Understand how we got here
The United States and Israel launched direct attacks against Iran early Saturday morning and Iran immediately retaliated, in a clear escalation of tensions between Iran and the United States that have simmered for decades.
Points of contention include control over Iran’s oil reserves, US political interference in Tehran, Iran’s desire to obtain nuclear energy and the growing influence of both countries in the Middle East.
It’s a long and complicated story: Let’s start in 1951, when tensions between Iranians and the foreign powers influencing the country began to emerge.
