NPR News: 04-04-2026 10PM EDT

Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant on the Persian Gulf coast was struck for the fourth time since the onset of U.S. and Israeli military actions against the country, Iranian media reported. This news roundup covers that escalation and its risks, a related EU push to tax energy profits amid fuel price surges, a mixed U.S. jobs report, and briefer domestic and trade stories.

Fourth Strike on Iranian Nuclear Plant Raises Fallout Fears

A projectile hit the perimeter of Iran's Bushehr nuclear facility on Saturday, killing one security guard, according to Iranian reports. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) detected no elevated radiation levels nearby, but Director General Rafael Grossi stated on X that nuclear plants and surrounding areas "must never be attacked." Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned on X that any radioactive release could "end life in neighboring Gulf Arab countries," as contaminated material might enter the Persian Gulf. This waterway is critical for Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, whose desalination plants and fisheries depend on it. The strike occurs amid broader conflict, including Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which has driven global fuel prices higher and heightened regional contamination risks even without confirmed leaks.