Aaron Zhang, Junior
The current conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel is the result of years of tension over nuclear weapons, regional power, and political distrust. The United States and Israel have accused Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons for several decades. Iran has consistently said its nuclear program is for peaceful energy purposes. The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action was established in 2015 to restrict Iran’s nuclear activities while allowing economic sanctions to be removed. The deal became weaker after its monitoring system lost its efficiency, which resulted in rising mistrust between the two parties.
Iran expanded its control over the Middle East through its support of armed groups which operated in its surrounding nations. Hezbollah is the most important group according to its historical record of fighting against Israel throughout Lebanon. Israel considers Iran’s increasing control over the region to be an immediate danger to its national security. Israel conducted limited attacks against Iranian targets in Syria while Iranian-backed forces conducted their own operations against Israel. The smaller fights between the two sides created a situation which increased in intensity until it became a major conflict.
The conflict reached a turning point in early 2026. The United States and Israel conducted joint air and missile operations against Iranian military sites after intelligence shows that Iran is developing nuclear technology at an accelerated rate. The leaders described their mission as a preventative operation because they believed it would stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons. The strikes destroyed vital facilities which led to an increase in hostilities between the two sides.
Iran conducted missile and drone strikes against Israeli sites as well as U.S. military installations located throughout the Persian Gulf. The country switched to direct retaliation from its previous strategy which involved attacking through indirect means.
