Israel's Link to the Khomeini Regime: Arms Sale

The relationship between Israel and Iran has often been viewed through the lens of hostility, particularly since the Islamic Revolution of 1979. However, beneath the surface of public enmity, there exists a lesser-known chapter of pragmatic cooperation during the early years of Ayatollah Khomeini’s rule. One of the most compelling examples of this paradoxical relationship is the arms trade between Israel and Iran during the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988). Despite Khomeini’s staunch anti-Israel rhetoric, Israel played a critical role in supplying weapons to the Iranian regime, largely due to strategic calculations and mutual interests. This article examines the rationale behind Israel’s arms sales to Iran, the mechanisms through which these transactions were conducted, and the broader geopolitical implications of this secretive cooperation.

Historical Context: Iran-Israel Relations Before 1979

Before the Islamic Revolution, Iran and Israel maintained a close strategic partnership. Under the rule of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, Iran recognized Israel de facto, though not officially, and collaborated extensively in areas of intelligence, military, and economic affairs. Iran’s vast oil resources were vital to Israel, while Israel provided Iran with agricultural and military expertise. The two nations shared a common enemy in the form of radical Arab nationalism, particularly from countries like Iraq and Syria. However, the 1979 revolution drastically altered this dynamic, as the new Islamic Republic of Iran adopted an explicitly anti-Israel stance, branding Israel as the "Little Satan" alongside the United States, the "Great Satan."

The Iran-Iraq War and Israel’s Calculated Gamble

Shortly after the revolution, Iran found itself embroiled in a brutal conflict with Iraq, initiated by Saddam Hussein in 1980. The war was marked by devastating human and material losses, and Iran quickly found itself in dire need of military supplies. Despite its vocal opposition to the Khomeini regime, Israel saw an opportunity to weaken Iraq, a longtime adversary and a formidable military power in the region.

Israeli policymakers reasoned that a prolonged Iran-Iraq war would prevent either side from emerging as a dominant force in the region. By supplying Iran with arms, Israel could ensure that Iraq remained entangled in conflict, thus reducing the threat Baghdad posed to Israeli security. Additionally, Israel believed that elements within the Iranian military and political elite, particularly those with lingering ties to the pre-revolutionary era, might eventually reassert influence and steer Iran away from its hardline anti-Israel stance.

The Arms Deals: Mechanisms and Scope

Israel’s arms sales to Iran were conducted through a complex network of intermediaries, clandestine operations, and indirect channels. These transactions were often facilitated through third-party actors, including European firms and arms dealers, to maintain plausible deniability.

Among the key elements of Israeli arms transfers to Iran were:

1. Spare Parts for U.S.-Made Equipment: Under the Shah, Iran had acquired vast amounts of American military hardware, including F-4 and F-5 fighter jets, tanks, and other advanced weaponry. However, after the revolution, the U.S. imposed an arms embargo on Iran, leaving its military with critical shortages of spare parts. Israel, possessing an extensive inventory of similar American equipment, provided Iran with much-needed components to keep its air force and armored divisions operational.

2. Missiles and Artillery: Reports indicate that Israel supplied Iran with anti-tank missiles, artillery shells, and other munitions. These supplies helped Iran sustain its war effort, particularly during key battles such as the counteroffensive against Iraqi forces in 1981-82.

3. Covert Intelligence Sharing: Beyond direct arms sales, Israel provided Iran with intelligence on Iraqi military positions and movements. This intelligence was particularly valuable in the early stages of the war when Iran was struggling to counter Iraqi advances.

4. Operation Tipped Kettle (1981): One of the most well-documented arms transfers occurred in 1981 when Israel facilitated the shipment of American-made weapons to Iran. This operation, conducted through intermediaries, involved the delivery of arms confiscated by Israel from the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in Lebanon.

The U.S. Connection: Iran-Contra Affair

Israel’s arms sales to Iran became intertwined with a larger geopolitical scandal—the Iran-Contra Affair. In the mid-1980s, the Reagan administration sought to leverage Israeli arms shipments to Iran as a means of securing the release of American hostages held by Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed militant group in Lebanon. This covert operation saw Israeli arms shipments to Iran in exchange for hostages, with the proceeds being funneled to support the Contra rebels fighting the Sandinista government in Nicaragua. The exposure of this operation in 1986 triggered a political firestorm in the U.S. and further highlighted the secretive nature of Israeli-Iranian military dealings.

Geopolitical Implications and Consequences

The revelation of Israeli arms sales to Iran had several far-reaching consequences:

1. Strategic Paradox: The arms trade highlighted the paradoxical nature of Middle Eastern geopolitics, where pragmatic security concerns often overrode ideological hostilities. Despite Khomeini’s vehement anti-Israel stance, his government was willing to engage in clandestine dealings when faced with existential threats.

2. Impact on Israeli-Arab Relations: The disclosure of Israeli arms sales to Iran complicated Israel’s relations with Arab nations, particularly those who viewed Iran as an existential enemy. It also fueled skepticism about Israel’s commitment to its alliances with Western-backed Arab states.

3. Iran’s Military Resilience: Israeli weapons and spare parts contributed to Iran’s ability to sustain its war effort against Iraq. While these transfers did not provide Iran with a decisive military advantage, they played a role in preventing a swift Iraqi victory.

4. Long-Term Repercussions: Despite Israel’s tactical support to Iran in the 1980s, the hostility between the two nations only deepened in subsequent decades. Iran’s continued backing of groups such as Hezbollah and its pursuit of nuclear capabilities positioned it as one of Israel’s most formidable adversaries in the 21st century.

Conclusion

The Israeli-Iranian arms trade during the Iran-Iraq War remains one of the most intriguing episodes of Middle Eastern geopolitics. It underscores the complexities of realpolitik, where immediate strategic interests often dictate policies that seem contradictory at first glance. While Israel viewed its assistance to Iran as a means of counterbalancing Iraq, the long-term trajectory of Iran-Israel relations suggests that this cooperation was a temporary alignment rather than a shift in underlying hostilities. Today, as the two nations remain locked in a bitter rivalry, this historical episode serves as a reminder of the fluid and often unpredictable nature of international relations.