Tehran Municipality Research Center hosts international webinar on “The Power of People in Iran's Governance”
We cannot define Iran’s resistance and resilience solely by known measures, although military power and economic capability are considered very important components. However, the important point is that we must consider Iranian identity.
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Iran’s resistance should be sought in people’s national identity
Different cities and towns across Iran are witness to nightly rallies held in support of the Leader of Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, the Islamic establishment and the security forces on the first line of defense against US-Israeli aggression targeting the country.
Islamic Governance Department in Tehran Municipality Research Center has held a specialized webinar titled “The Power of the People in Governance in Iran” with the Seyed Abdullah Asghaf , a researcher from Brawijaya University in Indonesia; Haroon Aziz, a professor from a university in South Africa; and several researchers and heads of the Center’s study groups in attendance, Taqrib News Agency (TNA) has quoted the Islamic Governance Studies Group at Tehran Municipality Studies Center as saying.
The researcher at and host of the meeting, Mohaddeseh Amini said, “The war and recent developments have had wide-ranging consequences, including the intensification of regional conflicts and direct attacks on infrastructure and key national figures, creating an unprecedented security situation in the country and the region.”
She added,” The solidarity rallies held by Iranian people across the country and the capital Tehran have drawn global attention because they functioned as crucial internal and international power. That is, the people demonstrated political resilience in carrying out these rallies.”
Amini emphasized,” In a situation that led to the martyrdom of the Leader of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, there was a possibility that the political and social structure would undergo other changes. However, the presence of the people preserved the country’s stability and allowed the process of governing the country to proceed well.”
National dignity is very important for Iranians
Seyed Abdullah Yahya Asghaf, a researcher at Brawijaya University in Indonesia, said,” Westerners thought that this war could create a broad state of disorder and total destruction for Iran. However, despite all the pressure and even the martyrdom of Iran’s Leader, the collapse of the Islamic Republic did not happen.”
Asghaf continued,” The empirical reality of what happened on the ground in Iran showed that not only did a collapse not occur, but we witnessed mass public mobilization with widespread nighttime presence of people in the streets, which also strengthened political and social structures”, and added,” We cannot define Iran’s resistance and resilience solely by known measures, although military power and economic capability are considered very important components. However, the important point is that we must consider Iranian identity.”
He said,” The issue of national dignity is important for Iranians. Another point is that in crises, Iranian society does not act passively and responds unitedly. Iran did not surrender because the masses were not passive and displayed their pride and commitment. These were based on the teachings of Imam Khomeini, the first leader of the Islamic Republic. They also have an Ashura-based culture and are unwilling to surrender.”
According to Asghaf,” The first war against Iran was the largest modern war launched against the country, resulting in the deaths of thousands. In the second war, there were attempts at a naval blockade and closing the Strait of Hormuz. These events would normally be enough to destroy a country, but due to Iran’s characteristics, this did not happen.”
The researcher from Brawijaya University stated,” This war was the most important war since World War II, because it was not only a military confrontation, but also a war of civilizations, cultures, and ideologies, in which Iran did not surrender.”
He continued,” Another point is that alongside the actions of the armed forces, the masses of the people also entered the field and showed their resistance. This led to the United States now thinking about and discussing a deal.”
He added,” Today, Iran is governing and managing the country properly because it has redefined its structures and shown strong resistance against military and physical aggression. Furthermore, Iran has stood firm through asymmetric warfare and active diplomacy.”
Tehran is recognized in the world as the city of Tehranresistance
Haroon Aziz, a professor at a South African university, said, “We saw Tehran as the city of resistance and witnessed millions of people coming out after Iftar. Of course, Iran has had 47 years of conscious and planned resistance, and Iranians have confronted powerful countries.”
He continued,” The people of Iran have rediscovered their heroic spirit, and the encouraging aspect was that the presence of the people in the streets was rooted in their national sovereignty. This event occurred based on the people’s own way of thinking.”
The South African professor stated that women, as the main pillars of the family, participated in the nightly gatherings spontaneously. They announced their support for the Iranian soldiers fighting on the front lines, and the streets turned into the front line of the struggle. We witnessed social cohesion in Iran, and the war that imperialism started against Iran changed with the solidarity we saw from Iran, showing the world Iran’s legitimacy.”
Aziz added,” Iranians showed greater solidarity with every event that occurred during the war, and their actions became inspirational for the military and political sectors of the country. This presence can represent both the greater and lesser jihad, and it even created external solidarity for Iranians. They also resisted Western cultural perspectives.”
Iran’s steadfastness strengthened Islam in the world
The South African university professor stated,” Here, we must also pay attention to the culture of Ashura, from which the people of Iran benefited and were inspired by Karbala. Also, the elegies that took shape during the 40-day war in Iran strengthened the spirit of sacrifice and resistance, and these are among the issues that we in the West cannot fully understand.”
He noted,” During the 40-day attack on Iran, we witnessed a new kind of warfare and a war of narratives. We saw that on one hand, military and economic attacks were carried out against Iran, and on the other hand, Iran stood firm and, with the presence of its people, was able to strengthen this resistance.”
Aziz stated that this war caused Islam to be strengthened, and Iran to become more prominent as a Muslim country.
“Street resistance was a duty that the nation felt towards the government in order to support the rulers, and the diplomatic apparatus. What the Iranians did is also considered an example of democratic activities, as we also saw Iran’s cultural and social characteristics in this war.
The South African university professor stated,” The streets in Iran are an extension of the government structure, and the war showed that it can be relied upon. Furthermore, the streets can strengthen democratic participation, and the government and the people can maintain their political and economic independence. This war created new standards for the countries of the Global South.”
He said,” Iran has changed the doctrine of asymmetric warfare, and this was achieved by expanding the war in the air and on the ground. The presence of Iran’s younger generation in the streets made the youth of the world aware of their capabilities, even though Iran suffered physical damage, they were able to utilize their viewpoints and ideological values in the field.”
