Thursday morning news: March 12, 2026

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Iran: Strait of Hormuz / oil reserves » President Trump is assuring Americans that fuel prices will come down after the market shock resulting from "Operation Epic Fury" in Iran.

Speaking at a rally in Kentucky last night, Trump highlighted a coordinated move by 32 countries to release a record 400 million barrels of oil from strategic reserves.

TRUMP:  Which will substantially reduce the oil prices as we end this threat to America and this threat to the world.

The Iranian regime has been doing everything it can to drive prices up. It has been working to inflict pain on Arab neighbors and the rest of the world in hopes that others will pressure Trump to end the mission.

It just targeted one of the world’s busiest international airports in Dubai with drones, and attacked more commercial vessels on Wednesday.

Iran’s terror campaign has largely shut down the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil shipping lane.

In Washington, Democrats are blasting President Trump over rising energy prices amid the conflict. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer:

SCHUMER:  When oil prices spike like this, it ripples across the entire economy. Airline tickets, shipping costs, everyday goods go up, up, up in price.

President Trump said this week that the price spike is temporary and, his words, "a small price to pay" for peace as the U.S. ends the Iranian ballistic missile and gathering nuclear threat.

Iran: Trump remarks » After returning to the White House last night, the president said the mission is crippling the Iranian regime.

TRUMP:  Most people say it's already been won. It's just a question of when. When do we stop? We don't wanna let it regrow, and ideally would like to see somebody in there that knows what they're doing. In other words, that can build a country.

The White House this week said the operation will continue until the Iranian regime reaches the point of unconditional surrender.

Iranian leaders say they have no intention of surrendering.

Trump said his administration is also aware of possible Iranian sleeper terror cells that he said entered the country due to what he called the “open border” policies of former President Joe Biden. He said authorities know where most of them are and are closely monitoring threats.

Danny Danon on Lebanon » Meantime, in Lebanon.

SOUND: [Explosions in Lebanon]

...explosions again rocked the suburbs of the capital of Beirut. The blast was part of Israel's latest bombardment to take out what the Jewish state says are footholds by the terror group Hezbollah.

Israel's ambassador to UN Danny Danon said that since March 2, Lebanese militants have launched nearly 900 rockets and missiles at Israel.

DANON: Hezbollah itself has been very clear about why—not to defend Lebanon, not to protect the Lebanese citizens, but to avenge the death of Ayatollah Khamenei and serve the agenda of the Iranian regime.

He urged the Lebanese government to exert its own sovereignty and clamp down on Hezbollah.

Indiana tornado » Tornadoes have killed at least two people in northwestern Indiana and leveled buildings in eastern Illinois.

In Newton County, Indiana, an elderly couple died in their home in the town of Lake Village.

Another resident of that town said the severity of the story caught her family by surprise.

AUDIO:  Then we went into the bathroom, got a piece of plywood, and within minutes I closed my eyes, the lights flickered, and we just, there was nothing. But during that time, we just kept praying in the tub and we were holding each other, and I was like, well, this is the way we're gonna go, I'm either gonna be with the Lord tonight, or I'm gonna be able to witness to people tomorrow.

In Illinois, the Kankakee County Sheriff’s Office says a tornado caused extensive damage in the small suburb of Aroma Park, uprooting trees, tearing off roofs, and smashing vehicles.

Iowa bars trans ordinances » Iowa has enacted a law that prohibits cities and counties from creating special local protections based on gender identity. 

WORLD’s Benjamin Eicher reports.

BENAJMIN EICHER: Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds signed the bill into law this week.

It ensures that civil rights protections remain consistent statewide, limited to the established categories in state law such as race and sex.

The law prevents activist-driven local expansions which Republican lawmakers said could confuse employers, schools, and service providers.

The legislation came after the state in 2025 expressly prioritized biological sex over subjective identity claims.

Numerous cities, including the capital of Des Moines, had inserted gender identity provisions into local codes. Last month, Ames—home of Iowa State University—rushed through a similar ordinance.

Multiple other states have similar laws preventing local expansions beyond state protections.

For WORLD, I’m Benjamin Eicher.

And I'm Kent Covington.

Straight ahead: Has birthright citizenship become a national security issue? Plus, grandparents step up to raise their children’s children.

This is The World and Everything in It.

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