Forgotten alliance: How Iran once turned to Israel for help

Long before today's tensions between Iran and Israel, a period of unexpected cooperation existed between the two nations – one that few remember today. In the early 1960s, a natural disaster became the unlikely catalyst for collaboration that would involve Israeli engineers, Iranian planners, and a shared vision of reconstruction and development.

A tragedy that opened doors

In September 1962, a devastating earthquake struck Iran’s Ghazvin (Qazvin) region, northwest of Tehran. Over 12,000 lives were lost, and entire villages were flattened. Tens of thousands were left homeless, prompting the Iranian government to seek urgent international assistance.

At the helm of Iran’s development strategy at the time was Safi Asfia, a brilliant scholar who had become the youngest professor at Tehran University by age 23. As head of the “Plan Organization of Iran,” he oversaw national development projects, including the nation’s emerging nuclear program.

(Interesting note: In 1965, Akbar Etemad – widely regarded as the father of Iran’s nuclear program and later head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran – approached Asfia for approval to launch the country’s nuclear initiative. Etemad passed away on April 11 of this year at the age of 95. Just two months earlier, Iran named its new ballistic missile in his honor.)

After the Ghazvin earthquake, Asfia’s office reached out to a little-known but globally respected Israeli government agency called TAHAL (Water Planning) LTD., known for its expertise in water infrastructure and regional development.

By early January 1963, the Iranian government and TAHAL had signed a formal agreement in Tehran. Within days, a team of Israeli experts, including engineers, architects, agricultural specialists and planners, arrived in Iran, ready to assist. The delegation was led by Arie “Lova” Eliav a seasoned leader who had overseen similar missions in Morocco and Nicaragua.

The objective was clear. First, Israeli teams were to help meet the urgent needs of the devastated Ghazvin region. They were then tasked with crafting a long-term development plan that would serve as a model for modernizing other parts of Iran.

The four central goals were to: conduct a comprehensive survey of the region to guide future development; design new villages and draft plans for reconstruction within six months; introduce new agricultural techniques and demonstration farms; and train Iranian engineers to continue the work independently.

Mutual learning leads to lasting bonds

The Israel and Iranian teams lived and worked together in Ghazvin, forging relationships that went beyond professional cooperation. A joint report later published in both English and Persian by TAHAL and the Plan Organization of Iran detailed not only the technical aspects of the project but also the human connections that developed.

According to the report, Israeli engineers didn’t just teach their Iranian counterparts, they learned from them as well. The mutual respect and collaboration were highlighted as key to the mission’s success. One section noted: “It is gratifying to note the close comradely relations… and the attitude of mutual appreciation which grew up between the teams and the trainees.”

The report also noted: ”While the Israeli engineers endeavored to impart knowledge to their Iranian colleagues, they themselves also learned much from, and were greatly assisted by, the Iranians. There is no doubt today that without their devoted work, both in the field and in the office, the Israeli teams would not have attained the results they did…”

In addition to their development work, the Israeli team ran a geology course for students from Tehran University at the request of the Iranian Independent Irrigation Corporation. This effort reinforced the educational and cultural exchange that took place among the teams.

A rare document, “Ghazvin Area Development Project Reconnaissance Report,” available at the National Library of Israel, contains detailed maps, plans, and even the letter from Arie Eliav to Safi Asfia that formalized the collaboration.

What makes this story particularly striking is that the level of cooperation between Israeli government agencies and Iranian ministries – unimaginable today – was once part of a broader, pragmatic relationship under the Shah’s rule.

A forgotten moment of unity

Asfia continued his service until the 1979 Islamic Revolution, when he was imprisoned for five years by the new regime. Remarkably, he used his jail time to study languages, biology, and electronics – and was even known to repair equipment for prison officials. He remained in Iran until his death in 2008.

Eliav went on to become a major political figure in Israel. He served multiple terms in the Knesset, led the Israeli Labor Party, and became a key advocate for peace efforts and development in Israel's southern region. He passed away in 2010, having been awarded the Israel Prize for his lifelong service.

In the fall of 2017, a major earthquake struck Iran again – nearly 55 years after the Ghazvin quake.

Israel offered humanitarian aid. The Iranian government declined.