The Iranian Revolution: Facts and the Roots of Israeli Hostility

The Iranian Revolution of 1979 dramatically reshaped the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East, transforming a once-allied Iran into a fervent adversary of the West and, particularly, of Israel. This profound shift, rooted in a complex interplay of political, social, and religious factors, created a deep-seated antagonism that continues to define regional dynamics today. Understanding the core facts of the revolution and the reasons behind Israel's enduring anger is crucial to grasping the ongoing tensions in the region. ## The Iranian Revolution: A Transformative Uprising The Iranian Revolution, also known as the 1979 Revolution or the Islamic Revolution, marked the overthrow of the Pahlavi dynasty, led by Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, and the establishment of an Islamic Republic under the leadership of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. The revolution was not a singular event but a culmination of widespread discontent that built up over years. **Key Facts about the Revolution:** * **Discontent with the Shah's Rule:** The Shah's autocratic regime faced mounting opposition due to economic mismanagement, corruption, political repression by his secret police (SAVAK), and a perceived over-reliance on Western powers, particularly the United States (Britannica, n.d.). His "White Revolution" reforms, aimed at modernizing Iran and diminishing religious authority, alienated many, including the powerful Shi'a clergy. * **Rise of Ayatollah Khomeini:** Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, a prominent Shi'a cleric exiled since 1964, became the spiritual and political leader of the revolution. His messages, often distributed via smuggled audio cassettes, resonated with diverse groups, uniting radical clerics, leftist activists, and disaffected citizens against the Shah (ICNC, n.d.). * **Mass Protests and Strikes:** Beginning in January 1978, government crackdowns on protests in cities like Qom led to cycles of violence, further fueling public outrage. Strikes, notably by oil workers in late 1978, paralyzed the country's economy, forcing the Shah to flee in January 1979 (Britannica, n.d.). * **Establishment of the Islamic Republic:** Upon Khomeini's return in February 1979, the monarchy was formally dissolved. A national referendum in March 1979 saw an overwhelming vote (98.2%) in favor of establishing an Islamic Republic, with Khomeini as the Supreme Leader, a position granted sweeping powers by the new constitution (Kiddle, n.d.). * **Anti-Western Sentiment:** A core tenet of the new regime was a strong anti-Western, and specifically anti-American, stance. The United States was branded the "Great Satan," and its perceived support for the Shah fueled deep resentment, culminating in the Iran Hostage Crisis (Britannica, n.d.). ## Why Israel is Angry: A Shift from Alliance to Animosity Prior to the 1979 revolution, Iran under the Shah and Israel maintained surprisingly cordial and strategic ties, often driven by shared interests in countering Arab nationalism and Soviet influence in the region. Iran was the second Muslim-majority country, after Turkey, to recognize Israel in 1950. However, the Islamic Revolution fundamentally altered this relationship, transforming a pragmatic alliance into an entrenched hostility. **Key Reasons for Israeli Anger:** * **Ideological Rejection of Israel's Existence:** The most fundamental reason for Israel's anger stems from the new Iranian regime's outright ideological rejection of Israel's legitimacy. Ayatollah Khomeini and subsequent Iranian leaders have consistently referred to Israel as an "illegitimate entity," a "cancerous tumor," and have called for its destruction, viewing it as a Western colonial outpost in Muslim lands (Stimson Center, 2023). This stark ideological opposition stands in direct contrast to the pre-revolution relations. * **Support for Anti-Israel Proxies:** Post-revolution Iran swiftly severed diplomatic and commercial ties with Israel and began actively supporting Palestinian and other anti-Israel militant groups. This includes funding and arming organizations like Hezbollah in Lebanon, and various Palestinian factions such as Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (Brookings, 2019; NPR, 2024). These proxy networks have engaged in direct conflict with Israel, posing significant security threats along Israel's borders. * **The "Periphery Doctrine" Reversal:** Under the Shah, Israel pursued a "periphery doctrine," seeking alliances with non-Arab states like Iran and Turkey to counterbalance hostile Arab neighbors. The revolution not only dismantled this alliance but turned a key "peripheral" partner into a staunch enemy, forcing Israel to re-evaluate its regional security strategy (Brookings, 2019). * **Nuclear Ambitions and Regional Hegemony:** Israel views Iran's nuclear program, which it suspects of having military dimensions despite Iran's insistence on its peaceful nature, as an existential threat. Coupled with Iran's growing influence across the Middle East through its 'Axis of Resistance' (NPR, 2024), Israel perceives a clear and present danger to its security and regional stability. This has led to a 'shadow war' involving sabotage, cyberattacks, and targeted assassinations of Iranian nuclear scientists (NPR, 2024). * **Escalation of Direct Confrontation:** While much of the conflict has historically been via proxies, recent years have seen direct military confrontations, such as missile strikes exchanged in 2024 (India Today, 2025). This direct engagement further underscores the depth of hostility and the potential for wider regional conflict. The Iranian Revolution undeniably marked a pivotal turning point in Iran-Israel relations. From a strategic partnership, the two nations devolved into an open and deeply ideological rivalry. Israel's anger is a multifaceted response to Iran's revolutionary ideology, its support for militant proxies, its regional hegemonic ambitions, and its nuclear program, all of which are perceived as direct threats to Israel's security and existence. **How do these historical shifts in alliances influence contemporary international relations, particularly in the context of emerging powers and ideological differences?** ### References * Britannica. (n.d.). *Iranian Revolution | Summary, Causes, Effects, & Facts*. Retrieved from [https://www.britannica.com/event/Iranian-Revolution](https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.britannica.com/event/Iranian_Revolution) * Brookings Institution. (2019, January 24). *Iran revolution, 40 years on: Israel's reverse periphery doctrine*. Retrieved from [https://www.brookings.edu/articles/irans-revolution-40-years-on-israels-reverse-periphery-doctrine/](https://www.brookings.edu/articles/irans-revolution-40-years-on-israels-reverse-periphery-doctrine/) * ICNC - International Center on Nonviolent Conflict. (n.d.). *The Iranian Revolution (1977-1979)*. Retrieved from [https://www.nonviolent-conflict.org/iranian-revolution-1977-1979/](https://www.nonviolent-conflict.org/iranian-revolution-1977-1979/) * India Today. (2025, June 16). *Once allies, now archrivals: The fallout between Iran and Israel*. Retrieved from [https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/iran-israel-from-close-allies-to-enemies-how-nations-that-supported-each-other-became-archrivals-explained-2741543-2025-06-16](https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/iran-israel-from-close-allies-to-enemies-how-nations-that-supported-each-other-became-archrivals-explained-2741543-2025-06-16) * Kiddle. (n.d.). *Islamic Revolution Facts for Kids*. Retrieved from [https://kids.kiddle.co/Islamic\_Revolution](https://kids.kiddle.co/Islamic_Revolution) * NPR. (2024, April 12). *How Iran and Israel became archenemies*. Retrieved from [https://www.npr.org/2024/04/12/1244281886/iran-israel-relations-enemies-gaza-war](https://www.npr.org/2024/04/12/1244281886/iran-israel-relations-enemies-gaza-war) * Stimson Center. (2023, April 14). *What Drives Israel-Iran Hostility? How Might it be Resolved?* Retrieved from [https://www.stimson.org/2023/what-drives-israel-iran-hostility-how-might-it-be-resolved/](https://www.stimson.org/2023/what-drives-israel-iran-hostility-how-might-it-be-resolved/)