Iran-Israel War: A New Era of Direct Confrontation in the Middle East

The historical roots of the Iran-Israel animosity are complex and have evolved dramatically over decades. Paradoxically, after the establishment of Israel in 1948, Iran was one of the few Muslim-majority nations to recognize the new state. Under the Shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, Iran maintained close economic and security ties with Israel, aligning with the "Periphery Doctrine" that sought alliances with non-Arab states against pan-Arab nationalism. This period even saw covert cooperation, including arms sales from Israel to Iran and oil supplies in return.