NPR News: 04-07-2026 7AM EDT

The episode opens with a stark countdown: President Trump’s 8 p.m. Eastern deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz is hours away, and he has repeated his threat to target Iranian infrastructure—including bridges and power plants—if no deal is reached. The strait is a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments, and its closure has already driven up gas prices worldwide. Trump stated from the White House that any successful agreement must include the free flow of oil through the strait.

The Iran standoff intensifies

The situation on the ground in Iran is escalating rapidly. An Iranian official is urging young people and others to stand next to power plants as human shields, following Trump’s threat to "decimate" every bridge and power plant if a deal is not reached by 8 p.m. Eastern. Iran’s president claims 14 million Iranians, including himself, are ready to give their lives to defend the country. Meanwhile, Israel has issued an online warning to people in Iran, telling them not to get on a train today, even though Iran has cut off almost all internet access to its citizens. NPR’s Daniel Estrin notes that heavy bombing is occurring along Iran’s railway today. The railway serves the regime but also many Iranian civilians who use it to visit family across the country, and its disruption could impact Iranians’ ability to travel.