For almost 50 years, the US has accused Iran of being involved in attacks that harmed American citizens and military personnel in the Middle East and elsewhere. The White House labeled Iran as the primary state sponsor of terrorism globally, responsible for more American casualties than any other terrorist regime. President Trump’s administration is taking steps to eliminate this threat by targeting Iran’s military capabilities and nuclear ambitions.
The White House highlighted a history of attacks linked to Iran and its proxies, including the 1979 US Embassy hostage crisis in Tehran and bombings in Beirut during the 1980s. Iran-backed groups like Hezbollah and Hamas were implicated in various incidents, such as the 1996 bombing in Saudi Arabia and the 1998 embassy bombings in Africa. Additionally, Iran-supported militias were responsible for the deaths of over 600 US troops in Iraq between 2003 and 2011.
Recent incidents involving Iran include rocket and drone attacks in Iraq, Syria, and Jordan, resulting in casualties among US service members. The White House mentioned a series of attacks from 2003 to 2024, where Iran and its proxies targeted US forces in the Middle East. Notably, in 2023, Iran-backed Hamas militants killed Americans in Israel, and in 2024, an Iranian national was charged with plotting to assassinate President Trump.
The US has designated Iran as a state sponsor of terrorism since 1984 due to its support for armed groups in the region.
