Power struggles in the Middle East: Unveiling the Iranian–Egyptian Cold War

During the Cold War, the Middle East emerged as a strategically significant region in global power rivalries. Kerr asserts the importance of regional actors in the Cold War by employing the concept of the “Arab Cold War”. A critical gap in this framework is its oversight of two influential non-Arab states – Iran and Israel – and their roles in the escalating tensions with Egypt, from the Suez Crisis onward through the late 1960s. The ensuing Iranian–Egyptian Cold War employed sectarianism to balance power in the region, challenging the tenets of the periphery doctrine that had underpinned Iran–Israel relations. This framework emphasizes the significant roles played by non-state actors during this period, as they formed tactical alliances that blurred the apparent conflict lines between Egypt, Iran, and Israel. This article uses newly declassified archival material from the Israeli Foreign Ministry to explore the intricate and multifaceted relationships between Israel and Iran. Furthermore, it highlights significant insights from new Arab sources, including the memoirs of Fathi al-Deeb, the former ambassador of the United Arab Republic in Switzerland. This emphasizes the complexities of sectarianism and adds depth to the ongoing discourse on regional politics.