The complex relationship between Iran, the United States, and Israel is rooted in decades of political upheaval, ideological clashes, and regional power struggles. Initially, Iran and the U.S. were close allies, especially after the 1953 CIA-backed coup that overthrew Iran's elected Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh and reinstalled Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. Under the Shah, Iran became a key Western ally, receiving American military and economic support. However, this partnership collapsed after the 1979 Iranian Revolution, which ousted the Shah and established an Islamic Republic under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. The new regime was deeply anti-Western and anti-Israel, viewing both as oppressors of the Muslim world. The U.S. embassy hostage crisis in 1979, where 52 Americans were held for over a year, became a defining moment of hostility between Iran and the U.S.

Post-revolution, the United States imposed heavy sanctions on Iran and supported Iraq during the Iran-Iraq War (1980–1988), further deepening mistrust. In the early 2000s, concerns over Iran’s nuclear program escalated tensions. While Iran insisted the program was for peaceful purposes, the West feared it was seeking nuclear weapons capability. These fears led to international sanctions and, eventually, the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a nuclear deal that temporarily eased tensions. However, in 2018, President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the U.S. from the deal, reimposing sanctions and triggering a new cycle of Iranian defiance and enrichment activity.

Iran’s hostility toward Israel began after 1979. While pre-revolutionary Iran had informal ties with Israel, the Islamic Republic denounced it as an illegitimate “Zionist regime” and championed the Palestinian cause. Iran began supporting militant groups such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Gaza. These groups have launched numerous attacks against Israel, prompting Israeli airstrikes and covert operations in return. Iran and Israel have never fought a direct war but are engaged in a long-standing shadow conflict, particularly in Syria, where Iran supports the Assad regime and Israel frequently targets Iranian military infrastructure.

The assassination of key Iranian figures—such as General Qassem Soleimani in a U.S. drone strike in 2020 and nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, allegedly by Israel—further inflamed tensions. Iran's increased influence in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen through proxy groups has alarmed Israel and U.S. allies, contributing to shifting alliances in the Middle East. Globally, the U.S., along with European allies like the UK, Germany, and France, supports Israel’s security stance, although they have urged restraint. Arab nations such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE, while historically opposed to Israel, have moved toward normalization due to shared concerns over Iran. On the other hand, Iran maintains strong ties with Russia, China, Syria, and certain Iraqi and Lebanese militias. This divide reflects a broader geopolitical struggle that goes beyond religion or ideology and centers on regional dominance and strategic interests.