Iran-Israel war: Why Iran calls Israel a ‘Zionist regime’, what Zionism means, and are all Jews Zionists?

Iran has once more referred to Israel as the “Zionist regime”, underscoring Tehran’s refusal to recognise the Israeli state and its policies. The choice of words comes as the two rivals remain locked in regional disputes. In his first response after US attacks on Iranian nuclear sites, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, referring to Israel, said that the 'Zionist enemy has made a grave mistake and must be punished for it.' "The punishment continues. The Zionist enemy has made a big mistake, committed a big crime; it must be punished and it is being punished; it is being punished right now," said the supreme leader in a post on X.

The term “Zionist regime” has framed Iran’s foreign policy since 1979. By denying Israel’s legitimacy, Tehran positions itself as a leader of resistance movements and deepens its alliances with groups that share its anti-Israel stance.

Why Iran call Israel a 'Zionist regime'?

Iran’s leaders use Zionist regime to deny Israel political legitimacy while stressing hostility toward its governing structure. Iran links Zionism to occupation, expansion and Western influence. Since the Islamic Revolution in Iran, leaders in Tehran have viewed Israel as a colonial project on Palestinian land and have supported non-state actors such as Hezbollah and Hamas in their anti-Israel campaigns.

What Zionism means

Zionism began in the late 19th century as a movement to create a Jewish homeland in Ottoman-ruled Palestine. Support widened after the Holocaust, culminating in Israel’s creation in 1948. After 1948, Zionism split into streams ranging from secular state-building to religious messianism. Outside Israel, many Jewish communities support Zionism as a right to national self-rule, while some Jewish groups oppose it on religious or political grounds. Today the movement ranges from secular nationalism to religious interpretations.

Global Jewish Population

About 15.7 million Jews live worldwide. Roughly 7.2 million are in Israel and 6.3 million in the US, with smaller communities across Europe, Latin America and other regions.

Are all Jews Zionists?

No. Judaism is a religion and an ethnic identity; Zionism is a political movement. Many Jews identify with Zionism, but others do not. Similarly, some non-Jewish people identify as Zionists because they support Israel’s statehood. The overlap between Jewish identity and Zionist belief is therefore incomplete.