Islamic resistance and multipolarity: Iran’s religious narrative against Western dominance

Abstract

This paper examines the role of religious discourse in shaping the foreign policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, with a particular focus on the speeches of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini and Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. It argues that Iran’s foreign policy is neither purely ideological nor strictly pragmatic; rather, it emerges from the interplay between Shiite (Shia) religious concepts and geopolitical imperatives. Central concepts—such as the Islamic Revolution, the oppressed (mostazafin), the Islamic Ummah, jihad, resistance, and martyrdom—form a coherent semantic system that legitimizes strategic policies, anti-hegemonic positions, and support for allied non-state actors across the Middle East. By linking theological narratives to strategic objectives, Iran frames its foreign policy within a moral–religious universe, positioning itself as a defender of oppressed communities, a promoter of South–South solidarity, and a challenger to Western-dominated international structures. The study demonstrates that while religious ideology provides normative and motivational resources, practical foreign policy decisions are shaped by structural, geopolitical, and domestic constraints, reflecting a hybrid strategy that combines moral discourse with strategic pragmatism.