Israel and Iran: From Allies to Adversaries

The Surprising History of Israel-Iran Relations

Contrary to what many might assume, Israel and Iran haven't always been locked in conflict. In fact, there was a time when these two nations maintained cordial relations and even engaged in strategic cooperation. This article delves into the fascinating history of Israel-Iran relations, examining how they transformed from allies to adversaries.

Early Recognition and Cooperation

In 1950, just two years after Israel's founding, Iran took a significant step by de facto recognizing Israel. This meant that Iran allowed an Israeli diplomatic mission to open in Tehran, their capital. While this wasn't full diplomatic recognition - there was no official embassy - it demonstrated a level of acceptance that seems unthinkable in today's geopolitical climate.

Iran's approach was carefully balanced. They maintained a neutral public stance towards Israel to avoid angering Arab nations and their own Muslim population. However, behind the scenes, a strategic partnership began to form between the two countries.

The Strategic Partnership

Perhaps the most surprising aspect of Israel-Iran relations in the mid-20th century was their military and intelligence cooperation. Both nations shared common interests, particularly in countering Arab nationalist movements.

One of their primary concerns was balancing against Egypt under Gamal Abdel Nasser. Nasser promoted the idea of a unified Arab world and advocated for military unity among Arab states. His goal was to resist Western influence and assert regional independence, potentially creating an Arab-dominated bloc in the Middle East.

For Iran, a Persian nation despite its Muslim majority, Nasser's pan-Arab ideology threatened to marginalize their influence in the region. Meanwhile, Israel faced direct military confrontation and diplomatic opposition from Nasser's Egypt. This shared opposition to Nasser's influence brought Israel and Iran into an unlikely alliance.

Israel's Periphery Doctrine

The cooperation between Israel and Iran was part of Israel's broader "Periphery Doctrine," a foreign policy strategy developed by David Ben-Gurion, Israel's first Prime Minister. This doctrine aimed to build alliances with non-Arab states on the periphery of the Middle East, including Iran, Turkey, and Ethiopia.

The goal was to balance against Soviet and Arab influence in the region. Declassified documents from the Israeli government's National Archives have since revealed firsthand discussions about this doctrine and its implementation.

Economic Cooperation: The Eilat-Ashkelon Pipeline

One of the most tangible examples of Israel-Iran cooperation was the Eilat-Ashkelon Pipeline Company (EAPC). This oil pipeline, constructed in the 1960s, was designed to transport Iranian oil to Israel. The two countries were 50-50 partners in this venture.

The pipeline served a strategic purpose beyond mere economic cooperation. It allowed oil to flow from Iran through the Red Sea to Israel, where it could be refined and shipped to Europe. This was particularly important after Egypt closed the Suez Canal to Israeli shipping during Arab-Israeli conflicts.

Intelligence and Military Cooperation

Declassified CIA documents reveal the extent of Israeli-Iranian intelligence cooperation in the 1960s and even into the 1980s. Israel regularly sold armaments to Iran during the Shah's reign, including small arms, mortars, and ammunition. They also provided engine overhaul and maintenance support for Iran's air force and army, and extended technical support to Iran's nascent defense industry.

This arms trade benefited both nations. It gave a significant boost to Israel's fledgling defense industry, while Iran received much-needed military equipment and expertise. The arrangement often involved barter deals, with Iran supplying oil in return for arms and technical assistance.

It's worth noting that the CIA facilitated this friendship to some degree, as it worked to balance against Soviet influence in the region.

A Closeted Friendship

Despite the depth of their cooperation, Iran and Israel were not very public about their relationship. This was largely due to potential backlash from other Muslim-majority nations if the extent of their cooperation became known. Behind the scenes, however, they worked together closely in a classic "you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours" arrangement.

The Turning Point: The Iranian Revolution

While there had been some level of anti-Israel sentiment brewing in Iran as early as the 1960s, with reports of Iranians volunteering to fight against Israel within the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), the major turning point in Israel-Iran relations came with the 1979 Iranian Revolution.

This seismic event saw the fall of the Western-allied Pahlavi Dynasty and the creation of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Iranian monarchy was replaced by an Islamic Republic headed by a Supreme Leader, with a religiously appointed Guardian Council and Parliament.

Ideological Shift and Hostility

The new government in Iran began using openly hostile rhetoric towards Israel and the United States. Iran cut ties with Israel, expelling their diplomatic presence from Tehran. The cooperation on the oil pipeline came to an end.

This shift was rooted in the new theocratic ideology of Iran, based on political Islam. Under Ayatollah Khomeini, Iran began to view Israel as an extension of Western imperialism, a settler state, and a colonial project oppressing Muslims in Palestine.

Continued Covert Cooperation

Interestingly, even after the revolution, the two countries continued to cooperate when it was convenient. During the Iran-Iraq War in the early 1980s, Israel sold stockpiles of weapons to Iran for a fee of about $75 million in one year.

Declassified CIA documents reveal that Israel hoped this aid would help prolong the Iran-Iraq conflict, keeping Iraq's military tied down along its eastern border. They also hoped to retain some influence with Tehran to encourage humane treatment of the Jewish population still living in Iran.

The Shift to Proxy Warfare

As direct relations between Israel and Iran deteriorated, both countries began to engage in proxy warfare. This shift was partly due to the difficulty of direct confrontation, given Israel's suspected nuclear capabilities and Iran's larger population and geographic size.

Iran's Support for Hezbollah

In 1982, following Israel's invasion of Lebanon, Iran began supporting Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps sent 1,500 of their best soldiers to Lebanon to help train, equip, and establish Hezbollah as an effective armed militant group. Since the early 1980s, Iran has annually sent hundreds of millions of dollars to support Hezbollah.

Iran's Support for Hamas

A decade later, in the mid-1990s, Iran extended its proxy warfare strategy to Gaza. In 1993, Iran sold millions of dollars worth of weapons and provided training to arm Hamas fighters inside Gaza. This support and influence have grown significantly since then, facilitating attacks throughout Israel.

Israel's Counter-Proxy Efforts

While Iran's proxy activities are more widely reported, Israel has also attempted to support proxies or dissent against Iran. Reports suggest that Israel has provided some level of support to Kurdish separatist groups inside Iran, particularly the Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK).

Israel has also been speculated to have provided training and intelligence to Kurdish separatists as part of its broader strategy to counter Iran's influence in the region.

Escalation and Direct Confrontation

In recent years, the conflict between Israel and Iran has escalated from proxy warfare to more direct confrontation. Several factors have contributed to this escalation:

The Syrian Civil War

The Syrian Civil War, which began in 2011, became a major turning point in the Israeli-Iran proxy war. Syria's strategic importance as a transit country for Iran to supply weapons and aid to its proxies made it a battleground for influence between Israel and Iran.

Israel has conducted numerous airstrikes in Syria to limit Iran's growing influence near its borders. The power vacuum and instability in Syria allowed Iran to increase its presence, which Israel saw as a direct threat.

Nuclear Program and Covert Operations

Iran's nuclear program has been a significant source of tension. Israel, along with many Western countries, has expressed concern about Iran potentially developing nuclear weapons. This has led to various covert operations, including the 2010 Stuxnet computer virus that affected Iran's nuclear program and several assassinations of Iranian scientists.

Regional Alliances and Normalization

Israel's attempts to normalize relations with Arab states, particularly Saudi Arabia, have been seen as a threat by Iran. From Iran's perspective, these efforts could lead to a coalition united in opposition to Iran.

Direct Attacks

The conflict has recently escalated to direct attacks. Iran has openly fired ballistic missiles at Israel, while Israel has carried out attacks inside Iran. The October 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas, which Iran is accused of supporting, marked a significant escalation in the conflict.

The Current State of Israel-Iran Relations

Today, the relationship between Israel and Iran is characterized by deep hostility and mutual suspicion. The two countries are engaged in a complex conflict that extends beyond their borders, involving proxy groups, cyber warfare, and occasional direct military actions.

Ideological Conflict

The conflict between Israel and Iran is unusual in modern geopolitics because it's primarily driven by ideological factors rather than direct material concerns like territory or resources. Iran's ideology is rooted in its interpretation of political Islam, which views Israel as an illegitimate state. Israel, on the other hand, sees Iran as an existential threat due to its nuclear ambitions and support for anti-Israel groups.

Nuclear Tensions

Iran's nuclear program remains a central issue in the conflict. While Iran insists its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, Israel and many Western countries suspect Iran of seeking to develop nuclear weapons. This has led to international sanctions against Iran and ongoing diplomatic efforts to prevent nuclear proliferation in the region.

Regional Power Struggle

The Israel-Iran conflict is part of a broader struggle for regional influence in the Middle East. Both countries seek to shape the geopolitical landscape of the region in their favor, leading to involvement in conflicts in Syria, Lebanon, and elsewhere.

Impact on Regional Stability

The ongoing tension between Israel and Iran has significant implications for regional stability. It affects not only the two countries directly involved but also their neighbors and allies. The conflict has the potential to draw in other regional and global powers, raising concerns about a wider conflagration in the Middle East.

Conclusion

The relationship between Israel and Iran has undergone a dramatic transformation over the past seven decades. From a period of strategic cooperation and covert friendship, it has evolved into one of the most volatile and potentially dangerous conflicts in the Middle East.

Understanding this complex history is crucial for comprehending the current dynamics of the region. It illustrates how geopolitical alliances can shift dramatically over time, influenced by factors such as regime changes, ideological shifts, and regional power dynamics.

As the situation continues to evolve, the international community watches closely, hoping for de-escalation but preparing for potential further conflict. The future of Israel-Iran relations will undoubtedly play a significant role in shaping the broader geopolitical landscape of the Middle East and beyond.

In the end, the story of Israel and Iran serves as a stark reminder of the complexities of international relations, the long-lasting impact of historical events, and the powerful role that ideology can play in shaping conflicts between nations.

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