Chapter 1: What recent events have led to changes in Iran's leadership?
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Louise Schiavone. President Trump says new leadership is forming in Iran, and they say they are willing to talk, a White House official tells NPR. This comes a day after a joint U.S. and Israeli operation killed Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with dozens of other political and military heads. NPR's Luke Garrett reports.
A senior White House official not authorized to speak publicly says the new potential leaders of Iran have indicated they want to talk to President Trump, who said he plans to talk to them eventually. No timeline was given. Iran has established a three-person temporary leadership council to govern the country after its supreme leader was killed Saturday.
Iran Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ismail Bagai tells NPR he hopes the council will elect the next supreme leader in the next few days. For now, U.S.
Chapter 2: How is the U.S. responding to the situation in Iran?
Israeli military operations against Iran goes on, quote, unabated, the senior White House official says. U.S. Central Command confirmed Sunday U.S. forces struck an Iranian warship. It also reported the deaths of three U.S. service members. Five others were seriously injured. Luke Garrett, NPR News, Washington.
As Operation Epic Fury got underway, three U.S. service members were killed and five were seriously wounded.
Chapter 3: What are the implications of Iranian military actions on Gulf nations?
In an online post earlier, President Trump called on Iran's fighting forces to lay down their arms or face the consequences. There have been Iranian attacks on Gulf nations directed at U.S. bases. NPR's Aya Batrawi reports this situation is complicated.
Gulf countries have not responded militarily as of now, but they say they reserve the right to do so. And they've been holding calls with both Iran's foreign minister, but also many of the leaders here have spoken with President Trump in the last 24 to 48 hours. Now, Iran says the bases located in these countries are being used against them.
And so they're going to continue targeting those bases where there are U.S. troops. But, you know, again, Dubai is not known for having U.S.
Chapter 4: How is China reacting to the conflict involving Iran?
bases or U.S. positions. So the attacks, at least here in the UAE, seem to be directed at the country's image as a safe haven and because of the UAE's close ties with Israel.
And PR Zaya Batraoui reporting from Dubai. China says it's evacuated 18 of its citizens from Iran to neighboring Azerbaijan after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran. NPR's Emily Fang has more.
China's state broadcaster shared video of about a dozen of its citizens being ferried from northern Iran. to Azerbaijan, where they were met by Chinese diplomats. Beijing has condemned the joint strikes in Tehran, which killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other senior Iranian officials.
Chapter 5: What impact are U.S.-Israeli strikes having on oil prices?
As a sign of their close ties, Iran is one of the few countries Chinese nationals can travel to visa-free. China is the buyer of most of Iran's oil. And in 1989, then Iranian President Ali Khamenei toured China, his last international trip before becoming Supreme Leader of Iran. Emily Fang, NPR News.
This is NPR. As the trading week begins, oil prices have risen sharply, this as a result of the fighting in Iran and in the region affecting the global energy supply chain. One month ago, Arizona law enforcement learned that Nancy Guthrie was likely taken from her home against her will. L.M.
Boyd has the latest on the investigation into the disappearance of Today Show host Savannah Guthrie's mother.
Pima County investigators say Nancy Guthrie left behind her keys, wallet and phone and that traces of her blood were found at her Tucson area home.
Chapter 6: How is travel affected in the Middle East due to the conflict?
For much of February, reporters and online content creators crowded the neighborhood, but since county officials imposed a temporary street parking ban near the home, neighbors say it has grown quieter. Authorities continue to ask residents for surveillance video and tips.
The most significant development has been the recovery of security footage that shows an unidentified masked and armed person approaching Guthrie's doorstep the morning she disappeared. Savannah Guthrie says the family is offering a $1 million reward for information leading to her recovery. For NPR News, I'm Ellen Boyd in Tucson.
Travel is a mess for hundreds of thousands of people across the Middle East in the aftermath of U.S.-Israeli strikes in Iran. Israel, Qatar, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, and Bahrain have all closed their airspace to commercial flights, forcing the shutdown of major hub airports in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha.
Close to 3,000 flights have been canceled by airlines in the region, and some international airports in London, Mumbai, Delhi, and elsewhere reported dozens of flights canceled as well. I'm Louise Schiavone, NPR News.