Context:

Israel launched a significant attack on Iran, targeting nuclear and military facilities, marking an escalation in their long-standing conflict. This move follows years of negotiations and tensions surrounding Iran's nuclear program, initiated by the Iran nuclear deal under President Obama and later dismantled by President Trump. The attack killed three top Iranian generals and has increased uncertainty in US-Iran relations, especially as previous efforts to revive the nuclear deal under President Biden have stalled. The conflict has further intensified with Iran's largest missile attack against Israel and subsequent retaliatory strikes. A UN resolution has criticized Iran for non-compliance with nuclear obligations, adding to the geopolitical tensions in the region.

Dive Deeper:

• Israel's recent attack on Iran focused on key nuclear and military sites and resulted in the deaths of three top Iranian military generals, escalating tensions in the region and adding complexity to ongoing US-Iran negotiations.

• The Iran nuclear deal, established in July 2015 under President Obama, aimed to ensure Iran's nuclear program remained peaceful, but was disavowed by President Trump in 2017, leading to increased sanctions and the eventual US withdrawal in 2018.

• Efforts to revive the nuclear deal under President Biden have faced challenges, with initial progress stalling and the administration expressing reluctance to pursue further negotiations, especially following Iran's enrichment of uranium to nearly weapons-grade levels.

• The conflict reached new heights with Iran's largest missile attack on Israel in October 2024, consisting of 180 ballistic missiles, prompting direct retaliatory strikes from Israel aimed at dismantling Iran's nuclear and military capabilities.

• A UN-backed atomic watchdog recently passed a resolution indicating Iran's non-compliance with nuclear non-proliferation obligations, further complicating international diplomatic efforts and increasing regional instability.

• The ongoing conflict has been characterized by a series of tit-for-tat attacks, with Israel's latest offensive being part of an eight-month-long buildup following Iranian proxy attacks.

• The geopolitical landscape has been further strained by the lack of explicit US backing for Israel's actions, reflecting a complex web of alliances and enmities in the Middle East.