World Conflicts Monitor
Last Updated: 23/06/25 17:27Russian-Georgian Conflict and Georgia's Pro-Western Aspirations
The Second Battle of Kursk and Ukraine's Invasion of Russia
Israel-Hezbollah
North Korea vs South Korea
The Return of President Trump and the Shockwaves Across Europe
American Expansionist Ambitions and Greenland's Geopolitical Future
US-Iran Conflict
The India-Pakistan Conflict and the Kashmir Dispute
US-Iran Conflict
ActiveThe roots of the US-Iran conflict began with the 1953 CIA-backed coup that overthrew Iran's democratic government to install an authoritarian, pro-US Shah. This sowed deep resentment that culminated in the 1979 Islamic Revolution, which established a staunchly anti-American theocracy.
Shortly after, revolutionaries seized the US Embassy in Tehran, holding 52 Americans hostage for 444 days and causing the US to sever all diplomatic ties. Throughout the 1980s, tensions escalated as the US supported Iraq in its brutal war against Iran and engaged in direct naval clashes, including the accidental US downing of an Iranian civilian airliner.
The 21st century centered on Iran's nuclear ambitions. The 2015 Iran Nuclear Deal (JCPOA) offered sanctions relief for nuclear limitations, but President Trump withdrew the US in 2018, reimposing sanctions and renewing hostilities. This led to a near-war in January 2020 after the US assassinated Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, Iran retaliated with missile strikes on US bases, and Iranian forces tragically shot down a passenger plane.
The long-simmering conflict erupted into direct military action in June 2025. The US and Israel launched major airstrikes against Iran's key nuclear facilities at Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan. Two days later, Iran retaliated with missile attacks on US bases in Qatar and Iraq, which were reportedly intercepted. This exchange moved the decades-long shadow war into open conflict, creating a highly volatile situation on the brink of a wider war.
Key Events
Anglo-Soviet Invasion of Iran
The UK and Soviet Union invade neutral Iran to secure oil fields and supply lines, deposing the ruling Shah and installing his 21-year-old son, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.
Oil Nationalization
Iran's democratically elected Prime Minister, Mohammad Mossadegh, with unanimous parliamentary approval, nationalizes the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company.
Operation Ajax
Britain's MI6 and America's CIA orchestrate a military coup that overthrows Prime Minister Mossadegh and elevates the Shah to an authoritarian dictator.
Shah Flees Iran
Amidst a full-scale revolution, Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi flees Iran, leading to the collapse of the monarchy and the rise of the Islamic Republic.
Iran Hostage Crisis Begins
Revolutionary students storm the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, taking 52 American diplomats and civilians hostage for 444 days.
Operation Eagle Claw Fails
A US military mission to rescue the American hostages ends in disaster in the Iranian desert, killing eight American soldiers.
Iran-Iraq War Begins
Saddam Hussein's Iraq launches a full-scale invasion of Iran, beginning an eight-year war in which the U.S. would later support Iraq.
Beirut Barracks Bombing
A massive truck bombing, attributed to the Iran-backed group Hezbollah, strikes a military compound in Beirut, killing 241 American and 58 French soldiers.
State Sponsor of Terrorism Designation
The United States officially designates Iran as a State Sponsor of Terrorism, citing its support for groups like Hezbollah.
Operation Praying Mantis
The U.S. Navy launches its largest naval surface engagement since WWII against Iran in the Persian Gulf, destroying two Iranian oil platforms and sinking or damaging half of its navy.
Iran Air Flight 655 Shot Down
The American cruiser USS Vincennes shoots down Iran Air Flight 655 over the Strait of Hormuz, killing all 290 people on board, after misidentifying it as a fighter jet.
Total Embargo Enacted
The Clinton administration imposes a total embargo on all dealings with Iran by American companies.
'Axis of Evil' Speech
In his State of the Union address, President George W. Bush labels Iran, along with Iraq and North Korea, as part of an 'Axis of Evil'.
Iran Nuclear Deal (JCPOA) Signed
The Obama administration, along with other world powers, negotiates the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), where Iran agrees to limit its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.
US Withdraws from JCPOA
President Donald Trump withdraws the United States from the 2015 Iran Nuclear Deal and reinstates economic sanctions.
Assassination of Qasem Soleimani
A U.S. drone strike in Baghdad, ordered by President Trump, kills Iranian Major General Qasem Soleimani, the second most powerful figure in Iran.
Operation Martyr Soleimani & Flight 752 Tragedy
Iran launches retaliatory ballistic missile strikes against U.S. military bases in Iraq. Hours later, Iran's air defenses mistakenly shoot down Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752, killing all 176 people on board.
US Strikes on Iranian Nuclear Facilities
The US military, in coordination with Israel, launched air and submarine strikes targeting three key Iranian nuclear facilities—Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan—using over 125 aircraft and precision munitions. The operation, referred to as Iran Operation Midnight Hammer, aimed to cripple Iran’s nuclear program. President Trump claimed the essential enrichment sites had been 'completely and totally obliterated.' Iran pledged retaliation.
Iran Attacks US Military Bases in Qatar and Iraq
Iran launched missile attacks on US military bases at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar and Ain al-Assad base in western Iraq. The attacks were in retaliation for the US and Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. Qatar reported that the attack on Al Udeid was successfully intercepted, resulting in no casualties; similar reports came from Iraq. Iran warned of broader confrontation if further provoked.
Full Analysis
The relationship between the United States and Iran is one of the most complex and hostile in the world. For over four decades, the two nations have had no diplomatic relations and have come to the brink of war on several occasions. The most recent crisis occurred in early 2020, when a series of escalating events nearly triggered a massive conflict.
The origins of this conflict trace back to the early 20th century when the British discovered oil in Iran. They established the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company, but the terms were exploitative, with Britain taking 84% of the profits. During World War II, Britain and the Soviet Union invaded neutral Iran to secure these oil fields and prevent the country from aligning with Nazi Germany. They overthrew the ruling Shah and installed his young, more pliable son, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.
After the war, popular discontent in Iran grew. In 1951, Iran's democratically elected Prime Minister, Mohammad Mossadegh, nationalized the oil industry. In response, Britain's MI6 and America's CIA orchestrated a military coup in 1953. They overthrew Mossadegh and reinstalled the Shah, this time as an authoritarian dictator. This act cemented the Shah's image among many Iranians as a Western puppet.
For the next 25 years, the Shah was a staunch US ally during the Cold War. However, his oppressive regime, run by a brutal secret police, and his secular, pro-Western policies alienated large segments of the Iranian population. By the late 1970s, widespread unrest had morphed into a full-scale revolution. In early 1979, the Shah fled the country.
The revolution gave rise to the Islamic Republic of Iran, a totalitarian theocracy led by Ayatollah Khomeini, which was radically anti-American. When the US allowed the exiled Shah into the country for medical treatment, Iranian revolutionaries, fearing another CIA-backed coup, stormed the US Embassy in Tehran and took 52 American diplomats and civilians hostage. The hostage crisis lasted for 444 days. A failed US rescue attempt, Operation Eagle Claw, ended in disaster, and the US severed all diplomatic ties with Iran, which have remained frozen ever since.
Shortly after, in September 1980, Saddam Hussein's Iraq invaded Iran, starting a brutal eight-year war. The US, hoping to destabilize Iran's new regime, heavily supported Iraq with weapons and intelligence. During this period, the US also accused Iran of sponsoring terrorist attacks against American targets through its client, Hezbollah, including the 1983 Beirut barracks bombing that killed 241 US soldiers. In 1984, the U.S. designated Iran a State Sponsor of Terrorism.
Direct military clashes between the US and Iran erupted in the Persian Gulf. In 1988, the US Navy launched Operation Praying Mantis, destroying two Iranian oil platforms and a significant portion of its navy. Three months later, the American cruiser USS Vincennes mistakenly shot down Iran Air Flight 655, a civilian airliner, killing all 290 people on board.
In the 1990s, the US imposed a total economic embargo on Iran. Following the 9/11 attacks, President George W. Bush labeled Iran as part of an "Axis of Evil." The 2003 US invasion of Iraq, which toppled Saddam Hussein, convinced Iran that it needed nuclear weapons to deter a similar attack.
Years of diplomacy to curb Iran's nuclear ambitions led to the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), or the Iran Nuclear Deal, in which Iran agreed to limit its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. However, in 2018, President Donald Trump withdrew the US from the deal and reimposed crippling sanctions, causing relations to deteriorate once again.
Tensions reached a boiling point in early 2020. On January 3rd, a US drone strike assassinated Major General Qasem Soleimani, one of Iran's most powerful military leaders. Iran retaliated five days later by launching ballistic missiles at US bases in Iraq. While no Americans were killed, which allowed both sides to de-escalate, tragedy struck when Iran's air defense, on high alert, mistakenly shot down a Ukrainian passenger jet, killing all 176 people on board.
The events of 2020 brought the US and Iran closer to all-out war than ever before, a crisis that was narrowly averted. The incident underscores the deeply precarious nature of the peace and the long, troubled history that continues to fuel the conflict.