Iran Israel War

    On June 13, 2025, an armed conflict erupted between Iran and Israel when Israel carried out a surprise strike on key Iranian military and nuclear installations. In the opening hours of the conflict, Israeli forces targeted and eliminated prominent Iranian military commanders, nuclear scientists, and political figures. The operation also inflicted significant damage on Iran’s air-defense systems and key strategic and nuclear infrastructure.

Iranian revolution & Mullah rule since 1979

    Under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who ruled Iran before 1979, the country was a secular, pro-Western monarchy and maintained a close, strategic partnership with Israel. The two nations cooperated in areas such as oil exports, military training, intelligence sharing, and development projects.

    However, the 1979 Islamic Revolution abruptly changed the trajectory of Iranian politics. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini’s clerical regime replaced the monarchy with a Shia theocracy and adopted an uncompromising ideological stance against Israel. Khomeini declared Israel the "Little Satan" and severed all diplomatic, economic, and cultural ties. He positioned the destruction of Israel as a religious duty, launching a regional Islamic resurgence and transforming Iran into a fierce adversary.

    In short, pre-1979 Iran was a secular ally of Israel under the Shah. But after 1979, Khomeini’s theocratic regime redefined Iran’s foreign policy—not merely politically, but ideologically—identifying Israel as its arch-enemy and pledging its destruction.

Axis of Resistance: Quds Force Proxies and the Anti-Israel Campaign

    In 1988, shortly after the end of the Iran–Iraq War, Iran established the Quds Force, an elite branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), with the explicit mission of “liberating Muslim lands”—particularly al-Quds (Jerusalem), from which it takes its name (literally, “Jerusalem Force”). The Quds Force functions as Iran’s primary instrument for spreading its Shia Islamist vision beyond its borders. It organizes, trains, and coordinates a wide network of proxy militias across the Middle East, all under Iranian control and support.

Jerusalem Force’s Frontlines: Proxy Warfare Targeting Israel

    Hezbollah in Lebanon, backed since the early 1980s with weaponry, training, and strategic direction. Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), formed during the fight against ISIS and largely led by commanders affiliated with the IRGC.

    The Houthi movement in Yemen, supported with intelligence, military training, and arms to mirror Hezbollah’s model. These groups give Iran a strategic asymmetric capability aimed at countering Israel and its allies, providing power-projection without direct invasion.

After Saddam: Iran’s Rise in Post-Invasion Iraq

    Following the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq and the overthrow of Saddam Hussein in 2003, Iraq plunged into sectarian civil war. By around 2004, Shia militias—many with covert backing from Iran—emerged as dominant forces, effectively marginalizing powerful Sunni factions. Iran advanced its influence significantly in Iraq during this time.

    In recent years, Tehran has shifted its strategy, opting to support select Sunni groups when it serves its geopolitical interests. For example, in summer 2014, Iran unusually supplied Kurdish Peshmerga forces with arms, ammunition, and training to counter the rising threat of ISIS along its border. Likewise, Iran began arming and funding Hamas—a Sunni Islamist group in the Levant—to build pressure against Israel. By aiding Hamas, Iran aimed to expand its “Axis of Resistance” and oppose Israeli influence in the region.

Direct Strikes and Proxy Wars: Israel’s Showdown with Iran

    In 2023, Sunni Hamas launched a major assault on Israel, widely attributed to Iranian-supplied weapons, training, and financial aid. U.S. and Israeli intelligence noted that Iran provided millions in military support and logistical assistance, significantly enhancing Hamas's operational capabilities.

    The resulting conflict between Israel and Palestinian militants escalated when Israel moved to dismantle Hamas’s military infrastructure. Following these operations, the conflict spilled over into Lebanon, where Israel conducted strikes on Hezbollah strongholds, further targeting Iran’s regional proxy network. After crippling both Hamas and Hezbollah proxies, Israel then shifted its focus directly towards Iran’s ruling clerical regime, aiming to disrupt the broader “Axis of Resistance” and neutralize the Quds Force’s influence in the region. 

    Under President Donald Trump, the United States and Israel have escalated efforts to weaken Iran’s clerical regime. A central motive cited by Trump is the growing internal backlash within Iran—where reports suggest that up to 50 percent of Iranians may no longer identify with Islam, fueled by widespread anti-hijab protests and dissatisfaction with religious authority.

Concluding part

    Iran’s hardline rulers, however, face mounting internal pressure. Reports detail that fifty thousand mosques have closed, and polls indicate 70% of Iranians now support separating religion from the state. Observers warn that if the clerical regime were toppled, Iran could rapidly evolve into an officially secular state. This “ex-Muslim revolution” could spur similar movements across the region—potentially overturning four decades of Islamist influence that began with the 1979 revolution.

References

1. https://allarab.news/50000-mosques-have-closed-in-iran-are-iranians-seek-truth-outside-of-islam/

2. Government Study Shows Iranians Less Religious Than Before

https://www.iranintl.com/en/202402245769

3. Majority of Iranians want secular government, leaked study shows

https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-788842

FAQ – 

1. What is the role of Iran in radicalization of the Middle East?

Ans. In 1979 after the 

• 4 min read
• 0
• 0