The US-Iran conflict: Four Decades of Escalation
Al Arabiya English
Mar 24, 2026
Since the fall of the Shah in Iran in 1979, the Middle East has never been the same.
This marked the beginning of one of the most complex and protracted conflicts in modern history.
This documentary traces the trajectory of the US-Iranian conflict over more than four decades, from the storming of the US embassy in Tehran and the hostage crisis, through shadow wars, sanctions, assassinations, the nuclear agreement and its collapse, to the current open escalation in the region.
From Lebanon to Iraq, and from Syria to Yemen, spheres of influence intersect and lines of conflict intertwine, reaching a final stage where the conflict is no longer merely bilateral but has transformed into a complex web of proxy wars that have redrawn the region's map and altered its political and military balances.
Today, with the acceleration of events and the escalation of tensions, and since the start of US-Israeli military operations against Iran, the Gulf states have been subjected to a series of Iranian attacks, revealing that the entire region was within the target range.
This scenario places the Middle East at a new crossroads, where the confrontation is no longer confined to the shadows but is closer than ever to a major conflagration.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88MJVuRYH1Y
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88MJVuRYH1Y
