Summary of "Iran Retaliates After U.S. Military Strikes. Now What?" – The NPR Politics Podcast

Release Date: June 23, 2025
Host: Tamara Keith
Guests: Greg Myhre (National Security Reporter), Domenico Montanaro (Senior Political Editor and Correspondent)

Introduction and Context

In the episode titled "Iran Retaliates After U.S. Military Strikes. Now What?", NPR's political reporters Tamara Keith, Greg Myhre, and Domenico Montanaro delve into the escalating tensions between the United States and Iran following recent military actions. The discussion centers on Iran's missile strikes against U.S. military installations in Qatar, a direct response to prior U.S. airstrikes on Iran's nuclear facilities.

Details of the Iranian Missile Strikes

Tamara Keith opens the discussion with a briefing on the latest developments:

"[Tamara Keith, 01:16] Iran has launched missiles at a US Air Force base in Qatar. All were intercepted, and a US official tells NPR there are no reports of US casualties."

Greg Myhre provides an in-depth analysis of the strike's nature and its immediate impact:

"[Greg Myhre, 01:40] Iran announced that it launched these missile strikes. The US and Qatar have acknowledged that they've taken place. It seems like this was not a heavy response. Iran wanted to show that it was responding pretty quickly to the US attack on its nuclear sites... These missiles were shot down, no injuries."

Greg emphasizes the symbolic significance of the target:

"[Greg Myhre, 03:04] President Trump was just at that air base in Qatar on May 15th delivering a speech to US troops, and today it was fending off Iranian missiles. So is symbolism part of this?"

He further explains the strategic choice of the Al Udid Air Force Base:

"[Greg Myhre, 03:19] It's a huge US military installation outside the capital, in the desert outside Doha. The US was already on high alert. These missiles were shot down, no injuries."

US and Iran Responses

The conversation shifts to the implications of Iran's retaliatory actions. Tamara highlights the administration's stance:

"[Tamara Keith, 05:00] Domenico, administration officials have been emphasizing that Saturday's action was a targeted mission, that there were not plans for further attacks unless Iran retaliated. They warned of grave consequences if Iran did that."

Domenico Montanaro assesses the administration's perspective:

"[Domenico Montanaro, 05:28] The White House would likely be pretty happy as long as this is the full extent of the Iranian retaliation, especially considering no American has been killed or hurt in these missile strikes."

He further discusses the political risks for President Trump:

"[Domenico Montanaro, 05:28] Trump is getting so involved with Iran that you wind up having not just his base, but Americans who are concerned about having more intervention... that would be more political risk."

Comparisons to Past Incidents

Tamara draws parallels to a previous incident to contextualize the current situation:

"[Tamara Keith, 06:22] ... taken back to the US strike in January of 2020 that took out General Qasem Soleimani... Iran retaliated, targeting two US bases in Iraq... No Americans were killed. President Trump quickly moved on. He tweeted, 'all is well!'"

Greg Myhre agrees on the relevance of this precedent:

"[Greg Myhre, 06:57] It very well could be. The Iranians wanted to show that they could respond. Trump has talked about hitting Iran very hard... the Israel-Iran shooting match... is still going ahead full speed."

Political Implications and Public Opinion

Domenico explores recent polling data to understand American public sentiment:

"[Domenico Montanaro, 12:16] Before the attacks, most people thought Iran posed a greater threat than in previous years. After the missile strikes, approval among Republicans for the attacks soared from 25% to 69%."

He attributes this shift to effective messaging:

"[Domenico Montanaro, 13:24] Republicans approve of President Trump. They heard the narrative... Iran was on the cusp of having a nuclear weapon... a large degree of people who voted for President Trump want to believe that."

Tamara highlights internal Republican concerns despite the general approval:

"[Tamara Keith, 13:52] Many MAGA Republicans have reacted with caution and even concern about Trump's decision to get involved... worried that it could grow into a protracted conflict."

Domenico addresses these concerns:

"[Domenico Montanaro, 14:25] The risk of a protracted conflict is significant. Trump hopes Iran's retaliation remains limited to maintain his political stature, but increased involvement could elevate his political risks."

Future Developments and Observations

Looking ahead, Greg Myhre outlines the potential trajectories of the conflict:

"[Greg Myhre, 15:09] The war has a pattern now with Israel controlling the skies over Iran and continuing its attacks. Iran is still firing back, and the US is assisting Israel. I'll be watching US and Israel's alignment on ending the fight and Iran's willingness to cease hostilities."

Domenico adds insights into President Trump's strategic positioning:

"[Domenico Montanaro, 16:26] Trump has hinted at regime change against Iran, presenting it as making Iran "great again." This is his leverage after the successful strikes on nuclear facilities."

Greg emphasizes the uncertainty surrounding the mission's success:

"[Greg Myhre, 10:38] Determining the full extent of the damage from the bombings takes time. The military is still assessing the situation, especially since the targeted facility is deeply underground."

Conclusion

The episode concludes with an acknowledgment of the fluid and evolving nature of U.S.-Iran relations amidst military tensions. The hosts emphasize the importance of monitoring governmental narratives, public opinion, and international responses as the situation develops.

Notable Quotes:

• Greg Myhre [01:40]: "These could do real damage, but it's a pretty easy catch for a major US Military base there to shoot them down."

• Domenico Montanaro [05:28]: "Trump is getting so involved with Iran that you wind up having not just his base, but Americans who are concerned about having more... that would be more political risk."

• Domenico Montanaro [12:16]: "Before the bombings... only a quarter of Republicans thought that the US should [get involved]. After the attacks, 69% approved."

• Greg Myhre [15:09]: "The war has taken on a bit of a pattern now that Israel really controls the skies over Iran and seems to be able to bomb at will."

This episode of The NPR Politics Podcast provides a comprehensive analysis of the latest developments in U.S.-Iran relations, offering listeners a nuanced understanding of the geopolitical stakes, political implications, and potential future scenarios stemming from recent military actions.