IRAN-ISRAEL

The history of Iran-Israel relations is complex, marked by periods of cooperation and deep hostility, shaped by political, ideological, and strategic developments.

Early Relations (Pre-1979)

• Before the 1979 Iranian Revolution, Iran and Israel maintained a cordial and strategic relationship under the Pahlavi dynasty, particularly during the Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi's reign.
• Iran, under the Shah, recognized Israel in 1948 as one of the first Muslim-majority countries to do so, driven by shared interests against Arab nationalism and the Soviet influence in the region.
• During the Cold War, Iran supplied Israel with oil, and trade flourished, including the operation of the Eilat-Ashkelon pipeline, a joint venture. Military cooperation, such as the secretive Project Flower (1977-79) to develop a missile, also occurred.
• This alliance was bolstered by Israel’s support during World War II, when Iran provided refuge to Jews fleeing Nazi persecution, a historical bond some trace back 2,500 years to Persian-Jewish ties.

Shift After the 1979 Revolution

• The Iranian Revolution, led by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, marked a dramatic turning point. The establishment of the Islamic Republic brought an anti-Israel ideology, rooted in opposition to Zionism and support for the Palestinian cause.
• Iran severed diplomatic ties with Israel, nationalized the oil industry, and began supporting groups like Hezbollah and Palestinian factions (e.g., Hamas) as proxies against Israel.
• The 1979 U.S. Embassy hostage crisis and Iran’s vote against Israel’s UN admission in 1949 further solidified this stance. The Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988) saw Israel secretly supplying arms to Iran, a pragmatic move despite the ideological rift, though this did not mend relations.

Escalation into Proxy and Direct Conflict

Since the 1980s, the relationship evolved into a proxy war, with Iran backing militias (e.g., Hezbollah in Lebanon, Houthis in Yemen) to encircle Israel, while Israel conducted covert operations against Iran’s nuclear program and regional influence. Key events include:

• 2000s-2010s: Israel’s alleged cyberattacks (e.g., Stuxnet in 2010) and assassinations of Iranian nuclear scientists (e.g., Mohsen Fakhrizadeh in 2020) aimed to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions, which Israel views as an existential threat. Iran, claiming its program is peaceful, retaliated through proxy attacks.
• 2024: Direct confrontations escalated with Iran launching ballistic missiles at Israel in April and October, following Israeli strikes on Iranian targets in Syria. The killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in July 2024 and Hezbollah’s Fuad Shukr heightened tensions.
• 2025: On June 13, Israel launched a major attack on Iran, targeting nuclear and military sites, killing senior figures like IRGC commander Hossein Salami. Iran retaliated with missile barrages, marking the most intense direct conflict to date, with significant casualties reported on both sides by June 18, 2025