NPR News: 05-09-2026 10PM EDT

Ongoing US-Iran tensions dominate this NPR News Now broadcast, now in the third month of war between the US, Israel, and Iran under a shaky ceasefire. The roundup also covers diplomatic moves, new sanctions, a potential early closure for a Florida immigration facility, a ransomware attack on the Canvas platform, preliminary psilocybin research findings, and weekly Wall Street gains.

US-Iran Conflict Persists Amid Ceasefire Violations

The US-Israeli war with Iran has stretched into its third month, with a ceasefire in place but both sides continuing blockades—Iran blocking the Strait of Hormuz and the US blocking Iranian ports. Recent exchanges of fire have occurred, heightening risks. Iran's Revolutionary Guard issued a warning today that any US attack on Iranian oil tankers or commercial vessels would trigger a heavy assault on a US base in the region. Iran is reviewing a US peace plan, but Mirzad Barujdi of Missouri University of Science and Technology, speaking on NPR's Weekend Edition, doubts a quick agreement. He notes the "law of unintended consequences" at play: Iran believes it can outlast US political will while using domestic repression to suppress internal resistance. This dynamic suggests prolonged stalemate, with Iran sustaining pressure through maritime disruptions and threats tied to its oil exports.