Israel and Iran in Open War, the World Remains Deeply Divided

In Violent Conflicts, What Shapes Our Support or Condemnation?

June 14, 2025

Image for representation only

Israel and Iran are engaged in direct military confrontation, following an Israeli air and drone assault on June 13 targeting critical nuclear and military installations deep inside Iran. Let’s look at the roots of this confrontation and examine why public opinion on this conflict around the world, including in India, remains deeply divided.

Latest Developments

The scale and directness of this exchange mark a dangerous shift. Israel has long acted covertly inside Iran, often through sabotage or targeted assassinations, while Iran has typically relied on proxy groups to harass Israel’s borders. Now, the two countries are openly attacking each other, raising fears of wider conflict in the region.

The June 13 strikes, which Israeli officials described as a pre-emptive action, reportedly destroyed research sites, military storage facilities and killed several top Iranian generals and nuclear scientists. Iran responded by launching dozens of ballistic missiles into Israeli territory. Explosions were reported across major cities including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, with buildings damaged and two civilians killed.

Both sides claim justification under the threat of imminent attack, with Israel insisting Iran was close to developing a nuclear weapon and Iran framing its response as self-defence.

The Roots of the Conflict

To understand what is happening now, we need to go back several decades.

Israel and Iran were once quiet allies, especially during the rule of the Shah in Iran before 1979. At the time, Iran was a secular monarchy with close ties to the United States and Israel. That changed dramatically after the Islamic Revolution, when a new religious government led by Ayatollah Khomeini took control of Iran. The new leadership saw Israel as a Western-backed occupier of Muslim land, so it declared Israel illegitimate and aligned with armed groups opposed to it, including Hezbollah in Lebanon and later Hamas in Gaza.

Many may already know that Hezbollah is a powerful Shia armed group and political party based in Lebanon, backed by Iran and known for its long-standing hostility towards Israel. And that Hamas is a Sunni Palestinian group that governs Gaza and runs both political and military operations, also supported by Iran despite sectarian differences, and is committed to resisting Israeli control. The Israel-Palestine conflict is a long-running struggle over land, identity and statehood. It began in the early 20th century, when Jewish and Arab communities in historic Palestine both claimed the same territory.

Since the Islamic Revolution, Iran has positioned itself as a regional power resisting American and Israeli influence. It supports a network of armed groups in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen, and backs Palestinian factions that confront Israel.

Iran also developed a nuclear programme, which it insists is for peaceful purposes, but which Israel and many Western analysts view as a potential pathway to a bomb. Israel considers the idea of a nuclear-armed Iran intolerable, believing it would shift the balance of power in the region and threaten its survival.

The United States has been a central actor throughout. A close ally of Israel, it has funded Israeli military development, coordinated intelligence and pressured Iran through sanctions and diplomatic isolation. Under President Obama, the U.S. signed the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran — known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action — which placed limits on Iran’s nuclear activity in exchange for lifting sanctions. That deal was abandoned by the Trump administration in 2018, triggering renewed hostilities. The Biden administration tried to restart it, but talks stalled, and Israel has consistently opposed any deal it views as too lenient.

The conflict also plays out against the backdrop of the ongoing war in Gaza. Over 55,000 Palestinians have been reported killed since the war began nearly 20 months ago, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Women and children make up a significant share of the dead, though the ministry does not separate civilian from militant casualties, according to media report. Israel blames Hamas for embedding itself among civilians, while Hamas accuses Israel of indiscriminate bombardment.

Basis of Public Opinion

Now, let’s look at the different factors that shape public opinion around the world on this conflict.

Some people support Israel, viewing it as a democracy facing constant threats from armed groups and hostile neighbours. They believe it has the right to defend itself and maintain security.

Others view Iran more favourably, seeing it as challenging what they consider Western hypocrisy and backing Palestinians who have lived under occupation for decades.

At the same time, Iran faces strong criticism both at home and abroad. Inside the country, many Iranians are frustrated by economic hardship, strict controls on free speech, discrimination against women and minorities, and harsh crackdowns on protests. Outside Iran, critics accuse the government of fuelling violence by arming groups like Hezbollah and Hamas, which are blamed for civilian deaths in conflicts across the region.

On the other side, Israel’s actions are also condemned by many who see them as part of a long pattern of military occupation, displacement and the use of force in Palestinian territories like Gaza. Human rights organisations and protesters in many parts of the world have called out what they describe as collective punishment and excessive use of force.

How people view this conflict often depends on deeper influences. For some, religious identity, whether Jewish, Muslim or Christian, affects their emotional connection to one side or the other. Anti-colonial memory plays a role, especially in countries that were colonised themselves; they may see Palestinians as a people struggling against foreign control. Personal history, such as family ties to the region or experiences of displacement, can also shape opinion.

Media narratives also matter: the way news is reported, what images are shown and whose voices are heard can significantly influence how the conflict is understood in different parts of the world.

Clearly Condemnable

Irrespective of where people stand in this conflict, there are certain actions that should not be defended by any side.

Targeting civilians is one of them. The killing and maiming of non-combatants, especially children, is a violation of international law and basic human decency. The use of civilian areas to launch attacks or hide military infrastructure also puts lives at risk.

The destruction of essential services, such as hospitals, schools, power plants and water systems, has severe humanitarian consequences and should be condemned, particularly when it leads to the long-term suffering of entire populations. Blockades or restrictions that prevent the delivery of food, medicine and aid should also be widely criticised.

Governments that crush dissent, jail critics, suppress free speech and use violence against protesters undermine the very principles they claim to defend.

The use of collective punishment, where entire populations are made to suffer for the actions of a few, is unacceptable.

In any conflict, these acts should not be excused based on political loyalties. They are wrong in themselves, and recognising that is essential for any honest conversation about peace or justice.

You have just read a News Briefing by Newsreel Asia, written to cut through the noise and present a single story for the day that matters to you. Certain briefings, based on media reports, seek to keep readers informed about events across India, others offer a perspective rooted in humanitarian concerns and some provide our own exclusive reporting. We encourage you to read the News Briefing each day. Our objective is to help you become not just an informed citizen, but an engaged and responsible one.