The reasons given for the U.S. launching a war with Iran have shifted over time. But regardless of why the war started, the fighting between the U.S. and Iran is now largely over control of the Strait of Hormuz. Before the war, about a fifth of the world’s oil passed freely through the narrow international waterway. Now Iran controls the strait. We look at this threat to the freedom of navigation and whether it sets a a dangerous precedent for other waterways.

This episode is Global Affairs Correspondent Jackie Northam’s last story for NPR, she is retiring. Jackie has covered world events for NPR for decades from nearly every continent and just about every global conflict. You can hear Jackie reflecting on her remarkable career this recent episode of the Consider This podcast.

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The United States has been at war for more than 20 of the last 25 years. Afghanistan, Iraq and now Iran. Three major conflicts, all in the same region, and none of those conflicts have gone nearly as well as U.S Presidents said they would. We look at why the U.S. is so often at war and why it is finding them so hard to win.

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China’s northeast region borders Russian Siberia and North Korea. It’s a cold, vast area known for its gritty industrial history. But now the northeast is also the source of some of the country’s most popular music, literature, comedy and culture. And it’s come to represent both nostalgia for China’s past and apprehension for the country’s economic future. 

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Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna of California made a trip to the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territory of the West Bank last week. There he says he was stopped and not allowed to leave for over an hour by armed Israeli settlers and then Israeli soldiers. He says he was only allowed to continue after contacting the U.S. embassy in Israel. U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee later called his trip a “stunt” and said Khanna went to a military-controlled area without prior clearance. Israeli officials have also countered Representative Khanna’s narrative. We hear about this incident from Congressman Ro Khanna himself. 

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One of the most sought after weapons in the world is the Patriot air-defense system, developed by the US. It is considered to be among the most effective air defense systems having been tested in war-time situations by countries from the Middle East to Eastern Europe. In a rare move, President Trump announced at a recent NATO summit that the US will share the technology with Ukraine. The problem is that the Patriot defense system is difficult to produce, so takes a long time to get production up to speed and it is expensive. We hear what this development might mean for Ukraine’s war with Russia from Seth Jones, he’s the President of the Defense and Security Department at Center for Strategic and International Studies.

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Speaking at a meeting of NATO, President Trump said the ceasefire with Iran is over, but he is open to negotiations. That statement came after days of renewed airstrikes between the two sides. We know President Trump wants a deal to help bring down oil prices ahead of midterm elections, Iran stands to lose out on billions of dollars without the deal. We hear about the stakes for Iran on the ceasefire collapsing.

We also hear from a retired U.S. four-star general on what the four months of war with Iran have meant for U.S. military readiness in the Middle East.

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The Gaza strip has been split in half ever since the U.S.-brokered ceasefire went into effect in October, 2025. Israel’s military occupies the east and 2 million Palestinians are squeezed into the remaining half along Gaza’s western coast. But in recent months, despite the ceasefire, Israeli forces have been expanding their area of control, pushing deeper into Gaza. They now control at least 65% of the territory. We go to Gaza to understand Israel’s expanding line of control. 

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They’re called “cockroaches”, but the name itself is a dig at the political establishment. It is a political movement in India dominated by Generation Z. They’re demanding political reforms and accountability from the government of prime minister Narendra Modi. We go to New Delhi to understand this youth movement.

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As a meeting of NATO leaders begins in Ankara, Turkey we look at the alliance’s relationship at the top level, where messages of unity are challenged by anxieties about President Trump’s commitment to the alliance. And at the ground level, where the militaries of NATO countries conduct joint exercises off the coast of the U.S.

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Six years ago, the Chinese government imposed its national security law on Hong Kong which, among other things, restricted free speech and increased government surveillance on the former British territory. At the time officials said it would only affect a small number of people, but critics say it has transformed life in the city. We go to Hong Kong to see how it has changed.

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