Explore the 46-year conflict between Iran and Israel, from the 1979 Revolution to the “12 Day War” and its far-reaching consequences.
ONLINE
THURSDAY, 2:00-3:30pm (ET), December 4 - 18, 2025

“Iran made a ‘big mistake tonight... and it will pay for it.”
— Benjamin Netanyahu, following an Iranian missile attack on Israel
on October 1, 2024.
Course Description:
While the media—and even some historians—have labeled Israel’s recent conflict with Iran the “12 Day War,” the reality is that this struggle has been unfolding for more than four decades. In this course, we will trace the roots of Iran’s war against Israel and the Jewish people, from the 1979 Islamic Revolution to today, and analyze the impact of the recent Israeli and U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile infrastructure.
We will examine the ideological and religious foundations of Iran’s policies, the history of Iranian-sponsored attacks worldwide, and the chain of events—from October 7th to the “12 Day War”—that revealed Iran’s strategic miscalculations. Through historical context and current analysis, we’ll explore the war’s implications and consider what, if anything, might change in the Middle East.
Sessions:
- Revolution and Ideology – The overthrow of the Shah, the rise of the Islamic Revolution, Khomeini’s vision, Shi’ite Islam, and the roots of Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
- Forty-Six Years of Fire – Iranian-sponsored attacks on Jewish communities worldwide and the creation of a “ring of fire” across the Middle East.
- October 7th to the ‘12 Day War’ – Strategic misreadings by Iran, the unintended consequences of its actions, and the prospects for change in the region.
THURSDAYS, 2:00-3:30pm (ET)
DATES: December 4, 11, 18