What recent events are escalating tensions in the Middle East?
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. Explosions and plumes of black smoke are rising from the Iranian capital for the second straight day. NPR's Kerry Kahn reports the latest attack comes a day after the country's supreme leader was killed in coordinated airstrikes carried out by the United States and Israel.
Multiple residents in the Iranian capital told NPR directly they heard the explosions early Sunday local time. Israel's military says it is striking targets belonging to, quote, the Iranian terror regime in the heart of Tehran. The Israeli Air Force conducted large-scale strikes, it says, to establish aerial superiority and to, quote, pave the path to Tehran.
It published one video showing strikes obliterating four large blocks of buildings as cars whiz by. The Iranian state news agency announced the killing of the 86-year-old supreme leader hours earlier. Iran has vowed to retaliate and has sent missiles and drones to neighboring countries. Britain's defense minister says Iranian missiles were fired towards its troops in Cyprus and in Bahrain.
Carrie Khan, NPR News, Istanbul.
The European Union is holding emergency meetings to assess the growing conflict in the Middle East. Terry Schultz reports European countries are calling for the resumption of diplomacy.
EU foreign policy chief Kaya Khalis calls the death of Iran's supreme leader a defining moment in Iran's history. She's convened foreign ministers for a virtual meeting Sunday evening to assess the implications for Europe. Khalis is concerned about the potential for escalation into a broader war. The Iranian regime has choices to make, Kallis adds in a social media post.
The European Commission will hold an emergency security meeting Monday with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen underscoring, quote, it is of utmost importance that there is no further escalation through Iran's unjustified attacks on partners in the region.
The leaders of Britain, France and Germany, who tried to negotiate a resolution with Iran over its nuclear program, are calling on Washington and Tehran to resume talks. For NPR News, I'm Terry Schultz.
Key members of Congress are demanding an immediate vote on a war powers resolution that could rein in President Trump's military campaign against Iran. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries says the next step must come with congressional authorization.
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