Loading summary
Transcript80 lines
- [00:08]
Christiane Amanpour
Hello, everyone, and welcome to the Alan Poor hour from the Munich Security Conference. Here's where we're headed this week, a transatlantic turning point as Marco Rubio addresses allies in Munich. How do they see the relationship now? I ask EU President Ursula von der Leyen and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
- [00:28]
Ursula von der Leyen
Then.
- [00:30]
Christiane Amanpour
A deep dive into the past, present and future of Iran. First, I ask the son of the last Shah Reza Pahlavi if he will try and lead his country as some protesters have been calling his name on the streets. Then the Nobel Peace Prize committee speaks up for one of its laureates, the Iranian human rights defender Nargis Mohammadi. Horrifying reports of her brutal treatment in prison and from my archives. For decades, Iran's youth has been crying out for change. My report with the young who've always been demanding more freedom. Also on the program, how the extraordinary sights and sounds of sculptor Nick Cave are taking over the Smithsonian. Welcome to the program, everyone. I'm Christiane Amanpour and we start our program here at the Munich Security Conference, the annual transatlantic gathering that often sets the stage for their policy priorities. Now this time last year, the US Laid into its European allies to their stunned disbelief. In a blistering speech, Vice President J.D. vance accused them of not working with the far right while censoring their free speech. And he made it clear that Trump 2.0 didn't care as much about the defense of Ukraine anymore. It was extraordinary. Then and now amid a developing might makes right U.S. policy. So you can imagine that allies were tuning in closely to hear today whether Secretary of State and National Security Adviser Marco Rubio Williams would commit to the survival of this 80 year old alliance.
- [02:04]
Jurgen Friedness
Under President Trump, the United States of America will once again take on the task of renewal and restoration, driven by a vision of a future as proud, as sovereign and as vital as our civilization's past. And while we are prepared, if necessary, to do this alone, it is our preference and it is our hope to do this together with you, our friends here in Europe.
- [02:32]
Christiane Amanpour
And just to be clear, the special report put out before this conference began, labels Trump, quote, the Demolition man. And its authors warned that we're entering an era of quote, wrecking ball politics with the U.S led post1945 international order now under destruction. Serious stuff indeed. And so I asked the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the British Prime Minister Kiyr Starmer for their red lines and roadmap for the future defence and survival of Europe.
- [03:04]
Ursula von der Leyen
I was very much reassured by the speech of the Secretary of State. We know him, he's a good friend, a strong ally indeed. And this was, for me, very reassuring to listen to him. We know that in the administration some have a harsher tone on these topics, but the Secretary of State was very clear. He said, we want a strong Europe in the alliance and this is what we are working for intensively in the European Union. We have to be an independent Europe, not a Europe that is leaning on someone, but a Europe that is going forward with friends and allies together, facing the challenges that are out there.
- [03:55]
Keir Starmer
I thought the Secretary of State's speech was consistent with the argument that Ursula made in her remarks a moment ago and the argument I'm making. I think it's really clear, though, that we shouldn't get in the warm bath of complacency and think that therefore, all we're really doing is reasserting the continuation of what we've had for the last 80 years. That would be a mistake, and it would be a particular mistake for Europe, because my strong view is that Europe hasn't done enough in its own defence and security for many years, because we will only be able to preserve NATO in the way it is needed for the next 80 years if we change and strengthen the European dimension. That is something which a number of American presidents have said for some time, I believe to be true. And I think we've got to seize this movement to move forward, not to pull apart the transatlantic relationship, but to make sure it works in the circumstance and the times that we face.
- [04:51]
Christiane Amanpour
The current Secretary General of NATO, after Trump's Davos speech, actually after Prime Minister Carney's speech, which talked about a rupture, he said, if you all are thinking that you can do what you have to do without the United States, then dream on, it's not going to happen. So how long do you think it'll take to get to this posture that you both say you need to get to?
- [05:16]
Keir Starmer
Well, the first thing I'd say is that we're not looking at a future that tears us apart from the Euro Atlantic alliance that we have. NATO has been the single most effective and successful military alliance the world has ever known, and we should never move away from it. But I think simply sitting where we are isn't good enough. And therefore the change does need to come. That needs Europe to be stronger, to be working more closely. And that's why I said what I said about the UK EU relationship. We're 10 years on from Brexit. We are not the Britain of the Brexit years. We're a Britain that wants to work with the EU even more closely in light of the challenge that we face here 10 years on.
- [06:05]
Christiane Amanpour
But you also said, and I want to get to the bottom of this, that some red lines have been crossed and they cannot be uncrossed. You were talking about the United States in your speech. I think, what red lines are you talking about? Because there is a massive deficit of trust between many people in the alliance and certainly leaders who are now having to do what you're doing, workarounds, de risking decoupling, whatever you might want to call it, independence. What red lines have been crossed that cannot be uncrossed?
- [06:32]
Ursula von der Leyen
So, for example, I want to be very clear, our digital sovereignty is. Our digital sovereignty very clear on that one. We have a long tradition in freedom of speech. Actually, the enlightenment started on our continent. And we are very clear with digital sovereignty also that what is forbidden offline is forbidden online. And we will not flinch what that is concerned. We will be very steadfast to pursue this very clear demand for us about.
- [07:12]
Christiane Amanpour
Ukraine, because, again, Marco Rubio, the Secretary of State, barely mentioned it except for an elusive piece. He said those words. President Trump has said in his latest comments that Ukraine President Zelensky needs to get onto it because Russia wants a deal. These are his words. And President Zelensky needs to get onto it right now, otherwise he's going to miss a great opportunity. Secretary Rubio did not go to your meeting, your leaders meeting with President Zelensky last night. Where do you think this all stands? Where do the negotiations stand? Is it Zelensky who needs to be pressured?
- [07:47]
Ursula von der Leyen
So I think it's extremely important that we do not buy in the Russian narrative. And this has been out too much there. I mean, if we look at the strategic goals and the military goals of Putin, it's a huge failure. He wanted to Russify Ukraine. Ukraine has become European. He wanted to stop NATO. NATO has gotten bigger with Sweden and Finland. He wanted to occupy Ukraine within days or weeks. Well, now we are unfortunately in the fourth year of the war. And I think it is so important that we on our side tell the truth. What is going on in Russia with a war economy, with skyrocketing interest rates and inflation, completely isolated. And now this is a war of attrition. And in this war of attrition, it is of utmost importance that we push forward the negotiations and put pressure on Putin that he finally comes to the negotiation table.
- [08:51]
Christiane Amanpour
So I need to ask you a political question, because a lot of people at home are interested. You've just spoken about the amount of money that needs to be spent on the Ukraine defense, on Britain, on Europe. That takes politics and convincing. You have. I wanted to ask you, do you think you narrowly just miss being toppled? Do you think that what's happening in the politics at home is distracting you and perhaps making you vulnerable to a Brexit follow, you know, the Reform Party or even maybe the Conservatives who might not want to pursue the kind of politics that you want to pursue?
- [09:26]
Keir Starmer
No, I reject that. I ended the week much stronger than I started it and that's a very good place to be. And my party and my government is completely united on the question of Ukraine and defence and security and the need for stronger relations with Europe on defence, on security and on economy as well. And so I think that there is real strength in the position I've now set out. I think the whole of the government is united behind that. I think actually it unites across the House of Commons. Not everybody. I accept reform have a different agenda. They're pro Putin. We know where they stand. Imagine if they were in government in the United Kingdom. The coalition of the willing could not exist with UK participation in it. We would not be seen as a leader on the European or international stage. We would be seen as a country that people couldn't do business. So it's not universal across our parliament, but there's a very strong feeling amongst right minded politicians that we stick together on Ukraine. So for all of the divisions that you never get in politics, there are some real clarity and some real certainty on these key issues.
- [10:38]
Christiane Amanpour
Coming up next, we have more from Munich and my conversation with Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran's late shah. He's talking about the opposition and the future of his country amid mass protests and a brutal crackdown.
- [10:56]
Narrator/Reporter
This week on the Assignment with me, Audie Cornish, we are going to talk about Bad Bunny with somebody who has been covering him since the beginning, writer and journalist Suzy Exposito. To see the working class being represented. I loved the ways that he brought it to the stadium. It was like a movie set. It was like a living organism that we're watching on the screen. It was. That's a great way to put it. Listen to the Assignment with me, Audie Cornish. Streaming now on your favorite podcast app.
- [11:35]
Christiane Amanpour
Welcome back to the Amanpour Hour. Iran is also a central topic here at the Munich Security Conference this year the Islamic Republic has not been invited. The government stays home, while instead a key opposition figure takes the stage. Reza Pahlavi the son of the late Shah of Iran, who was overthrown exactly 47 years ago in 1979. Pahlavi's appearance here comes amid mass protests that swept the country and a brutal, deadly crackdown that still continues. Thousands are believed to have been killed and tens of thousands have been detained. But just ahead of this conference, and after meeting with the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, President Trump made clear that he will continue to pursue diplomacy with Tehran and not military action or regime change for now. So with these latest mass protests crushed, is there a future beyond a now vulnerable Islamic Republic? I asked Reza Pahlavi whether he still expects US Intervention and what his plan is for a united opposition going forward. I want to ask you about what you said as well. You also called on people to come out and you told them that there would be a 50,000. I'm picking that number that you used, you know, guard of defectors and people who would save them and protect them during their. During their demonstrations. Of course, that didn't happen, and they were alone and they were slaughtered. So why did you say that? What was it based on? And who are the people that you say are defecting? And if not, then when? When? When are we going to see that?
- [13:12]
Reza Pahlavi
Well, look, there are many elements within the regime structure that refused to carry out the orders of repression, and they were severely penalized. Now, there's an extent to which they can do their part, but as long as the IRGC and Khamenei are sitting up there, using them as an instrument of repression, even if you have defectors, it's not enough to be a shield of protection. People were chanting anyway on the streets, and we, in fact, were successful in pushing the regime back, except for the regime acted the way it did. So what do we do now? Do we have a temporary retreat? We are, but people are continuing the struggle. They're continuing to chant slogans. You see an unprecedented solidarity of Iranians in the four corners of the world demonstrating their support for them. We've seen millions of people on the streets of Iran that are doing it. Does liberty have a price? Of course it does. Are we prepared to die for this cause? Of course we are. Our whole point is that we don't have a choice but to fight. We don't have a choice but to liberate ourselves. And the only way you can minimize the struggle in terms of time and loss of human life is not to be alone in this fight. There's too much blood between us and this regime. There's no turning back for US. So the question is, is the world this time going to be on the right side of history and support the Iranian people? This is a choice to be made because the circumstances exist right now as we speak. There's an opportunity, there's a window that exists right now that could be the game changer for the whole world.
- [14:42]
Christiane Amanpour
I can really hear you trying to call on something. And that something, I think, is intervention.
- [14:48]
Reza Pahlavi
It is intervention only because the Iranian people realize that this intervention will eliminate the. The most important stumbling block between then and liberation, which is the regime's mechanism of repression and its killing machine. What does it mean? It means irgc. It means any other instrument of repression. It means further economic sanctions. It means. It means cutting economic. The regime's means to basically pay the checks of their mercenaries. At the end of the day, it means putting more diplomatic pressure, expanding their diplomats, shutting down the embassy, repurposing the frozen ass that belong to the Iranian people to, in fact, help the Iranian people fund their campaign of labor strikes. Help us with the Internet and access to the world. And, you know, we had specific demands on that as to where the world can take steps that will be helpful to this campaign.
- [15:41]
Keir Starmer
Okay.
- [15:41]
Christiane Amanpour
So I think it's important not to forget that 47 years ago, it was your family that was overthrown. It was your father that was overthrown. There was a reason for that. And I wonder how you, how you talk about that right now, how you think about that right now. I was there during that year of the revolution, and I remember it very well. So this is all to ask you, why do you think a Pahlavi should be the leader again? And how can you do it? What kind of a plan do you have? What kind of a political ground game inside the country do you have? I mean, it's necessary, right? You've got to also be able to, to convince people there and to have an organization.
- [16:27]
Reza Pahlavi
Well, when it comes to the name, that's the name that people chanted on the streets of Iran by The millions in 31 provinces of Iran, in the four corners of Iran, they called my name. They asked me to come to their support. And I have. And I accepted the challenge of leading the transition. As far as the plan that we have, we have a plan before the regime's collapse and particularly for the transition after this regime, which is very well documented and presented. It's an open document you can see on the website of the Iran and Iran Prosperity Project. It talks about the emergency, the initial 100 days. How do we manage that process? How do we avoid what happened in Iraq post Saddam Hussein? Because we don't want to have the same experience of de Ba'. Atification. And one of the key components of this strategy is how much defection can exist, not just because we need them on the side of the people, but because, and that has been my principal position, that anyone who doesn't have their hands soiled with the blood of the Iranian people should survive regime change and have a place in the future. They can be part of the solution as opposed to remain part of the problem. That's very critical to maintain a stable transition both on the civilian side as well as the military paramilitary side.
- [17:42]
Christiane Amanpour
So I want to pick, I want to follow up on what you just said. Whoever doesn't have blood on their hands. But as you know, a lot of your supporters or people claiming to be your supporters or, I don't know, bots online or whatever have zero tolerance to anybody who's in Iran right now. They call everybody a collaborator, everybody an appeaser. There is this incredible woman, Nargis Mohammadi, who's a Nobel Peace Laureate. She should be a source of pride for her human rights and her sacrifice that she's made. And yet online it is catastrophic what people claiming to be your supporters are saying.
- [18:18]
Reza Pahlavi
Look, I've always spoken against any kind of political violence or intimidation as a matter of principle. And I think this is an opportunity to say that. One of our asks is, of course, the immediate release of all political prisoners. That includes Nages Mohammadi. And I think when you look at the future of Iran, while today we can all be allies for a common cause of liberation and the secular democracy as an alternative to this clerical dictatorship, I think we are all in the same boat.
- [18:44]
Christiane Amanpour
Now. Today there are also mass rallies called here in Munich to support the end of the Islamic Republic. After a break, we go back to London for the rest of our program and to a mammoth work of art, how the sculptor Nick Cave is taking over the Smithsonian in Washington. Welcome back. Ever wondered what you could make with some beads, branches and buttons? Well, the American artist Nick Cave has mastered the art of fashioning small, mundane objects into extravagant head to toe wearable sculptures called Soundsuits. Now, they may look vibrant and whimsical, they are. But Cave has always woven layers of social critique into his art, having made his first one 25 years ago in response to the 1991 police beating of the African American Rodney King in LA. Cave's new show, Mammoth, just opened at the Smithsonian American Art museum in Washington, D.C. and considering Trump's current policies. It daringly takes on issues of race and climate change. CNN's style followed him as he was preparing for the opening of his new exhibition.
- [20:06]
Nick Cave
I'm witnessing a time in history where history is being erased, but yet history is being revealed at the same time. And so when I think about mammoth, I think about at one point they existed and then buried and then rediscovered. You know, what is erased becomes revealed. What is removed shows up again.
- [20:33]
Narrator/Reporter
These creatures are just one piece of Nick Cave Mammoth, a monumental new exhibition and the Smithsonian American Art Museum's largest ever commission by a single artist. This vibrant, immersive world uses thousands of objects, costume and video, to both recall his own lineage and explore American history. Mammoth has been in the works since 2017, and it never stopped evolving, even up to the last minute.
- [21:02]
Keir Starmer
There you go.
- [21:03]
Reza Pahlavi
All right, we're rolling, folks.
- [21:05]
Nick Cave
How am I feeling right now? A bit, you know, it's a little overwhelming, but things are coming together. There's a lot of moving parts. There is going to be 12 that will move through the Smithsonian.
- [21:27]
Narrator/Reporter
Cave has become a leading voice in contemporary art, critiquing political, racial and social structures through assemblage sculptures that burst with color and Life. For some 30 years, he has crafted over 500 so called Soundsuits, sculptures, often wearable, that are made from found materials meant to symbolize armor for marginalized groups.
- [21:50]
Nick Cave
I'm always sort of interested in pushing materials out of their familiar roles. I don't know necessarily like how everything will be used, but you know, I'm.
- [22:03]
Christiane Amanpour
Just like, this is like fabulous.
- [22:14]
Keir Starmer
How long does it take to assemble each one?
- [22:16]
Christiane Amanpour
They're learning this, you're learning that.
- [22:18]
Narrator/Reporter
Now.
- [22:21]
Nick Cave
We are on Lake Michigan here in Chicago getting video footage for the gallery. Action two, let's go. Action three, let's go. When I was building these, I thought I was going to cover the entire structure, but I loved that humanity was revealed.
- [22:46]
Reza Pahlavi
I'm so excited about the show.
- [22:48]
Nick Cave
I go there next Tuesday and start the installation. It's really about sort of creating, creating the abundance. I know that everyone will be able to identify with something of their past.
- [23:12]
Narrator/Reporter
After weeks in the gallery with the team, Mammoth is complete.
- [23:28]
Nick Cave
It was such a feat to pour, pull this all together. It's a very important project at this time of my life. I come from a family of makers, you know, woodworkers, seamstresses, poets, musicians, painters, performers, a thousand influences. When I think about that, it's mammoths in terms of scale.
- [23:59]
Christiane Amanpour
And just after a break, the Nobel Peace Prize committee speaks up for One of its laureates, the Iranian human rights defender Nargis Mohammadi. Horrifying reports of her brutal treatment in prison. We'll have the details tab.
- [24:16]
Michael Ian Black
I Got News for your Ears, the podcast. I am your host, Michael Ian Black.
- [24:22]
Keir Starmer
When I misbehave, I usually have a sense of guilt about it. Right? They don't have that. They obviously don't have that.
- [24:28]
Michael Ian Black
It seems like that.
- [24:29]
Narrator/Reporter
Right, it definitely seems like that.
- [24:31]
Michael Ian Black
Like someone like Lutnick will just blatantly lie to an interviewer, as we've seen. And then in the Epstein Files comes out and he's like, I met that guy once. Was like, he's a disgusting pig.
- [24:42]
Christiane Amanpour
Haven't seen him.
- [24:42]
Keir Starmer
Gross. He's gross. Awful.
- [24:43]
Michael Ian Black
Haven't seen him since 2005. And it turns out they're in business together. They're literally in business together. Have I Got News for your Ears. Releases new episodes every Wednesday. Don't miss an episode. Follow us wherever you get your podcasts.
- [25:00]
Christiane Amanpour
Welcome back. As we've discussed this hour with Iran's Islamic Republic fighting for its survival like never before, no one appears immune from its brutal crackdown. Not even the already imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize winner and human rights defender Nargis Mohammadi has been viciously assaulted, according to the Nobel Committee. It says it has credible reports detailing Mohammadi's arrest and physical abuse and ongoing life threatening mistreatment in prison. Unusually strong language. The Nobel Committee says it is horrified and it demands an immediate end to these acts. It also calls Mohammedi's imprisonment arbitrary and unjust. The committee head, Jurgen Friednes spoke to me from Oslo this week. Welcome to the program. I mean, you use particularly strong language. Horrified. And you have described some really untenable violence that she's undergoing. Can you tell me what you know and what you have discovered?
- [25:58]
Jurgen Friedness
Thank you for having me. The reports of a Nobel Peace Prize floret, Nargis Mohammedi are in fact horrifying. The credible reports is about being beaten repeatedly with wooden sticks and batons, being dragged across the ground, parts of her scalp being teared out of her head, causing open wounds, repeatedly kicked in the pelvis, in the genitals, leaving her unable to sit, unable to live normally with severe pain. And at the same time, the heavy interrogations have continued, the imitation intimidation have continued, and she continues to be denied adequate, sustained medical assistance. So this is consecutive cruel and inhumane treatment. A blatant violation of international human rights law.
- [27:10]
Christiane Amanpour
In the meantime, we have received a statement from her husband who is himself a political activist. He is outside of Iran. His name is Tajihy Rahmani and he has written, nargis Mohammadi Ahmed, human rights defender, was savagely beaten and arrested with shocking and excessive violence. For years, both inside prison and outside, Nargis has done nothing but advocate for justice and human dignity. It is clear that this violence is deliberate, an attempt to intimidate her, silence her and force her to abandon her work. This treatment is cruel, unlawful and utterly indefensible. I mean, you're saying some of the same things, but your reaction to her own husband. I mean, it was her children who had to accept her Nobel because she couldn't come out of Iran last year. And I just wonder what you think about what he said.
- [28:04]
Jurgen Friedness
Well, we totally agree with Mr. Khamani that this is inhumane treatment. It's been going on for a long time. But we, as all other international observers, have observed the unlawful mass killings also in the last couple of weeks. And we see this brutal repression that followed the mass protest as another grim example of the repression from the regime. And the treatment of Nargis Mohammedi is being increased in the last weeks. So this is worrisome and we definitely worry about that. She will not be able to live any longer. She has heart disease. She has medical needs which is not being taken care of.
- [28:55]
Christiane Amanpour
You know, Mr. Fredas, talking about her health, I interviewed her when she was given a brief sort of medical furlough. And she spoke then about how she was kicked in the chest despite her known heart and other weaknesses. And so it's important that you point out how grave danger she's in. But have you, as the Nobel Committee spoken to, conveyed your concern and as you said, the fact that you consider this horrifying to the Iranian government, what can you actually do, if anything?
- [29:28]
Jurgen Friedness
Of course, that is the most important question. Of course we have to appeal to Iran, the regime in Tehran, to take uphold international law and to uphold their. To not have their violation of these laws, but also to appeal to the international community to persist in its effort to ensure that Ms. Mohammedi's safety is taken care of and to uphold the universal principle for which she so bravely stands for. So this is a call both to the regime in Iran, but also to the international community to put pressure on them so that Ms. Mohammedi's safety is taken care of.
- [30:16]
Christiane Amanpour
She, when I spoke to her, said that despite the dangers, she was absolutely committed to keeping on fighting for democracy. This is what she told me from Iran.
- [30:28]
Iranian Youth (Archive Footage)
Not even the prison walls and all these convictions can ever stop me. And I feel that alongside the Iranian people, I have to go to democracy and equality. And I hope that we will see victory. And it may not be an easy path, but I am determined in my belief because of the conditions that exist in my country, Iran.
- [30:55]
Christiane Amanpour
What does it say to you about that prize? Sometimes I know people are concerned if we, if we spotlight some of these people who are in danger, maybe it makes things worse for them. On the other hand, it also gives them, I suppose, a platform and international recognition.
- [31:12]
Jurgen Friedness
You're correctly. That is always a very difficult part of the decision making for who should be the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. Because, yes, you say it could both protect you, but it could also highlight the dangers for Ms. Mohammadi. She has been a senior steadfast human rights defender for many, many years. She has taken those risks many years also before being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. But she continues to stand for what she believes in, women, life, freedom, for democracy of the people in Iran. And we've seen now how countless of women and men have risked their lives to demand the same things. Freedom, equality, basic human rights in Iran for a long time, but not least the last couple of weeks. And the reaction from the regime has been brutal.
- [32:11]
Christiane Amanpour
Jurgen Friedness, the head of the Nobel Committee, thank you so much for putting this very important issue front and center and alerting the world.
- [32:19]
Jurgen Friedness
Thank you.
- [32:21]
Christiane Amanpour
And we continue to ask Iranian government officials onto this program with a response to this and to the wider crackdown. Still ahead. Iranian New Year Nowruz approaches. And we look back into my archives for how historically Iranians have turned celebration into resistance. Welcome back to the program Nowruz. The Iranian New Year is about a month away, a celebration where families gather and workers get a long holiday. This year's, though, coincides with a very dark period, even by revolutionary standards there. As we've discussed, there have been mass killings of Iranian protesters desperate for a better, freer, more prosperous life, as well as a continuing crackdown and mass detentions by the authorities, even against doctors who help the wounded. They have been targeted when it comes to Nowruz. The Islamic government that came to power 47 years ago, tried to suppress New Year celebrations, calling them un Islamic, including the ancient Zoroastrian tradition of fire jumping, seen as an act of cleansing and defiance. From my archives this week, we go back to tehran for Nowruz 1996, when frustrated young people even then told me how their basic freedoms are repressed.
- [33:47]
Iranian Youth (Archive Footage)
It's Iranian New Year, and youngsters perform an ancient cleansing ritual to banish old ills before the revolution. The streets were full of fire jumpers. But it's not an Islamic festival, so today it happens mostly behind closed doors. Mixed dancing to pop music is forbidden fun in Islamic Iran. But it goes on underground in upscale neighborhoods. Shopping malls are full of lonely hearts on the lookout and watching out for morals police who've beaten girls considered too bold. Rap and heavy metal graffiti are spray painted on the walls. And the streets of Iran are full of restless youth. On weekends, youngsters from all social classes head for fresh air and freedom in the mountains. But even here they are frustrated by guardians of the revelation, keeping an eye out for anything other than cordial conversation.
- [34:42]
Narrator/Reporter
It's natural wherever you live. By the time boys and girls reach 15 or 16, an attraction exists. You want to know what the opposite sex is like.
- [34:52]
Iranian Youth (Archive Footage)
Only married couples feel free to hold hands in public or dine out together. In today's Iran, unmarried girls sit together at their tea tables. Unmarried boys do the same. Many complain they feel stifled and bored with not enough recreational activities.
- [35:10]
Keir Starmer
We can't be like Europeans because of our country's social and religious beliefs. We can't be free like them. But still we could have more to do.
- [35:17]
Reza Pahlavi
The tension here, especially on the youth, is very bad. And we don't have much fun to do. Only sports we have.
- [35:26]
Christiane Amanpour
And this is only for the rich persons to do.
- [35:32]
Iranian Youth (Archive Footage)
Coping with the problem is a high priority in a country where about half the population is under 14.
- [35:40]
Keir Starmer
We think we must create opportunities to satisfy their mental and physical needs. They can't be ignored. Otherwise it will create many problems for the city, including political problems in the future.
- [35:51]
Iranian Youth (Archive Footage)
But with more youth growing up, more educated, and with the influx of consumerism and communications, officials know the demand for more amenities and more personal freedoms can only grow. Christiana Manpour, CNN, Tehran.
- [36:06]
Christiane Amanpour
Watching that. Can anybody be surprised that now, 30 years later, the current generation are protesting? And could those people in my report have ever imagined that the challenges they had then would still remain? When we come back, a different celebration. Valentine's Day this weekend. And how the Winter Olympics have been filled with love, heartbreak and cringy confessions. And finally, this Valentine's Day, love is in the air in all sorts of curious ways. Even air below freezing, like in the Italian Alps, where there's been some swoon worthy highs and tear jerking lows at the Winter Olympics. And most prominently, the pressure and tension of the Games clearly overcame Norwegian Olympian Sturla Omlograde in a really strange moment of candor just after he had won the biathlon bronze on Tuesday. He decided with great emotion to admit, unprompted, that he had had an affair. Then he asked his erstwhile girlfriend to forgive him in a public post win.
- [37:19]
Reza Pahlavi
Press conference today I made the choice to tell the world what I did. So maybe, maybe there is a chance that she will see what she really means to me. And maybe not.
- [37:37]
Christiane Amanpour
Maybe not. The anonymous ex girlfriend in question says that she is currently finding it too hard to forgive. Now, over on the ice, things were hotter. A honeymoon of sorts for gold medalists and four time Olympic veterans Madison Chock and Evan Bates. They were now competing as a married couple for the first time and helped spur the US Figure Skating team to victory. That's all we have time for. Don't forget, you can find all of our shows online as podcasts, @cnn.com audio and on all other major platforms. I'm Christiane Amanpour and London. Thank you for watching and see you again next week.
- [38:24]
Anderson Cooper
Hey, I'm Anderson Cooper. On my podcast All There Is, we explore grief and loss in all its complexities. You'll hear deeply moving and honest discussions with people who have faced and are living with life altering losses. My guest is writer poet Megan Fox who was married to the poet Andrea Gibson. Andrea died last summer after a years long battle with cancer. Is grief different than you thought it would be?
- [38:48]
Narrator/Reporter
Yes, it is. I don't think that I thought that I would be able to have as much joy as I've had. I guess if I wasn't able to find joy and laughter now, I would have missed the point of Andrea's messaging.
- [39:08]
Anderson Cooper
Talking grief, building community. That's what the podcast is all about. This is all there is. Listen and follow wherever you get your podcasts.