NPR News: 07-15-2026 6AM EDT

Windsor Johnston· Host0:00

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. The United States launched a fourth round of strikes overnight targeting dozens of Iranian military sites along the Strait of Hormuz. Iran responded with attacks on US bases in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan. NPR's Hadiel Al-Shalchi reports the escalation comes as Washington re-imposes a blockade on Iranian ports.

Hadil Al-Shalchi0:25

US Central Command said the latest round of strikes lasted seven hours and targeted Iranian naval capabilities and defense systems. In response to a US blockade, Iran's Revolutionary Guard threatened to block the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a narrow, vital waterway that connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, that would effectively halt oil exports from the Middle East. This comes as President Trump walked back a threat to impose a twenty percent fee on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz after consultations with Gulf allies. Sirens were heard in Bahrain and Kuwait early Wednesday, and Jordan said it intercepted missiles over its airspace. Hadiel Al-Shalchi, NPR News, Istanbul.

Windsor Johnston· Host1:07

A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from denying visas to or seeking to deport non-citizens working on or studying online content moderation. NPR's Shannon Bond reports the judge says the policy likely violates the First Amendment.

Shannon Bond1:24

The State Department has said the visa ban targets foreign nationals it says are, quote, "complicit in censoring