NPR News: 05-03-2026 3PM EDT

NPR News Now's May 3, 2026, edition rounds up developments across global conflicts, U.S. resource management, and entertainment rules, with emphasis on stalled diplomacy in the Middle East, Ukraine's strikes on Russian oil vessels, a temporary Colorado River water deal, and Oscar eligibility updates.

Iran-US Talks Show Little Progress

Iranian officials announced they have received a U.S. response to their latest offer for peace talks to end the war but are still reviewing it, with no confirmation of any new proposal from Washington or mediator Pakistan. The Strait of Hormuz remains mostly blocked, blocking shipping routes, and there is no advancement on addressing Iran's nuclear program. Senator Jack Reed, top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, criticized the U.S. position as worse than before the war, calling the approach impulsive, day-to-day, and lacking necessary planning and support for sound judgments. Attacks on energy infrastructure in the region threaten to drive global oil prices higher, compounding economic pressures.