NPR News: 04-12-2026 12PM EDT

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Dan Roman. President Trump said today the U.S. is beginning a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. And if Iran attacks any U.S. vessel or friendly ship in the waterway, he said they will, quote, be blown to hell. Trump also accused Iran of extortion for attempting to collect fees from shippers to move through the narrow passageway. Trump was asked on Fox News about NATO's response to the war and efforts to reopen the Strait. We're very disappointed with NATO. We're very, very disappointed that they didn't come. Now they want to come and they want to help with the Strait, and it won't take long to clean it out. So we're going to clean out the Strait, and they'll be able to use the Strait in not too long a distance. Trump said Iran is refusing to give up its demand to have nuclear weapons. He says the U.S. will not allow that. The marathon negotiations between American and Iranian delegations ended without a breakthrough on ending the war in Iran. The talks in Islamabad, Pakistan collapsed overnight. The two sides are blaming each other. NPR's Deep Parvaz reports the meeting came after the two countries agreed to a temporary ceasefire. In a statement to Iranian state media, Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Ibalay said that the two sides, quote, reached an understanding on a number of issues, but ultimately the talks did not lead to an agreement. He added that issues such as Iran's demand that it continue to control the Strait of Formals added complexities to the talks and that, quote, we should not have expected to reach an agreement in one meeting from the beginning. After the collapse of the talks, Vice President J.D. Van said that the U.S. needs a commitment from Iran that it will not seek a nuclear weapon nor pursue the tools to quickly build one. Iran has repeatedly said that the nuclear program is a civilian one and that it has a right to continue to enrich uranium for that purpose. The status of the two weeks ceasefire is uncertain at this point, as are the possibilities of further negotiations. Deep Parvaz, NPR News, Vaughan, Turkey. Vice President J.D. Vance left Pakistan after the talks ended. He is now returning to Washington, D.C. Voter turnout in Hungary is reported to be heavier than normal in past elections, as citizens decide the fate of the country's longtime prime minister, Viktor Orban. Former Esme Nicholson in Budapest says the challenger, Peter Maigar, has run a strong campaign focusing on government corruption as the economy in the country has stalled. Domestically, this election is about the economy at which is stagnant. Inflation is high and ordinary Hungarians are really struggling to make ends meet while they watch Viktor Orban, the prime minister, and his inner circle appear to get visibly richer. And discontent about this apparent disparity is something that Orban's challenger, Peter Maigar, has seized upon. Last week, Vice President J.D. Vance traveled to Budapest in Hungary for a campaign event with Orban. You're listening to NPR News. Russia and Ukraine are accusing each other of violating a Kremlin-declared ceasefire so both nations could celebrate the Orthodox Easter holiday. Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a 32-hour haul to the fighting from 4 p.m. Saturday till the end of Sunday. Ukraine's military said in that time there were nearly 2,300 ceasefire violations, including drone flights, shelling, and other assaults. Russia claims Ukraine violated the ceasefire nearly 2,000 times. The war which Russia began has now lasted more than four years. It is the final round at the Augusta National Masters Golf Tournament today. Northern Ireland's Rory McElroy has a chance to make history. Steve Futterman reports. On Saturday, Rory McElroy was in great position. He was on top with a six-stroke lead. Entering today's final round, he was still on top but no longer alone. He was in a two-way tie with American Cameron Young. McElroy had a tough third round. He was one over par. Still he was trying to look at the upside. You know, I'm still tied for the best score, so I can't forget that, but I do know I'm going to have to be better if I want to have a chance to win. McElroy is the defending champion. If he wins today, he would become only the fourth golfer ever to win back-to-back masters, joining Nick Faldo, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods. For NPR News, I'm Steve Futterman in Augusta, Georgia. There is an election today in Peru. Voters there are choosing a president from a roster of 35 candidates running for office. The winner of the election will be Peru's ninth president in 10 years. I'm Dan Ronan, NPR News. Support for... Right now, we are living through some of the most tumultuous political times our country has ever known. I'm David Remnick, and each week on the New Yorker Radio Hour, I'll try to make sense of what's happening alongside politicians and thinkers like Cory Booker, Nancy Pelosi, Liz Cheney, and so many more. That's all on the New Yorker Radio Hour, wherever you listen to podcasts.