Abstract
This study analyzes the dynamics and implications of the Israel–Iran rivalry between 2010 and 2025, with emphasis on nuclear ambitions, regional security, and international responses. Using a qualitative case study design and document analysis of scholarly literature, policy reports, and credible media sources, the study examines how strategic competition between both states has shaped Middle Eastern security and global stability. The findings indicate that nuclear ambitions function as instruments of deterrence, prestige, and regional influence: Iran’s pursuit is driven by perceived external threats and domestic legitimacy concerns, while Israel’s policy of strategic ambiguity reinforces deterrence and regional dominance. The study further shows that proxy conflicts in Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen have intensified mutual insecurity, deepening regional instability and compelling neighbouring states to reassess alliances and military postures. The research contributes to existing scholarship by demonstrating how nuclear strategy, proxy warfare, and international norms interact within a protracted rivalry, with consequences extending beyond the Middle East. It concludes that mitigating the risks associated with the Israel–Iran rivalry requires sustained multilateral diplomacy, credible verification mechanisms, and comprehensive conflict resolution approaches that address both immediate security concerns and underlying structural drivers of tension.