NPR News: 04-25-2026 12PM EDT

This NPR News Now update from April 25, 2026, covers a range of developments, including stalled US diplomatic efforts on the Iran war, a court ruling against the southern border asylum ban, militant attacks in Mali, expansions to federal execution methods, and preparations for the White House Correspondents Dinner amid lighter local events.

Iran War Talks Falter Amid Blockade Pressures

President Trump had planned to dispatch son-in-law Jared Kushner and Special Envoy Steve Whitkoff to Pakistan today for potential new talks aimed at ending the war in Iran. However, Iran's Foreign Minister, who arrived in Islamabad yesterday, has already departed. Alan Eyre, a former US diplomat involved in the 2015 Iran nuclear deal negotiations, provided context on the impasse. He noted that Iran views US actions as an attempt to topple the regime, making them wary of concessions that could signal weakness. On the US side, midterm elections loom, with rising gas and other prices straining public support. The blockade, which normally handles about one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments, is increasingly costly politically for Trump, raising questions about whether he will sustain it.