From Reuters

By AJ Alarcon

Now more than 120 hours into an internet blackout as of Thursday, March 5 (IRST), Iran’s connectivity has dropped to around 1% of its usual levels following strikes from Israel and the United States (US). As the US-Israel war on Iran continues to widen — with ongoing missile exchanges, naval strikes, and regional spillover — the Middle East is being pushed into one of its “most volatile crises in decades,” and the United Nations (UN) has called for an immediate ceasefire.

Israel and the US have carried out multiple joint strikes on Iran since Saturday, February 28, killing more than 1,000 people, including around 150 students who were sheltering in a school in the southern part of the country. The attacks triggered a wave of retaliatory strikes by Iran across the region.

Among those reported killed in the strikes were Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several other senior Iranian officials, leaving uncertainty over leadership in Tehran.

Months of US military buildup in the region and failed negotiations between Washington and Tehran over Iran’s nuclear program preceded the attack. US President Donald Trump claimed the assault was prompted by Iran’s refusal to abandon its nuclear ambitions, stating that Iran “rejected every opportunity to renounce” them.

Years in Terror

Since the Iranian Revolution in 1979, Israel has viewed the Islamic Republic as a major threat. This long-standing hostility led to a 12-day war beginning on June 13, 2025, when Israel, with US support, launched large-scale airstrikes targeting Iranian nuclear and military facilities. Iran responded with large-scale missile and drone attacks on Israeli cities.

The US later struck additional Iranian nuclear facilities, with Trump claiming the operations had destroyed Tehran’s nuclear program. Iranian officials disputed this, saying the program had only been set back, not obliterated.

Following the strikes, Iran launched missiles toward Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, which houses US troops. The missiles were intercepted, and no casualties were reported. 

A ceasefire was initiated on June 2. At least 619 Iranian citizens and 28 Israelis were reported killed during that conflict.

US and European Union sanctions on Iran’s oil sector — imposed over alleged nuclear ambitions, financial links to terrorism, and human rights violations — pushed the country into prolonged economic turmoil.

After the collapse of Iran’s currency, living conditions worsened significantly. Mass protests erupted, with demonstrators calling for the end of the Islamic Republic system and demanding fundamental political change. In early 2026, Iranian authorities launched a deadly crackdown on protesters. Reports from inside the country stated that around 30,000 people were killed by their own security forces. Trump threatened military action if Iranian authorities did not stop the violence and return to nuclear negotiations.

Iranians have begun crossing into neighboring countries such as Turkey amid the escalating conflict. More than 15 countries have urged their citizens to leave Iran. Governments including the US, United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, Italy, Australia, India, and China, along with other European and Asian nations, issued travel advisories advising nationals to avoid Iran as soon as the conflict broke out on February 28.

The conflict is now disrupting global trade and energy supplies. Missile attacks in and around the Strait of Hormuz have significantly reduced tanker traffic, sending oil prices higher and unsettling financial markets.

Calls for Ceasefire

UN Secretary-General António Guterres spoke before the Security Council on February 28, outlining the principles, facts, and possible paths forward. He cited Article 2 of the UN Charter, which states: “All Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State.”

He emphasized that international law and international humanitarian law must be respected at all times, condemning the military strikes against Iran. He also condemned Iran’s attacks on Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

“Lasting peace can only be achieved through peaceful means, including genuine dialogue,” he stated.

He also said that if de-escalation does not happen, the conflict could widen with serious consequences for civilians and regional stability, and he urged all parties to return to negotiations, particularly on Iran’s nuclear programme.