The Middle East beyond the border: Israel strikes Iran

On Saturday, February 28, Israel launched a missile attack on Iran, stating the need to neutralize the threat. Against the background of a sharp escalation of the situation, the country's Defense Minister Yisrael Katz declared a state of emergency throughout the country. In turn, US President Donald Trump announced the launch of an operation against the Islamic Republic. The current developments in the region, the reaction of the parties and possible scenarios for the further development of the conflict are described in the Izvestia article.

A blow to Iran: what happened, the latest news

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched a missile attack on targets in Iran, the Israeli Defense Ministry said. The department stated that the operation is aimed at neutralizing threats to national security. A special state of emergency has been imposed throughout Israel, the country's airspace has been closed, residents have been advised not to leave their homes unnecessarily, and mass events have been canceled. Only life support services continue to operate.

According to the Iranian media, at least five explosions occurred in Tehran. The Fars news agency reported hits along Daneshgah Avenue and in the Jomhuri area, smoke was also observed in the Pastur area. During the second wave of the attack, as reported by Reuters, the residence of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian was hit. In total, according to these data, more than 30 targets were attacked, including the intelligence headquarters of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Tehran airport.

An Iranian official told the agency that the country's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Peseshkian were in a safe place outside the capital. There was no official information on the extent of the destruction and possible casualties at the time of publication.

According to American media reports, the operation was carried out by Israel in conjunction with the United States. In Israel itself, increased security measures continue to operate amid expectations of a possible retaliatory strike from Tehran.

Earlier, amid a sharp escalation of the situation, the Omani Foreign Ministry said that Iran was ready to abandon its existing stocks of enriched uranium, which could be seen as an attempt to reduce tensions and return to diplomatic dialogue.

Earlier, on Saturday night, US President Donald Trump announced a "difficult decision" on Iran. He noted that he was dissatisfied with the progress of negotiations on the Islamic Republic's nuclear program and again called on Tehran to completely abandon uranium enrichment. These statements were made against the background of the deterioration of US-Iranian relations and the growing risks of further escalation in the region.

Washington and Tehran's position on the background of escalation

US President Donald Trump announced the start of the operation. "The purpose [of the operation] is to protect the American people by eliminating the immediate threats from the Iranian regime," Trump said, a recording of his speech posted on his page on the Truth Social network. He also assured that "he will take care to deprive Iran of the opportunity to obtain nuclear weapons." He demanded that Iran conclude a new agreement on its nuclear program. According to him, in case of refusal, the Islamic Republic can expect a "much more powerful attack" than the one that occurred last summer. The American leader stressed that Washington expects Tehran to completely abandon uranium enrichment.

Iran, in turn, insists on the right to develop nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. The republic's authorities declare that they will continue enriching uranium regardless of external pressure, even if it leads to a military confrontation. Tehran also warned of its readiness to respond to any attacks, including limited strikes on its territory.

Despite ongoing diplomatic contacts, the United States is strengthening its military presence in the Middle East. At the end of January, Washington sent a significant group of ships to the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf. According to media reports, more than 150 aircraft and about a third of the American fleet are concentrated near the Iranian borders, which experts consider as a signal of readiness for a possible escalation.

Iran's response: preparing for a crushing blow

After the Israeli strikes on the territory of Iran, the Iranian authorities declared their readiness for a "crushing" response. According to Reuters, citing an Iranian official, Tehran is considering all possible measures to repel attacks and protect the country's key facilities.

Officials stress that any Israeli actions will be met with strong resistance, including attacks on military infrastructure and strategic facilities. The Iranian authorities also warn that the response measures will be proportionate and may cover not only local but also regional targets, increasing tensions in the Middle East.

Discussions in Washington: betting on an Israeli strike

Discussions about a possible escalation scenario around Iran were conducted in the administration of US President Donald Trump even before Israel launched strikes on Iranian territory. This is reported by Politico, citing sources familiar with the course of the closed consultations.

According to the newspaper, senior advisers to the American leader considered the option in which Israel would be the first to attack Iran. The White House assumed that such a move was highly likely to provoke a response from Tehran, which in turn could make it easier for Washington to decide on further intervention. The administration believed that public support in the United States would be higher if the conflict began after an attack on an ally or American facilities.

As Politico notes with reference to a JL Partners poll, many Americans, including those from among the supporters of the Republican Party, generally support a tough course towards Iran. However, the willingness to accept losses among the US military remains limited. In this regard, the White House, according to sources, took into account not only strategic, but also domestic political factors.

The interlocutors of the publication emphasize that against the background of these discussions, the administration considered both the scenario of independent Israeli actions and the option of a joint American-Israeli operation. At the same time, the United States continued diplomatic contacts on Iran's nuclear program, sending a negotiating group to Geneva. Nevertheless, according to Politico, the military option in the president's entourage also remained on the agenda.

Russia's reaction to Israel's actions

The Russian side reacted to the situation already during the first attempts of Israeli strikes on the territory of Iran, committed in mid-June 2025. At that time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation condemned the actions of the Israeli military, saying that the operation violated the UN Charter and international law.

At that moment, the Foreign Ministry stressed that the Israeli authorities had made a choice "in favor of further escalation of tension and raising the stakes," and warned that the responsibility for possible consequences would fall on the Israeli leadership. The Foreign Ministry said in a statement that "unprovoked military strikes against a sovereign UN member state, its citizens, sleeping peaceful cities, and nuclear energy infrastructure facilities are categorically unacceptable."

Moscow also called on international organizations to give an objective assessment of what is happening. In particular, the Russian side expressed the expectation that the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, would present a balanced analysis of the consequences of attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities. The Foreign Ministry noted that the strikes were carried out on the eve of the next round of indirect talks between Tehran and Washington on the nuclear program.