Iran, the second-largest country in the Middle East, is a multi-ethnic Islamic theocracy with the ultimate decision maker being the country's prime religious authority, its Supreme Leader. It infuses elements of democracy, such as an elected president. With one of the longest and storied histories of civilization, the current Islamic Republic of Iran was established by Ruhollah Khomeini in 1979 following the Islamic Revolution. Kohmeini became Iran's first Supreme Leader.
Iran is considered authoritarian in its suppression of rights for women and children and the violent squandering of opposing political protests.
Strategically located between the water bodies of the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman and the Caspian sea, it is bordered by key middle-eastern players, such as Turkey, Afghanistan and Iraq.
Iran holds the world's second-largest natural gas supply as well as a massive oil reserve, a key element often discussed in its role in international relations and political leverage.
Before 1979, Iran maintained friendly relations with Israel via pro-Western leader Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. However, after the Islamic Revolution, Iran severed all ties with Israel and by the 1990s relations turned hostile.
Iran has escalated its nuclear technology development over the years while also funding and supporting Islamic-extremist proxy groups much closer to Israel, such as Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) and Hezbollah.
Houthis fire missiles at Israel • IDF in Rafah area • IDF operates in West Bank • IDF strikes terrorist in Lebanon • Egyptian security delegation heads to Qatar for Gaza deal talks
The facility allegedly holds Kheibar Shekan (900-mile range), Haj Qassem (850-mile range), Ghadr H, (1,240-mile range), Sejjil (1,550-mile range), and Emad (1,050-mile range) missiles.
The alleged contact between the Israeli woman and the Iranian intelligence agent - 'Rambod' - took place from 2014 to 2018.
The potential deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan could help pave the way for more deals.
The US believes "even in degraded form, Hamas continues to pose a threat to Israeli security."
Hundreds of Gazans march in rare anti-Hamas protest • Katz, Zamir meet to work in cooperation following public clash
US think tanks weaken the real resistance inside Iran; Pahlavi at Israeli-American Council summit: Iranians seek a strategic partnership, not Western intervention.
“What will be the October 7 in the cyber space and are we ready for it? To meet this kind of challenge, we need to build better resilience, improve the culture of sharing, change all of the time."
Hamas publishes hostage video • IDF encircles Tel Sultan in new Gaza ground operations
Since we assume that Iran fears the independence of Southern Azerbaijan and given the strong ties between Northern Azerbaijan and Israel, why shouldn't Israel have ties with Southern Azerbaijan?
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