Here’s a clear and comprehensive explanation of the root causes behind the Iran–Israel war, supported by recent reporting:
Origins of the Conflict: Ideology, History, and Strategy
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Post-1979 Revolution Shift: Before 1979, Iran under the Shah maintained friendly ties with Israel. Following the Islamic Revolution, Iran turned decisively hostile—severing diplomatic relations, branding Israel an “enemy of Islam,” and denying the Jewish state’s legitimacy (superkalam.com, Study IQ Education, Wikipedia).
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Religious & Ideological Divide: Iran, a Shia Islamic republic, and Israel, a Jewish state, fundamentally differ in identity and values—a gap often fueling mutual mistrust and political animosity (thetargetclasses.com, Wikipedia).
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Proxy Warfare & Regional Power Play: Iran backs groups like Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis—collectively labeled the “Axis of Resistance”—as tools to challenge Israel indirectly (Outlook India, Wikipedia, The Times of India).
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Nuclear Tensions: Israel sees Iran’s nuclear ambitions as existential threats. Covert operations, cyberattacks, and sabotage campaigns—like the Stuxnet virus, targeted assassinations, and airstrikes—have heightened the stakes and escalated tensions (Outlook India, Wikipedia, Superstar Insider, AP News, Financial Times).
Escalation into Open Warfare
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From Shadows to Skies: While the rivalry had long been conducted through covert actions and proxies, it erupted into direct military confrontation beginning in April 2024. Israeli airstrikes in Damascus killed Iranian officials, prompting Iranian missile and drone retaliation. The animosity intensified with further attacks—Israeli assassinations of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders in 2024, followed by reciprocal strikes (Wikipedia, AP News, Financial Times, The Australian).
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2025 Open Conflict: In June 2025, Israel launched a major offensive targeting Iran’s military and nuclear infrastructure. Iran responded with extensive missile barrages, leading to a full-scale war between them (AP News, Financial Times).
Why It Matters Globally
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Regional Stability at Risk: A direct Iran–Israel war threatens to destabilize the Middle East, disrupt oil flows, and spur broader alignments or interventions among world powers (IAS EXPRESS, Financial Times).
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Nuclear Proliferation Concerns: The conflict increases the risk of Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon, potentially triggering a nuclear arms race in the region (IAS EXPRESS, Wikipedia).
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Diplomatic Collapse: The war undermines talks like the Iran nuclear deal and removes diplomatic pathways toward de-escalation (AP News, IAS EXPRESS).
Summary Table
Core Drivers | Description |
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Revolution & Ideology | Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution shifted it from ally to fierce opponent of Israel. |
Religious Divide | The Shia–Jewish religious and ideological differences deepen mutual distrust. |
Proxy Conflict | Iran employs Hezbollah, Hamas, and others to challenge Israel indirectly. |
Nuclear Threats | Israel’s fear of Iranian nuclear capability drives strategic preemption. |
Direct Warfare | 2024–2025 saw the shift from covert proxy confrontations to outright military conflict. |
In essence, decades of ideological hostility, proxy operations, and nuclear fears have plunged the region into a direct and dangerous war—marking a dramatic escalation from simmering tensions to full-blown conflict.