Israel's closest friend was Iran — and nobody could say so | WHEN ISRAEL ARMED IRAN Part 1 of 4

History Onion · Part 1 · 2:55

Before they were enemies, they were partners. For thirty years Israel's most important friend in the Middle East wasn't an Arab state — it was the Shah's Iran. Over ninety percent of Israel's oil came from Iran. Israeli agents trained SAVAK, the Shah's secret police. The two countries built an oil pipeline together, through Israel, to carry Iranian crude to Europe past the closed Suez Canal. El Al flew to Tehran daily. And almost none of it was ever admitted. Iran recognised Israel in 1950 quietly, while parliament was in recess, announced to no one. Israel imposed censorship rules to conceal where its oil came from. One Iranian official described the relationship as "a love affair without a marriage contract." In private, Israeli officials called the Shah "the landlord" — because Israel was the tenant, living on his oil.