On Monday, June 23, Iran fired missiles at the U.S.-operated Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, causing no casualties. The attack was in retaliation for U.S. airstrikes—using massive bunker-buster bombs—on Iran’s underground nuclear sites, part of a joint offensive with Israel that began on June 13. Former President Donald Trump, who had warned Iran of consequences, called Tehran’s missile launch a “weak response” and noted that early notice from Iran helped prevent loss of life.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei defended the move as a necessary act of resistance, emphasizing that Iran wouldn’t accept aggression. While Iran informed both the U.S. and Qatar in advance, the strike strained Tehran’s ties with Gulf Arab nations, including Qatar, which publicly criticized the action alongside other Arab states.

Despite threats from Iran to disrupt oil shipments, global markets remained relatively stable, with oil prices dropping by 7%. Qatar briefly closed its airspace but reopened it soon after. Israel, meanwhile, escalated its offensive by targeting high-level Iranian government infrastructure, including the notorious Evin prison, long known for housing political prisoners and dissidents. Videos showed damage and rescue efforts at the site, while electricity outages were reported in some parts of Tehran due to related strikes.

Iranian officials warned of further retaliation if the U.S. continued its involvement. At the same time, Iran sought support from Russia, with its foreign minister meeting President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Internally, discussions intensified over a potential successor to the aging Supreme Leader, with Mojtaba Khamenei and Hassan Khomeini emerging as leading candidates. Although Trump claimed the U.S. does not seek full-scale war and is focused solely on dismantling Iran’s nuclear capabilities, he hinted at broader regime change. A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll showed that many Americans are concerned about the potential escalation of the conflict.