Israeli Connection

Since the creation of the Jewish state in 1948, the Israelis have tried to cultivate relations with non-Arab nations in the Middle East, such as Turkey and Iran. While the Shah was in power, Israel openly supplied arms to the Iranian military. But Israeli intelligence also cultivated ties with Iranian army officials after the 1979 revolution. In order to keep the relationship strong, then Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin shipped weapons and ammunition to Tehran in early 1980.

The pipeline was evidently closed after Americans were seized at the U.S. embassy in Tehran in 1980 but resumed once the captives were...

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