Iran’s Tasnim News Agency, closely tied to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), recently published a lengthy editorial dissecting policy differences between US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The report, notable for its scope and its timing amid Israel’s ongoing defensive operations against Iranian-backed terror proxies, provides rare insight into how Tehran strategically interprets allied dynamics and seeks to exploit perceived fissures.
Iranian Framing: Discord as Leverage
Tasnim’s editorial presents debates between Washington and Jerusalem on issues ranging from the handling of the Iranian nuclear program to approaches to the Gaza conflict and military deterrence across the region. Iranian coverage is designed to signal not just internal regime vigilance, but also to strengthen Tehran’s narrative that Western alliances are weakening in the face of resistance. By amplifying moments of disagreement—even over tactics—the IRGC seeks to erode morale among Israel’s population, embolden Iran’s regional proxies, and spread the notion that Israel stands alone and vulnerable.
Within Iran, this narrative sustains domestic legitimacy and support for the regime’s regional adventurism by positioning Iran as a resilient actor confronting an unstable and unreliable Western front. The messaging has particular resonance for Iran’s network of armed affiliates—Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and armed groups in Syria and Iraq—who are encouraged to believe in Western disunity and the possibility of undermining Israeli and American resolve through continuous pressure.
Broader Context: The Ongoing War Against Iranian Proxies
The tactical focus on allied disputes follows the October 7, 2023, massacre by Hamas terrorists—an attack, the deadliest antisemitic atrocity since the Holocaust, that forced Israel into a full-scale campaign of self-defense. The Iron Swords operation has targeted Hamas infrastructure in Gaza, while simultaneous threats from Hezbollah in the north, Houthi missile attacks from Yemen, and persistent Iranian proxy action in Syria and Iraq underscore the regional scope of the conflict.
Iran’s regime, under Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, supports and directs this axis of resistance, promoting instability through funding, arming, and planning terror operations. In this context, Iranian media’s talk of ‘disagreements’ between the US and Israel is part of a larger psychological and information campaign aimed at weakening the coordinated international front that has prevented unchecked Iranian expansion.
US-Israel Alliance: Enduring Despite Divergence
Despite tactical debates, American and Israeli strategic interests remain closely aligned. The US continues to provide Israel with military, intelligence, and diplomatic support—a relationship strengthened through initiatives such as the Abraham Accords, which broadened Israel’s ties with key Arab states and isolated Tehran. Under President Trump, the US withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal, imposed severe sanctions on Tehran, and officially designated the IRGC as a terrorist group, signaling bipartisan commitment to confronting Iranian aggression.
Occasional public debate—whether over the best path forward on Iran’s nuclear ambitions, responses to proxy attacks, or diplomatic sequencing—has not shifted the underlying reality: both nations are committed to curbing the IRGC’s regional reach and ensuring Israel’s security. Senior Israeli officials, including Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, stress Israel’s independent capabilities and the robustness of the US-Israeli partnership.
Propaganda and Reality: The Iranian Strategy
Iran’s emphasis on allied disputes is a product of both realpolitik and insecurity. At home, high-profile stories of transatlantic disagreement serve to deflect domestic frustration with economic hardship and to justify the regime’s investment in external conflicts. For Iranian proxies, these messages aim to reassure and encourage persistence, despite heavy Israeli military action and increased diplomatic isolation.
Regionally, this information warfare targets Arab neighbors considering normalization with Israel. The IRGC and affiliated media warn that US support is fickle, attempting to dissuade further diplomatic realignment away from Iran’s orbit. However, despite these efforts, momentum continues in the Gulf for increased cooperation between Arab states and Israel, rooted in shared recognition of the Iranian threat.
Implications for Israel and its Allies
Israel’s official response to these narratives is clear-headed and focused: the alliance with the United States is resilient, pragmatic, and rooted in shared values and interests. Israeli leaders reject the notion of dependency, emphasizing instead a history of self-reliance coupled with strong international partnerships. The government, facing an array of Iranian-backed threats on multiple fronts, views Tehran’s psychological operations as one more layer in a multifaceted, ongoing conflict.
As Israel continues wartime operations to recover hostages, dismantle terror networks in Gaza, and deter cross-border assaults, there is little evidence that the foundation of Western support is cracking. The United States remains central to Israel’s security procurement and diplomatic standing, even as both allies sometimes debate means and timing in the pursuit of their common goals.
Conclusion
The Tasnim editorial and its framing of US–Israel disagreements are indicative of the IRGC’s strategic approach: exploit information space to project strength and resilience, mask internal strain, and undermine the mutual trust that binds Israel and the West. The reality, however, as demonstrated by regional coalition-building and coordinated responses to Iranian terror, is that Western unity and Israeli resolve present formidable obstacles to Tehran’s destabilizing ambitions. While propaganda may momentarily sway audiences and bolster proxy morale, it does not change fundamental security dynamics in the Middle East, where Israel and the United States remain aligned against the enduring threat of Iranian-backed extremism.
