The Secret War with Iran: The 30-Year Clandestine Struggle Against the World's Most Dangerous Terrorist Power

by Ronen Bergman

In the years since 9/11, the U.S. war on terror has focused on al-Qaeda, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Coverage of Iran has been devoted almost exclusively to its nuclear ambitions. Yet, as Ronen Bergman's groundbreaking reporting in this vital investigative history reveals, for thirty years, Iran has been the world's leading sponsor of global terror and stands as the most formidable sponsor of terror in the world today. Bergman, one of Israel's top investigative reporters, gained unprecedented access to extra-ordinary sources from top to bottom in the Mossad and intelligence agencies around the world. Based on over ten years of research and more than three hundred exclusive interviews with key intelligence figures, he reveals that Iranian terrorist masterminds have crisscrossed the globe, conducting bombings and assassinations with impunity -- even renting apartments and planning bombing attacks in New York City. Iran's proxy, Hizballah, has virtually taken over southern Lebanon and threatens Israel with high-powered weaponry supplied by Iran. Iran and Hizballah worked closely with al-Qaeda and other Sunni terrorist groups in developing their terrorist operations, and Iranian commandos trained Iraqi insurgents in the crafts of suicide bombing and the building of the roadside bombs that have killed so many U.S. troops in Iraq. In response, and largely beneath the public's radar, a vast clandestine war has been fought with Iran and Hizballah on one side and the CIA, Israel's Mossad, and their European counterparts on the other. The full story of that secret war, told for the first time here, will fundamentally change the debate about U.S. national security priorities. A new axis of evil is emerging from Iran and spreading around the world, and Ronen Bergman shows that the CIA and Mossad have so far been unable to thwart it. The Secret War with Iran is riveting and urgent.

Genres: History, Middle East, Iran, Israel, Nonfiction, Politics, Military Fiction

432 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Ronen Bergman (Hebrew: רונן ברגמן) was born in 1972, and grew up in Kiryat Bialik. His mother was a teacher and his father was an accountant. He is the youngest of three children. As a boy, he was a reporter for a youth television show.

He studied law at the University of Haifa, and graduated cum laude from its law school. He is a member of the Israeli Bar. He also studied history and international relations at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom, and was awarded an M.Phil. degree in international relations, and then a PhD for his dissertation on the Israeli Mossad.

He is a member of the Körber Foundation "Munich Young Leaders 2010" and participated in the prestigious the "Munich 46 Security Conference".

He is a former senior staff feature writer for Haaretz.

Bergman is the recipient of the 1995 Bnei Brith Worlds Center Award for Journalism and the 1996 Ha’aretz award for Best Story.

Reviews

[Brock Rhodes · Rating 1 out of 5]

Propaganda. Funny, I don't recall ever stumbling onto the word "Haliburton." Interesting that the book is filled with anecdotes characterizing Arab or Persian agents as drug dealers, gamblers, whore mongers, or traitors which are noticeably absent in the characterizations of American and Israeli agents. I guess that helps make sense why so many "miracles" occur to save the most honorable but sometimes mistaken Israel. This book is garbage. It seems to be written from the perspective of an overgrown infant, cranky, worshipful, and not yet formed morally. Barf... barf... barf.

[Josh Liller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative recap of events involving the United States, Israel, Iran, Hezbollah, Syria, and lesser involved factions and nations from the Iranian Revolution through the Second Lebanon War.

The author is Israeli but he doesn't seem biased and seems quite willing to be critical of his country's decisions.

Al Queda is touched on but there are no shockers within. Iran's support of them has been more than nothing but pretty minor and they basically cut ties after 9/11, although Iran's leaders remain sympathetic to their cause.

The overall theme of the book seems to be that since the Iranian Revolution, Iran has fought a Cold War with Israel through proxies, primarily Hezbollah but more recently with the growing involvement with Syria and Hamas (thanks to changes in leadership). Israeli's famous intelligence has done impressive things but suffers from some of the same shortcomings as the United States' does (such as failure to share information properly between different intelligent departments). Israeli's attempts to neutralize openly dangerous opposing leaders - especially in militant Palestinian groups - through assassinations just triggers suicide bombings, rocket attacks, and kidnappings in retaliation. As time goes by, the guerrilla forces opposing Israel are becoming smarter and more effective while Israel's forces are failing to keep up with the changing times (a problem also suffered by the US).

Despite the extensive amount of information offered and being of about average length (not quite 400 pages), I found myself becoming repeatedly bogged down in reading this book and putting it aside temporarily for other books that were more digestible and that felt less repetitive (though the problem seemed to me to be that the events become repetitious, not so much that the author was repeating himself).

[Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are interesting aspects to this book, but too many of its anecdotes and "case studies" seem thinly documented. There might be some cases where its claims would be easier to investigate if I spoke Hebrew of Arabic, but I don't, so... bummer. As with some (but far from all) other books I've read about Israeli intelligence operations, it seems to over-emphasize the importance, intelligence and nobility of Israeli agents and bitch about those agents from other countries, particularly the U.S. I have no reason to believe any specific claims are false, but that tendency gives the whole thing a patina of bullshit. Not because the U.S. is so great (it's obvious our intelligence services have exhibited many failings to say the least) but because it's always suspect when a book gets this repetitive. The "moral of the story" seemed to be the same over and over and over again in a series of largely disconnected anecdotes. I do NOT blame this in any way on Bergman being Israeli; there have been numerous works by Israeli journalists and scholars that felt extremely objective and contained what felt like top-notch scholarship. However, such writers don't seem to gravitate toward writing about the intelligence community in any country, or worldwide. The same thing, to some degree, is true about books on the U.S. intelligence community, where U.S. case officers are portrayed heroically and Europeans are cheese-scarfing incompetent snobs.

Short version: Some of this stuff felt like garbage, and I felt like I was wasting my time reading it. It isn't even remotely in the same "bullshit territory" as "By Way of Deception," which reads like a half-drunk lunatic's slurry rant. There's enough material and research original to this book that it is definitely worth a read for anyone interested in the intelligence landscape in the Middle East and particularly in the Levant as it pertains to Iran. But take it all with a grain of salt.

[ManOfLaBook.com · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book could almost be subtitled "everything you ever wanted to know about Iran but were afraid to ask". Ronen Bergman, an Israeli journalist, uncovers secret documents, dirty deals and manipulations across decades which have gotten us to the point of where we are today.

Unlike other commentators who haven't read the book and are quick to judge about the "right wing slant", I have read the book completely and even though I don't agree with some of the analysis I think the history is fascinating and that by itself is worth the price of admission.

The text I read, which is in the original Hebrew, reads like a clandestine novel and is hard to put down. I thought the book's bias was to the right of center, however my right wing friends thought it was too far to the left. So I guess the author did a good job.

The book starts with a page-turner relationship between Iran and Israel, before and after the Khomeini revolution. This sets the stage for things to come as well as gives the reader a basic understanding of current events as well as the animosity Iran feels towards Israel for supporting the Shah.

Continuing with a journey that spans generations and continents Mr. Bergman takes the reader to lawless South American towns and into secret intelligence meetings as well as dirty dealings among contractors.
So dirty in fact that I felt like taking a shower after reading several passages.

Offering the readers strategic analysis and several anecdotes along the history lesson (whose history it remains to be seen), Mr. Bergman also analyzes the Iranian political system including the current administration, as well as the Iranian nuclear efforts and the country's role in arming and training Hezbollah

The only downfall of the book, admitted by the author, is the inability to cover some issues completely due to either censorship or lack of documentation of paperwork.

If you get the impression from previous posters that this book is a love letter to Israel, you will be sorely disappointed. The author takes a stab at Israeli intelligence almost every other page, the brutal literary blows shatter the image of the "all knowing" Mossad and exposes the inner fighting, lies and the grim price paid by the Israeli people for those shenanigans.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting looking behind the scenes at the war against Iran’s proxies over the last 30, or so, years.

As the book was published in 2008, it would be interesting to see an update with the fall of Syria in the region and how this hindered the movement of supplies to terror groups in Lebanon.

The book didn’t touch too much on Iran in Iraq during US occupation. I’m assuming a lot of this hasn’t been released or information put out yet.

Lot of history here.

[Tamas Toth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very difficult but captivating read filled with an incredible amount of detail, sometimes so much so that it’s almost impossible to keep track of who is who. This is not a failure on the part of the author but a result of the vast complexity of the 30-year history, essentially of global politics, of the Middle East and other regions. Details are necessary.

A small part of me, an idealistic and naive schoolboy, just kept thinking about how small-minded and petty we still are, having the ability to create wonderful societies and cultures, but often opting to listen to our basest of instincts, engulfing the world in religious and economic and social turmoil. Large egos, religious fanatics, greedy financiers, psychopaths, and megalomaniacs still rule the skies and the earth.

Because of this, now, with another war in Gaza and Lebanon, we are all facing an existential threat. Things seem to have gotten much worse since 2008, and there is no end in sight.

I appreciate the incredible amount of research the author conducted to provide such an intriguing view into the individuals, organizations, and governments involved in this never-ending conflict. I also appreciate the neutral and non-biased delivery of a subject that is sure to divide actors and stakeholders across a wide swathe of societies. I will make sure to read a history book written by “the other side”, to find what their version of events are.

[Simon Grimm]

About 20% through, currently the book revolves around the 1982 Lebanon War and the subsequent formation of Hizbullah.

Particularly interesting: Unlike the PLO, the Hizbullah was far harder to penetrate for Israeli intelligence (which makes the more recent successes against Hizbullah more significant).

[Michael Hutchison · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the first book by Bergman that I read, "Rise and Kill first", better than this one. There is a lot of information in this book. A lot of bad people. Maybe they are all bad people. One thing I do is take note of the language being used. The assignment of labels. I think in this book Bergman is painting a good side bad side with the labels he uses. Israeli's are good, always on the defensive, forced to fight by aggressive terrorists and murderers on the other side. the other side is always planning and skulking to get at Israel but Israel is just trying to get along. How much of that is true or not true I don't know, but I did not like the flavor of it. I can see that every day in the corporate media. The last chapter of the book reinforces the stereotypes. that is why I only gave it three stars.

[Umair Mir · Rating 4 out of 5]

Indeed a very good read , especially the description about the counterfeit currency and the clandestine Iranian Nuclear development and its wide spread ramifications... Ronen Bergman has been very objective in his analysis, sometimes even critical about the lack of coordination between the different Israelis intelligence agencies..His account on the emergence of Hizbullah is remarkable..All in all, a ripper...

[Liquidlasagna · Rating 3 out of 5]

the wild Amazone

Publishers Weekly

Drawing on an astonishing amount of research, Israeli journalist Bergman describes in fascinating detail the three-decade intelligence struggle between Iran and the West. It is a grim history dominated by a series of failures, including the rise of Iranian proxy Hezbollah in Lebanon, Iran's alliance with Syria and the regime's success in shielding its nuclear program from international scrutiny. Despite some recent Iranian setbacks—e.g., the 2007 Israeli Ghost Raid against a suspected Syrian nuclear reactor—Bergman concludes that Middle Eastern skies have not looked so gloomy for a long time. Among the revelations certain to resonate in the U.S. is Bergman's contention that a secret file exists that proves unequivocally that George H.W. Bush surely knew about all the illegal goings-on in the Iran-Contra scandal—something Bush has always denied. Bergman stops short of recommending a course of action, but he makes a convincing case that Iran is not only a terrorist state but also the greatest security challenge the U.S. is facing. Thoroughly researched and persuasively argued, Bergman's brief against Iran adds a powerful voice to a contentious debate.

/////

Seminal book - Well written

Superbly written book laying bare the stupidity of American foreign policy of keeping Iran as they number one enemy in the Middle East when in fact, it's the Sunni led countries that have worked the most to harm the US

Shows how commercial considerations driven by cheap oil has replaced notions of fair play and doing the right thing

The fig leaf that all national security mavens use of Realpolitik, while pursuing an increasingly commerce and ideology driven foreign policy has ensured that the only nation that hasn't proactively sought to harm the US unlike the Saudis who contributed to the Oil shock and 9/11 in a big way has been targeted

It's only natural that everyone who's being persecuted unfairly would strike back against their oppressor and that's what this book has detailed very well

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[Vijay · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a 3.5*, not 4. There's much detail and much of it is anecdotal, but there is insufficient detail on how and why certain actions were taken. For example, why is there no discussion on initiatives taken by the Israelis to negotiate. Why is there no revelations that perhaps it is the Israeli's through their policy of sea to sea or river to sea? On top of that where's the mention of Plan D? That is to rid the Palestinians from their homes.

See, much of this along with the Gaza barricade, is perhaps the reasons why the hostilities take place and why the sunnis and shiites may team up.

The book does a commendable job in what I call highlighting atrocities inflicted upon the Israelis and their military lapses. But it does nothing to poke why the hostilities take place in the first place.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book covering a lot of ground with regard Iran and the regional struggle of the past 30 years or so. I read his book on the Mossad first which covers a lot of the same material so there was not anything all that revealing here based on that and some other books I have read. However it is always interesting to read what people think prior to events as this was published in 2007/2008.

There is such a paradox in Israel and the United States dealing with Iran. If they push and fight hard, it confirms all that the Iranian regime claims and thinks about the US and Israel. If they loosen things up, invariably, Iran directly or through its proxies, takes advantage somehow thus proving the hardliners in the US/Israel correct.

Neither side feels they can give an inch or else their regime will be toppled and their nation taken over. So what are we to do?

[Antonio Nunez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although fairly dated (it was finished around 2018) this is a magnificent primer on the relations between Iran and Israel from the time of the Shah. I didn’t know that Reza Pahlavi agreed to pay the Israelis to develop nuclear weapons for Iran, and that, had the Islamic Revolution of 1979 happened a couple of years later, it is possible Iran may have already been armed with nukes. It was interesting to reread about the Iran-Contra fiasco that nearly brought down the Reagan presidency (he was saved by his meeting with Gorbachev in Reykjavik in 1986, where the arms control negotiations provided vital political oxygen). And rhetoric origins of Hezbollah, Hamas and other Shiite movements inspired by Iran across the region. I was surprised to learn that several Iranian leaders maintained links to Israel, that Ayatollah Khomeini though nukes were anti-Islamic weapons, so that he had to die before his successors changed this view and began the nuclear weapons program. That Hafez Al-Assad offered to deliver Khomeini to the Shah, but the Shah demurred and instead agreed to have Khoneini exiled to France, where he set up the movement that would overthrow the monarchy and set up a theocracy. That Khomeini was the posthumous son of a famous Koranic scholar, and this was regarded as cursed. That he was quite unremarkable until his sixties when he supposedly had a holy vision that changed him into the magnetic leader the world came to know. This book is highly recommended to better understand the origins of the current crisis in the Levant.

[Mehrdad · Rating 1 out of 5]

I would call this book The secret war with Iran: A Hollywood/BBC narrative"

Why?

Striped off of its narrative, the book is a list of mostly accurate dates, events and characters. However, the narrative is childishly biased and ignorant if not purposefully insidious.


American Marines and French paratroops aim to "...bring peace to Lebanon and to end the bloody civil war..." While Hezbollah (A Lebanese milita group)"...stared at foreign fighters living in barracks with murder in its eyes.". This statement is blindly ignorant of the fact that a large number of Lebanese people, including Christians, support Hezbollah and that in fact, had it not been for the presence of Israeli and other foreign forces, there wouldn't have been any reason for Hezbollah to be created in the first place.

The author is very descriptive and detailed in its account of stories that happen to Israelis and Americans or Iranian opposition but again demonstrates a callous disregard for anybody else.

P91 paragraph 3
The author doesn't feel the need for any evidence or reason when it comes to accusing Iranians or other "enemies". He simply states "facts". Mohtasashamipour soon have moghniyeh an order. Start using hostage taking as a weapon.
How does he know this? Is he sure? What's the evidence? We are just to trust him.

Everything on the enemy front is depicted as being religiously driven. Muslims, shias, the Islamist extremists, etc. One could only imagine an alternative course to the book had the Israeli side of the story been told from the se point of view. Zionism, Jewish extremism, Zionist expansion, settler colonialism, etc. But no, despite its precarious global legal status, Isreal is pictured as a established state threatened by terrorists. Absolutely nothing is mentioned about homes and schools being demolished Evey day to accommodate more Zionists from all over the world who move to Israel because of their promised land, their religious duty.

[Stefanie Robinson · Rating 1 out of 5]

I hated this book. Aside from the fact that I found it insanely boring, it was a book of opinions. I like nonfiction books that teach me things and elaborate on events and people that interest me. I do not like to read newspaper opinion columns in the long form of a book. Thank goodness I bought this used, or I would really be upset that I paid retail price for that. I went into this book hoping to learn about the rise of terrorist activities in the Middle East over the years, but I was sorely let down. I do not recommend this book in any way, shape, or form.

[Willie Kirschner · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is an interesting book about the ongoing conflict between between Iran, Israel and the US, as well as the involvement of Hezbollah, Hamas and Syria. Unfortunately, this book was written in 2009, and I am real interested in his analysis of the agreement Obama made with Iran, and Trump’s withdrawal from it and what has happened since then.

[LNae · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book lays out 30 years worth of evidence of a wart between Iran & Israel (along with the US and the west), the failures and successes of each side and the relationship between different groups both nation/states and non nation/states. Bergman is an easy author to follow.

[Roy McCullough · Rating 5 out of 5]

First published in 2008, this book has in many respects been overtaken by more recent events. Nevertheless, it remains a useful introduction and backgrounder to the long and shadowy conflict waged by Iran and its proxies against Israel and the West.

[Sudesh Katugampola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting read

[Ilana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well documented, it brings out many relevant details and nuances in what it looks like a never ending conflict. Good information relevant for the last decade Middle Eastern terror map as well.

[Gwen A · Rating 4 out of 5]

same author of Rise and Kill First, so a little biased by the Israeli perspective. Still a fantastic book.

[Siddhartha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not just a book but a case study on the subject. Thoroughly researched to-the-minute-details

[Oumaima Hassoun]

Politics= the industry of hopes and lies.

[kamal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book actually puts a lot of things in perspective on relations between Israel and Iran. Its almost like a bitter divorce between two couples with irreconcilable differences and how they feel that the other should be indebted to it but the reality being far from the truth. This book sheds light on the machinations by the west and employment of Israel to topple a legitimately democratically government so as to install a pliable Monarch to profit from Gas and oil finds in the middle east. The investments by the west and particularly by Israel in sectors like military, intelligence, agriculture and politics were actually done with an aim to convert Iran into a pliant state and reap the profits at the expense of developing state. All was well till the introduction of Radical Islam and the fall of the Shah and that is when things started to get sour. The fact that Israel was willing to do business with Iran in spite of all things wrong, shows that the Israelis were still trying to make a profit by engaging with a country which has been described in modern times as its mortal enemy. The evolution of the conflict to the realm of cyber and AI clearly demonstrate that Israel has still not accepted their loss in investment and will go all out to create a pliant government in Iran in future. The fact that it still has traction in Iran to carry out strikes in Iran against elements which it considers inimical to its interests shows that there is a population which is aggrieved by radicalism and Israel will do whatever in its power to bring about change to improve relations with Iran. This book is actually informative and would serve as a precursor for anybody interested in understanding the future of Israel Iran relations.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great dive into the history of the tensions between Iran, Israel, Hammas, Hizballah, and the US. This book is packed with lots of information and you can tell it was very well researched. The author also does a decent job of trying to discuss the issues without obvious bias.

[Morteza Paidar]

good

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bought the book without really knowing what to expect. I was hoping for more insight into the Iranian regime, but the story really focuses on the role of intelligence services. When I saw it was written by an Israeli journalist, I was afraid it would be biased. Well I can't say it is, it is collection of facts, but there is definitely a point of view. For example, a Hezbollah attack on a military target is a "terrorist act", while a Mossad bombing is not qualified in the same way (though the author does not defend it). Likewise, between the lines you surely can feel what the opinions of the author are. It is just semantic but referring to Iranians or Israelis rather than the Iranian regime or Israeli regime is probably also an unfortunate generalization.
Nevertheless it is really worth reading, and a true eye opener. On one side, it sheds light on the decisive role of western intelligence organizations and their “undemocratic” actions. Despite the rumors and reputation of Mossad, I wasn’t aware of the extend of their deeds. On the other side, for anyone who would still doubt (and I did) the intentions of the Iranian regime especially since Khamenei took over, this gives an interesting perspective.
So surely worth reading, but I would recommend to also read some other books with different points of view (Maziar Bahari’s “Then they came for me” for an inside view of Iran, or “Pity the Nation” for the story of the Lebanon wars and the role of Israel, etc..).

[Joe Chernicoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Investigative journalism is usually worthwhile reading, and The Secret War with Iran is no exception. Ronen Bergman's book, published in 2009, is, or can be, a difficult one to read in that, as he writes, there was no intention to write only about failures in Israeli and American intelligence, but unfortunately there were many important ones about which there had to be exposure. And, I would hope, that exposure will have, or will, in the future, serve as a preemptive warning re: such future failures. The book also includes the many successes, of course, and, in total, is an important historical report on Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah, Syria, and the war against the West and by the West against Iran and its proxies in the Middle East.

It seems, however, that today, warnings from Bergman's work, is being ignored by our current administration. Only time will tell.

One other point I would like to make. I rated this book 5 stars, as I have with a number of others I have read. I give that rating based upon the value of those non-fiction works - when they make you think, when they are relevant, then the 5 stars is appropriate; this book without question meets that criteria.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is an extensively researched and engaging book that sheds light on the clandestine battle between Iran and the Western world, particularly the United States and Israel. Through interviews with numerous intelligence officials and access to previously undisclosed documents, Bergman delves into the complex history of Iran's covert operations, including their sponsorship of terrorism and pursuit of nuclear weapons. The author provides a balanced perspective on the actions of both sides, highlighting the successes and failures of intelligence agencies while also acknowledging the human cost of these covert operations. Overall, "The Secret War with Iran" is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the ongoing conflict between Iran and the Western world.

[Max Balestra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ronen Bergman follows the never-ending secret war of the islamic republic against the West, as well as its internal opposition, since the Komehini's revolution of 1979.

All those who think Iran is an overblown menace, or worse, that think that the islamic republic is inherently peaceful, "misunderstood", and turning aggressive only when provoked, should read this book and get a dose of sane reality.

I'm rating it four stars only because I'm not compleately sure about some of the sources the author relies on. But I suppose that is unavoidable in a book such as this.