The United States and Israel launched 'Operation Epic Fury' on February 28th, initiating a broad military assault against Iran with over 1,000 strikes on targets including military bases, command centers, and nuclear facilities. The campaign has severely degraded Iran's military capabilities, neutralizing its navy, air force, missile, and communication infrastructure. In response, Iran retaliated with widespread missile and drone strikes against Israel, US bases in the Gulf (Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Jordan), and disrupted a major Qatari LNG terminal, though its missile and drone launches significantly decreased after the initial days. The conflict has ignited global concerns over Iran's nuclear ambitions, with enrichment levels reaching 60%, even as US intelligence suggests no immediate WMD development; the stated US objective is to ensure Iran never obtains a nuclear weapon. Economically, the war has driven up energy prices, with fears of a complete Strait of Hormuz closure risking the worst oil market disruption since the Russia-Ukraine war and imposing inflationary pressures. Regionally, Gulf states are reportedly uniting against Iran, while internally, the country faces a leadership transition following the death of Kamani, the formation of an interim council, and fears of a failed state, refugee crisis, and rising food prices. The US justified its actions as preemptive, citing an imminent threat of Iranian retaliation against American forces.
“>> Boots on the ground in Iran. Are are you afraid of a US invasion in your country? >> No, we are waiting for them. Yes, because we are confident that we can confront them and that would be a big disaster for them.”
“So you can see uh you know the quality of our missiles how much they are upgraded after the last war because we learned lots of lessons and we are prepared for any other eventuality.”
“The case is clear. Number one sponsor of terror in the world.”
“On the morning of February 28th, America and Israel launched another war on Iran. This one is bigger and more serious than those we saw last year.”
“Iran's response has already been faster and fiercer than on previous occasions. They fired missiles towards Israel within hours of the war beginning. They fired missiles at the headquarters of the US Navy's fifth fleet in Bahrain.”
“Iran fired more than 400 ballistic missiles at Arab states in the first few days of this conflict. Iran is also firing drones.”
“The war in Iran is sending energy prices higher because oil and natural gas prices, which is a problem for the parts of the world that rely on fossil fuels, for their economy.”
“And again, Iran hit one of the liquefied natural gas terminals, the facilities in Qatar, which is responsible for about a fifth of the world's supply of LNG. And again, that's been shut down, for precautionary reasons.”
“I'm standing at the gateway to Iran—the Haj Omran crossing... Kurdish fighters, across the border here in Iraqi Kurdistan, preparing for the order to cross into Iran with Israeli and American support.”
“We will never have a nuclear weapon. My preference is to solve this problem through diplomacy. But one thing is certain I will never allow the world's number one sponsor of terror, which they are by far to have a nuclear weapon.”
“Every one from the supreme leader on down, insists that Iran is not seeking to build a nuclear weapon. Those words were in the preface to, the JCPoA, the 2015 nuclear deal.”
“They've been enriching well beyond the number that you need for uh for civil nuclear. It's it's it's up to 60%. They're probably a week away from having uh industrial uh uh industrial uh bomb making material.”
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