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Isa Soares Tonight

Trump Hints at Diplomacy with Venezuela; Maduro Opens Door to Dialogue with Trump; Iran Open to Resuming Nuclear Talks. Senate Officially Sends the Epstein Files Bill to President Trump's Desk for His Signature; A Source Tells CNN the U.S. is Quietly Trying to Draft Up a Peace Plan with Russia to End its War in Ukraine; President Trump and Maduro Float the Idea of Talks. Aired 2-3p ET

Aired November 19, 2025 - 14:00   ET

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

[14:00:00]

ISA SOARES, HOST, ISA SOARES TONIGHT: A very warm welcome to the show, everyone, I'm Isa Soares. Tonight, it's a waiting game. The Senate

officially sends the Epstein files bill to President Trump's desk, ready for his signature. The big question now, when will we actually see the

files released?

Then, a source tells CNN that the U.S. is quietly trying to draft up a peace plan with Russia to end its war in Ukraine. We'll have the latest on

that for you. Plus, opening the door to diplomacy. President Donald Trump and Nicolas Maduro float the idea of talks. We'll speak with the Venezuelan

opposition leader as the threat of conflict hangs over the South American country.

But first, tonight, he promised to sign it after lawmakers forced his hand. Now, we're waiting to see what U.S. President Donald Trump does with

legislation on Jeffrey Epstein files. Of course, and critically, when a bill requiring the Justice Department to release all files related to the

late child sex offenders now on Mr. Trump's desk.

When Congress finally took it up yesterday, it raced through, if you remember, we were -- had breaking news in it, both chambers with only one

vote against. Epstein's victims have now been waiting years for these files to see the light of day. But there are concerns the Justice Department may

cite ongoing investigations as a reason to keep them secret after Mr. Trump ordered probes into Epstein's ties to Bill Clinton, another high profile

Democrat.

President Trump himself is mentioned multiple times in already released e- mails raising questions about his own ties to Epstein, and what he may have known about Epstein's crimes. Mr. Trump resisted efforts to release the

files for months, even telling a reporter who asked about it last week, quote, "quiet, piggy".

He has not been accused of a crime and denies any wrongdoing. Well, the bill now set to become law, both Republican and Democratic senators are

urging the Justice Department to fully comply and release the Epstein files. Have a listen to what they told our Manu Raju.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. THOM TILLIS (R-NC): Just release the damn files, period. I don't care about how the sausage is made, I just want it out in the open for everybody

to consume.

MANU RAJU, CNN SENIOR CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Now that this Epstein bill is going to become law, should the DOJ fully comply within 30 days as

it stipulates under the bill?

SEN. ERIC SCHMITT (R-MO): Yes, I think -- I mean, I've been saying for a long time that I think that all the credible information that can be

released should be released. And so, that's where we're at.

SEN. RICHARD BLUMENTHAL (D-CT): There are ways to track and trace what's in those files. And we should have bipartisan commitment that every part of

those files will be disclosed, unless there is a real criminal investigation that justifies withholding it. And then an explanation for

when those files will be disclosed.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOARES: Let's get more on all this. We're joined now by Kristen Holmes at the White House. Kristen, good to see you. According to a senior official,

the President, I understand, will sign the bill, quote, "whenever it gets to the White House. So, do we have a sense of a timeline and will, in fact,

will he sign it as he promised?

KRISTEN HOLMES, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, we've heard from a number of White House officials who promised that President Trump is

going to sign this when it gets to his desk. We know that the Senate has sent it over, but it is unclear if it has arrived at the White House yet.

We have heard from a number of officials who said it could take several hours, which we're coming up on several hours here for it to actually be

transmitted from the Senate to the White House. Now, it is unclear how this signing is going to look. President Trump, often, when it comes to a big

bill signing, wants a lot of pomp and circumstance.

He wants to call in the cameras. But given his reaction to this bill overall and the fighting that he has done against even bringing the vote

for this bill in the first place, it's unclear if that's what he's going to want to do or set up when it comes to this bill to release all of these

Epstein files.

Now, you mentioned this idea or this concern from a number of Democrats and Republicans inside Congress as well as victims who are wondering if

President Trump or if the Department of Justice is going to withhold some of these documents because of this ongoing investigation.

[14:05:00]

We know President Trump had asked the Justice Department to look into Democrats ties, particularly some of his political foes' ties to Epstein.

Investigation was opened up in the Southern District of New York, which is still part of the Department of Justice. Unclear whether or not they are

going to use that as reasoning to not release some of these documents, the Attorney General Pam Bondi was asked about this directly.

She gave a very vague answer, saying they were going to release everything that the law required them to release, but also that protected victims. So,

giving herself a lot of cover there. But again, I am told by the White House that President Trump has committed to signing this, and that he

doesn't plan on standing in the way of those documents being released.

SOARES: And there is another aspect of this, Kristen, we were hearing it yesterday as we saw the House voting on this, not just when these files are

released, but how much of these files will actually be redacted for various reasons you were pointing there to some of those, because I -- you know,

the reason I ask this, because I remember vividly, of course, the special counsel report on Robert Mueller and those extensive black redaction bars.

Do we have a sense from the White House or from any -- the Justice Department, in fact, how much -- how much will actually see of it?

HOLMES: It's going to end up coming down to the Department of Justice and how much they want to release. Now, I will tell you from White House

officials, they say the White House and Department of Justice have released everything that they legally could release. However, when I was pressed

about this idea of this bill passing, would more things be released?

They said, yes, because of the law -- because of this law asking to release all of these files, more would be released. Now, when it comes to

redactions, there's going to be some various considerations that the Department of Justice is going to have to take. And those considerations

might not be what everyone wants to see.

One which I think most people would agree on is that here are some victims who haven't come forward, who don't want their name publicly. Is the

Justice Department going to redact those specific names? In addition to that, are there people who are mentioned in this investigation who are

never proven to do any wrongdoing or never charged with a crime?

How is the Justice Department going to handle that as well? Is that a legal issue for the Justice Department to bring up people's names in relation to

Epstein if they weren't charged with a crime? I do know one thing. If you talk to anyone on the Hill, if you talk to these victims who have come

forward, all they want is all of the information that can possibly be made public to be made public.

SOARES: Kristen Holmes for us there at the White House, thanks very much, Kristen. Appreciate it. Well, staying in Washington D.C., a federal judge

has given the Justice Department a deadline that's just three hours away to respond to stunning revelations that interim U.S. Attorney General Lindsey

Halligan did not present the final indictment against James Comey to the full grand jury.

Attorneys for the former FBI Director arguing that the charges for allegedly lying to Congress should be dismissed. Lawyers say Comey has been

the target of a personal vendetta by U.S. President Donald Trump, pointing to the President's social media posts. The judge has said he will not make

a ruling today because he said the issues are, quote, "too weighty and too complex". Our Katelyn Polantz has the very latest for you.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KATELYN POLANTZ, CNN CRIME & JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT (on camera): A revelation in the federal court this morning that changes the tone of the

case against James Comey, the former FBI director. We were here at this courthouse listening to legal arguments over whether this case had been

brought for unfair reasons by the direction of the President.

But the judge in this case, Michael Nachmanoff, here in the Eastern District of Virginia, he grilled the prosecutors on exactly what happened

with the grand jury when they approved the indictment, and what they said, what both the prosecutor who is taking the lead in the courtroom on this

case, his name is Tyler Lemons(ph), and Lindsey Halligan, the interim U.S. attorney here in this district sent by Trump, who had secured that

indictment against Comey, they both confirmed that the full grand jury did not look at and approve the document that is now the charges against Comey.

Two charges related to his 2020 congressional testimony, where he is accused of lying, misleading Congress. The way that this came out in court

is that the judge wanted to make sure this was the case. There were missing minutes of the grand jury transcript. He knew that the grand jury had

debated for two hours, and that there had been the approval of two charges or been an agreement from the grand jury of two charges, but not a third

that the U.S. Attorney's office wanted to levy against James Comey.

But then he asked, what do the prosecutors do? Do they go back and present this document to the grand jury? Was the operative indictment in this case

a document that was never shown to the grand jury? That's when the prosecutors said, no. The judge took a minute to collect his thoughts, then

had Halligan confirm this was indeed the case.

We're going to be hearing more from the Justice Department later in the day about what this means, what they perceive it means. There could be a lot of

different ways this could go from here, but at very least, it's going to help James Comey argue that things were not as they see the way they should

have been whenever the prosecutors took this case through this court against James Comey initially.

[14:10:00]

And also, as they fight for access to grand jury records, it could very well play into that as well. Back to you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SOARES: Thank you very much, Katelyn Polantz there. Well, it could be the major breakthrough that finally brings an end to Russia's war in Ukraine,

and with it, an end to the devastating pain and suffering of millions of people. A source tells CNN the Trump administration has been quietly

working on a new peace plan with Moscow to end nearly four years of fighting.

U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff has been leading those negotiations, and the White House believes the Kremlin is now open to one agreement. A U.S.

delegation is in Turkey today for talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Those discussions

come on the heels of a massive Russian attack in western Ukraine that Kyiv says killed at least 25 people.

And adding to the tension in the region, both Romania and Poland scrambled fighter jets after Russian drones entered their airspace. With more now,

our chief international security correspondent Nick Paton Walsh.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT (on camera): A particularly horrific night in western Ukraine normally safer

compared to the capital and the country's east. But it seems certainly one KH-101 missile hitting one, possibly two residential apartment blocks,

causing the majority of the dead -- of 25 killed.

Three of those children across the country, in this particularly horrific series of strikes, 92 injured, 18 of those children as well. Nearly, 500

drones launched in this attack and nearly 50 missiles as well. The extent of Russian activity causing several NATO nations to respond. Poland closed

two eastern airports briefly and scrambled fighter jets, and Romania says that a drone entered into its airspace and caused it to scramble euro

fighters and F-16s.

Same time, Russia claims it shot down four attacker missiles supplied by the United States that were fired into its Voronezh region Ukraine has

claimed. So, particularly intense night in the skies and significantly distant to the message of a potential new avenue for diplomacy that's been

pushed by senior Russian officials and indeed encourage, it seems, to, by the White House as well.

It's unclear what this new initiative that seems to be between the Kremlin and U.S. President envoy Steve Witkoff involves, in terms of the detail.

There's been some reporting suggesting there might be 28 points here, but it's precisely exactly what Russia is willing to offer, that this will all

hinge upon, particularly, given the new hard-line approach of the Trump administration.

On the battlefield, Russia is seeing potentially its best weeks in. You might argue the past year, particularly around the embattled city of

Pokrovsk and to the south of that in Zaporizhzhia, where we've seen some substantial advances in the past week or so. Ukraine's President Volodymyr

Zelenskyy in Turkey to try and kick-start possibly a separate diplomatic initiative.

It's clear both sides want to convey the notion that they need peace here. But for Russia's part, it is seeing success on the frontlines and indeed an

ability to penetrate deep into Ukraine that we saw last night, that would suggest it's seeing progress in terms of the violence it's willing to

inflict on Ukraine that wouldn't necessarily be compatible with a peace deal at this stage.

But another particularly horrific night in western Ukraine, with a particularly large death toll, the injured and dead involving children.

Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SOARES: Let's stick with this story. I want to bring in Jim Townsend, who is a young -- Senior Fellow in the Trans-Atlantic Security Program. He's

also the former U.S. deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for European NATO Policy. Jim, welcome to the show. Let me just pick up where Nick Paton

Walsh just left off there, and really get your thoughts, Jim, on this new peace plan that the Trump administration has reportedly been very quietly

hammering out with Russia.

According to "Axios", it involves 28 points that fall into four general buckets, peace in Ukraine, security guarantees, security in Europe and

future U.S. relations with Russia and Ukraine. Very vague, of course. What we don't know at this point, Jim, is whether territorial control in eastern

Ukraine is included in this. Just your thoughts first of all.

JIM TOWNSEND, ADJUNCT SENIOR FELLOW, CENTER FOR NEW AMERICAN SECURITY TRANSATLANTIC SECURITY PROGRAM: Well, you're very right. There's not a lot

that we know about this plan. And we don't even know really if there is a plan. But the --

SOARES: Yes --

TOWNSEND: Indications are that they're working on something that looks like the plan they did with Gaza. In other words, a multi-point plan,

complex with different buckets as you point out. So, they very well be doing these behind the scenes. And what we're seeing in terms of hitting

Ukraine like last night, this is the Russians putting pressure on the -- on the U.S. and on Ukraine.

With these strikes, saying, you know, i think I've got the upper hand. Go ahead and do your plan, but I'm going to really turn the heat up here and

see how you do.

[14:15:00]

SOARES: And we have seen, you're quite right, Jim, we have seen them turn up the heat in the last few weeks. According to a source or CNN, telling

CNN that European-Ukraine's involvement in the talks so far remains unclear. What we don't know was whether they would support such a plan.

I suppose the question is, why would Russia feel that they would want to sign up to this? Like Jim, like our correspondent was saying, this is the

best. If Russia is having the best weeks in the past years, as you heard, our Nic Robertson there, we're seeing that advantage that it's getting in

Pokrovsk.

I mean, it's gaining territory, feeling clearly emboldened, as you are saying, not just in Ukraine but also in Europe, across Europe, be it Poland

and Romania. Why would they sign up for this?

TOWNSEND: Well, you're exactly right, and that's been the problem all along, is Putin has had great faith in what's happening on the

battleground. He believes, at least his military is telling him that things are going really well. I'm not sure he is quite aware of some of their

losses that they're having to -- having to have in that -- in that battle on the ground.

But for Putin, you're right. There is not a lot of pressure on him to suddenly come to the peace table except for the strikes that are going on

against his energy infrastructure.

SOARES: Yes --

TOWNSEND: As the gasoline becomes more expensive and there's shortages in Moscow, there's another vulnerabilities along those lines in the energy

side, that Putin knows that makes the clock tick for him, too. But like you said, he's had a good week, and it looks like you've got the U.S. and

Zelenskyy, you know, really trying to push for peace.

So, he's probably feeling pretty good, like, you know, he's sitting in the catbird seat, as we say, and he's just going to see what kind of offer he's

going to get from the west.

SOARES: I mean, a Russian official telling CNN, we feel the Russian position is really being heard. I mean, that's the thing. The Russian

position seems to be constantly being elevated. And this is why we're still here. That level of frustration, would you say that's the case, Jim?

TOWNSEND: You know, I find that very interesting, that point that you just read out. You know, when they talk about their interest being heard, a lot

of times that means their interests concerning European security, that they have some broader goals. It's not just Ukraine, but it's the fact that NATO

is still around and the U.S. is involved in Europe.

That's something that has rankled the Russians. They want to have a new European security architecture with their voice heard in terms of what

security looks like in Europe. So, it might be that they feel they're getting closer to being able to have that kind of conversation because

they're being heard based on the pressure from all these strikes. Maybe that's what they're trying to say.

SOARES: And we certainly have seen that frustration, if we can call it that across Europe, right? Because it's been, Jim, you said a really tense

week. We've seen Polish officials pointing the finger squarely at Russia after this key train track was destroyed. Warsaw calling it an

unprecedented act of sabotage.

We've seen the Polish Prime Minister today closing the Russian -- the last Russian consulate in the country. Romania also pointing a finger at Russia

as it scrambled its fighter jets. I mean, is Putin now certainly emboldened as we see this more and more often across Europe and NATO countries. But is

he trying to undermine here, support for Ukraine? Is that the aim here, Jim?

TOWNSEND: He is undermining the support for Ukraine and for NATO, because, remember too, the U.K. is under pressure. There was that so-called spy ship

that was approaching Scottish waters --

SOARES: Yes --

TOWNSEND: That the U.K. Defense Minister was talking about. So, put that in the -- in the column too. But you're absolutely right. The pressure, the

hybrid war that is going on now between Russia and NATO, and particularly those nations on the frontlines like Poland, this hybrid warfare has just

been ratcheted up just over the past 24 hours.

And this is something where he is very much emboldened, Putin is, and he knows this kind of pressure. He's hoping will cause the people of Europe

and maybe some of the governments, to turn to Ukraine and say, OK, we've had it, you're on your own. Or to go to NATO and say, NATO, we don't. We're

feeling uncomfortable here.

No one in Europe is saying this now. The European governments are not saying it, NATO is not saying it, and Zelenskyy certainly is not. So,

Europe is holding strong, but it's got to continue because this kind of hybrid war is going to continue going on.

SOARES: Yes, and we did, you mentioned John Healey. We did hear the Defense Secretary in the U.K. talking about a new era of threats, of

course, as this Russia spy ship was kind of circling the edge of U.K. waters.

[14:20:00]

Jim Townsend, thank you very much for coming on the show and for your insight, thank you, Jim.

TOWNSEND: You're welcome --

SOARES: And still to come tonight, the truce in Gaza is hanging on by a thread. We are live with the details of Israel's bombing in Gaza and

Lebanon. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SOARES: Welcome back. The already tenuous Gaza ceasefire is rattled yet again. Israel says it launched retaliatory strikes today across Gaza after

Hamas fired on its troops. The Palestinian Health Ministry says at least 25 people were killed. Both sides have repeatedly blamed each other for

violations of the U.S.-brokered truce.

Just across the border, meantime, in southern Lebanon, the Israeli army is ordering residents to evacuate several buildings. The IDF cites alleged

Hezbollah activity in the area. The warning comes after an Israeli strike on a Palestinian refugee camp near Sudan. The Lebanese Health Ministry says

more than a dozen people were killed.

Let's get more on both of those strands. Our Nic Robertson joins me now from Jerusalem. Nic, good to see you. Both sides -- let's start with Gaza.

Both sides, as we have seen before, blaming each other for violating the ceasefire. Just bring us up to date with the very latest here.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Yes, and this is what precipitated the IDF's attacks they say. They say that Hamas fired at them.

They say that came from a couple of terrorists. Had the IDF described it, they say that no IDF personnel were injured in that attack, and that's why

they had a number of strikes.

The most deadly single strike is in Zeitoun, just south of Gaza city. So, fairly north in Gaza, in the Gaza Strip, 13 people killed there, four of

them, women, four of them, children. And actually, we've just gotten an update on the figures you have the total of the number of people killed

today in Gaza.

Health officials, they are now telling us that it's 28 people total who have been killed, 17 of them women and children, 77 people injured, 13 more

are part of those figures, 13 of the other people killed, were killed in the south. Khan Younis, possibly other areas in the south as well. So, a

very deadly day in Gaza.

North of Israel, as you say, in Lebanon last night, Israel saying that they struck a Hamas target in the Ain al-Hilweh Refugee Camp, a longstanding

Palestinian Refugee Camp in Lebanon just outside the -- on the edge of the city of Sidon.

[14:25:00]

There, 13 people reported killed there. And then in the afternoon today, the IDF report -- IDF announced two warnings, evacuation warnings for

residents in a couple of villages in the south of Lebanon. One of those villages, about 5 miles from the border, another one about 2 miles from the

border. And within an hour of those warnings for civilians to evacuate, get 300 meters away from the -- from any building that they thought Hezbollah

might be in.

Israel say they then targeted Hezbollah targets. We have no reports of casualties from those targeting yet. Israel contends that Hezbollah

continues to try to re-establish itself in a -- what's supposed to be a demilitarized zone in the south of Lebanon. The Lebanese army is expected

to stop Hezbollah doing that.

There are difficulties with them pursuing that. A lot of pressure, international pressure on them to do that. But in Gaza today, not clear yet

if the IDF is done with its strikes. We do know, however, the IDF said that they did inform the United States before those strikes today.

SOARES: I know you'll stay across both of those strands for us, Nic, good to see you. Nic Robertson for us in Jerusalem. Now to a newly freed Israeli

hostage who is back at home with his family and will meet with President Trump in Washington tomorrow. Bar Kupershtein describes how his faith

helped him survive the conditions during his captivity.

He says he plans to talk about all of this with the American President. Our Oren Liebermann had a chance to speak with Kupershtein ahead of the

meeting. Have a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ORE LIEBERMANN, CNN JERUSALEM BUREAU CHIEF: Bar Kupershtein, thank you for sitting down with us. How are you and how is it to be back in Israel?

BAR KUPERSHTEIN, FREED ISRAELI HOSTAGE: (SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

LIEBERMANN: Take me back to the 7th of October. What do you remember from that day?

KUPERSHTEIN: (SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

LIEBERMANN: You came out of captivity a month ago. You've told your story. You've spoken at Hostages Square. What is it that even when they hear your

story, people simply can't understand about what you went through?

KUPERSHTEIN: (SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

LIEBERMANN: You've talked about your religion and how it became stronger while you were in captivity. How? Why?

KUPERSHTEIN: (SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE) --

LIEBERMANN: You're going to the United States. You're going to meet President Donald Trump. What are you going to say to him?

KUPERSHTEIN: (SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

LIEBERMANN: Bar, thank you for your time.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOARES: Oren Liebermann there speaking to Bar Kupershtein. And still to come tonight, after weeks of relentless U.S. pressure on Venezuela's

Nicolas Maduro, diplomacy might stand a chance. We'll bring you the latest after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:30:00]

SOARES: Welcome back, everyone. As the looming threat of U.S. armed conflict with Venezuela continues to hang heavily over the Caribbean,

President Trump and Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro seem to be opening the door to diplomacy. Trump has said he would be willing to speak directly with his

Venezuelan counterpart at a, quote, "certain time." It's a message Maduro has welcomed, saying he would be open to a face-to-face dialogue. Whether

these are just empty words of goodwill is yet to be seen.

White House officials saying Trump has yet to reach a final decision on whether to attack Venezuela on land. Have a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: Look, he's done tremendous damage to our country, primarily because of drugs, but really because we have that

problem with other countries, too. But more than any other country, the release of prisoners into our country has been a disaster. He's emptied his

jails. Others have done that also. He has not been good to the United States. So, we'll see what happens.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOARES: And this comes as the Venezuelan opposition insists Maduro's regime is cracking. On Tuesday, its leader, Maria Corina Machado, published

an op-ed in the Washington Post outlining her freedom manifesto for a liberated Venezuela, saying Maduro should be tried for crimes against

humanity.

I want to bring in Stefano Pozzebon, who is following the story for us from Caracas. So, Stefano, let's start, first of all, on what we are hearing

from any sort of diplomatic channels on whether Trump, President Trump and Nicolas Maduro have engaged, when they're going to engage, because

obviously that will say a lot about what we're likely to see of the Caribbean.

STEFANO POZZEBON, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Well, Isa, what we are hearing here in Caracas, especially from sources close to the Venezuelan government, is

that those conversations are yet to begin. There are, of course, back channels that are ready to be activated. There has always been a level for

U.S. officials to speak with Venezuelan officials in some way and vice versa, but that hasn't happened yet.

It seems like that Donald Trump is yet to make a final decision on whether to give the green light to arm strikes, by the way, which the armed forces

surrounding Venezuela and the U.S. Navy surround in Venezuela, or give diplomacy one last chance. And for that, Nicolas Maduro will be all too

welcome to speak with anyone who wants to come to Caracas.

[14:35:00]

By the way, that doesn't mean that there are no official conversations, because the two governments still cooperate around the area of

deportations.

SOARES: And on that front, repatriation flights, I understand, are still ongoing. You went to see some of these. Just bring us up to date, the very

latest on that, Stefano.

POZZEBON: Yes, Isa, this is an area that we should probably pay more attention to, because even with this old geopolitical confrontation, the

deportation flights of Venezuelan migrants from the United States back into Venezuelan soil have never stopped. We're talking about two flights every

week.

And so, far, since February, when this agreement was signed by Richard Grenell, who was back then the U.S. envoy to deal with Maduro, well, we've

had at least 55 flights directly from the United States. For example, today we went to these flights, who are -- which arrived here in Caracas at

around 11:00 a.m. local time, so just a few hours ago, these are flights that are completely paid by U.S. taxpayers. They are managed by ICE, the

agency that in the U.S. is in charge of migration.

And it shows that one way or another, there are conversations between at least the government of the United States as a whole and the Venezuelan

government as a whole. That doesn't mean that the two presidents are speaking or that people in their staff are speaking to each other. We

understand that that hasn't happened yet. But like it was quite important to show that there are ways and days where you could see the stars and

stripes here in Venezuelan soil, and that's around the area of deportation, which I think is really crucial for Donald Trump, that those deportations

keep going, even though he's definitely putting pressure on Maduro, calling him that he's not a legitimate president and all of that. But the

deportation is the crucial one for Trump, and that's why we still see that happening.

SOARES: Stefano Pozzebon for us in Caracas in Venezuela. Thanks very much, Stefano, good to see you. I do want to stay on the story. I want to bring

in Venezuelan opposition politician Leopoldo Lopez, who joins me now. Leopoldo, great to have you back on the show. I hope you are doing well.

Let me start off with what has been weeks of tension, almost being at the brink of a strike. President Trump, meantime, as you've probably heard, not

ruling anything out. I think he said -- let me quote what he said, "I probably will talk to him," talking of Maduro. "I talked to everybody." And

then yesterday at the White House, Leopoldo, he said he wants to talk. I wonder where do you see this going? Is this the last? Is this an ultimatum,

you think, Leopoldo?

LEOPOLDO LOPEZ, VENEZUELAN OPPOSITION MEMBER AND CO-FOUNDER, VOLUNTAD POPULAR: Well, it's very important for everybody to know is that the

Venezuelan people have decided for change massively. We had an election a year ago that elected Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia under very difficult

circumstances. And he got 70 percent of the vote. If the Venezuelans, like myself, that are living in forced exile, 10 million Venezuelans would have

been able to vote, it would have been 90 percent.

So, this is what we, the Venezuelan people, want. We want change. We want it peacefully. We want a transition to democracy. But we welcome the

pressure that has been put by the Trump administration, because we clearly understand that Maduro is, in fact, the head of a criminal organization. I

spent seven years in prison and was sentenced to 14 years of imprisonment for saying that Maduro is linked to the narco activities in Venezuela. And

this was 12 years ago.

So, we do know that this is true. We do know that Maduro runs the state as a criminal organization that has destroyed the country and that has forced

a massive migration. We understand that migration is a big issue, as it was mentioned before, but the best migration policy towards Venezuela is to

bring back democracy. People will stop leaving the country and millions of people will come back to Venezuela.

SOARES: And on that point, Leopoldo, do you think President Trump should really be -- he has not yet started talking to him, but do you think

President Trump should engage with Nicolas Maduro? Do you think they -- that Maduro should be given a chance to board a flight and to leave

Venezuela, or do you think the time for talking should be over now?

LOPEZ: No, I think you presented the choices very well. I mean, this could be a negotiation with those two choices, whether Maduro decides to stand

down peacefully, recognize that there is a transition to democracy that has been chosen by the Venezuelan people or that there will be credible threats

and that there will be consequences. So, this is a very different type of negotiation engagement than what we've seen in the past.

[14:40:00]

Maduro has manipulated for many times negotiations. There has been many mediators, the Vatican, ex-presidents, Norway, OAS, and they've all led to

the same spot where Maduro and prior to him, Chavez, win time and then stop any meaningful process. So, Maduro is not credible to engage in

negotiations. Only if these are in the terms that you are presenting, there will be a way to make the transition smooth and to make the will of the

Venezuelan people prevail, because that's what it's all about, the will of the Venezuelan people for change.

SOARES: Given what you've just said, Leopoldo, and what we know about Nicolas Maduro over the last 13 years, do you think that he will get on a

plane, that he will remove himself, that he will leave open the way for Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia and for Maria Carina Machado, or do you think he

will have to be forced out?

LOPEZ: Well, for the first time, there is a very credible threat. There were many negotiations in the past, as we said before, but now there is a

very credible threat. There is a very credible commitment from the U.S. administration that has been framing adequately the problem of Venezuela as

Maduro being the head of a criminal organization. And there is clear commitment by the U.S. administration to dismantle this criminal

organization that is leading the Venezuelan state as of now. So, we hope for a transition.

SOARES: Do you think, Leopoldo, that -- do you know, do you have a sense of whether the Maduro regime is cracking, which is what we're hearing, of

course, from Maria Corina Machado and Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia? Do you -- what are you hearing in terms of his inner circle? But this is always a

problem, right? If his inner circle doesn't begin to crack, then you cannot dislodge him. Because that's what matters right now, isn't it?

LOPEZ: Yes, and I think that that is for sure happening. I am not a military. I'm a civilian, but I spent four years in a military prison. So,

I can tell you that the military in Venezuela are Venezuelans, that they think and vote the same way that the rest of Venezuelan people do. However,

they are under great surveillance and pressure.

But in the past, there has been moments where the military cracks. And this pressure buildup, I think, could lead to two things. One, a crack within

the system, within the military that supports Maduro today. And two, massive protests, peaceful protests, as we have seen in the past. And these

will be the two components that could lead to a transition to democracy.

SOARES: Leopoldo Lopez, always great to hear from you. Hopefully next time, Leopoldo, you and I can speak in Caracas. Here's hoping.

LOPEZ: In Venezuela.

SOARES: Good to see you, Leopoldo. Absolutely. Good to see you. Thank you very much.

LOPEZ: Thank you very much.

SOARES: Thank you. And still to come tonight, signs emerge that nuclear talks could be on the cards between U.S. and Iran. But what is Iran willing

to agree to? Our exclusive report coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:45:00]

SOARES: President Trump has signaled Iran may be interested in striking a nuclear deal with the United States. Now, speaking exclusively to CNN, a

senior adviser to Iran's supreme leader says this country is, in fact, open to resuming talks.

However, their conditions have not changed since the U.S. attacked Iran, if you remember, back in June. Fred Pleitgen has this exclusive report from

Tehran.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Five months after the 12-day Israel-Iran war, and after the U.S. struck

Iranian nuclear sites, Iran says it's willing to talk to the Trump administration, but only on Tehran's terms, a senior adviser to Iran's

supreme leader tells me in an exclusive interview.

PLEITGEN: Would you be willing to talk again if they made a move, or would you be willing to contact them again?

KARNAL KHARRAZI, SENIOR POLICY ADVISER, IRAN'S SUPREME LEADER: It all depends, if it would be based on mutual respect and equal footing.

PLEITGEN (voice-over): Meeting with Saudi Arabia's crown prince at the White House on Tuesday, President Trump says he thinks Iran wants an

agreement with him.

TRUMP: They'd like very much to make a deal with us, and they call us, and we'll end up probably doing that. That's Iran.

PLEITGEN (voice-over): Tehran believes their powerful ballistic missiles forced the U.S. and Israel into a ceasefire in June, and any talks with the

U.S. would be limited to its nuclear program, the Iranians insisting they will continue uranium enrichment.

KHARRAZI: There are ways and means how to ensure that Iran can continue its enrichment, but at the same time, assure the others that it's not going

to look for a nuclear weapon.

PLEITGEN: So, Iran is going to continue to expand its ballistic missile program? Because I know that some of the ballistic missiles are very

sophisticated.

KHARRAZI: No question about that. And it is only a nuclear issue that we are ready to engage with the United States and others. We are not going to

speak with others or negotiate with others on the other issues, including missile activities.

PLEITGEN (voice-over): On Tehran's streets, anger towards the U.S., but also some hope that maybe diplomatic movement is possible. In the end,

there has to be reconciliation, this man says. There is no way but friendship.

Fred Pleitgen, CNN, Tehran.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SOARES: And still to come tonight, a historic moment for next year's World Cup, World Sports' Amanda Davies will join us to explain the excitement

sweeping one Caribbean nation. That is next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:50:00]

SOARES: Well, the World Cup is still many months away, but it's already guaranteed to be a great one. The small Caribbean nation of Curacao has

become the smallest country to ever qualify. And Haiti is in for the first time in 52 years. Well, I spoke earlier with our World Sports Amanda Davies

about the building excitement that we've been seeing.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SOARES: Amanda, small nations probably celebrating as if they had already won the World Cup in the first place. Give us a sense of who qualified and

what a joy it has been today to see those celebrations.

AMANDA DAVIES, CNN WORLD SPORT: Yes, it says so much that the European champion Spain drew 2-2 to automatically qualify and they equaled a

European record 31 matches unbeaten. Nobody's talking about that. Everybody is getting swept up in the joy of the likes of Curacao, Haiti, Scotland,

booking their place in this World Cup finals.

And this was all part of FIFA's grand plan. It's what they hoped for. This, of course, the first World Cup taking place with 48 nations taking part

rather than 32, which is what we've seen traditionally, to give some of these nations a chance. But still, what Curacao and Haiti have achieved and

the manner in which they've done it is just incredible. And the pictures that we've been seeing.

SOARES: Scenes of joy, right?

DAVIES: Absolute scenes of joy. And Curacao, let's put it into context, they are the smallest nation ever to make it to a World Cup finals, any

World Cup finals. Their story is being likened to Iceland. Do you remember qualifying for Russia in 2018? Iceland actually haven't made it to any of

the two tournaments, including this one, since then. But Curacao, a country with a population of around 150,000 people, 171 square miles. I'm actually

stumbling over that number because it's so small.

SOARES: It's so small, yes.

DAVIES: Do I need to add a zero? No, I don't. It is 171 square miles, a tiny Caribbean island who secured a draw, a goalless draw against Jamaica.

But that is enough to see them into next year's tournament.

SOARES: I'm sure, you know, we love an underdog. I'm sure everyone will be backing them in this World Cup. Haiti, of course, another one. Another

country that we have covered here on the show for just the horrific scenes we have seen, the humanitarian crisis that has plagued that country for so

long, Amanda. I'm sure they'll be super excited about what this moment means.

And I can't let you go without mentioning, as well, Scotland. My wee last producer, Anna, is Scottish. I think she felt like she won the World Cup

today. Just bring those two into the conversation.

DAVIES: Yes. Haiti back at the World Cup finals for the first time in over 50 years. But a country with everything going on, as you've rightly been

saying, kind of since the earthquake and then the attempted assassination efforts. They haven't played a home football match since 2021. They've been

-- they are a team that are very much spread around the world. Their manager, actually French manager, has been in his job 18 months, has never

even visited Haiti. But they got the 2-nil 0 win over Nicaragua and helped to qualify. So, an epic story there. Again, we've seen the celebrations and

what it means for them to be in that draw.

And then Scotland, a country so proud with such pride in their footballing heritage. But it's been a very, very long wait for them. 28 years since

they last reached a World Cup finals. And it was the manner of their victory against Denmark. They scored three of the most sensational goals

you will ever see on any football stage at all to beat Denmark to book their place in the draw on December 5th.

And I got the chance to speak to Alex McLeish, their former manager, their former player who led Scotland at three different World Cups. And he said,

without doubt, this is up there as one of the greatest moments in Scottish footballing history.

SOARES: Exciting. And we've got the draw in December. Is it December"?

DAVIES: December 5th.

SOARES: Amanda, thank you very much indeed.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[14:55:00]

SOARES: Our thanks to Amanda for that. And finally, tonight, what is the price of a toilet in New York City, you ask? Well, as of yesterday evening,

just over $12 million. But it's not just any old toilet, as you can see. It's the infamous 8-carat gold sculpture America, created by Maurizio

Cattelan and sold by Sotheby's Auction House.

And if that sale wasn't enough just to turn heads, a rare Gustav Klimt painting broke records when it became the most expensive work of modern art

ever sold at an auction. After an intense 20-minute bidding war, Portrait of Elisabeth Lederer sold to an unnamed buyer for a staggering $236.4

million. And if you are in the market, still in the market for a big purchase, listen up, Max Foster.

Frida Kahlo's self-portrait entitled El Sueno is expected to break records when it goes under the hammer tomorrow. The price tag anticipated to be a

mere $40 to $60 million. It's expected to break the record for the most expensive artwork by a woman. Get your bidding paddle ready. Ah, that Frida

Kahlo is fabulous.

That does it for us for tonight. Do stay right here, a man who knows everything about art, well, at least he seems to think he does. Max Foster

is up next with "What We Know."

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:00:00]

END