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One World with Zain Asher
U.S. And Iran Launce New Strikes After Three American Service Members Killed; Andy Burnham Becomes Seventh British P.M. In A Decade; Victory Parade Begins In Central Madrid Next Hour; Mourners Attend Nolan Wells' Funeral Amid Death Investigation; U.S. And Iran Escalate Attacks, Signal Diplomacy Still Open; Palestinians Seek To Keep Control Of Sebastia Ancient Ruins; Allbirds Shoe Company Rebrands As A.I. Firm Smartbird; Aired 12-1p ET
Aired July 20, 2026 - 12:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:00:37]
ZAIN ASHER, CNN ANCHOR: Diplomacy or doubling down? Donald Trump weighs his options on Iran. The second hour of "One World" starts right now.
Contrary to its text and spirit, Tehran says that last month's agreement with Washington is officially off the table.
Also ahead, no lectern, no notes, no problem. Andy Burnham has been prime minister for a matter of hours and is already making his mark.
Plus.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(CHEERING)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: We've got a brand-new World Cup champion and a whole lot to talk about. Why Spain won that killer match with that place and reflections on a
World Cup unlike any other.
All right. Coming to you live from New York, I'm Zain Asher. You are watching "One World."
President Trump is weighing his options for what comes next in Iran as the human cost of this war increases with each passing week. The Pentagon
identified two American soldiers killed in Jordan on Friday.
Another soldier was killed in northern Iraq over the weekend. Trump called their deaths a shame and then had this to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Well, we feel very badly but, you know, those great people, those great patriots, were out there fighting
that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: Jordan, meantime, is coming under increasing fire attacks on the regional U.S. ally, which is further away from Tehran than the Gulf
nations.
It's perhaps proof that Iran still maintains offensive capabilities despite months of American attacks.
CNN's Nic Robertson joins us live now from Jerusalem.
I think that the resilience and the sheer sort of staying power is something that may have caught the Americans off guard when they started
this war back at the end of February.
Just walk us through what a diplomatic off-ramp though at this point in time looks like, Nic.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: It looks very difficult and it's hard to see. At the moment, there is the Iranian -- Foreign
Iranian Interior Minister meeting with his Pakistani counterpart who's one of the main mediators between the U.S. and the Iran. It's not clear what
they're going to talk about, whether or not they can push forward the opportunity for an off-ramp.
It just doesn't seem to be there the information that we get that the United States is bringing in more F-35 fighter jets, more F-16 fighter
jets, more KC-135's Stratotanker refuelers for those fighter jets, is an indication that -- that this war is -- is -- is going to continue, and --
and it may continue at a bigger pace.
There's the real risk of overspill. The tensions between the Houthis who are widely seen as a proxy for Iran and Saudi Arabia are sort of reaching
an all-time high at the moment because of the Houthis' apparent intention, potential intention to shut down the Red Sea as a means of getting oil --
Saudi oil out of the Gulf region and to international markets. So, the tensions are rising there as well.
The -- the picture that's being painted here and you raised it there of, you know, of the capabilities that Iran has to continue the war. And it's
demonstrated that this past week in Jordan, particularly hitting, it claims a number of air bases, it claims destroying a number of aircraft and as we
know, killing at least two United States service personnel there.
It -- it demonstrates not just that they have obviously the capability and the intent. But one of the things that they have that's become very
important is the real-time satellite intelligence, very precise, optically very, very clear, giving them a very clear image of what they're trying to
hit on the ground.
And the message to the United States is, you might be able to move your aircraft around or bring additional aircraft in, but we can still target
them.
And the -- the message, obviously, to the Gulf states of Kuwait and Bahrain, which have been taking a huge amount of attacks, Kuwait again for
the second time today, air raid sirens going off again there, in the past few hours is seeing a significant amount of infrastructure damage. It's not
clear what is being hit in Bahrain or if it's all being intercepted, but that's certainly coming in for multiple strikes each day.
[12:05:18]
So, the diplomatic off-ramp in that context, even though you have the Iranian for a ministry spokesman and the U.S. Secretary of State Marco
Rubio saying they're open to discussions, the channels are there.
They're also both saying that the memorandum of understanding that was the diplomatic off-ramp, that's on the sidelines. It's not being used. So, it's
very -- it's very hard to see where this finds an exit from the military essential escalation at the moment.
ASHER: All right. Nic Robertson, live for us there. Thank you so much.
Britain's new Prime Minister is promising to bring back hope as he takes office today.
(APPLAUSE)
Andy Burnham and his wife stepped inside their new home in the 10 Downing Street to loud applause earlier.
In succeeding Keir Starmer, Burnham becomes Britain's seventh prime minister in a decade. His first speech as prime minister was delivered
without a lectern and without notes. He faces major challenges, though, as he works on forming a cabinet.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDY BURNHAM, U.K. PRIME MINISTER: I will give this my all and I ask you all to pull with me. Let's build a new national sense of unity, of common
purpose and positivity. Let us make this the moment when Britain starts to believe again, the moment we bring back hope.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: Earlier Monday, King Charles invited Burnham to form a government, following tradition and protocol. Burnham is already making cabinet changes
and setting up his agenda.
CNN's Max Foster is outside the prime minister's residence at number 10 Downing Street, joins us live now.
So, we heard moments ago, in the past hour or so, that Rachel Reeves is out as Chancellor of the Exchequer. One of the biggest priorities for Andy
Burnham is, of course, the national economy, making sure that the cost of living is something that ordinary people can -- can grapple with.
I mean, things are really expensive for ordinary Britains. And, you know, Andy Burnham is very much a man of the people. He has that common touch.
Just walk us through what his biggest priorities are going forward.
MAX FOSTER, CNN ROYAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, that's a good summary, but in addition to that, trying to bring the Labour Party, which is very fractured
between right and left together.
And the way he can initially signal that is by making sure the top jobs are card up by different parts of the party. So, with Rachel Reeves out, the --
you know, the second biggest job, of course, is Finance Minister, Chancellor of the Exchequer. They will live here at 11 Downing Street or
their office is at least there.
And, you know, lots to talk about Shabana Mahmood, the current home secretary, who's at the right of the party, taking that job.
But I can tell you that the first person to walk down Downing Street, at that level, was John Healey, a former defense minister. You'll remember,
Zain, he resigned because he felt that Keir Starmer wasn't giving him enough money to do his work. He's now the first senior politician invited
into Downing Street.
We're at that phase in the day where we're basically looking out for whoever comes in the front door, because that indicates to us who's going
to get a job in the new government.
Wait to see whether or not it is, Chancellor, or indeed, he's back in his defense secretary. But, you know -- you know, when the first job to appoint
really is Chancellor of the Exchequer. So, it's interesting, and unless someone's coming in the back, that he's the choice and not the current
runners and riders.
It's been so, you know, secretive this whole process. Burnham hasn't given anything away. So, they're all surprises, really, as we get those
announcements in the afternoon. We'll bring them to you, but it's been a pretty intense day already, Zain.
(CHEERING)
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FOSTER (voice-over): Britain's new prime minister, the seventh in just over a decade of political turmoil, arriving at Downing Street on Monday with a
promise of change.
(CHEERING)
BURNHAM: Thank you. I know people at home are fed up with politics. I hear you. And I want to be honest with you, we have not been good enough. And we
need to be better. We will be.
We will make this moment a circuit breaker for Britain, bringing forward the biggest changes in the last 40 years.
FOSTER (voice-over): Doing away with the traditional Downing Street speech lectern, Burnham pledged to restore faith in government, bring down the
cost of living and end rough sleeping.
BURNHAM: I will put the care of people at the heart of everything I do.
FOSTER (voice-over): It came after a warm goodbye to the former leader, Keir Starmer, earlier on Monday.
[12:10:04]
KEIR STARMER, FORMER BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: My work is done.
FOSTER (voice-over): His resignation, making him the shortest-serving Labour Prime Minister in history.
STARMER: I go with good grace. I go with a smile. And I go proud of everything that we have achieved.
FOSTER (voice-over): It was less than two years ago that Starmer led his party to his biggest majority in parliament this century.
But the British public soon soured on him and ultimately it was pressure from within his own party amid lagging poll ratings that led to his exit
and this moment.
STARMER: As I now pass the baton to Andy Burnham, I wish him every success. He has my full support.
FOSTER (voice-over): After leaving Downing Street, Starmer travelled the short journey to formally offer his resignation to King Charles at
Buckingham Palace.
Burnham then seamlessly stepped into his place as he was invited to form a government by the monarch.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FOSTER: For Andy Burnham, this is actually a return to Westminster. He was a member of parliament here for 16 years. He was a member of the cabinet,
as well, before going on to Greater Manchester where he became mayor and one of the most popular politicians in the country.
Now, he's urging everyone, his supporters and the general public to get behind him as he takes on his biggest job yet, the biggest job in the
country.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BURNHAM: I will give this my all and I ask you all to pull with me. Let's build a new national sense of unity, of common purpose and positivity. Let
us make this the moment when Britain starts to believe again, the moment we bring back hope.
FOSTER (voice-over): But as the man dubbed the King of the North takes office behind the shiny black door in Westminster, the difficult decisions
both at home and abroad begin.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FOSTER: Particularly broad really, Zain, because we haven't got any sense of foreign policy, apart from the fact that he has left the Ukrainian flag
flying above Downing Street, that was a big Starmer thing. He's continuing that commitment it seems.
But we also heard from the White House that there was a conversation between President Trump and Keir Starmer, which is also interesting because
that's the first call with an international leader that we've actually heard about, so it shows that he is emphasizing that relationship too.
ASHER: Yes. U.S.-U.K. alliance, obviously, is a massive foreign policy priority.
Max Foster, live for us there. Thank you.
All right. Moments ago -- all right. Moments ago, the newly-capped crowned World Cup champions got a royal greeting from the King of Spain and took a
group picture with him as well.
And just about an hour, the Spanish team will hit the streets of Madrid in a victory parade. It will wind through central Madrid with an estimated one
million people waiting to greet the squad and watch them hoist that trophy.
Pau Mosquera joins us live now from Madrid where the squad is getting a hero's -- you know, I wonder if this team has even had a chance to sleep at
all. I mean, you think about the excitement, the adrenaline, the joy, the relief, and then even after the win, they've got all the media interviews,
their phones up, but I mean -- and now going back to Spain, they've got the -- the parade.
And so there just much -- must be so much, so much excitement that Spain is doing this now for the second time, Pau.
PAU MOSQUERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's it. There's a lot of excitement. And actually, you can see here around me how thousands of -- of fans are
already floating Downtown Madrid. They are all heading down to Cibeles Square, which you can see here just a few meters away from where we are.
That's going to be the final point, the final stop of the victory parade that will start within the next hour over so. And this is why all of them
wearing the Spain National jersey and some Spain National flags are heading to this point 'cause -- because they want to share this very important
moment with all the players of La Roja.
And I actually believe, Zain, that this is one of the main questions, did they have any rest at all when they were flying directly to Madrid? I don't
think so. Because the excitement after winning the second World Cup must be so much, so high, that it can be so difficult to try to just relax and get
some -- some sleep before getting here to the Spanish capital.
Now, as you were saying, they are first attending some official and institutional commitments. They are first now meeting with the Royal
Family. And straight after that, they will go to Moncloa Palace when -- where Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez will greet all of them and
congratulate for this victory.
[12:15:10]
And after that, once they finish this last meeting, they will then hop on the bus that will bring them all around Downtown Madrid. It's going to be a
very excitement -- exciting moment, a moment that all of them are waiting for. And well, today, promises to be another day with a lot of music, a lot
of celebration and thousands of thousands of fans going to sleep in the early hours of the morning, Zain.
ASHER: I'm sure the crash is going to come later. Maybe -- maybe not today, maybe tonight, maybe tomorrow, but they are -- they must be so exhausted,
even though the adrenaline is keeping them awake right now.
Pau Mosquera, live for us. Thank you so much.
All right. This is Spain's second World Cup victory in 16 years. Darren Lewis joins us live now to talk about the significance of the victory for
the players and the fans.
Darren, there is a particular style of Spanish football that the world is now quite familiar with, right? This idea of just keeping possession of the
ball at all costs.
You know, you didn't have a dog in the fight when we spoke last week. I was supporting Argentina. I was crushed by their loss, you know. When you look
at what went wrong for the team, I mean, this whole strategy for Argentina of, you know, don't worry, Messi will save us.
Don't -- even if don't worry guys, even if we're two nil down. Don't worry. Leo's got us. That strategy worked well until it didn't.
DARREN LEWIS, CNN SPORT SENIOR ANALYST: I think you're absolutely right. There's only so many times that you can get the -- the Superman of a player
to look for a telephone box on the pitch before he runs out of road.
And I think everything that you just said is so right. By the way, we all want an excuse not to have to go to work. And -- and had England won, it
would have been fantastic because our bosses would have been celebrating with us as well.
But now it's a Spanish who get the chance to do it. And they do it, you know, Zain, because they played the best football. They operated best as a
team.
Two words for you, tiki-taka. That's the possession style of football that they play. They conceded only one goal in the entire tournament.
And, you know, we do love to rave about the A-list names of France, Mbappe, England, Kane, Bellingham, Argentina, as we've been saying, Messi, Norway
had Haaland. But Spain, Zain, they had a team. And the strength of that team was that you could take any single player out, replacing with someone
else in that squad and they would still be effective.
They really were worthy winners despite Argentina trying to kick them off the pitch.
ASHER: Yes. The -- the way they play football, it is so clean. They play football so clean. So, if I was going to give a trophy to any player
yesterday, it would be the Argentine goalkeeper. Because what he had to -- because if Spain has most possession of the ball, then the Argentine
goalkeeper, you can -- you can only imagine the sort of pressure that he was under for, what, two hours?
I think he saved something like 12 goals and the level of concentration required. I mean, and then, you know, goalkeeper is such a thank-us job. I
mean, there aren't that many goalkeepers who are household names, but what he did on that pitch was incredible.
LEWIS: It really was. And it was a measure of Spain's dominance as well, because in the 90 minutes, Argentina did not have a single shot on goal. In
fact, the first effort on goal was in the 117th minute of the match. So, deep into extra time, whereas Spain were raining in shots from all over
place and really giving the Spanish keeper a lot to think about and had it not been for his agility.
And you can argue maybe Spain not crowning their dominance in quite the way that we believe that they would. The result could have been far, far more
emphatic. Argentina defending champions, but you called it, Zain. Messi can only take them so far.
Spain's team, look as though they could take them to many more trophies. They've now won two World Cups in the last, what, 20 years? They've won a
Nations League. They're a Olympic champions as well. They are just unstoppable.
ASHER: Just in terms of some -- I found this World Cup so exciting. I mean, what am I going to talk about now, now that it's over? But I found the
World Cup so exciting. I think some of the key headlines.
I mean, my favorite was obviously Cape Verde. I found it was unfortunate what happened to Team USA. I mean, it wasn't their fault, but the way the
world sees it is that the Americans cheated and then lost.
I mean, obviously, it's one thing to cheat and win, but to cheat and lose is obviously very embarrassing.
Just -- just walk us through your thoughts on -- on President Trump's interference. Cape Verde, how -- how they, you know, just came from nowhere
and -- and really showed us what they were made of, especially against Argentina and also all the VAR controversies as well.
[12:20:10]
LEWIS: Well, first of all, it really was the World Cup where red cards that should have been red cards and seen players banned from subsequent games
were not red cards. That saw players banned from subsequent games.
And even before the Folarin Balogun situation, you know, Zain, we had the situation with Cristiano Ronaldo sent off Portugal in a final game of
qualifying, but he had his red card suspended for a year.
And we heard from the Trump administration, they like to see the biggest players operating on this stage at their party. So, he was able to play in
Portugal's first two games. And, of course, as you say, we had the Balogun situation, his red card against Bosnia suspended in inverted colors
allowing him to play against Belgium after a certain someone made that call to the FIFA president, asking him to have a review.
It was real shame. And I tell you why, Zain, there'd been so much neutral support for the U.S. They've played so well, done so well. They find so
many odds under Mauricio Pochettino. And it led people to get behind the Belgians and the whole thing ended up overwhelming the American team.
Just very quickly on Cape Verde. You know, they not only were able to hold the eventual champions to a goalie's (ph) draw, but they also frightened
the life out of the finalists because, of course, Argentina only beat them by three goals to two and that was after Cape Verde put up a hell of a
fight.
And they really did make the case for expanding the World Cup. We used to the old order, but some of the legacy teams. Italy can't get into a World
Cup. Germany are not the force they once were. Netherlands, not the force they once were. And it may well be that some of the coming powers, some of
the smaller nations that we maybe don't give enough of the time of day.
ASHER: Do not underestimate the African teams. That is -- that is I think, you know, something that people should remember after this World Cup.
And also, I do have to run. But also, you know, I loved what England did in that match against France. It shows what -- what the Brits can do when
there's no pressure. When the pressure is off, we get six goals.
When there's pressure, I mean, obviously, it's, you know --
LEWIS: You're absolutely right.
ASHER: -- it's a different -- it's a different environment when -- when, you know, there's nothing at stake anymore other than third place.
But, Darren, we have to leave it there. I hope I have you on again soon, talk more soccer, but I don't know -- I don't know when, but this was fun.
LEWIS: Absolutely.
ASHER: This was fun. Thank you, Darren.
All right. Still to come here on "One World," an expanding war or a path back to talks? U.S. and Iranian strikes are escalating across the Middle
East, even as both sides say diplomacy remains possible.
Also ahead.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ZAID AZHARI, SEBASTIA HISTORIAN: This is everything for us. I cannot imagine so much to without our archaeological side. It's like your
children, you cannot like leave one of them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: For one Palestinian community, these ancient ruins are more than stones. They're connected to a story, a history, and identity. Why that
connection is now at the center of a growing dispute in the West Bank.
And later.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I haven't slept in 30 hours, but I was awake for the whole film. It's IMAX 70mm and you don't get to watch that everywhere in
the world.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: Christopher Nolan scores big at the box office with his latest work. Why the "Odyssey" is bringing movie fans to the theater at all hours of the
night.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:25:06]
ASHER: All right. Now, to the funeral service for Nolan Wells that's underway in Mississippi, amid an investigation into his death. The 18-year-
old football player went missing after a July 4th boat trip to Horn Island. His friends made it home, but Wells' body was found two days later, face
down in the water.
There's a long line of mourners at the service that's just begun. Reverend Al Sharpton is delivering the eulogy. Two autopsy probes are underway. As
speculation continues about the manner and cause of his death.
Let's go to CNN's Ryan Young who's standing live for us in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. I mean, obviously this is incredibly sad. I mean, God knows
what his parents are going through right now. Still so many unanswered questions about what happened to this young man.
RYAN YOUNG, CNN SENIOR U.S. NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. So many unanswered questions. And in fact, while you were doing the introduction in here, my
producer just got out of the car and was basically telling me the funeral has gotten started here and also the preacher just started talking as well.
So, this is actively going on where this community is really torn up about this. There are no parking spaces left outside of this church. More than a
thousand people had gathered early on during the visitation. More than 600 people just showed up to look at the casket. And they were -- had to leave
because they weren't a part of the people who were able to get inside for this funeral. So, you understand just how many people in this community
feel for this family.
Just to remind our international viewers, and I heard you talk about some of the things happening here. He went to an island with his friends. And at
some point, they became separated. Now, the friends say their boat had some issues. They were going to leave. He decided to stay to talk to a young
lady.
But at some point, that's where the timeline has sort of separated itself. And no one understands what happened in Nolan Wells after that.
Now, his father actually said on that Sunday, he went out himself with one of the football coaches to try to find his body. And that didn't help
either. It was Monday, two Mondays ago, where they found his body just off the shoreline there at Horn Island.
So many questions now about this investigation. The sheriff, at first, was talking and giving people a timeline, but that timeline right now hasn't
progressed. And people are getting frustrated because they want to know what this investigation has been able to figure out. The autopsy hasn't
been publicized just yet in terms of what they've been able to find.
But the grief here is real. We talk to two of his coaches who remember Nolan Wells as just a great athlete and a great person. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARTY SAUCIER, NOLAN WELLS' COACH: Great personality. Super smart. Athletic.
Did everything you asked of them. Helped kids in my class that were needing some extra attention. And I mean, just the guy would have as a son.
JAKE BRAMLETT, NOLAN WELLS' FOOTBALL COACH: It's a brotherhood system that we're trying to implement in our -- our building on the football field, in
the weight room. And Nolan exemplified everything about it.
He had -- he had brothers younger than him. He had brothers older than him. Real brothers, just brothers on the football team. And he never met a
stranger. He never met a stranger, was always there to lift people up.
And that's just -- that's just part of who he was and part of what we're trying to honor going forward as the football player and the person that
Nolan was. And remembrance of him and honoring him with our -- you know, with our work ethic and our play and our brotherhood.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
YOUNG: Yes. Zain, you know, sometimes we do these stories and you're just not sure if people are saying a bunch of nice things about someone after
they pass. But being here in this community and getting a chance to talk to dozens and dozens of people, some who have traveled from all over the state
across the country to be here, you understand somehow this young man's death has galvanized a lot of people.
When Ben Crump arrived here, he had Al Sharpton with him who's going to do the eulogy. Terrell Owens, the Hall of Fame NFL football player is here.
Spike Lee, the filmmaker, is here for this funeral. And there's a list of - - of VIPs who are on the inside as well.
[12:30:04]
But it's the community members who have come from all over who say they really wanted to pay their respects to a young man that across color lines
seems to be someone that people enjoyed being around. And that's the tragedy in this, a young man who lost his life.
And I think you heard that last coach talk about the fact that his two younger brothers are actually on his high school football team. They play
just three miles away from here. And you can only understand the pain they're going through as this entire community talks about their brother,
as they play with other teammates who played with him as well.
A lot of emotions today. This funeral just getting started. We'll continue to watch it.
ASHER: All right. Ryan Young, live for us. Thank you so much.
"One World" continues after a short break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ASHER: All right. Welcome back to "One World."
The U.S. and Iran are both saying the door to diplomacy remains open even as the war continues to intensify. Official say, the messages are still
being exchanged through mediators while military operations continue across the region.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio says that Washington is still prepared to pursue a diplomatic solution.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARCO RUBIO, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: I think we're always open to diplomacy. It has to be real. It has to be a deal that they're willing to
live by.
Look, Iran a week ago, is supposed to put out a statement saying that the Straits of Hormuz would be open, that they were no longer attack shipping.
And instead of doing that, they attacked three ships. I think that was last Friday or Saturday. So, I mean, their behavior has to change in order for
ours to change.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: All right. Time now for The Exchange. Joining me live now is Fawaz Gerges, author of "The Great Betrayal: The Struggle for Freedom and
Democracy in the Middle East," and professor of international relations at the London School of Economics. Fawaz, thank you so much for being with us.
If we think back to what was happening in February, the U.S. was sort of riding high after this rapid victory in Venezuela where they were able to
remove Nicolas Maduro and basically install a new leader, Delcy Rodriguez, who's obviously part of the Maduro government, but she was able to be
controlled by the United States. And they learned essentially what I would call the wrong lessons, thinking that they could perhaps apply it to other
areas, namely Iran.
[12:35:24]
They hadn't, I don't think, really thought through the consequences of a war with Iran, what it would look like, Iran's ability to fight
asymmetrically, for example.
You know, you're dealing with a country for whom the costs of surrendering is far greater than the costs of continuing to fight. And so, there's a
different calculation in Iran. I mean, they're not beholden to elections in the same way that the U.S. is. It's a completely different terrain.
So, just explain to us how the U.S. now tries to extract themselves -- extract themselves rather from this quagmire. I mean, it's like quicksand,
you know, it's very difficult to get out of what they have created there.
FAWAZ GERGES, AUTHOR "THE GREAT BETRAYAL": It -- it really is. I mean, I think he really summarized the strategic predicament to President Trump.
President Trump's options are all bad.
I mean, the fact is that President Trump now has returned to hostilities against Iran, tells you a great deal that he is doubling down on a failed
strategy.
I mean, think about it, Zain, the United States and Israel attacked Iran twice in the past one year. They carried out, I mean, tens of thousands.
I'm talking about 20, 30,000 attacks against targets throughout Iran.
They assassinated Iran's top political and military leaders. And look where we are today. Iran has emerged more emboldened and more defiant. And now
President Trump is doubling down on a failed strategy, because what could - - what will President Trump achieve by attacking Iran and degrading its capacity to attack ships or vessels in the Strait of Hormuz?
All the Iran really has to do is to have a few drones and a few missiles. And as the revolutionary guards made it very clear today, quote-unquote,
not even a drop of oil or gas will pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
And now the world economy, the inflation, I mean, a gallon of gas in the United States now increased to $4 and a barrel of oil up to more than $90.
So, it's -- it's -- President Trump in a very, very difficult strategic bind, and he really does not have an access strategy, because as you
suggested, this was really he improvised. Venezuela was the template. He compared Venezuela with Iran.
Andm of course, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sold them a sales pitch that was the war was going to be easy. And it was going to be
costless. And, of course, President Trump loved victories, declaring victories. And he has not really been able to declare victory. And that's
why he's in a terrible, terrible strategic bind.
ASHER: And one thing that caused me, and I think a lot of other people some degree of consternation is this the fact that the U.S. is now willing to
attack civilian targets. I mean, namely sort of infrastructure, bridges.
The fact that it's resorting to that, I mean, that was something that the Trump administration was really hesitant, reluctant that they would not do.
The fact that they are now essentially hurting the very people, ordinary civilians in Iran, that they sort of initially, I guess, wanted to help,
tells you that there is now a level of, I want to use the word desperation, but at least an internal admission and understanding that the sort of
normal military strategies that they had been employing clearly are not working.
So, what -- what is next? I mean, we know that the U.S. is now sending more firepower to the region.
To your point, what is that going to achieve when the way Iran and its ability to retaliate is so asymmetric that it's very difficult for them to
capitulate? It's highly unlikely, I should say, that that's going to be the route that they take.
GERGES: I mean, what's really alarming to many of us, you know, academics and observers of what's happening is that President Trump openly talks
about attacking Iran's civilian infrastructure, water plants, electrical plants, bridges.
And the United States, even in the past few days, in the past five days, have been attacking bridges and civilian infrastructure, which basically
affect people's lives. That the fact that the American president talks about attacking water and electricity and civilian infrastructure, which
are considered war crimes, it tells you how desperate President Trump, how angry he is.
[12:40:12]
And in fact, he sometimes makes it very clear that he -- he talks about genocidal, I mean, desire to wipe out the whole civilization, to destroy a
country on -- on and on and on.
And that's why I think this is very alarming. It's very alarming because supposedly, the United States really went attacked Iran because it wanted
to help the Iranian people. I mean, look what's happening in Iran now. Thousands of civilian have been killed, hundreds of children.
And it's -- it's -- it's very tragic. It's really very tragic because the Iranian regime has emerged very stronger. Now, I mean, we see in the
funeral of the late leader, Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader. Millions of Iranians basically turned out to basically tell the United States, not --
you know, we are here. We -- we resist. Even though many of them don't really care for the Islamic Republic, but this was a -- a rallying around
the flag.
And now, Iran's leaders believe that they have a new mandate from the Iranian people. And that's why I think Iran now is overplaying its hand.
And it's basically increasing its demands.
Because at the end of the day, Zain, Iran leaders have no trust whatsoever in President Trump's words. They don't believe that he will ever deliver on
any kind of agreement. So, they want basically to make sure they manage the Strait of Hormuz, the control of the Strait of Hormuz, because it's the
only strategic card that they have at this particular moment.
ASHER: Yes. I mean, as you point out, just in terms of the civilian casualties, Iran certainly does have a -- a different level of tolerance
for civilian casualties. They have a willingness to endure hardship that perhaps is catching the United States by surprise. And that is one of the
reasons why they've been able to last this long in -- in this war.
Fawaz Gerges in London, thank you so much. We appreciate it.
All right. Thousands of years of history are at the center of a modern-day fight. Palestinians in the West Bank are trying to preserve an
archaeological site that they say is part of their heritage.
CNN's Jeremy Diamond takes us to Sebastia.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): On this West Bank hilltop, a battle over the past will shape the future. And archaeology is
the weapon of choice.
DIAMOND: So, this is the line right here?
AZHARI: Yes, exactly. The first line of these columns, it's an area sea. But it's the area sea started.
DIAMOND: And so what does that mean for Palestinians in this area?
AZHARI: It's mean that we are losing our heart by losing this area and not having access to our agricultural fields and our archaeological sites.
DIAMOND (voice-over): Sebastia is an archaeological treasure, home to thousands of years of Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman history. It is now
enmeshed in the fabric and economy of the Palestinian town of the same name, but risks being cut off from it.
AZHARI: If we looked at the examples we had already, maybe they will build a wall. Who knows?
DIAMOND (voice-over): It is also home to ruins from the ancient kingdom of Israel.
DIAMOND: Archaeologists say, these ruins date back to the ninth century B.C., part of the capital city of the ancient kingdom of Israel. And now
the current Israeli government wants to use these ruins as a justification for seizing hundreds of acres of land on an archaeological site that
includes ruins from many other periods in history.
DIAMOND (voice-over): The goal, an Israeli tourist site with a focus on its Jewish heritage. The man behind that project is far right heritage minister
Amichai Eliyahu, who has, among other things, said he would be open to nuking Gaza.
He says Palestinians have failed to preserve the site and protect it from looters.
DIAMOND: In order to protect the site, why is it necessary to expropriate privately held Palestinian lands?
AMICHAI ELIYAHU, ISRAELI HERITAGE MINISTER (through text translation): The area is Israeli territory. It belongs to the Jewish people. It is not
occupied.
I am not willing to have the story of the Jewish people destroyed, sabotaged, robbed, dismantled, or erased.
DIAMOND (voice-over): But Palestinians say, it's Israel standing in the way of efforts to rehabilitate these ruins.
AZHARI: We tried to do a rehabilitation, an urgent and emergency rehabilitation. During the work, settlers, soldiers came, they stopped all
the labors.
ALON ARAD, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, EMEK SHAVEH: So, they keep on repeating this argument that the Palestinians are destroying archaeological remains but
have not shown any data to support it.
DIAMOND (voice-over): Alon Arad leads a group of Israeli archaeologists fighting against what they say are the real intentions of this government
and Eliyahu.
ARAD: He doesn't care about antiques. He wants to annex. It's not about the site. It's the ability to use the site as a weapon, as an instrument to
take more land, to shrink this Palestinian space.
[12:45:11]
DIAMOND (voice-over): The Palestinian Authority, supported by archaeologists like Arad, has filed an emergency petition to designate
Sebastia as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
ELIYAHU (through text translation): UNESCO can say whatever it wants. If it tries to go against the truth and invent narratives here, it will not
succeed.
DIAMOND: It seems like ultimately, you are trying to strengthen Israel's position on the grounds in that territory.
ELIYAHU: The land is irrevocable. The facts irrevocable, that we let them erase our heritage? The facts are that this is the land of our fathers and
mothers.
DIAMOND (voice-over): Palestinians are also deeply rooted in this land, like the olive trees, Sebastia's families have cultivated amid the ruins
for generations.
AZHARI: This is everything for us. I cannot imagine Sebastian without archaeological site. It's like your children, you cannot like leave one of
them.
This is the heart of people of Sebastia and Sebastia at the same time.
DIAMOND (voice-over): Jeremy Diamond, CNN, Sebastia, the West Bank.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ASHER: All right. It's been three months since footwear brand, Allbirds, made a remarkable announcement that it was pivoting to artificial
intelligence. The company is now rebranding as an A.I. firm called Smartbird.
CNN's Claire Duffy spoke with the Smartbird president and CEO Nadia Carlsten about the company's big bet on tech.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CLARE DUFFY, CNN TECH REPORTER: The company that made these sneakers is dropping Allbirds for A.I. News this spring that Allbirds was rebranding as
Smartbird, sent the company shares soaring nearly 600 percent, but it also left some wondering whether it was a joke or a gimmick.
New CEO Nadia Carlsten says she's very serious.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NADIA CARLSTEN, PRESIDENT AND CEO, SMARTBIRD: There's a lot back in this episode. It's the fact that we have a new company now, very much dedicated
to -- to A.I. We have a board that is committed.
And this is something that I have done before. And so I know that it's a market that exists and something that we can deliver.
DUFFY (voice-over): Smartbird wants to provide computing power for companies to run A.I. systems, a business that is dominated by giants like
Amazon, Google and Microsoft.
CARLSTEN: A.I. is so hot right now. This is maybe an unusual way to start an A.I. company. But it wouldn't be unusual for a company that wants to
provide value to choose to be an A.I.
DUFFY (voice-over): It's not the first time a struggling legacy company has made a bold bet on a hyped up new technology. And it doesn't always pan
out.
[12:50:05]
In 2018, film company, Kodak, announced it was going all in on blockchain and launching its own cryptocurrency.
DUFFY: While that news initially sent the company's stock up, the effort quickly fizzled. Last year, Kodak warned investors it was on the verge of
bankruptcy.
But Smartbird's Carlsten says, she's confident about the opportunity in A.I.
CARLSTEN: As A.I. has shown more usefulness over the -- the -- the past year and even the past few months, more companies are using A.I. More
companies have become larger users of -- of A.I.
DUFFY: As for whether she'll miss the shoes --
CARLSTEN: I actually have never owned an Allbirds shoe. People talk about Allbirds being the preferred shoe brand of -- of tech bros. And, of course,
I am into space, but I'm one of the few women in the A.I. infrastructure business. So, I'm not a tech bro. And I actually tend to prefer high heels
myself.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ASHER: All right. Still to come, a Hollywood legend takes on an ancient epics. Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey" sails into theaters with a massive
opening.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ASHER: All right. Finally, here on "One World," Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey" has made a massive debut at the box office, raking in more than
$260 million worldwide.
The epic adaptation of Homer's classic comes to life using brand new IMAX film technology. It stars Matt Damon as Odysseus and follows the legendary
hero's dangerous journey home after the Trojan War.
CNN's Dan Heching is in Los Angeles where moviegoers stayed up all night to watch it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAN HECHING, CNN ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR: So, I'm in my Uber now, on my way to Downtown L.A. to the movie theater. It's around 1:45 A.M. on a Friday
night, Saturday morning.
About like 40 minutes ago, this place was completely empty, ghost town, and now it is totally packed.
So, what's your main reason for seeing it at 3:00 A.M.?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Honestly, I had no clue. I just saw that there was like screenings for 3:00 A.M. and I was like, you know (BLEEP).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was like the only time available.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I took a 35-minute nap as soon as I got off work at 4:00. And I've been up since.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: 10:00 P.M. to 6:00 A.M. That's my normal work schedule. And even if I wasn't working, I'll still be up.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I wanted to get out there, see it in its premium format. See it how it was intended to be seen.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I saw that I was really hyped, so I was like OK, I need to go watch it, especially in 70mm, like, the format so I was like,
yes.
[12:55:06]
HECHING: Wow. That was epic. Even at 4:00 A.M.
So, was this worth seeing at 3:00 A.M.?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, it was. My favorite part? I think it was the pig scenes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I haven't slept in 30 hours, but I was awake for the whole film. It's IMAX 70mm and you don't get to watch that everywhere in
the world.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ten out of 10 watch. I don't regret a single time. I'm tired. I'm exhausted, but stayed up for every single minute then.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ASHER: And any moment now, the newly crowned World Cup champs will take to the streets of Central Madrid where about a million fans are actually going
to be greeting them.
Spain beat Argentina in the World Cup final, one nil, Sunday. Earlier this hour, the team met with the King of Spain. We'll bring you much of the
parade throughout the day.
All right. That does it for this hour of "One World." I'm Zain Asher. Thank you so much for watching. "Amanpour" is up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
