Israel and Iran have been engaged in a long-standing proxy conflict, with both sides accusing the other of threatening regional stability. However, tensions between the United States and Iran stretch back decades.
“It probably goes all the way back to the 1950s,” Miami Palmetto Senior High Advanced Placement Comparative Government and Politics teacher Mr. Spiegelman said.
Spiegelman also notes that the Iran Hostage Crisis from November 1979 to January 1981 added tension.
“I remember pretty clearly all of it. I mean, like right after Ayatollah Khomeini came back, the U.S. embassy was taken hostage, it was really rough,” Spiegelman said.
On Feb. 28, the U.S. launched strikes against Iran, escalating the conflict. President Donald Trump justified the strikes by citing the possibility of Iran acquiring nuclear weapons and concluded that bombing the country was the quickest solution. Viewing the U.S. military as superior to Iran’s, Trump believes the war will die off in a matter of weeks.
Under Trump, the relationship between Iran and the U.S. has shifted, particularly after the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement.
“He revoked a deal that was put in place by the Obama administration,” Spiegelman said.
Revoking the 2015 nuclear deal was a controversial topic because it placed limits on the development of nuclear weapons in Iran in exchange for sanctions relief. Supporters argued that this decision gave Iran too much flexibility, while critics argued that it increased tensions and reduced oversight.
“The United States has always been trying to stop Iran’s desire to build a nuclear weapon because it’s a dangerous place run by a dangerous government, and dangerous governments holding dangerous weapons is troubling globally,” Spiegelman said.
President Trump has said strikes have been in pursuit of national safety, while Iranian officials have maintained that their actions are defensive.
Military bases, airports and infrastructure such as oil facilities have been targeted, and Iran has retaliated. Iran has attacked using drones and missiles, targeting U.S. bases in the Middle East and Gulf countries such as Bahrain, Qatar and the UAE.
Currently, the war has caused major casualties, with over 1,100 civilians in Iran losing their lives.
These efforts appear likely to persist, as expressed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who claims that Israel will continue to attack Iran with all its might.
Some U.S. politicians have also criticized Trump, emphasizing that he has not fully justified the means for war to Congress or to the public.
The conflict has also affected global powers, many of which have expressed concerns over its potential to expand. China, for example, has warned that the war will spread and calls for its de-escalation. Additionally, diesel and oil prices have increased to levels not seen in years due to the disruption to the Strait of Hormuz, a major oil route. Due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, key global oil transportation routes have been compromised, increasing gas prices in the U.S., with prices reaching the largest monthly increase since Hurricane Katrina.
“Many young people drive cars and hold the responsibility of paying for gas. Now, young people all over America must face these climbing gas prices,” senior Mila Jaramillo said.
Due to growing concerns, the U.S. plans a military coalition to reopen the shipping route. With the White House attempting to escort oil tankers safely through the Strait of Hormuz, other countries question whether joining the war would be safe, as Iran has reportedly been placing naval mines in the waterway.
The war is spreading across the region as violence and proxy engagement increase. The U.S. has launched military operations, such as Operation Epic Fury, seeking to dismantle Iran’s security infrastructure, though it has led to losses on the American front.
Now, the condition of the new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, remains unknown. The U.S reports having wounded the leader, while Iranian officials say he finds himself in perfect health.
“The notion of helping Iran by removing a leader and every other contender to become the leader is not only irresponsible but extremely thoughtless,” Jaramillo said.
As the war escalates, global powers express fear of the potential consequences of this war.
