The US–Israel war on Iran: defensive strikes, or illegal aggression?

Published May 30, 2026 · 08:00 GMT

Since February 2026 the US and Israel have bombed Iran — killing top officials, including the supreme leader — while Iran has fired back and squeezed the Strait of Hormuz. Each side calls the other the aggressor.

The summary above is a neutral framing. Below, each side reports the same story in its own words — judge for yourself.

Iran (state media)

Tehran casts the war as an illegal, unprovoked assault by the US and 'the Zionist regime' — citing strikes on schools, heritage sites and civilians and hundreds of billions in damage — and frames its missile barrages and Hormuz closure as legitimate self-defence.

US & Israel

Washington and Israel present their strikes as a necessary campaign to cripple Iran's nuclear and military programs and its regional proxies, with Trump at one point demanding Iran's 'unconditional surrender.'

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