War in Middle East: USA attacks of Iran – what you need to know now

The United States attacked nuclear facilities in Iran at night: the underground uranium enrichment system in Fordo as well as facilities in Natans and Isfahan. US President Donald Trump speaks of a complete destruction of the facilities and threatens to attack even larger attacks if the Iranian side does not take a path of peace. Meanwhile, Iran’s nuclear organization said that despite the “malignant conspiracies of the enemies” Iran’s nuclear program was not stopped.

So much is still unclear – but some questions can already be answered. Here are the most important at the moment:

How do the United States justify its attacks?

Like Israel, the United States also argues that military intervention is necessary to prevent impending nuclear upgrading of Iran. Before the night attacks, Trump had repeatedly emphasized that Tehran should never get into the possession of an atomic bomb. From the US government’s point of view, the attacks of Israel, which made the American attacks, could have given the opportunity to significantly weaken the Iranian nuclear program with its own blow.

However, there is also a camp in Trump’s Republican Party that has long been aiming for a political coup in Tehran.

Is the US military particularly equipped?

According to experts, the Iranian nuclear system Fordo in the vicinity of the city of Ghom is in particular so deep underground that it can only be effectively attacked with a so-called bunker bomb bomb. Only the US military has this heavy bomb. US aircraft, such as Type B-2, is also needed for the transport of heavy ammunition. Exactly these have now been used, the usually very well -informed Israeli journalist Barak Ravid reported on the platform X, citing a senior Israeli official.

Experts argued that Israel could hardly achieve his declared war goal without direct military support from Washington.

Didn’t Trump actually want to negotiate with the Iranians?

In the weeks before the escalation, Trump was still on a negotiating solution and led several rounds of nuclear discussion with Tehran. According to the “New York Times”, he was initially skeptical about an Israeli solo. Accordingly, he urged Israel’s head of government Benjamin Netanyahu to wait with a military strike. But from Trump’s point of view, the dialogue with Tehran increasingly dragged on. He became impatient.

When Israel initiated the attack against Iran without open backing from Washington, Trump changed his course – much to the displeasure of the isolationist wing of his party, which clearly rejects the United States’ military intervention in Iran.

Does Iran have nuclear weapons at all?

Political leadership in Tehran claims that their nuclear program only serves civil purposes. However, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and many states make concern that Tehran is closer to building an atomic bomb. Iran is the only nuclear -free state to produce uranium with almost gun -compatible purity. The IAEA does not have evidence of a systematic attempt by Iran to get nuclear weapons. However, IAEA boss Rafael Grossi did not rule out the US broadcaster CNN that there could have been hidden activities.

There have long been controversy about how far corresponding activities may have progressed. Against this background, the military approach of the United States and Israel against Iran is controversial under international law. Because in order to justify self -defense, an attack on the other side must be imminent or already in progress. A possible threat in the future is actually not enough, even if some states have already represented a further interpretation.

What role does Israel play for Trump?

The Middle East is of considerable geopolitical importance for the United States. Israel is considered a stable partner in an unstable region. US presidents of both parties have repeatedly emphasized that the security of Israel is part of the American self-image-if necessary also using military means. This applies to Trump in particular. The Republican already pursued a demonstrative proisraeli course during his first term.

Israel sees Iran as his arch enemy and was threatened by the suspected development of Iranian atomic bombs. The relationship between Washington and Tehran has also been extremely tense for decades. The two countries do not maintain diplomatic relationships. For Iran’s Shiite leadership, the slogan “Death for America” ​​is part of the standard repertoire.

Are the United States pursuing further goals with the attack?

The United States also accuses Iran of destabilizing the Middle East through the support of various militias, which they classify as terrorist groups – including the Hisbollah in Lebanon, the Huthi in Yemen and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. A weakening of Tehran in Washington should therefore also be seen as an opportunity to limit the influence of these groups.

Economic interests also play a role in this context. Since the beginning of the Gaza War, the security situation has intensified on important sea routes in the region. The Huthi increasingly attacked merchant ships in the Red Sea. The United States is therefore also concerned with the stability of global supply chains and energy prices.

How can Iran meet the USA?

The US military has many bases around the Persian Gulf, for example in Bahrain and Qatar. They are not very far from Iran and could be targeted. Around 40,000 US soldiers are currently stationed in the entire region. The question is whether such an escalation would be in the interest of Tehrans, since the USA should react to this with full hardness.

Another lever would be a blockade of the Hormus road. The approximately 55 -kilometer -wide meter between Iran and Oman is one of the most important shipping routes for global oil export, for example for exports from Saudi Arabia – and because of the attacks of the United States, upheavals are to be feared on the oil market anyway.

Is there now the real danger of a Third World War?

Russia repeatedly warns of the danger of a Third World War – but with a view to its own invasion in Ukraine, the West should use its own troops there and further escalate. With a view to the Middle East, Moscow’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs warns that there is a real atomic danger from Israel’s attacks on the nuclear energy systems, the world is promoting “a nuclear disaster”. However, the fact that Russia is at my side with troops is unlikely.

Isn’t Russia an ally of Iran?

Moscow and Tehran officially closed a strategic partnership that was officially respected this year. However, this does not contain a clause about a military support – unlike the agreement concluded between Russia and North Korea.

On the one hand, Russia tied resources with its war against Ukraine. On the other hand, Russia may not have an appetite for further complications in Middle East even after years of entanglement in the Syrian Civil War. In Syria, Russia ultimately failed with its ambitions to support the then ruler Bashar al-Assad. The Russian lead recently tried to dissuade the United States from an attack on Iran.