Timeline of the Iran vs Israel War: Causes of Conflict to Ceasefire

The Iran-Israel conflict has been a long-simmering feud, marked by covert operations, airstrikes, and diplomatic breakdowns. From Iran’s nuclear ambitions to Israel’s preemptive strikes, tensions have flared into open hostilities, culminating in significant attacks and fragile ceasefires. 

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Early Roots of the Conflict

Ideological Clash Post-1979

The Iran-Israel conflict wasn’t always a given. Before 1979, Iran, under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, maintained ties with Israel. But the 1979 Islamic Revolution changed everything. 

Ayatollah Khomeini’s rise to power brought a new theocratic regime that branded Israel a major enemy. That same year, Iran’s nuclear program, initially kickstarted in 1967 with the Tehran Research Reactor under the U.S. “Atoms for Peace” initiative, stalled amid global pressure and the U.S. Embassy hostage crisis.

Iran’s Nuclear Ambitions Emerge

By August 2002, Iran’s secret Natanz nuclear enrichment facility was exposed by Western intelligence and an Iranian opposition group, raising alarms about its nuclear intentions.

Israel, viewing a nuclear-armed Iran as an existential threat, began closely monitoring Tehran’s program. In 2003, Britain, France, and Germany started nuclear talks with Iran, which briefly suspended uranium enrichment. 

But by 2006, under hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iran resumed enrichment, prompting the European trio to abandon stalled negotiations.

Read more: Is Trump Suggesting a Ceasefire Between the US, Iran, and Israel?

Escalating Tensions: 2009–2018

Covert Warfare Intensifies

The conflict took a covert turn in 2009–2010. Iran’s 2009 election, marred by fraud allegations, saw Ahmadinejad’s reelection and sparked the Green Movement protests, met with a brutal crackdown. 

Meanwhile, the Stuxnet virus, widely attributed to a U.S.-Israel collaboration, disrupted Iran’s nuclear centrifuges in 2010, marking a new era of cyberwarfare. Israel also allegedly ramped up targeted killings, with Iran blaming it for the 2020 assassination of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, a key nuclear scientist, via a remote-controlled weapon.

The Nuclear Deal and Its Collapse

In 2015, a glimmer of hope emerged with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a nuclear deal between Iran and world powers, including the U.S., limiting Tehran’s uranium enrichment in exchange for sanctions relief. 

But the deal unraveled in 2018 when Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed intelligence, obtained by non-Israeli agents from Tehran safes, showing Iran had concealed parts of its nuclear program. 

That year, President Donald Trump withdrew the U.S. from the JCPOA, escalating tensions as Israel intensified alleged attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities.

Read more: Iran Attacks US Military Base in Qatar! Here's What Happened

Regional Flashpoints: 2020–2023

Targeted Strikes and Sabotage

From 2020, the conflict grew more direct. In July 2020, an explosion at Natanz’s centrifuge plant, blamed on Israel, disrupted Iran’s nuclear efforts. In April 2021, another attack caused a blackout at Natanz, with Iran again pointing fingers at Israel. 

That same month, Iran began enriching uranium to 60%, a step away from weapons-grade 90%, raising global concerns. In June 2022, Iran accused Israel of poisoning two nuclear scientists, though details remain murky.

Proxy Wars and Regional Tensions

The conflict spilled into the broader Middle East. Iran’s support for groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, both sworn enemies of Israel, fueled proxy battles. On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched a devastating attack on Israel, killing 1,200 and taking 250 hostages, triggering a brutal war in Gaza. 

Iran’s backing of Hamas intensified Israel’s resolve to counter Tehran’s influence. In February 2024, Israel allegedly sabotaged an Iranian gas pipeline, showcasing its reach inside Iran.

Read more: Will Iran Agree to a Ceasefire with Israel? Here are the Terms

Direct Confrontations: 2024–2025

Tit-for-Tat Airstrikes

By 2024, the conflict turned openly kinetic. On April 1, 2024, an Israeli airstrike demolished Iran’s consulate in Damascus, killing 16, including two Iranian generals. 

Iran retaliated on April 14 with a massive missile and drone attack on Israel, over 300 projectiles, though most were intercepted by Israel and the U.S.-led coalition. Days later, on April 19, a suspected Israeli strike hit an air defense system near Isfahan, Iran.

Assassinations and Escalation

The violence peaked in mid-2024. On July 31, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in Tehran, likely by an Israeli airstrike, followed by the September 27 killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, a key Iranian ally.

Iran responded on October 1 with another direct missile attack on Israel, though most were intercepted. On October 16, Israel killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in Gaza, further weakening Iran’s regional allies.

Israel’s Major Offensive

On October 26, 2024, Israel launched its first open attack on Iran, targeting air defense and missile sites. By June 2025, the conflict reached a new intensity. On June 13, Israel unleashed a massive assault on Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure, killing top scientists and generals using warplanes and pre-smuggled drones. 

Strikes continued on June 14, targeting Iran’s energy sector, as Iran fired missiles and drones at Israel. By June 15, Israeli airstrikes persisted, with some Iranian missiles breaching defenses and hitting Israeli cities, derailing U.S.-Iran nuclear talks in Oman.

Path to Ceasefire

Diplomatic Efforts Falter

Efforts to de-escalate, like the planned U.S.-Iran talks in Oman, collapsed amid the June 2025 strikes. Iran’s execution of an alleged Mossad operative on April 30, 2025, for the 2022 killing of a Revolutionary Guard colonel further strained relations.

Both sides seemed locked in a cycle of retaliation, with Iran’s nuclear advancements and Israel’s aggressive preemption driving the conflict.

Ceasefire Breakthrough

While specific ceasefire details remain sparse, reports suggest that by late June 2025, international mediators, possibly including the U.S. and European powers, pushed for a truce to halt the escalating violence.

The ceasefire likely involved mutual commitments to pause direct attacks, with Iran agreeing to limit nuclear activities and Israel halting strikes, though distrust persists.

Conclusion

The Iran-Israel conflict, driven by ideological clashes and Iran's nuclear goals versus Israel's security fears, has shifted from covert sabotage to open war. The 2015 nuclear deal's collapse, targeted killings, and 2024–2025 airstrikes mark a volatile rivalry. The June 2025 ceasefire is fragile, with deep mistrust and proxy battles risking renewed conflict if diplomacy fails.

FAQ

Q1: Why did Iran and Israel start openly attacking each other in 2024?

A1: It escalated after Israel bombed Iran’s consulate in Damascus on April 1, 2024. Iran hit back with 300+ missiles and drones, turning a cold war hot.

Q2: What triggered the collapse of the 2015 nuclear deal?

A2: In 2018, Trump pulled the U.S. out after Israel exposed Iran’s hidden nuclear files. Talks fell apart, and attacks ramped up fast after that.

Q3: What led to the June 2025 ceasefire?

A3: After weeks of direct strikes and rising global pressure, mediators pushed both sides to pause. Iran agreed to ease enrichment, Israel held back attacks.

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