Iran and Israel: A Complicated History

A Long-Standing Conflict

Iran and Israel have a long and complicated history, marked by conflict and tension. The roots of this conflict can be traced back to the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, when Iran supported the Arab states against Israel. Since then, the two countries have been on opposing sides of several regional conflicts, including the Six-Day War in 1967 and the Yom Kippur War in 1973. The Islamic Revolution in Iran in 1979 further strained relations between the two countries, as the new Iranian government adopted a strongly anti-Israel stance.

Nuclear Concerns

One of the most significant sources of tension between Iran and Israel is Iran's nuclear program. Israel has long been concerned that Iran is developing nuclear weapons, which it sees as a threat to its security. Iran, on the other hand, insists that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only. In 2015, Iran and the P5+1 (the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, China, and Germany) reached a nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The JCPOA was designed to limit Iran's nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. However, the United States withdrew from the JCPOA in 2018, and Iran has since begun to scale back its compliance with the deal. (*[The New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/08/world/middleeast/iran-nuclear-deal.html)*)

Regional Rivalry

The conflict between Iran and Israel is also fueled by a regional rivalry between the two countries. Iran is a Shia Muslim-majority country, while Israel is a Jewish-majority country. This religious divide has contributed to tensions between the two countries, as Iran has supported Shia Muslim groups in the region, while Israel has supported Sunni Muslim groups. (*[The Washington Post](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/irans-support-for-hezbollah-complicates-israels-lebanon-strategy/2019/03/14/96c6413c-46e0-11e9-8963-8a05b8683931_story.html)*)

Recent Developments

In recent years, tensions between Iran and Israel have escalated. In 2019, Israel launched a series of airstrikes on Iranian targets in Syria. Iran has also been accused of supporting attacks on Israeli targets in the region. (*[The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/23/israeli-airstrikes-target-iranian-positions-in-syria-as-tensions-rise)*) In 2020, the United States assassinated Iranian general Qasem Soleimani, further heightening tensions between the two countries. (*[The New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/03/world/middleeast/qassem-soleimani-iran.html)*)

The Future of the Conflict

The future of the conflict between Iran and Israel is uncertain. Both countries have a strong interest in maintaining their security, but they also have different visions for the region. The conflict is likely to continue to be a source of tension in the Middle East for the foreseeable future.