NPR News: 04-24-2026 9AM EDT

This NPR News Now broadcast delivers a snapshot of global tensions, enforcement actions, and recoveries, led by updates on the U.S. military posture toward Iran alongside a cryptocurrency fraud bust, vaccination progress, a Vatican plea, and NFL draft news.

U.S. Blockade Tightens Pressure on Iran

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dan Cain provided a Pentagon briefing on Operation Epic Fury and the U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. Central Command is enforcing a strict policy, turning back all ships of any nationality heading to or from Iranian ports or territory. General Cain described the blockade as a "major pressure point" for Iran, with full compliance across the board. To ease domestic impacts, the U.S. is accelerating oil supplies to its ports by allowing foreign-flagged vessels on domestic shipping routes. AAA reports national average gas prices for regular at $4.06 per gallon, reflecting these adjustments. Amid this, Iranian drone strikes targeted an opposition base in Iraq's Kurdistan region. NPR's Jason Arafat noted attacks by Iran and its proxies on groups like the Kurdistan Freedom Party (known as PAC), despite a U.S.-Iran ceasefire that began April 8 and expired this week—President Trump announced a unilateral extension. Drones hit a PAC base in Irbil Province late Thursday, wounding three fighters; Kurdish officials re