Reuters World News - Iran’s supreme leader, oil and lunar hummus

Episode Date: March 8, 2026

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

Hi, I'm your weekend host Sharon Reich Garson. It's Sunday, Marche. Today. Trump rejects settling the Iran war. Tehran moves closer to picking a new supreme leader. Israel strikes a hotel in the heart of Beirut, raising fears the scope of strikes could expand. And Kuwait-Kut's crude oil output citing threats from Iran. This is Reuters World News, bringing you everything you need to know from the front lines in 10 minutes, seven days a week. U.S. President Donald Trump is doubling down on his war with Iran, saying it may only end with Iran's military and rulers wiped out. Trump telling reporters aboard Air Force One that he's not interested in negotiating with Iran.

They'd like to settle. We're not looking to settle. And adding, you know, at some point I don't think there'll be anybody left maybe to say we surrender, but they're being decimated. Asked about the possibility of sending ground troops to secure nuclear sites. Trump says it's something that could happen, quote, later on. Also on Saturday, Trump, along with Vice President J.D. Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegsef, were at Dover Air Force Base for the arrival of the bodies of six U.S. soldiers killed in the war. Israel's expanded its bombardment of Iran overnight, striking fuel depots near Tehran. And in the early hours of Sunday, an Israeli strike hit an apartment inside the Ramada Hotel building in Beirut. Israel says the attack targeted Iranian commanders operating in the

Lebanese capital. Reporter Maya Jabali is in Beirut with the latest. The area of Raushe, where this hotel that was struck overnight is located, is an area that overlooks one of Lebanon's most famous landmarks, the pigeon rocks. There are these two big boulders that sit in the sea, and it's a spot where people usually go around sunset and be able to take pictures with their loved ones. This was definitely the last place

that people expected there to be a drone strike. And it's really freaked people out because until now, most of the strikes have been concentrated around Beirut's southern suburbs, and then, of course, in southern Lebanon, and in the country's east, but that area had been left alone. What is particularly concerning really is that the Israeli military said that it was targeting Iranian Quds Force commanders in that strike.

They're saying that the Quds Force is active in supporting Hizbalah in this front against Israel. The authorities in Lebanon have said, if there are any Iranian commanders that are here, we are going to arrest and deport them. We haven't had any indication that that's actually happened yet, but that is definitely a point of tension and of violence. concern for Lebanese authorities. Across the Gulf, Iran's drone attacks have sparked fires in several countries, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the UAE.

While Bahrain says an Iranian attack has damaged one of its desalination plants, signaling a widening assault on vital infrastructure in the region. And in Norway, an explosion hit the U.S. embassy in Oslo overnight, causing damage and sending thick smoke over the street. though no one's been hurt, according to Norwegian police. And staying with Europe, President Trump says Britain is giving, quote, serious thought to sending two aircraft carriers to the Middle East, even though he added that the U.S. doesn't need them to win the war with Iran.

Posting on truth social that he'll remember the lack of British support during the conflict with Iran. Meanwhile, in Iran, Iran's hierarchy is showing signs of fracturing. Sources tell Reuters that hardliners in the Revolutionary Guard are furious after President Massoud Peschkean pledged not to strike Gulf states, a statement that triggered a swift backlash and a partial walkback. This as the clerical body choosing Iran's next Supreme Leader have more or less reached a consensus, according to the mayor news agency. The Assembly of Experts has said it could meet as soon as today to make the decision. The Israeli military in a post on X is warning it will pursue every successor. Kuwait is putting the brakes on its oil output today,

declaring force majeure as the U.S. Iran war chokes off shipments through the strait of Hormuz. Kuwait's state oil company says explicit threats from Iran and in your absence of oil tankers in the Gulf have made safe exports impossible. That adds pressure to global supplies after similar cuts in Iraq and Qatar. With 20% of the world's oil and LNG normally moving through Hormuz, analysts warn Saudi Arabia and the UAE could soon be forced to scale back to. Airlines are facing huge travel disruptions due to the war in the Middle East. And according to European Airlines and travel correspondent Joanna Pluchinska,

That could have a significant impact on the tourism industry. Tens of thousands of flights all around the world have been canceled or rescheduled. And the problem with the aviation system is that everything is timed down to the second. And any disruption has a huge knock on effect, which means that even if we had peace in the Middle East tomorrow, it would still take weeks for the airline schedule around the world to return to normal. Dubai airport in particular is a very, very key. key hub for international travel between North America and Asia, Europe and Asia. It's really a connecting hub. At the moment, it's very, very difficult for any airline to predict. So most are

being quite cautious in saying when they might re-institute any services. I think what we're going to see, depending on how this war drags out, is a reorganization of where people want to go. Everyone now, is looking at booking their summer holidays, their Easter holidays even. And these are really key moments for airline businesses to earn money. What we're already seeing is a real shift in bookings where people are more willing to travel closer to home. For more on how global markets brace for a prolonged Middle East conflict as energy prices drive uncertainty, listen to our sister podcast morning bid. The land. is in the show notes. There's a major rift inside the Anglican Communion, and it's getting bigger.

The conservative Gaffcon block, rooted mainly in Africa and Asia, is telling members to skip all meetings led by the Archbishop of Canterbury. They also want churches to stop sending money for the communion's central structures. And the timing here is noteworthy. It's happening just weeks before the communion installs its first female Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Malali, a change that's sharpening long-running divides over women's ordination and LGBTQ-plus inclusion. Gafcon leaders say they're setting up a rival council. Correspondent Abraham Achurga is in Abuja. This has been a long time coming. They say that for about two decades now, the other group led by Cantabri have deviated from the doctrine. And despite repeating,

warnings, they have refused to heed the concerns of the global Anglican community. So this is actually a full-blown split because they have effectively cut off a working relationship with Canterbury, being that they have asked all provinces to rewrite their constitutions and expunge any affiliations with Canterbury. Texas say they've managed to grow chickpeas in something close to moon dirt. And that could actually matter if humans plan to stay on the lunar surface for more than a quick visit. Reporter Will Dunham says this is a real step toward letting astronauts on long-term missions grow some of their own food. It's impractical to have all the food supplies needed for lunar bases flown in from Earth to the moon.

So having a local food source is vital for the health of the astronauts. The problem with agriculture on the moon is that moon's soil is not like earth soil. It's called regolith. It's basically crushed rock and dust and is often sharp and glass-like. It's sterile. And in order to grow something in it, you have to add stuff. So in order to encourage the chickpeas to grow, the researchers coded them with beneficial fungi. They also took a second step.

Instead of using pots with 100% lunar soil, they used pots with slightly lower percentages. And up to 75% of lunar soil actually managed to produce chickpeas. Will says chickpeas are an ideal test case because they're high in protein and other essential nutrients. But before they rush to grow them in a greenhouse in space, they still need to find out how they actually taste. For more on any of the stories from today, check out Reuters.com or the Reuters app. Don't forget to follow us on your favorite podcast player. And if you're listening on a smart speaker,

just ask for the latest news from Reuters seven days a week. We'll be back tomorrow with our daily headline show.