NPR News: 04-02-2026 7AM EDT

President Trump delivered his first address to the nation since launching the US war against Iran, estimating the operation would wrap up in two to three weeks. He emphasized preventing Iran from ever acquiring a nuclear weapon but provided no details on handling Iran's stockpile of about 1,000 pounds of highly enriched uranium. NPR's Greg Myrie noted that even the UN's atomic energy agency has lacked clarity on its location for over a year, leaving unanswered how the US would secure the material or if Iran might negotiate a deal.

Benchmark crude oil prices climbed above $108 a barrel following the speech, driven by disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. Trump stated the US does not rely on oil from the strait and predicted it would reopen naturally post-conflict, though he had threatened Iran the day before if it remained closed. NPR's Camila Domonoski reported market volatility, citing energy data firm Veris's Al Salazar, whose models project a $10 to $15 per barrel price increase for each month of strait closure due to its role in global oil transit.

Diplomatic Push on Strait of Hormuz

The United Kingdom is convening a virtual meeting today with nearly three dozen countries to explore diplomatic and political options for reopening the strait. British leaders framed it as a push for viable non-military paths amid the tensions.