Iran: Hundreds of university professors proclaim Iran's "triumph" and celebrate the "decline of Western civilization"

Image: Jihad Watch

Despite widespread belief in the West that the devastating blows inflicted on Iran’s military-nuclear infrastructure and leadership during the 12-day war of June 2025 might compel the regime to abandon its longstanding ideological foundation rooted in the Islamic Revolution and instead foster a unifying shift toward Persian nationalism and cultural identity, the reality within Iran suggests otherwise. Rather than witnessing an ideological retreat, a significant segment of Iran's intellectual elite has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to the principles of the Islamic Revolution. These voices continue to rally around the leadership of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, emphasizing the resilience of Iran's revolutionary identity in the face of Western antagonism.

This sentiment was powerfully reflected on July 22, 2025, when Kayhan—a prominent state-run newspaper known for echoing the regime’s narratives—featured a striking front-page declaration signed by 313 university professors from across Iran. The declaration boldly proclaimed Iran’s “victory” over both Israel and the United States in the recent conflict, framing the outcome not as a setback but as a strategic and ideological triumph for the Islamic Republic. According to the signatories, the Iranian nation had emerged from the war not weakened, but strengthened—more united and more resolute in its commitment to the revolutionary path.

The declaration firmly aligned itself with the regime’s core narrative: that Iran’s Islamic governance and the resistance movement, led by Shiite Iran, represent a superior and righteous force in stark contrast to what they described as the morally bankrupt and secular West. The authors praised Khamenei’s leadership, portraying him as a symbol of strength, wisdom, and divine guidance, capable of withstanding—and ultimately overcoming—the calculated efforts of the United States and Israel to destabilize Iran by targeting its top scientists and military commanders.

The statement further argued that the West has long conspired to dismantle the Islamic system by undermining its institutions and leadership. However, the lecturers emphasized that such efforts have failed due to the deeply entrenched role of Islam within Iranian society. They dismissed secularism as a foreign imposition irrelevant to the Iranian context, asserting that the only strategy that has ever succeeded for the Islamic Republic has been the path of resistance—militarily, ideologically, and politically. In contrast, diplomatic engagement with the West was labeled a deceptive tactic used to stall and manipulate Iran, with current negotiations serving merely as a defensive maneuver designed to foil enemy plots.

Central to their message was the exaltation of Supreme Leader Khamenei under the doctrine of Velayat-e Faqih (Rule of the Jurisprudent). The declaration hailed him not only as the spiritual and political leader of Iran but also as the guiding figure for the global Islamic community. He was depicted as a force of intellect and strength who has managed to repel the existential threats posed by Western powers, while embodying the enduring values of the Islamic Revolution—a movement they believe is destined to spread across the globe.

The document concluded with grand proclamations about Iran’s future and the shifting balance of global power. It claimed that the world now stands at a "historic turning point,” marked by the decline of Western civilization and the emergence of a new world order led by Eastern powers—namely Iran, Russia, and China. This “orientalization” of global influence, they said, is paving the way for the birth of a “strong Iran.” According to the lecturers, Iranian society is more prepared than ever to advance toward the original goals of the 1979 Islamic Revolution. They envisioned the rise of an Iranian-Islamic developmental model, independent of Western influence, and asserted that a global Islamic Resistance Front—transcending religious, sectarian, and national boundaries—was already taking shape, driven by the revolutionary momentum of the Islamic Republic.

(This Article was originally published by Jihad Watch)