ISRAEL, RELATIONS WITH IRAN. The relationship between Israel and Iran has since the very inception of the Jewish state in 1948 been a complex function of Iran’s geo-strategic imperatives as a non- Arab, non-Sunni state in an overwhelmingly Arab and Sunni environment, and its need to find an appropriate relationship with its Arab/Sunni neighbors in order to actualize Iranian regional leadership aspirations. Though military and intelligence cooperation with Israel has at times been seen as necessary to advance Iran’s geo-strategic goals, primarily the balancing of threats emanating from Iran’s Arab neighbors’ ties to the Jewish state has impeded the attainment of Iran’s second goal; that of achieving long-term security by befriending the Arab/ Sunni states in its immediate neighborhood and gaining legitimacy for Iran’s quest for supremacy. This entry is divided into two separate sections: the Pahlavi period and the Post-Revolution period.

This entry is divided into the following four sections:

i. Diplomatic and political relations.
(1) The Pahlavi Period (1948-78).
(2) Post Revolution Period (1979-2007).

ii. The Jewish Persian community.
iii. Iranian Studies in Israel.
iv. Persian art collections in Israel.