US and Israel launch military strikes against Iran’s nuclear facilities as Strait of Hormuz crisis reshapes global energy

The US and Israel launched coordinated military strikes against Iran’s nuclear facilities on February 28, 2026, opening a conflict that has since reshaped the global energy landscape and turned the Strait of Hormuz into the most consequential chokepoint on the planet. The operation, designated “Epic Fury” by the US military, targeted Iranian nuclear sites, missile shelters, and leadership positions. Its stated objective: degrade Tehran’s nuclear capabilities and military infrastructure before Iran could cross the threshold into weapons-grade enrichment. By April 8, a ceasefire was in place. By June, a memorandum of understanding sought to formalize the end of hostilities. What happened, and what broke US and Israeli assessments suggest the damage to Iran’s nuclear and missile infrastructure was substantial, though intelligence officials acknowledge that Iran retains critical knowledge and fissile material. The June MOU reaffirmed Iran’s commitments to the Non-Proliferation Treaty and the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the nuclear deal framework that has been in various states of life support since 2018. But the agreement deferred technical nuclear negotiations to a later, unsp...