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5 min readNPR News Now: March 12, 2026 — 1PM EDT
Iran’s new supreme leader has broken his silence. State media aired a statement from Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the assassinated Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, marking the first time the Iranian people have heard from him — though not directly. NPR’s Jackie Northam reported that the statement warned Gulf states not to trust the United States when it promises peace and security. “They lie,” the statement said, according to Northam. It also threatened that unless the U.S. withdraws from military bases in the region, Iran will continue to attack those countries. The warning singled out the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Oman — all of which, Northam noted, have been struck almost daily by Iranian drones and missiles in the 13 days since the U.S. and Israel began their campaign of strikes against Iran.
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What you'll learn
- 1 (00:04) **Iran's New Supreme Leader Speaks** - Iranian state media airs a statement from Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the assassinated Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, marking his first public message.
- 2 (00:52) **Mass Displacement in Iran and Lebanon** - The UN Refugee Agency reports over 3 million displaced inside Iran and 800,000 in Lebanon since the US-Israel strikes began 13 days ago.
- 3 (01:58) **TSA Staffing Shortages Cause Airport Delays** - Long security lines persist as the DHS partial shutdown leads to TSA staff shortages.
- 4 (03:01) **Shooting at Old Dominion University** - A gunman opened fire in the business school building in Norfolk, Virginia, injuring two people; the shooter is dead.
- 5 (03:32) **Chilean Architect Wins Pritzker Prize** - Smiljan Radić is awarded architecture's highest honor for his innovative, avant-garde designs.
- 6 (04:32) **Dow Jones Down Over 500 Points** - A brief market update noting a significant drop in the stock index.
- 7 Standout Quotes
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