Israel vs Iran: This War Has Been Decades in the Making

[Richard D]

Last edited Wed Jun 18, 2025, 02:02 PM - Edit history (2)

As requested, here is a "why this is an important video."

I used NotebookLM to make a briefing doc as to why this video is important:

The current state of conflict between Israel and Iran is the culmination of decades of rising tensions, rooted in a radical ideological shift within Iran following its 1979 Islamic Revolution. This revolution transformed Iran from a secular, pro-Western nation into a fundamentalist Islamist theocracy with a core mission of exporting its ideology and eradicating "little Satan" (Israel) and "big Satan" (the United States). This ambition has manifested through the financing of proxy armies, international terror plots, and a covert nuclear weapons program, posing a direct existential threat to Israel. Israel's recent actions, described as "Operation Rising Lion Kilvi," are presented as a necessary response to dismantle Iran's nuclear capabilities and degrade its terror network, aiming to secure Israel and the broader Western world.
II. Historical Context and Ideological Transformation

Pre-1979 Iran: Prior to the Islamic Revolution, Iran, under figures like the Shah, was characterized as "modern, secular, and relatively open to the world," maintaining "diplomatic relations with the West, including with Israel." Women were "educated and active in public life," fostering "stability and… freedoms."
The 1979 Islamic Revolution: This pivotal event "overthrew the Sha and replaced him with a fundamentalist Islamist theocracy led by Ayatollah Kumeni." The new regime fundamentally altered Iran, transforming it into an "authoritarian, anti-western, anti-democratic, anti-women country."
Core Ideology: Exporting the Revolution and Ushering in the 12th Imam: The central tenet of the new regime is "exporting its Islamist revolution and Sharia law throughout the Middle East and beyond." A key component of this ideology, specific to Shia Islam, is the belief in "the return of the Maddi, the 12th IM." This belief posits that the 12th Imam is "still alive and waiting to take over the entire Muslim world and eventually the entire world." Crucially, adherents "believe that you must be proactive in ushering in the 12th imam specifically by initiating an apocalypse with the little Satan which is Israel and the big Satan which is the United States."
The Revolutionary Guard (IRGC): The "designated military" of the Islamic Republic, the Revolutionary Guard, was "created in order to maintain the religious integrity" of the regime and is "mandated with a mission of jihad in Allah's way." Israel is explicitly "perceived as the greatest obstacle to the reappearance of the 12th IM. You must eradicate Israel in order for the Imam to reappear."

III. Iranian Aggression and Proxy Networks

Hostage Crisis (1979): Within months of the revolution, the regime "seized the US embassy into Iran and took 52 American diplomats hostage," holding them for "444 days."
Establishment and Funding of Proxy Armies: The Islamic Republic "started importing its Islamist agenda all over the world. They created and financed proxy armies all over the Middle East," including "Kamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen."
Attacks on U.S. Interests:2019: "Iran-backed militias stormed the US embassy in Baghdad."
2023: They "launched more than 170 drones and rockets attacks on US forces in Iraq, Syria and Jordan wounding dozens of Americans."
International Terrorist Activities: Iranian operatives have been implicated in numerous international attacks:
Bombings of Israelis in India, Georgia, and Thailand.
Bombing of Saudi oil refineries in 2019.
1992 bombing of the Israeli embassy in Argentina.
1994 Jewish community center attack in Argentina.
Recent foiled plot to "bomb the Israeli embassy in London."
Plot to assassinate "President Donald Trump" in the US.

IV. Iran's Nuclear Ambitions

Covert Development: By the early 1990s, "Israel had identified covert and reach facilities and missiles development that pointed towards a military use."
Syrian Nuclear Reactor: Iran "built a nuclear power plant in Israel's neighboring country Syria which Israel eliminated in 2007."
Deception and JCPOA (2015): Iran "lied to the international community" while advancing its nuclear program. The 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) "allowed Iran to keep more than 5,000 centrifuges" and, according to the source, "gave the regime a pathway to nukes."
Post-JCPOA Withdrawal (2018) Escalation: When the US withdrew from the deal, "Iran responded by accelerating everything. They enriched uranium beyond the deal's limits, stockpiled more than 20 times the allowed amount and moved operations deeper underground."
IAEA Confirmation: The IAEA, the UN nuclear watchdog, has "confirmed what Israel has been saying all along: Iran has been lying to the international community and they now have enough enriched uranium to build 10 to 15 nuclear bombs."

V. Israel's Rationale and Current Actions

Existential Threat: The source emphasizes that "Israel did not have a choice anymore. This was a direct threat." Iran has been "publicly promising to destroy Israel and the United States for decades," "building armies around Israel," and its "ideological extremist religious doctrines calls for the eradication of Israel and the US."
Operation Rising Lion Kilvi: This is described as a "historic campaign to dismantle Iran's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile program and degrade its terror regime."
Not About Internal Iranian Oppression: While acknowledging that the "Islamic Republic of Iran is occupying its own people," oppresses women and the LGBTQ+ community, and targets dissidents, the source clarifies: "this is not why Israel attacked… This war is not about that. It's about the safety and security of Israel, America and the West. The Islamic Republic of Iran's pursuit of nuclear bomb must be stopped."
Hamas and October 7th: The source asserts that "On October 7th, 2023, with Iran's backing, Hamas lit a match that spread across the Middle East." However, it paradoxically claims, "what Iran didn't understand was that this wasn't the beginning of their war. It was the beginning of their end."

VI. Outlook and Regional Implications

Iran's Weakening Position: The source suggests that the Iranian regime is "weaker than it has ever been before. Its economy is collapsing. Its proxies are weakening or non-existing. And its people are no longer afraid."
Opportunity for a New Middle East: This moment is framed as an opportunity to build a "new Middle East… one that is not built on terror but on peace." The source indicates that regional actors like "the Saudis… The Emiratis… Everybody knows this."
Call for Iranian Concession: The conflict can end "right now if it comes to the table." Israel's actions are presented as beneficial to the broader region, with the concluding remark: "And you can thank us later to peace."