Security Communication and the Security Dilemma: Insights from the Iran-Israel Rivalry
Security Communication and the Security Dilemma: Insights from the Iran-Israel Rivalry

Summary/Abstract: This study explores how security communication, often intended as deterrence or reassurance, can heighten insecurity within enduring rivalries, using the Iran-Israel conflict as a case study. It finds that during the 2025 Twelve-Day War, rhetorical threats, symbolic military gestures, and coercive diplomatic signalling reinforced perceptions of existential threat, deepened mistrust, and escalated the crisis. These communicative patterns illustrate how strategic messaging can construct rather than merely convey threat. In contrast, the Cuban Missile Crisis demonstrates that interpretive clarity and direct diplomatic exchange can mitigate such risks. The study refines the security dilemma framework by positioning communication as a constitutive driver of insecurity rather than merely a reflection of material capabilities. It argues that interpretive transparency, institutionalised backchannels, and sustained dialogue are critical for transforming security communication from an instrument of threat amplification into a means of conflict management. The findings contribute to theoretical debates on the communicative dimensions of security and offer insights for policymakers seeking durable de-escalation mechanisms.

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