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A historical overview of escalating tensions and conflicts.
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- Israel and Iran have experienced fluctuating relations from initial recognition in 1949 to significant hostility following the 1979 Islamic Revolution. - Throughout the years, there have been covert collaborations as well as open conflicts, including arms exchanges during the Iran-Iraq War and the 2006 Lebanon confrontation. - Recent escalations include missile strikes and airstrikes, leading to a de facto state of war between the two nations as of June 2025.
/target-persona
1. Policy Analyst 2. Academic Researcher 3. Security Consultant
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GovtechEdtechFintech
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15 min
Persona
1. Political Analyst 2. Historian 3. Conflict Resolution Specialist
Worth investigating
Timeline: Israel vs. Iran
1947–1949
- Iran votes against the UN Partition Plan (1947) and Israel’s UN admission (1949), but then becomes the second Muslim-majority country to recognize Israel after Turkey.
1953
- After the CIA-backed coup restoring the Shah, Iran–Israel relations improve significantly .
1977–1979 (Project Flower)
- Secret joint military project: Iran and Israel collaborate on missile tech (“Gabriel” missiles) from 18 July 1977 to 11 Feb 1979.
1979
- The Islamic Revolution topples the Shah, Iran cuts diplomatic and commercial ties with Israel .
1980–1988 (Iran–Iraq War)
- Despite official hostility, Israel clandestinely sells arms to Iran (approx. $500 M/year) and receives strategic intel in return.
Early 1980s–early 1990s
- Iran silently backs Hezbollah; Israel deploys against Iranian proxies in conflicts such as the 2006 Lebanon War.
Early 1990s
- Post–Gulf War: open hostility intensifies. Iran starts public threats; Israel adopts aggressive stance under PM Rabin .
1992–1994
- Iran-backed terrorist attacks: Buenos Aires embassy bombing (1992) and AMIA bombing (1994).
2006
- Major Iran–Hezbollah–Israel confrontation in Lebanon .
1 April 2024
- Israeli airstrike on Iranian consulate in Damascus kills high-level IRGC officers.
13 April 2024
- Iran (via IRGC navy) seizes the MSC Aries cargo ship in the Gulf.
Mid-2024
- Iranian missile strikes on Israel (July); Israeli retaliation (October, December) .
7 October 2023 (context)
- Iran’s proxy Hamas attacks Israel, triggering broader Gaza War.
20 Jan 2024
- Israeli strike in Damascus kills IRGC general Sadegh Omidzadeh.
25 Dec 2023
- Assassination of Iranian commander Razi Mousavi near Damascus.
12 June 2025
- Israel initiates major airstrikes on Iranian nuclear and military sites, including Natanz and Isfahan.
13 June 2025–present
- Iran launches retaliatory missile and drone strikes on Israel; both nations are engaged in a de facto war
