Iran launched 200 missiles at Israel on Tuesday, including hypersonic weapons, escalating tensions in the Middle East. While Israel vowed that Iran would “pay” for the attack, relations between the two nations were not always so hostile. Decades ago, they cooperated against a common enemy, Iraq, with support from the United States.

 

A Cold War Alliance

In the 1960s, Iran, under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, and Israel found a shared adversary in Iraq. Both nations feared Iraq’s leadership and saw Kurdish insurgents as a way to weaken Iraq from within. The collaboration was managed secretly through the Mossad and Iran’s SAVAK, solidifying a covert alliance.

This partnership peaked with the formation of the “Trident” alliance in 1958, involving Israel, Iran, and Turkey. These three nations exchanged intelligence and conducted joint operations. Iran also sought to strengthen ties with Israel to improve relations with the US, particularly during the Kennedy administration.

 

Post-Revolution Cooperation

After Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution, the partnership shifted dramatically. Despite Ayatollah Khomeini’s anti-Israel stance, Iran and Israel quietly collaborated during the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s. Israel provided military support to Iran, viewing Saddam Hussein’s Iraq as a greater threat. This cooperation included arms deals and intelligence sharing, even as Iran publicly denounced Israel.

The secret “Operation Flower,” a missile project between Israel and Iran, was one of the most ambitious ventures, though it ended after the revolution. Other covert deals, like the sale of fighter jet parts, continued despite public hostility.

 

From Allies to Adversaries

By the 1990s, the relationship deteriorated as the geopolitical landscape changed. Iran, now firmly controlled by its Islamic revolutionary government, aligned itself against Israel, supporting militant groups like Hezbollah and Hamas. By the early 2000s, with the election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Iran’s growing influence in regional conflicts, tensions escalated further.

In 2024, the hostility between the two nations has reached a critical point, with the potential for an all-out war as Israel battles Iranian-backed groups like Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis.