NPR News: 05-03-2026 9AM EDT

This NPR News Now broadcast from May 3, 2026, rounds up developments across international relations, reproductive health access, water resource management in the Southwest, public health alerts, and airline disruptions, with no single theme dominating.

Iran Advances Strait of Hormuz Restrictions Amid Stalled US Talks

Iran is preparing legislation to impose permanent restrictions on traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments. The proposed law would ban Israeli vessels outright and require all ships to obtain Iranian authorization to pass. Vessels from "hostile countries"—implicitly including the US—would face additional "war reparations" on top of tolls. These measures form part of a 14-point list of demands Iran submitted to the US this week via Pakistani mediators. Peace talks remain stalled, with both nations enforcing competing blockades in the Persian Gulf. President Trump stated he is reviewing the proposal. Such restrictions could disrupt maritime trade, escalate naval tensions, and complicate energy supplies worldwide, as reported by Jerry Bouskarin in Istanbul.

Abortion Pill Makers Seek Supreme Court Intervention After Telemedicine Ban