Iran Nuclear Talks Collapse, US Launches Strikes

The preceding 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), had limited Iran's uranium enrichment to 3.67% and capped its stockpile at 300 kg. Following the unilateral U.S. withdrawal from the agreement in 2018, Iran began progressively breaking these restrictions. In the years since, Iran significantly accelerated its nuclear program, accumulating a stockpile that by early 2025 included hundreds of kilograms of uranium enriched to 60% purity—a level close to weapons-grade with no civilian use. This drastically shortened the "breakout time" required to produce enough fissile material for a nuclear weapon. Operation Epic Fury represents the largest concentration of American military firepower in a generation. The campaign involves over 50,000 troops, two aircraft carrier strike groups, and more than 200 fighter jets, including F-35s and B-2 stealth bombers. Initial strikes utilized precision munitions from air, land, and sea platforms. Within the first 48 hours, U.S. and Israeli forces struck more than 1,250 targets, focusing on Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) command centers, air defense systems, and naval assets. In response, Iran launched over 500 ballistic missiles and 2,000 drones, targeting U.S. military facilities and allies across at least eight countries, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait. The initial U.S.-Israeli assault included a decapitation strike that killed Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and other senior military officials. This has triggered a broader regional conflict, with Iranian retaliation hitting civilian infrastructure, including international airports in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and sparking fears of a power vacuum and internal chaos in Iran. The conflict immediately roiled global energy markets by