The United States and Iran have never been at war with each other—until now. Today, both countries are using military action against each other, increasing tensions and raising concerns around the world.

In the past, the two nations did not fight each other directly as most of their conflict came from political disagreements and indirect actions. These differences show how much the situation has changed over time, as once controlled tensions grew into something more serious.

From 1953-1979 both countries were once both close allies, according to the Council of Foreign Relations. However, their relationship changed through political events.

During the Cold War, the Soviet Union supported the separatist movement in Iran which caused concern and led the United States to stop the spread of communism in Iran. In 1951, Iran nationalized its oil which meant that they took control of it and took it away from Western countries, this would later cause tension between the two.

In 1953, the United States supported the CIA-backed coup that removed Iran’s prime minister and put the Shah, a pro-American leader, in power. After that, the two countries remained close to each other, but in 1979 the two fell out during the Islamic Revolution, when a new government took control and did not like the United States. Over time, these issues continued to develop for both countries and kept creating more tension.

As of 2026, the conflict between the United States and Iran is at a new stage. Recently, many students have voiced their opinions on the situation, including James Burks, a sophomore political science major.

“I believe this is a political and economic setback,” Burks said. “We attacked Iran alone without support from our allies, who refused to help because of the consequences. Oil prices have risen, and inflation is still high for the average consumer. I believe we are now in a war we cannot win, and if Iran surrenders it would be surprising, but as of now, I think we are losing in this political game of chess.”

The conflict between the United States and Iran is still unfolding. According to an interview with Fox News Radio, President Donald Trump said the war will end “when I feel it in my bones,” showing that U.S. leaders are deciding their next steps.

For now, officials continue to monitor the situation as it develops, and it remains unclear exactly how it will resolve.