When Iran And Israel Were The Best Of Friends
Before revolution toppled the Iranian monarchy in 1979, Tehran and Tel-Aviv exchanged tourists and trade instead of missiles and drones.
1
Iranian diplomat Reza Saffinia salutes Israeli soldiers as he enters the residence of Israel’s first president, Chaim Weizmann, near Tel-Aviv in 1950.
In 1950, Iran broke with its Arab neighbors by informally recognizing the fledgling Jewish state.
In 1950, Iran broke with its Arab neighbors by informally recognizing the fledgling Jewish state.
2
David Ben Gurion (left), the first prime minister of Israel, meets with Iranian diplomat Reza Saffinia (in a striped suit) at a party held by an Iranian delegation in Jerusalem in 1950.
Relations between the two countries would become so warm there were eventually daily flights between Tehran and Tel-Aviv. In secret, Iran and Israel even worked together to jointly develop a missile system.
Relations between the two countries would become so warm there were eventually daily flights between Tehran and Tel-Aviv. In secret, Iran and Israel even worked together to jointly develop a missile system.
3
Dairy cows being loaded aboard a cargo plane bound for Iran at an Israeli airfield in 1965.
While Israel benefited from Iranian oil, Tehran acquired Israeli expertise in agricultural and military technologies.
While Israel benefited from Iranian oil, Tehran acquired Israeli expertise in agricultural and military technologies.
4
Men from the Middle East and Africa listen to a lecture on farming at an educational facility in Beit Berl, just north of Tel-Aviv, in 1971.
