Israel and Iran’s Diplomatic Relations: A Historical Perspective
Before 1950, Israel and Iran enjoyed strong relations, but the official diplomatic ties were absent. The Six Day War, which took place from 5-10 June 1967, between Israel and its neighboring Arab nations (Egypt, Jordan, Syria), marked a turning point. Israel emerged victorious, securing territories such as the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt. Iran, impressed by Israel’s formidable military capabilities, quickly developed a close bond with the nation. Iran’s Shah invested heavily, spending over a billion dollars on Israeli weapons, with the aim of establishing Iran as the dominant military power in the Middle East.
During the Shah’s reign, Tehran became home to more than 100,000 Israelis, complete with schools for Jewish children. The level of comfort felt by Israelis in Tehran was such that they perceived the Iranian capital as their second home.
However, this relationship took a drastic turn during the Iranian Islamic Revolution in 1979. The overthrow of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi by Ayatollah Khomeini, who established a republic and declared animosity towards the United States, marked a significant shift. Khomeini viewed Israel as a friend of the United States, leading to severed diplomatic relations between Iran and Israel.
Ayatollah Khomeini assumed power as the Supreme Leader, commanding both the army and security forces. He also appointed key positions such as the head of the judiciary, members of the influential Guardian Council, Friday prayer leaders, and directors of state media networks. Additionally, Khomeini’s vast influence extended to charitable organizations with billions of dollars in funding, significantly impacting Iran’s economic system.
Following Ayatollah Khomeini’s death in 1989, Ayatollah Khamenei succeeded him as Iran’s Supreme Leader. Khamenei solidified his control over power and took measures to safeguard the ruling class’s security.
Since the Islamic Revolution, Iran has maintained no diplomatic relations with Israel, with the Israeli embassy transforming into the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) representation.
In the 1980s, a glimmer of hope for improved relations between Israel and Iran emerged as both countries faced a common enemy: Iraq. During the Iran-Iraq war, Iran resumed purchasing weapons from Israel amounting to over 500 million US dollars while also resuming oil trade with Israel. Nevertheless, once the Iraq war concluded, Iran promptly reverted to their objective of destroying Israel.
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, often characterized as a proxy war, finds the two nations engaging in clashes without direct attacks on each other. Iran supports various terrorist groups, including Hezbollah in Lebanon (bordering Israel in the north), Hamas in the Gaza Strip, and Islamic Jihad in Palestine.
Israel, on the other hand, takes extensive measures to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. These measures range from airstrikes targeting Hezbollah’s arms shipments in Syria to the reported assassinations of Iranian nuclear scientists (though Israel has neither confirmed nor denied these allegations).
At present, Israel maintains amicable relations with several Arab nations, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia. The idea of an Arab-Israeli alliance, which seemed nearly impossible when Israel declared independence in the 1940s, has now become a tangible reality.
Source: jpost, bbc, american.edu.
Before 1950, Israel and Iran had good relations. But they still do not have official diplomatic relationsSix Day War (Six Day War) on 5-10 June 1967 from Israel and the neighboring Arab nations (Egypt, Jordan, Syria) ended in 1967. Israel won and captured many areas, such as the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt, Iran admired And from seeing that the Israeli military force was very capable, of very high quality, the relationship between the two countries developed so quickly that the Shah invested more than a billion dollars in buying weapons from Israel. Because they want Iran’s military to be the strongest in the Middle East.
In the era ofshah Iran has more than 100,000 Israelis living in Tehran. There are schools for Jewish children. To the point that Israelis feel that Tehran is their second home.
• The breaking point in a relationship. Israel-Iran
However, the relationship between Israel and Iran has broken down and gone in different directions. During the Iranian Islamic Revolution, in 1979, everything changed when Ayatollah Khomeini overthrew Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and changed the monarchy to a republic, Ayatollah. Allah Khomeini is an enemy of the United States and sees Israel as a friend of the United States.
The Supreme Leader is the commander in chief of the army and the security forces. Then Ayatollah Khomeini appoints the head of the judiciary, half of the powerful Guardian Council, and leaders in Friday prayers as well as the directors of state television and radio networks in the country. moreover, in Iran, charities with billions of dollars in funding Its influence also greatly influences the country’s economic system.
After the death of Ayatollah Khomeini in 1989, Ayatollah Khamenei became the second person to ascend the throne. and also firmly controls power and deals with threats to the security of this ruling class.
From that point During Iran’s Islamic Revolution, Iran severed diplomatic relations with Israel. and changing the Israeli embassy This is the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).
However, in the 80s, it appeared Israel with Iran There will be a better relationship. Because of that time both countries They have a common enemy: Iraq. During the Iran-Iraq war, Iran returned to buying weapons from Israel worth more than 500 million US dollars. and returned to sell oil to Israel But still After the war in Iraq ended Iran immediately returned to its mission to destroy Israel.
• Proxy war?
It’s been a long time. A year when Iran and Israel clashed but did not directly attack each other. Also known asproxy war (Proxy Conflict) means that other players will come in and attack each other.
Iran will attack Israel by supporting the terrorist group Hezbollah in Lebanon. which borders Israel in the north, Hamas in the Gaza Strip, or Islamic Jihad in Palestine ( Islamic Jihad ).
There is a sideIsraelDo everything possible to prevent Iran from producing nuclear weapons. Air strikes to destroy Hezbollah arms shipments to Damascus in Syria, assassinations of Iranian nuclear scientists beginning in 2010 (butIsraelNever came out to confirm or deny this matter)
a IsraelParticipated in the killing of the Iranian General Soleimani (Qasem Soleimani) through an air strike on the Iraqi airport in Baghdad ordered by Donald Trump.
Currently, Israel has good relations with many Arab nations such as the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. The idea of an Arab and Israeli alliance would have been almost impossible back when Israel declared independence in the 1940s.
Source: jpost bbc american.edu
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