What's happening in Iran?
Jenny explains what's happening in Iran
- Published
The United States and Israel are continuing to carry out air strikes in Iran after war broke out on Saturday.
Iran has responded by firing missiles at Israel and other countries in the region with links to the US, including Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia.
On Sunday, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader who ruled Iran for nearly 40 years, was killed in an air strike.
Read on for more information about what we know, and the background to Iran and its relationships with the United States and Israel.
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Iran: Background to what's happening in the country
- Published2 March
What has happened in Iran?
Attacks have continued across Iran, including in its capital city Tehran
On Saturday morning, the US and Israel began an attack on Iran, a country in the Middle East.
Announcing the strikes, President Trump said it was to try and remove what he called "a threat" from the Iranian government.
After strikes landed in cities across Iran, US President Donald Trump announced that the country's Supreme Leader had been killed.
The news was later confirmed by presenters on Iranian state TV channels.
Iran has retaliated to the strikes with ongoing attacks on Israel and on neighbouring countries including Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates - nearby countries that have ties to the US.
Speaking on Monday 2 March, Mr Trump said his aims on Iran are "clear".
He said that they include "destroying Iran's missile capabilities" and navy, in addition to preventing them from ever having nuclear weapons.
He added that the country "cannot continue to arm, fund and direct terrorist armies outside their borders".
Who was the Supreme Leader?
Ali Khamenei was the overall ruler of Iran who had his first important role after an event called the Islamic Revolution.
This happened in 1979. Iran's new leaders called it an "Islamic Republic", their name for a form of government based on their interpretations of Islam.
Ten years later, Khamenei became the Supreme Leader, a name given to a religious figure who had the final say in how Iran was run.
BBC correspondent Jon Donnison called the former leader's death "a huge moment for the Islamic nation".
Some Iranians around the world have been celebrating, like these people in Australia
Some people have been mourning his death, with images from news agencies showing Iranians on the streets holding photos of Khamenei.
But others who opposed him have been celebrating the news. In January, the regime cracked down hard on protests against the leadership.
BBC diplomatic correspondent Paul Adams said that "This huge, proud nation seems destined for a period of dangerous instability."
Why did these strikes happen?
The leaders of Israel and the US meeting in December last year
The US and Israel have traditionally been allies, or friends, and often work together as partners.
Israel and Iran have been enemies for a long time, and in recent years the tension between them has resulted in military attacks on each other.
US President Trump says that the attack was to try and stop Iran from making extremely powerful bombs called nuclear weapons - something that Iran denies it's doing.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called this a threat to both Israel and the US.
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called the attack unprovoked and illegal.
What about UK involvement?
The Prime Minister spoke to other Members of Parliament about the situation
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that the UK didn't play a role in the US-Israeli strikes, but allowed the US to use British military bases for "defensive" strikes on places where Iran could launch missiles.
The prime minister says he accepted this request to help "prevent Iran firing missiles across the region" and to protect civilians and countries friendly with the UK.
Speaking to Parliament on Monday 2 March, Mr Starmer said the UK would also not join "offensive action" but promised "to protect our people in the region".
He encouraged UK residents either living or on holiday in the Middle East, to register with British embassies, to stay up to date with the latest advice and information about coming back to the UK, as the conflict has caused a lot of problems with flights in and out of the region.
In a meeting of different nations, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for the fighting to stop, saying that it undermines "international peace and security"
Other figures from political parties in the UK have been reacting to the news.
Responding to Mr Starmer in Parliament, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said she supported the "necessary action" taken by the US and accused the government of being "too scared" to take a stronger stance against Iran.
Elsewhere, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said the decision to let the US use UK military bases was "better late than never" and described Sir Keir as "a follower, not a leader".
Green Party leader Zack Polanski disagreed with the decision to allow the US to use UK bases, adding: "We now face being dragged into another illegal war in the Middle East which has now pulled in multiple countries". He also called for the prime minister to "withdraw permission" and said "parliament must be given a vote on any UK involvement."
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said "the UK must not be complicit in illegal military action" and demanded that MPs be given a say on allowing the US to use British bases.