Israel and Iran both have little incentive to stop and no obvious route to outright victory. Much depends on President Trump.

President Donald Trump said the nation is not involved in Israel’s attacks on Iran – but it’s possible the U.S. could become more deeply entwined.

After five days of attacks, Israeli forces say they've hit key military and nuclear sites inside Iran. But experts question whether the damage is enough to achieve Israel's long-term goal of halting Iran's nuclear ambitions.

Concern about a strike and the prospect of retaliation led the United States to withdraw diplomats from Iraq and authorize the voluntary departure of U.S. military family members from the Middle East.

As tensions escalate in the region, understanding the roots and consequences of the conflict has never been more urgent. This curated selection of authoritative and thought-provoking reads explores what you need to know to understand how we got here — from Iran’s premodern history and rise to power to its domestic motivations and the global implications of its power struggle with the west.