Zionism and the Iranian Theocracy

Alberto Mudjadju"

Zionism (the political regime of Israel) emerged in late 19th-century Europe as a response to antisemitism (against Semitic peoples, who are peoples sharing a common linguistic and cultural origin, originating from the Middle East and Africa, including Arabs, Hebrews, Assyrians, Arameans, Phoenicians, and others) and the persecution of Jews. The Austrian journalist Theodor Herzl is considered the founder of modern Zionism, with the publication of his book "The Jewish State" in 1896. This was well-supported in 1917 when Great Britain issued the Balfour Declaration expressing support for the creation of a national home for the Jewish people in Palestine, and in 1948 the State of Israel was created with the support of the United Nations (UN), respecting the right of the Jewish people to self-determination and independence, as Palestine is considered the historical homeland of the Jewish people, thus granting the right of Jews to return to their historical homeland.

Zionism and Iranian theocracy are two political and religious concepts, respectively, that have been the subject of debate and conflict for decades. Zionism is a political and ideological movement that seeks the creation and establishment of an independent Jewish state in Palestine, considered the historical homeland of the Jewish people, with the main objective of creating and maintaining a secure and prosperous Jewish state. Iran, on the other hand, is dominated by theocracy, a system of government in which political and religious power are united, with religious leaders exerting direct influence over the government. Its main objective is the creation of an Islamic state based on Islamic law (Sharia) and the authority of religious leaders. Zionism is based on the Jewish religion (creating a Jewish state), while Iranian theocracy is based on the Islamic religion. Zionism emphasizes the importance of the security and sovereignty of the Jewish state, while Iranian theocracy prioritizes the expansion of Islam and the authority of religious leaders. The conflict between Zionism and the Iranian theocracy dates back to the Iranian Revolution of 1979, when Ayatollah Khomeini declared Israel an "enemy of Islam." In contrast, the Iranian theocracy is accused of supporting terrorist groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah, located in Palestine and Lebanon respectively, which fight against Israel, as well as developing nuclear weapons, which is seen as a threat to the security of Israel and the world. The conflict between Zionism and the Iranian theocracy is complex and multifaceted, with different interpretations and perspectives.

Iran and Israel have territorial disputes, including the dispute over the Golan Heights (located in southwestern Syria and northeastern Israel, which are very important due to their geographical conditions), which Israel occupied in 1967 during the Six-Day War. These various tensions between the Israeli and Iranian regimes have provoked a series of conflicts and tensions, such as Israeli attacks against Iranian targets in Syria and Lebanon, as well as acts of sabotage and espionage by both sides, not to mention the international economic sanctions against Iran. It is a complex and volatile situation, and it is difficult to predict how things may develop over the years. Relations between Israel and Iran began to sour shortly after the Islamic Revolution in Iran in 1979, when Ayatollah Khomeini assumed power and adopted an anti-Israel stance, viewing its nuclear program as an existential threat and claiming that Iran was seeking to develop nuclear weapons to use against its territory. In June 2025, Israel launched Operation Lion Rising, attacking Iranian nuclear facilities, and in response, Iran sent missile strikes against Israeli cities such as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. The US entered the war on Israel's side, bombing strategic targets in Iran. The war caused turbulence in international markets and increased the risk of nuclear proliferation, and this situation remained delicate, with a real risk of renewed hostilities. Thus, the conditions were ripe for another war to erupt, Israel/US vs. Iran.

2025/12/3