00:01Iran names a new supreme leader, and within hours, missiles and drones fly again across the region.
00:07Plus, oil markets react to the escalation, and drivers are starting to see it at the pump.
00:13And an explosive device thrown near the home of New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani over the weekend.
00:19Now two men are under arrest.
00:24The stories that matter, clear and credible, from across the country to around the world.
00:30These are your unbiased updates from Straight Arrow News.
00:36Hi everyone, I'm Simone del Rosario, sitting in for Craig Negrelli.
00:40Iran has a new supreme leader this morning, after the son of slain Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was officially named his
00:47successor.
00:48Mojtaba Khamenei had long been seen as a leading contender for the role,
00:52even before a joint U.S.-Israeli strike killed his father just over a week ago at the start of the
00:58war in Iran.
00:58President Trump told ABC News Sunday, before the appointment was official,
01:04that whoever takes power in Iran is, quote, not going to last long without his approval.
01:09He also told Axios last week that Mojtaba Khamenei would be an unacceptable choice to lead the country.
01:16Hours after Iran announced its new supreme leader, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard reported new missile launches.
01:21Strikes were intercepted over the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Qatar earlier this morning.
01:28Meanwhile, attacks in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia targeted critical energy infrastructure.
01:33Bahrain's national oil company refinery complex was hit,
01:37while Saudi Arabia says it intercepted nine drones headed for the Shabe oil field,
01:42two more near the northern al-Jaf region, and two ballistic missiles aimed at Prince Sultan Air Base,
01:49all within a 12-hour window.
01:51Also this morning, Israel says it has launched another wave of strikes on Iranian missile sites
01:56and regime infrastructure.
01:58The IDF says new strikes were also carried out in Beirut,
02:01as it continues targeting the Iranian-backed militia Hezbollah in Lebanon.
02:05Now to a new video that's adding another layer to the investigation into the deadly strike
02:11that hit a girl's elementary school in southern Iran.
02:13It happened at the start of a joint U.S.-Israeli military strikes.
02:17Watch this.
02:26This video, posted by Iran's government-sponsored Mare News and verified by the New York Times,
02:32appears to show the moment a missile slams into a target near the town of Meenob.
02:37You can hear as the explosion hits.
02:40The video is filmed from a nearby construction site,
02:43and according to CNN and ABC,
02:46analysts say the missile seen in the footage closely matches the profile of a U.S. Tomahawk cruise missile.
02:53Those missiles are operated by the U.S. Navy and typically launched from warships or submarines.
02:58They're often used in the opening phase of military operations,
03:02before aircraft can gain full control of the space.
03:05The video appears to show the missile hitting a building inside or right next to an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
03:11naval base.
03:12But nearby sits an elementary school,
03:15the same school Iranian officials say was struck in the same series of attacks.
03:20Iran says the strike killed more than 160 people, many of them children.
03:25The question of who is responsible remains politically charged.
03:29President Trump on Saturday blamed Iran itself, suggesting the strike was caused by inaccurate Iranian munitions.
03:36No, in my opinion, based on what I've seen, that was done by Iran.
03:41Is that true, Mr. Hicks said?
03:43It was Iran who did that?
03:44We're certainly investigating.
03:46Still investigating?
03:46But the only side that targets civilians is Iran.
03:52We think it was done by Iran.
03:54For now, U.S. officials say the strike is still under investigation.
03:59Oil prices are shooting to levels not seen since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.
04:03But the Trump administration says the spike should be short-lived.
04:08It's having a direct impact on gas prices.
04:10The national average for regular gasoline is now around $3.48 a gallon,
04:15up sharply over the past week as oil markets react to the fighting and disruptions in the Persian Gulf.
04:22Crude prices surged above $100 a barrel overnight
04:25after attacks on energy infrastructure and shipping routes tied to the conflict.
04:29And airlines say those higher oil prices may soon show up in the cost of plane tickets
04:34as jet fuel prices spike.
04:37A major concern is the Strait of Ramirez,
04:39a narrow waterway where about one-fifth of the world's oil normally moves every day.
04:45Right now, most tankers are unable to pass safely.
04:48Iran has threatened to attack if they try to sail through.
04:52But Energy Secretary Chris Wright says the price surge should be temporary
04:55and argues the military campaign against Iran could actually stabilize energy markets in the long run.
05:01We have a temporary period of elevated energy prices, but it will not be long.
05:06In the worst case, this is weeks.
05:08This is not months.
05:09And it leads to a much better place.
05:12It leads to an Iran that's defanged,
05:14that can't threaten its neighbors, can't threaten American soldiers,
05:18and can't continue to drive up energy prices by making a mess of the Middle East.
05:23For drivers, though, the impact is already showing up at the pump.
05:26Gasoline prices in the U.S. have jumped roughly 50 cents in the past week.
05:31California is paying more than five bucks a gallon,
05:33while Indiana's gas has surged 68 cents in the past week.
05:37Some Americans say they're skeptical the disruption will be as short as the administration predicts.
05:42I don't think there's been an end in sight to any Middle East conflict that's been started by us.
05:46So the fact that they say that there's going to be an end that quickly is not believable.
05:55And the Middle East is, you know, a place that the U.S. is not going to solve.
06:02Energy analysts say the prices will likely depend on how quickly shipping lanes reopen
06:06and whether oil facilities in the region can resume normal production.
06:11New details this morning about a frightening scene outside the New York City mayor's residence.
06:16Police now say this device thrown during protests near Gracie Mansion was not a smoke bomb or hoax,
06:23but an improvised explosive device that could have caused serious injury or death.
06:28The incident happened Saturday during dueling demonstrations outside the home of New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani,
06:35the city's first Muslim mayor.
06:36A small anti-Muslim protest organized by conservative influencer Jake Lang gathered outside the mansion,
06:43drawing a much larger counter-protest.
06:46Police say tensions escalated quickly.
06:49At one point, a protester from the Lang group allegedly sprayed pepper spray into the counter-protest crowd, triggering fights.
06:56Then moments later, investigators say an 18-year-old counter-protester lit and threw a device toward the protest area.
07:03Police commissioner Jessica Tish initially described the object as a jar wrapped in black tape.
07:08Based on preliminary examination and x-ray imaging, the devices, which were a bit smaller than a football,
07:16appear to be a jar wrapped in black tape, importantly, with nuts, bolts and screws, along with a hobby fuse
07:25that could be lit.
07:26The device struck a barrier and did not explode, but investigators now say it was, in fact, an improvised explosive
07:33device.
07:34Two men from Pennsylvania, Amir Bala and Ibrahim Kayoumi, were arrested at the scene and remain in custody.
07:41Authorities say the investigation is now being handled by the NYPD, the FBI, and federal prosecutors through the Joint Terrorism
07:48Task Force.
07:49Investigators are also examining a second device and searching for any additional materials linked to the suspects.
07:56Mayor Mamdani was in the residence at the time, but was not hurt.
08:00Today marks the 24th day of the Department of Homeland Security shutdown, and travelers are really starting to feel it.
08:06Long security lines are forming at some airports as the busy spring break travel season gets underway.
08:11Those in Houston and New Orleans face wait times of up to several hours at Security Checkpoint Sunday, with some
08:18people missing their flights.
08:20The delays come as the partial shutdown creates a shortage of TSA officers.
08:25Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman Lauren Beast blames Democrats for the stalemate.
08:30Funding for DHS expired February 13th after lawmakers hit an impasse over immigration enforcement policies
08:37following the deadly shootings of two U.S. citizens by immigration officers.
08:42Democrats are pushing for new restrictions on ICE and Customs and Border Protection,
08:46while Republicans argue changes have already been made after the killings.
08:51TSA officers are considered essential workers, meaning they must continue working without pay until Congress approves new funding.
08:58But the lack of pay is leading to many calling out sick.
09:02The funding lapse is also impacting FEMA and the U.S. Coast Guard.
09:06Finally this morning, Dana White has locked in the fight card for UFC Freedom 250.
09:12On June 14th, which is flag day and President Trump's 80th birthday,
09:16the White House will host its first-ever professional sporting event.
09:21The main event is a lightweight title unification bout.
09:24Undisputed champ Ilya Topuria taking on interim belt holder Justin Gaethje.
09:30In the co-main, Alex Pereira tries to become the first three-division champion in UFC history
09:35when he faces Cyril Ghosn for the interim heavyweight title.
09:38The six-fight main card also features big names like Sean O'Malley and Michael Chandler.
09:44Dana White says finalizing the card came down to the last minute,
09:47with one fight falling through the night before the announcement.
09:50About 5,000 fans will watch from the White House South Lawn.
09:55Another 85,000 people are expected to gather on the Ellipse next door,
09:59watching the fights on giant screens.
10:01The event will stream on Paramount+.
10:05Before we head out, here's what we're tracking today.
10:08At 9 in New York, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch is set to hold a briefing at Gracie Mansion
10:13on those arrests during protests there this past weekend.
10:16At noon, IndyCar will unveil the course for the new Freedom 250 Grand Prix,
10:21a race planned for Washington, D.C. this summer to mark America's 250th birthday.
10:26Organizers expect the route to include parts of the National Mall.
10:28And this afternoon, President Trump delivers remarks
10:32to the Republican Members Issues Conference in Miami.
10:35New look, new format, same unbiased updates.
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10:42If you haven't yet, sign up at san.com slash newsletters.
10:47Those are your unbiased updates for this Monday.
10:49We'll see you back here tomorrow.
10:51For all of us here at Straight Air News, I'm Simone Del Rosario.
10:53Have a great day.
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