The United States is the main international backer of Israel, Iran's biggest regional foe. It is also a close ally of Sunni Gulf monarchies which for years pursued their own rivalry with the Islamic Republic, seeing it as their main regional threat.

Israel launched a wave of strikes across Iran on Friday that targeted its nuclear program and military sites, killing at least two top military officers and raising the prospect of an all-out war between the two bitter Middle East adversaries. It appeared to be the most significant attack Iran has faced since its 1980s war with Iraq.

Israel’s strike on an Iranian-controlled compound in Syria in April 2024 prompted Tehran to fire a huge barrage of missiles at Israel. Iran launched a similar assault last fall after Israel assassinated Ismail Haniyeh, a Hamas leader, as he visited Iran last summer, and then killed Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah.

The timing of Israel’s air strikes suggest to some that the US influence over Benjamin Netanyahu has weakened.

India shares cordial ties with both Israel and Iran, which appear on the brink of an all-out war. New Delhi has enhanced relations with Tel Aviv in recent years, while trade and connectivity links it to Tehran.

The U.S. is reducing non-essential diplomatic personnel in the Middle East amid rising tensions with Iran over its nuclear program. The State Department's decision affects staff in Baghdad, Bahrain, and Kuwait.

In a major escalation, Israel on Jun 13 launched airstrikes against Iran’s military targets and nuclear program, as well as targeting scientists and generals

For years, Israel and Iran engaged in a shadow war, a series of mostly quiet, often deniable attacks, with Iran frequently operating through allied proxy groups.

The United States has pulled some diplomatic staff and military families out of the Middle East, citing unspecified regional security risks.