US - Israel War on Iran

On 28th February 2026, the United States of America and Israel launched a joint war against Iran, derailing the negotiations once again. Within the next few hours, the Iranian media announced the martyrdom of its supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei. This roused a deep sense of loss not only in Iran but also the Muslim community worldwide. This article will explore the contextual background of the conflict between the US and Iran, highlighting the role of Khamenei in the region and the impact his martyrdom could have.

In 1979, under the charismatic leadership of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, Iran witnessed the Islamic Revolution, which resulted in ending the government of Shah Reza Pahlavi. This revolution was a turning point for Iran as well as the United States, as it led to the emergence of a perpetual hostility between the two countries. It was especially because in the decades before the Revolution, the country served as a major ally of the US, as the last Shah maintained a strong pro-US policy and received significant American support in return. However, the revolution changed the dynamics, and the country shifted towards an anti-American stance.

Iran's nuclear programme, which started in the 1950s with US support, was now being pursued by Iran secretly. The continuation of the program became a major concern for the US, as it believed that Iranian possession of nuclear weapons is dangerous. In June of 2025, the US attacked Iran, citing a nuclear threat it poses. At the start of 2026, the two countries remained engaged in negotiations; however, those were derailed when the US suddenly attacked Iran.