The animosity between Iran and Israel dates back to the Iranian Revolution of 1979. This revolution brought significant changes to Iran’s geopolitical landscape. It resulted in the loss of one of the West’s most important allies, Israel, especially the US. Radicalism, Islamism, nationalism, and anti-imperialism drove the revolution. It also reflected the memories of Iran’s invasion and constant intervention by global powers, particularly during the 19th and 20th centuries. The military coup organized by Britain and the US in 1953 and their support of the Shah until 1979 had a long-lasting impact on the Iranian people, contributing to these sentiments (Abrahamian, 2013).
Pre-Revolution
In the aftermath of World War II, the United States began to view Iran and Israel as pivotal players in the Middle East, given their strategic geopolitical location and resources. Prior to the Iranian Revolution in 1979, a host of Iranian radicals, including secular nationalists, religious zealots, and Marxists, were trained by groups like the Palestinian Liberation Organisation and The Amal, a Shia political movement founded during the Lebanese Civil War in 1973. Following the Revolution, several Iranian politicians – including Mostafa Chamran, who would later become a member of parliament and the Supreme Council of National Defense – spent time in the Amal military camp.
The Shah of Iran, who came to power after a coup, was constantly threatened by radical secular and religious factions. To counter this threat, the Shah cooperated with conservative religious groups and organizations, adopting a dictatorial approach to quell any criticism of his regime. This was driven by the fear of Soviet Communism and the Third Worldism espoused by countries like Cuba and China.
As a result, the relationship between Iran and Israel was a secret alliance with a permanent delegation in Tehran for diplomatic purposes based on mutual geopolitical concerns. These included countering the spread of Arab nationalism and Soviet Communism. Israel saw the benefits of forming strategic alliances with non-Arab countries in the Middle East, such as Iran, to counteract hostility from Arab states.
However, the 1979 Revolution was seen as a threat to Israel, as it changed the balance of power in the Middle East. To control Iran, the West, especially the US, has used various tactics, including supporting Iran during the 8-year war with Iraq, threatening to invade Iran and imposing sanctions. Despite these efforts, Iran has expanded its influence in the Middle East and accelerated its pursuit of becoming a regional power with a leading role in the Muslim world.
Iran’s Emergence as a Regional Power
In response to pressure from the Revolutionary movement, the new Iranian regime quickly changed the Shah’s regional policy. It broke off relations with Israel and recognised the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). The new regime formed alliances with radical states and movements regardless of their ideology, such as Cuba and Venezuela. Later, they worked with China and Russia to challenge the Western domination in the region.
This anti-Western stance persisted in November 1979 when militant students, supported by the clergy, including Khomeini, stormed and occupied the US embassy in Tehran, effectively ending Iran’s relations with the US (Morady, 2019).
Two significant events since the Revolution shaped the geopolitical position of the Islamic Republic. The first was the decline of Soviet Russia’s influence among radical groups in Iran following the end of the Cold War. The second was the US invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 and Iraq in 2003, which removed Iran’s arch-enemy Saddam Hussain and resulted in the new Iraqi regime becoming an important ally of Iran in the region. During the Syrian Civil War, Iran supported Bashar al-Assad, which allowed it to extend its frontline of struggle beyond Iran’s national boundaries and provide a security shield. Iran has continued to strive for dominance in the region and compete with states such as Israel, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Turkey. This competitive environment has influenced Iran’s actions, leading it to support certain groups that align with its Shia ideology. For example, Iran supports the Houthis in Yemen, in part due to its strained relationship with Sunni Saudi Arabia, and backs Hezbollah in Lebanon as a result of tensions with Israel.
The proxy conflicts between Iran, Israel, and Saudi Arabia have been escalating, prompting Israel to pursue stronger relationships with Gulf nations, with US support. This ultimately culminated in the signing of the Abraham Accords in September 2020, whereby both Bahrain and the UAE formally recognized Israel. The US, along with Israel and Gulf nations, envisioned this agreement as a means to unite against Iran’s influence and potentially address the longstanding Palestinian issue.
War in Gaza
On the 7th of October 2024, Hamas launched an attack on southern Israel that had far-reaching consequences for the Western world and changed Israel’s visibility. Although Iran did not participate directly, it provided support to Hamas.
As a result of Israeli military operations in Gaza, thousands of people were injured or killed, and many nations around the world expressed condemnation. Despite Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s promise to eradicate Hamas, this objective has yet to be achieved after seven months. Israeli Defense Forces recognize that if they withdraw from Gaza, Hamas will likely emerge as the victorious party. This outcome would be celebrated in the region, leaving a lasting impression on those who witness it.
Israel depends on the military and financial support of the United States, especially in their efforts against Gaza. In the event of any potential conflicts with Hezbollah or Iran, Israel would require even more significant aid. However, due to the current political and financial situation in Washington, and the US’s indirect role in Ukraine, direct military assistance to Israel is not as easy.
The conflict with Gaza has also been causing major economic and social strain on Israel.
During the last quarter of 2023, Israel’s economy contracted by nearly 20 per cent due to the ongoing offensive and bombardment of the Gaza Strip. As of the end of 2023, around 500,000 Israelis had left the country, adding to the pressure on the government. To address this issue, the government has started conscripting ultra-orthodox Jews who were previously exempt from military service (Middle East Monitor reports).
Over the years, there has been increasing pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to take action against Iran, which he considers Israel’s greatest enemy. Netanyahu has been hoping to start a war with Iran and has been considering the possibility of involving the US in this conflict. He has been warning against Iran’s nuclear program for years and has spent a considerable amount of time and effort lobbying the US to take action against Iran. Both the US and Israel have taken several actions against Iran, including assassinating Iranian scientists and generals, as well as attacking Iranian military bases in Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon.
After Hamas attacked Southern Israel, Israel responded with a series of strikes on Iranian bases in Syria. This resulted in the loss of eighteen Revolutionary Guard members. On 1st April, Israel carried out an air strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, Syria. This led to the death of Iranian military commander Major General Mohammad Reza Zahedi and six other Iranian nationals, one of whom was a general. Iran considers its consulate to be its sovereign territory under international law. Although not desiring war, the Revolutionary Guard Corps saw the strike in Damascus as a breach of a critical threshold. Iran believed that it had the legal right to retaliate in the same way. Not doing so would have indicated to Israel that it could continue to intensify attacks on Iranian targets in Syria, thereby weakening Iran’s perceived strength.
Israel hoped to use a defensive stance to shift the conversation away from the destruction it is causing in Gaza. By presenting itself as a defender, Israel could potentially divert attention from its offensive actions and instead focus on the need to protect itself from external threats. Israel also hoped to justify its actions in Gaza as necessary measures to safeguard its security and sovereignty.
Israel had a plan to escalate tensions between the US and Iran and encourage Washington to intervene directly in the conflict. The Israeli government aimed to use the military power of the United States to strike a decisive blow against Iran’s nuclear program. They perceived the program as a direct threat to their security. Furthermore, Israel hoped that the US intervention would weaken Iran’s regional influence and prevent it from becoming a dominant power in the Middle East. These goals were part of a broader strategy aimed at maintaining Israel’s military superiority in the region and ensuring its long-term survival.
On April 13, 2024, Iran launched a major missile and drone attack directly against Israel, which was the first time such an attack had been carried out. The attack involved over 300 missiles and drones fired from different locations in Syria. This attack was reportedly a response to an airstrike conducted by Israel against a Syrian airbase a week earlier, which was attributed to Israel by Iranian officials.
Israel was able to intercept most of the incoming missiles with the help of its security partners, which included the US, Britain, France, Jordan, and other Arab states. To achieve this, Israel used the Iron Dome missile defence system, which is designed to intercept and destroy short-range rockets and artillery shells. The attack also prompted Israel to deploy its Arrow missile defence system, which is designed to intercept longer-range ballistic missiles.
Although most of the missiles were successfully intercepted, the attack has revealed Israel’s vulnerability and its reliance on its security partners. Some Western countries have had disagreements with these partners, such as the US and Jordan, in recent months over issues like settlement expansion and the status of Jerusalem.
According to recent reports, the Iranian attack on Israel can be viewed as a display of military power rather than an all-out war. The attack involved a limited number of less advanced missiles and drones, which were unable to breach the Israeli defenses. However, if Iran were to launch a greater number of these weapons, they could potentially pose a greater threat to Israel’s defenses. Despite the outcome, the Iranians obtained valuable intelligence on how the Israelis respond to such attacks. This knowledge can be used to enhance their understanding of Israel’s missile and drone detection and tracking capabilities.
Most Western leaders have responded by rejecting any further escalation of the war. The recent Iranian attack has rallied Western support for Israel, particularly after weeks of mounting criticism of the brutal campaign in Gaza. However, this does not mark the end of the ongoing crisis in Israel, particularly against Netanyahu.
There is a possibility that the Iranian people may rally behind their government temporarily using nationalism amid a backdrop of significant economic and political challenges, such as inflation, currency devaluation, and joblessness. As a result, the government’s credibility may be restricted, and the prospect of war could be used to shift blame onto external adversaries for internal difficulties. The regime has a track record of exploiting external dangers to divert attention from their inability to meet their commitments, dating back to the Revolution of 1979 and beyond.