Hawzah News Agency- Addressing the gathering, Sheikh Mohammad Shariyani, director of the ICC Jakarta, offered his perspective on the Islamic Republic of Iran, arguing that the country cannot be understood merely through political or geographical lenses. Rather, he said, Iran must be recognized as an identity, a civilization, and a symbol of resistance against hegemony.
"Iran is the manifestation of human dignity standing firm against global domination, while simultaneously representing a civilization and culture that upholds justice and humanity as supreme values," Shariyani stated.
Philosophical Foundations of the Islamic Republic
The Indonesian scholar emphasized that Iran's system of governance is built upon philosophical and divine values, justice, humanity, and civilization—foundations deeply rooted in the country's intellectual history.
"One of the great contributions of the Iranian nation to world thought is the development of Aristotelian philosophy, which was later introduced widely through the works of Ibn Sina (Avicenna)," Shariyani noted.
He stressed that the Islamic Republic continues to produce fresh works, ideas, and innovations in the fields of thought and philosophy to this day. The book discussed at the conference, he explained, seeks to portray Iran as a nation with profound philosophical foundations rooted in the ideas of Iranian philosophers such as Avicenna, Suhrawardi, Mulla Sadra, and other prominent thinkers.
From Unipolar Dominance to Multipolar Reality
Shariyani connected the discussion to the contemporary global landscape, noting that the world today reflects two intellectual and political poles—East and West. He recalled that throughout history, particularly following the First and Second World Wars, the United States emerged as an overwhelmingly dominant power.
"In those days, no one dared utter the name of America without deference, let alone reject it or say 'no' to it," Shariyani said. "This situation, however, was transformed with the emergence of Seyyed Ruhollah Khomeini."
Imam Khomeini, he said, entered the arena with a firm stance rejecting American hegemony and colonialism. "He adopted the approach of saying 'no' to American hegemony and 'no' to American colonialism. Imam Khomeini also expressed conviction that America would be unable to harm the Iranian nation."
From this point, Shariyani argued, a new phenomenon emerged. The Islamic Republic of Iran arose as a country that both opposes American hegemony and presents a new model—a fresh pole among the world's existing powers. Iran, he said, advances the idea of a multipolar world as an alternative to the unipolar system that has dominated recent eras.
Power Beyond Missiles
Shariyani emphasized that Iran's power is not limited to its military capabilities, including its missile program. The far greater power, he said, is the voice of struggle against oppression, the voice of opposition to colonialism, and the voice promoting justice.
"This thought is the very discourse and call that Imam Khomeini raised in opposition to all forms of colonialism, despotism, oppression, and tyranny," Shariyani stated. "Therefore, missiles constitute only a small fraction of Iran's power. The greater power is the power to confront tyranny, establish justice, and uphold the anti-colonial and anti-imperialist position."
The conference in Jakarta reflects growing interest across the Muslim world and beyond in understanding Iran's philosophical underpinnings and its evolving role in shaping a new international order—one in which power is distributed among multiple poles rather than concentrated in a single hegemonic force.
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