On February 27 and 28, the United States launched a major military offensive against Iran, marking one of the most significant escalations in tensions between the two nations in decades. The operation, widely referred to as Operation Epic Fury, was justified by U.S. leaders as a necessary response to what they described as a growing and intolerable security threat from Tehran.
The most immediate reason the U.S. gave for the attack was Iran’s alleged refusal to comply with repeated demands to curb its nuclear programme and its development of long-range missiles that could threaten not only U.S. forces and allies but potentially European capitals and even the American homeland. U.S. officials argued that diplomatic negotiations had reached a dead end, and that Tehran had spurned offers meant to limit its nuclear activities — including proposals that, according to U.S. sources, involved providing “free nuclear fuel forever” if Iran agreed to forego weapons-related enrichment.
Beyond nuclear concerns, U.S. leaders also cited a history of hostility and violence linking Iran to attacks on American interests and allies. Statements from Washington referenced past events such as the 1979 seizure of the U.S. embassy in Tehran, when American diplomats were held hostage for 444 days, and attacks by Iranian-aligned groups that killed U.S. service members in Lebanon in the 1980s. More recently, U.S. officials accused Tehran of supporting militant groups that targeted Israel and other Western partners.
The offensive followed a period of rising tensions, including earlier U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear infrastructure. In June 2025, U.S. forces carried out Operation Midnight Hammer, striking three Iranian nuclear facilities — Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan — in an effort to degrade Tehran’s ability to enrich uranium at high levels. Although the U.S. government claimed these strikes had “obliterated” key parts of the Iranian nuclear programme, later assessments suggested only some sites were severely damaged while others might recover capacity over time.
Critics argue that the attack represents a dramatic escalation that could further destabilise the Middle East, increase the risk of wider conflict, and undermine diplomatic avenues. The United Nations and several nations have expressed concern about the legality and consequences of the strikes, urging a return to negotiations and warning against broader war.