NOTE: If you are short on time, watch the video and complete this See, Think, Wonder activity: What did you notice? What did the story make you think about? What would you want to learn more about?
SUMMARY
Special correspondent Reza Sayah is in Tehran and joined Amna Nawaz to report on the latest developments in Iran.
View the transcript of the story.
News alternative: Check out recent segments from the News Hour, and choose the story you’re most interested in watching. You can make a Google doc copy of discussion questions that work for any of the stories here.
WARM-UP QUESTIONS
- Where is Reza Sayah reporting from?
- What is Sayah seeing and hearing on the ground in Iran?
- Who did Sayah talk with at the cafe and what did he learn?
- Why is Iran targeting hotels?
- How did Tehran respond to President Trump's reaching out to negotiate?
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
- Why is the U.S.-Israel alliance striking civilian infrastructure like hospitals, schools, cafes and police stations?
- The Trump administration has provided varying timelines and goals for its war with Iran, including regime change to preventing Iran from building a nuclear weapon and building up its arsenal to protecting Iranians to Secretary of State Marco Rubio's statement that if Israel attacked Iran first, U.S. personnel in the region would be put in greater danger, a notion Trump rejects. Why do you think the U.S. attacked Iran? Do you think the attacks are justified? Why or why not?
Credit: Screenshot PBS News Hour Classroom, Iran backgrounder article
Dig deeper: To better understand the current conflict, read PBS News Hour Classroom's Backgrounder: History of Iran — Late 19th century to present, contributed by World History Association educators.
Media literacy: Reza Sayah conducted this interview with the News Hour on the phone. Does this audio format make a difference in how you understand the story?
WHAT STUDENTS CAN DO
- Watch Expert panel breaks down U.S. objectives in Iran war or As Iran expands retaliatory attacks, U.S. urges Americans to leave Middle East (March 2, 2026).
- Complete News Hour Classroom's first lesson What we know about the U.S.-Israel attacks on Iran.
Credit: PBS News Hour Classroom screenshot of lesson on the U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran
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