Why Do We Actually Have a Conflict with Iran?

Over the years, we have become accustomed to viewing Iran as the villain in our regional narrative. The nuclear threat, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and other Iranian proxies dominate headlines, alongside threats of annihilation and an ongoing conflict spanning more than half a century. But what lies at the heart of this confrontation? What are we truly fighting about?

The current animosity stands in stark contrast to the pre-1979 relationship between Israel and Iran. Until the Islamic Revolution, the two nations maintained an intimate partnership. As non-Arab peoples facing a common Arab adversary, they built their relationship on shared strategic interests. Iran, with its vast resources, and Israel, with its Western connections and technological expertise, seemed poised to become complementary economic powers on opposite sides of the Middle East.

Everything changed in 1979 when the Iranian people took to the streets, demanding an end to corruption and new leadership. Instead of democratic reform, however, they received an extremist religious regime led by clerics. The Islamic Republic of Iran was born, fundamentally altering the regional balance.

The bloody conflict that followed can be distilled into five core reasons:

1. Israel Represents the Modern Nation-State System

The division of the Middle East into nation-states is a relatively recent phenomenon. Countries like Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Israel, and the United Arab Emirates were all established in the twentieth century, transforming what was once an imperialist and caliphate landscape into a collection of sovereign states. Many contemporary Middle Eastern conflicts stem from this ongoing transition from regional empires to independent nations.

The Islamic Republic of Iran views this modern state system as Western corruption and distortion. Iranian leadership seeks to restore what they see as the natural order—a renewed Islamic Caliphate under Shiite leadership. In this worldview, there is no legitimate place for individual nation-states in the Middle East, including Israel.

This ideology creates an unlikely common interest between Israel and other regional powers, including the Gulf states, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria and every other sovereign Middle Eastern nation—even the Palestinians, who aspire to statehood themselves.

2. Israel’s Jewish Character

Islamic doctrine classifies Jews as “People of the Book” (Ahl al-Kitab), permitted to remain Jewish under Islamic rule provided they pay the jizya tax. The Quran states in Surah 9: “Fight those who do not believe in Allah… and do not hold to the religion of truth—those among whom the Book was given—until they pay the jizya with their own hands, while they are humiliated.”

Iranian leaders often claim their issue is with Zionism, not Judaism itself. However, this distinction reveals the core problem: while Jews may live under Islamic rule, they are forbidden from governing or existing in a “non-humiliated” state. Therefore, a “Jewish state” lacks legitimacy in their theological framework.

3. Israel as a Western Proxy

From the Iranian perspective, Israel represents Western imperialism—specifically, an extension of American power in the Middle East. Iran has long characterized the United States as the “Great Satan” and Israel as the “Little Satan.”

Iran’s vast territory encompasses one of the world’s most strategically vital regions: The Persian Gulf (called the Arabian Gulf by Arabs). This area contains approximately 60% of the world’s proven oil reserves. Control over the region and its trade routes to Asia, Africa, and Europe means control over significant portions of the global economy.

Currently, American military forces dominate these routes, particularly the Strait of Hormuz, through which 30% of global oil trade passes. The United States has no interest in allowing a Shiite empire to achieve regional hegemony over these resources. From Tehran’s perspective, Americans are interfering in affairs that don’t concern them, on the wrong side of the world.

Iran views Israel as America’s frontline state in this broader superpower competition. Additionally, Western cultural influences—entertainment, fashion, sexual openness—are seen by the Iranian regime as moral corruption of Islamic society.

4. Israel’s Military and Economic Strength

Despite its small territory, Israel has emerged as a regional military and economic powerhouse. In Iran’s quest for regional dominance, Israel poses a significant obstacle. Israel has the capability to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and establishing military footholds in countries like Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq.

Indeed, Israel has operated successfully against Iranian interests for years, making it not just an ideological threat but a practical impediment to Iranian ambitions.

5. Israel as a Unifying Enemy

Iran’s fundamental challenge lies in its desire for regional hegemony. To rule effectively across the Middle East, unity around shared principles—including a common enemy—becomes essential.

Consider Lebanon’s complex demographic structure: Sunnis, Shiites, Druze, Maronite Christians, Orthodox Christians, Palestinians, and Syrian and Iraqi refugees. Despite their differences, hostility toward Israel serves as one unifying factor among these disparate groups.

The Larger Picture

When analyzing Iranian interests and future actions, it’s crucial to understand that Israel’s destruction is not the ultimate goal. Iran’s true objective is regional hegemony in the form of a Shiite caliphate. Israel must be eliminated not as an end in itself, but because its existence prevents the realization of this grander vision.

Israel is currently fighting to prevent Iran from becoming a global power. The destruction of Israel represents merely one step toward an ambitious goal whose realization could fundamentally alter the world’s balance of power.

The international community must understand the magnitude of this moment and the broader implications of this conflict that extends far beyond the Middle East.

Michael Bauer is the author of “Israel Journey – Eight Days In One Of The World’s Most Complex Countries” and works as a field educator and speaker specializing in geopolitical tours and seminars.