NPR News: 05-04-2026 8AM EDT

This NPR News Now broadcast from May 4, 2026, rounds up international conflicts in the Middle East, signs of stabilization in Gaza, fast-moving U.S. political changes after a Supreme Court decision, the second week of a major tech trial, and a quirky animal rescue abroad.

Strait of Hormuz Disputes Intensify

The Pentagon has denied Iranian reports claiming Iran struck a U.S. warship in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping lane for oil, gas, and fertilizer. President Trump announced the U.S. will help guide ships through the strait, which Iran has blockaded as part of broader efforts by both nations to assert control. Adding to the friction, U.S. forces seized an Iranian container ship in April for violating the U.S. blockade. Pakistan's Foreign Ministry reported that the U.S. has now flown the ship's 22 crew members to Pakistan, in coordination with Iranian-American officials. These moves underscore the high stakes of the strait, where military posturing and seizures risk disrupting global energy and commodity flows.