Iran has stated that its recent attacks on Israel, which occurred on April 12, were retaliatory measures following the targeting of an Iranian consulate in Syria earlier in the month, resulting in the loss of senior military commanders’ lives.
Describing the operation as “limited,” Iran launched drones and missiles at Israel on Sunday, with no significant casualties reported thus far. Iran has asserted that it inflicted damage on one Israeli military facility during the attacks.
Tensions in the Middle East have escalated since the Hamas attack in Israel on October 7, 2023, followed by further attacks in the Red Sea by Yemen’s Houthis. These incidents have raised concerns about the potential for a broader regional conflict involving the two influential powers and rivals, Iran and Israel.
However, it’s important to note that the relationship between Iran and Israel hasn’t always been as strained as it is today. Initially, Iran was one of the first countries in the region to recognize Israel after its establishment in 1948. It wasn’t until 1979 that their diplomatic ties deteriorated following the Iranian Revolution.
Iran’s Early Relations with Israel
In 1948, the opposition of Arab states to the newly established state of Israel ignited the first Arab-Israeli war. Despite this conflict, Iran remained uninvolved, and following Israel’s victory, it became one of the first Muslim-majority nations to establish diplomatic relations with the Jewish state, following in the footsteps of Turkey.
A scholarly analysis from the Brookings Institute titled “Iran’s revolution, 40 years on: Israel’s reverse periphery doctrine” sheds light on Israel’s strategic approach during this period. Under the leadership of its first Prime Minister, David Ben Gurion, Israel adopted the “periphery doctrine” to counter the hostility of neighboring Arab states. This doctrine aimed to cultivate alliances with non-Arab, primarily Muslim, countries in the Middle East. Among these key partners were Turkey and pre-revolution Iran, both of which shared a common pro-Western orientation and perceived isolation within the region.
At the time, Iran was under the rule of the Pahlavi dynasty, led by Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. Enjoying strong support from the United States, much like Israel, Iran maintained robust ties with the Jewish state. Despite facing economic boycotts from Arab states, Iran continued to export oil to Israel, further solidifying their bilateral relationship.
Iran’s Shifting Perception of Israel
Following the overthrow of the Shah in the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Iran underwent a transformation into a religious state. Consequently, its perception of Israel shifted dramatically, viewing it as an occupier of Palestinian territory.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khomeini famously dubbed Israel as the “Little Satan,” aligning it with the United States, which he referred to as the “Great Satan,” both perceived as regional interlopers. This stance positioned Iran in direct opposition to major powers like Saudi Arabia and Israel, both staunch allies of the US, as Iran sought to expand its influence in the Middle East.
Meanwhile, the concept of “pan-Arabism,” championed by Egypt’s Gamal Abdel Nasser, emphasized solidarity and unity among Arab states based on shared cultural ties. This ideology inherently clashed with Iran’s non-Arab identity.
However, with Nasser’s death in 1970, Iran’s relations with countries such as Egypt began to thaw. Additionally, diplomatic efforts, such as the Iran-Iraq accord of 1975, aimed at mitigating hostilities, albeit temporarily. These developments, as noted by Israeli media outlet Haaretz, diminished Israel’s strategic significance to Iran during this period.
Israel and Iran’s Indirect Hostilities
The deteriorating relations between Israel and Iran have been characterized by indirect hostilities rather than direct military confrontations. Both countries have employed proxies and engaged in limited strategic attacks to undermine each other.
Israel has periodically targeted Iranian nuclear facilities, aiming to hinder Iran’s nuclear weapons development. Notably, in the early 2010s, Israel launched attacks on several facilities and targeted nuclear scientists.
In 2010, the US and Israel allegedly collaborated to develop Stuxnet, a sophisticated computer virus. Deployed to disrupt operations at Iran’s Natanz nuclear site, Stuxnet marked the first known instance of a cyberattack targeting industrial machinery, as reported by Reuters.
On the other hand, Iran has been accused of financing and supporting various militant groups in the region, including Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. These groups espouse anti-Israel and anti-US ideologies, further escalating tensions in the region.
The involvement of Iran and its proxies in regional conflicts has raised concerns about the potential for a broader confrontation. The reactions of Iran, its proxies, and Israel to unfolding events are closely watched, with the US also playing a significant role.
President Joe Biden has maintained support for Israel’s right to self-defense, even amidst criticism over civilian casualties in Gaza. However, with the upcoming US presidential elections, there’s a delicate balancing act for Biden. He aims to avoid entanglement in distant conflicts while upholding commitments to Israel, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the situation.
