Decision Points Podcast S5 E11: Iran, Israel, and Missiles: The Roots of Enmity and Escalation

Iran’s recent ballistic missile attack on Israel marks a significant escalation in their longstanding enmity. As tensions peak, the strategic, political, and ideological dimensions of their regional rivalry take on even greater importance, with Israel’s defensive responses and Iran’s aggressive stance setting the stage for potential further clashes. In this episode of Decision Points, host David Makovsky is joined by two leading experts, Ray Takeyh and Meir Litvak, who delve into the roots of Iran’s ideological hostility toward Israel, the regime’s internal dynamics, and how Tehran’s anti-Zionism has shaped its foreign policy. Takeyh is a senior fellow for Middle East studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, specializing in Iran, U.S. foreign policy, and the modern Middle East. Litvak, a professor at Tel Aviv University and director of the Alliance Center for Iranian Studies, brings decades of expertise in the intersection of religion, society, and politics in Iran, with a focus on Shia Islam and nationalism.