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Iran since 1979: revolution, crises and wars with Israel and the United States
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This dossier traces the Islamic Republic of Iran from Ruhollah Khomeini’s return in February 1979: the monarchy’s overthrow, the hostage crisis, the Iran-Iraq War, Ali Khamenei’s succession, sanctions, domestic protests and nuclear negotiations. It also follows regional confrontation through Tehran’s allies, rapprochement with Saudi Arabia and the transition to direct Iran-Israel attacks in 2024.
The twelve-day war of June 2025 is distinguished from the conflict opened on 28 February 2026 by US and Israeli strikes. The chronology examines Ali Khamenei’s killing and Mojtaba Khamenei’s succession, civilian victims, regional fronts, energy infrastructure, Hormuz, blockades and attempts at agreement. The Qatari consultations that originally defined this dossier remain integrated into the expanded history.
Sourced entries distinguish established facts, announcements, attributed responsibility and unverified outcomes. The reconstruction selects principal milestones rather than recording every military operation. No final, consistent human toll across all theatres is established here. Dates without a known time are ordered by calendar day.
Tehran, 3 December 2019. Illustrative archive photograph for the dossier; it does not show the 2025 or 2026 strikes. — GTVM92 — CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ — 3 décembre 2019, sans modification.
Where things stand
As of 4 November 2026, Washington adds sanctions against an India-based maritime network and a Turkish company over alleged support to Iran. The same day, Khamenei warns renewed US strikes would widen the war.
Iran says two tankers and a tugboat caught fire in Hormuz
Iran's Revolutionary Guard claimed on 5 November 2026 that two oil tankers and a tugboat caught fire in separate incidents in the Strait of Hormuz. The account carried by Reuters does not constitute independent confirmation of the fires.
Strait of Hormuz seen by Terra, December 2020. Archive; does not show the alleged incidents. NASA GSFC, public domain. — MODIS Land Rapid Response Team / NASA GSFC — Public domain. Acquired 2 December 2020; unmodified.
According to the Iranian account, one tanker struck a mine in a passage south of the strait. Another caught fire while leaving a route in the eastern section; a tugboat approaching to assist also burned.
Iranian authorities describe the routes as unauthorised, a characterisation that remains theirs. The consulted reports do not name the vessels or establish casualties or independent verification of each incident. These assertions must therefore be distinguished from materially confirmed attacks.
Khamenei warns renewed US strikes would widen the war
Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei warned on 4 November 2026 that another US attack would lead to a wider war. In a written statement separately reported by Reuters and AFP, he also rejected the idea that a change of congressional majority would alter US policy towards Iran.
Tehran in December 2019. Archive illustration; not the statement. GTVM92, CC BY-SA 4.0. — GTVM92 — CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ — 3 décembre 2019, sans modification.
The message followed the US midterm elections. Khamenei portrayed American hostility as unaffected by shifts between Democrats and Republicans and rejected concessions to Washington.
These are the Iranian leader’s position and warning. The statement neither announces a diplomatic agreement nor establishes that a new military operation has begun.
Washington sanctions Indian network accused of supporting Iranian oil shipping
The US Treasury announced sanctions on 4 November 2026 against an India-based network it accuses of supplying false flags and certificates to vessels transporting Iranian oil.
Tehran, December 2019. Archive illustration; not the sanctioned companies. GTVM92, CC BY-SA 4.0. — GTVM92 — CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ — 3 décembre 2019, sans modification.
The measures target Suniel Kumar Sharma and Jaspreet Preeti Shahid, among others, as well as companies linked to their network. The maritime-fraud allegations are Washington’s.
Treasury also designated Turkish company Fugo Ground Services for alleged support to Iran’s aviation sector, Reuters reported. The new measures are part of Operation Economic Outcast. The consulted sources do not present responses from the targeted people and companies.
Egypt consults Qatar and Iraq on regional de-escalation
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty held separate telephone talks with his Qatari and Iraqi counterparts on 3 November 2026 to support diplomacy amid regional tensions. Published accounts attribute the information to Egypt’s foreign ministry spokesperson.
Iraqi flag. Geographic illustration, public domain; does not depict the reported events. — Wikimedia Commons contributors — public domain (PD-ineligible); PNG rendering of the Iraqi flag.
Talks with Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani concerned coordination to allow time for negotiations and avoid further security deterioration, according to the Egyptian account.
The exchange with Fuad Hussein also covered preparations for the fourth Supreme Joint Committee and economic cooperation between Cairo and Baghdad. The consultations do not constitute a ceasefire agreement or evidence of an outcome in regional negotiations.
Qatari mediators return to Tehran for further talks with Iran
Qatari mediators arrived in Tehran on the evening of 2 November 2026 to resume discussions on a possible Iran–United States agreement, according to informed interlocutors cited separately by Reuters and The Times of Israel.
Tehran, December 2019. Geographic archive image; the Qatari delegation is not shown. — GTVM92 — CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ — 3 décembre 2019, sans modification.
The talks concern a proposal linking a rapid reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to US sanctions relief, followed by nuclear negotiations, according to the diplomat interviewed by The Times of Israel. Reuters also reports the visit and continued work on a version of the draft.
Abbas Araghchi described intensive indirect consultations in an IRNA interview carried by AFP. The mediators’ return continues the exchanges after the Doha round; the sources consulted establish neither an accepted final agreement nor a binding timetable for reopening the strait.
Draft proposal circulates after Doha talks, official tells Reuters
A draft proposal aimed at ending the war with Iran is circulating for feedback, an official briefed on the discussions told Reuters on 2 November 2026. A follow-up meeting is possible, the source said.
Archive geographical illustration; it does not depict the reported event. — Wikimedia Commons, domaine public (géométrie simple). Drapeau du Qatar ; rendu PNG de l’original SVG.
The same official said Iranian negotiators left Doha on 1 November, without attributing their departure to difficulties in the discussions with Qatari mediators.
The account describes a continuing diplomatic process, rather than acceptance of an agreement. The remarks establish neither the draft’s full contents, a confirmed meeting date nor an agreed timetable for reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
