The US and Israeli war with Iran that erupted on February 28 did not begin suddenly. Its roots stretch back generations, from the 1953 coup against Iranian Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh. Even in 2013, the CIA published internal documents proving direct organization and financing of the coup.

The point of open rupture came in 1979. The Islamic Revolution triumphed in Iran, and Ruhollah Khomeini came to power. Since then, the conflict has persisted on several levels simultaneously: the struggle for influence in the Middle East, sanctions, the nuclear program, and direct military episodes. Before this time, the conflict between Iran and the US was considered superficial. The sides openly spoke of their hostility toward each other.

Tehran officially announced the first successful enrichment of uranium at centrifuges in Natanz on April 11, 2006, although practical steps and work on preparation and processing of raw materials began in February 2006. Washington and Tel Aviv believed that the Iranians could create nuclear weapons and strike Israel and the West.

On July 14, 2015, Iran and a group of international mediators (the "six" in the 5 1 format) concluded the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), known as the "nuclear deal." Under this agreement, Tehran committed to limit its nuclear program and admit IAEA inspectors in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions. Sanctions on terrorism, human rights, and the missile program remained largely in place. Therefore, Iran considered the economic effect of the deal to be limited, while the US insisted that the agreement should not turn a blind eye to Tehran's regional policy.

After the US withdrawal from the agreement in 2018, Tehran did not simply "gradually exit" the restrictions. From May 2019, Iran phased out its compliance.

By 2026, the IAEA reported that by the time of the strikes in mid-June 2025, Iran had accumulated 440.9 kg of uranium enriched to 60%. This is below the weapons-grade level of 90%, but technically already close to it: the transition from 60% to 90% requires far less work than the path from natural uranium to 60%.

One of the most dangerous direct episodes before 2025 was the killing of Qasem Soleimani. On January 3, 2020, the commander of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps was killed by an American drone near Baghdad International Airport. Several days later, Iran struck with ballistic missiles at bases housing American military personnel in Iraq.

After the collapse of the agreement, negotiations repeatedly reached dead ends. In June 2025, the US began bombing Iranian nuclear facilities. The current........

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