What in the World Iran: What we know so far
Mar 2, 2026
A fast-moving breakdown of why the US and Israel struck Iran and what that means for the region. A profile of Iran’s supreme leader and the divided public reaction to his death. An account of Iran’s military response and the cross-border strikes that followed. Practical updates on fuel, flights and daily life as tensions reshape travel and commerce.
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US and Israel Cite Nuclear Threats And Longstanding Hostility
- The US and Israel launched a coordinated military operation against Iran citing decades of hostility and nuclear concerns.
- President Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu framed the strikes as preventing Iran's nuclear development and responding to an alleged long campaign of attacks against the US and Israel.
Contrasting Tehran Voices Show Relief And Fear
- BBC reporters received contrasting messages from Iranians: one anonymous Tehran man feared the future while wanting democracy, another student sent celebratory emojis and hoped this would spark change.
- Internet shutdowns made verifying voices hard, so these personal messages illustrate both relief and anxiety among citizens.
Khamenei's Death Weakens But Doesn't Shatter Iran's System
- Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's role was deeply powerful and institutional, not merely personal, making Iran's system resilient.
- Khamenei had ruled as Supreme Leader since 1989 and wielded authority beyond the president, so his death unsettles but doesn't automatically collapse the regime.