A billboard in Tehran, displaying messages in both Farsi and Hebrew, reads: “Israel must be wiped off the face of the Earth.”
The tension between Iran and Israel is unique. Unlike typical international conflicts, it doesn’t stem from border disputes, competition over natural resources, trade disagreements, or support for opposing factions in a civil war.
Nor can it accurately be described as an “ideological rivalry,” as some might suggest. Instead, it is rooted in a deeply ingrained theological belief held by Iranian clerics: the very existence of Israel is seen as a transgression against divine will and, therefore, must be eradicated.
This profound conviction leaves little room for diplomatic resolution, as attempts to negotiate can hardly address a conflict rooted in religious doctrine.
Until the global community fully grasps this theological dimension, Iran will likely remain a significant destabilizing force in the region and beyond.