Why the war between Israel and Iran began

In this post, I will explain the essence of the conflict — who, when, why, and for what reason it all began. Did you know that immediately after the declaration of the State of Israel, under the UN resolution on May 14, 1948, on May 15 that is the next day, Israel was attacked by the armies of five countries at once — Egypt, Transjordan, Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq. How about that? The Arab countries did not agree with the emergence of Israel and simply decided to destroy it. On the very first day of its birth. Despite all forecasts and the wishes of its opponents, Israel not only survived but expanded its territory in an unequal struggle.

Image: Screenshot of a Google search.

The majority of Arab countries did not recognize the young state of Israel. Such as Algeria, Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen, and others. But the paradox was that Iran was the first Muslim state that not only recognized Israel but also began close cooperation with it. Yes, yes. Iran and Israel became partners. Iran supplied oil to Israel , and a joint oil pipeline was built. Israeli and Iranian intelligence services closely cooperated and jointly planned operations . Israel provided military aid to Iran, supplying weapons and technologies. And at the same time repelled repeated attacks from Egypt, Jordan, and Syria.

Israel managed to gift Iran with irrigation technologies and experience in developing desert lands. Thousands of Israeli engineers and specialists from various fields worked in Iran. And Iranian specialists also worked in Israel. The U.S. fully supported the cooperation between Iran and Israel as part of an anti-communist strategy. Iran began to rapidly develop and became one of the most advanced countries in the region. The infrastructure, education, and healthcare systems were a head above those of its neighbors. Oil prices were rising, and people began to live in a way they had never lived before.

Women were no longer required to wear hijabs and could dress like in any European country. They could attend universities, become doctors , lawyers, engineers and even members of parliament. They had the right to vote , the right to wear makeup, to visit cafes and theaters. But this did not last long.

Shah Mohammad, the ruler of Iran, was a monarch. Democracy barely existed . The opposition was suppressed in every possible way. And he decided to carry out an ambitious modernization program. He initiated a series of reforms in which he made many mistakes. As a result — economic inequality and injustice, peasants did not receive promised land, farmers went bankrupt, unemployment grew.

And alongside this, and against this backdrop, the popularity of a religious leader and scholar, Ayatollah Khamenei, who was in exile, began to grow in Iran. He had long criticized the established regime in Iran, spreading his enlightening materials through tapes. Against the background of economic problems, Khamenei began to gain popularity by speaking out against secular power and advocating for the establishment of an Islamic Republic based on the principles of Shia Islam. At that time, he began to turn into a religious authority.

It was something similar to Lenin's preparation for the October Revolution in 1917. He too was in exile and also promised the common people to get rid of the tsar and build a bright future. The same scheme worked in Iran. Khamenei believed that modern Iranian politics was deviating from Islamic principles and became so popular that he was able to become the spiritual leader and ideologue of a large-scale revolution throughout Iran.

Months of mass protests with casualties led to a complete paralysis of the country, and on January 16, 1979, the ruler fled Iran, and on February 1, Khamenei returned from exile, organized a referendum, and the Islamic Republic of Iran was immediately formed.

And here comes the key turning point. After the Islamic Revolution, there was a sharp ideological shift in Iran — from a Western-oriented secular monarchy, where religion is separated from the state, to an Islamic theocracy, where all power belongs to religious leaders, who declared a struggle against the enemies of Islam, first and foremost against Israel and the USA. All secular institutions were abolished, laws were rewritten, and Sharia norms were introduced — that is, where religion controls everyone and everything.

Women were again required to wear the hijab, corporal punishment returned, a whole range of professions became inaccessible to women, girls could be married off at the age of 9. Later this was increased to 13 years, but without the girls' consent. Absolutely all foreign and domestic policy decisions were subordinated exclusively to Islamic ideology.

Then it gets more interesting. Iran, in an instant, becomes a fierce supporter of Palestinian resistance, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Just yesterday, a friendly Iran already today accused Israel of occupying Islamic lands and committing genocide against Muslims. Khamenei stated that in order to restore justice and Islamic unity, Israel must be destroyed. Just like that. Former cooperation with Israel was declared a disgrace. Iran began to arm and support Hezbollah in Lebanon. A series of terrorist attacks began in Argentina, in Israeli embassies.

Israel, in response, began to advocate for the isolation of Iran, and Iran — for the destruction of Israel. Feel the difference.

In the early 2000s, Iran began developing a nuclear program, which caused panic in Israel, quite naturally, since Iran set a goal to wipe Israel off the map. Iran continues to arm Hamas, Hezbollah, and Islamic Jihad, whose goals fully align with Iran’s.

And very recently, Iran began supplying military aid to the Russian Federation. No Islamic unity — just money and that same nuclear technology. For 45 years now, the confrontation between Iran and Israel has lasted. For 45 years, Israel has been proving its right to exist. And there is not a single argument or a single fact where Israel poses a threat to Iran’s existence — which doesn’t even share a border with Israel. There are at least two countries in a straight line between Israel and Iran — Jordan and Iraq.

If Iran stops attacking Israel, the conflict will disappear. But if Israel stops shooting, Israel itself will disappear.