NPR News: 07-22-2026 5PM EDT

Jeanine Herbst· Host0:00

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst. NPR has confirmed that the US signed a nuclear power agreement with Saudi Arabia. This from a source not authorized to speak publicly. That has US lawmakers and Israeli officials worried that the kingdom could use a civilian nuclear project to develop a weapon. The Atomic Energy Act says significant US cooperation with foreign countries on civilian nuclear power requires review by Congress. President Trump says preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons was one of the reasons he started the war in February. Meanwhile, Trump is ramping up threats to Iran, saying on social media that the US would destroy Iranian bridges and power plants if Iran shoots at ships in the Strait of Hormuz. NPR's Deepa Shivaram has more.

Deepa Shivaram0:48

Attacking civilian infrastructure could constitute a war crime, but Trump says from now onward, if Iran fires missiles, rockets, drones, or any other weapons at ships in the Strait of Hormuz, the US would respond by bombing one bridge or power plant. He added that those could include ones located in or near Iran's capital city, Tehran. The escalation comes as Trump has said he has no interest in meeting with Iranian negotiators. The war has gone on months longer than Trump said it would, and support for Trump's actions abroad and the higher price of goods that have come with it is dropping even among his base. Deepa Shivaram, NPR News.

Jeanine Herbst· Host1:26

New twenty-five percent US tariffs against some products from