Iran and Israel

Owen Wirth

The history of these two countries is one entrenched in hatred. Iran and Israel have been two states based on religions in the Middle East, the region where religion has its most profound influence. Israel has been called the Western outpost in the Middle East by Iranian leaders, and they have made damning comments about the nation. This has lead to an anticipated increase in tension between the two states as the question remains about Iran's eventual nuclear capabilities. 

While Israel has maintained the position that it would be unacceptable for Iran to become a nuclear state, Iran continues to not allow the International Atomic Energy Agency inspect its potential militarized nuclear material in the site at Parchin. Without diplomatic means to ensure Israel's security, the country has been left with few options. The killing of scientists in Iran has left all fingers pointing to Israel or groups backed by Israel, particularly by Iran. Iranian officials have claimed that these attacks were backed by the Israeli Regime and they responded by formally filing a complaint to the UN Security Council. The claim is that Israel had financially and logistically supported the Muslim group in Iran called the People's Mujahedin of Iran which advocates the overthrow of the Iranian government. The specific targeting of nuclear scientists suggests that a role is played by a country with strong national interest against Iran becoming a nuclear power, with Israel being at the top of that list. 

On the flip side, Israeli officials have accused Iran of several attempted assassinations on ambassadors and Israeli embassies around the world. These attempts have been attributed to Iran by Israel and others but no formal allegations have been made. There has even been mention that the "attempts" may be simply planned by the Israeli government to draw sympathy towards the country and to gain international support for a military intervention in Iran. The attempts on Israeli officials' lives give cause for concern to the growing tension within the region, as it seems as all sides are heading down a path to war in the region. War has seemed likely in that region for years now and it just seems to be forcing the issue into a more sinister realm.