Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Tuesday that the U.S. would launch the most intense bombing campaign in the Iran war. The 11-day fighting has rattled oil markets and effectively sealed off the Strait of Hormuz.
Juana Summers, Host:
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said today marks the heaviest bombing ever carried out by the US in the Iran war. However, the 11-day standoff has shaken world oil markets and effectively sealed off the Strait of Hormuz. For the latest, we’re joined here in the studio by NPR national security correspondent Greg Myer. hello
GREG MAIR, BYLINE: Hi, Juana.
Summer: Greg, tell us what’s the latest from the Pentagon?
MYRE: Yes, as you noted, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth was on stage in the Pentagon briefing room this morning and he gave this assessment.
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Pete Hegseth: Today will again be the day of our most intense strikes inside Iran – more fighters, more bombers, more strikes. On the other hand, the last 24 hours saw Iran launch the lowest number of missiles they are still capable of firing.
Maire: Hegseth said the latest round of attacks again focused on Iran’s missiles and its drones and its navy. Now, reports from Iran again refer to large explosions in and around the capital, Tehran. We don’t have specifics, but to give you a sense, the US is hitting an average of 500 or more targets in Iran every day. For its part, Iran carried out more airstrikes on Israel and several Gulf countries. There are reports of civilian deaths and injuries.
And on another note, the Pentagon says 140 US soldiers were injured in the Iran operation – most were minor, but eight were seriously injured. And as we previously reported, seven service members were killed.
Summer: Okay. Have you heard anything new about Iran’s nuclear program?
Maire: Yes, Juana, very little and especially because it was the main, if not the main, reason for starting the war. Hegseth and President Trump keep saying Iran will never be able to get a nuclear weapon, but we’re getting no information from the Trump administration on whether the military is targeting nuclear sites, and if so, how is that happening? And remember, Trump said these facilities were wiped out last summer.
Now, I note that Israel is doing most of its bombing in northern Iran, and that is where the major nuclear facilities are located. Israel said a week ago that it had hit a secret, underground nuclear compound on the edge of Tehran, but other than that, we’ve heard very little from Israel.
Summer: Still, there has been a lot of talk about volatility in world oil markets. Where does it stand today?
Maire: So the price of oil has decreased today. Oil rose to around $120 a barrel yesterday but fell sharply after Trump suggested the war could end soon. Today, it’s still bouncing around a bit. I checked before coming to the studio. That’s about $88 a barrel. Markets were sluggish after Iran warned oil tankers against passing through the Strait of Hormuz off Iran’s coast. That was true yesterday, and it is true today. These wild price swings are largely based on Trump’s comments. Yesterday he said the war would continue and that would drive up prices. Then they said the war might be over, which brought prices back down. So today, at least, oil markets are betting on a short war.
SUMMERS: Greg, I mean, there’s been a lot of conflicting messages about how long this war is going to last. How should we see them?
Maire: Yes. This is a guessing game, not a scientific process. There are many variables. Hegseth said it is up to Trump to decide whether this is the beginning, middle or end of the war. And Trump’s vote counts more than anyone else’s, but Iran gets a vote too. Iran’s foreign minister says talks with the US are off the table. A US president can unilaterally start a war, but it is difficult to end it that way.
Summer: NPR’s Greg Maire, thank you.
Maire: Of course, Juana.
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