On the map of the Islamic world, Iran has always been an outlier. When countries such as Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Egypt dominated by Sunnis are closely intertwined in religion and geopolitics, Iran stands proudly under the banner of Shi’ism, and even separates itself from the Arab world. This’ distance ‘is not accidental, but the inevitable result of the millennium long game between Persian civilization and the Islamic world, and is a unique survival strategy intertwined with historical, geopolitical, and practical interests. This article will delve into the root causes of Iran’s alienation from the Islamic world through specific historical events and real-life cases, revealing the complex civilization, religion, and political logic behind it.
1、 Historical Choice: The Power Game Behind Sect Differentiation
Iran’s’ deviation from tradition ‘began with the religious reform of the Safavid dynasty, which was not based on pure religious choices, but on strategic choices made by Persian rulers in power struggles. At the beginning of the 16th century, the Ottoman Türkiye empire was at the height of its power. Its Sunni regime not only controlled the trade lifeline of the eastern Mediterranean, but also formed military repression in the Middle East. At that time, Persia was in a state of division after the collapse of the Timurid dynasty and urgently needed to build a unified ideology to counter external threats.
The Shia Establishment of the Safavid Dynasty: A Political Calculation
In 1501, Ismaili I, the founder of the Safavid Dynasty, ascended the throne. The first problem he faced was how to integrate loose tribal forces to fight against Türkiye’s military invasion. In this context, he resolutely established Shia Islam as the state religion and implemented religious reform through compulsory means. The shrewdness of this decision lies in: first, the differences between Shiite and Sunni religious doctrines (such as different interpretations of Ali’s status) naturally have the narrative of “resistance to oppression”, which can mobilize the bottom people to resist Türkiye’s Sunni hegemony; Secondly, there are significant differences in language and culture between Persia and Arabia. The introduction of Shiite can build a unique “Persian Islamic” identity and avoid being completely assimilated by Türkiye.
Specific cases show that the Safavid dynasty adopted extreme measures in promoting Shia Islam, such as forcing Sunni Muslims to convert, massacring opponents, and tightly combining religion with political power. For example, during the conquest of Azerbaijan, Ismail I ordered the conversion of local Sunni mosques into Shia religious sites and strengthened control over the population through a system of religious leaders. This “religious nationalism” strategy successfully condensed Persia into a political entity against Türkiye, but it also foreshadowed the future split with the Islamic world.
The consolidation of power and cultural export during the reign of Abbas the Great
In the 17th century, during the reign of Abbas the Great (Shah Abbas I), Persia further transformed Shia Islam into national soft power. He established Persia as a center of Shia scholarship by sponsoring Shia scholars and building religious schools (such as the Faiziyah Mosque in Isfahan). At the same time, Persian culture transformed Shia doctrine through poetry, art, architecture, and other forms of “Persianization”: for example, the Persian poet Ferdowsi’s “The Book of Kings” was integrated into Shia narrative, and the image of Ali was endowed with the qualities of a Persian hero. This cultural export not only consolidated domestic identity, but also made Shia gradually become a symbol of Persian civilization, rather than a simple branch of Arab religion.
However, the conflict between Persia and the Sunni world did not disappear as a result. In the 18th century, there were multiple wars between Persia and the Ottoman Empire in Iraq and the Caucasus region, and religious differences became a slogan for mobilizing the people on both sides. For example, in the battle of Baghdad in 1736, the Persian army incited the people to fight against Türkiye in the name of “liberation of Shiite holy land”, while Türkiye claimed to defend Sunni orthodoxy. This century long conflict has deepened the rift between Persia and the Arab world.
2、 Geographical Destiny: Plateau Islands and Civilization Solitude
The geopolitical structure of the Iranian plateau determines its “island mentality” and cultural arrogance. This plateau, surrounded by mountains, has resisted foreign invasions multiple times in history, but has also formed a unique cultural ecosystem as a result. The Persian civilization has established a highly developed bureaucratic system and cultural tradition since BC, and has always had a sense of cultural superiority over the Arab Empire, which started with nomadism. This sense of superiority has not disappeared in the process of Islamization, but has been continued through religious localization.
Geographical barriers and cultural defense
The geographical characteristics of Iran have a profound impact on its historical trajectory: the northern Caucasus Mountains have blocked Russia’s southward movement, the western Zagros Mountains have blocked the eastward movement of Arabia and Türkiye, and the southern Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean have become natural barriers against maritime invasion. This “easy to defend but difficult to attack” geographical environment enabled Persia to preserve its core civilization during historical waves such as Mongol invasions and European colonization. For example, when the Mongol Empire swept across the Middle East in the 13th century, although Persia was destroyed, the cities and cultural traditions deep in the highlands were not completely destroyed; When British colonizers attempted to infiltrate in the 19th century, Persia was still able to maintain its sovereignty and independence through diplomatic means.
The cultural consequence of geographical isolation is that Persians have always been wary of Arab culture. After the introduction of Islam, Persia did not fully accept Arab religion and way of life, but instead “localized” foreign religions through Shia Islam. For example, Persian instead of Arabic became the primary language for translating religious scriptures, Shia rituals incorporated traditional Persian music and dance, and even Ali’s martyrdom story was adapted into a heroic narrative in Persian epics. This’ cultural filtering ‘has allowed Iran to absorb the outer shell of Islam while retaining the core of Persia, creating a subtle distance from the Arab world.
The essential differences between Persian civilization and Arab civilization
The genetic differences in civilization between Persia and Arabia further exacerbate their estrangement. Persian civilization originated from an agricultural society, emphasizing bureaucratic systems, rule of law, and art; Arab civilization originated from nomadic tribes, emphasizing tribal alliances and religious ties. This difference remains significant even after Islamization: for example, Persian poetry (such as Rumi’s Sufi poetry) emphasizes reason and philosophy, while Arabic poetry focuses more on tribal emotions and religious fanaticism; Persian architecture, such as the grand palace in Persepolis, embodies centralization and order, while Arab architecture, such as the domes and geometric patterns of mosques, highlights religious mystique. In modern society, this difference has evolved into different choices for the “modernization path”: Persia tends towards secularization and industrialization, while many Arab countries still maintain tribal religious political structures
3、 Reality Tear: The Dual Dilemma of Nationalism and Religious Export
The “departure” of contemporary Iran from the Islamic world is more complex in reality. The trauma of the Iran Iraq War, the isolation caused by US sanctions, and the suppression of Sunni hegemony jointly promoted the dual strategy of Persian nationalism and Shia religious export, but this strategy also put it in an identity dilemma.
The Iran Iraq War: Blood feud and sectarian opposition
The Iran Iraq War from 1980 to 1988 is a modern epitome of the conflict between Persia and the Arab world. This war appears to be a territorial dispute, but in reality it is the outbreak of sectarian and ethnic conflicts. Iran attempted to overthrow Saddam’s Sunni regime under the slogan of “exporting revolution”; Iraq, on the other hand, has received support from Sunni countries such as Saudi Arabia to counterattack by “defending Arab unity”. In the war, both sides used religious hatred to incite the people: Iran promoted “holy war martyrdom”, while Iraq portrayed “Persian aggression”. According to statistics, the war caused millions of casualties, the economies of the two countries regressed by ten years, and even sowed blood feuds between Persia and Arabia. For example, in the Battle of Basra in 1988, the Iranian army, with Shia believers as the main force, shouted “revenge for Ali” and attacked Sunni settlements, while Iraq retaliated with chemical weapons against Shia villages.
Shia Revolution Output: Resistance and Isolation
After the Iran Iraq War, Iran did not give up on “religious diplomacy”, but instead reshaped its regional influence with the “Shia axis”. Its strategy includes: supporting the Syrian Assad regime (Shia Alawite branch), maintaining allies through military aid and religious ties; Support Lebanon’s Hezbollah and turn it into a proxy for fighting against Israel and Sunni forces; Intervene in the Yemeni civil war and support the Houthi armed forces in their fight against the Saudi led coalition. These actions may seem like religious expansion, but they are actually a continuation of geopolitics: by creating internal conflicts among Sunni countries, weakening Arab hegemony, and maintaining Persia’s presence in the Middle East.
However, this strategy has also led to international isolation. For example, in the 2011 Syrian crisis, Iran openly supported the Assad regime and formed a rival camp with Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and other Sunni countries. Western media accuses Iran of “exporting revolution” and exacerbating the deterioration of its international image. Domestically, Persian nationalism is on the rise and anti Arab sentiment is spreading: there are often derogatory comments about Arab culture on social media, and there is a clear tendency towards “Persian first” in government policies, such as strengthening Persian history courses in the education system and downplaying the contribution of Arab Islam.
US sanctions and identity reconstruction
Since the Islamic Revolution in 1979, the United States has continuously escalated its sanctions against Iran, from economic blockades to military threats, forcing Iran to form a dual opposition of “anti American and anti Sunni”. The economic difficulties brought about by sanctions have instead strengthened domestic cohesion: the government shifts public attention to internal issues by portraying the narrative of “Persian civilization confronting Western hegemony”. For example, after Trump withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018, Iran held large-scale anti American protests while emphasizing the resilience of Persia as an “ancient civilization” and blaming the economic difficulties on the “betrayal of Arab allies” (implying the pro American stance of countries such as Saudi Arabia).
This identity reconstruction is full of contradictions in reality: Iran needs to maintain regional allies with Shia Islam, but it is difficult to escape the rejection of Arab nationalism by Persian nationalism. For example, in 2021, Iran and Saudi Arabia secretly negotiated to restore diplomatic relations, but domestic hardliners immediately accused the government of “betraying Persian interests”, highlighting internal differences.
4、 Identity Paradox: When Religion Becomes the Armor of Civilization
The rift between Iran and the Islamic world is essentially a paradox of cultural identity. Persians firmly believe that they are the most resilient “heretics” in Islamic civilization – both defending religious orthodoxy (Shia) and refusing to be assimilated into Arab culture. This contradictory mentality keeps it wavering in its external posture: sometimes claiming to be a “Shia leader” and uniting with Iraq and Syria to confront Saudi Arabia; Sometimes he takes pride in being a spokesperson for Persian civilization and mocks the “barbarism and backwardness” of Arab countries.
The Coexistence and Conflict of Religion and Nationalism
In Iran, Shia religion and Persian nationalism form a complex symbiotic relationship. Religion provides legitimacy for nationalism: for example, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei often speaks out as a “guardian of Shia”, emphasizing Iran’s “religious responsibility”; Nationalism provides practical support for religion: when promoting traditional Persian festivals such as Nowruz, the government deliberately downplays their Islamic origins and highlights their “Persian nature”. However, when religious exports threaten Persian interests, nationalism takes priority: for example, in the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel in Lebanon, Iranian citizens supported their Shia allies but were more concerned about the war’s impact on Persian domestic security.
Realistic Case: Cultural Renaissance and Religious Criticism
In recent years, Iran has countered Arab cultural influence through the “Persian Civilization Renaissance”. For example, the government heavily supports Persian language films and literary creations, and promotes “Persian storytelling” at international film festivals; In history textbooks, the glory of the Persian Empire is exaggerated, while the “dark side” of the Islamic conquest period is selectively presented. At the same time, Iranian scholars openly criticize the “fundamentalism” of Arab Islam, such as accusing Saudi Wahhabism of “distorting the essence of Islam” and emphasizing that Shia is the true representative of “reason and progress”.
This dual strategy is full of tension in reality: on the one hand, Iran needs to maintain the international status of Shia religious leaders to counterbalance the Sunni dominated Islamic Conference organization; On the other hand, Persian nationalists also call for “de Arabization” and even advocate for “rebuilding the glory of the Persian Empire”. For example, the showdown between Iran and Arab countries in the 2022 FIFA World Cup was portrayed by domestic media as a “war of civilizations,” highlighting the complex interweaving of religion and national identity.
Conclusion: The Survival Wisdom of the Millennium Game
Iran’s departure from the Islamic world is not simply a religious or political choice, but a survival wisdom formed by Persian civilization in the millennium game. When the Middle East, surrounded by strong powers, forced small countries to take sides, Persians chose to maintain their independence as “heretics”: using Shia to resist Sunni hegemony, diluting Arab influence with Persian culture, and balancing religious ties with practical interests. This strategy has not only contributed to Iran’s regional influence, but also plunged it into the abyss of isolation and conflict.
Can Iran find a balance between “Persian” and “Islamic” in the future? Perhaps it depends on three variables: firstly, whether Sunni countries such as Saudi Arabia will abandon their hegemonic thinking and promote genuine religious dialogue; Secondly, can Iran reconcile the power conflict between nationalism and religious leaders internally; Thirdly, whether the international community (especially the United States) is willing to lift sanctions and provide it with broader geopolitical space. Only by unraveling these knots can Iran truly break free from the millennium paradox of “departure” and “return” and find its own place in the Islamic world.