The history of the Middle East is fraught with shifting alliances and political maneuvering, often shaped by both public declarations and covert relationships. One such relationship that has intrigued historians, analysts, and political observers for decades is the secret alliance between Khomeini’s Iran and Israel in the 1980s. Despite the apparent ideological differences between the two countries—one being an Islamic Republic led by a Shiite cleric and the other a Jewish state—both shared a strategic interest that led to a secret relationship during this period. Their alliance was not born out of ideological affinity but out of necessity and pragmatism in the face of a common enemy: the Arab countries.
The Context of the Middle East in the 1980s
The 1980s marked a tumultuous period in the Middle East, shaped by complex geopolitical shifts. Iran, after the Islamic Revolution of 1979, had undergone a dramatic transformation. The fall of the Shah of Iran led to the establishment of the Islamic Republic under the leadership of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. This new regime was ideologically committed to exporting its Islamic revolution and opposing the West, particularly the United States, which had been a close ally of the Shah.
On the other hand, Israel, which had been founded in 1948, was embroiled in ongoing conflicts with its Arab neighbors. The Arab-Israeli conflict, dating back to the creation of the Jewish state, remained unresolved, and Israel faced multiple threats from its Arab neighbors, including Iraq, Syria, and others.
Both Israel and the newly established Iran under Khomeini found themselves in a unique position in the 1980s: they were both non-Arab states surrounded by Arab nations, and they shared a common adversary in the region. In this context, the alliance between Khomeini's Iran and Israel, while often veiled in secrecy, was a strategic necessity for both.
Iran's Strategic Needs Post-Revolution
After the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Iran was in a fragile state. The overthrow of the Shah left the country politically unstable, and Khomeini's regime was focused on consolidating power and eliminating opposition. Furthermore, Iran was embroiled in a devastating war with Iraq that lasted from 1980 to 1988, known as the Iran-Iraq War. The war placed a significant strain on Iran's resources, and Khomeini's government faced the challenge of managing internal political dissent while defending the country from external threats.
In this context, Iran needed support from any possible ally to counter the overwhelming military and financial power of its Arab neighbors, particularly Iraq, which had the backing of many Arab states and Western powers like the United States. Despite Khomeini's vehement anti-Western stance, Iran's immediate need for weapons, intelligence, and military supplies led to pragmatic decisions that would later form the basis of its secret dealings with Israel.
Israel's Strategic Needs and the Arab Threat
For Israel, the 1980s were a time of heightened security concerns. The Lebanese Civil War and the presence of Syrian forces in Lebanon brought new challenges for Israel, which found itself facing multiple fronts of instability. Additionally, Israel was increasingly concerned about the possibility of Iraqi nuclear capabilities—a significant strategic threat given Iraq's ambitions in the region and its ties to other Arab states. Israel had long feared a nuclear-armed Iraq, especially after Saddam Hussein came to power, and was willing to take preemptive action to prevent Iraq from developing nuclear weapons.
Israel also faced the looming threat of radical Islamic groups, particularly Hezbollah in Lebanon, which was backed by Iran. The rise of Iran's influence in the region after the 1979 revolution, despite being a revolutionary Shiite regime, was seen by Israel as a strategic challenge. However, Israel recognized the growing threat from Iraq and other Arab countries, and the idea of countering these threats led to a pragmatic approach toward cooperation with Iran.
The Secret Relationship Between Khomeini's Iran and Israel
During the 1980s, despite the outward animosity between Iran and Israel, the two countries found themselves in a de facto alliance. This covert relationship was driven by their mutual interests, particularly in the context of the Iran-Iraq War and the broader regional dynamics.
Iran and Israel's Covert Arms Deals:
One of the key aspects of the secret relationship was arms deals. During the Iran-Iraq War, Israel recognized the need to ensure that Iran had the military capabilities to defend itself against Iraq. Although Israel had no formal diplomatic relations with Iran, it began to supply Iran with military equipment, including missiles, ammunition, and spare parts for military aircraft. These deals, facilitated through third-party intermediaries, allowed Iran to maintain its military capabilities during the war.
This covert arms relationship was further fueled by the geopolitical calculus of both countries. While Israel was wary of Iran's growing influence in the region, particularly through its support of Hezbollah, it saw Iraq as a more immediate and dangerous threat. In this regard, Israel and Iran shared a temporary common interest: weakening Iraq. Israel's support for Iran was largely a strategic move to ensure Iraq did not win the war, as Saddam Hussein’s regime posed an existential threat to Israel.
The Iran-Contra Affair and Israel's Role:
The Iran-Contra Affair of the mid-1980s was another episode that highlighted the covert collaboration between Iran and Israel. In this scandal, senior U.S. officials secretly facilitated the sale of arms to Iran in exchange for the release of American hostages held in Lebanon. Israel was involved in these covert dealings, acting as an intermediary between the U.S. and Iran. While the main objective of the deal was to secure the release of hostages, Israel's role in supplying arms to Iran further exemplified the tacit alliance between the two nations.
Shared Intelligence:
Another facet of the secret relationship was the sharing of intelligence. During the 1980s, Israel and Iran cooperated on several intelligence matters, particularly concerning Iraq and Syria. Both countries had a mutual interest in monitoring the activities of these two Arab states, and Israel provided Iran with valuable intelligence about Iraqi military movements and capabilities. While much of this cooperation remained covert, it was clear that both countries saw benefit in sharing critical intelligence to protect their respective national interests.
The End of the Relationship
The relationship between Khomeini’s Iran and Israel was, however, temporary and pragmatic. As the Iran-Iraq War came to an end in 1988, Iran's priorities shifted, and the strategic landscape in the Middle East began to change. Iran’s government, now firmly under the control of Khomeini's successor, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, increasingly turned its focus toward exporting its revolution and supporting revolutionary movements throughout the Arab world, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Palestine.
As Iran's policies became more ideological and revolutionary, especially under Khamenei, the initial cooperation with Israel began to erode. With the rise of anti-Israel rhetoric and policies from the Iranian government, particularly the rhetoric of Supreme Leader Khamenei and the growing ideological divide between Iran and Israel, the secret alliance dissolved. By the early 1990s, Iran became one of Israel's most ardent enemies, particularly after its support for Hezbollah and the growing rhetoric of "Death to Israel" from Tehran.
Conclusion
The secret relationship between Khomeini's Iran and Israel during the 1980s was born out of necessity and strategic calculation. Both countries, despite their ideological differences, found common ground in the face of a mutual enemy—the Arab countries surrounding them. Iran, embroiled in the Iran-Iraq War, sought military support and intelligence, while Israel, concerned about Iraq's military ambitions and regional security, was willing to provide assistance. This covert relationship, though short-lived, was a clear example of how geopolitical interests can transcend ideological boundaries.
As the Middle East evolved and Iran's foreign policy became more ideologically driven, the secret cooperation between Iran and Israel came to an end. However, the history of this temporary alliance remains an important chapter in understanding the complex and often contradictory nature of Middle Eastern politics.
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