Iran, a country in the Middle East, was first established as a modern state in 1935, but it existed as the Persian Empire as early as 330 BCE. Today, the nation is considered politically and geographically significant, especially given its growing nuclear program, access to huge oil reserves, and deep role in the Islamic world. Iran’s geographical position is unique, as it lies at a strategic crossroads between Europe and Asia and controls the Strait of Hormuz, a major sea route for oil exports. It is no surprise, then, that Iran has held much of the world’s attention in recent days.
On February 28th, 2026, the United States and their ally Israel launched attacks on a Tehran government compound and military targets. Among the resulting dead was Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who at the time of his death had been the Supreme Leader of Iran for 37 years. Other strikes hit civilian areas, one notable site of casualty being a children’s school in the southern Iranian city of Minab. The reason behind these strikes, according to U.S. officials, was to stop the development of Iran’s nuclear program, which threatened American safety; U.S. President Donald Trump declared that “We’re going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground. It will be totally again obliterated.”
Retaliation for the February 28th strikes came in the form of an Iranian drone strike in Kuwait, resulting in US military fatalities. Lebanon, as a leader of Hezbollah, also entered the conflict by attacking Israel with support from Iran. As the conflict escalated, locations crucial to the oil and natural gas market in the Middle East became the center of focus, with altercations taking place near the Strait of Hormuz, Kharg Island, the South Pars gas field, and Ras Laffan Industrial City.
On April 8th, the US, Israel, and Iran agreed on a two-week-long ceasefire as part of the conclusion drawn by the Islamabad Talks, mediated by Pakistan. However, after Iran refused to reopen the Strait of Hormuz—one of the stipulations of the negotiation—President Trump placed a naval blockade on Iran, starting on April 13th. Furthermore, Israel continued strikes against Lebanon, whose political party, Hezbollah, is an ally of Iran. As of April 14th, talks between Lebanon and Israel continued in Washington, D.C.
On April 16th, Iran and Hezbollah declared another ceasefire, and Iran once again opened the Strait of Hormuz— yet, this did not last long, as the Strait was soon closed and conflict continued. By the beginning of May, the US was said to have begun peace talks with Iran, but attacks in and around the Strait of Hormuz continued into May 14th.
As of May 18th, attacks continued, though the US had supposedly paused further attacks for ongoing negotiations for a peace deal, with the threat of attack remaining large.
https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/dispatches/twenty-questions-and-expert-answers-about-the-iran-war/
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/amp/world/what-we-know-and-dont-know-about-iran-war-negotiations
https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cn8dldl0jx9t
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/04/14/world/iran-war-oil-hormuz