Why are Iran and Israel fighting?
The Iran-Israel conflict is a decades-long struggle rooted in a pivotal shift in 1979. Before then, Iran and Israel were allies . However, Iran’s Islamic Revolution replaced the pro-West government with a cleric-led regime that made hostility toward Israel a core belief .
Today, they fight for several key reasons:
- Ideological Opposition: Iran rejects Israel’s right to exist and supports the Palestinian cause, viewing Israel as an illegitimate entity .
- Proxy Warfare: To avoid direct confrontation, Iran built the “Axis of Resistance,” funding and arming militant groups like Hezbollah and Hamas to fight Israel .
- Nuclear Program: Israel sees Iran’s nuclear program as an existential threat, given Iran’s calls for its destruction, and has vowed to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon .
Why is USA involved in this conflict?
The USA is deeply involved due to a longstanding alliance, viewing Iran as a shared strategic threat. This partnership has recently led to direct, coordinated military action .
Key aspects of the US role include:
- Military Alliance: The US provides Israel with billions in military aid and recently launched joint strikes on Iran, citing the need to preemptively protect American forces from retaliation .
- Nuclear Talks: The US has led diplomatic efforts to curb Iran’s nuclear program. Israel has publicly pressured the US to take a tougher line, demanding the complete dismantlement of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure .
- Diverging Views: Despite the alliance, the decision to attack has sparked debate, with critics arguing the US was drawn into a “war of choice” that serves Israel’s interests more than its own .
On what grounds are Israel and USA claiming that Iran was involved in making of nuclear weapon?
The US and Israel base their accusations against Iran’s nuclear program on three primary grounds, citing a combination of historical evidence, current technical capabilities, and a lack of transparency.
The Case presented by Israel and USA
- Historical Weapons Program: They point to evidence that Iran had an organized, clandestine nuclear weapons program up until 2003, which they argue provides a foundation of knowledge that could be reactivated .
- High-Level Enrichment: Iran has amassed a stockpile of over 440 kilograms of uranium enriched up to 60% purity . From a technical standpoint, this is just a short step away from weapons-grade (90%) . The Israeli ambassador recently stated Iran has the capacity to produce fissile material for a device in under two weeks .
- Lack of Transparency: Perhaps the most critical current issue is that Iran has denied IAEA inspectors access to its key nuclear sites since June 2025 . The IAEA reports it “cannot verify” the status of Iran’s program or the whereabouts of its enriched uranium stockpile .
For its part, Iran insists its program is exclusively for peaceful purposes, pointing to IAEA statements that it has not seen evidence of a structured weaponization program . However, the IAEA itself has called the loss of oversight “a loss of continuity of knowledge” that needs addressing with “utmost urgency” .
What Kind of weapons are being used in the Iran-Israel war?
The Iran-Israel war has seen both sides deploy a vast arsenal of advanced weapons, from ballistic missiles to stealth bombers and layered defense systems.
Iran’s offensive arsenal
Iran’s strategy relies on overwhelming volume and diverse attack vectors .
- Ballistic Missiles: The workhorse Shahab-3 , more accurate Emad and Ghadr variants , and the Khorramshahr-4 which carries a heavy payload and can disperse submunitions .
- Drones and Cruise Missiles: Swarms of low-cost Shahed-136 suicide drones are used to saturate defenses . They also use Paveh cruise missiles .
- Advanced & Contested Systems: Iran claims to have used the Fattah-1 hypersonic missile and missiles like the Rastakhiz and Sajjil . They have also reportedly used cluster munitions in strikes on Israel .
USA & Israel Arsenal
The US-Israel coalition combines stealth, precision, and a multi-layered defense network .
- Offensive Weapons: The coalition used over 3,000 munitions in the first 36 hours . This included B-2 stealth bombers dropping GBU-57 “bunker buster” bombs , Tomahawk cruise missiles , and a wide array of precision-guided bombs like JDAMs, Spice bombs, and AGM-154 JSOWs . The US even deployed the LUCAS drone, a direct copy of Iran’s Shahed .
- Fighter Jets: The US has deployed virtually its entire inventory, including F-22, F-35, F-16, F/A-18, and A-10 aircraft . Israel has used its F-35I Adir stealth fighters .
- Defensive Systems: A layered network intercepts incoming threats. This includes the Iron Dome (short-range), David’s Sling (medium-range), and Arrow system (long-range) for Israel . The US and Gulf allies have deployed Patriot PAC-2/3, THAAD, and SM-2/3/6 naval interceptors .
No of casualties
Based on the latest official figures from March 8-9, 2026, the war has resulted in significant casualties across multiple countries.
Iran
- Civilian Deaths: At least 1,332 civilians killed, including around 300 children .
- Total Deaths: Iran’s Foundation of Martyrs previously reported 1,230 total killed (including military) as of March 5 .
- Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was also killed on February 28, 2026, in a joint US-Israeli airstrike on his office compound in Tehran along with some of his family members.
Lebanon
- Total Deaths: 394 people killed since March 2, including 83 children .
Israel
- Military Deaths: Two soldiers killed in combat in southern Lebanon .
- Civilian Deaths: At least 10 civilians killed from Iranian missile strikes .
United States
- Military Deaths: Six U.S. service members killed in action .
Kuwait & UAE
- Civilian Deaths: One person killed in Kuwait, three in the UAE from falling debris .
Death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed on February 28, 2026, in a joint US-Israeli airstrike on his office compound in Tehran .
The Attack and Immediate Aftermath
The strike occurred during a meeting of top officials, killing Khamenei, several of his family members, and at least 40 senior military commanders, including the heads of the Armed Forces and the Revolutionary Guards . In response, Iran declared 40 days of national mourning .
Transition of Power and Succession
Following the constitution, a three-member interim council, including President Masoud Pezeshkian, now temporarily holds the Supreme Leader’s authority . According to recent reports, Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba Khamenei, is expected to be named as his permanent successor .
What economic consequences will the world suffer from this Iran-Israel war?
The Iran-Israel war is sending shockwaves through the global economy, primarily through surging energy costs and supply chain disruptions.
Energy Market Shock
The most immediate impact is on oil and gas prices. Following the conflict and the effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz—through which ~20% of the world’s oil passes—Brent crude briefly spiked above $119 . Goldman Sachs warns a prolonged closure could push prices to $150 . Qatar, supplying 20% of global LNG, declared force majeure on exports, threatening European and Asian energy security .
Global Inflation and Central Banks
IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva warned that a sustained 10% oil price rise could increase global inflation by 0.4 percentage points and cut growth by 0.1-0.2% . This creates a dilemma for central banks like the U.S. Federal Reserve, which may be forced to keep interest rates higher for longer to combat inflation, rather than cutting them to stimulate growth .
Regional Production Crater
Major Gulf producers are being hit directly:
- Iraq: Oil production has plummeted by nearly 60% .
- Kuwait: Announced precautionary production cuts .
- UAE: Managing offshore output levels due to storage issues .
Trade and Supply Chains Disrupted
The conflict has paralyzed global shipping. Giants like Maersk have suspended routes through the Suez Canal, forcing vessels to circumnavigate Africa . This adds weeks to delivery times and significantly increases freight costs. Crucially, ~33% of the world’s fertilizers (sulfur, ammonia) transit the Strait of Hormuz, threatening global food supply chains .
Emerging Markets at Risk
Fitch Ratings warns that emerging markets (like India, Pakistan) face acute challenges. As large energy importers (net fossil fuel imports equivalent to 3%+ of GDP), they face currency pressure and widening current account deficits . This could strain their access to international finance.
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