The United States is striking Iran mainly to cripple its missile and nuclear capabilities, punish Tehran for attacks by its regional proxies, and try to weaken or even topple the current Iranian government.

Big picture: what’s happening?

In late February 2026, the US and Israel launched large-scale air and missile strikes against targets inside Iran.

Washington says these are “significant military operations” aimed at Iran’s military infrastructure, especially missiles and related industries.

US President Donald Trump framed the campaign as a response to an “imminent threat” from Iran and as a way to push Iranians to overthrow their rulers.

Main reasons the US gives

1. Iran’s missile program

Trump has said the goal is to “obliterate” Iran’s missile capabilities and “demolish their missile industry completely,” and he has also talked about destroying Iran’s navy.

US officials argue that Iran’s growing arsenal of ballistic and cruise missiles threatens US forces, Israel, and Arab states in the region.

Key points often cited:

  • Iran has built and supplied missiles and drones to groups like Hezbollah, the Houthis, and others.
  • These systems have been used or threatened against Israel, Gulf oil infrastructure, and US bases.
  • The US says reducing Iran’s missile capacity lowers the risk of future large, sudden attacks.

2. Nuclear worries

The strikes come after years of tension over Iran’s nuclear program and after earlier US attacks in 2025 and 2026 on Iranian nuclear facilities.

US leaders say they want to ensure Iran never gets a nuclear weapon and argue Iran is enriching uranium far beyond civilian needs.

Recent context:

  • The US and its partners demanded a permanent end to all uranium enrichment, strict limits on ballistic missiles, and an end to support for proxies.
  • Iran insists its program is peaceful but has expanded enrichment to levels Western officials describe as close to weapons‑grade.
  • Washington claims diplomacy and pressure didn’t stop Iran’s advances, so military action was needed to “disrupt its path to a nuclear weapon.”

3. Proxy attacks and regional escalation

Since the Gaza war in 2023, Iran‑backed militias (such as Hamas, Hezbollah, Yemeni Houthis, and groups in Iraq and Syria) have repeatedly attacked Israel, US bases, and shipping in the region.

US officials see Tehran as directing or enabling these attacks and say the strikes are meant to deter Iran and its allies from further aggression.

Important background:

  • Iran‑linked groups carried out more than 200 attacks on US targets after the Gaza conflict escalated.
  • The Houthis have targeted commercial shipping and fuel routes, raising global economic concerns.
  • Trump has explicitly said he wants Iran’s “proxies” like Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis to “no longer create instability in the region or globally.”

4. Pressure on the regime itself

Trump has gone further than past presidents by tying the strikes to a desire to weaken or even topple the Iranian government.

He has urged members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard to lay down their arms, promising immunity and warning that refusing means “certain death.”

Analysts say:

  • Some in Washington see this as a chance to hit a regime that is economically and politically weakened after protests and sanctions.
  • Options reportedly included targeting political and military leadership, not just bases and factories, which makes this look more like a broad coercive campaign than a one‑off strike.
  • Critics warn that aiming for regime change without a clear plan risks a wider, longer war.

How we got here

A few key steps that led up to the current strikes:

  1. Years of nuclear and missile disputes, US withdrawal from earlier nuclear deals, and waves of US sanctions.
  1. The Gaza war and subsequent surge in attacks by Iran‑backed groups across the region, including on US bases.
  1. Large Iranian anti‑government protests, followed by a crackdown; Trump publicly backed the protesters and threatened Iran’s leadership.
  1. US “armada” deployments to the Middle East and earlier US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites in 2025, which Trump claimed had “obliterated” Iran’s program.
  1. Breakdown or stalling of negotiations over Iran’s nuclear and missile programs, followed by the decision to launch this broader campaign.

Other perspectives and debates

Different actors frame the “why” very differently:

  • US administration view: Necessary self‑defence, preventing a nuclear‑armed Iran, and stopping missile and proxy threats while supporting the Iranian people against their rulers.
  • Iran’s view: Claims the US and Israel are committing aggression to maintain regional dominance and punish Iran for supporting Palestinian and other resistance groups; it insists its nuclear program is peaceful.
  • Analysts and critics: Some argue strikes may delay nuclear or missile programs but also strengthen hardliners in Tehran, invite heavy retaliation, and increase the risk of a wider regional war.

An example of this tension: experts note that while the US may see this as a short, sharp campaign to change Iran’s calculations, Iran may respond with missile salvos across the region and attacks on US assets, making the conflict much bigger than intended.

TL;DR:
The US says it is striking Iran to destroy or severely weaken its missile and nuclear capabilities, punish Tehran for proxy attacks, and pressure a weakened regime, while critics warn this could spiral into a large regional war.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.