Iran Israel Explained: Unraveling The Middle East Conflict

Miss Yasmin Harris 21 Jun 2025

The intricate and often volatile relationship between Iran and Israel has long been a focal point of geopolitical tension, but in recent times, what had once been a shadow war—fought through proxies, cyber tools, and strategic ambiguity—was becoming increasingly kinetic, visible, and difficult to contain. This escalating conflict, rooted in deep historical grievances and competing regional ambitions, now teeters on the brink of wider regional war, with global implications. Understanding the complex layers of this rivalry is crucial to grasping the dynamics of the contemporary Middle East.

For decades, the world has watched as these two powerful nations engaged in a clandestine struggle, marked by covert operations and indirect confrontations. However, the nature of this conflict has shifted dramatically, pushing the long-standing animosity into the open. Here's why Iran and Israel are trading strikes in a rapidly escalating conflict, and what the world needs to know about the origins, motivations, and potential trajectory of this critical standoff.

Table of Contents:

The Roots of a Rivalry: From Allies to Adversaries
Decades of Shadow Warfare: The Art of Unseen Conflict
The Nuclear Dimension: A Primary Target
Escalation to Open Conflict: The Recent Flare-Ups
Israel's Perspective: A Preventative War
Iran's Stance: Leading the Resistance
Air Defense and Interception Success: Israel's Air Defense Against Iran, Explained
The Brink of Wider Regional War

The Roots of a Rivalry: From Allies to Adversaries

To truly comprehend the current state of affairs, one must delve into the historical context. The origins of the rivalry between the Islamic Republic and the Jewish state trace back to a pivotal moment in 1979. Prior to this, Israel and Iran, under the authoritarian Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, enjoyed relatively cordial relations. The Shah's regime was a close ally of Israel, fostering a period of cooperation and shared strategic interests in the region.

From Allies to Adversaries

However, Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution transformed these previously cordial relations into fierce hostility. The overthrow of the Shah by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini's forces marked a radical shift in Iran's foreign policy. The new Islamic Republic adopted an anti-Western and anti-Zionist stance, viewing Israel as an illegitimate entity and a tool of Western domination in the Middle East. This ideological transformation laid the groundwork for the decades of animosity that would follow, fundamentally reshaping the geopolitical landscape and setting the stage for the ongoing struggle between Iran and Israel.

Decades of Shadow Warfare: The Art of Unseen Conflict

For many years, the conflict between Iran and Israel was largely confined to the shadows. Israel and Iran have been engaged in shadow warfare for decades, with a long history of clandestine attacks by land, sea, air, and cyberspace. Tehran, in particular, has often conducted its operations via its various proxies and allied groups across the region, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, various Shiite militias in Iraq and Syria, and Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Gaza.

The Art of Unseen Conflict

This "shadow war" involved a complex web of intelligence operations, assassinations of scientists and military commanders, cyberattacks, and targeted strikes against military convoys or weapons depots. It was a strategic dance of ambiguity, where neither side fully claimed responsibility for actions, maintaining a delicate balance that prevented full-scale direct confrontation. This period was characterized by covert actions, designed to degrade the adversary's capabilities and influence without triggering an all-out war. However, the lines between shadow and open conflict have become increasingly blurred, leading to the current volatile situation between Iran and Israel.

The Nuclear Dimension: A Primary Target

At the heart of Israel's strategic concerns regarding Iran is its nuclear program. Iran’s nuclear program is a primary target for Israeli intelligence and military operations. Israel's position on this is that it has no choice; it believes that in the last few months, Iran was accelerating towards building a nuclear weapon, and that talks aimed at curbing Iran's nuclear ambitions have been insufficient or stalled. This perception of an existential threat drives much of Israel's proactive measures.

The history of this particular aspect of the conflict includes well-documented cyberattacks, such as the Stuxnet virus, which disrupted and destroyed Iranian centrifuges. These actions demonstrate Israel's long-standing commitment to preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons capabilities, a goal it views as non-negotiable for its national security. The nuclear issue remains a core driver of tension and a primary justification for Israel's more kinetic actions.

Escalation to Open Conflict: The Recent Flare-Ups

The conflict between Iran and Israel, once relegated to the shadows, has escalated yet again, erupting into open conflict marked by airstrikes, drone attacks, and fears of a wider regional war. What began as a cold standoff rooted in nuclear ambitions and ideological rivalry now threatens to ignite the Middle East — and the world is watching. One way to look at Israel’s war with Iran is that it’s a natural escalation of the battles that the Jewish state has fought since the October 7th attacks, which dramatically altered the security landscape.

Within days of the October 7th attacks, regional tensions surged, leading to increased skirmishes and a more aggressive posture from both sides. A significant turning point came when Iran blamed Israel for a strike on its Syria consulate, and has vowed to retaliate, viewing the attack as a direct assault on its sovereign territory and personnel. This incident crossed a critical threshold, leading to more direct and visible confrontations.

Operation Rising Lion and its Aftermath

On Friday, June 13, 2025, Israel launched a series of surprise airstrikes targeting Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure in an attack Israeli officials claimed to be “preventative.” Explosions rocked Tehran as Israel carried out a major attack on Iran’s nuclear program. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called this extensive operation “Operation Rising Lion,” targeting multiple nuclear and military facilities and killing several senior military officers and scientists. This bold, overt military action signaled a new phase in the conflict, moving beyond the traditional bounds of shadow warfare into direct, declared hostilities. The world watched nervously as the implications of such a direct confrontation unfolded.

Israel's Perspective: A Preventative War

From Israel’s point of view, these recent actions, particularly the June 13, 2025 strikes, are not merely retaliatory but preventative. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other officials have consistently articulated that Israel has no choice but to act. They believe that in the last few months, Iran was accelerating towards building a nuclear weapon, and that diplomatic efforts aimed at curbing Iran's nuclear program have proven insufficient or too slow to mitigate this perceived existential threat.

Israel views Iran's nuclear ambitions as a direct threat to its very existence, especially given Iran's stated aim to lead the resistance against Israel and its consistent anti-Zionist rhetoric. The October 7th events further solidified Israel's resolve to neutralize threats decisively and proactively. For Israel, these actions are a necessary measure to ensure its long-term security and prevent a nuclear-armed Iran from posing an even greater danger to the region and beyond.

Iran's Stance: Leading the Resistance

From Iran’s point of view, Israel is the enemy too. Iran sees itself as a defender of Muslims and Palestinians and as a country standing up to what it calls Western and Israeli domination in the region. This ideological framework positions Iran as the vanguard of resistance against what it perceives as an oppressive and expansionist Israeli state, backed by Western powers.

Spreading the Message of Resistance

Iran wants to lead the resistance against Israel and uses its state media and military allies to spread that message. Through its network of proxies and its powerful propaganda apparatus, Iran consistently portrays Israel as an aggressor and a colonial power, while positioning itself as the champion of Islamic and Palestinian rights. This narrative not only galvanizes its domestic support but also seeks to rally regional actors and populations against Israel, further fueling the conflict. The recent direct confrontations are, from Iran's perspective, a continuation of this long-standing struggle against perceived Israeli and Western hegemony.

Air Defense and Interception Success: Israel's Air Defense Against Iran, Explained

Amidst the escalating kinetic exchanges, Israel's robust air defense capabilities have played a critical role in mitigating the impact of Iranian and proxy attacks. Israel’s air defense against Iran, explained through its layered missile defense systems like the Iron Dome, David's Sling, and Arrow systems, has demonstrated remarkable effectiveness. These systems are designed to intercept a wide range of threats, from short-range rockets to long-range ballistic missiles.

Israeli officials this week reported an interception success rate of more than 90 percent against incoming projectiles. This high success rate is a testament to Israel's significant investment in defense technology and its strategic preparedness for aerial threats. While these systems provide a crucial shield, they do not eliminate the underlying tensions or the risk of escalation, but they do significantly reduce the immediate damage and casualties from aerial assaults, allowing Israel greater strategic flexibility in its responses to Iran and its proxies.

The Brink of Wider Regional War

The current trajectory of the Iran-Israel conflict paints a concerning picture of a region on the precipice. With the U.S. trying to balance diplomacy and deterrence, West Asia teeters on the brink of a wider regional war, with nuclear fears at its core. The direct strikes, such as those on June 13, 2025, and the retaliatory threats from Iran, demonstrate a dangerous shift from proxy warfare to direct military confrontation, increasing the likelihood of miscalculation and unintended escalation.

The global community, including major powers like the United States, is deeply concerned about the potential for this conflict to spiral out of control, drawing in other regional actors and potentially leading to a broader conflagration. The stakes are incredibly high, not just for the Middle East, but for global stability and energy markets. The world watches anxiously, hoping for a de-escalation, but preparing for the grim possibility of a full-scale regional conflict.

The situation remains highly fluid. As of June 20, 2025, at 2:00 a.m. EDT, the tensions are palpable, and the world is holding its breath, hoping that diplomacy and restraint can prevail over the forces pushing towards a devastating war.

Conclusion

The conflict between Iran and Israel is a deeply entrenched and multifaceted struggle, born from historical ruptures and fueled by competing ideologies and strategic imperatives. What began as a shadow war has undeniably moved into the light, marked by direct military engagements and heightened rhetoric. From Iran's revolutionary stance against Western and Israeli domination to Israel's unwavering commitment to preventing a nuclear-armed adversary, the motivations on both sides are clear, albeit irreconcilable at present.

The recent escalations, including "Operation Rising Lion" and the retaliatory threats following the Syria consulate strike, underscore the perilous path the region is treading. With nuclear fears at its core and the U.S. attempting to navigate a delicate balance, the Middle East stands at a critical juncture. Understanding the nuances of this conflict—how Iran Israel explained through their historical grievances, strategic objectives, and recent actions—is essential for anyone seeking to comprehend the volatile dynamics of West Asia. The future remains uncertain, but the imperative for de-escalation and diplomatic solutions has never been more urgent. We invite you to share your thoughts on this complex issue in the comments below or explore our other articles on regional geopolitics for further insights.

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