ByMike Stunson,
Forbes Staff.
Topline
The U.S. and Israel launched strikes against Iran Saturday as President Donald Trump announced “major combat operations” to overthrow Tehran’s leadership, ing weeks of military buildup in the region and the U.S. urging Iran to scale down its nuclear program—which Trump now says he wants to destroy.
Smoke rises on the skyline after an explosion in Tehran, Iran, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026.
Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Timeline
12:43 p.m. ESTMore than 200 people have been killed in Iran, according to Iranian Red Crescent spokesperson Mojtaba Khaledi, who told the BBC 24 of the country’s 31 provinces have been hit, resulting in 747 injuries.
12:35 p.m. ESTCiting officials, the Associated Press reported some 85 people were now dead ing the strike on an elementary school.
10:35 a.m. EST“Several senior figures” from the Iran regime were killed in the initial strikes, an Israeli military official told the BBC.
9:45 a.m. ESTInterviewed on NBC News, Araghchi said Iran was interested in de-escalation talks but said a regime change was “mission impossible.”
8:07 a.m. ESTIranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said “dozens of innocent children” were killed when an Israeli strike hit an elementary school in southern Iran earlier in the morning, with Araghchi saying the “crimes against the Iranian People will not go unanswered.”
4:54 a.m. ESTIranian state television said Iran countered the Israeli and United States strikes by attacking four U.S. bases in the Middle East, according to NBC News; additional attacks were later carried out as missiles were fired in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan.
2:30 a.m. ESTTrump took credit for the strikes, saying in a video posted on Truth Social the United States’ objective “is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime,” which the president described as “a vicious group of very hard, terrible people” whose “menacing activities directly endanger the United States” and its allies.
Feb. 28, 1:45 a.m. ESTExplosions were reported in multiple locations in Tehran and several other Iranian cities, according to the Islamic Republic News Agency.
Is Israel’s Supreme Leader Still Alive?
Araghchi said in his interview with NBC News that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is still alive “as far as I know.” His comments refute statements from unnamed Israeli sources, who told Channel 12 Khamenei had been killed in a strike. Satellite images obtained by The New York Times show his Tehran compound was destroyed, though his whereabouts are unknown. Reuters said Khamenei was expected to give a speech Saturday.
Key Background
The strikes come after months of escalating confrontation between Iran and Israel that increasingly drew in the U.S., whose officials warned Tehran’s nuclear program had advanced past diplomatic limits. Israel and Iran exchanged strikes last June, attacks that culminated in the U.S. striking Iranian nuclear sites before brokering a months-long ceasefire alongside Qatar. Tensions reignited in late 2025 when the Iranian economy collapsed and nationwide protests were met with a violent state crackdown. Hostility between the U.S. and Iran, who have been geopolitical rivals for decades, has intensified in recent years amid disputes over Iran’s nuclear program.
Republican Officials Respond To Strikes
Thomas Massie, R-Ky., a frequent critic of Trump, said he is opposed to the war: “This is not ‘America First,’” referencing Trump’s often-used rhetoric. Other Republicans sided with Trump, including Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who wrote on X he is “confident this operation will be successful and the liberation of the long suffering people of Iran is at hand.” Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., commended Trump for taking action against Iran, writing on X that Iran’s “relentless nuclear ambitions, its expanded ballistic missile inventory and its unwavering support for terror groups in the region” posed threats to the U.S. Former Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said Iran “deserves no sympathy,” saying in a post on X it’s regime “relishes on killing Arabs, Israelis (and) Americans.” Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Ark., the head of the House Intelligence Committee, said the safety of Americans is at stake because of Iran’s nuclear weapons: “President Trump has given Iran plenty of opportunities to take the diplomatic route.”
What Have Democratic Leaders Said?
Some of the most high-profile Democratic officials in the U.S. have denounced the attacks on Iran, including Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., a retired U.S. Navy Captain who believes Trump began the strikes without a plan: “When I launched on my first combat mission during Operation Desert Storm , I understood the mission and the end goal. So did Congress. So did the American people. That’s the minimum level of leadership this country deserves. And Donald Trump has failed again at that.” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said dragging the U.S. into a war could be catastrophic, writing, “Violence begets violence. We learned this lesson in Iraq. We learned this lesson in Afghanistan. And we are about to learn it again in Iran. Bombs have yet to create enduring democracies in the region and this will be no different.” Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said the Trump administration needs to brief Congress on the military actions, writing on X, “Iran must never be allowed to attain a nuclear weapon but the American people do not want another endless and costly war in the Middle East when there are so many problems at home.” John Fetterman, D-Pa., a moderate Democratic who has often sided with Trump, said the president “has been willing to do what’s right and necessary to produce real peace in the region.”
Opec+ May Increase Oil Supply
OPEC+, a powerful alliance of countries that produce oil, will meet Sunday and may consider increasing oil output to 411,000 barrels per day amid fears of supply disruption, according to Reuters. It had originally planned an increase of 137,000 daily barrels.
Flights Canceled Throughout Middle East
At least eight Middle Eastern states closed their airspace Saturday, according to Al Jazeera. Qatar Airways said early Saturday it was temporarily suspending all of its flights, and Emirates said its flights to and from Dubai were canceled. As of 10 a.m. EST, there were nearly 350 flights canceled out of Dubai and almost 150 total from Abu Dhabi and Bahrain.
How Have U.s. Allies And
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said it has planes “in the sky today” in the Middle East to protect its country and allies, saying in an address, “It is vital we prevent further escalation and return to a diplomatic process,” according to the BBC. Canada is not participating in the strikes, but Prime Minister Mark Carney said he supports the U.S. efforts. “Canada’s position remains clear: The Islamic Republic of Iran is the principal source of instability and terror throughout the Middle East, has one of the world’s worst human rights records and must never be allowed to obtain or develop nuclear weapons,” Carney said. Ursula von der Leyen, head of the European Commission, said the strikes were “greatly concerning,” and announced a meeting of security officials Monday. Russia called the attack “pre-planned” and “unprovoked,” adding it was “in violation of the fundamental principles and norms of international law,” according to a statement to its state-run TASS news agency.
What Did Trump Say In His Speech?
In his early-morning speech Saturday, Trump said the U.S. and Iran have been at odds for nearly a half-century, calling the country the “world’s No. 1 state sponsor of terror.” Trump, who said last summer Iran’s nuclear program had been “obliterated,” said Iran continued to develop long-range missiles: “We will ensure that Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon. It’s a very simple message. They will never have a nuclear weapon.” He called upon the Iranian people to “seize control of your destiny.” “When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations,” Trump told the Iranian people.
Further Reading
U.S. Embassy In Israel Urges Staff To Evacuate Amid Threat Of Iran Attack (Forbes)
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