https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/why-iranians-dont-hate-israel/

The Ayatollahs believe in an extreme Islamist ideology in which a devastating world war will pre-empt the coming of the Mahdi, or 12th Imam, who has been concealed by God until the end times.

They believe that when the world is in flames, this Messianic figure will emerge. He will assemble a group of 313 trusted lieutenants who will wage war on the infidels, and rule the globe in 313 cantons after their victory.

The principal obstacle to the coming of the Mahdi, they believe, is the existence of Israel and the Jews. And the three pillars of their campaign are nuclear weapons, overseas militia and an arsenal of ballistic missiles. Make no mistake: they have a strategy and they are pursuing it. Within this worldview – which appears absurd to the secular western mind – it is entirely rational to wage nuclear war on the Jewish state. After all, that way lies the Messiah.