My grandfather was Israel’s first ambassador to Iran. I have spent my career examining how Iran today is, in many ways, closer to the country he was born into and experienced than many are willing to acknowledge. As the Islamic Republic faces its most sustained internal pressure in decades, that history matters—not as nostalgia, but as a guide to what may come next.
Since 1979, policymakers have largely viewed Israeli–Iranian relations as inevitably hostile. Nearly fifty years of proxy warfare—and now direct confrontation—have done little to challenge that assumption. Yet the shared history between Iranians and Jews stretches back thousands of years and cannot be erased, despite the Islamic Republic’s sustained efforts to do so.
Yet the shared history between Iranians and Jews stretches back thousands of years and cannot be erased, despite the Islamic Republic’s sustained efforts to do so.
While the regime continues to rely on repression and regional destabilization to maintain its hold on power, a different story is unfolding on the ground. The protests of December and January were among the most unified in recent memory, with widespread chants of “Javid Shah”—long live the king—heard across the country. In parallel, the Iranian diaspora has increasingly coalesced around Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi. The message from Iranians, at home and abroad, is increasingly clear.
This is not a radical departure, but a return to a millennia-old Iranian tradition that predates—and will outlast—the Islamic Republic. Far from being destabilising, a post-Islamic Republic Iran under Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi could be a force for regional and global good, beginning with the restoration of diplomatic relations with Israel.
The inspiration for what could follow regime change is neither abstract nor unprecedented. Just as the Abraham Accords reshaped regional relationships, Israeli–Iranian relations could one day be renewed under what might be called the Cyrus Accords.
Just as the Abraham Accords reshaped regional relationships, Israeli–Iranian relations could one day be renewed under what might be called the Cyrus Accords.
Before 1979, Israel and Iran maintained close relations marked by deep trust and broad cooperation—diplomatic, economic, intelligence, and security-based. Trade, tourism, agriculture, and energy cooperation flourished, underpinned by a shared interest in countering regional instability. A future partnership between Israel and a post-Islamic Republic Iran could once again address common challenges—from Islamist extremism to climate-driven drought—while unlocking the potential of Iran’s educated, outward-looking youth. The benefits of such an accord could rival, if not exceed, those of the Abraham Accords.
They have done so before, and they can do so again. Jewish scripture and tradition commemorate this shared history, most notably through the story of Purim, as well as the legacy of King Cyrus the Great of Persia, who enabled the Jewish people to return from exile and rebuild Jerusalem and the Second Temple—a legacy that still resonates today.
The initiative itself is a powerful reminder that leadership can take many forms. President Herzog’s vision—to elevate the voices and insights of everyday people—felt especially meaningful in a time when polarization and division often dominate public discourse. Instead of turning inward or allowing despair to paralyze us, this initiative invites us to do the opposite: to engage, to create, and to imagine better pathways forward.
President Herzog’s vision—to elevate the voices and insights of everyday people—felt especially meaningful in a time when polarization and division often dominate public discourse.
At Voice of the People, the long arc of Jewish history and diplomacy is more than a subject of study—it’s a framework for imagining what comes next. As a council member, we’re exploring what it means to build bridges across cultures, deepen mutual understanding, and lay the groundwork for regional partnerships that reflect shared values, not just strategic needs.
The question is not just what happens in Tehran, but what role communities, both Jewish and Iranian, can play in shaping a different future—one grounded in dignity, mutual recognition, and the courage to reconnect.
Publish date: February 5th 2026
By: Dr. Efrat Shaoulian Sopher
