Iran-Israel Battle: The smoke rising over Tehran in 2025 carries the burden of centuries. For Iran, conflict will not be a headline, it’s a reminiscence. A deeply buried rhythm that beats via historical past’s mud and blood.
As missiles cross skies between Tehran and Tel Aviv, it’s price wanting again, not simply to grasp Iran’s previous, however to see the fault traces which have formed its nationwide psyche. The land, as soon as known as Persia, has weathered far worse. From historical cavalry expenses to trendy ballistic launches, Iran has lived via centuries of invasions, uprisings and relentless battles. The scars are outdated, however the recollections by no means left.
Within the seventh century, the mighty Sassanid Empire, then rulers of Iran, collapsed underneath the burden of repeated Arab invasions. Battle after battle was fought. The names nonetheless echo – Dhi Qar, al-Qadisiyyah and Nahavand. These weren’t solely army defeats however the ultimate songs of an empire that had dominated for over 4 centuries.
After these battles, the fireplace temples of Persia dimmed and the inexperienced banners of Islam rose throughout the land. However even in give up, Iran didn’t lose its essence. The conquerors got here, however they adopted Persian language, poetry and statecraft. Iran absorbed and endured them.
By the eleventh century, it was the Turks, first the Ghaznavids after which the Seljuks, who held energy. They introduced with them new army techniques, faith and rulers. However as soon as once more, Persian tradition didn’t vanish. As an alternative, it discovered new expression underneath the Islamic-Turkic rule.
Seljuk sultans spoke Persian. They constructed Persian courts. Students like Al-Ghazali and Omar Khayyam emerged throughout this time, their phrases surviving even right now. For each sword that entered Iran, a poem got here out.
Then got here the Mongols. Within the thirteenth century, the land burned. Genghis Khan’s horsemen razed cities, flattened libraries and butchered tens of millions. Nishapur turned pink with blood. Complete populations disappeared.
However even right here, historical past repeated itself. Hulegu, grandson of Genghis, massacred Baghdad after which arrange the Ilkhanate in Iran. Inside a era, even the Mongols transformed to Islam and started to patronise Persian tradition.
The trauma was immense however Iran tailored once more.
And nonetheless the wars didn’t finish. From the Ottoman-Safavid conflicts, to Russia’s imperial incursions, to the British meddling in oil fields, Iran has not often identified peace for lengthy. Every empire got here with its flags and generals, and every time, Iran paid the worth in folks, tradition and ruins. However via each invasion, an odd sample emerged – rulers modified, however Iran’s identification outlived all of them.
Then got here the Islamic Revolution of 1979. The Shah regime was overthrown. Ayatollah Khomeini emerged. And the nation was reborn as an Islamic Republic. The West turned its again. Warfare adopted.
In 1980, Iraq’s Saddam Hussein launched a conflict towards Iran, fearing Khomeini’s rising affect. That conflict, which might final eight years, would value over 1,000,000 lives. Civilians had been buried underneath bombs, and troopers had been gassed within the trenches.
And in a twist of irony, Israel, now Iran’s bitter enemy, was then quietly serving to Iran. In 1981, Israeli fighter jets bombed Iraq’s nuclear reactor in Osirak – fearing Baghdad would go nuclear. It was a silent nod of help for Iran on the time, regardless of its anti-Israel rhetoric.
Immediately, Iran and Israel are exchanging missiles. What began as silent cyber battles and shadow assassinations has now spilled into open skies. Drones. Ballistic missiles. Airstrikes. Civilians are as soon as once more the collateral. However this isn’t new for Iran.
This time, the conflict feels totally different, louder, extra chaotic and extra harmful. However the undertone is painfully acquainted – overseas powers lining up, alliances shifting, worry looming and a folks caught in between.
Iran has discovered, maybe higher than every other nation, that pals in conflict could also be enemies tomorrow. As soon as, the US helped Saddam towards Iran. Years later, it hunted him down in a bunker. Immediately, the West stands with Israel. Tomorrow? Nobody is aware of.
Iran’s soil is soaked in tales of betrayal and resistance and of collapse and survival. From Mongol fires to missile alerts in Tehran, the arc of its historical past is lengthy, merciless and unrelenting. But, the thread of Persian identification has by no means snapped.
It bends. It bleeds. But it surely survives. As bombs fall once more, maybe that’s Iran’s truest legacy.