What recent tensions have arisen between Iran and the U.S.?
Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman. Iran has issued a warning toward President Trump, saying that if the U.S. strikes targets in Iran, then Tehran will attack Israel. Iran's parliament speaker also said Iran would consider U.S. military bases in the region legitimate targets. Trump has said he would consider attacks on Iran if the government in Tehran continues to kill protesters.
In Iran, meanwhile, demonstrations continued on Sunday. It's been two weeks now since people took to the streets there to protest the state of that country's economy. This one started at the end of December when shopkeepers turned out in large numbers to protest against the economy. Inflation is red hot, close to 50%, and the local currency, the riel, has lost half its value since September.
But, you know, the economy is often the trigger for protests in Iran, but this one quickly spread. That's NPR's Jackie Northam. Iran's internet is down and phone lines have also been cut off, so it's difficult to know exactly what's happening there. But human rights groups say at least 116 protesters have been killed over the past two weeks.
And Iran's attorney general warned this weekend that anyone protesting will be considered an enemy of God. A suspect is in custody after multiple shootings across West Point, Mississippi that left six people dead on Friday night. Mississippi Public Broadcasting's Shamir Mohamed has our details.
Clay County Sheriff Eddie Scott says in a social media post that multiple lives were lost due to violence, but that there was no longer a threat to the community. West Point is a town of about 10,000 people located near the Alabama border. Sheriff Scott confirmed with television station WTVA that the shootings occurred in three separate locations.
No other specific details or potential motives have been released at this time. For NPR News, I'm Shamir Mohamed in Jackson, Mississippi. The Trump administration says it's freezing all USDA funding to Minnesota. That freeze would include SNAP food aid. As NPR's Jennifer Ludden reports, it's the latest move to block social services benefits for Democratic-led states.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced the funding freeze in a letter posted on X claiming the Trump administration has uncovered massive fraud in Minnesota. It's not clear what she meant by that, but the letter noted the years-long benefits fraud scandal there that's already seen more than 60 people convicted.
USDA is demanding justification before it restarts payments, $129 million in all. The move comes as a judge has temporarily blocked a much larger funding freeze, $10 billion in cash aid, child care and other social services to Minnesota and four other Democratic-led states. The Trump administration has alleged rampant fraud in all those states without providing evidence.
Jennifer Ludden, NPR News, Washington. And you're listening to NPR News. Protests are spreading across the country after ICE agents shot and killed a woman in Minneapolis on Wednesday. Hundreds of demonstrations are planned. Thousands of people marched in Minneapolis Saturday, and local leaders are urging that the demonstrations remain peaceful.
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