Israel and Iran’s Surprising History of Cooperation Amid Current Tensions

Tensions in the Middle East have hit a critical point as Iran fired 200 missiles, including hypersonic weapons, at Israel on Tuesday. Israel has vowed retaliation, declaring that Iran will “pay” for the attack. This hostile exchange may seem inevitable given the strained relations between the two countries in recent decades. However, there was a time when Israel and Iran were strategic partners, working together, with support from the United States, to counter a common enemy—an alliance that seems almost unthinkable today.

The Origins of Cooperation: A Common Enemy in Iraq

In the 1960s, Israel and Iran found a shared adversary in Iraq. Israel was engaged in broader conflicts with hostile Arab regimes, while Iran, under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, viewed Iraq as a direct threat to its security and regional dominance. This mutual distrust of Iraq laid the foundation for a secretive collaboration, particularly between their intelligence agencies—Mossad in Israel and SAVAK in Iran.

One key aspect of this cooperation involved supporting Kurdish insurgents against the central Iraqi regime. For Israel, this alliance was part of its broader strategy to weaken Arab nationalist governments, while Iran saw it as a way to undermine Iraq’s growing influence. The Kurdish insurgents were regarded as Iraq’s “Achilles heel,” making them valuable assets for both Israel and Iran in their efforts to destabilize Baghdad.

The Trident Alliance: Strengthening Ties

The cooperation reached its peak with the creation of a trilateral intelligence alliance called Trident in 1958, which included Turkey alongside Israel and Iran. This non-Arab bloc exchanged crucial intelligence and carried out joint counterintelligence operations. The relationship grew stronger over time, as Israel and Iran solidified military and intelligence ties well into the Shah’s reign.

The Shah’s Strategic Vision and Israel’s Influence in Washington

The Shah of Iran had ambitions that went beyond regional politics. He saw Israel as a valuable ally in enhancing relations with the United States. Israel’s growing influence in Washington, particularly under the Kennedy administration, was appealing to the Shah, especially as the US became increasingly critical of his authoritarian rule.

By the mid-1960s, Israel had established a permanent delegation in Tehran, effectively serving as an unofficial embassy. This marked a significant step in deepening the alliance, as Iran’s strategy leaned further toward alignment with Western powers.

Tensions After the Six-Day War

While the partnership between Israel and Iran blossomed, it wasn’t without its challenges. The Shah was conscious of the widespread anti-Israeli sentiment across the Arab world. After the 1967 Six-Day War, during which Israel expanded its territory, the Shah publicly became more critical of Israel, although the behind-the-scenes collaboration continued. Strategic interests outweighed ideological differences, and the relationship persisted despite these complications.

The 1979 Revolution and Continued Cooperation in Secrecy

The 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran radically transformed the country into an anti-Israel Islamic Republic. Under Ayatollah Khomeini, Iran became one of Israel’s most outspoken enemies. Yet, even during this tumultuous period, pragmatism dictated some level of cooperation between the two countries.

During the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988), Israel saw an opportunity to weaken Iraq, which it viewed as a more immediate threat. In a calculated move, Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin approved the sale of military equipment to Iran, despite the ideological shift in Tehran. These covert arms deals were part of Israel’s strategy to prevent Iraq from gaining regional dominance.

The Iran-Contra Affair and Continued Arms Deals

One of the most infamous episodes of Israeli-Iranian cooperation occurred during the Iran-Contra affair in the mid-1980s. The Reagan administration sought to secure the release of American hostages held by Hezbollah in Lebanon, a group backed by Iran. In exchange for hostages, Israel facilitated secret arms sales to Iran, with the approval of senior US officials.

The arms deals, although clandestine, were highly lucrative for Israel and served its strategic interests by bolstering Iran’s military against Iraq. Iran, desperately in need of weapons as the war with Iraq dragged on, agreed to these deals despite publicly denouncing Israel.

Operation Flower: A Secret Missile Program

The Israeli-Iranian partnership extended beyond arms deals. One of the most ambitious collaborations was “Operation Flower,” a missile development project initiated in 1977 under the Shah’s regime. The goal was to modify surface-to-surface missiles, potentially capable of carrying nuclear warheads, for Iran. Although the nuclear aspect was never pursued, the project highlighted the depth of military cooperation between the two nations.

Iran provided significant financial support for the project, sending $260 million worth of oil to Israel as part of the deal. Work continued until the Islamic Revolution halted the program in 1979.

Strategic Military Aid: Spare Tyres for Fighter Jets

In October 1980, Israel covertly supplied Iran with 250 spare tires for American-made F-4 fighter jets. These jets were crucial to Iran’s military efforts during the war with Iraq, but due to US sanctions, Iran struggled to maintain its fleet. Israel’s secret shipment, worth $300,000, helped keep Iran’s air force operational at a critical time.

This military aid was particularly sensitive given the broader geopolitical context—52 American diplomats were still being held hostage in Tehran. Although the Jimmy Carter administration urged Israel to suspend military dealings with Iran, Israel’s strategic interests in preventing an Iraqi victory led to continued support.

A Shift to Hostility and Rivalry

By the 1990s, the geopolitical factors that had once united Israel and Iran had faded. The collapse of the Soviet Union, the decline of Arab socialism, and the fall of Saddam Hussein’s Iraq left little incentive for further cooperation. Iran, now firmly under its revolutionary leadership, embraced a hardline anti-Israel stance, providing support to groups like Hezbollah and Hamas in their conflicts with Israel.

By the early 2000s, under the leadership of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iran’s antagonism toward Israel reached new heights. His denial of the Holocaust and inflammatory rhetoric solidified Iran as one of Israel’s primary regional adversaries. Israeli wars against Hezbollah in 2006 and Hamas in 2008 further cemented the rivalry, as Iran continued to back these militant groups.

While Israel and Iran are now bitter enemies, their history is filled with periods of strategic cooperation driven by mutual interests. From secretive intelligence operations to covert arms deals, the two countries found common ground in their desire to counter shared adversaries, particularly Iraq. Today’s hostilities are a stark contrast to the pragmatism that once guided their relationship—a relationship shaped by the ever-changing dynamics of Middle Eastern geopolitics.