Today's tension between Iran and Israel, which peaked with the Israeli attacks on Iranian nuclear sites like Natanz and Fordo in 2025 and Iran's retaliatory strikes, is one of the most complex geopolitical stories in the Middle East. But it was not always like this. Once these two countries were regional allies, with strong diplomatic and military ties. What happened that friendship turned into enmity? Let's analyze this historical change based on facts.
The beginning of friendship: Alliance during the Shah's era
After the formation of Israel in 1948, Iran was among the first Muslim-majority countries to recognize it in 1950. At that time Iran was ruled by Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who had Western-backed and secular policies. Both the Shah's Iran and Israel were against Arab nationalism and Soviet influence, which made them natural allies.
In the 1950s and 1960s, the two countries cooperated under the "Periphery Doctrine", which aimed to reduce the influence of Arab countries, especially Egypt and Syria. Israel trained Iran's SAVAK (secret police), while Iran supplied Israel with oil. By the 1970s, the Iranian embassy in Tel Aviv and the Israeli embassy in Tehran were active. The two countries worked jointly on military and intelligence projects, including missile technology.
1979 Revolution: Breakdown in relations
The Islamic Revolution in Iran in 1979 uprooted this friendship. The fall of the Shah and the establishment of the Islamic Republic under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini completely changed Iran's foreign policy. Khomeini described Israel as "illegitimate" and the "occupier of Palestine". He called Israel America's "little devil" and America the "big devil".
Iran immediately broke diplomatic relations with Israel and handed over the Israeli embassy in Tehran to the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO). Khomeini initiated the "Al-Quds Day", which became a symbol of solidarity against Israel. This revolution established Iran as a supporter of Palestine in the Islamic world, setting up its confrontation with Israel.
1980s-90s: The beginning of the proxy war
During the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s, Israel initially supplied arms to Iran, as both were threatened by Iraq's Saddam Hussein. This was part of the "Iran-Contra" scandal, which involved US mediation. However, this cooperation was temporary.
Israel's attack on Lebanon in 1982 and the formation of Hezbollah further deepened the hostility between the two countries. Iran provided financial and military support to Hezbollah, which engaged in guerrilla warfare against Israel. In the 1990s, reports of Iran's nuclear program raised Israel's concern. Israel saw it as a threat to its existence and labelled Iran a "regional hegemon".
Post 2000: Nuclear tensions and cyber warfare
After the Natanz nuclear plant revelations in 2002, Israel pursued a strategy to destroy Iran's nuclear program. In 2010, the Stuxnet virus, believed to be a cyber attack by Israel and the US, damaged Natanz's centrifuges. In response, Iran intensified cyber attacks and proxy warfare.
Iran increased its influence in Syria, Yemen and Iraq, which Israel saw as a threat to the "Shia Crescent". After the US withdrew from the JCPOA (nuclear deal) in 2018, Iran increased uranium enrichment, causing Israel to intensify covert and overt attacks. The assassination of Iranian scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh in 2020, in which Israel is believed to have a hand, further escalated tensions.
2025: The brink of war
In June 2025, Israel launched airstrikes on Natanz and Fordo under "Operation Rising Lion", in response to which Iran fired missiles at Tel Aviv and Haifa under "True Promise 3". The IAEA confirmed that the attacks did not pose a radiation threat, but satellite images showed damage to Natanz. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed the attack was to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, while Iran called it an "international crime".
Causes of hostility
- Ideological conflict: Iran's anti-Israel policy after the Islamic Revolution and Israel's view of Iran as a regional threat.
- Nuclear ambitions: Iran's nuclear program, which Israel considers an existential crisis for itself.
- Proxy war: Indirect confrontation between the two countries through groups like Hezbollah, Hamas and Houthis.
- External influences: US support to Israel and Russia-China alliance with Iran.
Conclusion
Iran and Israel's journey from friendship to enmity is a mix of ideological, strategic and regional ambitions. The 1979 revolution changed this relationship forever, and today the two countries are on the brink of war. Diplomacy or military confrontation in the future will determine the course of this enmity.
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