Treacherous Alliance: The Secret Dealings of Iran, Israel, and the United States

Treacherous Alliance: The Secret Dealings of Iran, Israel, and the United States, authored by Trita Parsi, offers a deep exploration of the clandestine cooperation between Iran and Israel during the era of Ayatollah Khomeini, despite their public hostility. Parsi, an expert on Middle East geopolitics, argues that the relationship between the two nations during the 1980s was characterized by pragmatism rather than ideological enmity. This period, which followed the 1979 Iranian Revolution, saw the breakdown of formal ties between the two countries as Khomeini’s regime embraced anti-Zionist rhetoric. However, beneath this surface of antagonism, Parsi reveals that Iran and Israel continued to engage in covert cooperation.

Historical Context: Pre-Revolutionary Ties

Prior to the 1979 Iranian Revolution, Iran and Israel enjoyed a robust, albeit discreet, alliance. Under the rule of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, Iran was a key player in the Middle East and maintained close ties with Israel, driven by mutual strategic interests. Both countries were non-Arab states surrounded by hostile Arab nations, and they saw cooperation as a way to counterbalance the influence of pan-Arabism and Soviet expansion. Israel provided Iran with military technology and intelligence support, while Iran, rich in oil, supplied Israel with crucial energy resources.

This relationship was built on pragmatism rather than shared ideological principles. The Shah, while conservative, did not espouse the hardline anti-Zionism that would later define the Iranian regime under Khomeini. For Israel, the alliance with Iran was vital to its survival in a hostile region, providing a foothold in the Middle East.

The Iranian Revolution and Ideological Shifts

The 1979 Iranian Revolution brought a sharp ideological shift to Iran’s foreign policy. Ayatollah Khomeini, who led the revolution, positioned his regime in direct opposition to both the United States and Israel. Khomeini’s Islamic Republic adopted a vehemently anti-Zionist stance, framing Israel as a puppet of Western imperialism and a threat to the Muslim world. In the new Iranian political lexicon, Israel became the "Little Satan," while the U.S. was the "Great Satan."

Despite these public denunciations, Parsi argues that Iran’s geopolitical pragmatism remained intact, especially during the 1980s, when Iran was engaged in a protracted and bloody war with Iraq. The Iran-Iraq War (1980–1988) was a critical period for Iran, and survival, rather than ideology, dictated the country’s foreign policy decisions. Parsi's Treacherous Alliance examines how Iran, desperate for military equipment and economic support during the war, covertly reached out to Israel for assistance.

Covert Cooperation: The Iran-Contra Affair

The most striking example of this secret collaboration was the Iran-Contra affair, an arms-for-hostages scandal that came to light in the mid-1980s. Despite their public enmity, Israel acted as a middleman in supplying arms to Iran, which was fighting Saddam Hussein’s Iraq, a country that posed a more immediate threat to both Iran and Israel. The arrangement was largely facilitated by the Reagan administration, which hoped to secure the release of American hostages held by Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed militant group in Lebanon.

Through these covert arms deals, Israel provided Iran with weapons and spare parts for its military, which had been heavily reliant on American technology during the Shah’s reign. In exchange, Iran would use its influence over Hezbollah to help release American hostages. This secret alliance revealed the extent to which both countries were willing to prioritize their immediate strategic needs over ideological consistency.

Parsi highlights the underlying pragmatism that defined the Iran-Israel relationship during this period. For Israel, the possibility of a resurgent Iraq under Saddam Hussein was a greater concern than Iran’s anti-Zionist rhetoric. Iran, isolated and struggling against a well-armed Iraqi military, saw the need for any assistance, even from its proclaimed enemy, Israel. The Iran-Contra affair demonstrated that realpolitik often trumped ideology in the complex geopolitics of the Middle East.

Ideology vs. Pragmatism: The Central Argument

A key argument in Treacherous Alliance is that despite the deeply entrenched ideological differences between Israel and post-revolutionary Iran, both nations have repeatedly shown a willingness to engage in pragmatic cooperation when it served their strategic interests. While Khomeini’s regime publicly championed the Palestinian cause and lambasted Israel as an illegitimate state, Iran’s leadership recognized that, in certain contexts, collaboration with Israel was necessary for its survival.

This duality—public animosity and covert collaboration—is central to Parsi’s analysis. He argues that while ideology plays an important role in shaping Iran’s foreign policy rhetoric, it is not the sole driver of its actions. When faced with existential threats, Iran has shown a capacity for pragmatism, even when that pragmatism conflicts with its ideological pronouncements.

Similarly, Israel, which views Iran as a long-term strategic threat, has also demonstrated a willingness to cooperate when it sees an opportunity to mitigate more immediate dangers. In the 1980s, this was exemplified by Israel’s support for Iran against Iraq, which Israel viewed as a more pressing regional threat at the time. This pragmatic approach, however, did not last, and by the 1990s, the relationship between Iran and Israel had deteriorated further, particularly as Iran increased its support for groups like Hezbollah, which directly targeted Israeli interests.

The Post-Khomeini Era: Rising Tensions

In the years following the Iran-Iraq War, the cooperation between Iran and Israel diminished as Iran became more assertive in its regional ambitions. The rise of Hezbollah in Lebanon, backed by Iranian arms and funding, created a new front in the conflict between Israel and Iran. Hezbollah’s attacks on Israel, particularly during the 2006 Lebanon War, underscored the growing influence of Iran in the Levant and its commitment to opposing Israel’s regional dominance.

Parsi’s Treacherous Alliance concludes by examining how the balance between ideology and pragmatism has continued to shape Iran-Israel relations. While overt cooperation has ceased, both countries remain locked in a complex dance of hostility and occasional covert engagement. Iran’s pursuit of nuclear capabilities and Israel’s repeated efforts to thwart them through military and diplomatic means have further solidified the enmity between the two nations.

Conclusion

Trita Parsi’s Treacherous Alliance offers a nuanced exploration of the Iran-Israel relationship, challenging the simplistic view that their enmity is solely driven by ideology. Instead, Parsi argues that both countries have, at various points, prioritized strategic interests over ideological purity. This pragmatic cooperation, especially during Khomeini’s era, highlights the complexities of Middle Eastern geopolitics, where alliances can shift rapidly depending on the circumstances. As tensions between Iran and Israel continue to shape the region, understanding the historical roots of their relationship is crucial for grasping the current dynamics of conflict and cooperation in the Middle East.