Hawzah News Agency- Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 40th International Islamic Unity Conference in Tehran on Thursday, Shahriari said the most significant event of the past year was the war launched by "arrogant America" against the Iranian nation.
"Why did the Ramadan War begin with the martyrdom of the leader of the Islamic Ummah? This war was imposed on Iran for six months because global arrogance fears a strong Iran and cannot tolerate a rival power. A strong Iran serves as a model for Islamic countries and the oppressed, replacing hollow powers with reliance on Almighty God—and this poses a direct threat to American unilateralism," Hojatoleslam Shahriari told the gathering.
Roots of American Hostility
The senior cleric outlined the reasons behind American animosity toward Iran, stating that Washington does not want Iran to possess nuclear energy, missile capabilities, advanced infrastructure, oil resources, scientists, courageous soldiers, a strong government and military, or even a powerful leadership.
"Each of these factors strengthens national cohesion and the resistance of the Islamic Ummah. All these reasons are rooted in utilitarian ethics and capitalist politics—yet these very ethics and politics have pushed the West to the brink of collapse," he said.
Western Media Silence on School Tragedy
Shahriari pointed to the tragic bombing of the Shajareh Tayyebeh School in Minab, which resulted in the martyrdom of students and teachers, posing a direct challenge to Washington.
"What benefit did your wolf-like savagery against the children of Minab School bring you? Why have Western media gone mute in the face of this question?" he asked.
He argued that the hidden utilitarianism masked behind individualistic liberalism has no answer to such questions, exposing what he called the repulsive face of global arrogance.
Four Decades of Failed American Policy
The Secretary General emphasized the failure of American policies over the past four decades, noting that despite maximum pressure, Washington failed to achieve its objectives.
"Under the leadership of our martyred Imam, we became the region's foremost power. Our scientists advanced to the cutting edge of technology. Our youth achieved strategic missiles and drones. Our armed forces stood against the world's largest military, paralyzed American bases across the region, and taught the world the lesson of resistance," Shahriari stated.
A Civilizational Confrontation
Hojatoleslam Shahriari asserted that the ongoing conflict transcends national identity or regional stability, framing it as a civilizational battle.
"The martyrdom of a civilization-building giant—like the martyrdom of Imam Hussein ibn Ali (AS)—will shake history, and the banner of avenging his blood will remain raised until the Day of Judgment," he declared.
He noted that Islamic countries have reached a firm conviction through bitter experience: American presence in the region does not create security—it destroys it. True security can only be achieved by the hands of regional nations themselves.
"Today, extensive regional interactions have created unprecedented solidarity, and the discourse of proximity and unity has triumphed over the discourse of takfir and division," he said.
40 Years of Institutionalizing Unity
Commemorating the 40th anniversary of the conference, Shahriari highlighted the network of Islamic world elites now connected through the axis of resistance, crediting the visionary approach of the martyred leader in theory-building and institution-building.
He noted that declarations issued by Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey share key common ground that must be protected, adding that the new Islamic civilization will emerge through cooperation among all Islamic countries.
Quoting the Quranic verse "If you help God, He will help you," he stressed the continuation of the path of resistance and unity.
Nigerian Minister: Unity Is Path to Prosperity
Sheikh Saleh bin Hamouda, Minister of Cultural Reconstruction and Social Values of Niger, addressed the conference by emphasizing the Quranic mandate for Muslim unity.
"God Almighty has repeatedly emphasized unity among Muslims in numerous verses of the Holy Quran. From God's perspective, the Islamic Ummah is the best community and is worthy of leading the Islamic world. It is incumbent upon all Muslims to gather around a single axis and follow the path of our beloved Prophet (PBUH)," he said.
He noted that Muslims must transcend skin color and sectarian differences to remain brothers, adding: "We in Niger witnessed all that happened to the Muslim people of the Islamic Republic of Iran and observed the struggle of the mujahideen and commanders of this Islamic nation."
The best society capable of reaching the heights of prosperity, he concluded, is one that preserves its Islamic unity and cohesion.
Lebanese Scholar: Unity Behind Iran's Resilience
Sheikh Ali al-Khatib, Deputy Head of Lebanon's Supreme Shia Council, told the conference that the Islamic Ummah faces profound civilizational challenges that have destroyed many of its resources.
He warned that behind these conspiracies stand criminals who recognize no rights for human beings, with their supporters serving as accomplices.
"Today we witness that Islamic Iran, through the lofty contemporary ideas stemming from the thought of its martyred leader and through implementing Islamic laws, has managed to stand against the enemy and chart a new roadmap for the Middle East through its resistance economy," al-Khatib said.
He emphasized that Iran's steadfastness against its enemies stems from the very unity emphasized in the Quran, urging Muslim nations to strengthen their bonds more than ever to overcome their enemies.
Al-Khatib concluded by quoting the martyred leader: "How can we fail to be one Ummah with two billion Muslims? If we move in one direction, we are capable of being a single Ummah."
Turkish Academic: Muslims Must Counter Division
Mahmoud Arol Kilich, professor at Turkey's Islamic Sufism University, warned that the Islamic Ummah is passing through its most critical period, with fragmentation causing Muslims to act against one another.
"The Zionist regime has never been committed to any principles at any point in history and has always sought to strip the Islamic Ummah of its Islamic identity," he said.
He argued that neglect of Quranic teachings and the Prophet's guidance has led to division and rupture, calling on all Muslims to create unity among Islamic schools of thought and eliminate discord.
"We must pursue peace and tolerance and never allow division and difference to widen. Our goal as Muslims should be to achieve unified union among Islamic countries and neutralize the baseless claims of Orientalists about Muslims," Kilich stated.
Conference Details
The 40th International Islamic Unity Conference has drawn nearly 600 domestic and international guests, including prominent scientific, cultural, and religious figures from Islamic countries including Iraq, Pakistan, Turkey, Lebanon, Afghanistan, and Persian Gulf states, as well as ambassadors residing in Tehran and representatives of grand religious authorities.
For the first time, the conference is being held with a decentralized approach, with four specialized sessions scheduled in West Azerbaijan, Kurdistan, Golestan, and Khorasan Razavi provinces to examine various dimensions of Islamic unity across different regions of the country.
Additional programs include academic sessions with leading seminary scholars in Qom and Mashhad, the unveiling of eight new books on Islamic proximity, and two specialized panels on "Takfiri Movement Analysis" and "The Role of Unity in the New Islamic Civilization."
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