Iranian religious and political leaders are appealing to nationalist sentiments, aiming to bolster Tehran's ability to resist international pressure in the ongoing dispute over the country's nuclear program.
During Army Day celebrations in Tehran on April 18, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad sounded a militant note, saying that the country's armed forces were prepared to "cut off the hand" of any potential attacker. The same day, the International Atomic Energy Agency, the international watchdog that is trying to monitor Iran's nuclear program, confirmed that the country likely is producing weapons-grade fuel. The scope of Iranian efforts to enrich uranium is currently far larger than ever admitted by Iranian officials, according to IAEA officials.
The revelation could well prompt new international efforts to get Iran to curtail, or abandon its nuclear research program. Iranian officials insist the country's nuclear research is intended solely for civilian applications, but US and EU leaders are convinced that Tehran strives to develop nuclear weapons.
Against this backdrop, top Iranian leaders are making doctrinal adjustments with the aim of reinforcing their domestic authority. The clearest signal of a shift came March 21, Persian New Year, when the country's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, gave an unprecedented address that seemed to court the support of secular-minded nationalists, as well as minority groups.
Traditionally, Ayatollah Khamenei's New Year's address hasn't been a forum for major policy announcements. Instead, the supreme leader has tended to use the speech to promote pious living. This year, however, it was an entirely different story. The normal platitudes about adhering to a traditional lifestyle were largely absent. Ayatollah Khamenei lashed out at foreign powers, threatening retaliation against those states trying to thwart Iran's ambitions. He then went on to urge national unity to counter efforts to force Iran to abandon its present nuclear course.
"This year is the year of
Editor's note:
Kamal Nazer Yasin is a pseudonym for a freelance journalist specializing in Iranian affairs.
