strategic operation there.
And you know, if we look at it from the internal political apparatus in Israel, the -- this government came into power promising to provide
security, both personal security inside Israel through the police and security from enemies from without.
And it has failed so dramatically, as Israelis are constantly in shelters and unsafe from external threats. And also the state of personal safety
inside Israel is very weak because of the malfunctions of the police.
And the -- Ben-Gvir, who is the head of the police, who is a minister in charge of the police, has nothing to show for his time in power. And the
death penalty is the only thing that he will show as an achievement to his voters. That's why he is celebrating with those champagnes and with the --
with the lapel pins of the nooses.
[10:20:05]
This is the only thing that they will have as an achievement from their time in power.
MACFARLANE: Yes. I mean, this is an incredibly important detail and we really appreciate you taking the time to break it down for us. It's a story
we will continue to follow. But Rabbi --
(CROSSTALK)
SATTATH: Thank you for covering it. It's important to pay attention to all of the human rights issues happening. And I know there are plenty --
MACFARLANE: -- especially when there's so much going on. Yes. Thank you very much. Thank you for joining us.
We should say that the Israeli Defense Forces routinely deny violating international law in their military campaigns.
We are going to take a short break. But when we come back, breaking news out of the U.S. Supreme Court. The court has just backed a challenge to a
law that bans so-called conversion therapy. We'll have all the details on that straight ahead.
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MACFARLANE: Want to bring you some breaking news now. The U.S. Supreme Court has just released its ruling on conversion therapy. The high court
backed a challenge to a ban on therapy for gay and transgender kids in Colorado.
Let's bring in David Schultz. He's the legal professor at Hamline University and is a constitutional law expert.
So first, could you just bring us up to date on what the court said and break this down for us?
PROF. DAVID SCHULTZ, POLITICAL SCIENCE AND LEGAL STUDIES, HAMLINE UNIVERSITY: Sure. So it was a 6-3 decision that fell along the lines that's
been very typical in terms of ideological lines, in terms of Republicans versus Democrats.
And what the court said today was that a Colorado law that banned conversion therapy -- that is, basically banned individuals from trying to
convert people from being gay, gay or lesbian -- that that ban violated the First Amendment.
And what the court argued is that the ban was viewpoint-based. By that, it targeted a particular type of speech. And because it targeted a viewpoint,
it was not even-handed and basically unconstitutional as a violation of the First Amendment, U.S. First Amendment.
MACFARLANE: So were we -- I mean, you said this fell along party lines.
But were we expecting the vote to go in this way?
And how much, you know, of a blow is this for, I guess, the Trump administration, who have been advocating for this?
SCHULTZ: Well, basically, what we're looking at at this point is that it's not a surprise in terms of where the court came down.
And actually, I think this is a decision that the Trump administration will like, because recall that the Trump administration, at this point, has been
basically arguing, for example, that allowing for transgender individuals to participate in women's sports violates Title IX.
The Trump administration has been pushing hard against what's called DEI -- diversity, equity, inclusion. And so this is a case here that really is a
setback I think for many who are advocating for, you know, LGBTQ+ rights.
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So in that sense, it might actually be applauded by the Trump administration.
MACFARLANE: All right. Well, thank you. We'll continue to follow this and see if there is any response from the Trump administration to this in the
hours to come. Thank you.
Let's get you up to speed now on some other stories that are on our radar.
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MACFARLANE (voice-over): Syria's president Ahmed al-Sharaa is being welcomed to Downing Street by the British prime minister. Reports say he
and Keir Starmer are discussing migration and closer cooperation on border security and tackling people smuggling networks.
The French senate is set to vote on a proposed law that would ban social media for children under 15 years old. Many teens have criticized the
proposal. They say the platforms like Instagram and TikTok help them communicate and share memories with friends.
But some parents see the ban as essential, raising safety and mental health concerns.
The first U.S. state visit by King Charles will go ahead next month. That's the word from Buckingham Palace.
Despite calls by some U.S. lawmakers for the trip to be delayed over objections to the Iran war, the palace says the British monarch and his
wife, Queen Camilla, are making the trip on the advice of the U.K. government and at invitation of U.S. president Donald Trump.
All right, ahead on CONNECT THE WORLD, we look at conditions inside Iran one month into the war.
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MACFARLANE (voice-over): Welcome back to CONNECT THE WORLD with me, Christina Macfarlane. Here are your headlines.
A desalination plant on Iran's Qeshm Island has been taken out of service by a strike in early March. That's according to a report today from the
semiofficial ISNA outlet. The island is considered a key source of drinking water for Iran and it has been completely taken offline and cannot be fixed
while the war goes on, says the report.
Gasoline prices in the U.S. are reaching an average of $4 a gallon today. That's higher than at any point during president Donald Trump's two terms.
Prices at the pump have been surging along with the price of crude oil since the start of the war with Iran.
Israel's military says four soldiers were killed today in combat in southern Lebanon, where the forces are clashing with Hezbollah fighters.
Civilians continue to suffer heavy losses in this conflict as well.
Lebanese officials say more than 1,200 people have been killed since Israel launched its operations against Hezbollah inside Lebanon.
And I want to share with you a video, just in to CNN, of a strike on Lebanon.
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You can see the building here that was hit in Beirut. The IDF had released a warning earlier for the city.
And here's the view of the skyline.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MACFARLANE: We'll bring you more details, of course, as we get them.
Typical Iranian citizens are doing their best to live through the ongoing war. One resident of Tehran tells CNN the family danced and played music to
keep children occupied during the intense overnight bombardment. As CNN's Leila Gharagozlou shows us, Iranians are using Telegram to try to stay
safe.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LEILA GHARAGOZLOU, CNN PRODUCER: These are just some of the messages on the anonymous Telegram channel, Rahbandoon, Persian for traffic jam. Hi,
it's 9:20. Continuous explosions in Resalat. The power has gone out. The power went out in parts of the east of the city as well. But not all of it.
In the Nobonyad area, there were two explosions loud enough to shake the whole house. The channel currently has about 47,000 followers and is used
by Iranians to stay connected, to let each other know critical information, like where an airstrike has hit, what areas have lost power and the extent
of the damage.
It also provides comic relief users posting jokes and quips, bonding over the dire situation. Over the course of the last month, Iranians have worked
to bypass the regime's communication and information blackout.
Despite the high risk, Telegram channels like this one have strict rules for users: no full names, no arguments, no politics, no talk of where to
buy and sell VPNs and no screenshots.
These channels have been around from before the war. They used to alert people as to where the checkpoints were. During the protests in January,
they were a way to tell people where to gather.
Due to the sometimes sensitive nature of the information, Rahbandoon is a private channel. New users have to ask to join.
Other channels like Vahid Online or Ilia Hashemi Don't allow user interactions. They focus on news alerts and aggregate information, videos
and photos from their followers all around the country, helping to paint a picture of the broader impact of the war.
Vahid Online has recently been a target for its work with Iranian state media reportedly uncovering the account owner and even reporting a possible
arrest in connection with the account.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): These channels are incredibly helpful, allowing information to be shared. People go and see what's
happened and in that very moment, can post something that can really help people and keep them safe.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MACFARLANE: Well, my next guest is the director of the Middle East studies program at George Washington University. Sina Azodi is also author of a new
book, "Iran and the Bomb: The United States, Iran and the Nuclear Question." It will be released on Thursday. He joins me now live from
Washington.
Great to have you. I mean, as we were hearing just there, I mean, the situation inside Iran is clearly dire right now. People are resorting to
messaging each other on Telegram in order to give each other a heads-up of where and when the bombs are falling, given this internet blackout.
What are you hearing right now from inside the country?
SINA AZODI, DIRECTOR, MIDDLE EAST STUDIES PROGRAM, GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY: It's good to be with you, Christina. Look, people are trying
to adjust themselves to the new reality of fighter jets flying low over Tehran, sounds of explosions.
And as someone who grew up in the Iran-Iraq war, I can tell you that this is not a pleasant experience. It's quite traumatic. And it will create a
new generation of Iranian children who were traumatized by the war.
There are now attacks on civilian infrastructure. A pharmaceutical company was attacked. It was also in your reporting that a water desalination
facility was hit in the Qeshm Island that is very dependent on clean water for drinking. So now the reality of war is hitting a majority of Iranians
now.
MACFARLANE: Yes. And, of course, we're hearing that educational systems facilities are being hit as well.
I just want to get your take on where things stand on the negotiation front because the White House have said, as I'm sure you heard, that Iranian
officials are negotiating with the U.S. and they appear to be more reasonable than the regime's previous leaders. But it's still unclear who
these leaders are.
Trump said he's talking with Mohammad Ghalibaf, the speaker of the parliament.
But he actually posted overnight saying this, that, "Iran's enemies pass off their wishes as news while simultaneously threatening our nation.
They're dead wrong. If they strike once, they'll get hit back several times back."
Where do you think these talks stand right now?
And who is involved in these talks?
[10:35:00]
AZODI: Well, it's really hard to tell because, as you said, Iran, the American side is claiming that, you know, talks are going on. Iranians are
denying any direct talks.
But I think the key term here is direct talks. And I think the message -- some messages are being, transmitted through the Pakistanis, that are
delivering messages between Tehran and Washington.
But I'm not sure if these indirect talks, if any, are going anywhere. And the problem is both sides are now thinking -- have a perception, at least -
- that they're winning the war. The U.S. side thinks that, by degrading Iran's military capacity, attacking, you know, military facilities, et
cetera, et cetera, it's winning the war.
And you just have to pay attention to what secretary Hegseth has been saying.
And the Iranian side is also thinking that it's winning the war by denying the United States a decisive victory, attacking American bases in the
region.
We just had, a few days ago, that the Iranians were able to strike an American AWACS plane. So from their perception, not only they haven't lost
the war, they haven't been toppled but now they're being -- now they're able to impose costs at the United States.
And I think this is a very dangerous situation to be in because it destroys any need for an offramp by either side.
MACFARLANE: Yes. And I mean, regardless of who is in charge right now, who the U.S. are negotiating with, I just wonder what you what you thought when
you heard Pete Hegseth in the press conference say earlier that regime change has happened in Iran.
AZODI: Well, I think this is to calm the markets and to prepare the U.S. public opinion for perhaps an -- a quick end. At least I hope that it is,
because one of the things that president Trump said from the beginning was unconditional surrender, regime change, et cetera, et cetera.
And then the president, I think it was yesterday or two days ago, who said that the regime has already been changed because there are new people in
charge who are more moderate now if -- but this is not a regime change.
Islamic Republic is in place. We could perhaps argue that we have an Islamic Republic V. 2 with more military men in charge. But the Islamic
Republic -- and my assessment is actually shared by the CIA and Israeli intelligence -- that the system, Islamic Republic, is intact.
MACFARLANE: Sina Azodi, unfortunately, we have to leave it there but we appreciate you giving us your perspective, especially in what is happening
inside Iran right now. Thank you so much.
We want to just turn to a quick bit of breaking news here at CNN.
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MACFARLANE: The Russian oil tanker has just docked in Cuba, breaking the fuel blockade on the island. Let's get straight to our Patrick Oppmann, to
hear more.
Patrick, what are you seeing?
What can you tell us?
PATRICK OPPMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, this oil blockade that has been lasting for the last three months has essentially ended with, you know,
some love from Russia, let's say.
This is the Anatoly Kolodkin. It is carrying hundreds of thousands of barrels of crude oil, which is being unloaded here in Matanzas, Cuba. That
oil will be unloaded over the next several days. It's a complicated process. It will be refined and then we'll give some badly needed lifeblood
to the Cuban economy, to the Cuban power system.
We expect it will be turned into diesel. And that should power the electrical grid here for a while but not as long as Cubans would like.
We've been told by analysts that it's really 10 to 12 days worth of oil to power this island. Usually Cuba needs about 100,000 barrels a day coming
from outside sources.
And what has happened is Donald Trump and his administration have put a blockade on Cuba. We've not had any oil arriving here in three months.
Previously, of course, you had Venezuelan oil, Mexican oil and occasionally Russian oil.
Russia has not sent that much oil in recent years because, of course, Cuba has a huge debt to Russia and that is not going to be paid anytime soon.
And so it is striking to see Vladimir Putin decide to essentially donate this boat that you're looking at right now, the Anatoly Kolodkin, full of
Russian crude oil to the island of Cuba to break the blockade.
Of course, the Trump administration has said they allowed the ship to come in. They had naval vessels, Coast Guard vessels off the coast here. And
whether or not they reached a deal with Russians or just didn't want to pick a fight at this point with Vladimir Putin, we don't know.
[10:40:00]
But we do know this boat is here. It is going to be unloaded over the next several days. It is incredibly significant for Cuba, of course, the long
relationship they have with Russia. But, of course, the caveat is the Trump administration has said the oil blockade, the policy is still in place. And
this is kind of a one-off.
They will essentially assess other shipments as they come. Maybe they'll allow donations like this one for humanitarian purposes. But that, of
course, could change because we have seen the economy here grinding to a halt over the last several months.
You know, on the road here, it's about two hours from Havana. We saw very few cars. We had to get together all the gasoline we could get to make the
trip out here, a very expensive and difficult proposition. And so this will alleviate the crisis.
But it's not going to solve the crisis. Cuba remains in the crosshairs of the Trump administration still at this point.
MACFARLANE: Yes. ,And Patrick, I mean, you're remarking they're saying that Cuba need at least -- I think 100,000 barrels a day for it to make an
impact. I believe this vessel is carrying somewhere in the region of 730,000 barrels of crude oil.
How -- I mean, this is the first, obviously, oil tanker since the blockade.
But how hopeful are Cubans that this may open the door to more tankers, you know, to more countries to send tankers and set a precedent, in essence?
OPPMANN: Well, talk about history repeating itself. None of their allies wanted to break the fuel blockade. Mexico was under the threat of sanctions
of terrorists from the United States.
Venezuela obviously has had something a change in leadership with Nicolas Maduro being taken to the United States forcefully. The new president there
has not wanted to anger Washington by sending the oil they used to send by the millions of barrels of oil. This country used to run on Venezuelan oil.
So only Vladimir Putin has decided to essentially challenge the Trump administration, come to a deal with the Trump administration. We don't know
how this has worked out but it is a reversal because, of course, the Trump administration was trying to pressure Cuba, trying to get them to the
negotiating table.
They don't have much to show for this effort. It certainly hurt regular people here in Cuba. People are suffering the worst blackouts of their
lives. We've had the power system crash several times, which is a result, of course, of how ancient it is, how outdated the equipment is.
But as well, the added stress of not having enough fuel. So Cubans are suffering the worst economic crisis that they have lived probably in their
entire lives at this point. But despite that, the Cuban government really has not made any major concessions at this point. They've decided to wait
out the Trump administration.
That's what it looks like, at least at this moment. And certainly seeing that they have an ally, seeing that the Russians are coming to the rescue
once again, it probably makes them think that perhaps they can wait out the Trump administration.
MACFARLANE: All right, Patrick, thank you.
That's Patrick Oppmann there, bringing you the first live images of the Russian oil tanker docking in Cuba, ending a near total blockade there.
We'll continue to keep across that.
Patrick, thank you so much.
And we'll be back after this short break.
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[10:45:00]
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MACFARLANE: We're back with some more breaking news on the recent vehicle crash involving golf superstar Tiger Woods. His arrest affidavit has been
released following his arrest on Friday on suspicion of drinking (sic) under the influence. Isabel Rosales has been across the story and is here
to tell us the latest -- Isabel.
ISABEL ROSALES, CNN ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Christina.
For the first time we are getting the arresting officer's perspective via this newly released police report. His conversations with this 50-year-old
golf icon and what happened immediately after this car crash in Jupiter island, Florida, just last week.
Now Woods, Tiger Woods told that officer that he was looking down at his phone. He was changing the radio station and did not notice the car in
front of him had slowed down.
He ended up clipping that car, losing control and flipping his own car, as you can see in these pictures here, onto the side of the road on the
driver's side.
Now that arresting officer noted in the police report that he observed several signs of impairment from Woods, that he was sweating profusely,
hiccupping during the extent of that entire investigation. He was slow. His eyes were bloodshot and glassy, the pupils extremely dilated.
Now Woods agreed to and ultimately failed several field sobriety tests. And as they were arresting him for DUI, they found him in his -- in his inside
pant pocket two pills. Woods said that they are prescribed and ultimately being found to be hydrocodone. So painkillers in his front pocket.
Now Woods has a history here of high-profile crashes, the most serious of which happened in 2021, where he was hospitalized. He had emergency surgery
after a rollover crash.
And then back in 2017, that was a notable one, too, where he was found asleep at the wheel, ultimately arrested on suspicion of DUI and he pleaded
guilty to reckless driving. At the time, he gave out a statement, saying that he had an unexpected reaction to prescribed medications.
Christina, Woods, in this case, refused a urine test and I want to know why that's important in the state of Florida. They just passed a law back in
2025 where refusing a breath, blood or urine test is an automatic misdemeanor and license suspension.
Now ultimately, it's going to be up to the district attorney to decide which charges they're going to stick with and how to handle this case
moving forward, Christina.
MACFARLANE: Yes. We will wait to see what this means for Tiger Woods, given that. Isabel, appreciate the update. Thank you.
And still to come on, CONNECT THE WORLD, hyper-real reborn dolls. We'll take a look at how these adult dolls have become a global phenomenon and
why they're so popular with some women. That's next.
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MACFARLANE: Welcome back.
A certain type of doll has become popular with adults. These reborn dolls are embraced by art collectors as well as mothers who have suffered through
the loss of a child. I took a closer look at the trend and also the backlash to these so-called hyper-real dolls.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, my gosh, look at her.
MACFARLANE (voice-over): All around the world, grown women are falling in love with hyper-realistic dolls.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (OFF MIKE COMMENTS).
[10:50:06]
MACFARLANE (voice-over): They look and feel uncannily like newborn babies. With some posts racking up millions of views on TikTok, I've been going
down a rabbit hole on this phenomenon for months and decided to head to one of the largest doll shows in the world, the big event in the Netherlands,
to understand what this is all about.
MACFARLANE: The skin feels so incredibly real. Can I hold her?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Of course. She's heavy for her.
MACFARLANE: She's quite heavy, yes. It's a very surreal experience to be here because you are just surrounded by babies, newborns, toddlers looking
at you. And there are lots of people here pushing their baby dolls around in push chairs, carrying them in slings.
MACFARLANE (voice-over): Here, collectors and creators can stock up on everything for their Reborn dolls, as they're known.
MACFARLANE: Take a look at that. Glass baby eyes for your baby heads.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This car is for Grace Kelly.
MACFARLANE: This exact one.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, yes.
MACFARLANE: Grace Kelly. This is Grace Kelly's?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
MACFARLANE (voice-over): And above all, they can mingle free of judgment for a change.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I live alone and babies is my hobby.
MACFARLANE: Do you enjoy carrying her in a sling like this?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. It's my therapy baby. When I say it's my therapy baby, they don't think you're crazy.
MACFARLANE (voice-over): The term Reborn first came into play in the 90s when doll aficionados in the U.S. started adding more realistic features to
factory made dolls. Now Reborns are handmade from scratch and using vinyl or silicone and they've become a booming industry.
MACFARLANE: So if I were to buy this now, it's 10,000.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
MACFARLANE (voice-over): With reborns.com just one of several retail websites saying it sells on average, dozens a day. Many sculptors and
artists like Nathalie Moiselet from France, say they make a comfortable living selling their lifelike creations worldwide.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I have to insert the hair, open the mouth, create tongue. It creates an emotion. I don't sell . I sell emotions.
MACFARLANE (voice-over): And boy, can it be emotional.
MACFARLANE: And at the moment here, the baby's chest is breathing. Oh, my goodness. Wow.
MACFARLANE (voice-over): These days, the Reborn community is mainly split into two camps, art and therapy.
ZOE MILLER, THERAPY ADVOCATE: I always say to people, please don't judge.
MACFARLANE: This is Zoe Miller, a Reborn Therapy advocate and artist who tries to educate people on social media. The British mother of six says
Dolls came into her life after her kids moved out and amid various health struggles, including with multiple sclerosis.
MILLER: If I'm having a flare-up, it can be really scary. And they just give me that sense of like, everything's going to be OK. It's taking my
mind off of what's happening right now and. And brings my anxiety down a lot.
MACFARLANE: You have six children, seven grandchildren. People will wonder why you need to have baby dolls.
MILLER: That's fine.
MACFARLANE: Can you explain?
MILLER: Because I can't have another baby. I'm 50 years old next year and I love babies. And I have had some trauma in my past, like many women and I
have lost babies. That leaves a scar somewhere, you know and that's happened to me. So for that fact -- sorry. I was going to cry then.
MACFARLANE: It's OK.
MILLER: Sorry.
MACFARLANE (voice-over): Zoe gifts Reborns that she paints herself to women for therapy, including those who have lost their own children, like
her friend Sharon.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, no. Hi. Hello. How are you?
Come on, sweetie. Oh, you've had a long journey.
MACFARLANE: Two of Sharon's children died tragically, one at just 21 months. In recent years, she's turned to Reborn dolls to help her cope with
the grief.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I have two girls and a boy now. Yes.
MACFARLANE: How does that help you?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It feels a good gap. I won't say it fills it completely because nothing's going to replace my children. Sorry. But yes,
they really help me. They really do help me. Do you want to hold her?
MACFARLANE: I would love.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. You're very welcome.
MACFARLANE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That way.
MACFARLANE: Yes. Oh, my gosh. It's like having a newborn all over again.
[10:55:03]
You know, it's -- it's like my body remembers. I'm a mom of two. And my body feels a bit tricked right now, actually.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK, Sharon. It is very cold.
(LAUGHTER)
MACFARLANE (voice-over): Zoe and Sharon know a lot of people can't understand their love for these dolls. But it's clear how much they help
soothe their trauma. And I for one, think there's nothing wrong with that.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MACFARLANE: I loved exploring that world and the women we met. And I'm very grateful to Zoe and Sharon for trusting us with their story.
And that is it for CONNECT THE WORLD. Stay with CNN. We have "ONE WORLD" coming up after this short break.
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