US and Israel strike Iran. (title edited by MNHQ at request of the OP)

[Twiglets1]

Israel attacked Iran early on Saturday morning, saying it had “launched a pre-emptive strike against Iran to remove threats to the state of Israel,” according to a military spokesman.

Israel closed its airspace and declared a state of emergency, in anticipation of
Iranian drone and missile strikes in response.

Explosions were heard in Tehran on Saturday, Iranian media reported.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/feb/28/israel-launches-attack-on-iran-as-explosions-heard-in-tehran

Don't think anyone quite knows what will happen next @CypressGrove @KatiePricesKnickers

Reza Pahlavi is positioning himself as the "transitional" leader if the Islamic Republic collapses.

He published an op-ed in the Washington Post in the early hours of this morning, responding to the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and outlining his plan for a democratic Iran.

Iran, he wrote, will draft and ratify a new constitution before holding "free elections under international oversight."

Pahlavi added that the new government would immediately recognize and establish relations with the State of Israel - a move which would "transform the Middle East."

It certainly would transform the Middle East. 🙏

Thanks @Twiglets1 for this thread and your comments. I feel quite ignorant about the whole situation and I appreciate your information and links.

Incredible if this happens.

There’ll be some detractors who are happier with oppression of people, that brutality and conflict but what is written here would change lot.

Fortunately their voice of Iranians is more important than a few regime supporters on threads.

Thank you @CypressGrove I appreciate everyone else's input to this thread too and it's nice to see no deletions (that I'm aware of) which is quite rare on this board 😂

Yes. Some people will support Islamism, even in it's most oppressive and vile form.
If you lived under it, you'd be dancing in the streets.

Just one, I think - but as you say, a very reasonable thread.
Thanks! 👍

It would ... but not everyone wants peace in the Middle East unfortunately.

Some people seem to prefer the status quo of perpetual conflict from Iran and it's proxies, Hamas, Hezbollah & the Houthis. Which is hard to understand but seems to be the case.

True, unfortunately.

Morning all.
I'm finding the rejoicing about the Dubai attacks from certain quarters pretty distasteful.

Very distasteful. Somewhat predictable, though.

Im very anti war, it causes so much fear and death and I dont think it can be justified

@Justonelastbiscuit do you think the allies should’ve fought the Nazis?

@38thparallel that was posed upthread, but left unanswered.
I also shared my late father's experience as a combatant in WW2.

Extremely likely, I think.Many Iranians on X say they are caught between two terrible dilemmas: the previous tyrannical regime and the vacuum of no government at all, as happened in Afghanistan, Syria, Libya and Iraq. I very much doubt there will be peace and love under Reza Shah Pahlavi.

It's not simple. At all.

Why aren’t we seeing a cessation or at least reduction in hostilities given this announcement
Wouldn’t that be the immediate course if action ?

See this from The Independent

‘ Iran to set up 'temporary leadership council'
Iran's top security official, Ali Larijani, said a temporary leadership council would be set up.
He accused the United States and Israel of trying to plunder and disintegrate Iran and warned "secessionist groups" of a harsh response if they attempt action, state television said.
In remarks directed at Trump and his close ally, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Iran's parliament speaker, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, said they had crossed a red line and would "pay for it".
A source briefed on the Israeli campaign told Reuters there had been no change in military strategy after the killing of Khamenei and that strikes would continue to target Iranian officials and missile infrastructure.’

Trump also announced they would continue for as long as necessary

There’s some disappointment that Iranians might thrive. I hope they do and prove those people wrong.

Now what? They're going to have to finish what they started and keep bombing Iran until all the leadership is dead or has fled.

Not disappointment.
Common sense and caution, given the past record of countries "liberated" by the U.S. I hope they do break the cycle.

@Stirabout

*Why aren’t we seeing a cessation or at least reduction in hostilities given this announcement
Wouldn’t that be the immediate course if action *

Cease hostilities on the basis of an op-ed/wishlist written by someone who has no control over those currently running things in Iran?

The best thing to do is listen to Iranians. There are plenty celebrating rn but someone to start with who is speaking is Shiva Mahbobi, Iranian women’s rights activist.

Just what I was about to ask.'Evil triumphs when good men do nothing'

And mine.

Yes, support for their proxies, I fear.

Do you think countries should group together to go to war against an aggressive expansionist state that wants control of a region and operates a political ideology based upon ethnic supremacy that has been repeatedly attacking its neighbours?

This and the posters obviously keen for Iranians not to prevail.