NPR News: 03-22-2026 12AM EDT

Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz dominates this NPR News Now roundup, triggering a global oil crisis, alongside reports on former FBI Director Robert Mueller's death, TSA delays from the ongoing government shutdown, and a surprise box office hit for a Ryan Gosling space film.

Strait of Hormuz Blockade and US Threat

Iranian forces have closed the Strait of Hormuz, halting 20% of the world's oil supply from reaching markets. The strait, just 21 miles wide, has turned the Gulf into a "giant parking lot" for around 3,000 stranded oil tankers, gas carriers, and cargo ships, per the U.N. shipping agency. Ships are refusing to challenge Iranian positions along the rugged coastline, where Iran deploys drones and fast boats despite losses to its conventional military. The U.S. Navy maintains only about 20 ships in the region. President Trump responded by demanding Iran reopen the strait within 48 hours, threatening to "obliterate" its power plants. This comes amid a war between the U.S., Israel, and Iran that has already damaged Gulf energy infrastructure.