Iran vs Israel Timeline: Key Events That Shaped the Middle East

Here is a timeline of some significant events in the hostilities between the two countries : 1967 — Iran takes possession of its Tehran Research Reactor under America’s “Atoms for Peace” program. 1979 — Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, fatally ill, flees Iran as popular protests against him surge. Years of simmering tensions between Israel and Iran have broken into direct conflict, as the two arch foes trade missile attacks on an unprecedented scale. The June 2025 direct war between Israel and Iran marks the most significant open military conflict in the Middle East since the 2003 Iraq War, and the first-ever direct, full-spectrum confrontation between the two arch-rivals. A Fragile ceasefire hangs in balance. Bombed nuclear sites may not be destroyed. An updated timeline of the israel - iran conflict. Explore the timeline of tensions between Israel and Iran , from the 1960s to 2025. This explainer highlights the key events, including nuclear developments, military strikes and escalating. Tensions between two Middle Eastern heavyweights have erupted into a full-fledged Israel ‑ Iran war 2025. What’s happening now? In the latest twist, Israel ’s Operation Rising Lion unleashed a devastating wave of airstrikes on Iran ’s military and nuclear infrastructure—including the hardened Natanz enrichment complex—on June 13, 2025. The ongoing Israel – Iran conflict stands out as one of the most deeply embedded and dangerous battles in the Middle East. While some see it as just a struggle between two countries, in reality, it’s an intense power contest driven by ideology, regional ambitions, and global security concerns. Following is a timeline of key events : 1979 - Iran's pro-Western leader, Mohammed Reza Shah, who regarded Israel as an ally, is swept from power in an Islamic Revolution that installs a new Shi'ite theocratic regime with opposition to Israel an ideological imperative.