Iran versus Israel: an old conflict with many ramifications

The relations between Iran and Israel were quite strong and promising up to a certain point. After Israel was officially recognised as a state by Turkey in September 1949, the Iranian authorities were no longer afraid of being accused of being the first to break the Muslim blockade of the "Zionist entity". In March 1950, Iran became the second Muslim country to recognise the state of Israel. As late as the 1970s, the Shahanshah State of Iran was considered one of Israel’s closest allies and partners, and the countries implemented joint economic and military projects together. The entire relationship changed with the Islamic Revolution in February 1979. 

The April escalation of the conflict between the countries was the largest in many years. The longstanding confrontation between Israel and Iran reached a new level. In early April 2024, an Israeli airstrike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus killed several officials of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as well as a number of civilians. In response, Iran attacked Israel for the first time directly from its territory with hundreds of drones and missiles. This attack on 14 April confirmed once again: the contradictions between the countries can lead to a new large-scale conflict in West Asia at any time. 

At the lecture at G.O.R.K.I. Centre SPbU we invite participants to consider together the history of the confrontation between Iran and Israel, analysing its roots and causes, discuss the consequences of this conflict, and try to suggest possible ways to resolve it. 

The meeting will be held in face-to-face format, in English. Participation in the event is paid, and you also have to register in advance.

Registration