Iran launches attack on U.S. military base in Qatar

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Here's the Scoop" – Episode on Iran's Attack on U.S. Military Base in Qatar

Host and Introduction Yasmin Vossoughian opens the inaugural episode of NBC News' new evening podcast, "Here's the Scoop," setting the stage to dissect the day's most pressing stories with expert analysis and on-the-ground reporting.

---

Main Story: Iran's Retaliatory Attack on U.S. Military Base in Qatar

Overview of the Incident At [00:31], Yasmin introduces the critical incident where Iran has launched retaliatory strikes against U.S. forces stationed in Qatar. This attack follows Iran's previous strikes on its nuclear facilities, initially deemed a "one and done" scenario by President Trump and his advisors. The President has now acknowledged Iran's advance notice, expressing gratitude for the forewarning.

Insights from Richard Engel in Tel Aviv Yasmin connects with Richard Engel, NBC News’ chief foreign correspondent in Tel Aviv, to unpack the implications of Iran's actions.

• Preemptive Measures and Intelligence Sharing ([02:41]) Engel explains that Iran likely had prior intelligence about the impending attacks, possibly shared with Qatar and through their coordination, enabling the shutdown of airspace and sheltering of civilians before the missile launch.

• Nature of the Attack ([04:04]) "This attack is symbolic," Engel asserts ([04:04]). He suggests that Iran targeted the most fortified U.S. base in the Middle East with a limited number of missiles, indicating a measured response rather than an attempt to cause significant damage or casualties. This strategy appears designed to send a message both domestically and regionally without escalating into full-scale war.

• Comparison to Past Incidents ([04:28]) Drawing parallels to the aftermath of Qasem Soleimani's assassination, Engel highlights Iran's pattern of retaliatory strikes aimed at key military targets to demonstrate capability and resolve without crossing into broader conflict.

Israel's Continued Strikes and Regime Change Implications Yasmin shifts the focus to Israel's persistent offensive actions against Iran, including the targeted strikes on Evin Prison in Tehran, which resulted in the release of political dissidents rather than casualties.

• Regime Change Objectives ([05:37]) Engel emphasizes that Israel's attacks extend beyond eliminating nuclear threats to undermining Iran's internal security mechanisms, effectively working towards regime change by weakening the state's repressive capabilities.

• Potential for Escalation ([07:45]) Engel raises concerns about the possibility of these developments triggering wider conflict in the Middle East, noting Prime Minister Netanyahu's statements about nearing the conclusion of their objectives without committing to full regime change.

---

White House Response and Strategic Calculations

Analysis with Peter Alexander, NBC News' Chief White House Correspondent Following the ground-level insights, Yasmin engages with Peter Alexander to explore the White House's strategic response to Iran's retaliation.

• Internal Dynamics and Sentiment ([12:15]) Alexander describes a palpable sense of triumph within parts of the White House, likening the atmosphere to that of a championship-winning sports team. This sentiment stems from recent strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, perceived as a significant achievement by the administration.

  • Notable Quote: Alexander recalls Keith Kellogg's description of the West Wing’s "different feel" akin to "a sports team after winning a championship" ([12:28]).

• President Trump's Motivations ([13:32]) Delving into President Trump's possible motivations, Alexander suggests that the administration prioritizes demonstrating strength over empathy. Trump's actions and public statements indicate a desire to cement his legacy through decisive military action, contrasting with his predecessors who had refrained from similar interventions.

  • Notable Quote: Alexander observes, "The president likes the idea that he was, you know, that this was a master plan that he came up with in his eyes and that it demonstrates in his view, his strength" ([13:43]).

• Future Implications ([10:49] & [14:50]) While initial responses indicate a potential move towards de-escalation, the uncertainty remains regarding the next steps. Alexander notes that the situation could evolve over varying timelines, from days to years, depending on subsequent actions by both Iran and the U.S.

---

Additional News: U.S. Heatwave and FedEx Founder’s Passing

Extreme Weather Conditions ([14:50] – [16:02]) Yasmin shifts to domestic news, highlighting a severe heatwave engulfing the United States.

• Impact and Public Response ([14:50]) "From the Midwest to the Northeast, Mother Nature is turning up the heat and half the country is feeling it," Yasmin reports ([15:21]). The heat index in some regions is soaring between 100 and 110 degrees, prompting extreme measures to stay cool.

  • Notable Quote: Yasmin humorously critiques the EPA’s recommendation: "Set your thermostat to 78 degrees when you wake up for comfort and efficiency. Comfort at 78, that is not cool. That is a slow, slow roast" ([15:23]).

Tribute to FedEx Founder Fred Smith ([16:02] – [15:55]) In a heartfelt segment, Yasmin commemorates the passing of FedEx founder Fred Smith at age 80.

• Legacy and Achievements ([15:57] – [16:02]) Smith is celebrated for revolutionizing global logistics with the creation of FedEx, transforming shipping efficiency and global commerce. Yasmin recounts Smith's daring move in 1974, where a last-ditch gamble at a Las Vegas blackjack table secured the company's future by turning $5,000 into $27,000, a pivotal moment that kept FedEx operational.

---

Closing Remarks Yasmin wraps up the episode by summarizing the day's major events and teasers for upcoming stories. She invites listeners to return for daily updates and deeper dives into the issues shaping the world.

---

Notable Quotes Summary:

• Yasmin Vossoughian ([02:23]): "We gotta start with Iran... Iran has now launched retaliatory strikes against US Forces stationed across the Mideast."
• Richard Engel ([04:04]): "This attack is symbolic... they picked the hardest target in the Middle East and fired a limited number of missiles at it."
• Peter Alexander ([12:28]): "There was a, quote, different feel, as he described it, this sense of a triumph here, like a sports team after winning a championship."
• Peter Alexander ([13:43]): "The president likes the idea that he was... that this was a master plan that he came up with in his eyes and that it demonstrates in his view, his strength."

---

Conclusion This episode of "Here's the Scoop" provides a comprehensive analysis of the escalating tensions between Iran and the United States, delving into geopolitical strategies, potential ramifications, and the internal dynamics within the White House. Complemented by domestic news highlights, the podcast delivers insightful and timely information to keep listeners informed on critical global and national issues.

Transcript

[Hoda Kotb]

This episode is brought to you by Progressive Commercial Insurance. Business owners meet Progressive Insurance. They make it easy to get discounts on commercial auto insurance and find coverages to grow with your business quote in as little as 7 [e-mail] Progressive Casualty Insurance Company coverage provided and serviced by affiliated and third party insurers. Discounts and coverage selections not available in all states or situations.

[Dan Snow]

So, folks, you might have noticed the weather's changing out there. The sun appears to be out, the days are longer. This is in the northern hemisphere, of course, and it's got me excited for road trips, days out exploring and long walks to castles on windswept crags. And if you're looking forward to all that too, I've got the perfect companion podcast to join you on your adventures this summer. I'm Dan Snow, host of the Dan Snow's History Hit Podcast where I whisk you away into the greatest stories in history. Join me on the high seas as we follow the swashbuckling escapades of Francis Drake on the Spanish Main. We unravel the myths of the Spartans at the Battle of Thermopylae. I'll tell you everything you need to know about how the American Revolution started and what it would have taken for you to survive the Black Death in medieval Europe. This is the podcast you need if you seek to escape into history. And we can all use a little escape at the moment. Check out Dan Snow's history wherever you get your podcasts.

[Yasmin Vasugian]

Hey everybody, and welcome to our very first episode of here's the Scoop from NBC News. I'm Yasmin Vesugin and I'm your host. Today, every day on this show, we're going to break down the biggest stories of the day and why they matter, tapping our network of reporters stationed all across the world to bring you the inside scoop today. Obviously, we gotta start with Iran. In striking Iran's nuclear facilities, Trump and his advisors said American involvement in the conflict was one and done. That's it. Iran, though, has now launched retaliatory strikes against US Forces stationed across the Mideast. The President a couple hours ago confirming that Iran gave them a heads up and thanking them for the advance notice. So what now? And what do the Israelis do? Our chief foreign correspondent Richard Engel is on the ground for us in Tel Aviv and and has covered the region extensively. Hey Richard, thanks for being here.

[Richard Engel]

It's great to be with you and I'm so happy to be part of your first broadcast, but I'm not really surprised. A Lot is going on.

[Yasmin Vasugian]

So if we take a step back, Richard, for a moment, do you think this has changed the game or not? Because we're hearing that Iran essentially gave a heads up that the threat was imminent.

[Richard Engel]

It looks like Iran gave a heads up and it looks like even if they didn't give one, that the Qataris had one. If the Qataris had one, the Americans had one. They're co located in space, they worked together. But the reason why it seems clear that they had intelligence is before this attack took place, before these missiles were flying, the Qataris shut down the airspace, the Americans and British nationals, so civilians were told to shelter in place. And then the attack came. When you read the statements that the Iranians put out, the. They were going out of their way to say this was not an attack on Qatar, that it was an attack on the American base, and that it was a proportionate reprisal to what they had received from the US military. So they were trying to walk a very fine line saying we attacked a legitimate military target. After we were hit, the Iranians said they fired the same number of missiles on this base that the US fired on their nuclear facilities. And then it was over. And then it went quiet. Nobody killed, nobody injured. They picked a very hard target. There's no way that these missiles were probably gonna get through there anyway. They picked the hardest target in the Middle east and fired a limited number of missiles at it. If this brings us into a giant war in the Middle east and if this is the trigger, well, it seems like it would be a wild miscalculation.

[Yasmin Vasugian]

You know, it's interesting because this is somewhat similar to what happened after the killing of the IRGC head, Qasem Soleimani. They went after a, a US Air base in Iraq, even less so. And so with that in mind, I'm, I'm thinking here that the Iranians are essentially saying, and especially the Iranian government is essentially saying, our hands are up, we're not going to win this thing. We don't want to look weak in the region, so we're doing this, but let's back off.

[Richard Engel]

So this, this attack, I think you can really describe it as symbolic. And it was probably designed to send a message to the Iranian, not so much the Iranian people, but to, to other regional powers and also to the regime itself. You know, the military commanders are being targeted left, right and center. The Internet is out in Iran. Every time a new general steps up, there's a risk that he is going to be assassinated. The Israelis have been saying, you Better not take these new jobs as we're killing top commanders. You better not fill their vacancies. So the Iranians needed to show some strength. Otherwise, there's a risk that their entire security apparatus could just fade away. And no damage, no. No deaths, no injuries. So maybe this is an opportunity. They sent their message, nobody got hurt. Nobody got killed. They said, okay, they've balanced the books in their mind, fine. Maybe we can go to negotiations. And that, by the way, was the first response from the Ministry of Foreign affairs in Qatar. They said they were all shot down, nobody hurt. It's over now. It's time for a cessation of hostilities. Let's go to talks.

[Yasmin Vasugian]

So what I think, though, Richard, that is really interesting of what's happening amidst all of this, is Israel is continuing to fire on Iran. And the places they are targeting is incredibly interesting. One of them being Evin Prison, which is essentially in the middle of Tehran. It is where political dissidents are held. And they. They targeted it in a way in which the prisoners were not harmed. They were actually released. They were able to leave the prison. And so to me, that says, as you're kind of looking at what it is that Israel wants out of this thing, right? The objective of what Israel wants, and ultimately the United States as well, is if you have political dissonance pouring into the streets of Tehran, that. That is essentially Israel wanting regime change, wanting the people to rise up.

[Richard Engel]

And what you just said, I think there was a little subtle. If you listened closely, what you said is what Israel wants and what the US Wants. I'm not sure they necessarily see eye to eye, and I'm not sure that they have the exact same agenda here. So President Trump and his administration have kind of tried to thread this needle that they want regime change. But Trump says, well, maybe what's wrong with regime change if it's a bad regime? But the most consistent line is that they don't want regime change. They want to attack the nuclear facilities. The Israelis have been saying that, but their actions don't match that. They've been attacking the Iranian military leadership on a daily basis. The Israeli defense minister said that the Iran's supreme leader should no longer be allowed to exist. They have been carrying out these new attacks that you're talking about against what they're calling centers of Iranian repression. So they attacked the Aveen prison, hitting the door, being political prisoners, although the Iranians said they regained control of the prison, hitting the Basij. Now, the Basij is a domestic security force of the revolutionary guard that is generally used to carry out repression to keep the people in line. Police headquarters has been hit. And this is, I think you could only describe this as a tool of regime change. You're trying to take away the, the tools that the Iranian state uses to keep itself in power.

[Yasmin Vasugian]

So that said, Richard, did Iran blink today? And if in fact they did, how does Israel respond considering what, what we think their objective is?

[Richard Engel]

So here, that, I think is the bingo question. Here they, they blink to a degree. I mean, they hit a hard target that they had really no chance in a world of doing much damage to. Now, where does it go from here? I don't know. Is President Trump going to use this as a pretense to clobber them? Will the Israelis stop? There's mixed messages. Prime Minister Netanyahu just said today that we're kind of getting to the end of our objectives. We're not going to stop early, but we're heading toward a conclusion. The official objectives that Israel has laid out for itself are not regime change and are not killing the ayatollah and not doing the succession. For them, it is to eliminate the nuclear threat and to eliminate the ballistic missile threat. If Israel can say in a couple of days it's done that and Iran can say that it's responded, maybe we can back off from the brink.

[Yasmin Vasugian]

Richard Engel, my friend, I appreciate you jumping on with us amidst this breaking news. We'll be talking to you again very soon. I'm sure of it. Be safe.

[Richard Engel]

Great to be with you. Thanks.

[Yasmin Vasugian]

Thank you, Richard. All right, we are going to take a quick break. When we come back, we're going to go inside the White House.

[Hoda Kotb]

Hey everybody, it's Hoda Kotb and I would love for you to join me for new episodes of my podcast Making Space. Each week I'm having conversations with authors, actors, speakers and dear friends of mine, folks who are seeking the truth, truth, compassion and self discovery. I promise you will leave these talks stronger and inspired to make space in your own life for growth and change. To start listening, just search Making Space wherever you get your podcasts and follow for new episodes every Wednesday.

[Richard Engel]

Taking over the helm of NBC Nightly News, a 75 year old broadcast, It's a great responsibility. Good evening, I'm Tom Yamas. You have to go out there to bring people at home closer to the store. Wildfires continue to be a threat. With that massive hurricane comes the massive response. The best reporters in our business know how to listen. And when you listen, you get the truth.

[Yasmin Vasugian]

For NBC News, for NBC News.

[Richard Engel]

For NBC News, I'm Tom Yamas. That's what we do every night, NBC.

[Peter Alexander]

Nightly News with Tom Yamas, evenings on NBC.

[Yasmin Vasugian]

Hey, everybody. Yasmin Vasugian here. And we're back with here's the scoop from NBC News. The White House is now weighing how to respond to Iran's retaliatory strikes. We've got our chief White House correspondent Peter Alexander with us. Hey, Peter.

[Peter Alexander]

Hi, Yasmin. Thanks for having me.

[Yasmin Vasugian]

Thanks for being with us. I was just speaking with Richard Engel on the ground in Tel Aviv, and he's kind of framing this thing as if Iran blinked, giving a heads up, according to some of his reporting, before they launched on this US Air base. With all that in mind, the question is now, how is the US Going to respond? What are you hearing from inside the White House?

[Peter Alexander]

Well, we know those conversations have been happening throughout this day inside the White House. The president meeting in the Situation Room, monitoring the situation at those air bases throughout the region with Dan Kaine, the Joint Chiefs chairman, Marco Rubio, his Secretary of State, Pete Hegseth, of course, the secretary of defense, and obviously the Vice President, J.D. vance as well. So in some ways, it's a bit of a waiting game. But I think among the questions that Richard touches on is how much of this by Iran was, in effect, performative to demonstrate for domestic political consumption in Iran. Look, we're firing back. We have the capabilities. We are going after the Americans here. The idea that the Iranians would have tipped off Qatar, that shared it with the US Would make sense through that lens. Separately, though, I don't think anybody can say with any certitude that that would be the end of the story here, Right. Perhaps the initial retaliation, but might happen within 48 to 72 hours. But this could last from everyone I've been speaking to for days, weeks, months or even years here. And among the real questions, where is the highly enriched uranium? Can the US Say with certainty that that was destroyed as a function of this right now, Jeremy Bash, one of our national security analysts, said something that I thought was so striking. He said that this is going to be one of the most complex, maybe even contentious battle damage assessments that the US Intelligence community has ever had to undert.

[Yasmin Vasugian]

Peter, you and I spoke before this retaliation from Iran, and you painted this picture of the White House being triumphant today after the strikes over the weekend at the nuclear sites. What is the sense inside the White House now?

[Peter Alexander]

It's a good question that that idea of them being triumphant, the words Initially, that came from Keith Kellogg, one of the President's top advisors, who was partly in charge of the efforts to find a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. He posted today saying, in parts of the West Wing and the Executive office building, places that I can't get that. There was a, quote, different feel, as he described it, this sense of a triumph here, like a sports team after winning a championship. And I brought this up to some of the White House officials with whom I was speaking, and they were, I think, a little bit sensitive to this idea of we're triumphant. But you can see, you can feel it in the energy that is in parts of the White House right now. This individual said, you know, we do have this real sense that we were a part of history. In effect, in what we did. There was a pride. As this person said, the camaraderie on the president's team is very high. But, you know, those are risky words because it was a historic moment, and the best case scenario is it was successful. All American service members came home safely. The question is, what happens now? What happens in the days, weeks and months ahead?

[Yasmin Vasugian]

Peter, you covered this president extensively. Do you think part of his calculation deciding to strike Iran over the weekend was becoming a part of the history books?

[Peter Alexander]

I don't know that it's a function of the president wanting to be a part of the history books, although I'm certain that he recognizes the historic nature of what he would be doing for the president. There is sort of one image, one word that matters most to him, and that's the idea of strength, presenting strength in any scenario over empathy, over certainly over weakness. And here, given the opportunity to sort of, you know, to do something that no president before him had done. Each of the last four presidents, Bush, Clinton, Obama, Biden had all considered and chose not to do the. I'm certain that that played some role in the President's decision making here. And I'm certain that he, as evidenced by what we're hearing from him even overnight, touting on social media, taunting the Iranians, saying, in effect, the US Took the bomb out from their very hands. The president likes the idea that he was, you know, that this was a master plan that he came with in his eyes and that it demonstrates in his view, his strength.

[Yasmin Vasugian]

Peter Alexander, for those that cannot see, providing a bit of levity for us with your teal headphones, we appreciate you, my friend.

[Peter Alexander]

A hat tip to my daughters.

[Yasmin Vasugian]

Thank you. Thank you, Peter. And before we go, a few headlines. Why is it when it's too cold, you want hot. And when it's too hot, you want cold. That is what many Americans and me are dreaming of today. From the Midwest to the Northeast, Mother Nature is turning up the heat and half the country is feeling it. Some areas could hit heat index values between 100 and 110 degrees.

[Richard Engel]

Really hot.

[Yasmin Vasugian]

The fans are all on high. And just as the scorching heat wave turns the US into a giant toaster oven, the EPA has a suggestion. Set your thermostat to 78 degrees when you wake up for comfort and efficiency. Comfort at 78, that is not cool. That is a slow, slow roast. So while the agency insists it's going to help lower energy bills and save the planet, Americans everywhere have a persistent upper lip sweat just sitting in their living room.

[Richard Engel]

That's why every FedEx office has a.

[Peter Alexander]

Clock, because we live or we die by the clock.

[Yasmin Vasugian]

So that's Tom Hanks in the movie Castaway. Why did we play that clip? Well, if you remember, in the movie, besides the whole stranded on an island thing, Hanks worked for Federal Express. Well, FedEx founder Fred Smith, who revolutionized global logistics, has died at 80 years old. Smith didn't just build a company. He reinvented how the world moves. What began as a Yale term paper outlining a novel overnight delivery system became FedEx, a global logistics empire renowned for its efficiency and its pioneering hub and spoke network that fundamentally transformed shipping. The path to success was far from smooth. Rumor has that in 1974, with FedEx facing imminent bankruptcy, Smith took the company's last $5,000 to Vegas. His gamble at the blackjack table netted $27,000, a sum that famously kept the company's planes in the air. During that critical period, Smith and ushered in a new era of global commerce. His vision made fast, reliable delivery the standard and helped keep the modern world running on time. And speaking of time, we're out of it. That's going to do it for us. Thanks for joining me on our inaugural episode of here's the Scoop from NBC News. I'm Yasmin Vesugin. We'll see you tomorrow with whatever the day may bring. Hey, everyone. I'm Jenna Bush Hager from the Today show and I'm excited to share my podcast Open Book with Jenna. It is back for season two. Each week, celebrities, experts, friends and authors will share candid stories with me about their lives and new projects. Guests like Rebecca Yarros, Kristin Hannah, Ego Wodom, and more. Like a good book, you'll leave feeling inspired and entertained. Join me for for my podcast Open Book with Jenna. Listen now on Apple Podcasts.