NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Sunday, March 8, 2026

Episode Date: March 8, 2026

Seventh American service member dies amid U.S. war with Iran; Police search for perpetrators after explosion damages entrance of U.S. Embassy in Oslo; Investigation underway after explosive thrown near NYC mayor’s residence; and more on tonight’s broadcast. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This is NBC Nightly News with Hallie Jackson. Good evening. We begin with breaking news on multiple fronts related to Iran. A new supreme leader there, new and escalating attacks, and now new word of another American killed in the war, a seventh U.S. service member. Look at some of this video coming into us showing a wall of fire over Tehran as the U.S. and Israel slam Iran's energy infrastructure, including oil depots. But Iran is hitting back. Look at this here in Kuwait, this government building on fire after a drone attack. And tonight, a pivotal moment for Iran with its government announcing its new supreme leader, the son of the Ayatollah who was killed in a strike when the war began.

We'll have more on him in a moment and more from Norway, with police there investigating a possible connection between the war and an attack on the U.S. embassy in Oslo. We've got all of it covered from around the world, starting with Matt Bradley in Tel Aviv. Tonight, Israeli-American missile strikes lighting up the sky. skies over Iran for a ninth straight day. As U.S. Central Command reports that another American soldier has died, raising the death toll among U.S. service members to seven. Sengom said the soldier died from wounds sustained during an Iranian attack on Saudi Arabia a week ago. An Iranian state media has officially announced its new leader, Muchthama Hamenei, the son of the Iranian leader who

was assassinated last week. The 56-year-old was widely expected to be chosen and is considered a hardliner. Today, Israel threatened to kill the new leader, and President Trump had insisted that he should be able to pick who's in charge of the country. An idea Iran's foreign minister rejected an interview today with NBC's Kristen Welker. Will Iran allow President Trump to have any role in picking its new leader? We allow nobody to interfere in our domestic affairs. This is up to the Iranian people to elect their new leader.

It comes as there's a new focus for Israeli attacks. Iranian energy installations like this fuel depot and gas pipelines in the capital Tehran. But Iran is still fighting back, saying today that it will expand its target list to include key assets and vital interests of the U.S. and Israel throughout the region, according to Iran's semi-official Fars news agency. U.S. Central Command warns civilians in Iran to avoid crowded areas. They say Iranian forces are using crowd cover to launch attack drones and ballistic missiles. The military offered no evidence to.

back up its claim. But even as the war widens, President Trump still isn't ruling out sending ground forces into Iran to secure enriched uranium. Something we could do later. We wouldn't do it now. Maybe we would do it. The president blaming Iran for strikes that killed more than 170 people at a school, even as the administration's own assessment points to American responsibility. Now advocacy group Human Rights Watch is calling for a war crimes investigation. Here in Israel, authorities They say Iran is increasingly using a troubling weapon.

So see this little hole? That's where the cluster munition fell into this house. Now no one was injured here, but police say that Iran is using these more and more, cluster munitions that spread tiny bomblets throughout areas like this, a residential area. Israeli police say these weapons are proof. Iran is deliberately targeting civilians. Because when you're using something like this that spreads up to 80 submunitions, reigning over residential communities, the facts on the ground speak for themselves.

Matt is joining us now from Tel Aviv. And Matt, we've mentioned the new Iranian Supreme Leader. He's never had a formal role in that government before, right? That's right. He's exactly the kind of hardliner that experts had warned could take over. He's very close with Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guard Corps. And in the past, he's opposed reformers who had tried to reach out to the West, in part by reigning in Iran's nuclear program.

Hallie? Matt Bradley, thank you. Also tonight, an explosion at the U.S. Embassy in Norway is now being investigated for potential connections to the war. Danielle, Hamamjin is monitoring this for us tonight. Danielle, what do we know so far? Hey, Halley, well, police in Norway say this may have been a deliberate attack linked to what's happening here in the Middle East. The explosion happened at the entry to the consular section of the U.S. Embassy. It happened around 1 a.m. Norwegian police say they receive reports of a loud bang. Local media say witnesses saw thick smoke in the street. There's been minor damage, but no injuries, according to police and no arrests so far.

The U.S. State Department says it is aware of the incident and investigating. Meanwhile, all over the Middle East, diplomatic missions are on high alert, including here in Beirut. Hali. Danielle Hamamjan, thank you. To the FBI terror investigation in New York, two suspects in custody after a bomb was thrown near the mayor's house. Valerie Castro is there. Tonight, the FBI and NYPD investigating a bomb thrown outside the New York City mayor's home as a potential act of terrorism.

Police say it happened during dueling protests outside Gracie Mansion Saturday while Mayor Zoran Mamdani and his wife were home. The FBI says two men identified as Ibrahim Kiyumi and Amir Balot are now in federal custody after being arrested at the scene. Two people familiar with the matter telling NBC News both men allegedly made pro-IS statements during their arrest. Earlier today, the NYPD bomb squad finding a suspicious container inside a car near the scene and will be taking it for testing, according to a source familiar. And a separate person briefed on the investigation says the container found in the car believed to be used by the suspects is concerning to investigators.

Police recovering two devices after the protests confirming one of them was a homemade bomb that could have caused serious injury or death. The devices, which were a bit smaller than a football, appear to be a jar wrapped in black tape, importantly, with nuts, bolts, and screws along with a hobby fuse. Police say the suspects were part of a counter-protest against anti-Islam demonstrators led by conservative influencer Jake Lang. There was a lot of yelling back and forth, and then it just kind of erupted into a fight.

Today, Mayor Mammani issuing a statement saying, violence at a protest is never acceptable. The attempt to use an explosive. device and hurt others is not only criminal, it is reprehensible and the antithesis of who we are. Valerie is joining us now from Manhattan's Upper East Side where that car with what was described as the suspicious container was searched. And Valerie looks like there's obviously still a lot of activity there. Yeah, Halley tonight, police still have this area blocked off after they say they temporarily evacuated some residents while they removed that suspicious device. Sources familiar with the matter say investigators will be searching the suspect's homes in Pennsylvania,

as well as their electronic devices. Hallie. Valerie Castro, thank you. For President Trump, new polling tonight shows a majority of Americans disapprove of how he's handled the issues that have defined his time in office so far, including the war on Iran,

with new questions tonight about Russia's support for that country. Here's Kelly O'Donnell. Tonight, Iran's foreign minister is adding new fuel to the complex dangers around President Trump's war, the shadow of Russia and its ties to Tehran. Is Russia helping you locate U.S. forces? I just want to be very clear here. Well, I don't have exact military information. As far as I know, we have a very good partnership

with Russia. At issue, Russia has been providing intelligence to Iran about the location of U.S. forces, according to four sources with knowledge. Today on Meet the Press, Iran's foreign minister reinforced that relationship. A military cooperation between Iran and Russia is not something new. It's not a secret. It has been in the past and is still there and will continue in the future. However, the Trump administration publicly questions Russia's role in this new war. Today, Energy Secretary Chris Wright. Well, there's been rumors of that. We don't know if that's true or not.

Certainly they've gotten a strong message. He's Iranian. President Trump did not acknowledge any message to Moscow and did not raise alarm about Russia aiding Iran. I have had no indication of that whatsoever. If they are, they're not doing a very good job, because Iran is not doing too well. President Trump's handling of Iran is drawing concern from a majority of the American public. Fifty-four percent disapprove, while 41 percent approve. In new polling from NBC news, the president's overall standing has remained steady since October. His latest job approval, at 44%, with 54% saying they disapprove.

Kelly is joining us now, and Kelly, the president will remain where you are in South Florida tomorrow. He's expected to meet in person with Republican lawmakers. Spending most of Monday here on what is home turf, his Dural Golf Club, to strategize with House Republicans about legislative plans. And it's expected they will talk about the Iran conflict, consumer costs and the economy. Hallie? Kelly O'Donnell, thank you. Just in tonight, the futures markets look down ahead of tomorrow's opening bell after oil prices skyrocketed to more than $100 a barrel, meaning gas prices could spike next. Ali Canal is joining us now. So, Ali, explain what's happening here in the domino effect.

Yeah, Hallie, crude oil jumping to well above $100 a barrel. This is the highest level since July 2022 that's weighing on stock futures across the board with the Dow indicating a more than 900 point drop at Monday's Open. Now, much of this stems from disruptions in the straight of Hormuz, a key waterway where one-fifth of the world's oil flows daily, but now traffic there at a near standstill as Iran threatens to strike ships linked to the U.S. or Israel. So bring this back home to Americans here, especially when it comes to gas prices. People could feel it. Yeah, as of this morning, the national average is $3.45 a gallon, up 47 cents in just one week. Certain states are seeing even higher prices in California, for example.

The average is already over $5 a gallon with some stations charging more than eight. Now, a sustained oil spike doesn't just hit the pump. It can push up the cost of food, transportation, and manufacturing. And if we do see sustained inflation, the Federal Reserve may keep interest rates higher for longer, making borrowing costs more expensive as well. Hallie? Allie, Canal, thank you. Still ahead for us tonight, the highway heroes who saved a driver unconscious behind the wheel.

To an incredible story tonight, a car on the highway swerving dangerously, the driver unconscious behind the wheel, and two highway heroes stepping in to save lives, potentially, all of it, captured on camera. Here's Steve Patterson. A harrowing sight in broad daylight, this rogue SUV, swerving through a San Antonio highway this week. No, no, no. The out-of-control vehicle, nearly colliding with other cars, even striking the barrier. Somebody needs to stop him. What are we going to do? I was definitely scared.

René Villariel Albi and his wife Andrea horrified. He's going to, he there asleep, Renee. We didn't know, but we knew something was wrong. I saw him and I knew he was, he needed help. Turns out that driver wasn't asleep. He was having a medical episode. So Renee jumped into action. Oh, God.

Oh, my God. by placing his own car in front of the SUV, stopping its momentum. The move, potentially saving the driver's life, his family saying he's expected to make a full recovery. What about that situation made you want to jump in? There was nobody that I saw willing to help, and I just felt like it was me. Quick thinking, big heart, and cool nerves,

leading to a daring rescue. What does it mean to know that you saved lives? It feels good in the chest. It feels really good, overwhelmingly. I think it was meant to happen. I feel like that was God's plan. A concerned couple, choosing a little commuter courage, the very moment it counted most.

Steve Patterson, NBC News. That's nightly news for this Sunday. Tom will be back tomorrow. I'm Hallie Jackson. For all of us here at NBC, thanks for watching.