Iran & Nuclear Proliferation
Tracking the US-Iran conflict, Iran's nuclear program, and implications for global nuclear risk. Live updates on Operation Epic Fury, the Khamenei assassination, and the Persian Gulf crisis.
Current Crisis: Operation Epic Fury
The Iran nuclear situation has escalated into an active military conflict as of February 28, 2026. The joint US-Israeli campaign has fundamentally altered the geopolitical landscape:
- Feb 27 — Geneva nuclear negotiations collapse
- Feb 28 — US-Israeli strikes kill Supreme Leader Khamenei; over 1,000 targets hit across 24 provinces
- Mar 1 — Iran retaliates with 174+ missiles and 541 drones against US bases in 8 countries; 3 US soldiers killed
- Mar 2 — US deploys 50,000 troops; Trump pledges continued strikes
NukeClock Impact: The crisis has moved the clock 28 seconds closer to midnight in four days — the steepest sustained drop in the platform's history.
Latest Coverage
- Iran Confirms Supreme Leader Khamenei Killed in US-Israeli Strikes — The unprecedented assassination and its nuclear implications
- Iran Launches Retaliatory Strikes on US Bases — The IRGC's response and the Strait of Hormuz closure
- US Deploys 50,000 Troops as Operation Epic Fury Escalates — Military buildup and congressional debate
- Nuclear Threat Assessment: Where the Crisis Goes From Here — Scenario analysis and escalation pathways
Background: Iran's Nuclear Program
Iran maintains one of the most advanced nuclear enrichment programs among non-weapon states. The level of uranium enrichment and stockpile size have been closely monitored by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) as indicators of proliferation risk — though IAEA access has been suspended since the strikes began.
Diplomatic History
The 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) represented a landmark diplomatic achievement, placing limits on Iran's nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. The agreement's collapse following the US withdrawal in 2018 set the stage for the current crisis.
Why It Matters for the Clock
Changes in Iran's nuclear program directly influence assessments of global nuclear risk. The current conflict introduces variables that no proliferation model anticipated: active military strikes on nuclear facilities, a leadership vacuum in a nuclear-threshold state, and the destruction of established communication channels.
The risk of a nuclear cascade — where Iran's neighbors pursue their own programs in response — makes this crisis consequential far beyond the bilateral US-Iran relationship.
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