Iran

Background reviewed 2026-10-23 · Background as of 2026-10

Background

Tensions over Iran’s nuclear programme and its regional alliances led to direct military confrontation with Israel in 2024 and 2025. In June 2025 Israel launched strikes on Iranian nuclear and military sites, the United States struck three nuclear facilities, and Iran fired missiles at Israel, in a 12-day war that ended with a ceasefire.

On 28 February 2026 the United States and Israel began a wider campaign of strikes on Iran. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed and his son Mojtaba Khamenei was chosen as his successor. Iran responded with missile and drone attacks on Israel, on US bases and on several Gulf states, and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz largely stopped. A two-week US–Iran ceasefire mediated by Pakistan was announced on 8 April 2026; it later broke down and US strikes resumed in July 2026.

History

The 1979 revolution replaced Iran’s monarchy with an Islamic Republic led by a Supreme Leader. Iraq invaded Iran in 1980, starting a war that lasted until 1988. Relations with the United States broke down after the revolution and the hostage crisis at the US embassy in Tehran.

Iran’s nuclear programme became a central international dispute in the 2000s. The 2015 nuclear agreement (the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) limited the programme in exchange for sanctions relief, but the United States withdrew in 2018 and Iran later expanded its enrichment. Iran built a network of allied armed groups across the region, sometimes called the “axis of resistance”, and has faced repeated waves of domestic protest, including in 2009, 2019 and 2022.

Main parties

Islamic Republic of Iran — Armed forces including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Israel — Conducted strikes on Iran in 2024, 2025 and 2026.
United States — Struck Iranian nuclear sites in June 2025 and has conducted a military campaign since February 2026.

Key dates

1979-02 — The Islamic Revolution establishes the Islamic Republic.
1980-09-22 — The Iran–Iraq war begins; it ends in 1988.
2015-07-14 — The nuclear agreement (JCPOA) is concluded with world powers.
2018-05-08 — The United States withdraws from the nuclear agreement.
2024-04-13 — Iran launches its first direct attack on Israel.
2025-06-13 — Israel begins strikes on Iran; the United States strikes nuclear sites on 22 June; a ceasefire follows on 24 June.
2026-02-28 — The United States and Israel begin a wider military campaign against Iran.
2026-03-11 — The UN Security Council demands an end to attacks on Arab states and affirms freedom of navigation through Hormuz.
2026-04-08 — A two-week US–Iran ceasefire mediated by Pakistan is announced.
2026-07 — The ceasefire breaks down and US strikes on Iran resume.

Humanitarian situation

Strikes have damaged infrastructure in many cities, and internet restrictions and limits on foreign media make independent verification difficult. The disruption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has affected fuel and food supplies across the region.

How to read reports about Iran

Reports from inside Iran are limited; many come from state media or from exile media, which can differ widely. We map damage only when two independent outlets report it at a known city.
Launch locations of missiles and drones are never shown on the map.

Recent events

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