US strikes escalate US-Iran tensions significantly

The United States launched direct military strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, escalating tensions and marking a significant shift in the long-standing US-Iran relationship. This unprecedented action by the US president, who previously vowed peace, has broken a long-held taboo against direct military confrontation with Iran, sparking global alarm. The strikes represent the most consequential move of his second term. Iran's response, under the leadership of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is now critical, as he seeks to protect the Islamic Republic after decades of strategic maneuvering against the US.