Sources & Methods Iran latest: View from the border / Trump strong-arms allies
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Mar 19, 2026 
Greg Myre, NPR national security correspondent, explains the strategic importance of Kharg Island and Strait of Hormuz. Arezou Rezvani, NPR reporter in Erbil, shares on-the-ground scenes from Iran’s border, surveillance challenges, and interviews with escapees. They discuss pressures on allies to secure shipping lanes, asymmetric threats like drones and fast boats, and possible endgames for the conflict.
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Terrified People Fleeing Iran At Haji Omran
- Rezvani described visiting Haji Omran border where people crossing from Iran were terrified to speak.
- She shared a 60‑year‑old woman who turned off the mic and cried that life was unbearable from airstrikes and crackdowns.
Internet Blackout Hampers Sourcing Inside Iran
- Rezvani explained Iran's intense surveillance and the near‑countrywide internet blackout hindering reporting.
- She noted connectivity sometimes drops to 1%, Starlink users remain reachable, and many contacts have gone silent for weeks, raising safety fears.
Trump Lacks Coalition To Secure Hormuz
- Greg Myre noted President Trump has pressured allies to secure the Strait of Hormuz but received no confirmed help.
- He said Trump didn't build a coalition before the war and now lacks partners to easily shoulder maritime security tasks.