Iran vs Israel and USA

Low-level geostrategic proxy conflict, Jewish/Christian vs Shi’a Muslim.
 
A complex latent conflict which started in the Iranian revolution of 1978, influenced by Iranian and American-Israeli rivalries for influence in Middle East, particularly over oil interests.
 
But it is deeply cultural too, between the Shi'a and Western worlds. Shi'a Islamists, set in motion by the Ayatollah Khomeini, view USA as the Great Satan (the great deluder), while US and Israeli right-wingers regard the Islamic Revolution as a threat to Western secular interests (which Khomeini threw out of Iran).
 
Israel acts as a proxy for USA while Hezbollah in Lebanon acts as a proxy for Iran and Shi'a interests. Active conflict between Israel and Hezbollah took place in south Lebanon in 2006 - much destruction in Lebanon, though a Hezbollah tactical victory. Iranian President Ahmedinejad has been particularly bellicose and nationalistic against USA and Israel.
 
Threats have been made by Israel and USA in recent years to bomb Iran to destroy its alleged nuclear weapons programme. Iran seeks regional power status and to support Shi’a populations in Iraq and Lebanon. Potentially a dangerous conflict with nuclear elements, threatening the world economy through the possible closure of Persian Gulf oil traffic. Some Israelis see Iran as intent on destroying Israel (a second Holocaust). This psychological conflict is subsiding as the Western economy and capacity to finance military adventures subsides.
 

Links:

Flashpoints: Iran
Wikipedia: US-Iran Relations
Wikipedia: Iran-Israel Relations