Who are Iran's allies? What to know after US attack
In what President Donald Trump called a "great success," American warplanes launched bombs and missiles striking uranium enrichment sites at Fordow, Isfahan, and Natanz. No U.S. military personnel were injured in the operation, which took place Sunday after midnight local time in Iran.
Trump's order to strike Iran's nuclear facilities comes after Israel began bombing Iranian nuclear and military infrastructure on June 13. Israel said the U.S. coordinated and helped plan the strikes in an operation to thwart Tehran from building an atomic weapon.
Israel's military launched strikes on the country's capital of Tehran on June 23, focusing on military and government targets, Israel Katz, the Israeli defense minister said, hitting a major prison and the security headquarters of Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, among more "regime targets." The latest strikes also targeted airports.
The attack forced major U.S. cities including New York and Los Angeles to ramp up security. Government agencies issued warnings to U.S. citizens at home. The State Department issued a 'worldwide caution security alert' advising American citizens overseas to exercise increased vigilance amid the ongoing Israel-Iran war.
As the Israel-Iran conflict continues − now with the U.S. involved − here is a look at Iran's allies.
Live updates: What is Iran's next move? World awaits response to U.S. bombing
Who are Iran's allies?
Hours after the U.S. strikes, Vice President JD Vance said America is 'at war with Iran's nuclear program," not the country.
As of June 23, the conflict remained between Israel, backed by the U.S., and Iran alone.
An acronym coined in 2023 by some Western officials, CRINK, which includes China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, according to reports from Politico and the Wall Street Journal, refers to an emerging connection of four countries.
"While not a formal alliance with a unified command structure, the CRINK nations engage in cooperation on various fronts, including exchanging food, oil, arms, diplomatic support, and military assistance," Politico reported last year.
Here is what to know about Iran's allies:
Countries tied to Iran
Contributing: Reuters, Cybele Mayes-Osterman, Kim Hjelmgaard, Jeanine Santucci, Susan Miller, and Christopher Cann
Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.
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