Why Tensions Between the U.S. and Iran Fuel Fears of War

The U.S. and Iran have lived in a state of hostility for decades, but relations grew more tense over the last year, finally boiling over at the start of 2020 with a U.S. attack that killed Iran’s most prominent military leader. The U.S. has been trying to deprive Iran of oil revenue, the lifeblood of its economy; Iran has responded by exceeding limits it agreed to on its nuclear program, and it’s been accused of making mischief in the Persian Gulf region. The two nations could be headed for a wa