[Cabrera:] We are just now getting a clearer picture of how deadly anti-government protests have become in Iran just as access to the Internet is reportedly being strangled off by the government. There are reports that at least 21 people have been killed. Reports on the ground trickling out on social media paint a different picture with social media saying that there are distress calls coming from protesters. The reports are giving us a glimpse into an unprecedented revolt. Revolts there. Video showing thousands of demonstrators saying "death to Rouhani" and "death to Khamenei", the country's top two leaders. This video showing hundreds cheering as a picture of Iran supreme leader is torn. Joining us now is CNN national security analyst, Matthew Rosenberg, who is with "The New York Times". And, Matthew, I want to ask you about the president's reaction to this protest. President Trump tweeting this today: The people of Iran are finally acting against the brutal and corrupt Iranian regime. All of the money that President Obama so foolishly gave them went into terrorism and into their pockets. The people have little food, big inflation and no human rights. The U.S. is watching. What is the impact of these tweets from the president?
[Matthew Rosenberg, Cnn National Security Analyst:] I mean, I think we need to make this clear. The Obama administration did not give any money to Iran. Money that was returned to them after the Iran nuclear deal went through
[Cabrera:] We assume that's what he's referring to, that it was lifting of sanctions on Iran.
[Rosenberg:] Yes, exactly. Look, I think inside the Obama White House, there was a big debate during earlier set of protests about whether they should weigh in, what they should say if they say anything. I think they decided at the time, you know, let's not say anything because that's going to be presented as, you know, these protesters being lackeys of the U.S. I think there's some regret among the Obama folks. And for the Trump White House, you know, they are saying, we should weigh in. I think we are seeing with Iran supreme leader talking about the enemies in Iran being behind the protest. Whether the U.S. says anything, the reaction from the Iranian leadership is going to present this protest as being the work of pro-Western agents or others, the enemies are out to get them. So, I think the Trump White House is, you know, the president in his own way, is trying to get out ahead and say, look, we support these protests. What impact that will have on the ground, I don't know. I don't think President Trump is particularly popular person among Iran's leadership or average Iranians. And so, the actual practical impact is very hard to measure.
[Cabrera:] OK, as we again away a press briefing set to get underway here in the next few minutes. I want to turn to North Korea because Sarah Sanders is sure to be asked about the Korean peninsula. We now know the south and the north are expressing interest in talking to each other. What do you make of the president once again calling Kim Jong-un rocket man as these talks now approach?
[Rosenberg:] I mean, the talks present a real they're a real issue for President Trump. He's tried to rally the world to be incredibly tough on North Korea. And in his New Year's Day speech, the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un seemed to find an opening there and to say, you know what, I want to talk to South Korea. I'm open to direct talks with South Korea. And in South Korea, you have a liberal leadership that is eager to talk to the North that is very hesitant to take Trump's hard line and that is very hesitant to join in what they see is rush to possible conflict with North Korea which would be fought largely in South Korea, which could result in tens of thousands or millions of their citizens dead. So, I think this is a real issue that the president is going to have to try to figure out here, because the North Korean do seem to have found a sort of way through this for now to try and split the U.S. and South Korea or at least to make an attempt to try and create daylight between the U.S. and South Korea.
[Cabrera:] All right. Matthew, stand by. Any moment now, the White House press briefing ready to begin live. We'll bring that to you. And more on our breaking news, Republican Senator Orrin Hatch says he plans to retire despite being urge to run for reelection by President Trump. We are back in a moment.