NPR News: 03-01-2026 12AM EST

The U.S. launches a military operation against Iran.

Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating

imminent threats from the Iranian regime.

On State of the World, we'll bring you the latest on the operation,

as well as reaction from the region and around the globe.

Listen to State of the World on the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts.

Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Wilman.

Iran's state media is confirming that the country's supreme leader,

Ayatollah Ali Hamani, has died in the U.S. Israeli strikes on that country.

His daughter and grandchild were also killed.

As NPR's Jackie Northam reports, Hamani was a hard-line leader who oversaw

the violent suppression of dissent in Iran.

Ayatollah Hamani held a take grip on power since 1989 and was unwavering in

his antipathy to the U.S. and Israel.

Hamani lacked religious credentials when he became supreme leader,

but was cunning and able to outwit other senior political figures in the Islamic Republic

and build up his power base to become the longest serving leader in the Middle East.

Hamani's close ties to the revolutionary guards allowed Iran's military to develop a vast

commercial empire in control of many parts of the economy.

Hamani also built up Iran's defensive policies, such as developing proxies like

Huzbullah and Hamas and its huge arsenal of ballistic weapons.

A supreme leader Hamani also had the final word on anything to do with Iran's nuclear program.

Jackie Northam in PR News.

Protests against the U.S. strikes on Iran have sprung up across the U.S.

in Los Angeles protesters gathered outside City Hall to protest the Trump administration,

but near the Wilshire Federal Building in LA's Westwood neighborhood a different protest took place.

Iranian Americans celebrated the strikes.

Among them was Michael Razipur.

As expected, international response to the attacks has been mixed. China says it's highly

concerned by the strikes and calling them for them to end.

Germany, France and Britain urged the U.S. and Iran to restart talks while condemning

Iranian attacks in the region, and the European Union is calling the situation perilous

and deserging restraint and respect for the law.

Lawmakers are pushing for a vote to block further military action in Iran without the

consent of Congress. Scott Masayoni from Member Station WYPR has more.

Democrats are calling for Congress to immediately go into session for a war power's

resolution vote after the United States and Israel-conducted military strikes on Iran.

Maryland Representative John Yolshevsky sits on the Foreign Relations Committee.

By suspect, we will be taking up very quickly the war power's resolution on Iran that reinforces

the notion that the president has to make an argument to justify military strikes,

and he's failed to do that. A resolution requires the president to notify Congress within 48 hours

of an attack and forbids armed forces from staying in an area longer than 60 days without

congressional approval. The Trump administration says it did inform top congressional leaders

before the strikes. For NPR News, I'm Scott Masayoni, and you're listening to NPR News.

Officials in Bolivia say the death toll from the crash of a military plane on Friday has risen

to at least 22. The plane was carrying 18 tons of new banknotes when it ran off the runway

near the capital city of La Paz and came to rest in the nearby field. Officials say many of those

who were injured were traveling on public transportation and were hit when the plane came down.

Outer space viewed from Earth tonight features an unusual number of visible planets.

As NPR's Amy Held reports, the display is expected to last through the weekend.

It's called a planetary parade. Jupiter, Saturn, Venus, and Mercury all visible to the naked eye.

Plus Neptune and Uranus with the help of binoculars or a telescope.

Viewing conditions are best soon after sunset without clouds or artificial light getting in the way.

Looking up to catch a planet or two isn't so unusual, but seeing this many is.

As they orbit the sun, the planets of our solar system only align like this with optimal visibility

every few years, NASA says. And unlike faraway stars which twinkle and look fixed in place,

the word planet comes from the ancient Greek for wanderer.

There's another celestial spectacle early Tuesday morning when the Earth will pass between the sun

and the moon creating a total lunar eclipse and making the moon look red. Amy Held and NPR News.

Singer Olivia Dean dominated the Brit wards on Saturday. She took home four trophies including

artist of the year and song of the year. Rosalia won best in the national artist while Rosé and

Bruno Mars won best in a national song and geese won best in a national group.

A tribute Aussie Osborne took place during the show.

I'm Dale Wilman, NPR News.