NPR News: 02-28-2026 11AM EST
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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Noor Rahm. The U.S. and Israel launched a wave of airstrikes against Iran today, following a huge military buildup and weeks of escalating tension in the region. President Trump also called on ordinary Iranians to rise up and overthrow the Iranian government. NPR's Greg Myrie has more.
Huge explosions rang out in Iran's capital, Tehran, and videos on social media showed huge plumes of smoke. President Trump said on Truth Social that the U.S. was targeting Iran's nuclear and missile programs in what he described as a massive operation.
Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime.
He also spoke directly to the Iranian people, saying, quote, When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu said in his own statement that his country was also taking part in the air campaign against Iran. Greg Myrie, NPR News, Washington.
Israeli assessments indicate the longtime ruler of Iran has been hit, according to a person briefed, but no details have been provided. And Iranian state media is reporting that he'll speak to the nation soon. Under the Constitution, it's up to Congress to declare a war. Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna says the Congress must stop this operation.
Donald Trump has launched a war on Iran. The Congress must reconvene on Monday to vote on Thomas Massey and my War Powers Resolution to stop this war. Trump says his goal is to topple the Iranian regime, but the American people are tired of regime change wars.
For many people in Iran, the airstrikes unfolded just as the work week was getting underway. NPR's Areza Razvani reports on how residents reacted.
30-something-year-old V, who lives in Tehran and gives only his first initial for fear of retribution, was settling into work when the attack started.
And suddenly heard some loud noises and then explosions. We even saw one of the explosions from our office window. It was around the middle of the city, downtown Tehran.
Across the city, one 22-year-old college student who requested complete anonymity woke up to the sound of explosions. It's a day, she says, she has long hoped for. I am ready to be killed by a bomb if it means the certain death of even a few of our regime officials, she says. Children have been sent home from schools and offices across the country are now closed as people in Iran wait to see what comes next. Arizi Rezvani, NPR News.
The European Council issued a statement that defines the developments in Iran greatly concerning. It called on all parties to exercise restraint to protect civilians. This is NPR News in Washington. Officials in Bolivia are investigating the crash of a cargo plane yesterday. They say at least 15 people died. They say the plane was carrying newly minted Bolivian currency when it landed and veered off the runway and ended up in a field. Social media showed people rushing to the scene to collect money that had spilled on impact. AI company Anthropic says it plans to challenge the Trump administration in court after the Pentagon moved to label the firm a supply chain risk to national security. NPR's Shannon Bond reports the dispute marks a sharp escalation in a growing fight over the military's use of artificial intelligence.
Being designated a risk to national security is highly unusual for an American company and poses a threat to Anthropic's business. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth made the announcement on X after the Pentagon and the company reached an impasse in a dispute over how the military could use Anthropic's AI model, Claude. Hegseth said the designation means, quote, effective immediately, no contractor, supplier, or partner that does business with the United States military may conduct any commercial activity with Anthropic. Anthropic called the move, quote, legally unsound and warned it would, quote, set a dangerous precedent for any American company that negotiates with the government. Shannon Bond, NPR News.
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