For much of the 20th century, the US and Iran maintained friendly relations. During the Cold War, Washington depended on the Shah of Iran to counter Soviet influence in the oil-rich Middle East.

Israel and Iran opened a new chapter in their long history of conflict when Israel launched a major attack with strikes early Friday that set off explosions in the Iranian capital of Tehran. Israel said it targeted nuclear and military facilities,

The strikes, which Israel say targeted nuclear and military facilities, mark a new chapter in the long-standing tensions between the two nations. Iranian state media reported that the leader of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard and two leading nuclear scientists were killed in the attack.