Israel and the United States Strike Iran

The United States and Israel carried out strikes on targets inside Iran. U.S. President Donald Trump said “major combat operations” had begun, with the stated goal of eliminating threats posed by Iran’s leadership and ensuring Tehran can never obtain a nuclear weapon. According to Trump, Iran rejected opportunities to curb its nuclear program. He also addressed Iranians with a call to pursue change in the country.

The escalation followed a third round of U.S.–Iran talks on February 26 that ended without results. Tensions over Iran’s nuclear activities have persisted for years and have intensified in recent months amid strikes on key sites.

Iran announced retaliatory actions. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reported launching missiles and drones at targets linked to the United States and Israel, including facilities across the Persian Gulf region. In Israel, air-raid sirens sounded repeatedly, and the military said its air defenses were intercepting incoming threats.

The situation has sharply affected security in neighboring countries. Alerts were issued in Qatar and the UAE, and residents were urged to stay close to shelters. Airspace across a number of Middle Eastern states has been temporarily closed, and many flights have been canceled.

World leaders have reacted in different ways. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed support for U.S. actions, emphasizing the need to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. French President Emmanuel Macron called for an urgent meeting of the U.N. Security Council and urged a return to negotiations. The outcome and scale of the crisis remain uncertain.