With international tensions constantly on the rise, another surprise hit the news as Israel and the United States paired up in a controversial team effort to attack Iran. Although both nations have been long-standing adversaries of Iran since the late 70s, many people question the grounds on which the United States and Israel stand to go to war with Iran.
On February 28th, 2026, the US and Israel engaged in “preemptive strikes” on Iran due to its potential threat to both nations, particularly Israel. One leading threat includes the worry that Iran may have been developing missiles made to hold nuclear weapons since the Twelve-Day War in June of 2025, in which Israel struck military bases and nuclear facilities in Iran.
Although Israel’s goals for Iran are abundantly clear — with the majority of its government believing Iran is in great need of regime change for its threat to the nation’s presence in the Middle East — America’s intentions are more ambiguous.
“Operation Epic Fury,” the war as titled by the Trump Administration, is made to be a fast-paced campaign to destroy all of Iran’s missile arsenal, destroy its Navy, destroy the terrorist regime, and ensure the state can not have access to nuclear weapons.
Within the first strike upon Iran, one of these goals was thought to have been achieved; Iran’s longtime Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed during the first wave of bombings to the nation’s capital, Tehran, which marked a sign of relief for the citizens of Iran who had suffered under the government’s torturous behavior for too long.
But why go to war now? America has constantly interfered with Middle Eastern affairs over the decades, primarily due to the nation’s strong ties to the Israeli government, but it is questionable whether or not the United States intends to subdue the Iranian regime for the peace of the people or for regional market control.
Since the beginning of the war, gas prices in America have drastically surged due to the globally high oil demand, with Iran having been one of the largest oil competitors against the United States. Prices are so high, in fact, that they have risen to roughly $90-$100 per barrel of crude oil in international trade after historically costing between $65-$80.
Overall, Operation Epic Fury appears to be less well-intentioned for the freedom of the people of Iran, particularly because of the countless number of citizens who have already been made casualties, and more for the financial benefit of America’s economy. This, of course, is historically on brand for the United States.
