NPR News: 04-03-2026 11AM EDT

This NPR News Now update from April 3, 2026, leads with sharp escalations in the US-Iran conflict, including a downed US jet and new shipping tolls in the Strait of Hormuz, before turning to President Trump's sweeping defense budget request, a new fraud task force, a solid jobs report, and briefer items on TSA pay issues, Gmail updates, and regional weather.

US F-15 Crash and Strait of Hormuz Tensions

Iranian state media reported that an American F-15 fighter jet went down in the country, a claim confirmed to NPR by a US official not authorized to speak publicly. US forces are conducting a search for the aircraft. Explosions continue across Iran as US and Israeli strikes persist. Amid these developments, President Trump posted online that "with a little more time, we can easily open the Hormuz Strait, take the oil, and make a fortune," contrasting his earlier national address. NPR's Jackie Northam reported that Iran is now imposing tolls on ships transiting the strait, potentially up to $2 million per vessel. The system requires government-to-government negotiations, permits, and passage through Iranian waters, but remains ad hoc and under formalization. Some ships from India, Pakistan, and China have secured diplomatic deals, while those linked to the US or Israel face a full ban. Analysts doubt a formal toll like the Suez Canal's will gain regional support, viewing diplo