After a month-long military buildup, the United States and Israel on Saturday launched strikes against Iran, killing at least 40 people. The attack comes amid negotiations between Washington and Tehran over Iran’s nuclear program and months of mass protests against the Islamic Republic.The United States and Iran have been arch enemies since the 1979 Islamic Revolution and the hostage crisis at the US Embassy in Tehran.
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Here are the main players in the Middle East crisis.US President Donald TrumpShortly after the attack, Trump warned Iranian forces to lay down their weapons and surrender in exchange for immunity — or face “certain death” — as the Middle East descends into full-scale conflict in the wake of coordinated US-Israeli strikes on multiple targets across Iran.In a televised speech on Truth Social, Trump confirmed the launch of a military operation targeting Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure.
He said: “To members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the Armed Forces, and all members of the police, I say tonight that you must lay down your weapons and obtain complete immunity, or, alternatively, face certain death.”Addressing the Iranians directly, he added: “The hour of your freedom is at hand. Stay protected. Do not leave your homes. The situation is very dangerous outside. Bombs will fall everywhere. And when we are done, take over your government.”
It will be yours to take.”While Trump presents himself as “Mr. Peace,” he consistently takes a hardline stance. Last year, US forces joined the Israeli campaign against Iran by striking nuclear sites.During the mass protests in January, he warned that he would strike “very hard” if the authorities “started killing people as they did in the past.”In his first term, Trump was the architect of the “maximum pressure” doctrine aimed at weakening Iran economically and diplomatically.
In 2018, the United States withdrew from the international nuclear agreement that offered to ease sanctions on Tehran in exchange for restrictions on its program.While Western countries and Israel accuse Iran of seeking a nuclear weapon, Tehran insists that its program is intended for civilian purposes.In February, Trump reopened indirect negotiations with Iran even as he escalated his rhetoric.Ayatollah Ali KhameneiOne of the initial strikes targeted the office of Iran’s Supreme Leader in Tehran.
The 86-year-old cleric was reportedly taken to a safe location before the attack.Khamenei, who has been in power since 1989, embodies the Islamic Republic’s long-standing stance of resistance toward its main adversaries – the United States and Israel.The expansion of Iran’s regional footprint in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen has defined its foreign policy. He oversaw the steady progress of Iran’s nuclear program, viewing uranium enrichment as a sovereign right.Khamenei insists that Iran will “never surrender” to the United States and remains deeply skeptical of diplomacy.During nuclear talks in 2025, he said he doubted the agreement “would lead to anything,” saying Iran’s problems would have to be solved internally. When negotiations resumed, he warned that Iran was capable of sinking American warships.He has refused to give up uranium enrichment or discuss Iran’s missile program.He warned, “The Americans must know that if they start a war, this time it will be a regional war.”Reza PahlaviMohammad Reza Pahlavi’s eldest son has positioned himself as the face of regime change, promoting a democratic transition in an Iran he has not visited since before the 1979 revolution.The former crown prince appeared again during the nationwide protests, with chants of “Pahlavi will return” echoing throughout the cities.From his base in the United States, he urged Iranians to take to the streets and called for solidarity demonstrations abroad.
He also urged Washington to support efforts to overthrow the religious establishment.“I am here to ensure the transition to a secular, democratic future,” he told supporters in Munich in February, adding: “It is time to end the Islamic Republic,” while urging Trump to “help.”He remains a polarizing figure within the divided opposition. His visit to Israel in 2023 sparked criticism, as did his refusal to fully acknowledge the violations committed during his father’s era.Because he is vocal in his opposition to repression under the Islamic Republic, he has not explicitly distanced himself from the monarchy he would one day inherit.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin NetanyahuIn a national speech, Netanyahu described the operation as defensive and strategic.He said, “Israel and the United States have embarked on a process to remove the existential threat posed by the terrorist regime in Iran.”He directly appealed to the Iranian people to rise up against the regime.For decades, Netanyahu has portrayed Iran’s nuclear ambitions, missile arsenal and support for militant groups as an existential threat to Israel.His efforts to take military action intensified during the 12-day war last June, and he stressed that Israel would move again to prevent Iran from rebuilding its capabilities.In January, he said he hoped “the Persian nation will soon be liberated from the yoke of tyranny.”Earlier this month, he warned that “if the ayatollahs make a mistake and attack us, they will face a reaction they cannot even imagine.”He has repeatedly urged the Iranians to overthrow their leaders and restore pre-1979 relations.Mohammed bin SalmanSaudi Arabia’s de facto ruler has long taken a cautious Gulf stance: a weaker Iran is welcome, but an unstable Iran could plunge the region into chaos.Sunni-majority Saudi Arabia – the world’s largest oil exporter – is engaged in a risky competition with Shiite heavyweight Iran.Months after assuming the position of crown prince in 2017, Prince Mohammed angered Tehran by likening Khamenei to the “Hitler of the Middle East.”However, the rivalry turned into a rapprochement in 2023 when the two sides restored diplomatic relations in a thaw brokered by China.Since then, regional stability has become a priority for Riyadh. When a US strike on Iran first appeared imminent in January, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states quietly urged Washington to back off.
