Iran’s leaders regularly threaten to destroy the Jewish state, but the two nations were actually friends prior to the Islamic Revolution of 1979.

While you are probably familiar with Iranian leaders denouncing Israel daily and regularly threatening to destroy the Jewish state, you might be surprised to know it wasn’t always this way.

In fact, prior to the creation of the Islamic Republic in 1979, Iran used to be Israel’s sole ally in the Middle East. They shared full diplomatic relations with one another as well as trade, and tourism.

Why did Iran turn on Israel? This video provides the answer to that question.