Before 1979, Iran and Israel were quiet allies. They traded oil, shared intelligence, and supported each other’s security goals. But after Iran’s Islamic Revolution, everything changed.
This article breaks down how two nations went from working together to becoming bitter enemies. It explains what led to the split, how proxy wars and nuclear threats grew, and why the story still matters today, especially after the U.S. airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities in 2025.
Before 1979: When Iran and Israel Were Allies
Under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, Iran and Israel were unofficial allies. They collaborated on trade, intelligence, and military efforts to counter Arab nationalism and Soviet influence. This strategic bond formed the basis of Israel’s “periphery doctrine,” aligning with non-Arab states to bypass regional hostility.
As noted in Aish, Israeli engineers helped develop Iran’s infrastructure, while Tehran quietly recognized Israel, one of only two Muslim-majority countries to do so at the time. Israel exported weapons and surveillance technology to Iran, and in return gained a powerful intelligence outpost against adversaries in the Gulf.
Brookings further explains that this alignment wasn’t ideological but strategic: a calculated maneuver by both states to survive in a volatile region.
The 1979 Revolution: A Strategic and Ideological Shift
The seismic shift occurred with the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini overthrew the Shah and replaced pro-Western monarchy with a theocratic republic. One of the regime’s first moves was to sever ties with Israel, labeling it the “Little Satan” and the United States the “Great Satan”.
According to Brookings, Khomeini’s vision of exporting the Islamic revolution clashed directly with Israel’s existence. The revolution marked the collapse of Israel’s reverse-periphery doctrine, which had relied on Iran as a central pillar.
As Indiana University’s IAUNRC points out, the break wasn’t just diplomatic; it was ideological. Iran’s constitution institutionalized opposition to Israel, and the new leadership embraced anti-Zionism as part of its core identity.
The Rise of Proxy Warfare: Hezbollah and Beyond
By the early 1980s, Iran had shifted its confrontation with Israel into the realm of proxy warfare. The most notable example was its creation and backing of Hezbollah in Lebanon.
According to RAND via JSTOR, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) trained and funded Hezbollah beginning in 1982. This group soon became a major force on Israel’s northern border, engaging in direct conflict during the 2006 Lebanon War.
Iran also provided financial and military support to Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and various Shiite militias across Syria and Iraq—all hostile to Israel. These alliances expanded the battlefield without direct Iranian involvement, allowing Tehran to challenge Israel while avoiding open war.
Al Jazeera documents how this proxy network evolved into an essential part of Iran’s regional strategy.
The U.S. Role: Cold War Choices and Modern Dilemmas
The revolution also forced a recalibration of U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East. Washington, which once supported both Israel and the Shah’s Iran, now had to navigate the Iran-Iraq War, rising Islamist movements, and a hardened Israeli stance.
As explained by NATO’s geopolitical fellowship report, the U.S. began reinforcing its alliance with Israel while implementing containment policies against Iran. This included sanctions, naval patrols, and clandestine operations.
Indiana University notes that Iran viewed this shift as part of a wider Zionist-American conspiracy, deepening its ideological resistance to normalization.
Visual Snapshot: Timeline of Iran-Israel Relations Since 1979
| Year | Key Event | Impact |
| 1979 | Islamic Revolution in Iran | Diplomatic rupture with Israel |
| 1982 | Hezbollah founded with Iranian support | Start of proxy warfare |
| 2006 | Israel–Hezbollah War | Deepened military confrontation |
| 2010s | Israeli strikes on Iranian assets in Syria | Shadow war escalates |
| 2020s | Drone, cyber, and covert operations between both | Technology reshapes warfare |
Reference: Al Jazeera, Festivaltopia
From Covert Conflict to Open Escalation
In the 2000s and 2010s, confrontation between Iran and Israel escalated through airstrikes in Syria, covert assassinations, cyber warfare (like the Stuxnet attack), and targeted killings of Iranian nuclear scientists.
Festivaltopia provides a full timeline of these attacks, showing how each side increasingly engaged in high-stakes operations while avoiding all-out war.
This era also saw more aggressive Iranian military posturing through ballistic missile tests and drone development, often labeled “defensive deterrents” against Israeli aggression.
June 2025: Operation Midnight Hammer
In June 2025, the United States launched Operation Midnight Hammer, a direct strike on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. According to multiple reports, B-2 stealth bombers, Tomahawk missiles, and MOP bunker-busters were used.
Iran retaliated with missile attacks on U.S. bases in Qatar and warned of potential disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.
This unprecedented move marks the first direct U.S. military action against Iranian soil since 1979, escalating the decades-old Israel-Iran hostility into a global crisis.
What It Means Today
The fight between Iran and Israel isn’t just about the past anymore. It’s a real, ongoing danger that now involves the U.S. directly. What started as a political and religious divide has grown into a serious military conflict with global risks.
This isn’t just about missiles and threats. It’s about two countries locked in a long struggle, with deep mistrust and no easy way out. And now, big powers like the U.S. have to decide how far they’re willing to go—and what price they’re willing to pay.
Knowing how this all began back in 1979 helps us understand why peace remains so elusive and why every new move in this conflict could impact the entire world.
References:
Brookings. Iran’s Revolution 40 Years On: Israel’s Reverse‑Periphery Doctrine
IAUNRC, Indiana University. Iran and Israel: A Historical Perspective
Al Jazeera. Iran and Israel: From Allies to Archenemies – How Did They Get Here?
JSTOR / RAND Corp.. MG1143 OSD – Iranian Proxies and Regional Security
Festivaltopia. The Complex History Behind the Iran–Israel Conflict
Aish. Before the Hatred: When Iran and Israel Were Allies
NATO. Iran’s Geopolitical Position – NATO Fellow Report
