MONGABAY.COM
Mongabay.com seeks to raise interest in and appreciation of wild lands and wildlife, while examining the impact of emerging trends in climate, technology, economics, and finance on conservation and development (more)
WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
|
|
Israel
Index
Until the overthrow of the shah's regime in 1979, Israel and
Iran had established government missions in both countries although
this relationship was never formalized by an exchange of
ambassadors. Under the shah, from 1953 to 1979, Iran was one of
Israel's primary suppliers of oil and a major commercial partner.
In addition, the intelligence services of the two countries
cooperated closely, and Israel exported military hardware and
provided training and other assistance to Iranian military forces.
These close, but discreet, relations were abruptly terminated in
1979, upon the coming to power of the regime of Ayatollah Sayyid
Ruhollah Musavi Khomeini and Iran's joining of the anti-Israel
camp. Shortly thereafter, Iran called for the "eradication" of the
State of Israel through armed struggle and its replacement by a
Palestinian state. As a symbolic gesture, the PLO was given the
building of the former Israeli mission in Tehran.
In the 1980s, however, Israeli concern about the fate of the
approximately 30,000 Jews remaining in Iran, interest in assisting
Iran in its war with Iraq, and cooperation with the United States
in its efforts to free American hostages held by Iranian-backed
Shia (see Glossary)
extremists in Lebanon, led to a renewal of
contacts between Israeli and Iranian leaders and shipments of
Israeli arms to Tehran. Israel reportedly sent arms to Iran in
exchange for Iran's allowing thousands of Jews to leave the
country.
Data as of December 1988
|
|
