The 2026 US–Iran war followed decades of hostility, a disputed nuclear programme and earlier military exchanges. This explainer separates the decision to launch strikes from each government’s stated reasons.
The Strait of Hormuz connects major Gulf energy exporters with world markets. Its importance comes from the scale of oil and gas shipments, limited alternatives and the difference between a threat to shipping and an actual interruption.
Iran and Israel’s confrontation grew from a political break after 1979, rival security strategies, armed partnerships and the nuclear dispute. Direct attacks in 2024 and the wars of 2025 and 2026 changed its scale.
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