← Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan
Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan
Energy Secretary Chris Wright, Ambassador Michael Leiter, Senator Tim Kaine
00:50:15
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- [00:02]
Margaret Brennan
Hey, Sal. Hank, what's going on? We haven't worked a case in years. I just bought my car at Carvana and it was so easy.
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Senator Tim Kaine
Too easy.
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Margaret Brennan
Think something's up? You tell me. They got thousands of options, found a
- [00:14]
Energy Secretary Chris Wright
great car at a great price, and it got delivered the next day.
- [00:18]
Margaret Brennan
It sounds like Carvana just makes it
- [00:20]
Imtiaz Tayeb
easy to buy your car, Hank.
- [00:22]
Margaret Brennan
Yeah, you're right. Case closed.
- [00:25]
Host/Anchor (Margaret Brennan)
Buy your car today on Carvana. Delivery fees may apply. I'm Margaret Brennan in Washington. And this week on FACE THE nation. As the war on Iran enters its second week, concerns about a global energy crisis are growing. US And Israeli forces stepped up their bombing campaign through the weekend, targeting Iranian airports, oil depots, bases, and more. President Trump promises an escalation of hostilities until Tehran offers a complete and unconditional surrender.
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Margaret Brennan
It's where the gray UN or when they can't fight any longer, there's nobody around to cry out.
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Host/Anchor (Margaret Brennan)
But Iran's defiant leaders say they will never surrender, hitting back hard at U.S. facilities and allies in the region, striking oil and gas infrastructure, putting pressure on much of the world's energy supply. We'll ask Energy Secretary Chris Wright about the potential for a serious global supply shock and what it could mean for oil and gas prices in the U.S. plus, Israel's ambassador to the U.S. michael Leiter, will be here. We'll ask him how his government's objectives square with US Goals. And we'll also check in with Virginia Democratic Senator Tim Kaine. Then, an offer from Ukraine. This time, they want to help the US Offering expertise in countering Iranian drones. Ukraine's Ambassador Olga Stephany Shina will join us to discuss that and more. It's all just ahead on FACE THE nation. Good morning and welcome to FACE THE nation. As we look ahead to another week, the war with Iran seems to be entering a new phase, with critical infrastructure now being targeted in the region that could potentially impact millions of people. President Trump called the conflict a minor excursion and has not yet indicated the next steps. But there are signs that America's involvement in the conflict is deepening. A third aircraft carrier is preparing to deploy to the region. And when asked whether he would send ground troops to secure nuclear material in Iran, the president wouldn't rule it out. We begin our coverage this morning with chief correspondent Matt Gutman, who is in Tel Aviv, Israel.
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Matt Gutman
For seven days, the US And Israel targeted regime leadership and military installations. But overnight, towering flames cast an eerie orange glow over Tehran after Israel struck what it said was an Iranian military fuel depot. Drivers on this highway Detouring around the flames. Video circulating seems to show sewers and streets on fire as well this morning, those fires still burning under blackened skies, a huge plume hanging over the city. And with over 1300 dead in Iran, according to the Red Crescent, the country's clerics have now announced they are close to selecting a new leader. Support has recently crystallized around Ayatollah Khamenei's hardline son, Mujtaba. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's adviser Michael Eisenberg with a blunt message.
- [03:47]
Margaret Brennan
You know, the highest risk job right now is to be the new Ayatollah. That's a high risk job to be the head of the Iranian military, the irgc. Those are high risk jobs.
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Energy Secretary Chris Wright
Don't take them.
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Matt Gutman
They're going to be targeted.
- [03:57]
Margaret Brennan
Don't take those jobs. These are high risk jobs. We're watching you.
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Matt Gutman
The president has demanded a say in the selection of Iran's next leader. And Israel's Netanyahu, using an address overnight to directly speak to the Iranian people, he said, I've been speaking to you and for you for decades. The moment of truth is approaching. For we do not seek to divide Iran. We seek to liberate Iran and live with it in peace. In Lebanon, Iran's main proxy in the region, Hezbollah, has stepped up rocket and drone fire at Israel overnight, most of that intercepted. In response, Israel has ordered some 300,000 residents of Hezbollah's stronghold in Beirut to flee, taking out building after building. Margaret, a short time ago, a bomb lit from one of those cluster munitions landed in that building behind me. You can see it flung a car
- [04:50]
Energy Secretary Chris Wright
up in the air.
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Matt Gutman
They are now in the process of moving it. Israeli authorities telling me that Iran is now relying more heavily on those cluster munitions which spread out those bomblets high up in the atmosphere, and they are finding those much more difficult to stop.
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Host/Anchor (Margaret Brennan)
Margaret, that's Matt Gutman in Tel Aviv. We turn now to senior foreign correspondent Imtiaz Tayeb, who's in Doha, Qatar.
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Imtiaz Tayeb
Well, Margaret, as the war between the United States, Israel and Iran intensifies, countries here in the Gulf continue to be targeted in Iranian attacks, including Kuwait City this morning, where a strike set the country's main Social Security headquarters on fire. The uae, Bahrain and other Gulf states say their air defenses are still intercepting Iranian missiles and drones almost every single day. Some of those strikes are also targeting at least one vital water desalination plant, which would be a grave violation of international law. On Saturday, Iran's president promised to stop striking Gulf countries. He even apologized, but said Only if attacks on Iran did not come from their territory. It has to be said most Gulf states host major US Bases, making that condition almost impossible to meet. The ongoing attacks has also triggered this huge economic shockwave right across this oil rich region and has seriously disrupted energy production. Saudi Arabia has had to halt operations at a key refinery and is shifting exports to bypass the Strait of Hormuz, where about one fifth of the world's oil normally flows. Iraq has had to shut some oil fields and the UAE and Kuwait have begun scaling back production. Here in Qatar, the energy minister has warned if the conflict continues, oil prices could surge to $150 a barrel overnight. President Trump spoke to the Emir of Qatar who emphasized to the president the need for diplomacy and the need to de escalate the situation. The question now is whether the Trump administration can keep global energy moving while this war continues.
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Energy Secretary Chris Wright
Margaret.
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Imtiaz Tayeb
Or whether the economic shock spreads far beyond the battlefield and into Americans wallets.
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Host/Anchor (Margaret Brennan)
That's our Mtaz Tayyip. Well, we turn now to Energy Secretary Chris Wright who joins us this morning from Denver. Good morning to you.
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Energy Secretary Chris Wright
Thanks for having me, Margaret.
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Host/Anchor (Margaret Brennan)
So 50,000 U.S. troops deployed, six Americans that we know of so far killed in action, civilians stranded. We look at our polling, Mr. Secretary, and we see that this is an unpopular war among the majority of Americans, More than half of them, 56%, disapprove. When you speak to energy executives about the scope and duration of American involvement, what do you tell them? How long?
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Energy Secretary Chris Wright
Oh, I tell them that for 47 years Iran has waged war against the United States. And they've throughout that 47 years they've tried to undermine the energy development and energy infrastructure of all their neighbors as they're doing right now. And it's time to put it to an end. So yes, we have a temporary period of elevated energy prices, but it will not be long. In the worst case, this is weeks, this is not months. And it leads to a much better place. It leads to an Iran that's defanged, that can't threaten its neighbors, can't threaten American soldiers and can't continue to drive up energy prices by making a mess of the Middle East. They can move to commerce, not conflict.
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Host/Anchor (Margaret Brennan)
Well, but you have the moment. We are in right now. And as you know, gasoline prices up 14% in the past week according to AAA reports. The national average is $3.45. We've seen oil prices spike. How high do you think oil and gas are going to go?
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Energy Secretary Chris Wright
They shouldn't go much higher than they are Here because the world is very well supplied with oil. There's no energy shortage at all in the Western Hemisphere. The United States is a net exporter of oil, a large net exporter of natural gas. But refineries in Asia and Europe are seeing an interruption from the normal crude flows. But there is massive energy stores around the world. What you're seeing is emotional reactions and fear that this is a long term war. This is not a long term war. It's a temporary movement.
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Host/Anchor (Margaret Brennan)
Sorry, go ahead. Temporary movement.
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Energy Secretary Chris Wright
No, I'm saying, look, we've seen previous administration have done everything they could. They've begged, bartered and bribed the Iranian government to stop its nefarious activity, stop its murderous behavior. And it simply hasn't worked. And now they're expanding missile and drone program that are rapidly growing to protect their desire to build a nuclear weapon. So we're going to cross a threshold where we can't put them back in the box. Now is the time to end their risk to America and the world.
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Host/Anchor (Margaret Brennan)
But as you know, when I asked you about energy prices, this is not a supply problem. You said there's plenty of supply. The head of the International Energy Agency said a lot of oil logistics are the problem. It's dislocation. It's a serious problem. So what he's referring to there is being able to actually move it around. I know you said there's one vessel that's gone through the strait of Hormuz, 20 million barrels per day typically go through it. When do you get back to that level?
- [10:33]
Energy Secretary Chris Wright
Oh, I think it'll be relatively soon. Of course, I don't know exactly. All of our military assets right now are focused on ending Iran's ability to. To kill their neighbors, threaten American soldiers and threaten ship traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. But that's going swimmingly well. Their missile launches are down 90%. The drone launches are down over 80%. I think in the relatively near term, you're going to see their capacity so low that we'll see more normal ship traffic return to the Strait of Hormuz.
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Host/Anchor (Margaret Brennan)
So you don't think navy escorts of vessels are necessary?
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Energy Secretary Chris Wright
Oh, they might be. They might be. The US Is here to do everything we can to keep world oil markets supporting.
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Host/Anchor (Margaret Brennan)
When will you make that decision?
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Energy Secretary Chris Wright
They have some residual. We're in engagement right now with people that want to get tankers moving out of the Gulf. And so, yes, there could be early tankers, probably will involve some direct protection by the US Military. But most important is to defang their ability to threaten these ships.
- [11:39]
Host/Anchor (Margaret Brennan)
So the President had said he was open to tapping the American stockpile of oil, the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. But I saw you on other networks this morning kind of throwing cold water on the idea. You referred to it as depleted. Are you saying America doesn't have adequate stockpiles?
- [11:59]
Energy Secretary Chris Wright
No, America still has over 400 million barrels of oil in our Strategic Petroleum Reserve. And of course, robust production. We're more than happy to use that if it's needed. But as you said earlier, it's a logistics issue. Where do they need oil? They need oil at refineries in Europe and in Asia. And that's why we took a very pragmatic step. There's over 100 million barrels of floating Russian crude waiting in line to deliver to China. That's going to be sold, it's going to be refined. But that could be one or two months from now. So in a pragmatic way, with no change in US policy towards Russia, we told the Indians, bring that into your refineries. You know, if you, if you're feeling a shortage of crude, prices are being bid up, draw down that Russian crude stocks that are sitting right offshore.
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Host/Anchor (Margaret Brennan)
Yeah. So on that point, the US has temporarily suspended some sanctions to make that Russian oil you say was already going to be sold anyway. Make it available. But doesn't Russia still financially benefit from that? Why isn't the US seizing those Russian tankers if they are our adversary?
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Energy Secretary Chris Wright
Because right now. Because right now we're worried about Iran and fixing a 47 year problem there and we're worried about American consumers. We want to stop the rise. Russia was helping Iran diesel prices. Well, there's been rumors of that. We don't know if that's true or not. Certainly they've gotten a strong message from these Iranian drones.
- [13:24]
Host/Anchor (Margaret Brennan)
Have Russian parts in. The Russians have been buying Iranian drones. That is very well documented. And CBS has confirmed and reported that there was sharing of intelligence Russia providing intel to target Americans. So how is Russia not part of this?
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Energy Secretary Chris Wright
Look, Russia's expert at causing trouble around the world. So I'm not saying they're not. I'm saying I don't. If they're helping Iran, it's not working very well. But we're not helping Russia by just accelerating the sale of their oil to stop the rise of energy prices and keep European and Asian refineries in oil. We're just doing pragmatic things to get through a short period that'll bring in an era of even lower energy prices. Because a major energy producing region of the world. The Middle east will no longer have a strong, powerful Iran that can threaten their neighbors, that can threaten the United States of America and was not far away from a nuclear bomb.
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Host/Anchor (Margaret Brennan)
How much?
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Energy Secretary Chris Wright
Unacceptable scenario. That's the risk to energy prices. So it's not doing anything.
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Host/Anchor (Margaret Brennan)
So when the Qatari say you could see 150 barrel in oil, that's something America could stomach. President Trump wouldn't say, I'm done with this war because I can't stand the political pressure and the American people saying, I don't like what I'm paying at the pump.
- [14:44]
Energy Secretary Chris Wright
No, the President's going to continue to stay focused on ending a 47 year conflict, stay focused on growing the global energy supply. This is actually part of that effort. It does involve a temporary impediment to energy production. But on the other side, it'll allow much more energy production and much lower energy prices. But this is not a long term conflict. Most presidents have just thought they'll kick the can down the road. The risk is simply too great to kick that increasingly dangerous can down the road. President Trump's bold leadership is. Enough's enough. We're going to put it to an end.
- [15:19]
Host/Anchor (Margaret Brennan)
I want to ask you about Venezuela. The US Deposed Maduro. He's sitting in a prison. Just this past week, though, we had the Interior Secretary visiting Venezuela and sitting across from Maduro's chief thug, Diaz Dio Cabello. This is someone who has a $25 million bounty on his head. He ran the prisons, he ran the militias. He was treated as a counterpart to an American official. Is this the same playbook the Trump administration's gonna run in Iran? That you will deal with the same regime you've been telling me is terrible to deal 47 years.
- [15:59]
Energy Secretary Chris Wright
We don't know what the regime will be in place at the, at the end of this conflict, but we do know that regime will not have a massive weapons arsenal. That that regime will no longer be a massive threat to Americans and to the Middle east and to global oil supplies. President Trump is using bold leadership. We can't change the world at a blink of an eye, but we can steer it in massively positive directions. And yes, Venezuela is a great example of that. Crime in the nearby Trinidad and Tobago has plummeted already from our actions in Venezuela and President Trump's insistence that he's going to work with our neighbors to reduce drug trafficking in the Western Hemisphere. Leadership takes, involves risks, but if you want to drive improvement, you've got to be confident. You've got to have the right agenda. And you've got to have the courage to do it. This president does.
- [16:49]
Host/Anchor (Margaret Brennan)
Energy Secretary Wright, thank you for your time this morning. Basin Nation will be back in a minute. Stay with us.
- [16:57]
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Host/Anchor (Margaret Brennan)
and we're joined now by Israel's ambassador to the United States, Dr. Michael Leiter. Welcome to Face the Nation.
- [17:32]
Margaret Brennan
Good to be with you. Good morning.
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Host/Anchor (Margaret Brennan)
So your prime minister and the American president speak daily, according to President Trump. Have they agreed to beginning and ending the war on the same timeline?
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Margaret Brennan
We've been collaborating now for months, I would say even prior to Rising LIE and Midnight Hammer in June. And that collaboration includes daily conversations in which there's an assessment of how the war is progressing. And I assume that we're going to reach a complete understanding on the end of this war as well.
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Host/Anchor (Margaret Brennan)
So you believe and trust that America will stay with Israel through the duration of this, even if there are strains in the American economy like gas prices?
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Margaret Brennan
We've reached a level of collaboration that we've never seen between our two countries and between our two militaries. This is a very important operation that doesn't depend really on a timeline. You know, when you're doing something that's so critical, you're not going to look at a stopwatch. This has to be finished. This is a terror sponsoring state that has to be brought down. And that's what we're focused on.
- [18:33]
Host/Anchor (Margaret Brennan)
But you agree with the US Assessment from the secretary there. He said this is just a matter of weeks.
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Senator Tim Kaine
We believe so.
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Margaret Brennan
We're seeing cracks in the edifice of this military security terror regime. They're starting to have very grave difficulties in conveying orders down through the system. There's arguments within the system about the appointment of a successor to the supreme leader. They're having grave difficulties. The fact that they're lashing out irrationally to all of their neighbors and firing these ballistic missiles into all their neighbors from 12 countries into Europe, for crying out loud, is indicative of the fact they're having huge problems. We're having success in these attacks on
- [19:11]
Host/Anchor (Margaret Brennan)
their command centers so President Trump was specifically asked yesterday about sending troops in to secure Iran's supply of enriched uranium. He said he's not ruling it out. Does Iran currently have access to the documented enriched uranium that exists inside the country? And what is Israel's plan to secure it?
- [19:33]
Margaret Brennan
Israel's plan is to secure it, that's for sure. How exactly is an operational issue, I don't think. Margaret, do you want me to discuss here on a Sunday morning to face the Nation? We've got to do that. It's an objective that we have to accomplish. But the first thing we have to do is create a situation. We're going to be able to get to that enriched material and remove it, and that has to reach a point where there's less kinetic activity on the ground. It's obviously on our radar screen, and we're going to take care of it. The whole objective here of this operation is to prevent a terror state from achieving nuclear weapons. So it's very much on our radar screen, and that's what we're going going to accomplish.
- [20:05]
Host/Anchor (Margaret Brennan)
But just to put a fine point on it, the concern is that that material could end up in the wrong hands if the regime collapses. And it's a mess. Right. So how do you secure it without ground forces in some way? Is Israel ruling out ground forces?
- [20:19]
Margaret Brennan
We're ruling out the possibility of this regime remaining in the position where they can endanger us and their neighbors. If that includes putting boots on the ground. Our preference is for the boots on the ground to be those of the Iranians. These are people who have been living under the boot of this regime now for 47 years. They want freedom. This is a whole generation out there that knows there's such a thing as freedom, but has never tasted it yet. They need to put their boots on the ground and ensure their future and the future of the region.
- [20:48]
Host/Anchor (Margaret Brennan)
You mean the Iranian army?
- [20:50]
Margaret Brennan
The Iranian includes. No, I mean the Iranian people. 80% of the Iranian people are opposed to this regime. They just haven't been able to express themselves well.
- [20:58]
Host/Anchor (Margaret Brennan)
And CENTCOM is telling Iranian civilians to stay home right now. Is there any organized or armed opposition inside Iran that Israel supports?
- [21:07]
Margaret Brennan
We've been talking to the minorities now for many years.
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Host/Anchor (Margaret Brennan)
The minorities, meaning the Kurds?
- [21:11]
Margaret Brennan
The Kurds, the Baluchis, the Azeris, but the Iranian people themselves, the Persians, we saw what they did two months ago. There's a point of combustion where the people rise up and say, we've had enough. We want freedom. So once we set the stage and there's no longer regime with a million armed people that are willing to shoot their fellow citizens in the back. These people are going to rise up and say, we want our country back.
- [21:35]
Host/Anchor (Margaret Brennan)
Because President Trump said yesterday he does not want the Kurds, who make up about 10% of the population within Iran. He doesn't want the Kurds in neighboring countries to enter the conflict. We don't want to make the war any more complex than it is already. Turkey's foreign minister came and said. He said he had spoken to Rubio about it, but he said this. Israel's intentions in this matter are not so secret. Turkey seems to think that your country is trying to get the Kurds to intervene here. Is that accurate?
- [22:03]
Margaret Brennan
I wouldn't take the words of President Erdogan too seriously. He's talking about his own caliphate spreading throughout the Middle east and taking over. Well, that's. It's coming down from the president. He's talking about taking over Saudi Arabia and Israel at the same time. Look, we want a united Iran, there's no question about it. But we want to empower the minorities to have their say in the process, in the political process. They've been denied their freedom. So it's not a matter of supporting this particular minority or another. It's supporting all the minorities. And what we're encouraging them to do is to coalesce, is to come together, to unify. If over the past 47 years the opposition of Iran would have unified, this regime would have come down a long time ago. So we can help them coalesce. We can help them unify. We can help them come together and rise up and say, we're taking our country back. That's ultimately the end game.
- [22:50]
Host/Anchor (Margaret Brennan)
So your prime minister gave an address Saturday and said to the irgc, to those who lay down their arms, no harm shall come. To those who do not, their blood is on their own heads. If there are no Israeli ground forces, who do you want the IRGC to surrender to? How does that work?
- [23:07]
Margaret Brennan
There are many precedents in history where the people themselves, like Romania, they turned their guns around against ceausesco. When people are deprived of freedom, there's a certain point where they say, enough. And all they have to do is put down their weapons and not participate. Look, they don't have to participate when the people rise up in shooting their own civilians, their own neighbors, their own families in many cases. So, look, the objective here is to achieve a situation where Iran is no longer an exporter of terrorism, is no longer raining ballistic missiles down on its neighbors and is no longer in the pursuit of nuclear weapons. That's achievable. And together the collaborative effort between Roaring lion and Epic Fury, we're going to accomplish that.
- [23:46]
Host/Anchor (Margaret Brennan)
Ambassador, we have to leave it there for the moment, but we'll have more questions shortly. We need to take a quick commercial break. Stay with us. For more than half a century, CBS's 60 Minutes has been reporting on the transformation of Iran. For a look back at some highlights from that coverage and analysis on the road to today's war, tune in to our Streaming Network, CBS News 24. 7 today at 3 and 7pm for a four hour marathon special. We'll be right back with a lot more FACE THE nation. Stay with us.
- [24:23]
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- [24:57]
Host/Anchor (Margaret Brennan)
Welcome back to FACE THE nation. We return to our conversation with Israel's ambassador to the United States States, Dr. Michael Leiter. Just to pick this back up, when we talk about what's coming next in Iran, it has tremendous impact potentially for the entire region and American interests there. The president said when it comes to Iran's next leaders, most of the people we had in mind are dead. The New York Times is reporting the Israeli strike that killed the supreme leader also took out Iranian pragmatists, that was how they phrased it, who were also in that same compound. But the White House had hoped that those individuals might help lead a new Iran. Were they intentionally targeted by Israel or was this unintended?
- [25:40]
Margaret Brennan
No. Pragmatists are very limited in their ability to influence in Iran. There have been pragmatists all throughout the 47 years of this terror regime. They've had absolutely no influence. The people influencing deciding for Iran are these ayatollahs who have very opposite apocalyptic view of the future and don't really care about how many people they kill of their own or others. So look, what we're hoping for is that we move into a period of a transitional government where the minorities come together, where the majority of the people come together, all the various opposition parties come together for a transitional government where they can lead the country for a year or so together with the guidance from the United States and Israel and other regional allies who will no longer live under the fear of being hit by ballistic missiles and then move into a mode of a democratic process. Let the people choose. Let's not forget the people of Iran are the most pro Western people after Israel.
- [26:37]
Host/Anchor (Margaret Brennan)
Well, but when I hear this is going to take weeks, not months, referring to the combat, what you're talking about takes a long time, that kind of transition. So we're not just talking about a limited military operation. US Pressure, Israeli pressure is going to have to be there for a long time.
- [26:56]
Margaret Brennan
Yeah, well, this isn't Iraq or Afghanistan because in this case, 80% of the people oppose the regime. They just need the ability to express themselves. That's what we're emphasizing here. This is not a repeat of forever wars. They've got to put their boots on the ground and they're beginning to be motivated and to feel that they're going to be able to accomplish that. They're beginning to move forward. It's just going to take a little bit more time. There's no long term gain without some minimal pain. Look, I know what war is all about. I hate war. I lost my son in war. I don't want to see war. None of us in Israel want to see war. But we can't have a situation where our existence is threatened every day by a regime that says they're going to eliminate us.
- [27:38]
Host/Anchor (Margaret Brennan)
But just to put a fine point on it, did Israel intentionally target those other Iranian leaders that the President had referred to as some of the people he had in mind to lead?
- [27:46]
Margaret Brennan
You know, Margaret, we're pretty good at precision. I think we've proven that. But degree of precision where in this very same room, there are these people sitting and those people sitting, we're not that good.
- [27:56]
Host/Anchor (Margaret Brennan)
Ambassador, thank you for your time this morning.
- [27:59]
Margaret Brennan
Good to be with you.
- [28:00]
Host/Anchor (Margaret Brennan)
There have been seven American deaths in the war with Iran so far. Six who died in combat yesterday at Dover Air Force Base. President Trump, Vice President J.D. vance and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth were on hand to witness the dignified transfer of the Americans who have been killed in action. They were all members of the Army Reserve assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command based in Des Moines, Iowa. And they were serving at a US Facility in Kuwait last Sunday when it was struck by a drone. Major Jeffrey R. O' Brien was 45. Captain Cody A. Cork was 35. Chief Warrant Officer Robert M. Marzin was 54. Sergeant First Class Nicole M. Amour was 39. Sergeant First Class Noah L. Teachens was 42. Sergeant Declan J. Cody was 20. And we thank them for their sacrifice. We turn now to CBS News national correspondent and chief Washington analyst Robert Costa. Bob, I understand you spoke with President Trump by phone last night. It was a. It was a heavy day. How is he feeling about this war?
- [29:12]
Robert Costa
Good morning, Margaret. Late last night, I did speak with President Trump about how he assesses everything. He talked about the sustained assault on Iran. He said as we were speaking last night, the factories were being bombed. He believes the United States has done a lot to eradicate the Iranian military, the Iranian leadership. And I asked him about the Iranian leadership in particular. Who's he going to deal with if there's going to be a diplomatic solution here? And he's getting threats from Ali Larajani, the top national security official among other Iranian leaders. He said, I couldn't care less who these people are. I'm focused on the war, the military campaign against them. And he says their threats are empty, in his view.
- [29:49]
Host/Anchor (Margaret Brennan)
So, I mean, this is something we've become used to in the age of Trump, that he takes phone calls from reporters. But that's incredibly unusual, particularly in a moment of such high sensitivity. Usually the. The wording, the language, it's so carefully crafted around a war strategy. He's not doing that. We're almost following each statement to figure out where this war goes next. And sometimes those statements are contradictory.
- [30:19]
Robert Costa
It seems, based on the conversations I've had with him, not only last night, but in recent weeks, that he's highly engaged and always being briefed and updated. So it's actually beneficial as a journalist to constantly hear how he's assessing the information. He kept going over last night, how he saw over 40 ships had been destroyed, and he was talking about the extent of the destruction. And I said to him, well, what about what's next? Now you're telling me about what's happening. What next? What about US Allies? You talked about how he doesn't want the Kurds to enter the fight. And when it comes to the Brits, for example, he's pushing back against the prime minister, Keir Starmer, saying it's too late. He told me, too late to be sending ships. He said his mission right now is to focus on the U. S. Israeli efforts, efforts to push Iran to have unconditional surrender. And when I pushed him again a little bit, I asked him about the Iranian leadership. He says he's not focused on that. He's focused on getting Iran to a point where they surrender. That's the entire prerogative he has right now.
- [31:16]
Host/Anchor (Margaret Brennan)
It's interesting and we're going to be tracking it. Thank you, Bob, for bringing us your latest reporting. We'll be back in a moment. We're joined now by Virginia Democratic Senator Tim Kaine. Good to have you here, Senator.
- [31:27]
Senator Tim Kaine
Thank you, Margaret.
- [31:27]
Host/Anchor (Margaret Brennan)
You sit on many relevant committees. Armed Services, Foreign Relations. I want to ask you about this explosion overnight nearby the US Embassy in Oslo. I understand that the Norwegian police say it may have been a deliberate attack linked to the current security situation. What do we know about the threat here and to other American posts?
- [31:48]
Senator Tim Kaine
There are threats. Because of my service on the Foreign Relations Committee, I've been in dialogue with State Department personnel around the world. Escalated security. Other embassies or consulates have had protests, protests that kind of were merging toward violence or at least frightening to our diplomats. We have American citizens stranded in the region. They were told to come home, but they weren't told to come home until after commercial air flights had stopped. And so my office has been working with Virginians this week trying to help them come home. And so we owe it to our brave professionals, wherever they are and our citizens to keep them safe. And, Margaret, it's just just one more reason why I've been asking the question, have we Learned nothing from 25 years of war in the Middle East? And with the arrival of the first American casualties back home yesterday, including a Virginian, I worry that the answer to that is no.
- [32:42]
Host/Anchor (Margaret Brennan)
So do you have an estimate on the number of Americans still stranded in the Middle East?
- [32:48]
Senator Tim Kaine
It's thousands and thousands. Now. Not every American chooses to come home, so there's hundreds of thousands, if you just add them all up. Who is coming home? I am working with the Virginians who are reaching out to my office. We were able to facilitate one Richmond area resident getting home from Dubai on a flight a couple of days back. And so it's sort of dealing with that. But what worries me a little bit more is that some of the professionals at embassies and consuls are not being told to come home. And they're sort of there. And often their security presence is not what we wish it would be. So we have to pay close attention to them.
- [33:24]
Host/Anchor (Margaret Brennan)
Let me ask you about the homeland. Now we're in this fourth week of a partial Homeland Security shut down. That means people at the Coast Guard, Secret Service and TSA are not getting paid, but ICE and CBP are still funded. Given that the pressure from Democrats isn't affecting the agencies where Democrats want to see Policy change. Is this really an effective strategy?
- [33:47]
Senator Tim Kaine
Well, we have said to the Republicans we've worked out funding for all those agencies other than ICE and cbp. Let's just pass those funding bills. Let's confine the ICE and CBP reform discussion just to those two agencies and fund the others. Thus far, Republicans have blocked those efforts. We want to fund tsa, fema, Coast Guard and CISAWE want to fund those agencies. And we have a funding agreement that's already been negotiated between both parties and both houses. So let's do that. And then ICE and cbp. The Republicans gave them money last summer. They're not running out of money. We can continue the reform discussion there.
- [34:23]
Host/Anchor (Margaret Brennan)
Well, I asked because CBS obtained a Homeland Security critical incident note that cites Iranian religious leaders issuing fatwas, calling on Muslims to avenge the supreme leader's death. DHS says that, you know, in the past, these kind of fatwas haven't really inspired attacks necessarily. But you got to be worried about it. But you got to be worried about it in this moment in time. So isn't there a good argument to be made to move on this standoff to end it?
- [34:51]
Senator Tim Kaine
I completely agree. Let's fund all these agencies that don't have funds right now and let's confine the ICE and CBP discussion to what are the reforms necessary?
- [35:00]
Host/Anchor (Margaret Brennan)
Why is that happening?
- [35:01]
Senator Tim Kaine
Well, we've offered this on the floor and the Republicans have thus far rejected. They've said you got to fund everything or nothing. And we said, we've agreed on all the other agencies. Let's do that. But ICE and CBP need reforms. We've made that very, very plain. And American citizens want there to be reforms. And so that is the focus right now. And they do have enough money because the Republicans provided to them last summer in the reconciliation bill.
- [35:26]
Host/Anchor (Margaret Brennan)
We saw Secretary Noem lose her job. This week you've said you do regret having voted for her.
- [35:32]
Senator Tim Kaine
You were a mistake. Democrats who did it, she was a governor. Governors are often good cabinet secretaries. But what we learned, and this bears going forward, is that she wasn't calling the shots. Stephen Miller is calling the shots. And as long as he is calling the shots, without reforms, this is going to continue to be a very, very rogue renegade.
- [35:53]
Host/Anchor (Margaret Brennan)
Well, do you need to see and hear something from Senator Mark Wayne Mullen to get you to vote for him? If you're saying he's just going to be basically a puppet of Stephen Miller, that's our fear.
- [36:05]
Senator Tim Kaine
So he could demonstrate otherwise. But what we want to see is not just the Change in the nameplate on the door. We want to see reforms to the way ICE and CBP operates. They should operate like local law enforcement does. Not invading people's homes without warrants. Body cameras.
- [36:21]
Host/Anchor (Margaret Brennan)
Administrative, not judicial warrants, right?
- [36:23]
Senator Tim Kaine
Yes. Well, for homes, I would say judicial warrants. I think that would be important for invading people's homes. These are basic principles that our local law enforcement agencies live by. The Ashland Town Police lives by them. We should ask our federal agencies to do exactly the same thing.
- [36:41]
Host/Anchor (Margaret Brennan)
You're on armed services as well?
- [36:43]
Margaret Brennan
Yes.
- [36:43]
Host/Anchor (Margaret Brennan)
The Pentagon may be looking at a supplemental budget request to fund this new war in the Middle East. CSIS estimates the first hundred hours of the war cost nearly $4 billion. Have you heard an estimate on cost? Where are we on this supplemental and will it get any Democratic support?
- [37:02]
Senator Tim Kaine
We don't know that the White House is sending a supplemental. So we had a classified briefing the other day and the topic came up. What I can say, and it's not classified, is the administration said they haven't made a decision. My goals right now are stop this war, which I view as both illegal and profoundly unwise, and protect our troops. If a supplemental comes over, I'm going to be looking to see, okay, how does it square with those goals? Protecting the troops is key. That's one of the reasons I want to stop the war. I think they're just exposed to a completely unnecessary risk by what President Trump has done. So we'll look at a supplemental if they send one to see, okay, how does it accomplish those goals?
- [37:41]
Host/Anchor (Margaret Brennan)
Did they tell you what that's dependent on? Why don't they know if they need more money? Is it the duration of time of the conflict?
- [37:46]
Senator Tim Kaine
I think that's. You traditionally don't ask for a supplemental halfway through because you might ask for an inadequate amount, you might not. I think they may not want to ask for a supplemental because they're trying to avoid debates and votes in Congress on the Iran war right now. I put up a war powers vote that I was. That I lost earlier this week, but I can assure you I'm not going away. We have other means to have a debate and discussion about whether this war is in the U.S. s interest. After 25 years of war in the Middle east, they may want to avoid a vote on that and are trying to delay it. For that reason. They'll make that call. And we have to look at the content very quickly.
- [38:24]
Host/Anchor (Margaret Brennan)
I want to ask you about some of the Americans that are still being held in Iran in Evan prison, one of Them, Reza Balzadeh, journalist. One of them, Kamren Hekmati, a 70 year old man. Do you have any idea what is being done to protect them or stop them from being retaliated against?
- [38:42]
Senator Tim Kaine
I do not and I fear about that. Look, if school kids are being killed in bombing, likely US Bombing, although the president and the secretary of defense are now trying to invent a claim that it was Iran, if school kids are being killed, I worry about the fate of US Citizens who are being held prisoners there.
- [39:00]
Host/Anchor (Margaret Brennan)
Well, we know the military is investigating that. Secretary Higseth has said in regard to the girls school, we have to leave it there. Senator, thank you for your time.
- [39:08]
Senator Tim Kaine
Glad to be with you, Margaret.
- [39:09]
Host/Anchor (Margaret Brennan)
We will be right back. We turn now to the war in Ukraine and Ukraine's ambassador to the United States, Olga Stefanishina. Welcome back to FACE THE nation.
- [39:20]
Olga Stefanishina
Hello Margaret. Thank you for having me.
- [39:23]
Host/Anchor (Margaret Brennan)
So one of the biggest threats to Ukraine has been Russia's ballistic missiles that it has been firing into your country for some time. The solution has been the Patriot system, the American interceptors. They are in short supply, as you well know. And now America's allies in the Gulf tell us that they are also in short supply there and they need them. Your president said he is concerned America is going to reduce its air defense support for Ukraine. How much of a problem is this for your country?
- [39:55]
Olga Stefanishina
Well, thank you, Margaret, for asking this question. Of course, we have been talking about that publicly as well and have been having nonpublic discussions. But the most important thing that we see that, you know, the events happening right now with the war in Iraq have been so resolute that probably these are the most important developments in a global arena over a decade. So no shortages of means should be an issue. And we're sure that American defense industry is capable of making sure that all the fronts are covered. Ukraine has the resources and ability to procure more. And we are looking forward for exploring the options how to do it. But also, you know, we ended up with 4,300shahed drones over the houses of Ukraine, which was only possible because Iran has been a strategic enabler of the Russian aggression three years ago. And we see what the evolvement of chip technologies is and we have been ready to contribute.
- [41:00]
Host/Anchor (Margaret Brennan)
Well, I asked that earlier in the program of the energy Secretary Chris Wright, because Russia and Iran have been allied here. They have been trading resources and technology. They are allied in many ways. He seemed to say they were not really a factor. You say they are directly one.
- [41:20]
Olga Stefanishina
Well, I mean they are absolutely a factor because basically the shahed drone technology was developed to attack people, to demoralize population, to cause the losses among civilians. So it killed like hundreds of Ukrainian kids, so many families. And this was a strategic enabler of war. And Russia has been. Russia were not investing in bilateral relations or development or investments. They were investing in regimes like Iran, Venezuela and Syria just because they thought it's not possible to have the resolute action as it is now taking place with Iran and as it was before in Venezuela and it was not possible a couple of years ago with the Syria. So they are deprived of means of their influence, they're weaker. But also we should not forget that Ukraine has shown that Russia is no different from all of these countries. It's just bigger. And we see that, you know, the experience which being gained right now and the new reality which is being formed by President Trump also paves the way the new reality for the Russians and I'm sure they're really, really afraid of it.
- [42:30]
Host/Anchor (Margaret Brennan)
Well, your president said he was asked by the United States to provide anti drone technology that Ukraine has to America. When does that arrive? When will that be operational?
- [42:42]
Olga Stefanishina
So you know, we understand more than anybody in this world what is needed in a moment of crisis. What is needed when you see when your people are dying just across so many cities of the Gulf countries. And what we suggested is the immediate action and a median reaction so we can secure the skies, we can provide the air defense because we have so much knowledge. And these are only Ukrainian people, Ukrainian armed forces who have this knowledge and capability. So we are able to provide it to the United States and the Gulf countries. And this is what we did. We are not going to stand aside knowing that people are dying because we know how painful it is. And we will do everything we will can to make sure that this resolute action is ending up with something that is called positive.
- [43:33]
Host/Anchor (Margaret Brennan)
So sending advisors to help with the drones it sounds like and also capabilities.
- [43:37]
Olga Stefanishina
So the drone capabilities of Ukraine is not only the drone or the people, it's the whole spectrum of actions you're taking because situation is changing every week and you need to have people and the mechanism which allow to react immediately. And this is what only Ukraine has entire planet.
- [43:54]
Host/Anchor (Margaret Brennan)
So just a few days ago President Trump said he thinks Vladimir Putin is ready to make a deal. And he said that Volodymyr Zelensky, your president has to get on the ball and he has to get a deal done. And he referred to him as a PT Barnum of Ukraine. It seems like the relationship is still really tense. Even though you're talking about Ukraine helping the United States States, what's going on here?
- [44:22]
Olga Stefanishina
Well, I mean, I think definitely a couple of minutes of this discussion is not enough for that. But I think we're assessing the situation by actions. And the actions are that there's a mechanism where Ukraine still can't get access to American military equipment. President Trump has released significant sanctions to the Russian Federation over the last months. And also we are in dialogue already trilaterally with the United States and the Russians on ending the war. All of this is a very important development and we're looking forward for their success. But for us, the most important thing is that we're able to defend ourselves and secure our cities. And we are doing that to the extent we can with the American support. And we have never been too tired to give credit to President Trump for so many important things he did. Although the rhetorics we hear sometime is not something that really very clear or very but you know, we're a tough country. We're tough people. We have been through so much that, you know, a couple of words is not something that really can distract us. And we know what we know that Ukraine is a country in the world which really wants the war over more than anybody. And this is where we stand.
- [45:41]
Host/Anchor (Margaret Brennan)
What evidence do you have that Russia is helping Iran in its war right now on these American allies?
- [45:50]
Olga Stefanishina
Well, some information has been provided. It's not something that we would want to share, to share, you know, in the media or go public with. But I can also assure you that it's not only Ukraine. There are like a lot of countries who have a lot of information and a disposal and intel community is very well developed across all the NATO formats. So whatever information is is there. It's already at the disposal of all allies and partners, including the United States. And I'm sure this is an information which is black and white. It's nothing which could be called gray.
- [46:26]
Host/Anchor (Margaret Brennan)
But it goes beyond sharing targeting information which CBS has reported.
- [46:33]
Olga Stefanishina
I'm not sure that I could really comment on that, but I think we should look also in the context that Russia has been supporting the regimes of the countries I've mentioned, like Venezuela, like Syria, like Iran for years. And this partnership was possible and evolved in building the productions in the Russian Federation.
- [46:53]
Host/Anchor (Margaret Brennan)
Ambassador, thank you for your time today. Thank you all for watching. Until next week, Face the Nation. I'm Margaret Brennan. Today's guests were U.S. secretary of Energy Chris Wright, Israeli Ambassador to to The United States, Dr. Michael Leiter, Virginia Democratic Senator Tim Kaine and Ukraine's Ambassador to the United States, Olga Stepnishina.
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