On Feb. 28, 2026, the United States and Israel launched military operations against Iran, targeting Iranian air bases, missile depots, and nuclear facilities. It was later confirmed that one of the strikes on Tehran killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as well as several family members and high-ranking officials. In a letter to the United Nations Security Council, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi denounced the attacks, describing them as a breach of the UN Charter. Iran has since retaliated through drone and missile attacks of U.S. military bases across the Middle East.
In a video posted on Truth Social, President Donald Trump described the goal of the initial attacks as being to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and to “defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime.” As of March 4, the death toll in Iran has exceeded 1,000 people, according to a report by Iranian state media.
According to Iran’s Constitution, the Supreme Leader has ultimate authority over all affairs of the state. As Supreme Leader, Khamenei relied heavily on the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to suppress protests and preserve the regime. In December of this year, Iran experienced national protests caused by economic and social restrictions. In response, Khamenei and the IRGC carried out one of the deadliest crackdowns, with thousands reported killed.
Khamenei had served as Iran’s third president before becoming the Supreme Leader in 1989. Following his death, many Iranians celebrated, with videos posted on social media showing people dancing in the streets, cheering from windows, and honking car horns. Others were hesitant to openly celebrate due to fear of negative consequences from the government.
State media has shown supporters of the Republic mourning Khamenei’s death and protesting the attacks. The Iranian government declared a 40-day national mourning period and a week-long public holiday to pay tribute to Khamenei’s death. Iran has named Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as Iran’s new supreme leader.
In response to the attacks, Iran fired ballistic missiles and drones at U.S. military facilities across the region, including in Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates. As of March 8, seven U.S. casualties have been reported.
The strikes on Iran came after a failure of recent talks between the U.S. and Iran regarding Iran’s nuclear program in early February of this year. The attacks were preceded by months of escalation between the countries. One of the causes of tension was Iran’s nuclear program. In 2015, the U.S. successfully led negotiations for the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) deal, which would limit Iran’s nuclear capabilities. Three years later, the U.S. withdrew from the deal.
The conflict has disrupted the flow of oil out of the Persian Gulf, which is one of the world’s biggest oil- and gas-producing regions. Shipping companies have begun avoiding the area and the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway located south of Iran through which one-fifth of the world's oil trade passes, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. As a result, oil prices have increased. In the U.S., retail gas prices are up 34 cents a gallon since the start of the offensive, as of March 6. If prolonged, the conflict could have a significant impact on the global oil and gas markets.
Negotiations between Iran and the U.S. have been suspended, with no end to the strikes in sight. On March 6, Trump wrote that there will be no deal with Iran until its "unconditional surrender.”