Dr Baljeet dissects the US-Israel operation Epic Fury against Iran on DifferentTruths.com, unravelling the roots of global turmoil.

On February 28, 2026, the US and Israel jointly launched a major military operation against Iran, codenamed Operation Epic Fury by the US and Operation Roaring Lion by Israel. This massive operation rattled the whole of the Middle East; nay, the whole world, as a matter of fact. When will this complicated, complex and baffling war end? Will it involve the whole world? These are key questions, hard to answer at this juncture. However, before jumping to any conclusion, it is imperative to review briefly the events that precipitated this crisis.

The relations between the United States and Iran have not been cordial since the Iranian Revolution of 1979. Iran became an Islamic Republic under Ayatollah Khomeini. He became the supreme leader of Iran after overthrowing Mohammed Reza Shah Pahlavi, who fled to America. Pahlavi was the US-backed ruler of Iran. As a matter of fact, Ayatollah considered the United States a dictatorial force meant to subjugate global nations with its economic and military power. It was hell-bent on destroying Iran at all costs with the support of its ally, Israel. America was thus Iran’s enemy number one, in the opinion of the Ayatollah.

Trade Embargo on Iran

So, when the American government permitted Shah to enter America, Khomeini was extremely enraged with it. Consequently, the Iranian students, with his approval, stormed the American embassy in Tehran on November 4, 1979, and took its 52 officials and citizens hostage. They were released after 444 days in captivity. Thereafter, diplomatic relations between the two nations were absolutely severed. The United States refused to purchase Iranian oil and seized all its assets in the United States. In addition, a trade embargo on Iran was also imposed.

Notwithstanding the extreme and persistent enmity between the two sovereign states for years together, Barack Obama, the US president, pursued a policy of rapprochement. Hence, with his strenuous efforts, a Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was signed between the two in 2015. By this agreement, Iran agreed to constrain uranium enrichment for nuclear weapons and, in return, would get relief from some sanctions imposed from time to time by the US.

Futile Effort

However, this effort was futile when President Donald Trump repudiated this agreement and withdrew from it in 2018. Having been offended by the arrogant and deceitful attitude of the US, the Iranians burnt the copies of the agreement in their assembly. And in retaliation, reverted to uranium enrichment activities for nuclear power. In 2020, the US drones killed Iranian general Qasem Soleimani in Iraq. This killing triggered massive demonstrations and protests in Iran against US brutalities.

In June 2025, the US Air Force bombed three Iranian nuclear sites – Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan. President Donald Trump then claimed they had obliterated all Iranian nuclear weapons. Now there is a massive war machinery build-up by the US in the Persian Gulf, Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea to be used to destroy Iran and effect regime change.

The United States considers the cleric regime under the Ayatollah in Iran as undemocratic and oppressive. Its objectives are to destroy Iranian ballistic missiles and its entire nuclear programme. It accuses Iran of human rights abuses and being a danger to the stability of the region and therefore intends to change this oppressive regime. Donald Trump had been warning the Iranian government to stop executing its protesters, failing which the US would launch a massive military operation.

Iran, a Threat to American Hegemony

As a matter of fact, America considers Iran a grave threat to its hegemony in the Middle East. Israel too considers it its staunch enemy, as Iran supports Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon and Houthis in Yemen. All these organisations are terrorists in the eyes of both Israel and the US. Israel is the most trusted and strongest ally of the US in the region. Both countries are strategic partners in all fields – economics, politics, military and technology. Both share intelligence with each other on all strategic matters. Israel, therefore, is a stepping stone for the US in the Middle East. Hence, it stands with Israel with all its might whenever the circumstances or situation demands. Iran, thus, is an eyesore for both of them. Hence, the gigantic military operation.

The military operation launched on 28 February by the US-Israel forces jointly against Iran killed its supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the successor of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Almost all important cities of Iran, including its capital, Tehran, and its defence system, were targeted. As reported by different sources, more than one thousand people have been killed so far. In counterstrikes, Iran launched drones and ballistic missiles at Israel and American military bases in the Gulf States – Qatar, Bahrain, the UAE, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia as well. Not only were the American military assets targeted, but also the energy infrastructure of these states. As a result, they stopped oil and LNG (liquefied natural gas) production. It caused an acute shortage of fuel, and its prices almost doubled in Europe in a few days. Moreover, Iran has threatened to block oil and gas shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. This strait is a narrow water pathway for oil and gas shipping from the Middle East to the rest of the world. About 20% of the total fuel passes through it. Iran holds full control over it.

Looking from all angles, the situation in the Middle East has become grim, worrying and volatile. All diplomatic efforts by some nations, like Oman and Qatar, for the cessation of hostilities have ended in futility. The war has now reached beyond the region. An Iranian military vessel – Dena – was sunk by the American submarine on the south coast of Sri Lanka when it was returning from Vishakhapatnam (India) after participating in a programme.

Iran’s Allies

Iranian allies Russia and China have requested an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council to resolve this dangerous situation, which could engulf the whole world. Both of them have most of the time used their veto power in favour of Iran. China has invested heavily in industrial projects and transportation in Iran. The Belt and Road Initiative runs through Iran.

China’s economic interests in Iran are certainly at stake. So, for the time being, China is closely watching the situation. Russia has its own compulsion, as it is involved in the prolonged Ukraine war and would not like to be dragged into another war. But, like China, Russia is viewing the turning of events carefully. Iran has deliberately attacked Gulf States to create chaos and pressure them to compel the United States and Israel to come to terms with Iran. Would these states side with the US and turn against Iran? Only time will tell.

Enough fuel has been stockpiled, and only a spark is needed to ignite it. The United Nations has failed to douse the fire and bring the situation under control. The arrogance of power only results in massive destruction and devastation across the world. Humanity has witnessed this in the First and Second World Wars. The world was divided into two hostile groups on the verge of these two wars, as it seems now. The arrogance of each group and mad race for armaments brought these two rival groups into a head-on collision, resulting in destruction never seen before. The leaders should shun their arrogance and learn a lesson from history.

Picture design by Anumita Roy

Dr Baljeet Singh Virk

Baljeet Singh Virk is a retired Associate Professor of History, from the
Government Mohindra College, Patiala, Punjab