Memorandum Of Misunderstanding, Fatal ICE Shooting, Paramount Merger Suit
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
The U.S. and Iran are attacking each other to prove who has control over the Strait of Hormuz.
The waterway was supposed to be open after they signed a memorandum of understanding. Is vague language causing a misunderstanding?
I'm Michelle Martin, that's A. Martinez, and this is Up First from NPR News. An ICE officer shot and killed a person in Maine yesterday. It's the second fatal shooting by an ICE agent in the past week where an agent shot someone in a moving vehicle. Local officials have questions they want answered.
And a dozen states filed a lawsuit to prevent Paramount from merging with Warner Brothers Discovery. The Justice Department previously cleared the deal. How much influence did President Trump have in that decision? Stay with us. We've got news you need to start your day.
Of all the protests in the summer of 2020, For a moment there, it was utopia. one took a unique turn. Somebody over there, he's 18, ought to use a gun. This is the story of how violence came to occupy an anti-violence occupation in Seattle. Listen to We Keep Us Safe, a new true crime series on the Embedded podcast from NPR.
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For a third night in a row, the U.S. and Iran attacked each other, fighting over who controls the Strait of Hormuz. President Trump said Monday the U.S. military will return to another act of war. We're putting the blockade back, and it's a blockade not for anybody but Iran. The military says that blockade will be going into effect later today.
This comes after a week of the U.S. and Iran trading heavy airstrikes and a month after both sides signed a memorandum of understanding that was meant to end the conflict. But that 14-point document has only caused more confusion over the status of the key waterway.
NPR's international affairs correspondent Jackie Northam has been following all this. Jackie, so another blockade and more fighting overnight over the strait.
Right, and this is largely about control over the Strait of Hormuz. It's considered an international waterway, but since the start of the crisis, Iran has claimed it's in control and has insisted ships get permission and follow approved routes. And it's been attacking ships if they don't. On Monday, President Trump pushed back, saying that going forward, the U.S. will be known as the guardian of the Hormuz Strait, and he threatened to start charging 20% fees on all goods transiting through the waterway, even though his administration has said charging fees violates international law. Iran lashed out at this, saying under no circumstances will it allow the U.S. to interfere with the management of the strait.
So Iran and the U.S. signed an agreement last month that was, I thought, supposed to resolve all this. Why is this all happening?
Yes, it was a memorandum of understanding. And you're right, it was meant to help in the fighting and equally important, open the Strait of Hormuz. And this is particularly crucial for President Trump ahead of the midterm elections. One of the big complaints by the deal's numerous critics was that it was quickly cobbled together with the idea that, you know, the details would be worked out later on. The problem is that without details, the agreement lacks clarity and therefore it's open to interpretation. And, you know, that's led to confusion and ultimately the renewed fighting.
So can you give us an example of that?
Sure. Take paragraph five. It says Iran would make arrangements using, quote, its best efforts for the safe passage of commercial vehicles. That's pretty vague. And the Trump administration sees that as, OK, Iran will open the Strait of Hormuz and ships can pass freely.
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Chapters
4 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:02–9:26
2
Why did U.S. and Iran resume attacks over the Strait of Hormuz after a memorandum of understanding?
9:26–9:59
3
What does President Trump's announced blockade of the Strait of Hormuz mean for shipping and international law?
9:59–11:29
4
How did vague language in the 14‑point memorandum create conflicting interpretations about control of the strait?
11:29–15:06
Speakers
7 identifiedMore from Up First from NPR
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