Crisis Studies of the Islamic World

Crisis Studies of the Islamic World

Beyond the threshold: Iran's direct confrontation with Israel and its regional consequences

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
1 -
2 The Department of Political Science, Faculty of Law and Theology, Shahid Bahonar University, Kerman, Iran.
Abstract
The conflict between Iran and Israel has long been pursued through proxy wars, with each country competing for power and influence in the Middle East. Recent developments have raised concerns that these rivalries could lead to a direct confrontation between the two. The goal of this research is to examine the developments in Iran-Israel relations and analyze the factors that have shifted this competition from proxy wars to direct confrontation. The main research question is: How have the conflict strategies between Iran and Israel evolved from proxy wars to direct confrontation, and what are the regional impacts? This study employs a qualitative methodology and document analysis, utilizing both print and electronic data, while drawing on the theoretical framework of offensive realism to analyze this process. The hypothesis of the research is that the complex interplay of geopolitical factors, ideological motivations, and the desire for regional influence has accelerated the shift from proxy wars to direct confrontation between Iran and Israel. The findings indicate that this shift has been particularly shaped by Israel's regional policies and the ideological motivations of both sides.
Keywords

Volume 12, Issue 4 - Serial Number 39
winter Quarterly
Winter 2026

  • Receive Date 05 October 2024
  • Revise Date 10 March 2025
  • Accept Date 27 July 2025