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Nora Ramm
head to warbyparker.com live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Nora Ramm. The U.S. and Israel launched airstrikes against Iran today. President Trump posted a video on social media early this morning that the operation is to defend the American people by eliminating an imminent threat from the Iranian regime. He said Iran's missiles will be destroyed and he had a message for the Iranian people.
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President Donald Trump
Finally, to the great proud people of Iran, I say tonight that the hour of your freedom is at hand. Stay sheltered. Don't leave your home. It's very dangerous outside. Bombs will be dropping everywhere. When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations.
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Nora Ramm
According to satellite images, the compound of the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei appears to have been destroyed. Oman's foreign minister is criticizing the airstrikes he had been mediating between the US And Iran and says that there had been active and serious nuclear talks taking place. NPR's Af Etrawi reports.
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NPR's Ariel Tarawi
Omani Foreign Minister Badr Al Bah wrote in a post on X that he is dismayed by coordinated Israeli US Attacks on Iran. He said the interests of the United States are not served by this and urged the US not to get sucked in further. This is not your war, he wrote. The Al Mani mediator was in Washington Friday meeting with Vice President Vance and told CBS Iran had agreed to zero stockpiling of nuclear enrichment. After the launch of this morning's attacks on Iran, President Trump said the objective is to eliminate what he characterized as imminent threats from Iran. He said Iran was trying to rebuild its nuclear program and continued to develop long range missiles. Iran has retaliated by striking back at Israel and at US Military targets across the Gulf in several Arab states. Ariel Tarawi, NPR News, Dubai.
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Nora Ramm
European leaders have reacted with a mix of an alarm and caution to news of the military strikes. NPR's Eleanor Beardsley reports. French President Emmanuel Macron said the war would have grave consequences for international peace and security.
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NPR's Eleanor Beardsley
Riding on X, French President Emmanuel Macron called the escalation dangerous for everyone, but said Iran must end its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. In Brussels, the EU's chief diplomat, Kaya Kallis, said the situation is perilous and called the protection of civilians and international humanitarian law a priority but she also said the Iranian regime had killed thousands and its support for terror groups poses a threat to global security. Across the channel, the British government echoed that Iran must not obtain nuclear weapons, but but stressed that British forces are not involved in the current strikes. In a statement, the European Council called on all parties to exercise restraint and respect international law. Eleanor Beardsley, NPR News, Paris.
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Nora Ramm
The United Nations Security Council is to meet this afternoon to discuss the strikes. This is NPR News in Washington. It's too early to tell what the attacks on Iran will mean for oil prices and the global economy, but crude markets have been nervous for weeks that a conflict could push prices up sharply. As NPR's Camilla Dominoski reports, Iran is an oil producer and controls a crucial waterway.
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NPR's Camilla Dominosky
Iran itself still produces and exports oil despite US Sanctions. But more significantly, Iran controls the Strait of Hormuz, and about a fifth of global oil production travels through that choke point. A blockade would push prices up immediately and dramatically. And if the conflict expands, there's the risk of attacks on oil infrastructure across the Gulf, which would also cause prices to spike and be hard to reverse. But those are all risks, not certainties. In some previous conflicts, both sides were careful to avoid disrupting oil flows. Energy markets open for trading on Sunday night. Camila Dominosky, NPR News.
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Nora Ramm
President Trump says the US Is in high level talks with Cuba on the possibility of what he called a friendly takeover of the island. The US has shut off the flow of oil, which has been devastating to its economy. Earlier this week, Cuban soldiers fired on a boat coming from the US Killing four people, including a US Citizen. Warren Buffett's successor in Berkshire Hathaway issued his first letter today. Greg Abel took over as CEO last month. Both Buffett and Abel have said there won't be significant changes in the way the company operates. Buffett remains chairman and the biggest shareholder. His annual, often folksy letter had been one of the most read business reports for 60 years. I'm Nora Ramm, NPR News, in Washington.
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