What to know about the Islamic Republic of Iran
The Islamic Republic of Iran is located in Southwest Asia, bordering the Middle East, and is known for its strict adherence to Shia Islam. The country features vast deserts, impressive mosques, and a rich culinary tradition.
Since 1984, the United States government has consistently designated Iran as a state sponsor of terrorism. The clerical regime's material support for U.S.-classified terrorist organizations, Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis, has contributed to Iran's designation as the world's worst state sponsor of terrorism. The regime in Tehran has also sought to assassinate President Donald Trump. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has effectively placed bounties on the heads of Trump, his former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and ex-National Security Advisor John Bolton for their roles in the U.S. drone strike that eliminated Qassem Soleimani, the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force, a U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, in 2020. According to the U.S. government, Soleimani was responsible for the deaths of over 600 American military personnel in the Middle East.
In recent years, Iran has continued to expand its nuclear weapons programdespite being a party to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. During his first term, President Trump withdrew from the nuclear agreement and imposed heavy sanctions on Iran to curb its nuclear proliferation. Tehran has continued efforts to illegally acquire technology for its atomic, biological, and chemical weapons of mass destruction programs.
On June 13, 2025, Israel initiated strikes targeting nuclear sites in Iran, marking the beginning of fire exchanges between the two nations. According to President Trump, the United States carried out strikes on three of Iran’s nuclear facilities in Operation Midnight Hammer. In retaliation for U.S. strikes against its nuclear program, Iran launched at least 14 missiles toward Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
President Trump said, following Operation Midnight Hammer, that the U.S. military completed a "very successful" strike against Iranian nuclear sites at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan with six bunker buster bombs. Trump's national intelligence director confirmed Iran's nuclear facilities were destroyed.
