Iran launches missiles at U.S. base in Qatar

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🗓️ 23 June 2025

⏱️ 10 minutes

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Summary

On Monday, Iran struck back against the United States, firing missiles at a U.S. base in Qatar. The retaliatory strikes come two days after the U.S. attacked nuclear sites in Iran.

In a twist, President Trump thanked Iran on social media for giving advance notice of the attacks, "which made it possible for no lives to be lost, and nobody to be injured."

Host Mary Louise Kelly speaks with NPR correspondents Aya Batrawy, who is on the ground in Dubai, and Pentagon correspondent Tom Bowman, reporting from Washington.

Editor's note: This conversation was recorded prior to President Trump announcing that Iran and Israel have agreed to a ceasefire.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Less than 48 hours after the U.S. bombed nuclear sites in Iran, Iran hit back, launching missile strikes on Monday toward a U.S. base in Qatar.
0:11.8	On social media, President Trump thanked Iran for giving the U.S. early notice, quote, making it possible for no lives to be lost and nobody to be injured in the
0:21.9	attack on al-Udeid air base. It's not clear yet whether the U.S. will see the strikes as an
0:27.6	escalation or as a limited response from Iran meant to offer an off-ramp. Nor is it clear yet
0:34.6	what the U.S. endgame may be since directly joining the fight over the weekend.
0:39.3	The Trump administration has given conflicting statements. Here was Vice President J.D. Vance on NBC's
0:45.6	Meet the Press on Sunday. We have no interest in a protracted conflict. We have no interest in boots on the ground.
0:51.5	Secretary of State Mark Arrubio supported this claim on CBS's face the nation.
0:56.6	It was not attack on Iran. It was not an attack on the Iranian people.
1:00.1	This wasn't a regime change move.
1:01.5	And yet, later that same day, President Trump posted on truth social, quote,
1:07.6	it's not politically correct to use the term regime change, but if the current Iranian regime is unable to make America great again, why wouldn't there be a regime change? Question mark, question mark, question mark. Consider this. Trump campaigned on a promise that the U.S. would avoid the endless wars of the past
1:28.9	in the Middle East. Are we on the precipice of another one?
1:36.3	From NPR, I'm Mary Louise Kelly.
1:50.1	It's considered this from NPR.
1:53.7	Iran struck back at U.S. forces on Monday.
2:03.0	An official not authorized to speak publicly on military matters told NPR the airbase was targeted by short and medium range ballistic missiles.
2:09.5	Iran says it launched the strikes after U.S. attacks on Iran's, quote, peaceful nuclear facilities over the weekend.
2:10.9	Ayaba Trawe is on the ground for us in Dubai.
2:13.6	Hey there, Ayah.
2:14.3	Hi.
2:14.9	Hi.
	...

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