Despite Distancing Itself From Israel, Jordan Still Cooperates With Jewish State Against Iran

“Our armed forces are closely watching Jordan. If it takes part in any action, it will be the next target.” So warned the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) after Jordan intercepted Iranian missiles heading toward Israel in April last year. Amman ignored the warning.

While Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said that Israel’s airstrikes are an “assault on Iran’s sovereignty,” the Jordanian Armed Forces have openly acknowledged intercepting Iranian missiles and drones since June 13 — just as they did during Iran’s April and October 2024 missiles barrages against Israel. Amman has framed its latest interceptions as an effort to block “any force from using its airspace,” stressing its determination to keep the kingdom from becoming a battleground. The purpose of this emphasis on national interests is to obscure that Jordan is acting to uphold its commitment to Western allies by preventing Iranian projectiles from reaching Israeli territory.

Israeli-Jordanian Security Coordination Defies Public Sentiment

In a country where more than 50 percent of the population is of Palestinian descent, sympathy for the Palestinians has increasingly morphed into open support for Hamas. Accordingly, the government’s public statements have taken a sharp anti-Israel turn. At pro-Palestinian rallies, crowds chant slogans glorifying the now eliminated Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, including “Put the bullet in the chamber … We are your men, [Yahya] Sinwar.”

Even some officials have lashed out at the interception of Iranian drones and missiles. On June 14, one disgruntled senior official described the Jordanian government’s decision as “dragging Jordan into this war by shooting down Iranian drones while leaving the Israeli ones alone. This means Jordan is defending Israel — and we’re being entangled in a conflict not our own.”

By contrast, official Jordanian media have echoed the government’s line that Iran’s projectiles violate Jordan’s sovereignty and that the military is simply defending national airspace. Notably, they have avoided reporting on Israeli fighter jets flying through Jordanian skies, which is likely to prevent a fierce public backlash.

Yet despite the public outrage and rising pro-Hamas sentiment, the security relationship between Israel and Jordan has held firm — driven by Amman’s understanding that Iran aims to destabilize the kingdom itself.

Iran’s Ambitions in Jordan

In the wake of the Hamas atrocities on October 7, 2023, threats from Iran toward the kingdom have escalated dramatically. Authorities have uncovered smuggling routes funneling weapons from Iranian proxies in Syria and Iraq through Jordan into the West Bank. Meanwhile, Kataib Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militia in Iraq, has openly threatened to arm 12,000 Jordanians to launch attacks against Israel.

Jordan itself is also a target. In April, Jordanian security foiled a plot tied to the Muslim Brotherhood and operatives in Lebanon to manufacture rockets and drones for use within Jordan. While officials stopped short of naming Iran, the operatives reportedly received training from Hezbollah— leaving little doubt about Tehran’s fingerprints on the plot.

Jordan Demonstrating Value of U.S. Military Assistance

In 2022, Washington and Amman signed a seven-year non-binding agreement that committed the White House to requesting at least $1.45 billion of military and economic assistance per year, although Congress has appropriated even greater amounts — $1.65 billion per year since 2021, including $425 million of military assistance. As Congress and the White House consider future appropriations, they should bear in mind that Amman positively contributed to regional security at three critical moments when Israel was under attack despite the domestic political cost of doing so.

Ahmad Sharawi is a research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), where he focuses on Middle East affairs, specifically the Levant, Iraq, and Iranian intervention in Arab affairs, as well as U.S. foreign policy toward the region. For more analysis from Ahmad and FDD, please subscribe HERE. Follow Ahmad on X @AhmadA_Sharawi. Follow FDD on X @FDD. FDD is a Washington, DC-based, nonpartisan research institute focusing on national security and foreign policy.