The United States and Israel have launched attacks on Iran despite ongoing talks between Washington and Tehran over Iran’s nuclear program.
Iran responded to Saturday’s attacks with missile and airstrikes across the region, including Israel, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Iraq.
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Israeli officials said their strikes targeted Iran’s military and nuclear-related infrastructure, while airspace across Israel was closed and emergency measures imposed. Several other countries in the region also announced the closure of their airspace.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump said Washington had launched a “major military operation” in Iran, aimed at “eliminating threats from the Iranian regime”.
“This administration will soon learn that no one can challenge the strength and power of the United States Armed Forces,” he said.
The strikes came two days after US-Iran nuclear talks in Geneva, mediated by Oman, ended without progress. The US-Israel attack marks the most serious escalation since the brief but intense June 2025 war.
Here’s a timeline of events leading up to Saturday’s strikes from the US and Israel, including diplomatic overtures and Iran’s furious response.
June 13, 2025 – Israel launches major airstrikes against Iran’s nuclear and military facilities amid ongoing talks between the US and Tehran. Iran would respond within hours with large-scale missile and drone strikes on Israeli cities.
June 22 – US strikes Iranian nuclear facilities at Natanz, Fordow and Isfahan, Trump says strikes have undermined Tehran’s nuclear program. Iranian officials said their program had been scaled back but not destroyed.
June 23 – In retaliation, Iran fired missiles at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, which houses US troops. The missiles were intercepted and no casualties were reported.
June 24 – After 12 days of fighting, a US-brokered ceasefire goes into effect between Iran and Israel, ending all hostilities. Iran says at least 610 civilians were killed in the fighting, while Israel claims 28 were killed on its side.
July 2 – Iranian President Masoud Pezheshkian signed a law ending cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), preventing its inspectors from entering Iran’s nuclear facilities unless specifically authorized by the country’s Supreme National Security Council.
July 22 – Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s foreign minister, says Tehran will not give up its uranium enrichment program even if it is temporarily halted by “serious and severe” damages.
August 12 – Iranian police have arrested 21,000 people in connection with the 12-day war with Israel, state media said.
August 22 – Despite the threat of renewed sanctions, Iran agrees to resume nuclear talks with the United Kingdom, France and Germany later in the month.
August 28 – Three European countries will trigger a mechanism to reinstate UN sanctions on the Islamic Republic for the first time in a decade.
November 1 – Oman urges both the US and Iran to return to the negotiating table as Iran reiterates it will not stop enriching uranium.
November 7 – Trump says Iran has requested that Washington lift its weak sanctions on Tehran, and he is willing to talk about the issue.
December 28 – Protests over soaring prices erupted in major cities, including Tehran, after the rial fell against the US dollar.
January 8, 2026 – The internet has been shut down across Iran following an outbreak of anti-government protests that have now spread beyond the cities. The blackout lasts more than two weeks.
January 13 – Trump tells Iranians to “keep protesting”, claims “help is on the way” and says the US may be preparing for military intervention against Tehran. The US begins increasing its military presence from Iran.
February 6 – Iran and the US begin indirect nuclear talks in Geneva, brokered by Oman, with the aim of reaching a deal to curb Tehran’s nuclear program.
February 17 – High-level US-Iran nuclear talks resume in Geneva, again with Omani mediation.
February 22 – Oman confirms another round of talks in Geneva, describes “positive push” but admits significant differences remain.
February 26 – The third round of nuclear talks closes in Geneva, with mediator Oman saying “significant progress” has been made and further discussions to be held in Vienna next week.
February 27 – Oman’s foreign minister says Iran has agreed to reduce its current stockpile of nuclear material to “the lowest possible level” – effectively unprocessed. US President Donald Trump has said he prefers diplomacy but has warned that “all options” are available if diplomacy fails.
February 28 – Israel launches coordinated attacks on Iranian targets, including sites in and around Tehran. Iran retaliated by launching air and missile strikes across the region, including in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait.
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