On February 28, 2026, the United States and Israel launched large coordinated military strikes across Iran in Operation Epic Fury. The strikes targeted military installations, air defenses, missile launch sites, and government compounds across several cities, including Tehran.

One of the most dramatic developments occurred during the first wave of attacks. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed when missiles struck an area in Tehran near his residence and government headquarters. Iranian officials later confirmed his death, creating an immediate leadership crisis inside the country and raising uncertainty about who would lead Iran moving forward.

Iran responded with missile and drone attacks across the Middle East, targeting U.S. bases and allied countries in the region. Military alerts spread across the Persian Gulf as governments prepared for additional strikes and the possibility of a wider war.[1]

The war has already had global effects. Oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy routes, slowed dramatically as shipping companies avoided the region due to missile threats and naval combat. Analysts warned that the situation could destabilize global energy markets and increase tensions across the Middle East. [4]

At the same time, new fronts may be emerging. In early March 2026, reports indicated that Kurdish fighters based in northern Iraq had begun crossing into northwestern Iran, attacking government positions and potentially opening another front against Iranian forces.[2]

As the fighting continued into March, Iranian missile and drone attacks spread across several countries in the region, including strikes targeting military installations and shipping routes. The expanding conflict raised concerns that the war could draw more countries into the fighting and develop into a broader regional war. [3]

For many people watching the conflict from abroad, the events appear to be a sudden escalation. However, the confrontation between the United States and Iran has developed over decades through revolutions, wars, sanctions, and diplomatic disputes. 

U.S.–Iran Conflict: A Timeline [5]

• August 19, 1953: U.S.-Backed Coup in Iran

The United States and the United Kingdom supported a coup that removed Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh after he nationalized Iran’s oil industry. The Shah returned to power, but the event created lasting resentment toward the United States in Iran.

• 1979: Iranian Revolution

Mass protests forced the Shah to flee Iran and ended the monarchy. The Islamic Republic was established under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, turning Iran from a U.S. ally into a rival.

• November 4, 1979 to January 20, 1981: Iran Hostage Crisis

Iranian militants seized the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and held 52 Americans hostage for 444 days. The crisis caused the United States and Iran to sever diplomatic relations.

• July 14, 2015: JCPOA Nuclear Deal

Iran and world powers signed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, limiting Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for lifting many sanctions.

• May 8, 2018: U.S. Withdrawal from the Nuclear Deal

The United States withdrew from the agreement and reimposed sanctions on Iran, increasing tensions and leading Iran to expand parts of its nuclear program again.

• January 3, 2020: Killing of Qassem Soleimani

Iranian General Qassem Soleimani was killed in a U.S. drone strike in Iraq. The attack sharply escalated tensions and brought the two countries close to direct military conflict.

• 2023 to 2025: Regional Proxy Escalation

Conflicts involving Iran-aligned groups and U.S. allies increased across the Middle East, raising the stakes of a broader regional war.

Interview: 

While government statements and military reports describe the conflict in terms of strategy and geopolitics, the war is also unfolding in the lives of millions of ordinary people. For families inside Iran and in the Iranian diaspora, the strikes have brought fear, grief, and dismay about the future of their country. To better understand how individuals connected to Iran are experiencing these events, I interviewed an Iranian who agreed to share their perspective but asked to remain anonymous for safety reasons. 

Question: Can you take me back to the moment you first heard about the U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran? Where were you, and what was your initial reaction?

Answer:

As an Iranian, that moment was very emotional for me. We were not waiting for an attack on our country, but for help. For many of us, it felt like the possibility of support against a regime that we have struggled with for 47 years.

It was around 1 a.m. when our family called us and told us the news. They were very happy. We were shocked at first, but also hopeful. It is hard to explain this feeling. War is painful and difficult, and no one truly wants war. But for many Iranians, there has been an internal war with the regime for decades.

Many people in Iran are deeply dissatisfied with the government. They feel they have no voice and no power to change the situation from inside the country. Some believe that external support from other countries that share the same goals is the only possible way for change.

It is a very complicated and emotional situation. There is fear, sadness, hope, and uncertainty all at the same time.

Question: What would you want Americans who are watching this from afar to understand about what your family is feeling right now?

Answer:

To be honest, my family feels grateful for what they see as support. It is scary — of course it is —but at the same time, they feel hopeful. They believe that this situation might finally lead to change.

What they want Americans to understand is that this is not just a political issue for us; it is something we have lived with for decades. Many families in Iran feel exhausted and afraid about the future.

They also want people in the United States to understand that if this regime is dangerous for us, it may not only be dangerous for Iran. In their view, instability and aggression do not stay within one country’s borders. They believe the consequences could eventually affect the wider world.

At the same time, ordinary people are the ones who suffer the most in any conflict. Families are scared, uncertain, and just hoping for a safer future.

Question: What worries you most in the short term (the next week), and what worries you most in the long term?

Answer:

In the short term, what worries me most is the safety of my family and ordinary people. When tensions rise, civilians are always the most vulnerable. I worry about sudden escalation, communication blackouts, shortages of basic supplies, and the fear that spreads quickly in uncertain situations.

In the long term, my biggest concern is instability. I worry about what will happen after this — whether there will be chaos, economic collapse, or more suffering for ordinary people. Even if change comes, the transition could be very difficult. Rebuilding trust, security, and stability takes time.

At the same time, there is also hope. Many people want a future with more freedom, safety, and opportunity. But the uncertainty about how we get there is what creates the deepest anxiety.

Question: What role do you think the media, both traditional and social, has played in shaping public understanding of this conflict?

Answer:

For many years, we have felt that the real Iranian people have not been properly represented.

Our government has often shaped the international image of the country, and as a result, many people outside Iran do not see who we truly are.

But the Iranian people are not the same as the government. Our beliefs, culture, and values are different. We have a history that goes back more than 3,000 years. One of our most respected historical leaders is Cyrus the Great, who is remembered for promoting justice, human rights, and respect for different cultures and religions.

In Persian culture, we have an important principle: “Good thoughts, good words, good deeds.” This idea reflects our traditional values. What we want is for the media to show the real Iranian people — our culture, our history, and our humanity — not only the actions of the government. Many ordinary Iranians, even while facing very difficult circumstances, still feel hope and want the world to understand who they truly are.

Question: How would you describe the current atmosphere in your country or community since the strikes began involving Iran? 

Answer:

It is a very scary situation right now. People are frightened by the explosions and the uncertainty. At the same time, many still have hope.

They believe that there are very few internal avenues left to effect change. Many people strongly want political change in the country.

Iran is a country with a long history, many natural resources, and enormous potential. People believe that with different leadership and better international relationships, the country could become economically strong and offer a much better quality of life for its citizens.

There is also a feeling among some that if the current system continues, suffering will persist even without an external war. And it just helps and helps and helps [the push for change].

Sources

[1] – NBC News. “Live Updates: U.S. has struck or sunk over 20 Iranian ships as conflict escalates.” March 2026.
https://www.nbcnews.com/world/iran/live-blog/live-updates-iran-supreme-leader-gulf-attacks-israel-tehran-trump-rcna261634

[2] – Daily Mail. “Ground invasion launched against Iran as thousands of US-backed Kurdish fighters storm the border.” March 4–5, 2026.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15615347/Ground-invasion-launched-against-Iran-thousands-US-backed-Kurdish-fighters-storm-border.html

[3] – Al Jazeera. “Is the US at war with Iran and will it put boots on the ground?” March 4, 2026.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/3/4/is-the-us-at-war-with-iran-and-will-it-put-boots-on-the-ground

[4] – The Washington Post. “Trump calls on Kurds to aid U.S. efforts in Iran, and offers support.” March 5, 2026.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/03/05/trump-iran-kurds-iraq/

[5] – PBS NewsHour. “A timeline of U.S.–Iran relations.”
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/a-timeline-of-u-s-iran-relations