More than forty years ago, Iran and Israel were both allies and friends of the United States. Both sides rely on each other to counter the growing Arab nationalism in the Middle East, and extensive economic and security cooperation strengthens their strategic partnership. With the popular uprising and the establishment of the Shia Islamic Republic in 1979, everything in Tehran changed as the republic overthrew the Shah and his pro Western dictatorship. Ayatollah Khomeini received Yasser Arafat as his first foreign visitor, and under his leadership, Israel and the United States were singled out as symbols of imperialist control over the country, sparking public hatred. With the hostage taking of US embassy staff in November 1979, a complete break with the West was achieved.