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The U.S. weighs sending thousands more troops to the Middle East. Signs of an Iran strategy split emerge between the U.S. and Israel. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards tighten their grip on wartime decision-making. Trump's Homeland Security nominee Markwayne Mullin testifies before the Senate. And the Fed keeps rates unchanged amid an uncertain economic outlook. *This episode has been updated to correct the spelling of Jon Ossoff.* Listen to the Morning Bid podcast ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Sign up for the Reuters Econ World newsletter ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Listen to the Reuters Econ World podcast ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Visit the Thomson Reuters Privacy Statement for information on our privacy and data protection practices. You may also visit megaphone.fm/adchoices to opt out of targeted advertising. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

* This episode has been corrected to remove an erroneous reference to the meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi being on Wednesday. It is scheduled for Thursday, March 19. Iran hits Tel Aviv with cluster warheads. It’s retaliation for the killing of Tehran’s security chief and powerbroker, Ali Larijani, whose death leaves a vacuum that will make de-escalation efforts tricky. The head of the National Counterterrorism Center, Joe Kent, quits over the Iran war blaming Israel’s influence. And Japan’s Sanae Takaichi will have a tightrope to walk in her meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump. Listen to the Morning Bid podcast ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Sign up for the Reuters Econ World newsletter ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Listen to the Reuters Econ World podcast ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Visit the Thomson Reuters Privacy Statement for information on our privacy and data protection practices. You may also visit megaphone.fm/adchoices to opt out of targeted advertising. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

*This podcast has been corrected to remove an erroneous reference to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as president Israel says Iran's security ​chief Ali Larijani has been killed. Rockets and drones were launched at the U.S. embassy in Baghdad as Iranian-backed militias target U.S. interests in Iraq. Sources say U.S. President Donald Trump was warned that attacking Iran could trigger retaliation against Gulf allies, despite his claims that Tehran's reaction came as a surprise. Afghanistan says 400 people have been killed in a Pakistan air strike on a Kabul hospital. Plus, Cuba’s national electric grid collapses.  Listen to the Morning Bid podcast ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Sign up for the Reuters Econ World newsletter ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Listen to the Reuters Econ World podcast ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Visit the Thomson Reuters Privacy Statement for information on our privacy and data protection practices. You may also visit megaphone.fm/adchoices to opt out of targeted advertising. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Calls by U.S. President Donald Trump for help to reopen the Strait of Hormuz appear to fall on deaf ears. Tehran's ambassador to Saudi Arabia tells Reuters that Iran's relations with Gulf states require a "serious review." Trump says a deal with Cuba is close but hints action is possible. Airline bosses urge Congress to end the partial government shutdown. And One Battle After Another wins best picture at the Oscars.  On Assignment: The Oscars industrial complex Listen to the Morning Bid podcast ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Sign up for the Reuters Econ World newsletter ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Listen to the Reuters Econ World podcast ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Visit the Thomson Reuters Privacy Statement for information on our privacy and data protection practices. You may also visit megaphone.fm/adchoices to opt out of targeted advertising. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Iran arrests dozens of people it accuses of aiding Israeli strikes, as U.S. President Donald Trump threatens to hit Kharg Island “a few more times just for fun.” As oil prices rise, Trump wants allies' warships to help secure the Strait of Hormuz. Shipping snarls and drone attacks deepen a push Japan to release a record chunk of its oil reserves. India scrambles to support stranded sailors and calm protests over cooking‑gas shortages. Plus, Formula One wipes April off its calendar as conflict spreads across the Gulf. Listen to the latest On Assignment episode: The Oscars industrial complex Listen to the Morning Bid podcast ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Sign up for the Reuters Econ World newsletter ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.  Listen to the Reuters Econ World podcast ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Visit the Thomson Reuters Privacy Statement for information on our privacy and data protection practices.  You may also visit megaphone.fm/adchoices to opt out of targeted advertising. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Iran warns it may target U.S. “hideouts” in the United Arab Emirates, as a drone attack disrupts oil-loading at the UAE’s Fujairah oil hub. European leaders push back as Washington issues a sanctions waiver on Russian crude. Global conflicts increase the risks for airline pilots and airports. Kenya reports its latest arrest in a widening ant‑smuggling crackdown. Plus, we look at the standout trends expected on the Oscars red carpet.  Recommended Read: In search of Banksy Listen to the latest On Assignment episode: The Oscars industrial complex Listen to the Morning Bid podcast ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Sign up for the Reuters Econ World newsletter ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.  Listen to the Reuters Econ World podcast ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Visit the Thomson Reuters Privacy Statement for information on our privacy and data protection practices.  You may also visit megaphone.fm/adchoices to opt out of targeted advertising. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

*This podcast has been updated to include the latest news on a federal judge blocking subpoenas issued by the U.S. Justice Department against Federal Reserve Chair ‌Jerome Powell. The update also includes the latest details on a U.S. military aircraft that crashed in western Iraq, killing six US service members. Plus, Cuba's president confirms he is in direct talks with the United States.  Four crew members on a U.S. military aircraft that crashed in western Iraq are dead. With no obvious off-ramp, President Donald Trump’s aides vie to influence his exit plan in the war with Iran. We hear from people on the ground in Tehran. Iran’s new supreme leader vows to keep fighting and to keep the Strait of Hormuz shut. Even with a U.S. 30-day sanctions waiver on buying up Russian crude, some countries take steps to secure their own energy. And the U.S. Senate passes an affordable housing bill in a rare moment of bipartisanship.  Listen to the Morning Bid podcast ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Sign up for the Reuters Econ World newsletter ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Listen to the Reuters Econ World podcast ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Visit the Thomson Reuters Privacy Statement for information on our privacy and data protection practices. You may also visit megaphone.fm/adchoices to opt out of targeted advertising. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tankers burn and Iran says the world should be prepared for oil prices to soar, as major economies release barrels from their strategic reserves. Investigators think the U.S. military may have been responsible for a strike on a girls’ school on the first day of the war. Around 800,000 people in Lebanon have left their homes as the Israeli campaign against Iran-backed Hezbollah widens. Plus, a train from Pyongyang to Beijing sets off for the first time in six years. Listen to the Morning Bid podcast ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Sign up for the Reuters Econ World newsletter ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.  Listen to the Reuters Econ World podcast ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Visit the Thomson Reuters Privacy Statement for information on our privacy and data protection practices.  You may also visit megaphone.fm/adchoices to opt out of targeted advertising. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The U.S. and Israel pound Iran with what is described as the most intense airstrikes of the war. One member of the Iranian soccer squad who chose to stay in Australia has now changed her mind – we look at how the offer of asylum for the group came about. Some Iranians flee across the border into Turkey– while others are crossing the other way back home. Plus, U.S. President Donald Trump looks to the SAVE America Act for midterm success. Listen to the Morning Bid podcast ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Sign up for the Reuters Econ World newsletter ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Listen to the Reuters Econ World podcast ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Visit the Thomson Reuters Privacy Statement for information on our privacy and data protection practices. You may also visit megaphone.fm/adchoices to opt out of targeted advertising. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

U.S. President Donald Trump says the Middle East war could be "over soon," but that he'll hit Iran harder if it blocks oil. The Gaza peace process stalls as focus shifts to Iran. Australia gives five Iranian women soccer players humanitarian visas. Plus, Anthropic sues the Pentagon.    Listen to the Morning Bid podcast ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Sign up for the Reuters Econ World newsletter ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Listen to the Reuters Econ World podcast ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Visit the Thomson Reuters Privacy Statement for information on our privacy and data protection practices. You may also visit megaphone.fm/adchoices to opt out of targeted advertising. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The late Ayatollah’s hardline son, Mojtaba Khamenei, is Iran’s new supreme leader. It’s a choice which could lead to an escalation with Washington. The Iran war drives oil prices above $100 a barrel. Gas prices soar too, after Qatar stops LNG exports. Republican voters say they stand by Trump’s war for now, but they’ve got a red line: American boots on the ground. And campaigners urge Australia to give the Iranian women’s soccer team refuge. Listen to the Morning Bid podcast ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Sign up for the Reuters Econ World newsletter ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Listen to the Reuters Econ World podcast ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Visit the Thomson Reuters Privacy Statement for information on our privacy and data protection practices. You may also visit megaphone.fm/adchoices to opt out of targeted advertising. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Iran’s clerics moves closer towards choosing Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s successor as U.S. President Donald Trump threatens to wipe out Iran’s military and rulers. Kuwait cuts oil output over Iranian threats, and Israel says it struck Iranian officials in Beirut. Plus, scientists grow chickpeas in ‘moon dirt’, bringing astronauts a step closer to growing food in space. Listen to the latest On Assignment podcast: Iran's future: Listen to our journalists in the Middle East Listen to the Morning Bid podcast ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Sign up for the Reuters Econ World newsletter ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.  Listen to the Reuters Econ World podcast ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Visit the Thomson Reuters Privacy Statement for information on our privacy and data protection practices.  You may also visit megaphone.fm/adchoices to opt out of targeted advertising. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

U.S. President says Iran will be hit hard on Saturday, as he weighs new targets. One week into the Iran war, the risks for the U.S. and the administration multiply. Tehran apologizes to its Gulf neighbors but strikes escalate. Hundreds of thousands flee Israeli bombs in Beirut. Russian President Vladimir Putin calls for an immediate end to the Iran war. And the FDA vaccines chief will step down in April. Plus, Formula One enters a new era.  Listen to the Morning Bid podcast ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Sign up for the Reuters Econ World newsletter ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Listen to the Reuters Econ World podcast ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Find the Recommended Read here. Visit the Thomson Reuters Privacy Statement for information on our privacy and data protection practices. You may also visit megaphone.fm/adchoices to opt out of targeted advertising. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

*This podcast has been updated to include details on February’s jobs report, and on Trump’s recent demand that Iran unconditionally surrender.  President Donald Trump fires Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in the biggest staffing shake‑up of his second term. In an exclusive interview with Reuters, Trump says the U.S. should have a role in choosing Iran’s next Supreme Leader and urges Kurdish forces in Iraq to carry out attacks inside Iran. And, China unveils a new five‑year plan focused on high‑tech self‑reliance. Listen to the Morning Bid podcast ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Sign up for the Reuters Econ World newsletter ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Listen to the Reuters Econ World podcast ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Visit the Thomson Reuters Privacy Statement for information on our privacy and data protection practices. You may also visit megaphone.fm/adchoices to opt out of targeted advertising. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The U.S. Senate votes down a resolution to limit President Donald Trump’s authority over the Iran war. Iran says the U.S. will "bitterly regret" torpedoing an Iranian navy ship in the Indo‑Pacific, killing dozens. A missile launched from Iran is intercepted over Turkey, raising questions about NATO's role. The Pentagon threatens to label Anthropic a “supply chain risk” amid a widening fight over military use of AI. Plus, the U.S. wants to accelerate weapons production. Find the recommended read here. Listen to the Morning Bid podcast ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Sign up for the Reuters Econ World newsletter ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Listen to the Reuters Econ World podcast ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Visit the Thomson Reuters Privacy Statement for information on our privacy and data protection practices. You may also visit megaphone.fm/adchoices to opt out of targeted advertising. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

*This podcast has been updated for the latest news on the US-Israeli war with details of the U.S. sinking an Iranian warship off Sri Lanka’s coast, and NATO downing an Iranian missile headed into Turkish airspace.  Ayatollah Ali Khamanei’s son Mojtaba has survived U.S. and Israeli strikes and is seen as a possible successor to his father. The Pentagon identifies the first U.S. soldiers killed in the Iran war. Hezbollah faces an uncertain future in Lebanon after its Shi’ite support base grows weary of being dragged into the Iran crisis. Plus, the most expensive Senate primary in history heads to a runoff in Texas.  Listen to the Morning Bid podcast ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Sign up for the Reuters Econ World newsletter ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Listen to the Reuters Econ World podcast ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Visit the Thomson Reuters Privacy Statement for information on our privacy and data protection practices. You may also visit megaphone.fm/adchoices to opt out of targeted advertising. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Iran closes the Strait of Hormuz and hits energy infrastructure in the Gulf. America’s European allies walk a tightrope. And online prediction markets are under scrutiny after Democrats levy accusations that they were used to bet on the war in Iran.    *This podcast has been corrected to remove a reference to President Donald Trump backing a criminal indictment against Delcy Rodriguez, the new president of Venezuela. Listen to the Morning Bid podcast ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Sign up for the Reuters Econ World newsletter ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Listen to the Reuters Econ World podcast ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Find the Recommended Read here. Visit the Thomson Reuters Privacy Statement for information on our privacy and data protection practices. You may also visit megaphone.fm/adchoices to opt out of targeted advertising. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Iran conflict widens as Israel strikes Lebanon following attacks by Hezbollah, and the risk of a regional war with Iranian proxies ramps up. U.S. officials are skeptical of the likelihood of regime change in Tehran. Only one in four Americans support U.S. strikes on Iran, signalling possible trouble for the Republicans ahead of the November midterms. Plus, a safe Republican Senate seat in Texas suddenly looks fragile as primary season kicks off.   Listen to the Morning Bid podcast ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Sign up for the Reuters Econ World newsletter ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Listen to the Reuters Econ World podcast ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Visit the Thomson Reuters Privacy Statement for information on our privacy and data protection practices. You may also visit megaphone.fm/adchoices to opt out of targeted advertising. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Israel has launched a new wave of strikes on Tehran after killing Iran's supreme leader and leaving the Islamic Republic grappling to rebuild its leadership. The U.S. and Israeli strikes, and Iranian retaliation, have sent shockwaves through sectors from shipping to air travel to oil. Inside Iran, some grieved for Khamenei while others have celebrated his death. Protests against the military action have also erupted across Pakistan and Iraq. Follow the ⁠latest developments in Iran live⁠ by subscribing to Reuters. Listen to the latest On Assignment podcast: ⁠⁠Mexico vs. the cartels⁠ Listen to the Morning Bid podcast ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠. Sign up for the Reuters Econ World newsletter ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠. Listen to the Reuters Econ World podcast ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠. Visit the Thomson Reuters Privacy Statement for information on our privacy and data protection practices. You may also visit megaphone.fm/adchoices to opt out of targeted advertising. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Listen to our correspondents discuss the latest developments in Iran, including the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. With Khamenei gone, Iran faces a major power vacuum, leaving the country at a crossroads not seen since the 1979 revolution.  The ambitious strikes by the US and Israel against their arch enemy are President Donald Trump's riskiest move yet. Our Pentagon reporter discusses how the president was briefed on a high-risk, high-reward scenario. Yes, Iran could strike back with mass casualties. But Trump also saw a chance to reshape Middle East geopolitics and secure his legacy. Then there's the big question - how capable is Iran of fighting back? Follow the latest developments in Iran live by subscribing to Reuters. Listen to the latest On Assignment podcast: ⁠Mexico vs. the cartels Listen to the Morning Bid podcast ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Sign up for the Reuters Econ World newsletter ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Listen to the Reuters Econ World podcast ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices