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Isa Soares Tonight
Pakistan Tightens Security Ahead of U.S.-Iran Talks; Netanyahu Wants Direct Talks with Lebanon; Israeli Attacks on Lebanon Strain U.S.-Iran Truce; Melania Trump denies relationship with Epstein. Netanyahu Seeks Direct Negotiations with Lebanon; Pakistan Tightens Security Ahead of U.S.- Iran Talks; Iran Says the Strait of Hormuz is Open, But Ships Need Approval from Iran First. Aired 2:30-3p ET
Aired April 09, 2026 - 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: Hello, and a very warm welcome, everyone, I'm Isa Soares. Tonight, under intense pressure, Israel has just
announced a step that could help stabilize a critical ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he's seeking direct talks with Lebanon, focused on disarming Hezbollah. Sources tell CNN, U.S. President
Donald Trump requested those negotiations and a pullback in Israeli attacks on Lebanon.
It is unclear whether Israel will scale back at this hour. Earlier today, Iran's President said Israeli strikes on Lebanon make negotiations, quote,
"meaningless". And those blistering attacks, which health officials say killed more than 300 people on Wednesday, have threatened to plunge the
region back into an all-out war.
Israel and the U.S. insist Lebanon wasn't included in the temporary truce. Iran and key mediator, Pakistan says it was. Pakistani authorities,
meanwhile, are tightening security in Islamabad ahead of high stakes talks this weekend meant to really shore up the ceasefire.
U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance will lead the Trump administration's delegation. Iran is still apparently using the Strait of Hormuz, as you can
see there, as leverage. It says the Strait is open, but it's allowing only a trickle of ships to pass.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SAEED KHATIBZADEH, DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER, IRAN: The Strait of Hormuz is open. Of course, there are technical restrictions because of the war zone
and because of many arrangements that Iran did during the war, during this aggression against Iran.
So, there are some technical restraints, and this is why that all the ships that they would like to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, they have to
communicate with our army and our military contact points there.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Well, we're joined now by Alayna Treene at the White House, and our Clarissa Ward is in Riyadh. I would like to start with Clarissa this
hour. And Clarissa, we just laid out there in our introduction, this ceasefire is very much being put to the test over two key issues, that is
the Strait of Hormuz as we just mentioned there, and Lebanon.
The latter, as we've been hearing facing another round of evacuation orders, all while Prime Minister Netanyahu calls for negotiations with
Lebanon. How do you assess the status of the ceasefire and the timing, of course, of these negotiations with Lebanon?
CLARISSA WARD, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Isa, I think there's no question we are in a much better position this evening than when
I last spoke to you yesterday. This morning -- well, I should say, overnight, there were continued Israeli strikes on Lebanon, that after
those devastating attacks left more than 300 Lebanese people dead.
Hezbollah, in turn, flew rockets into -- or fired, I should say, rockets into northern Israel. This morning, the Israelis issuing an evacuation
order for a large swath of the southern suburbs of Beirut, the Dahiya area, as it's known, which is a Hezbollah stronghold.
And all of that was really feeding fears that this could completely scupper these face-to-face negotiations in Islamabad. On Saturday, we had
statements from Iran's parliamentary speaker, from the Foreign Minister, from the Prime Minister, effectively threatening to pull out of the
ceasefire and negotiations if this considered.
And it just may be that Prime Minister Netanyahu's announcement that Israel and Lebanon would hold direct talks with a view to ending this conflict,
that is the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, might have averted a very challenging situation.
And I think you can be sure that there was an enormous amount of U.S. pressure behind the scenes here to make this happen. Also, an important
note here in the gulf, which yesterday, as we talked about, was still being bombarded with drones and missiles, particularly in the UAE.
It has been a remarkably quiet day. The first time since this war began that the UAE reported no projectiles, no drones, no missiles being fired
into its airspace.
[14:05:00]
So, that is being seen as a positive indication here in the gulf. But there are still concerns, as you mentioned, about the Strait of Hormuz, Iran
continuing to say that it will negotiate access and it alone, and that only 15 ships can pass through the Strait a day maximum at the moment.
And so, the gulf countries really want to be sure that as the U.S. and Iran head to Islamabad to hold those face-to-face talks with each other, that
there will be security guarantees for the gulf baked into that agreement. Isa.
SOARES: Yes, Clarissa, stay with us. Let me go to Alayna, it's clear, Alayna, that the Strait of Hormuz is critical for President Trump. Of
course, Lebanon critical for Iran, and we are learning in the last, what? Hour, or so, that it was President Trump who asked Netanyahu to seek direct
negotiate -- have these direct negotiations with Beirut.
I'm seeing in the last few moments as well, that President Donald Trump told "NBC News" that he asked Netanyahu, Benjamin Netanyahu to be, quote,
"a little more low key". Look ahead, frame this as we look ahead. Of course, these meetings in Islamabad this weekend, what more can you tell
us?
ALAYNA TREENE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Isa, I think this interview -- and I'm just seeing it as well, coming across on our wires in
the last few moments. I think it's really notable to the context of everything that Clarissa just laid out about the importance and really, I
think the United States recognizing the need to intervene here in order to keep this ceasefire from breaking down.
The President told "NBC", I want to quote him here, just because I have this in front of me. The President told "NBC", quote, "I spoke with Bibi,
and he's going to low key it. I just think we have to be sort of a little more low key".
He added in this interview that he believes the Israelis are going to be scaling back operations in Lebanon. And of course, we have to wait and see
whether or not this will be enough for the Iranians and to keep this ceasefire alive.
But clearly, the White House working to try and avert any sort of breakdown over this issue specifically. But to your other, more broader questions,
Isa, this meeting on Saturday is going to be a big test, I think, of this entire process.
From the conversations I've been having all day with White House officials, they kind of frame it as what they're hoping will be the start of several
intense negotiations. I know that in my conversations despite what we heard from the President overnight in a Truth Social post, saying that the army
and the military are standing by in case the ceasefire breaks down.
They are really hoping that this is the end of fighting in the region, and that the U.S. won't have to continue with its military campaign, and that
they will be able to reach a much more longer-term lasting type of peace deal.
Of course, that's a very optimistic approach to this, particularly with all of the confusion and back-and-forth kind of disagreements we've been
talking about over the last 24 hours. But that is currently at least, the White House view of this.
And part of the reason, too, this is going to be a big moment is because of the presence of Vice President J.D. Vance. Not only am I told that it's
kind of him lending a certain level of credence, given that he is the number two in this White House next to the President, of course.
But also, that, you know, the Iranians and the intermediaries, including Pakistan, also recognize Vance's anti-interventionist views from the past.
And also, I think they're reading the same reports that all of us here in Washington are, including us putting them out ourselves.
This idea that Vance was one of the only few high-ranking officials who kind of pushed Trump against some of these strikes to begin with. So, I'm
told that, that is also expected to lend a certain, you know, different presence to these talks.
But we really have to see what will happen. I think a huge question as well, of course, is really whether they can, you know, come and broach the
daylight between these different proposals. The Iranians have a 10-point proposal. The United States has a 15-point proposal.
Whether that will be enough for the key starting point to really get these talks on Saturday to advance to another level and continue from there. But
we really have to wait and see.
SOARES: Yes, a huge gap right now, and clearly, a huge lack of trust as well. Alayna Treene and Clarissa Ward, thank you ladies, great to see you
once again. Well, let's get some perspective now from U.S., retired U.S. Air Force Colonel Cedric Leighton. He's a CNN military analyst.
Colonel, great to have you back on the show. Let me start with what we're hearing out of Lebanon. Both Clarissa, as you heard there, and Alayna
touching on this, I think this is the breaking news we've been following the last two hours or so.
We -- Prime Minister Netanyahu, as you know, said today that it wants to begin direct negotiations with Lebanon. It seems the U.S. President has
been pushing him for that, we just heard in the last few minutes speaking to "NBC", that he spoke with Bibi, he says here: "I spoke with Bibi and
he's going to low key it. I just think we have to be sort of a little more low key."
[14:10:00]
And that was a quote. At this moment, it's no -- there's no indication that this means a temporary ceasefire while talks are ongoing. It's quite the
contrary. How do you see this moment? How do you assess this, given the talks, of course, that Alayna was discussing in Islamabad over the weekend?
CEDRIC LEIGHTON, CNN MILITARY ANALYST: Yes, Isa, it's great to be with you again. The way I look at this is that, this is an essential step by the
Trump administration to really run these negotiations. And Israel could have basically played the role of spoiler in this particular case.
And it's essential for the United States from President Trump's point of view, that, that not happen. The Israelis and the U.S. do have divergent
goals in mind here. And that's -- I think one of the key things that we have to really understand.
You know, on the one hand, the Israelis want actual regime change in Iran. And they look at Hezbollah, you know, it's definitely related and
definitely an Iranian proxy. But they also see it as an independent force in many respects.
And they see any type of ceasefire in Iran as being an area where they can potentially take advantage of that and prosecute a war -- or at least, you
know, some attacks against forces like Hezbollah. And in this particular case, they -- you know, that really is not what the United States needs
because the Iranians do view this as a Middle East-wide ceasefire effort.
And they want that to happen, perhaps so that they can regroup, but also in a way so that they can, really maximize any possible benefits for
themselves and for their proxies from any negotiations in Islamabad or any other place that they might occur.
SOARES: Yes, and we heard that, in fact, this time yesterday from the speaker of the Iranian parliament, who is basically saying that he wouldn't
entertain a ceasefire unless Lebanon was actually included in this proposal.
Let me go back to Hezbollah, because I think this is important. We had heard previously, colonel, that the Lebanese government didn't have the
ability. Critics may go as far as to say they didn't even have the desire to disarm Hezbollah. How do you assess the challenge here?
Because Hezbollah has been degraded as we've been -- reported, has been weakened, but clearly not disarmed. What we have seen, continues to see
strikes even today on Israel. Just frame that for us.
LEIGHTON: Yes, so, Hezbollah is still a very potent force, Isa. And, you know, when you look at the way in which they've conducted their operations,
just like the Iranians, they are very good at basically asymmetric warfare.
Even the devastating effects of the Pager attack and the decimation of Hezbollah's leadership has really not resulted in an elimination of that
group as a danger to Israel. And that's why the Israelis want to move forward and control southern Lebanon.
They want to control the area, at least, up to the Litani River and perhaps even beyond that. And they do that -- you know, they want to do that for
the security of northern Israel's population. At least, that's how they see it.
But as far as the Lebanese government is concerned, they have a better chance at this particular moment in time to be able to control Hezbollah
and to limit Hezbollah's activities against Israel. However, they are -- they still -- they still have significant challenges in doing so.
In spite of Hezbollah's weakness compared to how it was just a -- you know, a year or two ago, there is still -- they still are a potent force in
Lebanon, still control vast territory within this country. And they also control a large portion of the population.
So, Hezbollah is still a potent force within Lebanese politics. And for the Lebanese government to be able to control them, it's going to be more a
factor of negotiation within Lebanon, as opposed to actually using physical force against Hezbollah. And that's going to be, I think, difficult to
achieve.
SOARES: Yes, and I think it will be. And let's look -- and I think this is important as we look ahead, the way you frame the look ahead to these
meetings in Islamabad, because it's clear there is a lack of trust. There's a seismic shift between these sides.
We're just seeing, hearing as you were speaking there, colonel, hearing from Iran's supreme leader. Once again, we haven't seen Mojtaba Khamenei,
we haven't heard him. It was a statement that was read out on Iranian state TV.
He says that Iran remains determined to, quote, "take revenge" for his slain father and those killed in the war. He did also -- said that Khamenei
said that Iran will bring management of the Strait of Hormuz into a new phase, which is something one of the requirements they have to have control
and have a say in the Strait of Hormuz.
He said also that Iran did not seek war, but would not relinquish its rights. And it said at the end, and I'm quoting here, colonel, "we will
certainly demand compensation for each and every damage inflicted and the blood price of the martyrs and the compensation for the wounded of this
war."
[14:15:00]
So, as we hear this, and I'm going to ask my producer, Vicky(ph), to put up a graphic of the original -- of the demands with these points that we've
been hearing from Iran, because obviously it wants not only to regulate the passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
It wants, you know, no attacks on Iran or regional proxies, of course, and it wants the withdrawal of U.S. troops. I mean, how realistic is any of
this as we look at some of Iran's demands?
LEIGHTON: Yes, this is very -- going to be very interesting, Isa. So, in essence, they are not realistic demands in the aggregate because things
like regulating the passage through the Strait of Hormuz, that is something that is very different because, the Strait of Hormuz is a natural body of
water.
It is a natural area between two land masses. It is not like the Panama Canal or the Suez Canal, which were man-made, and to thus, exact tolls in
an effort to compensate for the construction efforts, at least, originally, and to produce revenue for the countries involved, like Panama and Egypt.
But in this particular case, they're trying to turn the Strait of Hormuz into a canal, in essence. And it's really an international waterway. And in
the past, at least, the U.S. has been very clear that choke points like the Strait of Hormuz are really to be opened to all forms of navigation, in
essence, freedom of navigation is the critical piece here.
And any attempt by another country to limit that freedom of navigation, that in the past has really caused resistance from the U.S. and efforts by
the U.S. to open things up, going all the way back to the Barbary pirates in the early part of the 19th century.
So, this is the kind of thing that, you know, if the U.S. accedes to these demands, it's going to not only change the complexion of how maritime
traffic is conducted, but it is also going to change the equation between the powers.
And that could result in a lot of difficulty, not only for the United States, but for other great powers around the world. And even for medium-
sized powers for the European Union, for example. So, this is something where the United States has to tread very carefully, and they have to be
very careful not to accede to Iranian demands like this. And the idea, for example, of removing all U.S. troops from the Middle East --
SOARES: Yes --
LEIGHTON: That would -- I would think, be vociferously opposed by the gulf states, especially Saudi Arabia and Qatar and Kuwait. So, this is something
that I think really is going to be just the beginning of some really intense negotiations and the idea of reaching an agreement quickly, I think
is far-fetched at this juncture.
SOARES: It does seem like that. Colonel, so important to have you on the show, fantastic analysis. Thank you very much, Colonel Cedric Leighton.
Thank you. Well, oil prices are rising to triple figures once again, hovering around $100 a barrel as uncertainty of the Strait of Hormuz, as
you heard there from the colonel, continues and continues to worry investors.
I want you to take a look at quickly at the oil prices. Brent crude is considered the global benchmark. The WTI is the U.S. crude benchmark. We
don't have them. In fact -- in fact, do we have the U.S. markets? We have U.S. markets. How about let's go to the U.S. markets.
There we go. I can give you those. Dow up and not doing as well as we saw yesterday, I think at one point, there were 2.5 percent up. But still,
we'll take those green arrows across the board. Do you know who has oil prices?
And I can count on her to have that is Anna Cooban who joins me now here in London. Anna, we will talk about the oil price in just a moment, because
those are important. But I see that you have the Strait of Hormuz -- and I was talking to Colonel Cedric Leighton there about how crucial, right?
How much Iran has recognized this as a strategic leverage it has here. But first, before I get ahead of ourselves in these negotiations, just clear up
some of the confusion that you and I have been talking about in the past 24 hours, which is, is the Strait of Hormuz open?
Is it still limited? Because I heard the deputy -- Iranian deputy Foreign Minister basically saying it remains open, but they need to coordinate with
Iran. I mean, what does that mean?
ANNA COOBAN, CNN BUSINESS & ECONOMICS CORRESPONDENT: Well, Isa, you're right. There is a lot of confusion about this. And this photo was taken a
couple of hours ago, and as you can see, this is where we should really be seeing ships go through.
But there are hardly any going through. And Lloyd's list, which is a -- compiles maritime data. They've said that today, as of noon, only two ships
got through, and that since the ceasefire was announced, they've seen just a handful of ships get through, and they all have some kind of links to
Iran.
And so, it really feels like Iran is -- very much still got control of the Strait. And the IRGC actually today published a photograph of routes that
they deemed to be, you know, that they would approve ships to go through, and they very much went right up to the Iranian coast, which suggests that
there very much needs to be coordination with the -- with the Iranian military.
[14:20:00]
And they warned that ships should not go through this middle bit, which they would normally go through before this all happened, warning that it
was unsafe because mines had potentially been planted there. So, I don't think materially, all that much has changed.
And of course, you've mentioned the thorny issue of a toll, and I think, Isa, many oil traders are getting increasingly nervous or increasingly
resigned to the idea that there may be some formalization of this toll.
The U.S. yesterday saying that it's potentially going to have a joint venture with Iran to start charging ships going through the Strait. Before
all this happened, there was no toll at all. And so, yes, as you mentioned, really, we haven't seen that much change in the past 48 hours. And oil
traders really want to see more of these dots, these ships getting through the Strait.
SOARES: Yes, and so, then, where -- yet, we are seeing oil prices starting to dip. Where are we today? Because I know yesterday, you were telling me,
you gave me a sense there are still a lot of unease.
COOBAN: Oh, completely. I mean, yesterday, we saw massive falls, WTI, the U.S. benchmark fell by around 16 percent, Brent by 13 percent. This was the
kind of relief rally or reverse rally falls that we wanted to see.
But still not getting back to where we were before the war. WTI was around $67 a barrel before the war, now, it's back up to around near a $100 a
barrel. So, it's been completely volatile, and we should expect to see more of that, Isa, as long as this map looks like this basically.
SOARES: Yes, until we've got a clearer picture of these negotiations, we won't know for sure. We'll have to wait for the weekend. Anna, appreciate
it. Anna Cooban there for us. And still to come tonight, an interview with the EU's top diplomat. What she says about criticism that Europe is not
doing enough in the Middle East. That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SOARES: Welcome back, everyone. The UAE is asking for further clarification about the ceasefire to ensure Tehran's full commitment and
the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz without conditions. The EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, is also in Abu Dhabi,
where she said, she met with the Saudi Foreign Minister and the head of the GCC to discuss how to move from the two-week truce to, of course, a more
permanent peace.
Our Becky Anderson sat down with Kaja Kallas, who told her that despite the ceasefire, there are still critical issues to resolve. She also pushed back
on criticism from gulf nations and the U.S. that the EU has not done enough, especially around securing the Strait of Hormuz. Have a listen.
[14:25:00]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KAJA KALLAS, HIGH REPRESENTATIVE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS & SECURITY POLICY, EUROPEAN UNION: It is a very precarious moment. And what is the key
takeaway I think for both of us in the gulf countries, as well as the European Union is that, we really need to work together because we have,
you know, same concerns regarding Iran, the stability of the region.
And not only the nuclear issue, but the ballistic missile program, also the cyber and hybrid threats against our countries. And what can we do together
in order to have, you know, a sustainable peace and stability in the region, not just ceasefire, but actually really solving the issues that are
of great concern.
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN ANCHOR: What was the response? Because Europe has been heavily criticized by these gulf countries and by the U.S. for its failure
to take action, not only in this war, but also very specifically in the Strait of Hormuz --
KALLAS: Yes, well, I think it's not fair because actually European Union and the member states are doing a lot for this region. If you think about
member states providing air defense support, if you think about Ukraine providing also the drone interceptors and the knowledge, how to take down
the drones.
And also, you know, the mediation that we can do when it comes to keeping the trade routes open. We have the Naval operation Aspides in the Red Sea,
also, to keep that route open. And we are willing to discuss also the extension of the mandate with our member states strengthening this
operation after the cessation of hostilities.
And of course, there's also a role of this silent diplomacy that we are doing with our regional partners. So, I think we are doing more than a lot
of other countries in the world for this region. And why? Because it is our neighborhood. What happens here also has a direct effect on us.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Kaja Kallas speaking there to Becky Anderson. Still to come tonight, Israel and Lebanon. Is the Netanyahu government ready to make
peace with its northern neighbor? We'll go live to Beirut for the very latest.
And my next guest says all countries must commit to ending hostilities in the Middle East beyond this two-week ceasefire. I'll speak with Jan Englund
of the Norwegian Refugee Council. That's just ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SOARES: Returning to our top story, the fragile truce in the Middle East. Events are really developing on two fronts this hour. Front one is
Pakistan, where Iranian and U.S. negotiators are due to meet over the weekend in an effort, of course, to hammer out a lasting ceasefire. Front
two, as we told you at the top of the show, is Lebanon, which Israel has been pounding heavily this week.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he wants to hold direct talks with Lebanese leaders about reaching a peace, but at the same time,
the Israeli military has issued evacuation orders for parts of Beirut. Nada Bashir is in Beirut for us this hour in Lebanon. So, Nada, I mean, peace
talks, but no ceasefire, and talks, it seems, that will be held under fire. How is this being received where you are?
NADA BASHIR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, look, Isa, the Lebanese government has been clear for weeks now that they have wanted peaceful negotiations to
take place with Israel to come to some sort of agreement to ensure the security of Lebanon's borders.
And while we haven't had an official response just yet from the Lebanese government, we have been hearing from Lebanese officials who have told CNN
that neither the foreign ministry nor the presidential palace at this stage have been formally or officially notified of an invitation from the Israeli
government for those negotiations to take place.
But according to these officials, the government remains very clear on one key point, there cannot be any negotiations while under fire. And of
course, that is the concern here, that while there may be the prospect of peace talks between the Lebanese government and the Israeli government,
that Lebanon will still be coming under attack, as it has been now, for over a month.
And of course, there is real concern, given the civilian impact that we have seen now for weeks, the death toll now rising to over 1,800, more than
a million people displaced. That's 20 percent of Lebanon's entire population in the space of just over a month. And of course, there is
concern around whether that ceasefire, if it is agreed upon, can be held in place, given the fact that, of course, we did see ceasefire talks back in
November 2024. Many would argue that neither side, neither the Israeli government and the Israeli ministry, nor Hezbollah, of course, not the
Lebanese government, but Hezbollah forces in the south, adhering to the terms of that agreement.
And of course, that is also another key concern here, the division between the Lebanese government and Hezbollah forces, who have, of course, been the
primary source of fire from Lebanon into Lebanese territory. Important to remind our viewers, of course, that the Lebanese government had previously
written to the United Nations, outlawing Hezbollah's military wing.
We've now heard from the Lebanese prime minister calling on its security forces to rid the capital, Beirut, of all non-state arms. This appears to
be in a bid to really put pressure on Hezbollah and to move towards a diplomatic resolution. And the need couldn't be more urgent, given the
large-scale wave of attacks that we saw yesterday, not just in Beirut, but across the country.
SOARES: Yes. And in just a moment, Nada, I'm speaking to -- I'm going to be speaking to Jan Egeland, the Norwegian -- chief of the Norwegian Refugee
Council. I mean, give us a sense, then, of what you and the team have seen on the ground, because now we're having these talks, potential talks of
direct negotiations. Are people staying put? Are they going back home? What are they going back to? These are huge questions of the south for
civilians.
BASHIR: Look, there is still a deep sense of insecurity here in Lebanon. The Lebanese government has been very clear, and the Lebanese military
warning people not to return to their homes in the south. There are still, of course, clear hostilities on the ground, in the air, particularly in
southern Lebanon, but also there are concerns around the expansion of Israel's military assault on the country.
And, of course, while we've heard from the Israeli military repeatedly saying that they are targeting what they have described as Hezbollah
command and military targets across the country, what we have seen for ourselves on the ground is the extent of the civilian impact. We actually
were reporting on the ground from a number of the areas which were struck yesterday here in Beirut, including areas that weren't previously under
evacuation orders. These were clearly residential areas, public civilian areas, next to apartment blocks, shops, bakeries. We have seen the civilian
deaths all mounting. We were just reporting from a hospital a little earlier today where there were families still waiting to identify the
bodies of their loved ones.
So, of course, there is a real sense here of people being on edge, waiting to see how things play out and whether or not the prospect of these talks
actually means some respite for the Lebanese people.
[14:35:00]
SOARES: Yes. And we heard from WHO representative Lebanon saying today that the hospitals are running out of supplies today, so a very dire
situation indeed on the humanitarian front. Nada, great to see you. Thank you to you and the team on the ground there.
While international condemnation is mounting over Israel's massive strikes across Lebanon on Wednesday, which Nada was referring to there, which
Lebanese health officials say killed at least 303 people and wounded more than 1,100 others.
French President Emmanuel Macron condemned what he described as indiscriminate Israeli strikes on Lebanon, saying they pose a direct threat
to the sustainability of the ceasefire. One man who lives in a neighborhood affected by Israeli strikes describes what the situation is like on the
ground. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALI HIJAZI, BEIRUT RESIDENT: I did not have time even to call all my friends or family. The majority of my family are still living in the south.
Some of them were able to leave, some of them did not have a destination and the infrastructure, as you know, and the situation is very
catastrophic, again, from also a humanitarian angle. So, you start to feel like I'm looking for my safety, for the safety of my small family.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Troubling indeed. Well, joining us now is Jan Egeland, the Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council and the former U.N.
Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs. Jan, great to have you back on the show.
Let me get really your reaction. I'm sure you were listening to my colleague Nada Bashir in Beirut and I want to get your reaction to read the
breaking news we've been following here on the show. And it's coming, as you heard, from Israel, from Prime Minister Netanyahu, who says he wants to
begin direct peace talks with Lebanon, which is good news, of course, but an Israeli official does tell us there is no ceasefire at the moment,
saying talks will be held under fire. Just your thoughts.
JAN EGELAND, SECRETARY GENERAL, NORWEGIAN REFUGEE COUNCIL AND FORMER U.N. UNDER-SECRETARY FOR HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS: We need a ceasefire immediately.
This war is senseless. It was senseless in and from Iran towards the Gulf and Israel, and it's equally senseless between Hezbollah and Israel. My
colleagues on the ground, hundreds of aid workers working for the Norwegian Refugee Council in Lebanon, were rejoicing the news of the ceasefire with
the United States, Israel and Iran. And Pakistan said it would also extend to Lebanon. What happened was --
SOARES: Jan, I'm sorry to interrupt, Jan. We'll come back to you. Give us a second. We have to go to CNN USA for some breaking news. Stay where you
are, Jan, for that.
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standards, humility and respect.
I do not object to their ignorance, but rather I reject their mean-spirited attempts to defame my reputation. I never been friends with Epstein. Donald
and I were invited to the same parties as Epstein from time to time, since overlapping in social circles is common in New York City and Palm Beach.
To be clear, I never had a relationship with Epstein or his accomplice Maxwell. My email reply to Maxwell cannot be characterized as anything more
than casual correspondence. My polite reply to her email doesn't amount to anything more than a tribal note.
I am not Epstein's victim. Epstein did not introduce me to Donald Trump. I met my husband by chance at the New York City party in 1998. This initial
encounter with my husband is documented in a detail in my book, "Melania."
The first time I crossed paths with Epstein was in the year 2000 at an event Donald and I attended together. At the time, I had never met Epstein
and had no knowledge of his criminal undertakings. Numerous fake images and statements about Epstein and me have been calculating on social media for
years now. Be cautious about what you believe. These images and stories are completely false.
[14:40:00]
I'm not a witness or a name witness in connection with any of Epstein's crimes. My name has never appeared in court documents, depositions, victim
statements, or FBI interviews. I have never had any knowledge of Epstein's abuse of his victims. I was never involved in any capacity. I was not a
participant, was never on Epstein's plane, and never visited his private island. I have never been legally accused or convinced of a crime in
connection with Epstein's sex trafficking, abuse of minors, and other repulsive behavior.
The false smears about me from mean-spirited and politically motivated individuals and entities looking to cause damage to my good name, to gain
financially and climb politically, must stop. My attorneys and I have fought these unfound and baseless lies with success and will continue to
maintain my sound reputation without hesitation. To date, several individuals and companies have been legally obligated to publicly apologize
and retract their lies about me, such as Daily Beast, James Carville, and HarperCollins UK.
Now, is the time for Congress to act. Epstein was not alone. Several prominent male executives resigned from their powerful positions after this
matter became widely politicized. Of course, this doesn't amount to guilt, but we still must work openly and transparently to uncover the truth.
I call on Congress to provide the women who have been victimized by Epstein with a public hearing specifically centered around the survivors. Give
these victims their opportunity to testify under oath in front of Congress with the power of sworn testimony.
Each and every woman should have her day to tell her story in public if she wishes, and then her testimony should be permanently entered into the
congressional record. Then, and only then, we will have the truth. Thank you.
(CNN U.S. SIMULCAST)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:45:00]
END
