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Deep-seated hostility between Iran and Israel underneath - Deep-Seated Enmity Between Iran and Israel: Historical Roots and Modern Tensions
Tensions are high as these protesters march, promising a fight to the bitter end. If they succeed, it's Israel that pays the price.
The face behind this agitation in London on June 15, 1985, was Ayatollah Khomeini, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Recognizable with his black turban, he stormed into power six years prior, overthrowing the Iranian ruler, the Shah, in the spring of 1979. With his reign, he established a theocracy.
At the same time, he staked his claim against Israel. While the Shah maintained close ties with the Jewish state, even collaborating on military projects like "Project Flower," Khomeini broke off ties. He nixed all treaties with Israel, condemned Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories, rejected Israel's right to exist, and handed over the Israeli embassy's building to the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) in a public ceremony.
Khomeini: Israel, a "Malignant Growth"
From then on, anti-Israeli sentiment became a national policy in Iran. Much like the fight against the United States, also known as "The Big Satan." In August 1979, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini even established an anti-Israeli commemoration day, the "al-Quds Day" (after the Arabic name for Jerusalem). To show solidarity with the Palestinians, he called on Muslims worldwide to take the streets during the last day of the fasting month of Ramadan. Many did, even as far as London.
Khomeini didn't shy away from his hostility towards Israel. Long before he seized power, he had already labeled the country a "malignant growth." After taking power, he used his aggressive rhetoric against Israel to boost his still volatile regime's standing in the Islamic world and to augment Tehran's influence in the Middle East.
When Israel intervened in the Lebanese Civil War in 1982 and invaded southern Lebanon, Khomeini sent Iranian Revolutionary Guards to Beirut to support the local Shia fighters. For centuries, there had been close bonds between the predominantly Shia population of Iran and the Shia community of Lebanon; now, an alliance against Israel emerged between Tehran and the still nascent Lebanese Hezbollah militia.
Iran further supported Hezbollah, whose name translates to "Party of God," with money and weapons, fueling the militia's rise as defenders against Israeli invasions. The militia's attacks on Israel persisted even after Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000. Hezbollah remains viewed as an extension of Tehran.
And so, Iran, Hezbollah, and Israel stand off in the same conflict that has been intensifying since the Palestinian Hamas' attack on Israel in October 2023, leading to clashes between Israel and Iran in June 2025. This clash has the potential to ignite a major war in the Middle East.
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- Politics
- Religion
- History
- "-Proxies
The Iran-Israel conflict is a longstanding, complex struggle dominated by proxy wars, political tension, and occasional direct military confrontations. Hezbollah, an Islamist militant group based in Lebanon backed by Iran, plays a crucial role in this conflict as a proxy force against Israel.
Timeline of the Iran-Israel Conflict
- 1967: Iran began nuclear cooperation with the U.S., under the "Atoms for Peace" program, before relations turned sour[3][4].
- 1979: The Iranian Revolution leads to the establishment of a theocratic government hostile to Israel. The U.S. Embassy hostage crisis marked a significant shift in Iran-Israel relations, with Iran identifying Israel as a primary enemy[3][4].
- August 2002: Western intelligence and opposition exposed Iran’s secret nuclear enrichment facility at Natanz, escalating tensions over Iran’s nuclear aspirations[3][4].
- June 2003: European powers begin nuclear negotiations with Iran to curb its nuclear program[3][4].
- 2000-2006 (Shebaa Farms conflict): Low-level conflict involving Hezbollah and Israel flared in a disputed border area, paving the way for the 2006 Lebanon War[1].
- 2006 Lebanon War: Hezbollah, supported by Iran, fought Israel to a standstill before Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon. This war illustrated the full potential of Hezbollah as Iran's proxy force against Israel[1].
- 2008-2009 Gaza War and subsequent Gaza conflicts: Though primary against Hamas, these conflicts fall within Iran's broader strategy to support multiple fronts against Israel, including Hezbollah in Lebanon[1].
- 2013–present: Iran's involvement in the Syrian civil war supports Hezbollah and other Shia militias against Israel and its allies, increasing the conflict zone and complicating direct confrontations[1].
- 2023–present: An ongoing Israel-Hezbollah conflict and the Iran-Israel struggle continue, marked by Israeli airstrikes on Iranian nuclear and military sites, targeting key Iranian scientists amid stalled diplomatic talks[1][3][4].
- June 2025: Israeli strikes on Iran continue, maintaining a focus on Iran's nuclear and military installations[1][3][4].
Role of Hezbollah
- Hezbollah operates as a central Iranian proxy force on the ground against Israel, particularly active in Lebanon. It has engaged in several significant conflicts with Israel, including the South Lebanon conflict (1985–2000), the 2006 Lebanon War, and recent conflicts since.
- Iran backs Hezbollah with funding, weapons, training, and strategic guidance, enabling it to maintain a robust military presence along Israel's northern border[1].
- Hezbollah's role extends Iran’s reach and obliges Israel to face threats on multiple fronts ( Lebanon, Gaza, Syria), dispersing Israel’s strategic attention and focusing it away from Iran's nuclear and military ambitions[1].
- The group's military feats, such as forcing Israeli withdrawals from southern Lebanon, have solidified its position as a crucial player in the Iran-Israel proxy conflict[1].
Summary
The Iran-Israel conflict is characterized by indirect warfare where Hezbollah functions as Iran's primary proxy force against Israel. This unremitting confrontation includes episodes of armed conflict, covert operations, and diplomatic tensions, primarily centering on Iran's nuclear ambitions and regional power aspirations. Key milestones include Hezbollah's involvement in Lebanon warfare and recent Israeli airstrikes on Iranian sites, reflecting the enduring and multi-dimensional nature of this ongoing struggle[1][3][4].
- The European Union, as a major player in the world of information and communication technology, could play a significant role in mediating the longstanding, complex Iran-Israel conflict by fostering dialogue and promoting peaceful resolutions, especially in the realm of diplomatic negotiations.
- The Iran-Israel proxy war, dominated by political tension, occasional direct military confrontations, and Hezbollah's role as Iran's central proxy force against Israel, is multifaceted and has been fuelled by religion, history, and politics. These factors, combined with the general news of the ongoing conflict, contribute to its complexity and urgency for resolution.
