Breaking News - Attacks on Iran
Attacks
on Iran
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Attacks
on Iran
Yes
No
A little
Do you know about this?
What do you already know about...
The attack on Iran?
How do you feel about this news?
At the end
of this lesson
you can explain why the United States and Israel have attacked Iran.
You understand the UK position on the attack.
What's going on?
What?
The United States and Israel have conducted military attacks on Iran.
Where?
The attacks were carried out on Iran, a large country in the Middle East.
When?
The attacks began on 28 February 2026 and are still ongoing.
Key Figures
US
President Trump of the United States has long wanted to put an end to Iran's nuclear weapons programme.
Israel
Prime Minister Netanyahu sees Iran as a major threat to the existence of his country.
Iran
Ayatollah Khamenei denies wanting to develop nuclear weapons and speaks of foreign aggression. Update: The Iranian leader has been killed in a joint US-Israeli airstrike
Background
What do you need to know to understand this?
Iran has been working on nuclear technology for years. Other countries fear that Iran wants to make a nuclear weapon.
Israel sees Iran as a major threat.
The US and Iran have had longstanding tensions.
Previous attempts to make agreements about the nuclear programme have stalled.
The US wants to end the regime in Iran.
Why do
you think this is important news?
Why is this important?
Why is this important news?
It concerns a conflict between countries with strong armies.
The Middle East is an important region for oil and trade.
If more countries become involved, the conflict could escalate.
What does this mean?
What are the possible consequences?
War or threat can affect energy prices and travel.
It shows how quickly tensions between countries can escalate.
The Middle East is an important area for many religions. A conflict in this region stirs up a lot of emotions.
UK response
The UK-Iran situation is changing fast. As of 2 March 2026, the UK balances military aid to allies and claims it's not at war with Iran.
The RAF is active in the Middle East, intercepting Iranian drones and missiles targeting allies like Bahrain and Kuwait.
UK response
The RAF Akrotiri base in Cyprus was hit by an Iranian drone. The UK government said the runway had "minimal" damage and there were no injuries. This is a big development as the conflict has now reached Europe.
PM Sir Keir Starmer allows US to use UK bases for limited defence against Iranian missiles.
What could be a consequence?
Key Concepts
Regime
The government or leadership of a country.
Preventive Attack
An attack intended to prevent a threat from escalating.
Nuclear Weapons Programme
Research and development of weapons using nuclear fission or fusion.
Ayatollah
Spiritual leader of Iran
What question do you still have about this news?
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