Escalating hostilities between Israel and Iran: From proxy conflict to open warfare

Elahe Amani

LA Progressive

The large-scale Israeli assault on Iran on June 13, 2025, deeply alarmed many Iranian citizens, who reacted with concern, fear, and uncertainty. This escalation must be understood within the broader historical context of decades-long hostilities between the two nations.

Following the establishment of formal diplomatic relations in 1950, Iran under the Pahlavi monarchy maintained a pragmatic relationship with Israel. This dynamic shifted dramatically after the 1979 when the newly established Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) adopted a confrontational stance toward Israel, enshrining anti-Zionism as a cornerstone of its foreign policy. From the 1980s onward, Iran's regional strategy emphasized proxy warfare, including support for Hezbollah in Lebanon and Palestinian factions such as Hamas. Israel also engaged in covert operations and sabotage, transforming the bilateral relationship from a tense but cold peace into one marked by open hostility.

The period from the early 2000s to the 2020s witnessed an intensification of what has been termed a “shadow war,” characterized by cyberattacks, targeted assassinations—including of Iranian nuclear scientists—and acts of sabotage. Iranian-aligned militias, in turn, launched attacks on Israeli interests throughout the region. This covert and indirect warfare culminated in more direct hostilities during 2023–2024, particularly following the events of October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a large-scale attack on Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking 250 hostages.

The ensuing months saw a marked escalation:

• February 14, 2024: An Israeli sabotage operation reportedly caused explosions on an Iranian gas pipeline.
• April 1, 2024: Israel bombed Iran's consulate in Damascus, killing two Iranian generals.
• April 14, 2024: Iran retaliated with over 300 drones and missiles; most were intercepted.
• April 19, 2024: A suspected Israeli airstrike targeted Iranian air defense systems.
• July 31, 2024: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Tehran.
• October 2024: Iran launched missiles at Israel, prompting further Israeli retaliatory strikes.

And finally Direct Military Confrontation and war in June 2025

On June 13, 2025, Israel launched what is widely regarded as the most extensive direct assault on Iran in modern history, targeting key nuclear and military infrastructure. Among the primary targets were the Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordow nuclear facilities, alongside the assassination of prominent Iranian nuclear scientists (CNN, June 14, 2025). The Israeli government framed this offensive as a pre-emptive act of self-defense, citing the growing nuclear threat posed by Iran.

However, based on prevailing interpretations of international law, Israel's actions constitute a violation of the UN Charter, which prohibits the use of force against another state's sovereignty except in cases of imminent threat or under Security Council authorization. Legal scholars argue that the attack fails to meet the strict criteria for anticipatory self-defense, rendering it unlawful under international law. Moreover, while this confrontation can be analyzed through the lens of an “ unequal war “, both Iran and Israel are targeting of civilian infrastructure, as evidenced by repeated airstrikes on densely populated areas, raises serious concerns regarding violations of international humanitarian law.

Israel's official public stance prior to the strike of was focused on dismantling Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs, however, Prime Minister Netanyahu, In an interview with Fox News on Sunday June 15th, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's prime minister, said that Israel under his leadership would not simply attempt to dismantle Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs through military attack, but in the process usher in regime change in Tehran. Since October7, 2023, the Gaza war, Israeli political discourse, including statements referring to Iran as “the head of the snake.” That needed to be silenced.

According to Iranian sources, as of June 16, Israeli attacks have killed at least 224 people, including 74 women and children, and injured 1,800 and on the Israeli side, official sources report that Iranian missile barrages have killed at least 24 civilians, including women and children, and injured nearly 600 (DW, June 16, 2025).

Both governments have exhibited consistent disregard for international humanitarian norms, with actions that likely constitute grave violations of human rights and international humanitarian law. The use of disproportionate force, targeting of non-combatants, and rhetoric suggesting collective punishment all contribute to the ongoing humanitarian crisis. While this is a highly asymmetrical conflict—militarily and geopolitically—it is civilians in both Iran and Israel who bear the brunt of the devastation. War spares no one—neither in Tehran nor in Haifa. It respects neither justice nor mercy—only destruction. Howard Zinn was right when he said “There is no flag large enough to cover the shame of killing innocent people.

Islamic Republic unprecedented crisis of Legitimacy

The Islamic Republic of Iran stands at a critical juncture, facing an unprecedented crisis of legitimacy. Over the past 46 years, the Iranian people have endured persistent human rights violations, executions, and widespread repression. Today, these issues are compounded by deepening poverty, economic mismanagement, and a lack of political will to address the social, economic, and political demands of the population. As a result, public trust in the regime has eroded to historic lows, with many shifting from support to open opposition.

Declining Electoral Participation

Recent parliamentary elections in 2024 exemplify the regime's waning legitimacy. Voter turnout reached only 41% nationwide and fell below 25% in Tehran, marking a record low even after authorities extended voting hours and pressured citizens to participate. Independent monitors suggest actual turnout may have been even lower. This disengagement reflects a widespread belief that elections lack fairness, especially following the mass disqualification of reformist and moderate candidates by the Guardian Council.

Mass Protests and State Repression

Since the 2010s, Iran has witnessed successive waves of nationwide protests—in 2017–2018, 2019, and most notably during the 2022–2023 “Woman, Life, Freedom” uprising, sparked by the killing of Jina (Mahsa) Amini. These demonstrations, involving millions across more than 150 cities, have been met with severe repression. According to HRANA ( Human Rights Activists News Agency), a minimum of 522 protesters killed and more than 20,000 arrested. The scale and persistence of these protests, which include significant participation from women, youth, ethnic minorities, and labor unions, underscore a deep rejection of the regime's legitimacy.

Gender Apartheid and Suppression of Women's Rights

The enforcement of mandatory hijab laws and broader gender-based discrimination remain central sources of public alienation. According to a 2020 GAMAAN survey, 75% of Iranians oppose compulsory veiling. Women are systematically excluded from serving as judges, face unequal rights in family law, and are subjected to state violence and morality policing. Such policies have intensified the regime's disconnect from women and the younger generation.

Corruption and Economic Mismanagement

Iran's economic crisis is marked by over 40% annual inflation and food prices rising more than 60% year-over-year. More than 30% of Iranians now live below the poverty line. The country ranked 149 out of 180 on Transparency International's 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index, highlighting pervasive elite corruption. The government's failure to address economic hardship and corruption has fueled widespread public disillusionment.

Suppression of Freedoms and International Isolation

Iran is classified as “Not Free” by Freedom House (2024), with extremely low scores for political rights and civil liberties. The country ranks among the world's most repressive on internet and press freedom, with journalists routinely imprisoned, tortured, or exiled. These restrictions on free expression and association further erode public trust and limit peaceful avenues for dissent.

Exile of Intellectuals and Youth Migration

Iran suffers from one of the world's highest rates of educated emigration, with an estimated 180,000 professionals leaving annually. Surveys indicate that only 22% of Iranians identify as “religious,” and fewer than 20% support the current theocratic system. The ongoing brain drain reflects a profound crisis of confidence in the country's future among its youth and intellectuals.

The Islamic Republic of Iran faces a profound multifaceted legitimacy crisis rooted in political repression, economic decline, gender injustice, and systemic corruption. Statistical evidence and sustained mass mobilization demonstrate that the regime no longer enjoys the support or consent of large segments of the Iranian population, particularly among women, youth, and the middle class. This crisis challenges the very foundations of the state's authority and underscores the urgent need for comprehensive reform.

Civil Society Resistance and Anti-War Sentiment in Iran

The Iranian people particularly women and youth have demonstrated remarkable resilience and agency in the face of political repression and external conflict. Despite operating under severe constraints and double binds, Iranian civil society has remained highly engaged, expressing creative forms of resistance and issuing numerous statements opposing both initiated Israel war and the policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran. This engagement has intensified in recent days, culminating in a surge of anti-war activism and solidarity during the recent escalation of conflict with Israel.

Iranian Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi, has called upon activists to unite in demanding a ceasefire between Iran and Israel. In a recent exclusive message to TIME, Mohammadi highlighted the devastating impact of the conflict, which has displaced millions and inflicted further damage on Iran's critical infrastructure, exacerbating an already dire economic crisis (TIME, 2024). Mohammadi herself has been compelled to leave Tehran when President trump calls on Tehran a city with ten million people and close six million in Metropolitan area of Tehran to be immediately evacuated. Also In a joint statement, two Nobel Peace laureates and two internationally acclaimed film directors have also called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, underscoring the urgent need for peace and dialogue.

Civil society resistance is further exemplified by statements from Iranian political prisoners. Seven women currently detained in Tehran's notorious Evin Prison have issued two separate declarations calling for an end to war, denouncing both Israeli military aggression and the authoritarianism of the Islamic Republic of Iran. These statements emphasize that genuine liberation for Iranians can only be achieved through grassroots mobilization and social movements, rather than foreign intervention.

One statement, signed by Reyhaneh Ansari, Sakineh Parvaneh, Varisheh Moradi, and Golrokh Iraee, categorically rejects reliance on external powers and condemns the recent Israeli attacks, which have resulted in civilian casualties and infrastructure destruction. Another statement by Anisha Asadollahi, Nahid Khodajo, and Nasrin Javadi addresses the Iranian populace directly, asserting that wars invariably harm ordinary people—those who bear no responsibility for their inception. Despite their incarceration, these women express solidarity with the broader society and urge collective resistance to war.

A coalition of labor unions and social organizations across Iran has issued a comprehensive joint statement titled “Joint Statement of Labor and Social Organizations Against War and the Current Dangerous Crisis.” The declaration unequivocally condemns both Israeli and Iranian military actions, particularly those targeting civilians, and denounces the pursuit and use of weapons of mass destruction. The statement articulates a longstanding demand for peace and welfare. The statement highlights “For years, we have shouted: No to war, no to killing—we want lasting welfare! But the regime continues its path of destruction, chasing nuclear weapons under the slogan of wiping out Israel and fighting the so-called ‘Great Satan' America. This hellish situation is not accidental—it has been imposed on society.”

The signatories that comprising nurses, truck drivers, oil workers, teachers, retirees, and children's rights defenders also highlight the regime's intensification of internal repression under the pretext of war, including arrests, executions, and accusations of espionage.

The Coordinating Council of Iranian Teachers' Trade Associations has also issued a statement condemning the Israel's attack on Iranian territory. The council described the attack as a clear violation of international law, a threat to Iran's territorial integrity, and a danger to the lives of ordinary civilians. The statement emphasized that teachers, whose mission is to educate a generation for peace and justice, cannot stay silent in the face of both foreign aggression and the domestic policies of the Islamic Republic that contribute to regional tensions. It criticized the Iranian government's lack of transparency, exclusion of public participation in decision-making, and military adventures that have deepened the crisis, especially for vulnerable groups.

The Iranian Writers' Association has condemned Israel's “blatant aggression” against Iranian territory and emphasized the vital role of writers and intellectuals in amplifying independent voices and supporting freedom movements (IMHO Journal, 2024). The Association's statements frame the conflict as a struggle between two oppressive regimes, warning that ongoing violence not only causes civilian casualties but also derails efforts toward freedom and equality in Iran.

Women's and grassroots organizations have played a pivotal role in articulating moral clarity, promoting nonviolence, and defending the lives of ordinary Iranians. Numerous position statements have been issued by such groups, reflecting a robust and diverse anti-war sentiment within Iranian civil society. These organizations often serve as moral beacons, navigating the complexities of conflict and advocating for the protection of human life.

The Collective Action of Independent Iranian Women that comprises of 23 women organization in Iranian diaspora, in an statement emphasis that “We are firmly opposed to the excessive expansion of militarism, both nuclear and non-nuclear, in Iran and in the world. In times of war and occupation, women are faced with a double violence—not only from bombs and bullets, but from the very solutions that have already marginalized their lives. War places a greater economic, psychological, and caregiving burden on women; it reduces access to vital resources for mothers, nurses, and survivors. And at the same time, with increasing militarism, it makes the social space more masculine, authoritarian, and oppressive. In such economic, political, sexual, and racial conditions, women's bodies are once again turned into battlefields. These policies are not used for security, but for the appropriation of global resources by a small minority, and control over the lives of the majority of the people” and continues “In the end, we sympathize with the position that “The liberation of us, the people of Iran, from the dictatorship ruling the country is possible by fighting the masses and by appealing to social others.” (Quote from four female political prisoners from Evin Prison: Reyhaneh Ansari, Sakineh Parvaneh, Varisheh Moradi, and Golrokh Iraei).

While substantial segments of Iranian civil society oppose the war, conservative elements, such as the daily newspaper Kayhan in Iran, have advocated for the continuation of hostilities until the “complete destruction of Israel,” as reflected in a recent front-page editorial. Conversely, Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of the former Shah, has faced widespread criticism for expressing support for Israel's bombing of Iranian cities.

Independent media and artists in Iran have consistently played a crucial role in exposing misinformation propagated by both the Iranian regime and foreign powers, including Israel and the United States. Their efforts contribute to a more nuanced understanding of the conflict and reinforce the importance of independent, critical voices in times of crisis.

The recent escalation of conflict between Iran and Israel has galvanized Iranian civil society, prompting a wide array of anti-war statements from Nobel laureates, political prisoners, labor unions, writers, and grassroots organizations. While opinions within Iran remain diverse, a significant portion of the population—especially among women, youth, and independent civil society actors—continues to advocate for peace, and the protection of human rights. These voices underscore the enduring resilience and moral clarity of Iranian civil society in the face of war and authoritarianism.

Iranian civil society is taking a clear stand against war, condemning the recent Israeli attack, and refusing to remain silent in the face of atrocities committed by the Islamic Republic of Iran. The collective wisdom of the Iranian people does not incline them to support the Islamic Republic in this disastrous conflict, nor does it inspire them to cheer for regime change orchestrated by foreign forces or by figures like Netanyahu—a leader who has waged a genocidal war against the Palestinian people.

Iranian women are also acutely aware that the drums of war and calls for regime change by foreign powers and their Iranian allies will not serve the goals of the anti-authoritarian, progressive uprising for “ Women Life Freedom “. As Arundhati Roy once said: “The idea of a ‘just war' or ‘humanitarian war' is a cruel oxymoron. All wars are about control, profit, and power—never about compassion.” Iranian women and broader civil society are mobilizing to build a third space against war and dictatorship, one rooted in dignity, justice, democracy and human rights and the agency of the Iranian people for the future of Iran.

Elahe Amani is Chair, Women’s Intercultural Network; board member, National Association for Community Mediation Emerita, California State University; and editor of the women's section of the monthly journal, 'Peace Mark', a publication of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA).