Iran owes its technological identity to the martyred Khamenei

The local publication Lanka Review in the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka recently published an article praising the martyred leader of Iran, which was translated by Iran's Cultural Attaché in Colombo as part of its monitoring of news in the host country.

The full text of this article, written by a political researcher from East Asia, is as follows:

On the last day of February 2026, the United States and Israel, in a massive, deliberate, and illegal attack on Iran, martyred Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Ayatollah Khamenei, who was 86 at the time of his martyrdom, was a central figure in the political and religious structure of the Islamic Republic of Iran for several decades. He oversaw the reconstruction of the country from the devastation of the Iran-Iraq war and, despite the sanctions imposed by imperialist powers, guided Iran towards rapid growth and industrialization.

From Mashhad to the struggle against the Pahlavi regime

Ayatollah Khamenei was born in 1939 in the city of Mashhad into a religious family. In the 1960s and 1970s, he engaged in political opposition to the autocratic and unpopular rule of Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi. His activities led to his arrest and surveillance by the Pahlavi regime's intelligence and security organization (SAVAK).

Following the victory of the Islamic Revolution in 1979, Ayatollah Khamenei assumed important responsibilities, including leading the Friday prayers in Tehran and membership in the Islamic Revolution Council. In 1981, after the assassination of Mohammad Ali Rajai, he became the President of Iran and served two consecutive terms until 1989. His presidency coincided with the final years of the Iran-Iraq war and the beginning of the reconstruction era.

The beginning of the leadership of the Islamic Republic of Iran

After the passing of Imam Khomeini (RA) in 1989, Ayatollah Khamenei was elected as the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran by the Assembly of Experts. In this position, he became the highest political and religious authority of the country, overseeing the armed forces, the judiciary, state media, and strategic decisions. His leadership period was marked by major regional events, changes in Iran's nuclear policy, and shifts in relations with global powers.

Ayatollah Khamenei played a crucial role in determining the ideological direction of the Islamic Republic, emphasizing resistance against imperialist pressures, self-reliance, and the preservation of the revolutionary identity of the Islamic Republic. He also oversaw periods of internal political tensions, including differences among various factions.

His influence was not limited to official institutions, but extended through networks of clergy, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and cultural and charitable organizations.

Over the decades, Ayatollah Khamenei became a defining figure in contemporary Iranian history, his legacy intertwined with the continuity of the Islamic Republic and the political developments of the Middle East region.

Post-war reconstruction of Iran

When he assumed leadership of the Islamic Republic, the eight-year Iran-Iraq war had left a devastated country with hundreds of thousands of casualties and destroyed infrastructure. His administration prioritized reconstruction as a national goal, focusing on reviving energy networks, transportation, and cities, alongside stabilizing the war-damaged economy.

State-affiliated foundations and the engineering corps of the IRGC were key agents in this process, later becoming pillars of the country's industrial development.

As stability returned, Iran made significant investments in scientific education, expanding universities and technical training to develop a skilled workforce. In the 1990s and 2000s, this human infrastructure laid the groundwork for advancements in aerospace, nuclear technology, and biotechnology.

As a result of sanctions, Iran moved towards self-sufficiency, developing indigenous capabilities in drones, satellites, and missile programs. The nuclear sector also expanded through a combination of local expertise and foreign knowledge. Simultaneously, a digital ecosystem flourished, driven by a young, tech-savvy population.

Iranian universities achieved a leading regional position in engineering and applied sciences, and state-supported research led to advances in nanotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and renewable energy.

This transition from post-war reconstruction to innovation-driven development was the result of a deliberate strategy to use technology as a tool to enhance resilience and influence. Today, technological capability forms an important part of Iran's identity, strategic position, and regional role – perhaps the most significant legacy of Ayatollah Khamenei for the Iranian nation.

Iran-Sri Lanka relations; from energy to infrastructure development

During Ayatollah Khamenei's leadership, strong economic ties and mutual political understanding formed the foundation of Iran-Sri Lanka relations. The two countries focused their cooperation on energy and development.

Iran played a significant role in Sri Lanka's energy sector by supplying oil and implementing infrastructure projects, including the $514 million Uma Oya hydropower project.

These relations cannot be evaluated solely within the framework of economic ties between the two countries, as behind the energy and development cooperation, a mutual political understanding and long-standing relations had also been established between Iran and Sri Lanka.

In this context, for many in Sri Lanka, Ayatollah Khamenei was not only the leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran but also a figure associated with one of the country's long-time friends in the region.

The people of Sri Lanka will mourn the passing of this great friend.