Prior Conflict Context

Feb 28 was not the first strike. The June 13-24, 2025 ‘Twelve-Day War’ established the template: Israel bombed Iranian nuclear and military sites; Iran retaliated with 550+ missiles and 1,000+ drones; US directly struck three Iranian nuclear facilities on June 22; ceasefire brokered June 24. 610+ Iranians and 28 Israelis killed. Post-ceasefire: Iran’s nuclear program downgraded but not stopped; IAEA access denied from June 10, 2025 onward. The Oman/Geneva negotiation framework (which produced the Oman deal hours before Feb 28) was built in the ceasefire aftermath. Feb 28 ‘Operation Epic Fury’ was explicitly a second round — Netanyahu stated strikes were ‘planned for months.’ Domestic context: June 2025 war costs accelerated Iran’s rial collapse, fueling the Dec 2025–Feb 2026 protest wave and IRGC crackdown that further weakened the regime before Feb 28.