NPR News: 05-06-2026 11AM EDT

Iran's Revolutionary Guard announced new procedures to allow safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, though details remain unspecified. This follows President Trump's decision to pause a brief U.S. military operation aimed at securing the strait from Iranian control. The episode also covers U.S. political shifts in Senate races and state legislatures, an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission lawsuit against the New York Times, a Pentagon strike on an alleged drug boat, a mass shooting in Oklahoma, a study on an Alaskan mega-tsunami, and the death of CNN founder Ted Turner.

Strait of Hormuz Tensions

The U.S. Navy recently guided two American-flagged merchant ships through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil shipping. Iranian Revolutionary Guard speedboats approached, leading to several being sunk. Iran responded by firing at the U.S. Navy and launching missiles near the United Arab Emirates, prompting threats of a month-long ceasefire violation. Defense Secretary Pete Hexas described the operation as a "gift to the world" for securing commercial shipping. However, Trump halted it later that day, citing "great progress toward a final deal with Iran." A U.S. blockade on Iranian ports persists, which Iran demands be lifted as a key concession. Iran's latest statement offers conditional safe passage but provides no specifics on the procedures.