U.S. investigates strike on Iranian school as the war sparks a global oil crisis

Trump taps Strategic Petroleum Reserve as conflict drives up gas prices worldwide

Published on Mar. 12, 2026

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The U.S. has launched a formal investigation into a missile strike on an Iranian girls' school that killed at least 165 civilians, many of them children. This attack, which happened on the first day of the war between the U.S./Israel and Iran, could mark one of the highest civilian death tolls by the U.S. in a single incident in 35 years. Meanwhile, the ongoing conflict has sparked a global oil crisis, with prices spiking to $100 per barrel and the key Strait of Hormuz effectively closed. President Trump is urging ships to keep using the route and promising protection, but has offered few details on how that will work.

Why it matters

The investigation into the school strike could have major diplomatic and political implications if the U.S. is found responsible. Additionally, the global oil crisis stemming from the conflict threatens to drive up fuel and consumer prices, posing a potential political challenge for Republicans in the upcoming midterm elections.

The details

A preliminary assessment determined that the U.S. was at fault for the strike on the Iranian girls' school. Iran has released images of missile parts it says struck the school, which appear to belong to a U.S.-made Tomahawk missile. Only a few countries use Tomahawks, including the U.S. Experts told NPR that the U.S. is the only actor in this conflict that uses Tomahawks. In the last 24 hours, unknown attackers also hit three commercial ships carrying oil in the Strait of Hormuz, effectively closing the key passageway for the world's oil. President Trump is urging ships to keep using the route and is promising protection, but has offered very little detail on how that protection will work.

  • The attack on the Iranian girls' school happened on the first day of the war between the U.S./Israel and Iran.
  • On March 12, 2026, the International Energy Agency announced that member nations would release 400 million barrels from their strategic oil reserves, with 172 million coming from the U.S. over four months beginning next week.

The players

President Trump

The current U.S. president who is tapping the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in response to the global oil crisis sparked by the war.

Greg Myre

An NPR reporter who tells Up First that the U.S. and Israel could soon reach a point when there are a limited number of viable targets for their bombing campaign in Iran.

Stephen Moore

A former Trump economic adviser who tells NPR's Tamara Keith that the president is betting the conflict with Iran will be short and gas prices will soon drop.

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What they’re saying

“If a U.S. role is confirmed, this attack would mark one of the highest civilian death tolls by the U.S. in a single incident in 35 years.”

— Kat Lonsdorf, NPR reporter (NPR)

“Iran might keep the Strait of Hormuz closed to inflict as much economic pain as possible and deter future U.S. and Israeli attacks on them again.”

— Greg Myre, NPR reporter (NPR)

What’s next

The Pentagon has launched a formal investigation into the missile strike on the Iranian girls' school. The results of this investigation could have major diplomatic and political implications.

The takeaway

The ongoing conflict between the U.S./Israel and Iran has sparked a global oil crisis, with rising fuel costs potentially making other essentials more expensive for consumers. This could become a political challenge for Republicans in the upcoming midterm elections, where affordability is a top issue.