>>> WELCOME TO THE OVAL. >> FOR "60 MINUTES'" SEASON PREMIER, WE SPOKE TO PRESIDENT BIDEN ABOUT A RANGE OF ISSUES
INCLUDING THE ECONOMY, UKRAINE, AND THOSE TOP-SECRET DOCUMENTS STORED IN DONALD TRUMP'S HOME. HOW COULD ANYONE BE THAT
IRRESPONSIBLE. >> AS YOU'LL SEE, MR. BIDEN MADE NEWS AND MAY HAVE STIRRED UP A NEW PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
CONTROVERSY HIMSELF. >> SIR, ARE YOU COMMITTED TO RUNNING AGAIN? >> MY INTENTIONS, AS I SAID TO
BEGIN WITH, IS THAT I WOULD RUN AGAIN. BUT IT'S JUST AN INTENTION. BUT IS IT A FIRM DECISION THAT
I'D RUN AGAIN? THAT REMAINS TO BE SEEN. >> WE MET IRANIAN PRESIDENT RAISI AT HIS PRESIDENTIAL
COMPOUND IN TEHRAN FOR HIS FIRST INTERVIEW WITH A WESTERN REPORTER. I WAS TOLD HOW TO DRESS, NOT TO
SIT BEFORE HE DID, AND NOT TO INTERRUPT HIM. WE WERE GIVEN ONE HOUR FOR THE INTERVIEW.
I'M LESLIE. CAN WE START WITH THE NEGOTIATIONS ON THE NUCLEAR DEAL?
I'M LESLEY STAHL. >> I'M BILL WHITAKER. >> I'M ANDSOON COOPER. >> I'M SHARON ALFONSI.
>> I'M SCOTT PELLEY. THOSE STORIES AND MORE TONIGHT ON THE 55th SEASON PREMIERE OF "60 MINUTES."
>>> SUMMER WAS GOING SO WELL FOR THE PRESIDENT, THE WHITE HOUSE THREW A PARTY LAST WEEK WITH A CONCERT BY JAMES TAYLOR.
MR. BIDEN'S STREAK BEGAN IN JUNE WHEN HE SIGNED A BIPARTISAN GUN SAFETY LAW. THEN IN AUGUST, OVER REPUBLICAN
OBJECTIONS, HE SIGNED THE LARGEST INVESTMENT EVER ON CLIMATE CHANGE, A MINIMUM TAX ON CORPORATIONS, A LAW TO LOWER
PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES, AND STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS. BUT, TUESDAY, AS JAMES TAYLOR SANG "FIRE AND RAIN," IT SEEMED
LIKE BOTH DESCENDED ON THE PRESIDENT'S PARTY. THE DOW PLUMMETED NEARLY 1,300 POINTS AFTER A DISMAL INFLATION
REPORT. AT THE WHITE HOUSE ON THURSDAY, WE SPOKE TO PRESIDENT BIDEN ABOUT THE ECONOMY, UKRAINE,
THOSE TOP-SECRET DOCUMENTS IN DONALD TRUMP'S HOME AND WHETHER MR. BIDEN WILL RUN AGAIN. THE PRESIDENT MADE NEWS AND WILL
IGNITE A FEW CONTROVERSIES. >> MR. PRESIDENT, AS YOU KNOW, LAST TUESDAY THE ANNUAL INFLATION RATE CAME IN AT 8.3%.
THE STOCK MARKET NOSE-DIVED. PEOPLE ARE SHOCKED BY THEIR GROCERY BILLS. WHAT CAN YOU DO BETTER AND
FASTER? >> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, LET'S PUT THIS IN PERSPECTIVE. INFLATION RATE MONTH TO MONTH
WAS JUST -- JUST AN INCH, HARDLY AT ALL. >> YOU'RE NOT ARGUING THAT 8.3% IS GOOD NEWS.
>> NO, I'M NOT SAYING IT IS GOOD NEWS. BUT IT WAS 8.2% -- OR 8.2% BEFORE.
I MEAN, IT'S NOT -- YOU'RE AC -- WE ACT -- MAKE IT SOUND LIKE ALL OF A SUDDEN, MY GOD, IT WENT TO 8.2%.
IT'S BEEN -- >> IT'S THE HIGHEST INFLATION RATE, MR. PRESIDENT, IN 40 YEARS.
>> I GOT THAT. BUT GUESS WHAT WE ARE. WE'RE IN A POSITION WHERE, FOR THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, IT
HASN'T SPIKED. IT HAS JUST BARELY -- IT'S BEEN BASICALLY EVEN. AND IN THE MEANTIME, WE CREATED
ALL THESE JOBS AND -- AND PRICES -- HAVE -- HAVE GONE UP, BUT THEY'VE COME DOWN FOR ENERGY.
THE FACT IS THAT WE'VE CREATED 10 MILLION NEW JOBS. WE'RE IN -- SINCE WE CAME TO OFFICE.
WE'RE IN A SITUATION WHERE THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS ABOUT 3.7%, ONE OF THE LOWEST IN HISTORY.
WE'RE IN A SITUATION WHERE MNUFACTURING IS COMING BACK TO THE UNITED STATES IN A BIG WAY. AND LOOK DOWN THE ROAD, WE HAVE
MASSIVE INVESTMENTS BEING MADE IN COMPUTER CHIPS AND EMPLOYMENT. SO I -- LOOK, THIS IS A PROCESS,
THIS IS A PROCESS. >> IS THE ECONOMY GOING TO GET WORSE BEFORE IT GETS BETTER? >> NO, I DON'T THINK SO.
WE HOPE WE CAN HAVE WHAT THEY SAY, A SOFT LANDING. A TRANSITION TO A PLACE WHERE WE DON'T LOSE THE GAINS THAT I RAN
TO MAKE IN THE FIRST PLACE FOR MIDDLE-CLASS FOLKS, BEING ABLE TO GENERATE GOOD-PAYING JOBS AND EXPANSION.
AND, AT THE SAME TIME, MAKE SURE THAT WE, WE ARE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO GROW. >> AND YOU WOULD TELL THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE THAT INFLATION IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO DECLINE? >> NO, I'M TELLING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET
CONTROL OF INFLATION. AND THEIR PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES ARE GOING TO BE A HELL OF A LOT LOWER.
THEIR HEALTHCARE COSTS ARE GOING TO BE A LOT LOWER. THEIR BASIC COSTS FOR EVERYBODY, THEIR ENERGY PRICES ARE GOING TO
BE LOWER. THEY'RE GOING TO BE IN A SITUATION WHERE THEY BEGIN TO GAIN CONTROL AGAIN.
I'M MORE OPTIMISTIC THAN I'VE BEEN IN A LONG TIME. >> SIR, WITH THE FEDERAL RESERVE RAPIDLY RAISING INTEREST RATES,
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO PREVENT A RECESSION? >> CONTINUE TO GROW THE ECONOMY. AND WE'RE GROWING THE ECONOMY.
IT'S GROWING IN A WAY THAT IT HASN'T IN YEARS AND YEARS. >> HOW SO? >> WE'RE GROWING ENTIRE NEW
INDUSTRIES. 695, I THINK IT IS, OR 85,000 NEW MANUFACTURING JOBS JUST SINCE I'VE BECOME PRESIDENT IN
UNITED STATES. CONTINUE TO GROW THE ECONOMY AND CONTINUE TO GIVE HARD-WORKING PEOPLE A BREAK IN TERMS OF WE
PAY THE HIGHEST DRUG PRICES IN THE WORLD OF ANY INDUSTRIALIZED NATION. MAKING SURE THAT MEDICARE CAN
NEGOTIATE DOWN THOSE PRICES. THE DEBT AND REDUCED THE DEFICIT BY $350 BILLION MY FIRST YEAR. THIS YEAR, IT'S GOING TO BE OVER
$1.5 TRILLION REDUCED THE DEBT. SO, TO CONTINUE TO PUT PEOPLE IN A POSITION TO BE ABLE TO MAKE A DECENT LIVING AND GROW, AND
GROW, AND INCREASE THEIR CAPACITY TO GROW. >> TO SEE WHAT HE MEANS, WE WENT WITH MR. BIDEN TO THE DETROIT
AUTO SHOW LAST WEDNESDAY. HE CELEBRATED HIS NEW FUNDING OF A NETWORK OF CHARGING STATIONS FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES.
BUT THE NEWLY CROWDED CONVENTION CENTER BROUGHT A DIFFERENT QUESTION TO MIND. >> MR. PRESIDENT, FIRST DETROIT
AUTO SHOW IN THREE YEARS. IS THE PANDEMIC OVER? >> THE PANDEMIC IS OVER. WE STILL HAVE A PROBLEM WITH
COVID. WE'RE STILL DOING A LOT OF WORK ON IT. IT'S -- BUT THE PANDEMIC IS
OVER. IF YOU NOTICE, NO ONE'S WEARING MASKS. EVERYBODY SEEMS TO BE IN PRETTY
GOOD SHAPE. AND SO I THINK IT'S CHANGING. AND I THINK THIS IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF IT.
>> THE CAR SHOW WAS A REMINDER THAT GASOLINE PRICES HIT A HISTORIC HIGH LAST JUNE, IN PART, BECAUSE RUSSIA CUT FUEL
SUPPLIES IN ITS WAR ON UKRAINE. >> MR. PRESIDENT, THE PRICE OF GASOLINE IS DOWN ABOUT 26% FROM THE $5 HIGH.
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO KEEP THAT PRICE DOWN WHILE VLADIMIR PUTIN IS THROTTLING ENERGY SUPPLIES? >> WELL, THERE'S -- THERE'S A
COUPLE THINGS WE'VE DONE. FOR EXAMPLE, REMEMBER I GOT SOME CRITICISM FOR RELEASING A MILLION BARRELS OF OIL A DAY
FROM THE STRATEGIC PETROLEUM RESERVE. AND THEN ALONG CAME THE INDUSTRY SAYING THEY'D PRODUCE ANOTHER
MILLION BARRELS A DAY BY THE SPRING. SO, I THINK WE'RE IN RELATIVELY GOOD SHAPE.
>> VLADIMIR PUTIN IS GOING TO TRY TO BREAK YOUR WILL ON UKRAINE AND USE ENERGY PRICES TO DO IT.
>> SURE HE IS. BUT, YOU KNOW, WE, THE UNITED STATES, ARE IN MUCH BETTER SHAPE THAN ANYONE ELSE IS, AND
RELATIVE TO RUSSIA PARTICULARLY. BUT HE'S BEEN TRYING THAT FOR A WHILE. HE'S NOT GOING TO SUCCEED.
ANYBODY WANT TO GO TO WASHINGTON, JUMP IN. >> BUT AT THIS VERY MOMENT THAT MR. BIDEN STEERED FOR THE
FUTURE, A 19th CENTURY FORM OF TRANSPORT THREATENED TO WRECK THE ECONOMY. A DEADLINE FOR A NATIONAL RAIL
STRIKE WAS TWO DAYS AWAY. THE WHITE HOUSE BROKERED A DEAL, THURSDAY, AFTER A 20-HOUR MARATHON OF NEGOTIATIONS.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENS IN NEGOTIATIONS, PARTICULARLY IF THEY'VE BEEN ELONGATED LIKE THESE HAVE, IS
PEOPLE SAY AND DO THINGS WHERE THEY -- THE PRIDE GETS ENGAGED AS WELL. AND IT'S AWFUL HARD TO BACK OFF
OF SOME OF THESE THINGS. THEY BOTH SAT DOWN, IN MY VIEW, AND THEY WERE IN THE OFFICE TODAY SAYING, WELL, WE FINALLY
FIGURED IT OUT. THIS IS FAIR ON BOTH SIDES. AND IT TOOK THAT TIME TO FOCUS. AND -- AND THE ALTERNATIVE WAS
JUST NOT THINKABLE. >> WHAT DO YOU MEAN? >> IF, IN FACT, THEY'D GONE ON A STRIKE, THE SUPPLY CHAINS IN
THIS COUNTRY WOULD'VE COME TO A SCREECHING HALT. WE WOULD'VE SEEN A REAL ECONOMIC CRISIS.
>> THE OTHER CRISIS ON THE PRESIDENT'S DESK, UKRAINE, WAS ALSO IMPROVING LAST WEEK AS UKRAINIAN FORCES RECAPTURED
ABOUT 3,000 SQUARE MILES FROM THE RUSSIAN INVASION. >> IS UKRAINE WINNING THE WAR? >> UKRAINE, THROUGH THEIR -- THE
SIGNIFICANT HELP WE AND OUR ALLIES ARE GIVING THEM AND THE INCREDIBLE BRAVERY AND THE INCREDIBLE DETERMINATION OF THE
UKRAINIAN PEOPLE, ARE NOT LOSING A WAR, AND THEY'RE MAKING GAINS IN CERTAIN AREAS. WINNING THE WAR IN UKRAINE IS TO
GET RUSSIA OUT OF UKRAINE COMPLETELY AND RECOGNIZING THE SOVEREIGNTY. THEY'RE DEFEATING RUSSIA.
RUSSIA'S TURNING OUT NOT TO BE AS COMPETENT AND CAPABLE AS MANY PEOPLE THOUGHT THEY WERE GOING TO BE.
BUT WINNING THE WAR? THE DAMAGE IT'S DOING, AND THE -- AND THE CITIZENS, AND THE INNOCENT PEOPLE ARE BEING
KILLED, IT'S AWFUL HARD TO COUNT THAT AS WINNING. >> AFTER THE HORRORS OF SEVEN MONTHS OF WAR, PRESIDENT BIDEN
HAS CALLED RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN A WAR CRIMINAL. >> IT HAS BEEN BARBARIC WHAT HE'S DONE.
HIS ATTACKS ON CIVILIAN -- EVERYTHING FROM CIVILIAN HOSPITALS TO -- TO, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE -- OLD-AGE HOMES, TO
NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE JUST ORDINARY PEOPLE LIVE. >> SCHOOLS. >> TO SCHOOLS.
IT'S, IT'S JUST OUTRAGEOUS. AND SO THE PRICE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE ARE PAYING FOR THIS WAR IS EXTREMELY HIGH.
BUT WE'RE GOING TO STAY WITH THEM AS LONG AS THEY NEED OUR HELP. >> YOU'RE ALREADY NORTH OF
$15 BILLION IN TERMS OF THOSE COMMITMENTS. HOW FAR DO YOU GO? >> AS LONG AS IT TAKES.
>> IRONCLAD COMMITMENT? >> YES. >> AS UKRAINE SUCCEEDS ON THE BATTLEFIELD, VLADIMIR PUTIN IS
BECOMING EMBARRASSED AND PUSHED INTO A CORNER. AND I WONDER, MR. PRESIDENT, WHAT YOU WOULD SAY TO HIM IF HE
IS CONSIDERING USING CHEMICAL OR TACTICAL NUCLEAR WEAPONS. >> DON'T, DON'T, DON'T. YOU WILL CHANGE THE FACE OF WAR
UNLIKE ANYTHING SINCE WORLD WAR II. >> AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF THAT WOULD BE WHAT?
>> I AM NOT GOING TO SPECULATE. >> WHAT WOULD THE U.S. RESPONSE BE? >> YOU THINK I WOULD TELL YOU IF
I KNEW EXACTLY WHAT IT WOULD BE? OF COURSE I'M NOT GOING TO TELL YOU. IT'LL BE CONSEQUENTIAL.
THEY'LL BECOME MORE OF A PARIAH IN THE WORLD THAN THEY HAVE EVER BEEN. AND DEPENDING ON THE EXTENT OF
WHAT THEY DO WILL DETERMINE WHAT RESPONSE WOULD OCCUR. >> ON THE SAME DAY WE SPOKE TO THE PRESIDENT, PUTIN MET WITH
CHINA'S LEADER XI JINPING. THERE'S CONCERN THAT RUSSIA'S ATTEMPT TO FORCE REUNIFICATION WITH UKRAINE COULD INSPIRE CHINA
TO ATTACK THE ISLAND OF TAIWAN. U.S. POLICY SINCE 1979 HAS BEEN TO RECOGNIZE TAIWAN AS PART OF CHINA, BUT REMAIN SILENT ON
WHETHER THE U.S. MILITARY WOULD DEFEND THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT THERE. THIS IS AMONG THE PLACES WHERE
OUR INTERVIEW RUNS INTO CONTROVERSY. >> WHAT SHOULD CHINESE PRESIDENT XI KNOW ABOUT YOUR COMMITMENT TO
TAIWAN? >> WE AGREE WITH WHAT WE SIGNED ONTO A LONG TIME AGO. AND THAT THERE'S ONE CHINA
POLICY, AND TAIWAN MAKES THEIR OWN JUDGMENTS ABOUT THEIR INDEPENDENCE. WE ARE NOT MOVING -- WE'RE NOT
ENCOURAGING THEIR BEING INDEPENDENT. WE'RE NOT -- THAT -- THAT'S THEIR DECISION.
>> BUT WOULD U.S. FORCES DEFEND THE ISLAND? >> YES, IF IN FACT THERE WAS AN UNPRECEDENTED ATTACK.
>> AFTER OUR INTERVIEW A WHITE HOUSE OFFICIAL TOLD US U.S. POLICY HAS NOT CHANGED. OFFICIALLY, THE U.S. WILL NOT
SAY WHETHER AMERICAN FORCES WOULD DEFEND TAIWAN. BUT THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF HAD A VIEW OF HIS OWN.
>> SO, UNLIKE UKRAINE, TO BE CLEAR, SIR, U.S. FORCES, U.S. MEN AND WOMEN WOULD DEFEND TAIWAN IN THE EVENT OF A CHINESE
INVASION? >> YES. >> FOR THE FIRST TIME, MR. BIDEN SPOKE ABOUT THE CLASSIFIED
DOCUMENTS THAT THE FBI FOUND IN FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP'S HOME. THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT HAS OPENED A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION.
>> HAVE YOU BEEN BRIEFED, SIR, ON THE TOP-SECRET DOCUMENTS THAT WERE FOUND AT MAR-A-LAGO? >> NO.
>> NO ONE HAS COME TO YOU TO WARN YOU THAT IMPORTANT NATIONAL SECURITY SECRETS WERE REVEALED BY THE STORAGE OF THOSE
DOCUMENTS AT THE FORMER PRESIDENT'S HOME? >> I HAVE NOT PERSONALLY SPOKEN TO ANYONE ON THAT IN THAT
REGARD. I'M SURE MY ADMINISTRATION IS AWARE OF ALL OF THAT, AND SO IS THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL.
BUT I HAVE NOT. >> WERE YOU NOTIFIED OF THE FBI'S EXECUTION OF A SEARCH WARRANT AT MAR-A-LAGO?
>> NO, NOT AHEAD OF TIME. >> THE FBI SPREAD THE DOCUMENTS OUT ON A FLOOR TO MAKE A RECORD OF WHAT WAS FOUND.
>> WHEN YOU SAW THE PHOTOGRAPH OF THE TOP-SECRET DOCUMENTS LAID OUT ON THE FLOOR AT MAR-A-LAGO, WHAT DID YOU THINK TO YOURSELF?
LOOKING AT THAT IMAGE. >> HOW THAT COULD POSSIBLY HAPPEN. HOW ONE -- ANYONE COULD BE THAT
IRRESPONSIBLE. AND I THOUGHT WHAT DATA WAS IN THERE THAT MAY COMPROMISE SOURCES AND METHODS?
BY THAT I MEAN NAMES OF PEOPLE WHO HELPED OR -- ET CETERA. AND IT JUST -- TOTALLY IRRESPONSIBLE.
>> AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT WAS IN THOSE DOCUMENTS? >> I HAVE NOT ASKED FOR THE SPECIFICS OF THOSE DOCUMENTS
BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO GET MYSELF IN THE MIDDLE OF WHETHER OR NOT THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SHOULD MOVE OR NOT MOVE ON
CERTAIN ACTIONS THEY COULD TAKE. I -- I AGREED I WOULD NOT TELL THEM WHAT TO DO AND NOT, IN FACT, ENGAGE IN TELLING THEM HOW
TO PROSECUTE OR NOT. >> WHEN WE COME BACK, A SURPRISING ANSWER TO THE QUESTION OF WHETHER PRESIDENT
BIDEN WILL RUN FOR A SECOND TERM.
>>> AT THE WHITE HOUSE LAST THURSDAY, PRESIDENT BIDEN TOLD US HE HOPES TO RETAIN CONTROL OF THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE IN THE
MIDTERM ELECTION IN NOVEMBER. BUT GIVEN THE PRESIDENT'S JOB APPROVAL RATING OF AROUND 40% THAT REMAINS TO BE SEEN.
FOR HIS PART, MR. BIDEN HAS SAID HE PLANS TO RUN AGAIN IN 2024. BUT HERE IS ANOTHER PLACE WHERE OUR INTERVIEW MAY CAUSE
CONTROVERSY. >> SIR, ARE YOU COMMITTED TO RUNNING AGAIN, OR ARE THERE CERTAIN CONDITIONS THAT HAVE TO
BE RIGHT? >> LOOK, IF I WERE TO SAY TO YOU, I'M RUNNING AGAIN, ALL OF A SUDDEN A WHOLE RANGE OF THINGS
COME INTO PLAY THAT I HAVE -- REQUIREMENTS I HAVE TO CHANGE AND MOVE AND DO. >> IN TERMS OF ELECTION LAWS?
>> IN TERMS OF ELECTION LAWS. AND IT'S MUCH TOO EARLY TO MAKE THAT KIND OF DECISION. I'M A GREAT RESPECTER OF FATE.
AND SO WHAT I'M DOING IS I'M DOING MY JOB. I'M GOING TO DO THAT JOB. AND WITHIN THE TIMEFRAME THAT
MAKES SENSE AFTER THIS NEXT ELECTION CYCLE HERE, GOING INTO NEXT YEAR, MAKE A JUDGMENT ON WHAT TO DO.
>> YOU SAY THAT IT'S MUCH TOO EARLY TO MAKE THAT DECISION. I TAKE IT THE DECISION HAS NOT BEEN MADE IN YOUR OWN HEAD.
>> LOOK, MY INTENTION AS I SAID TO BEGIN WITH IS THAT I WOULD RUN AGAIN. BUT IT'S JUST AN INTENTION.
BUT IS IT A FIRM DECISION THAT I RUN AGAIN? THAT REMAINS TO BE SEEN. >> MR. PRESIDENT, YOU ARE THE
OLDEST PRESIDENT EVER. >> PRETTY GOOD SHAPE, HUH? >> WHICH LEADS TO MY NEXT QUESTION.
YOU ARE MORE AWARE OF THIS THAN ANYONE. SOME PEOPLE ASK WHETHER YOU ARE FIT FOR THE JOB.
AND WHEN YOU HEAR THAT, I WONDER WHAT YOU THINK. >> WATCH ME. AND, HONEST TO GOD, THAT'S ALL I
THINK. WATCH ME. IF YOU THINK I DON'T HAVE THE ENERGY LEVEL OR THE MENTAL
ACUITY, THEN -- THEN, YOU KNOW, THAT'S ONE THING. IT'S ANOTHER THING, YOU JUST WATCH AND, YOU KNOW, KEEP MY
SCHEDULE. DO WHAT I'M DOING. I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T -- WHEN I SIT DOWN WITH
OUR NATO ALLIES AND KEEP THEM TOGETHER, I DON'T HAVE THEM SAYING, WAIT A MINUTE, HOW -- HOW OLD ARE YOU?
WHAT ARE YOU -- WHAT SAY? YOU KNOW, I MEAN IT'S A MATTER OF, YOU KNOW, THAT OLD EXPRESSION, THE PROOF OF THE
PUDDING'S IN THE EATING. I MEAN, I RESPECT THE FACT THAT PEOPLE WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE OLD.
BUT I THINK IT RELATES TO HOW MUCH ENERGY YOU HAVE, AND WHETHER OR NOT THE JOB YOU'RE DOING IS ONE CONSISTENT WITH
WHAT ANY PERSON OF ANY AGE WOULD BE ABLE TO DO. >> HOW WOULD YOU SAY YOUR MENTAL FOCUS IS?
>> OH, IT'S FOCUSED. I'D SAY IT'S -- I THINK IT'S -- I, I HAVEN'T -- LOOK, I HAVE TROUBLE EVEN MENTIONING, EVEN
SAYING TO MYSELF, MY OWN HEAD, THE NUMBER OF YEARS. I NO MORE THINK OF MYSELF AS BEING AS OLD AS I AM THAN FLY.
I MEAN, IT'S JUST NOT -- I HAVEN'T OBSERVED ANYTHING IN TERMS OF -- THERE'S NOT THINGS I DON'T DO NOW THAT I DID BEFORE,
WHETHER IT'S PHYSICAL, OR MENTAL, OR ANYTHING ELSE. >> YOU HAVE HAD A STRING OF LEGISLATIVE SUCCESSES RECENTLY.
>> HOW'S AN OLD GUY DO THAT? >> BUT YOUR APPROVAL RATING IN THE COUNTRY IS WELL BELOW 50%. AND I WONDER WHY YOU THINK THAT
IS. >> THIS IS A REALLY DIFFICULT TIME. WE'RE AT AN INFLEXION POINT IN
THE HISTORY OF THIS COUNTRY. WE'RE GOING TO MAKE DECISIONS, AND WE'RE MAKING DECISIONS NOW THAT ARE GOING TO DETERMINE WHAT
WE'RE GOING TO LOOK LIKE THE NEXT TEN YEARS FROM NOW. I THINK YOU'D AGREE THAT THE IMPACT ON THE PSYCHE OF THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE AS A CONSEQUENCE OF THE PANDEMIC IS PROFOUND. THINK OF HOW THAT HAS CHANGED EVERYTHING.
YOU KNOW, PEOPLE'S ATTITUDES ABOUT THEMSELVES, THEIR FAMILIES, ABOUT THE STATE OF THE NATION, ABOUT THE STATE OF THEIR
COMMUNITIES. AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY OUT THERE, A GREAT DEAL OF UNCERTAINTY.
AND WE LOST A MILLION PEOPLE. A MILLION PEOPLE TO COVID. WHEN I GOT IN OFFICE, WHEN I GOT ELECTED, ONLY 2 MILLION PEOPLE
HAD BEEN VACCINATED. I GOT 220 MILLION -- MY POINT IS IT TAKES TIME. WE WERE LEFT IN A VERY DIFFICULT
SITUATION. IT'S BEEN A VERY DIFFICULT TIME, VERY DIFFICULT. >> AND A DIFFICULT LIFE FOR THE
PRESIDENT. IN 1972 HE LOST HIS WIFE AND DAUGHTER IN A CAR ACCIDENT. HE LOST HIS SON, BEAU, TO CANCER
IN 2015 AT THE AGE OF 46. AND HIS SON, HUNTER, HAS BEEN A LIGHTNING ROD FOR SUSPICION. HUNTER BIDEN'S FORMER ADDICTION
TO CRACK COCAINE LED TO A LIFE HE DESCRIBES AS NONSTOP DEPRAVITY. HE HAS ALSO ACKNOWLEDGED A
FEDERAL INVESTIGATION INTO HIS TAXES. CONGRESS INVESTIGATED HUNTER BIDEN'S JOB WITH A UKRAINIAN
COMPANY AT THE TIME THAT HIS FATHER RAN UKRAINIAN POLICY IN THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION. A REPUBLICAN INVESTIGATION,
HOWEVER, UNCOVERED NO WRONGDOING BY THEN VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN. >> MR. PRESIDENT, IF YOU RUN AGAIN, REPUBLICANS ARE MOST
LIKELY TO GO AFTER YOUR SON HUNTER ONCE AGAIN. AND I WONDER WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY ABOUT YOUR SON AND
WHETHER ANY OF HIS TROUBLES HAVE CAUSED CONFLICTS FOR YOU OR FOR THE UNITED STATES. >> I LOVE MY SON, NUMBER ONE.
HE FOUGHT AN ADDICTION PROBLEM. HE OVERCAME IT. HE WROTE ABOUT IT. AND, NO, THERE'S NOT A SINGLE
THING THAT I'VE OBSERVED AT ALL FROM THAT THAT WOULD AFFECT ME OR THE UNITED STATES RELATIVE TO MY SON HUNTER.
>> REPUBLICAN INVESTIGATIONS ARE LIKELY TO RESUME IF MR. BIDEN LOSES EITHER THE HOUSE OR THE SENATE, AND HISTORY SHOWS THAT
PRESIDENTS USUALLY LOSE SEATS IN CONGRESS IN A MIDTERM ELECTION. IF SO, THE PRESIDENT'S REMAINING AMBITIONS MAY BE BEYOND HIS
REACH. >> FOR EXAMPLE, WE PASSED THE MOST EXTENSIVE GUN LEGISLATION IN 30 YEARS, ALTHOUGH I'M NOT
GOING TO REST TILL WE GET ASSAULT WEAPONS BANNED, WHICH I DID ONCE BEFORE WHEN I WAS A SENATOR.
>> ASSAULT WEAPONS BANNED? >> ASSAULT WEAPONS BANNED. THERE'S NO RATIONALE. DEER AREN'T RUNNING THROUGH THE
WOODS WEARING KEVLAR VESTS. >> SOMEBODY CAME IN AND TOLD YOU ABOUT UVALDE WHEN IT HAPPENED, AND I WONDER WHAT YOU THOUGHT.
>> AGAIN, I'VE GONE TO EVERY ONE OF THOSE PLACES. AND IN UVALDE, I SPENT TIME WITH EVERY SING -- FOUR HOURS.
FOUR HOURS IN THE PAIN, PAIN. AND IT'S JUST SO, SO UNNECESSARY. SO WRONG.
WHO THE HELL -- DON'T GET ME GOING. BUT I MET WITH EVERY ONE OF THOSE FAMILIES AND THE EXTENDED
FAMILIES FOR FOUR HOURS. LOOK, OUR KIDS SHOULD BE LEARNING HOW TO READ AND WRITE, NOT DUCK AND COVER.
THINK ABOUT THAT. THINK OF THE MENTAL IMPACT ON THESE KIDS GOING BACK TO SCHOOL. WE SAW IT.
IT'S WRONG. IT'S WRONG. IT'S NOT WHO WE ARE. AND WE'VE GOT TO STOP IT.
WE'VE GOT TO STOP IT. AND THE NRA CONTINUING TO PUSH THE SALE OF ASSAULT AND SEMI-AUTOMATIC WEAPONS IS
BIZARRE. >> THE MUCH MORE MODEST BIPARTISAN GUN LAW THAT PASSED THIS SUMMER MAY BE THE BEST
EXAMPLE OF THE PRESIDENT'S LEGISLATIVE BREAKTHROUGHS THAT NO ONE THOUGHT POSSIBLE. "HOW'D AN OLD GUY DO THAT?" HE
ASKED US EARLIER. WE HAVE A THEORY. JOE BIDEN IS AMONG THE LONGEST SERVING POLITICIANS IN
WASHINGTON. IF THERE IS LESS BOUNCE IN THE STEP THAN THERE ONCE WAS, IF THE WORDS DON'T FLOW LIKE THEY USED
TO, MAYBE THERE'S SOMETHING TO BE SAID FOR KNOWHOW, FIVE DECADES ON THE HILL AND IN THE OVAL.
>> CONCERNING POLITICS, MR. PRESIDENT, YOU WERE ELECTED TO THE SENATE IN 1972. YOU WERE 29 YEARS OLD.
AND IN THOSE DAYS, IT SEEMED THAT THE PARTIES WORKED TOGETHER TO MOVE THE COUNTRY FORWARD. AND I THINK MANY AMERICANS FEEL
THAT THAT NO LONGER HAPPENS, AND, IN FACT, MAY BE IMPOSSIBLE NOW. >> WELL, I DON'T THINK IT'S
IMPOSSIBLE. BUT IT -- IT'S CHANGED. WHAT WE DO TODAY, THINK ABOUT IT, IT'S ALL PERSONAL ATTACKS.
IT'S ABOUT MOTIVE. IT'S NOT ABOUT "I DISAGREE WITH YOU ON THE -- ON THE SUBJECT MATTER."
AND, SECONDLY, I THINK THAT IT'S -- I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT WE'VE NOT HAD A PRESIDENT LIKE THE LAST PRESIDENT WHO HAS
MADE ALL OF IT SO PERSONAL. I'VE HAD SIX REPUBLICAN SENATORS -- I PROMISED I'D NEVER SAY THEIR NAMES AND I WON'T -- COME
UP TO ME IN THE LAST TWO YEARS AND SAY, JOE, I AGREE WITH YOU, BUT IF I -- IF I VOTE THIS WAY IT'S GOING TO -- THEY'RE GOING
TO PRIMARY ME, I'M GOING TO LOSE AN ELECTION. IT DIDN'T USED TO BE THAT WAY. BUT IT'S COMING BACK A LITTLE
BIT. IT'S COMING BACK. >> DO YOU SEE IT? IT SEEMS TO ME, MR. PRESIDENT,
THAT -- WHEN YOU WERE -- FIRST CAME TO THE SENATE, THE OTHER GUY HAD A BAD IDEA, AND NOW THE OTHER GUY IS A BAD GUY.
AND I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU GET BACK TO THAT. >> WELL, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, THINK ABOUT THIS.
I WAS ABLE TO GET -- WE WERE ABLE TO GET A BIPARTISAN $1.2 TRILLION PACKAGE DONE FOR DEALING WITH THE WHOLE QUESTION
OF REBUILDING THE COUNTRY, THE ROADS AND THE HIGHWAYS. THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS WE'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF THINGS DONE
BIPARTISANLY. AND EVERYBODY SAID, WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING, DON'T LET BIDEN HAVE ANY SUCCESSES, ET
CETERA. SO IT'S STILL A WAY TO GO, BUT I THINK WE'RE MAKING SOME PROGRESS.
>> YOU HAVE LIVED A LONG LIFE OF TRIUMPH AND TRAGEDY. IN NOVEMBER YOU'LL BE 80. AND I WONDER WHAT IT IS THAT
KEEPS YOU IN THE ARENA. >> WELL, LOOK, I'VE HAD TRAGEDIES. I'VE LOST PART OF MY SOUL WHEN I
LOST MY SON BEAU, I LOST MY WIFE AND MY DAUGHTER IN AN ACCIDENT. I THINK OF ALL THE PEOPLE WHO'VE GONE THROUGH WHAT I'VE GONE
THROUGH AND A LOT MORE WITHOUT WHAT I HAD. I HAVE HAD INCREDIBLY SUPPORTIVE FAMILY.
THERE'S SO MANY LITERALLY HEROES GETTING UP EVERY DAY PUTTING ONE FOOT IN FRONT OF THE OTHER WITH NO HELP.
I CONSTANTLY THINK WHAT WOULD BEAU WANT ME TO DO. WHAT WOULD -- AND, YOU KNOW, THIS GETS ME A LONG WAY, THIS
ROSARY. >> CATHOLIC AND DEVOUT, HE KEEPS A ROSARY IN HIS POCKET, AND HE SHOWED US HIS OTHER INSPIRATION
IN A CARTOON THAT HIS FATHER HAD FRAMED. IN IT, THE VIKING HAGAR, CONFRONTS GOD AFTER A LIGHTNING
STRIKE, A BLOW LIKE THOSE ENDURED BY THE PRESIDENT. >> AND HE'S LOOKING UP, AND WHAT'S HE SAY?
HE SAYS, WHY ME, GOD? AND THE NEXT SCENE, A VOICE FROM HEAVEN. WHY NOT?
THAT'S MY DAD. WHY NOT, JOEY? WHY NOT YOU? WHY NOT -- WHAT MAKES YOU SO
DIFFERENT? JUST GET UP. MY MOM'S EXPRESSION WAS, JUST GET UP, GET UP, GET UP.
>> AND YOU FEEL YOU HAVE MORE TO GIVE? >> A LOT MORE TO GIVE, A LOT MORE TO GIVE.
>>> THE UNITED STATES FIRST PLACED FINANCIAL SANCTIONS ON IRAN BACK IN 1979, DURING THE HOSTAGE CRISIS.
FOR NEARLY FOUR DECADES THE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT HAS DESIGNATED IRAN ONE OF THE WORLD'S LEADING STATE SPONSORS OF TERRORISM.
BUT THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION, ALONG WITH FIVE OTHER COUNTRIES, AGREED TO BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN SANCTIONS RELIEF IN EXCHANGE FOR
IRAN'S AGREEMENT TO DISMANTLE MUCH OF ITS NUCLEAR PROGRAM AND OPEN ITS FACILITIES TO EXTENSIVE INTERNATIONAL INSPECTION.
THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, DISTRUSTING TEHRAN, PULLED OUT OF THE DEAL AND STEPPED UP CRUSHING ECONOMIC PRESSURE.
THAT'S WHERE EBRAHIM RAISI FOUND HIMSELF WHEN HE WAS ELECTED PRESIDENT A YEAR AGO. LAST MONTH, IRAN AND THE
61-YEAR-OLD HARD-LINER WERE ON THE VERGE OF STRIKING A NEW DEAL, BUT THEN IRAN SUBMITTED DEMANDS THAT SENT THE NUCLEAR
TALKS INTO A STALEMATE. >> SIR, THANK YOU. I'M LESLIE. WE MET PRESIDENT RAISI TUESDAY
AT THE PRESIDENTIAL COMPOUND IN TEHRAN FOR HIS FIRST INTERVIEW WITH A WESTERN REPORTER. I WAS TOLD HOW TO DRESS, NOT TO
SIT BEFORE HE DID, AND NOT TO INTERRUPT HIM. WE WERE GIVEN ONE HOUR FOR THE INTERVIEW.
CAN WE START WITH THE NEGOTIATIONS ON THE NUCLEAR DEAL. DO YOU WANT TO HAVE THAT DEAL
RENEWED? BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SOME AMERICAN OFFICIALS WHO ARE BEGINNING TO THINK THAT YOU
DON'T -- TRANSITION. >> Translator: IF IT'S A GOOD DEAL AND FAIR DEAL, WE WOULD BE
SERIOUS ABOUT REACHING AN AGREEMENT. IT NEEDS TO BE LASTING. THERE NEEDS TO BE GUARANTEES.
IF THERE WERE A GUARANTEE, THEN THE AMERICANS COULD NOT WITHDRAW FROM THE DEAL. >> BUT YOU CAN PULL OUT OF THE
DEAL, I MEAN, JUST AS WELL AS WE COULD PULL OUT OF THE DEAL. >> Translator: YOU SEE, THE AMERICANS BROKE THEIR PROMISES.
THEY DID IT UNILATERALLY. THEY SAID THAT "I AM OUT OF THE DEAL." NOW, MAKING PROMISES IS BECOMING
MEANINGLESS. >> ARE YOU SAYING THAT YOU CANNOT TRUST THE AMERICANS? >> Translator: WE CANNOT TRUST
THE AMERICANS BECAUSE OF THE BEHAVIOR THAT WE'VE ALREADY SEEN FROM THEM. THAT IS WHY IF THERE IS NO
GUARANTEE, THERE IS NO TRUST. >> THE U.S. SAYS THE WEST CAN'T TRUST IRAN. FOR INSTANCE, WHEN IT CLAIMS ITS
NUCLEAR PROGRAM IS PURELY FOR PEACEFUL PURPOSES. >> AS FAR AS WE CAN TELL YOU DON'T USE IT FOR, YOU KNOW,
THINGS THAT CAN HELP YOUR CITIZENS, LIKE ELECTRICITY. YOU SAY YOU WANT IT FOR PEACEFUL REASONS.
LIKE WHAT? >> Translator: LIKE IN MEDICINE, AGRICULTURE, OIL, GAS. >> IN TERMS OF "PEACEFUL
PURPOSES," ONE AVAILABLE FIGURE FROM THE U.N. NUCLEAR WATCHDOG AGENCY, THE IAEA, IS THAT ONLY 1.8% OF THE COUNTRY'S
ELECTRICITY IS GENERATED BY NUCLEAR POWER. >> THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME EVIDENCE THAT YOU HAVE BEEN
WORKING, AT LEAST BEFORE, TOWARD A BOMB, A BOMB, A WEAPON, AND THAT YOU MIGHT BE DOING THAT AGAIN.
>> Translator: WE HAVE RESPONDED TO THESE CLAIMS SEVERAL TIMES. THEY ARE BASELESS. THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN HAS
SAID MANY TIMES THAT POSSESSING NUCLEAR WEAPONS HAS NO PLACE IN OUR DOCTRINE. >> HOWEVER, THE U.S.
INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY HAS ASSESSED "WITH HIGH CONFIDENCE" THAT IRAN DID ATTEMPT TO DEVELOP A NUCLEAR BOMB IN THE PAST.
AND THEN THERE ARE THE AMERICAN CITIZENS BEING DETAINED IN TEHRAN, THREE OF WHOM WERE BORN IN IRAN.
IF THERE IS A DEAL, WOULD YOU AGREE TO RELEASE THE FOUR AMERICANS WHO ARE BEING HELD HERE?
COULD THAT BE PART OF IT? >> Translator: THERE ARE IRANIAN NATIONALS ALSO IMPRISONED INSIDE THE U.S.
THESE PEOPLE ARE ONLY IN THERE BECAUSE THEY SIMPLY TRIED TO CIRCUMVENT SANCTIONS. AND THE AMERICANS, WE HAVE TOLD
THEM THAT WE CAN TALK TO THEM ABOUT THIS. IT CAN BE CONDUCTED SEPARATELY FROM THE NUCLEAR TALKS.
IT CAN BE DONE BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES. IT IS A HUMANITARIAN ISSUE. THIS CAN BE NEGOTIATED.
>> YOU'RE OFF TO NEW YORK. YOU'RE GOING TO SPEAK AT THE UNITED NATIONS. YOU KNOW, PRESIDENT BIDEN IS
GOING TO BE THERE. ARE YOU OPEN TO A MEETING WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN? A FACE-TO-FACE?
>> Translator: NO. I DON'T THINK THAT SUCH A MEETING WOULD HAPPEN. I DON'T BELIEVE HAVING A MEETING
OR A TALK WITH HIM WILL BE BENEFICIAL. >> WHAT DO YOU THINK THE DIFFERENCE IS, FROM YOUR
PERSPECTIVE, BETWEEN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION? >> THE NEW ADMINISTRATION IN THE
U.S., THEY CLAIM THAT THEY ARE DIFFERENT FROM THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. THEY HAVE SAID IT IN THEIR
MESSAGES TO US. BUT WE HAVEN'T WITNESSED ANY CHANGES IN REALITY. >> HIS MAJOR GRIEVANCE AGAINST
PRESIDENT BIDEN IS THAT HE HAS MAINTAINED THE SANCTIONS ON IRAN THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP IMPOSED. >> Translator: THE SANCTIONS ARE
VERY TYRANNICAL. THIS IS A TYRANNY AGAINST THE PEOPLE OF IRAN. IT IS IMPORTANT TO US TO HAVE
THE SANCTIONS LIFTED. >> THE SANCTIONS THRUST IRAN INTO A TWO-YEAR RECESSION, MAINLY BECAUSE OIL EXPORTS FROM
REFINERIES LIKE THIS ONE, FELL OVERNIGHT FROM 2.8 MILLION BARRELS A DAY TO ABOUT 200,000. BUSINESSES HAVE BEEN CUT OFF
FROM INTERNATIONAL BANKING. WITH INFLATION TODAY IN IRAN AT OVER 40%, VIRTUALLY EVERYTHING IS MORE EXPENSIVE.
AND YET -- WE FOUND TRAFFIC HERE. AS CLOGGED AS IN NEW YORK. AND, AS WE SAW, TEHRAN'S BAZAARS
ARE TEEMING WITH SHOPPERS. THE ONES WE MET WERE FRIENDLY TO US. HOW ARE YOU?
>> OH, I'M GOOD. HOW ARE YOU? >> FANTASTIC. AND YOU?
>> GOOD. DO YOU STUDY ENGLISH IN SCHOOL? >> NO. >> ONE REASON FOR THE BUSTLING
COMMERCE IS SOMETHING THE PRESIDENT CALLS THE "RESISTANCE ECONOMY" IN WHICH BUSINESSES ARE ENCOURAGED TO MAKE MORE OF THE
THINGS THEMSELVES THAT THEY USED TO IMPORT. SO -- >> DO YOU KNOW WHERE THESE ARE
MADE? HOME MADE BLUE JEANS. ALSO MADE IN IRAN? WASHING MACHINES, REFRIGERATORS,
TVs. THEY ALSO HAVE THEIR OWN VERSION OF UBER EATS CALLED SNAPP! FOOD. IRAN IS HOME TO ONE OF THE
WORLD'S OLDEST CIVILIZATIONS, DATING BACK TO 4,000 B.C. IT'S WHERE THE FOUNDATIONS OF ALGEBRA AND CHEMISTRY WERE
DEVELOPED. TODAY WHILE THERE'S ATTENTION TO RELIGIOUS TRADITION IN THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC, IT'S ONE OF
THE MOST WESTERNIZED COUNTRIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST, WITH A WELL-EDUCATED POPULATION. THIS MALL COULD BE ANYWHERE IN
AMERICA! WITH AN ICE-SKATING RINK, A FOOD COURT WITH HOT DOGS AND BURGERS, AND THE LEAST EXPECTED, SEXY
WINDOW DISPLAYS. AND YET PRESIDENT RAISI JUST SIGNED A DECREE MAKING WOMEN WHO DON'T DRESS MODESTLY SUBJECT TO
ARREST. A YOUNG WOMAN DIED FRIDAY AFTER THE MORALITY POLICE TOOK HER INTO CUSTODY FOR VIOLATING THE
RULES ON HEAD COVERINGS. EYEWITNESSES SAY THEY SAW HER BEING BEATEN WHILE IN A POLICE VAN.
PRESIDENT RAISI'S OFFICE SAYS HE ORDERED AN INVESTIGATION. SAYYID EBRAHIM RAISI DESCENDS FROM THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD, AS
HIS BLACK TURBAN SIGNIFIES, ACCORDING TO SHIITE MUSLIM TRADITION. HE'S A HARD-LINE CONSERVATIVE
CLERIC LIKE HIS MENTOR, THE SUPREME LEADER AYATOLLAH KHAMENEI. I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT YOUR OWN
RECORD. THERE IS A PERSONAL SANCTION AGAINST YOU. YOU TOOK PART IN A COMMISSION
THAT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR EXECUTING UP TO 5,000 POLITICAL DISSIDENTS. THEY WERE HANGED OR SHOT BY
FIRING SQUAD. I WANT TO ASK IF YOU REGRET THAT ACTION. >> Translator: WHAT KIND OF
PROOF CAN YOU OFFER FOR THIS? THESE ARE JUST ALLEGATIONS AND CLAIMS MADE BY MEMBERS OF A TERRORIST GROUP.
>> YOU'RE SAYING THAT THAT WAS NOT TRUE? AND THAT THE -- >> Translator: ANYBODY WHO
COMMITS A CRIME IN IRAN STANDS TRIAL IN OFFICIAL COURTS OF LAW, AND THEY RECEIVE PUNISHMENTS FOR WHAT THEY DID.
THEY WERE ASSASSINATING PEOPLE. AND WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM WAS EXACTLY PROPORTIONATE TO WHAT THEY DID.
>> BUT THE U.S. TREASURY DEPARTMENT SANCTIONED RAISI PERSONALLY FOR HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS OVER THIS AND AMNESTY
INTERNATIONAL CALLED IT A CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY. THE PRESIDENT WAS FEISTY WITH US, SPRINKLING HIS ANSWERS WITH
A PREDICTABLE ANTIPATHY TOWARD ISRAEL AND JEWISH PEOPLE. THE SUPREME LEADER, AYATOLLAH KHAMENEI, WAS SCATHING
WHEN HE TWEETED ON THE SAME SUBJECT IN ENGLISH IN 2018. >> ISRAEL IS A MALIGNANT, CANCEROUS TUMOR THAT HAS TO BE
REMOVED AND ERADICATED. >> DO YOU BELIEVE THE HOLOCAUST HAPPENED? THAT 6 MILLION JEWS WERE
SLAUGHTERED? >> Translator: LOOK, HISTORICAL EVENTS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED BY RESEARCHERS AND HISTORIANS.
THERE ARE SOME SIGNS THAT IT HAPPENED. IF SO, THEY SHOULD ALLOW IT TO BE INVESTIGATED AND RESEARCHED.
>> SO YOU'RE NOT SURE -- I'M GETTING THAT YOU'RE NOT SURE. WHAT ABOUT ISRAEL'S RIGHT TO EXIST?
>> Translator: YOU SEE, THE PEOPLE OF PALESTINE ARE THE REALITY. THIS IS THE RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE
OF PALESTINE WHO WERE FORCED TO LEAVE THEIR HOUSES AND MOTHERLAND. THE AMERICANS ARE SUPPORTING
THIS FALSE REGIME THERE TO TAKE ROOT AND BE ESTABLISHED THERE. >> YOU KNOW THAT MOROCCO, BAHRAIN, SUDAN, AND THE UNITED
ARAB EMIRATES HAVE ALL RECOGNIZED ISRAEL, AND HAVE RELATIONS WITH ISRAEL. AND IT IS SAID THAT SAUDI ARABIA
IS ALSO TALKING DIRECTLY WITH ISRAEL. AND I WONDER IF YOU WANT TO COMMENT ON THAT.
>> Translator: IF A STATE SHAKES HANDS WITH THE ZIONIST REGIME, THEN THEY ARE ALSO AN ACCOMPLICE TO THEIR CRIMES.
AND THEY ARE STABBING THE VERY IDEA OF PALESTINE IN THE BACK. >> YOU HAVE VOWED REVENGE ON THE U.S. GOVERNMENT FOR THE KILLING
OF GENERAL SOLEIMANI. MORE THAN TWO YEARS AGO THE U.S. KILLED GENERAL QASSEM SOLEIMANI IN A DRONE STRIKE.
A REVERED MILITARY HERO IN IRAN, HE MASTERMINDED DEADLY ATTACKS ON AMERICAN FORCES THROUGHOUT THE REGION FOR YEARS.
THE SUPREME LEADER HAS CALLED FOR RETALIATION. ARE YOU INTENDING TO RETALIATE BY ASSASSINATING OFFICIALS FROM
THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION? >> Translator: WHAT THE THEN AMERICAN GOVERNMENT DID, BY THE DIRECT ORDER OF TRUMP HIMSELF,
TO ASSASSINATE MR. QASSEM SOLEIMANI, THIS WAS A HEINOUS CRIME. WE WANT JUSTICE TO BE SERVED.
WE ARE NOT GOING TO FORGET ABOUT THIS. >> I'M WONDERING WHAT YOU MEAN BY "JUSTICE."
DOES IT MEAN AN EYE FOR AN EYE? THERE WAS THIS ASSASSINATION, NOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE YOU KNOW, AN ANSWER ASSASSINATION?
>> Translator: THAT'S THE TYPE OF THE ACTIONS THAT THE AMERICANS AND ZIONIST REGIMES ARE DOING IN THE WORLD, WE ARE
NOT GOING TO CARRY OUT THE SAME ACTIONS. >> AND YET THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE HAS CHARGED A MEMBER
OF IRAN'S REVOLUTIONARY GUARD WITH JUST THAT, PLOTTING TO ASSASSINATE JOHN BOLTON, PRESIDENT TRUMP'S FORMER
NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER. AS HE PREPARES FOR HIS TRIP TO THE U.N., PRESIDENT RAISI IS DEFIANT.
HIS MESSAGE: NO CONCESSIONS IN THE NUCLEAR DEAL, IRAN WILL NOT BACK DOWN, AND IT CAN SURVIVE THE SANCTIONS, WHICH HE SAYS
COULD WELL BACKFIRE AGAINST THE UNITED STATES. >> Translator: YES, THEY CAN CREATE RESTRICTIONS AND PROBLEMS
FOR US AND DIFFICULTIES. BUT THERE'S A NUMBER OF COUNTRIES THAT ARE BEING SANCTIONED.
BY DOING THIS, THEY ARE BRINGING THEM CLOSER TOGETHER, MAKING THEM MORE UNITED, AND THIS WILL RENDER AMERICAN SANCTIONS
INEFFECTIVE. >> RIGHT, CHINESE, RUSSIANS, IRANIANS GETTING CLOSER. >> Translator: THIS APPROACH
WON'T WORK. >> AS WE ENDED WHAT SEEMED TO BE A CORDIAL CONVERSATION, WE WERE SURPRISED WHEN A MEMBER OF
RAISI'S STAFF REACHED UP AND BLOCKED ONE OF OUR CAMERAMEN FROM SHOOTING OUR GOOD-BYES. >> ANOTHER ONE OF OUR
CAMERAMEN'S PHONES WAS CONFISCATED AND HELD BY PRESIDENT RAISI'S SECURITY TEAM FOR TWO AND A HALF HOURS.
FIVE DECADES OF COVERING IRAN. >> HE CALLS YOU IMAM, FORGIVE ME, HIS WORDS NOT MINE, A LUNATIC.
>> YOU ARE LIKE A CIA INVESTIGATOR. >> GO INSIDE THE "60 M >>> "THE LAST MINUTE" OF "60
MINUTES" IS SPONSORED BY UNITED HEALTH CARE. GET MEDICARE WITH MORE. >>> TONIGHT MARKS THE OPENING OF
OUR 55th SEASON OF "60 MINUTES." AT ITS HEART, THE BROADCAST IS REMARKABLY UNCHANGED. AS IN THE DAYS OF MIKE WALLACE
AND HARRY REASONER, IT CONTINUES TO BE BUILT AROUND REPORTING AND WRITING A GOOD STORY. "TELL ME A STORY," DON HEWITT,
'60 MINUTES' CREATOR, USED TO SAY. TONIGHT, WE INTRODUCE A NEW WEEKLY FEATURE FOR YOU, "THE
LAST MINUTE." IT MAY BE AN IMPORTANT UPDATE ON A STORY WE'VE REPORTED, A COMMENTARY, A LOOK AT AN
UPCOMING STORY OF POINTED VIEWERS' COMMENTS FROM OUR MAIL. IT'S NOT A REPLACEMENT FOR ANDY ROONEY.
NOTHING COULD BE, BUT WE PROMISE SOMETHING INTERESTING AT THE END OF EACH SUNDAY EVENING. I'M BILL WHITAKER.
WE'LL BE BACK NEXT WEEK WITH ANOTHER EDITION OF "60 MINUTES." TOMORROW MORNING, BE SURE TO