2026 Iran war

Since February 28, 2026, the United States and Israel have been at war with Iran and its regional allies. The conflict began after US-Israeli airstrikes killed several Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. These strikes happened during ongoing US-Iran negotiations about Iran's nuclear program.

The war is part of a larger Middle Eastern crisis that started with the Gaza war. It followed the Twelve-Day War and the biggest US military buildup in the region since the 2003 invasion of Iraq. The US said the war was needed to respond to Iran's crackdown on protests, stop Iran from getting nuclear weapons, change the Iranian government, and control Iran's oil and gas.

Iran responded with missile and drone attacks on Israel, US military bases, and US allies. They also blocked the Strait of Hormuz and claimed sovereignty over it. Other countries like the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Bahrain also attacked Iran. Fighting continued between Hezbollah and Israel, and Israel occupied southern Lebanon. The war caused many civilian and military deaths and disrupted the global oil market, affecting many industries and causing financial volatility. By June 2026, the war had cost the US $113.3 billion, and the Trump administration asked for $1.5 trillion for the Pentagon.

International reactions varied; some condemned the US-Israeli strikes, while others criticized Iran's actions. A ceasefire began in April but faced challenges. Diplomatic efforts continued, and by July, the US and Iran agreed to stop attacking each other, though tensions remained high.

Names

Western media generally call this the Iran war. The United States government named its first strikes Operation Epic Fury, while the Israeli government called theirs Operation Roaring Lion. Iran named its response Operation True Promise IV.

Some people also call this the "Third Gulf War" because it is the third big war in that area, after the Gulf War and the Iraq War. Iranian media call it the "Third Imposed War". Because it started during Ramadan, some also refer to it as the "Ramadan War".

Background

Further information: Middle Eastern crisis (2023–present)

Iran's relations with the United States and Israel

Further information: Iran–United States relations and Iran–Israel relations

Long ago, in 1953, the United States helped a group take control of Iran. This made the leader, the Shah, very powerful. Later, in 1979, people in Iran rebelled and removed the Shah. They created a new government and stopped working with the United States and Israel.

During a big fight between Iran and Iraq, the United States helped Iraq. Iran started making missiles to protect itself. Over time, Iran got involved in many conflicts in the Middle East.

In 2002, people found out that Iran was working on a secret nuclear plan. The United States and Israel tried many things to stop Iran, including computer attacks and stopping some of Iran’s important people.

In 2020, the United States killed a top Iranian military leader. Tensions kept growing, especially after attacks on Israel in 2024 and 2025. In early 2026, the United States and Israel decided to work together to attack Iran.

Nuclear activity in the Middle East

Iranian nuclear program

Main article: Nuclear program of Iran

For many years, Iran has worked on nuclear technology. They say it is to make electricity, but many people worry they want to make weapons. The United States and others have put many rules on Iran to stop this.

In 2025, reports said Iran was not following the rules about nuclear weapons. In February 2026, Iran told international watchdogs they could not check some places because of recent attacks.

Israel and nuclear weapons

Further information: Israel and nuclear weapons and Middle East nuclear weapon free zone

Many believe Israel has nuclear weapons but they do not say it openly. Some think this is why Iran wants nuclear weapons too, to balance power. Israel does not want to join agreements to stop nuclear weapons, which makes it hard for others to agree.

Prelude

Hostilities

The conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran began in February 2026. It started after US and Israeli airstrikes targeted several Iranian officials, including a top leader. These strikes happened during ongoing talks about Iran's nuclear program.

The fighting led to many attacks across the Middle East. Both sides launched missiles and drones at each other's targets. There were significant impacts on military bases, infrastructure, and civilian areas. The situation caused disruptions in shipping and raised concerns about further escalation in the region.

Casualties and damages

Main articles: Casualties of the 2026 Iran war and List of aviation shootdowns and accidents during the 2026 Iran war

Further information: List of ships attacked during the 2026 Iran war

The war between the United States, Israel, and Iran began with careful planning to surprise Iran. On the first day, many important Iranian leaders were gathered together, thinking they were safe. This allowed the US and Israel to target these groups quickly.

There were reports of damage to buildings and equipment at US bases in the area. Some US soldiers were hurt during the conflict, including in attacks by Iranian drones.

Direct impacts

United States

The United States' oil reserves dropped to their lowest level in forty years, which could cause lasting damage if the withdrawals keep happening.

The war showed that the US had less weapons than expected, raising concerns about years of defense spending after the September 11 attacks. In less than five months, the US almost ran out of weapons fighting a medium-sized opponent. This might affect the US ability to stop other countries, like Russia and China. Many Patriot missiles used to block Iranian missiles and drones were used up. The lack of weapons has become a big factor in whether the conflict can continue or grow. In July 2026, the US gave Lockheed Martin a huge contract to make more Patriot missiles because of the crisis in the Middle East and the war in Ukraine. By August 2026, the US had used about 80% of its THAAD missiles in the war.

The US used almost all of its PrSM and ATACMS weapons and almost half of its Tomahawk missiles. Around 25% of US Reaper drones were lost in the war. In August, Trump and Hegseth argued about the severe shortage of missiles. The US opened test ranges to get weapons faster from small companies. The US Department of Defense asked companies to make and deliver weapons quicker, especially those running low because of the war. Early attacks on US bases caused problems for moving supplies for US aircraft carriers. The US faced a very serious shortage of Patriot missiles in Europe because of the war. The Pentagon moved weapons from Asia and Europe to the Middle East to refill supplies. Still, the shortage of missile interceptors led Trump to cancel a big planned attack on Iran. The Trump administration blamed Joe Biden for giving too many weapons to Ukraine. In August, the Pentagon made seven-year deals with companies to make more parts for THAAD and Patriot missiles faster. The Trump administration also tested about 50 military leaders to find out if they were leaking information about the weapon shortages.

Iran

The death of Ali Khamenei led to an election for a new supreme leader. Under Iran’s rules, the Interim Leadership Council was created on March 1 to run the country until a new leader is chosen. Mojtaba Khamenei was elected on March 8, 2026, to replace his father. Iran’s leaders, including President Masoud Pezeshkian, pledged support to him. In late March, reports said Iran’s leadership was struggling, with problems in making decisions. As of May 21, Khamenei was still hiding, and it was unclear who was really in charge. The military was led by general Ahmad Vahidi.

The war hurt everyday life in Iran a lot. Many buildings were damaged, and it could take years to fix them. The capital became almost empty because people were scared. Schools were closed, and some prisons had very little food and water. The internet stopped working for a long time. Some people tried to protest, but security forces stopped them.

There were worries that very young people, even children, might be used to support the war. Iran also became better at avoiding defenses and brought in allies from Iraq and Yemen.

Many important historic places in Iran were damaged during the war.

Israel

Israel declared a nationwide state of emergency, closing schools and workplaces and stopping public events. In the first 40 days of the war, Iran sent over 650 missiles to Israel, which caused 24 deaths and over 7,000 injuries.

Palestine

Israel closed several aid crossings in the Gaza Strip, stopping help from reaching people there. The United Nations said this was wrong. There were also reports of increased violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.

Lebanese displacements

Lebanon said that over one million people had to leave their homes — about one-sixth of the country’s population.

Persian Gulf Arab states

Countries around the Persian Gulf started prosecuting people who shared unproven rumors about the Iranian attacks. Some people were arrested for supposedly supporting Iran. The United States threatened Oman if it didn’t “behave” after reports of talks between Iran and Oman about charging ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

Economic impacts

The war caused big changes around the world’s economy. Prices for oil and gas went up, making travel and tourism harder. Money markets shook because of the fighting. Leaders said it was one of the biggest challenges for energy security ever.

Countries around the world felt the effects. Some areas had to pay much more for their fuel. Shipping in some parts of the world was also affected. The war caused many problems for businesses and everyday life in many places.

Environmental impacts

Main article: Environmental impact of war

The airstrikes have caused harmful chemicals to spread into the air and water, making it unsafe for people to live in some areas. This pollution can make people very sick over time.

Because of the fighting, oil prices have gone up a lot. This has made oil companies want to produce even more oil instead of following plans to protect the environment. Experts worry this will make the Earth warmer and cause big problems for everyone.

Reactions

Main article: Reactions to the 2026 Iran war

Further information: Protests against the 2026 Iran war

The war between Iran and some other countries caused many changes in the world. Oil prices went up, which made things more expensive for everyone. People in the United States felt that their money did not go as far as it used to during this time.

Diplomatic efforts

June 2026 Memorandum of Understanding

Main article: Islamabad Memorandum

After deciding that fighting could harm the economy, Donald Trump signed an agreement for the United States on 17 June 2026 at the Palace of Versailles. This agreement was signed earlier online by leaders of the countries involved. The agreement meant that fighting would stop for 60 days, and plans were made for lasting peace, with the United States agreeing to help Iran in big ways.

Analysis

Some leaders have made strong statements about possibly damaging important buildings in Iran. Experts in international law have said that such actions might break important rules and could lead to serious legal problems.