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One World with Zain Asher

Trump Administration Keeping Quiet On Iran's "New" Regime; Analysts: U.S. Gas Could Reach $7 Per Gallon If War Drags On; Pakistan Prepared To Host And Facilitate U.S.-Iran Talks; New Concerns AS Houthi Rebels Enter Iran War; Israel Reverse Course To Allow Cardinal Into Jerusalem Church; Moscow: Russian Oil Reaches Cuba Amid Energy Crisis; CNN Takes Rare Train Trip From China To North Korea; Emotional Gary Woodland Wins First Title Since Brain Surgery; Aired 12-1p ET

Aired March 30, 2026 - 12:00   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[12:00:38]

ZAIN ASHER, CNN ANCHOR: Unrealistic and unreasonable. Iran slams America's proposal to end the war.

BIANNA GOLODRYGA, CNN ANCHOR: The second hour of "One World" starts right now.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We negotiate with them and then we always have to blow them up.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GOLODRYGA: Thirty-five hundred U.S. service members have arrived in the Middle East. What role they might play as the conflict drags on.

ASHER: Also ahead, about face. Despite warnings to the country, Donald Trump now says he has no problem with nations supplying Cuba with oil. What

exactly changed? And why now?

Plus.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JUSTIN ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR PHOTOJOURNALIST: I'm here in Beijing and this train behind me is leaving for Pyongyang North Korea. And I'm about to get

on board.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GOLODRYGA: All aboard. This train is taking a rare trip to North Korea and our reporter was aboard.

ASHER: And later, overcoming the odds. Golfer Gary Woodland wins big just weeks after he revealed a troubling diagnosis. Video from the moment he won

is a must-watch.

All right. Coming to you live from New York, I'm Zain Asher.

GOLODRYGA: And I'm Bianna Golodryga. You are watching the second hour of "One World."

Donald Trump issues new threats to Iran. The president saying that if a deal isn't reached soon, the U.S. will, in his words, completely obliterate

to the country's energy sources.

Those comments just came in a post on Truth Social in which he also demands the Strait of Hormuz be immediately reopened.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SCOTT BESSENT, U.S. TREASURY SECRETARY: Over time, the U.S. is going to retake, control the straits, and there will be freedom of navigation,

whether it is through U.S. escorts or a multinational escort.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ASHER: The global oil markets were already reeling from comments President Trump made Sunday telling "The Financial Times," he wants to take the oil

from Iran, essentially control it. He's considering also sending troops to seize Kharg Island through which nearly all of Iran's oil exports flow.

Iran, meantime, is calling Trump's 15-point list of demands unrealistic. They're also saying it's unreasonable, contradicting Trump's earlier claim

that Iran had actually agreed to most of America's proposals.

GOLODRYGA: A spokesman for Iran's foreign ministry says, there are no direct negotiations with the United States, only messages relayed through

intermediaries.

ASHER: However, in his social media post, Donald Trump claimed the U.S. is in serious discussions with what he described as a new and more reasonable

regime.

This morning, Secretary of State Marco Rubio was asked who exactly this new regime actually is.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARCO RUBIO, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: I'm not going to disclose to you who those people are because it probably would get him in trouble with some

other groups of people inside of Iran.

Look, there's some fractures going on there internally.

And if there are new people now in charge who have a more reasonable vision of the future, that would be good news for us, for them, for the entire

world.

But we also have to be prepared for the possibility, maybe even the probability that that is not the case.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GOLODRYGA: Alayna Treene is at the White House with more details for us.

So, Alayna, once again, the president, leaving a lot of people confused as to the direction of the war right now, on the one hand, making new threats

after extending that deadline before renewing strikes on Iran's energy facilities until April 6. Also saying, he's dealing with a more reasonable

regime.

But then what really stood out to me was what we heard from Marco Rubio saying that they are detecting some fractures within the regime.

What more do we know about that particular line, Alayna?

ALAYNA TREENE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Well, I think to Secretary Rubio's comments this morning, it's more of that they see the

fractures as a potential opening, I should say.

But, of course, really, what's it comes down to is, who is in charge and who is the one making the calls that is allowing them to believe, really,

that the regime is more reasonable in the president's own words than they had been previously. That's still a key question and one that they haven't

really been willing to answer, particularly when you look at what we've heard from Tehran publicly.

And I should note, I think both Tehran and the United States, what they're saying publicly is one thing, of course, behind the scenes, private

conversations may reflect something differently, but Tehran has been very clear and harsh in pushing back on that 15-point plan that we know that the

United States passed on to the Iranians via the Pakistanis, a key intermediator in these talks. And they outright rejected this, calling it

largely excessive, unrealistic, and unreasonable.

[12:05:11]

But I will say, from my conversations, Bianna and Zain, with people here at the White House and throughout the Trump administration, they tell me that

the president is sincere when he says that he wants diplomacy to be an option here. They are really hoping that they can find a viable way to have

substantial negotiations.

We did hear from the Pakistanis following a meeting this weekend with other intermediators here, you know, the Turkish, the Egyptians, the Saudis,

saying that they're hoping they could set up talks in the coming days, and that would relate to the U.S. being involved and Iranians being involved in

person, potentially, abroad.

We'll have to see if that's actually something that can happen, and if they can work out kind of a framework for talks that allow them to meet in

person and have those types of negotiations.

But at the same time, you know, and I think this gets to where the president is saying, on one breath, he's saying he wants diplomacy and the

other. He's issuing new threats. That's part of what's happening behind the scene as well.

If diplomacy fails, we know from our reporting, I know from my conversations that there are several draft plans going around the military

about what could be next to try and finish this war in a swift and decisive manner, because I'd remind you, the president set his own timeline for this

war, at the start of it when he first launched strikes the U.S. into Iran with the help of Israel.

He said four to six weeks he was hoping this conflict would be resolved and we're closely approaching that timeframe.

The question is, you know, a lot of the military plans that they are considering as, you know, almost a plan B if diplomacy doesn't work, many

of them, in order to accomplish that, to accomplish a swift end to this war, would require ground troops.

And that has, so far, been a red line that many people, many Republicans, many conservatives, those on Capitol Hill included, but even some here in

the White House, are not necessarily willing to breach at this point.

And so it really is almost feeling like a fever pitch now of, you know, if diplomacy doesn't work, what are we going to see?

And just one other thing I want to bring up, Zain and Bianna, is from the president's Truth Social post this morning, when he issued those threats on

electric energy -- electric generating plants, Kharg Island.

And also, he mentioned desalination. Those are things that with no question would hurt the civilian population in Iran.

And it's hard to square that with what we've heard from the president previously, which is this idea that he is there to help the Iranian people.

And so all of that, I think, adding to that level of confusion here, but still many questions of, I think, the first, the biggest one really being,

is diplomacy actually still a viable pathway? It's just one we have not gotten an answer to yet.

GOLODRYGA: Yes. Perhaps two aren't mutually exclusive. The president preferring the diplomatic pathway, but obviously giving Admiral Cooper at

Central Command there some more optionality if diplomacy does not work with new troops arriving to the region.

Alayna Treene, thank you so much.

ASHER: All right. As the fighting continues, the economic impact continues to mount.

CNN's Business senior reporter, David Goldman, joins us live now.

So as Alayna Treene was just talking about, the president had hoped that this war would be over and four to six weeks. I mean, obviously, I think

you and I can both agree that's probably not going to happen. We're coming up to the fifth week.

And so if this war continues to drag on, I mean, what does it mean for pain at the pump? What does it mean for the likelihood of a recession, David?

DAVID GOLDMAN, CNN BUSINESS SENIOR REPORTER: Well, there's two things that we're looking at; one is the length of this war. The other thing is that

oil prices will continue to rise the longer this goes on.

And so if you have that combination of rising oil prices and a very long protracted war, then a recession becomes a real -- well, at least the risk

of a recession becomes more of a reality.

Right now, if the war were to end tomorrow somehow, then you probably wouldn't have a U.S. recession. You might have a recession in some

countries.

But it's going to be hard to avoid. I mean, there was a -- there's a estimate that came out today from Macquarie Research that said that $200

oil is in our sites if this goes on through June. And that translates to about $7 gas.

So people who are struggling with $4 gas today, just imagine what happens if you're paying almost double that.

And it's not just gas. It's not just at the pump. It's also what goes on a truck, right? Diesel is even more expensive than regular gasoline. And that

means that everything that's on that truck that gets delivered to a store, that gets delivered, you know, to wherever you're going to buy any good,

that gets a fuel surcharge because of that. That gets more expensive as well.

So I think that the big question on a lot of people's minds is, how long does this war go? Because every moment, every minute that this war goes on,

you raise the risk of a recession incrementally.

[12:10:02]

And if we're getting into May, if we're getting into June, then we're really looking at something where economists agree, you know, this could be

very, very difficult to come back from.

ASHER: All right. David Goldman, thank you. Appreciate it.

GOLDMAN: Thank you.

GOLODRYGA: Well, Pakistan says that it is prepared to host talks between the United States and Iran. The Pakistani foreign minister, met his

counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt to look for ways to de- escalate the conflict.

ASHER: CNN's Ivan Watson has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

IVAN WATSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Diplomats from Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and the host country, Pakistan, emerged from crisis talks around the Iran

War. They left their Pakistani host to do the talking.

He said that all of these officials were in agreement that the ongoing U.S.-Israel Iran war will only lead to death and destruction. They want it

to come to an end. He says he briefed his counterparts. This is the Pakistani Foreign Minister on the possibility of U.S.-Iran talks here in

the Pakistani capital.

Here's what more he had to say about that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ISHAQ DAR, PAKISTANI FOREIGN MINISTER: Pakistan is very happy that both Iran and the U.S. have expressed their confidence in Pakistan to facilitate

their talks.

Pakistan will be honored to host and facilitate meaningful talks between the two sides in the coming days for a comprehensive and lasting settlement

of the ongoing conflict.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WATSON: Now, this isn't the first time we've heard about the possibility of some kind of peace talks here. Two senior Trump administration officials

told CNN last week that talks could actually be held here in Islamabad as early as the weekend. That, of course, that clearly is not taking place.

And it is important -- it is going to be important now to look at the signaling that is coming out of Tehran and out of Washington, while keeping

in mind that both of these governments are in an active, deadly war against each other, a war that has claimed thousands of lives over the course of

the past month, which has cost economies in the region billions of dollars a day and which is expanding.

That said, there does seem to be some kind of diplomatic initiative underway. And the Pakistani foreign minister said that he's spoken with his

Chinese counterpart, who he says has given China's blessing, Beijing's blessing, for this diplomatic initiative.

The diplomats that were gathered here are trying to prevent further expansion of this destructive conflict, a conflict that has grown over the

course of the weekend to include Yemen getting into the fray, announcing that it had launched missiles on Saturday against Israel for the first time

in this round of hostilities.

And as the U.S. has announced that it has sent thousands of Marines and sailors to the region, raising the prospect of a possible U.S. ground

offensive against Iran.

Ivan Watson, CNN, Islamabad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GOLODRYGA: And now this development, the Tehran-backed Houthi rebels have entered the war. This brings another critical waterway into focus, and that

is the Red Sea.

Let's discuss with our next guest, Yoel Guzansky, who is a senior fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies.

Yoel, I had to think back to the last time we had you on the broadcast, and that was a couple of years ago when there was so much focus on the Houthis,

and the fact that they had become such a burden and a headache and a problematic and costly one.

At that, for Israel, and here we are once again. We've been waiting for whether or not the Houthis would enter this war, and they have over the

weekend firing a missile at Israel.

They haven't done anything proactively as it relates to the Red Sea. Do you see that initial missile attack against Israel as largely symbolic, or

perhaps just a start to what may could come in terms of further escalation?

YOEL GUZANSKY, SENIOR FELLOW, INSTITUTE FOR NATIONAL SECURITY STUDIES: Hi. Thank you for having me.

I think it's -- it's symbolic. I think it's a gesture simple that for Iran, saying to Iran, Iran, you're not alone. For Iran, it shows that it still

has its allies and proxies in the region.

For Israel, it's more -- it's more than -- it's -- it's a nuisance. It's not the main issue. I think the main issue is Iran, and it should be, and

we should focus on Iran.

What Iran is trying to signal us is that it has the Houthis. It's some sort of an escalatory step. A retaliation warning that if U.S. or Israel will do

something more, perhaps attacking Kharg Island or energy installation in Iran, Iran can do much more and escalate.

[12:15:04]

And if Iran or the Houthis together close Bab el-Mandeb, I think this would be catastrophic, not least, for the energy market, because the Saudis can

export oil now through the east-west pipeline.

So they bypassing the Strait of Hormuz, which is blocked de facto. So between six and seven million barrels of oils are passing through Bab el-

Mandeb to the East India and China. If the Houthis will close Bab el- Mandeb, then it will be catastrophic to the -- to the energy market.

ASHER: Yes. That is obviously a critical checkpoint for the Red Sea. But I do want to ask you why now in terms of the Houthis timing joining this war.

I mean, obviously, it's now the fifth week. Would you have expected them to enter earlier?

GUZANSKY: Yes, absolutely. I think the surprise is that they joined so late after a month of -- of war. I think anticipations in Israel, analysts, I

think people at security, at the IDF as well and -- and others, experts estimated that the Houthis will join fast much sooner.

They waited a month for their own, I guess, calculations. I'm not sure if Iran pressured them to join earlier and they refused or that Iran told

them, please wait a while and then join when we'll tell you. As I said, as a -- as a retaliation or warning towards Israel and the U.S.

But it is a surprise. I -- we thought in Israel, myself included, that they will join much earlier. I guess they have their own internal calculations

of whatnot join -- why not joining earlier.

GOLODRYGA: You've also noted that the Gulf states thus far seeking to somewhat of a hedging strategy, meaning that they have been absorbing all

of the incoming rockets and missiles, drones that Iran has launched at them without responding, though they have been quite aggressive in their

rhetoric in response.

Do you think the Houthis entering the equation here changes the calculus for at least Saudi Arabia who has a long history fighting the Houthis?

GUZANSKY: I think this is part of the reason -- very good question. I think this is part of the reason why the Saudis remain passive. They're terrified

of the Houthis entering also and firing at them. I think they -- they spent seven long years fighting the Houthis, not succeeding in defeating the

Houthis.

And you're right, the Gulf states caught in the war. They never wanted their passive trying to sit on the fence. They tried to prevent the war

before it started. They failed and they're hurting. It's hurting their economies.

And it might -- continuing, if the war will continue, it might even hurt their -- damage their stability. Geography cannot be changed. They know

that. Iran will remain their neighbor long after the war ends. And that shapes every decision that the GCC that the Gulf states make. This is why

they're so cautioned.

Their strategy, it's simple right now. They support quietly, tacitly the U.S. They let others use their territory, mainly the U.S., but perhaps

others as well. They try to sit on the fence and not to burn bridges with Iran.

They do conduct -- they do conduct some limited offensive actions that allow for possible deniability. They don't say that they do something

because they don't want to burn bridges with Iran. They're afraid of any -- for any retaliation on them. That's the reason.

GOLODRYGA: Yes. As you said, what they can't change is geography and who their neighbors are that -- especially concerning of Iran, I guess what --

what they're hoping to see a change in is the type of leadership in Iran --

GUZANSKY: Absolutely.

GOLODRYGA: -- that could help cool tensions in the region and provide some more stability.

Yoel Guzansky, thank you so much for the time. Appreciate it.

GUZANSKY: Thank you.

ASHER: All right. Israel's Prime Minister says the Latin patriarch in Jerusalem will be given access to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre,

believed to be the site of Jesus' burial and resurrection.

GOLODRYGA: Church officials said Israeli police prevented senior leaders from going inside to celebrate mass on Palm Sunday.

The Pope used his first Palm Sunday Mass at the Vatican to make some pointed remarks at world leaders.

CNN's Christopher Lamb has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRISTOPHER LAMB, CNN VATICAN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Leo's first Palm Sunday since his election as Pope comes to a time of growing conflict in the

Middle East.

And during the mass in St. Peter's, presided that by the Pope, he had a strong message to those leaders seeking to co-opt God to justify wars and

conflicts. This is what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[12:20:08]

POPE LEO XIV, HEAD OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH (through translator): Brothers and sisters, this is our God, Jesus, prince of peace, who rejects war, whom

no one can use to justify war.

He does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war but rejects them. Saying, even though you make many prayers, I will not listen. Your hands

are full of blood.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LAMB: Now, Leo didn't name any names, but his remarks do come after U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has quoted scriptures to suggest that goal

is on the side of the U.S. military intervention in Iran.

Now, of course, Palm Sunday recalls Jesus' procession into Jerusalem. That took place at the Vatican today, but it couldn't happen in Jerusalem

itself.

The traditional Palm Sunday procession was cancelled. And the Catholic leaders in Jerusalem said that they were prevented from entering the Church

of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem for the Palm Sunday Mass.

However, the Israeli police have said that those leaders were informed that it wasn't possible for them to enter the church as the holy sites in

Jerusalem are off limits at the moment.

Now, Leo made mention of the fact that Christians in the Middle East are unable to celebrate liturgies as they would normally do at this time of

year. He appealed for reconciliation, peace, and dialogue.

That is something that is likely to be repeated by the Pope as he celebrates this sacred week of the Church's year in the lead-up to Easter.

Christopher Lamb, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ASHER: All right. Still to come on "One World," a Russian oil tanker, a Cuban energy crisis, and an American president threatening an attack. We'll

take a closer look at all sides of the story, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ASHER: All right. Moscow says Russian oil tanker has arrived in Cuba carrying 730,000 barrels of crude.

While CNN can't independently verify the vessel's location, tracking data shows it was approaching the island earlier.

GOLODRYGA: Cuba has faced a deepening energy crisis since the U.S. cut off its supply of oil from Venezuela and other countries.

[12:25:07]

President Trump said that he allowed Russia to break his fuel blockade because the population, quote, has to survive.

However, on Friday, he once again threatened Cuba touting action in Iran and in Venezuela.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: And Cuba's next, by the way, but pretend I didn't say that, please. Pretend I didn't say it. Please, please, please media, please disregard

that statement. Thank you very much, I -- Cuba's next.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ASHER: All right. Professor William LeoGrande of American University joins us. He's a specialist in Latin American politics and U.S. foreign policy

toward Latin America. He's also the co-author of "Back Channel to Cuba: The Hidden History of Negotiations between Washington and Havana."

Obviously, the perfect person to have on the show to discuss what the U.S.'s policy is when it comes to Cuba.

I mean, obviously this island economically is at breaking point right now. The U.S. imposed an oil embargo right after it essentially arrested and

some would say kidnapped Nicolas Maduro and brought him to the United States and the island has suffered a lot.

Now, we're sort of seeing a bit of a change or a softening in tone from the U.S. president. He has allowed this Russian oil tank essentially carrying

oil to the island.

And when interviewed about this, he sort of essentially said, well, you know, we don't want the island to suffer too much. We are willing to allow

certain boats to reach the island.

Just explain the U.S.'s strategy here when it comes to this island because it does appear to be, like other things in this administration, some want

haphazard.

WILLIAM LEOGRANDE, PROFESSOR OF GOVERNMENT, AMERICAN UNIVERSITY: Well, I think the administration has a very risky strategy when it comes to Cuba.

On the one hand, they have tightened economic sanctions to the point where life is really, really difficult for the Cuban people. And they're hoping

that they're going to strangle the economy until the government is willing to essentially surrender to them across the bargaining table.

The risk, of course, is that if the government doesn't surrender across the bargaining table and the economy continues to collapse on the island, you

could get massive social unrest, the possibility of a new mass migration crisis to the United States. And it would just be one big mess, just 90

miles off the border.

I think the reason, one of the reasons that the Trump administration has allowed the Russian ship to go through is they're trying to modulate these

economic sanctions to keep them just short of collapsing the society.

GOLODRYGA: Professor Cuba's deputy foreign minister told me back in February that Cuba was prepared to negotiate, but that regime change was

off the table.

Can these two sides actually sit at the table and find common ground?

LEOGRANDE: Well, they can certainly sit at the table because they've done it many times before.

The real issue is, would the Trump administration settle for some kind of an agreement with Cuba, with primarily on opening up the Cuban economy,

especially for U.S. investors, Cuban American investors? That's more or less what the administration has done in Venezuela, without really changing

the regime very much.

Or is the administration absolutely committed to fundamentally changing the Cuban government. The Cubans are not going to agree to that. They've said

it repeatedly for decades that they won't negotiate their national sovereignty.

ASHER: What does the U.S. stand to gain from this? We heard the president say on Friday in that clip that we just played that Cuba is next.

You know, you look at Venezuela, I mean, obviously, the U.S. essentially installed the vice president, Delcy Rodriguez made her president, and then

took over the oil infrastructure in that -- in that country.

And then you have Iran. I mean, obviously Iran was a danger to Israel and the U.S. went in with Israel to Iran.

Just explain to us why Cuba -- what does the U.S. stand to gain from all of this?

LEOGRANDE: Well, I think the answer to why Cuba is that the United States has been trying to reverse the 1959 revolution in Cuba for the last 67

years.

And President Trump has suggested that he's going to be the president to do it. So, I think it's partly a legacy issue for him.

But if the United States was willing to sit down across the table, there are actually a number of things that could be gained in negotiations,

potentially satisfaction of property claims that are left over from 1959, 1960. Cuba has said that it's willing to talk about that. Perhaps some

limitations on Cuba's relationship with Russia and China, which the administration has said is a concern.

[12:30:17]

Cuba has a -- a well-developed tourism industry. We know that the president is interested in tourism. He sent representatives to Cuba twice before he

became president to see if there might be business opportunities in hotels and -- and golf courses.

So, there's a variety of things the United States could gain in terms of issues interested -- that -- that we're interested and also issues of

mutual interest that we could cooperate with Cuba on.

GOLODRYGA: We also know that President Trump is always enticed to be able to achieve something that none of his predecessors have been able to. And

you have studied U.S.-Cuba relations going back to the Eisenhower administration.

Is there a historical precedent for what President Trump is hoping to or trying to achieve here?

GOLODRYGA: Well, not through negotiations. Historically, the negotiations between Cuba and the United States have either focused on very specific

issues that we could cooperate on, like counter-narcotics, for example, or immigration.

Or on a couple of occasions, there have been discussions trying to actually fully normalize relations between our two countries.

And it was President Barack Obama in 2014 that went the farthest with that and -- and really set U.S. policy on a trajectory to normalize relations

fully with Cuba.

But any time that the United States has brought up the issue of political change in Cuba across the bargaining table, the Cubans have simply said no.

ASHER: All right. William LeoGrande, live for us there. Thank you so much.

GOLODRYGA: Well, President Trump has shared an update on the construction of a White House ballroom. The controversial project includes what he calls

a massive military complex under the East Wing site.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: Now, the military is building a -- a big complex under the ballroom, which has come out recently because of a stupid lawsuit that was filed. But

the military is building a massive complex under the ballroom. And that's under construction and we're doing very well.

So we're ahead of schedule. It's part of it. The ballroom essentially becomes a shed for what's being built under the military, including from

drones and including from any other thing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ASHER: The project is facing multiple challenges, including a lawsuit over alleged shortcuts in protocol, which could result in order to halt

construction.

GOLODRYGA: All right. Still to come for us, an incredible story of perseverance. Gary Woodland wins his first professional golf tournament

since undergoing surgery on a brain tumor. This is a story you won't want to miss.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[12:35:13]

GOLODRYGA: All right. Welcome back to "One World." I'm Bianna Golodryga.

ASHER: And I'm Zain Asher.

The only direct train linking Beijing to North Korea has resumed operations. The tightly controlled route was closed to six years after

being suspended during the COVID pandemic.

CNN's Justin Robertson takes us along as he boards a train that very few people ever get to see.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ROBERTSON (voice-over): These old-school green trains are a far cry from China's famous high-speed bullet trains.

But the route they serve is perhaps the most fascinating in the world, connecting the bustling Chinese capital to the so-called Hermit Kingdom.

ROBERTSON: I'm here in Beijing. And this train behind me is leaving for Pyongyang, North Korea. And I'm about to get on board.

ROBERTSON (voice-over): For decades, this rail line has quietly carried select diplomats and business people, as well as a modest number of

tourists across tightly controlled borders.

This vital route was cut when the COVID pandemic hit. After six years, the service was finally restored in March, a small but significant signal that

North Korea is cautiously reopening to the outside world.

Inside the rail cars, it's a throwback to an earlier era of train travel. Cozy sleeping cabins with bunk beds, a dining car serving hot meals.

The journey itself takes around 24 hours at what feels like a methodical pace covering over 1,200 kilometers from Beijing and on through

northeastern China.

For now, the route is used mainly by Russian tour groups and approved Chinese business travelers.

As the train reaches the Chinese border city, passengers are allowed out in the sensitivity of the place I've arrived at, sets in.

Security tightens and photography becomes increasingly restricted.

ROBERTSON: The train continues on to Pyongyang. For me, unfortunately, my journey ends here.

I'm in Dandong right on the border of North Korea and China. A couple of hundred meters over there, that's North Korea. But I've heard there's a

local boat to it that can take us quite close to the North Korean coast.

ROBERTSON (voice-over): This isn't my first time seeing North Korea up close. I've reported from there many times before, but this felt different.

Usually, we're escorted through the polished streets of Pyongyang, kept away from scenes like these.

Peering into this secretive state from the Chinese side was something else entirely. Watching soldiers pace the shoreline and workers move through a

shipyard, almost a surreal sense of calm and a completely different view of one of the world's biggest geopolitical flashpoints.

Justin Robertson, CNN, Dandong, China.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(CHEERS)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GOLODRYGA: You are looking at a very happy golfer, Gary Woodland. His tournament victory in Texas on Sunday helped him secure a spot at the 2026

Masters at Augusta National in less than two weeks.

ASHER: Yes. It is his -- I mean, so emotional. Gosh. This is first win in professional golf since he underwent surgery on a brain tumor.

GOLODRYGA: For more on this, let's bring in CNN's Coy Wire. So, Coy, you can understand his delight in winning, but he's won something much bigger,

one would argue, than just one golf match, right? I mean, this is --

COY WIRE, CNN WORLD SPORT: So inspiring.

GOLODRYGA: This is something where he got a second chance at life, and -- and that would forever change someone.

WIRE: Yes. He was told he would never golf again, Bianna, Zain. Incredible story of perseverance and faith, reminding us all that we can find strength

through our struggles.

Thirty months ago, he had that brain surgery to remove a tumor, and now Gary Woodland is a PGA Tour champion once again. What a moment at the

Houston Open.

[12:40:09]

He hadn't won a tournament more than six years. Now, he was diagnosed with PTSD a year ago, but he kept it to himself until earlier this month.

The 41-year-old admitted he'd been struggling in an interview with Golf Channel. He said that inside, he felt like he was dying. The smallest

sounds on a course would trigger it. He'd go to a bathroom to hide and cry.

It all stem from that stress from the surgery he underwent in 2023 to remove a lesion on his brain. Woodland said he went public with his PTSD

diagnosis to help himself and others and said it felt like a thousand pounds were immediately lifted off his back.

It looked like it in the final round on Sunday shooting a 67. There was a really cool moment on the walk to the final hole. Watch defending champion

Minh Woo Lee in the background here, getting the crowd to cheer on Woodland because he knew how big of this moment was.

The crowd went silent when Woodland lined up for his final putt where he secured a five shot win. His first win since 2019.

Through all of the adversity, he broke down into tears. And here comes his wife to hug him afterwards.

Here's Woodland's message for all those who will hear his story.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GARY WOODLAND, 2019 U.S. OPEN CHAMPION: Say, well we play an individual sport out here, but I wasn't alone today. And I got -- I got a lot of

people behind me, my team, my family and this golf world.

Anybody that's struggling with something, I hope they see me and don't give up. Just keep fighting. Today was a good day. But I'm going to keep

fighting. I got a big fight ahead of me and I'm going to keep going. But I'm proud of myself right now.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WIRE: Pretty awesome to see how open and honest he is about his own. What once were insecurities are now becoming this great strength of his to be

able to help others who may be battling their own sorts of demons.

And you mentioned him winning that tournament means he qualifies for the Masters in Augusta. I think we will have a new fan favorite come time for

tee off.

GOLODRYGA: Oh, no doubt. And talk about good sportsmanship. The fact that his competitor was there trying to rile up the -- the crowd to knowing, as

you mentioned, how important that -- that moment was going to be for him. That was really moving as well.

Coy, we've missed you.

ASHER: We have.

GOLODRYGA: It's been a long time since you've been on our show. Thanks for bringing a great story.

ASHER: And I'm grateful you've brought us an uplifting story to end the show. So thank you for that.

WIRE: Yes. Well, I'll be seeing -- I'm headed to Indy for the final four. So I'll be seeing you over the next several days here coming up. So look

out for your boy.

GOLODRYGA: You've got a ton of fans especially at schools, Coy. I've got a list of names that want an autograph from you. So we'll talk after the

break.

WIRE: You've got it. Anytime.

GOLODRYGA: Good to see you. All right. Thank you. That does it for one world for this hour. I'm Bianna Golodryga.

ASHER: I'm Zain Asher. Appreciate you watching. Bianna will be back in about 15 minutes with "Amanpour." "African Voices" is up next.

GOLODRYGA: I spoke first.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(AFRICAN VOICES)

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