US-Iran war timeline: Key events from first strikes to ceasefire
The crisis unfolded through a mix of military escalation, retaliatory strikes and behind-the-scenes negotiations.
Backchannel diplomacy led by Pakistan appears to have yielded results, with the United States and Iran agreeing to a two-week ceasefire after weeks of escalating hostilities triggered by US-Israeli strikes on 28 February that spiralled into a wider regional conflict.
The crisis unfolded through a mix of military escalation, retaliatory strikes and behind-the-scenes negotiations. Failed ceasefire attempts and last-minute mediation efforts shaped the path to the breakthrough.
Below is a timeline of key developments:
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28 February
The US and Israel launched coordinated air and sea strikes on Iran, with explosions reported in Tehran, including near the residence of the supreme leader. An airstrike on an elementary school in southern Iran killed more than 170 people, most of them schoolgirls.
Iran retaliated by targeting at least seven Gulf states, striking civilian infrastructure, damaging airports in the UAE and Kuwait, deploying a drone over residential areas in Qatar, firing ballistic missiles into Jordan, and hitting an apartment building in Bahrain.
1 March
Iran confirmed that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with family members and senior officials, had been killed in the previous day's strikes.
In Qatar, 16 people were injured in 11 explosions, while a drone attack on Oman's Doqm port left one person injured.
3 March
An Israeli strike damaged the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting complex and the Unesco-listed Golestan Palace. The death toll in Iran crossed 700.
5 March
A US submarine torpedoed the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena near Sri Lanka, killing around 80 sailors, according to Iranian authorities. Tehran condemned the attack, warning of consequences.
9 March
Iran's Assembly of Experts named Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei as the new supreme leader, signalling continuity in leadership despite ongoing conflict.
Iran also launched fresh missile strikes on Israel, with debris from interceptions reported in multiple areas.
11 March
The Strait of Hormuz emerged as a key flashpoint, with at least three attacks on commercial vessels reported within 24 hours, raising concerns over global oil flows and shipping routes.
12 March
The United Nations said up to 3.2 million people had been displaced in Iran. Tehran accused the US and Israel of targeting civilian infrastructure, including hospitals and energy facilities.
Iran continued retaliatory drone attacks across the Gulf, with incidents reported in Saudi Arabia, Oman and Bahrain.
13 March
A US air refuelling aircraft was shot down over western Iraq, killing all four crew members. Iran-aligned militias claimed responsibility.
14 March
US forces struck Iran's Kharg Island, a key oil export hub, targeting facilities linked to the Revolutionary Guard Navy.
Explosions were also reported in Tel Aviv following missile launches from Iran.
17 March
Ali Larijani, head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, and Gholamreza Soleimani, chief of the Basij force, were killed in US-Israeli strikes.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to target Iran's new leadership.
20 March
Iran marked the Persian New Year under the shadow of war, with celebrations subdued amid blackouts and economic strain.
22 March
US President Donald Trump threatened to strike Iran's power plants if the Strait of Hormuz was not reopened within 48 hours, marking a sharp escalation.
23 March
Trump announced a five-day pause on planned strikes, citing "productive" talks with Iran.
24 March
Pakistan, alongside Turkiye and Egypt, stepped up diplomatic efforts, helping secure a temporary pause in US plans to target Iranian infrastructure. By this point, over 82,000 civilian structures in Iran had been damaged or destroyed.
26 March
Pakistan confirmed indirect US-Iran talks were ongoing through backchannel messaging, supported by Turkiye and Egypt.
27 March
The US extended its pause on strikes until 6 April, signalling a potential diplomatic opening.
29 March
Pakistan said both Washington and Tehran had expressed confidence in its role as mediator, following a quadrilateral meeting in Islamabad involving regional stakeholders.
1 April
Pakistan and China called for an immediate ceasefire and unveiled a five-point de-escalation plan during talks in Beijing.
2 April
Trump said the US was close to achieving its objectives in Iran but warned of continued military action for up to three more weeks.
4 April
Iran signalled openness to talks in Islamabad, stressing that any negotiations must lead to a lasting end to the conflict.
5 April
Trump issued a strongly worded warning to Iran, threatening further escalation if key demands were not met.
7 April
Trump warned of devastating consequences after Iran rejected a ceasefire proposal and instead outlined its own conditions for talks.
Iran reportedly sent a detailed response via Pakistan, which continued to act as a key intermediary.
8 April
Pakistan announced that the US and Iran had agreed to an immediate ceasefire, including in Lebanon, and invited both sides to Islamabad on 10 April for talks aimed at a lasting settlement.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed the development. The death toll in Iran has risen to at least 2,076, with over 26,500 injured, while more than 600 educational institutions have been damaged or destroyed.
