One month into the Israel-Iran conflict, key milestones

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Reference News Network March 28 report (By Pingyue) On March 28, the U.S.-Israel-Iran war has been raging for more than a month. As of now, the military confrontation among all sides is still continuing. Over the past month, the key milestones in the U.S.-Israel-Iran war are as follows:

First Week (February 28–March 6)

1. The U.S. and Israel team up to launch military strikes against Iran: On February 28, the U.S. and Israel carried out a joint airstrike against Iran; on the same day, Iran launched its “True Promise” operation to carry out a reciprocal counterattack on the U.S.-Israel targets.

2. Iran’s acting supreme leader, Khamenei, was attacked and killed: On March 1, Iran confirmed that Khamenei was killed in an attack on Tehran on February 28. The Iranian side said it would retaliate with full force, making the enemy pay a heavy price.

3. Iran launches retaliatory strikes against multiple countries in the Middle East: On the morning of March 1, Iran fired missiles and drones at multiple Middle Eastern countries and in the Gulf region, including Israel, the UAE, and Qatar, targeting multiple key U.S. military core facilities.

4. Hezbollah in Lebanon joins the conflict: On March 2, Hezbollah in Lebanon joined the fighting and used high-precision weapons to strike an Israeli missile defense base south of Haifa.

5. A U.S. submarine sinks Iran’s “Dana” escort vessel: On March 4, the U.S. Secretary of Defense confirmed that a U.S. submarine sank Iran’s naval “Dana” escort vessel in the Indian Ocean, and about 180 people aboard suffered major casualties.

Second Week (March 7–March 13)

1. Mujtaba assumes Iran’s new supreme leadership: On March 8, an Iranian expert meeting announced that Mujtaba, Khamenei’s son, would take over as supreme leader.

2. The U.S. military admits it “mis-attacked” an Iranian elementary school: On March 11, U.S. media disclosed that the U.S. military determined that a girls’ elementary school in Minab in southern Iran was mistakenly hit by a “Tomahawk” missile on February 28, resulting in at least 165 girl students killed.

3. Iran blocks the Strait of Hormuz: On March 11, Iran’s armed forces announced a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, barring U.S. and allied ships from passage and prohibiting even a drop of oil from transiting. On the same day, member states of the International Energy Agency agreed to release 400 million barrels of strategic oil reserves, in a bid to curb global oil-price increases triggered by developments in the Middle East.

4. Iran’s new supreme leader issues his first statement: On March 12, after Mujtaba’s inauguration, he issued his first statement, vowing revenge for those killed in the conflict.

5. The U.S. military launches an airstrike on Iran’s Khark Island: On the evening of March 13, Trump announced that U.S. forces launched a fierce airstrike on the military targets on Khark Island, Iran’s oil export hub.

Third Week (March 14–March 20)

1. Iran proposes two ceasefire conditions: On the 15th, Iranian Foreign Minister Aragchi clearly laid out the preconditions for a ceasefire, requiring the U.S. and Israel to provide assurances that they will not launch attacks again, and to compensate Iran for all losses incurred during the conflict.

2. Multiple key Iranian officials are attacked and killed: On March 17, Iran confirmed that Larijani, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, and Suleimani, the commander of the “Mobilized Poor Organization” under the Revolutionary Guards, were killed in U.S.-Israel attacks, with accompanying personnel killed as well. On the 18th, the Iranian president confirmed that the intelligence minister, Hatib, was killed in an Israeli attack.

3. Iran’s core energy facilities are attacked, and Iran carries out reciprocal retaliation: On March 18, Iran’s South Pars natural gas field was attacked, and Iran immediately retaliated by striking Qatar’s and Saudi Arabia’s energy facilities.

4. Iran’s new supreme leader delivers a New Year’s address: On March 20, on the occasion of Iran’s New Year, Mujtaba delivered a written speech stating that he had defeated the U.S.-Israel enemy.

5. The U.S. increases troop deployment in the Middle East: On the 20th, a U.S. official said that the U.S. is dispatching 3 warships and about 2,500 Marine Corps personnel to the Middle East, of which one warship is the amphibious assault ship “Pugilist” (originally named “Pugilist”).

Fourth Week (March 21–March 27)

1. Iran launches a long-range missile offensive: On March 21, Iran fired ballistic missiles at a joint U.S.-U.K. military base in the Indian Ocean 4,000 kilometers away, exceeding the range previously estimated by the outside world.

2. Trump abruptly changes tack: On March 24, Trump said that the U.S.-Iran ceasefire negotiations are underway and that the U.S. has submitted a 15-point ceasefire plan, but at the same time the U.S. plans to send several thousand troops from the 82nd Airborne Division to reinforce its presence in the Middle East; Pakistan has proactively offered to host talks between the U.S. and Iran.

3. Iran says the Strait of Hormuz is “closed only to enemies”: On March 25, Iranian Foreign Minister Aragchi said that the Strait of Hormuz is “closed only to enemies.” He also said that Iran’s armed forces have provided security passage guarantees for ships coming from friendly countries.

4. Hezbollah attacks Israel’s Ministry of Defense: On March 26, Hezbollah in Lebanon fired multiple missiles at the headquarters of Israel’s Ministry of Defense and at Israeli military camps, intensifying the confrontation.

5. Trump delays the timing of airstrikes on Iran’s energy facilities by 10 days: On the afternoon of March 26, U.S. President Trump posted on social media that he would postpone the “destruction” operation against Iran’s energy facilities by 10 days, with the deadline extended to 20:00 Eastern Time on April 6 (08:00 Beijing time on April 7). Trump said the relevant negotiations are ongoing and that progress is “very smooth.”