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Iran & Israel: From Covert Ties To Open Hostility

Treva McCullough V

The relationship between Iran and Israel stands as one of the most complex and volatile geopolitical sagas of our time. What began as a surprising, albeit often covert, alliance has morphed into an implacable enmity, defining tension in Middle Eastern politics today and creating a combustible pile of tinder. This dramatic shift, from collaboration to fierce hostility, has profound implications for regional stability and global security, prompting many to ask: how did we get here?

This article examines the tense relationship between Iran and Israel, highlighting their journey from early cooperation to recent escalations. It explores the historical underpinnings, the pivotal moments that reshaped their dynamic, and the ongoing proxy conflicts that have brought them to the brink of direct war. Understanding this intricate evolution is crucial for comprehending the current landscape of the Middle East and anticipating future challenges.

Table of Contents

The Unlikely Friendship: Iran and Israel's Early Ties

It might come as a surprise to many, given the current state of affairs, but Israel and Iran once shared friendly relations. For nearly three decades since the formation of Israel in 1948, Iran and Israel had a peaceful relationship. This period, spanning from the establishment of the state of Israel in May 1948 to Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini’s arrival in Tehran from his French exile in February 1979, was characterized by multifaceted cooperation. While this cooperation was mostly covert and often denied, both states viewed it as highly conducive to their national interests.

During this era, Iran, under the Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, was a non-Arab, pro-Western power in the Middle East. Israel, a nascent state surrounded by hostile Arab neighbors, found a strategic partner in Iran. Their relationship was born out of a shared geopolitical reality: both countries faced common adversaries in the Arab world and sought to counter Arab nationalism and Soviet influence in the region. This convergence of interests laid the groundwork for a period of surprising collaboration, fostering an environment where practical realities of geopolitical and strategic interests led to a somewhat covert but significant relationship.

Cooperation Against Common Enemies

The cooperation between Iran and Israel extended beyond mere diplomatic recognition. They even helped each other fight common enemies. This included intelligence sharing, military training, and economic ties. Israel, for instance, assisted Iran in developing its agricultural sector and provided military expertise. In return, Iran supplied Israel with oil, a crucial resource, especially during times of regional instability. This pragmatic alliance allowed both nations to circumvent the Arab boycott against Israel and strengthen their respective positions in a volatile region.

The strategic depth offered by this alliance was invaluable. For Iran, it provided access to Western technology and military training that might have been otherwise difficult to obtain. For Israel, it offered a vital non-Arab partner on the periphery of the Arab world, diversifying its diplomatic and security options. This era of "cold peace" was a testament to how geopolitical necessities could override ideological differences, creating a functional, albeit discreet, partnership that served both countries' national interests for a significant period.

The 1979 Islamic Revolution: A Seismic Shift

The year 1979 marked a catastrophic turning point in the relationship between Iran and Israel. Iran's Islamic Revolution transformed previously cordial relations between Iran and Israel to fierce hostility. The overthrow of the pro-Western Shah and the establishment of the Islamic Republic under Ayatollah Khomeini fundamentally altered Iran's foreign policy orientation. The new regime adopted a staunchly anti-Zionist stance, viewing Israel as an illegitimate entity and an outpost of Western imperialism in the Muslim world.

This ideological transformation was not merely rhetorical. It quickly translated into concrete actions. Iran severed all diplomatic and commercial ties with Israel, and the Israeli embassy in Tehran was famously handed over to the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). The revolution’s emphasis on Islamic solidarity and support for Palestinian causes positioned Israel as a primary ideological adversary. This sudden and dramatic shift set the stage for decades of animosity, replacing a pragmatic alliance with an ideological confrontation that continues to escalate.

From Cordial Relations to Fierce Hostility

The transition from cordial relations to implacable enmity was swift and decisive. The new Iranian leadership viewed Israel through the lens of its revolutionary ideology, which championed the oppressed and condemned what it perceived as imperialistic forces. This ideological framework left no room for the previous strategic cooperation. Instead, Israel became a central target of Iranian revolutionary fervor, often referred to as the "Little Satan" in contrast to the United States, the "Great Satan."

This ideological antagonism permeated all aspects of Iran's foreign policy. Support for Palestinian armed groups and Lebanese Hezbollah became a cornerstone of Iran's regional strategy, directly challenging Israel's security. The once-covert cooperation was replaced by overt hostility, marking the beginning of a new, dangerous chapter in the Middle East. The 1979 revolution effectively dismantled a functional, albeit fragile, alliance and replaced it with a deep-seated animosity that would shape the region for decades to come.

The Shadow War: Proxy Conflicts and Strategic Ambiguity

Since 1985, Iran and Israel have been engaged in a proxy conflict that has greatly affected the geopolitics of the Middle East. This "shadow war" has been characterized by indirect confrontations, often fought through proxies, cyber tools, and strategic ambiguity. Rather than direct military engagements, both nations have preferred to undermine each other's influence and security through various covert and overt means, avoiding a full-scale conventional war that would have devastating consequences for the region.

Iran has supported and armed various non-state actors, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Gaza, and various Shiite militias in Iraq and Syria. These groups act as Iran's "arms" in the region, projecting its power and threatening Israel's borders. Israel, in turn, has responded with targeted airstrikes, assassinations of Iranian nuclear scientists and military commanders, and cyberattacks aimed at disrupting Iran's nuclear program and military capabilities. This intricate dance of deniable operations has kept the conflict simmering, preventing outright war while maintaining constant pressure on both sides.

The Early 1990s: A New Chapter of Hostility

The turn from cold peace to open hostility truly began in the early 1990s, shortly after the collapse of the Soviet Union and the defeat of Iraq in the Gulf War. These geopolitical shifts created a power vacuum and new opportunities for regional actors. With Iraq weakened, Iran's strategic calculations changed, allowing it to focus more intensely on projecting power across the Levant and consolidating its "axis of resistance" against Israel and Western influence.

The 1990s saw an intensification of Iran's support for groups directly confronting Israel, such as Hezbollah. This period also coincided with Israel's increasing concerns about Iran's nuclear ambitions. The strategic landscape had fundamentally altered, moving beyond the initial ideological confrontation to a more tangible, security-focused rivalry. The shadow war evolved, becoming more sophisticated and widespread, laying the groundwork for the direct confrontations witnessed in recent years, making the Iran and Israel relationship increasingly perilous.

From Shadow to Kinetic: The Rising Stakes

What had once been a shadow war—fought through proxies, cyber tools, and strategic ambiguity—was becoming increasingly kinetic, visible, and difficult to contain. The past few years have witnessed a dangerous escalation, with both Iran and Israel taking more direct actions against each other. This shift from indirect skirmishes to overt attacks signals a significant and worrying development in their long-standing animosity, raising the stakes considerably for regional stability.

The reasons for this shift are multifaceted. Iran's entrenchment in Syria, bolstering its military presence near Israel's northern border, has been a major flashpoint. Israel views this as an existential threat and has conducted hundreds of airstrikes in Syria targeting Iranian assets and arms shipments to Hezbollah. Iran, on the other hand, has increased its missile and drone capabilities, threatening Israel directly from its own territory or through its proxies. The rules of engagement, once implicitly understood, appear to be eroding, paving the way for more direct and dangerous confrontations between these two regional powers.

Unprecedented Direct Engagements: A War Without a Name

Israel and Iran are engaged in their most sustained, direct fighting ever, as the strikes between the two regional powers raise fears that the conflict could spread. This direct confrontation, often described as "a war without a name," has seen both sides launch attacks on each other's territory or interests. For instance, Iran blames Israel for a strike on its Syria consulate, and has vowed to retaliate, leading to unprecedented direct missile and drone attacks from Iran on Israel. These direct exchanges mark a dangerous departure from the previous proxy warfare model.

The fears that the conflict could spread are palpable, with scenarios unfolding where, for instance, Israel expands its airstrikes to include targets in Iran’s energy industry as Iranian missile and drone attacks continue on Israel. Such escalations could lead to Israel unleashing airstrikes across Iran for a third day and threatening even greater force as some Iranian missiles evade Israeli air defenses to strike. This tit-for-tat escalation, with each side responding to the other's actions, creates a perilous cycle that could easily spiral out of control, dragging other regional and global powers into the fray. The current direct war between Iran and Israel is a testament to the volatile nature of their relationship and the urgent need for de-escalation.

The Human Element: Not All Iranians Agree

Amidst the escalating tensions and official rhetoric, it's crucial to remember that the narrative of fierce hostility is not universally embraced within Iran. Not all ordinary Iranians support Iran's hostility toward Israel. This often-overlooked aspect highlights the complexity of public opinion within Iran, where diverse viewpoints exist despite the government's official stance. Voices of dissent, though often suppressed, suggest a longing for a different path, one that prioritizes the well-being of the Iranian people over ideological confrontation.

Faizeh Hashemi, a prominent Iranian political figure and daughter of former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, has notably stated that Iran must reassess its relationship with Israel because its stance is no longer in keeping with the times. Such statements, coming from within the Iranian establishment or its periphery, underscore a growing recognition that the current policy of unwavering hostility may be detrimental to Iran's long-term interests and its standing in the international community. These internal discussions, however limited, indicate a potential for future shifts, albeit contingent on significant political changes within Iran.

Regional and Global Implications: A Tinderbox

The defining tension in Middle Eastern politics today—and the most combustible pile of tinder—is undoubtedly between the state of Israel and the Islamic Republic of Iran. The implications of their escalating conflict extend far beyond their borders, threatening to destabilize an already fragile region and potentially drawing in global powers. The intricate web of alliances and rivalries in the Middle East means that any significant escalation between Iran and Israel could have cascading effects, triggering wider conflicts.

Regional actors like Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and other Gulf states view Iran's expansionist policies with alarm, often aligning with Israel's security concerns. Meanwhile, global powers like the United States, Russia, and China have vested interests in the region, making them susceptible to being drawn into any major conflagration. While Russia might be sympathetic to Iran, the extent of their relationship should not be overstated, said independent Middle East specialist Ruslan Suleymanov, who is based in Baku, Azerbaijan. This nuanced view suggests that even seemingly strong alliances have limits when faced with the complexities of a full-blown regional war. The risk of miscalculation, accidental escalation, or a deliberate broadening of the conflict remains a constant and terrifying possibility, making the Iran and Israel relationship a critical focus for international diplomacy.

Reassessing the Stance: A Call for Change

The relationship between Iran and Israel has changed over the years due to conflicts, beliefs, and global strategies. This dynamic, characterized by a journey from early cooperation to fierce hostility and recent direct escalations, continues to shape the Middle East. The current trajectory, marked by increasing kinetic engagements and a heightened risk of full-scale war, underscores the urgent need for a reassessment of strategies by both sides, and indeed, by the international community.

The call from figures like Faizeh Hashemi for Iran to reassess its relationship with Israel because its stance is no longer in keeping with the times resonates with a broader desire for de-escalation and pragmatic solutions. For Israel, managing the Iranian threat while avoiding a regional conflagration requires a delicate balance of deterrence and diplomacy. The path forward is fraught with challenges, but understanding the historical context and the complex interplay of factors driving this conflict is the first step toward finding a more stable and peaceful resolution for the Iran and Israel relationship.

The implications of this dynamic for regional stability and global security cannot be overstated. As long as the two sides remain locked in this perilous dance of hostility, the Middle East will remain a tinderbox, susceptible to ignition at any moment. The future of the region, and to some extent global peace, hinges on whether a new paradigm can emerge, moving beyond the entrenched animosity that has defined the Iran and Israel relationship for over four decades.

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We hope this in-depth look into the complex and evolving relationship between Iran and Israel has provided valuable insights. What are your thoughts on the future of this critical dynamic? Do you believe a resolution is possible, or are we destined for continued conflict? Share your perspectives in the comments below, and don't forget to share this article with others who might find it informative. For more analyses on Middle Eastern geopolitics, explore our other articles on regional conflicts and international relations.

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