"Iranians defend and present their Islamic and Iranian identity to other people worldwide"
About this Quote
The pairing of “Islamic and Iranian identity” is the political payload. In the Islamic Republic, the balancing act is constant: Iran as ancient civilization versus Iran as revolutionary theocracy. Ahmadinejad’s formulation insists these aren’t competing loyalties but a seamless compound. It’s an argument against both Western narratives that reduce Iran to “Islamism” and internal critics who want a more secular, nationalist self-definition. “To other people” is doing quiet work, too: it draws a line between the Iranian “we” and a foreign “they,” simplifying global politics into an audience relationship where Iran must speak for itself because others will misrepresent it.
Context sharpens the intent. Ahmadinejad’s presidency played out under nuclear standoffs, sanctions, and intense media scrutiny. In that environment, identity becomes strategy: asserting authenticity as a shield against external pressure and a tool to rally domestic solidarity. The sentence isn’t trying to persuade skeptics with policy; it’s trying to discipline the narrative, making culture and faith the front line of geopolitics.
Quote Details
| Topic | Human Rights |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Ahmadinejad, Mahmoud. (2026, January 15). Iranians defend and present their Islamic and Iranian identity to other people worldwide. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/iranians-defend-and-present-their-islamic-and-156712/
Chicago Style
Ahmadinejad, Mahmoud. "Iranians defend and present their Islamic and Iranian identity to other people worldwide." FixQuotes. January 15, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/iranians-defend-and-present-their-islamic-and-156712/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"Iranians defend and present their Islamic and Iranian identity to other people worldwide." FixQuotes, 15 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/iranians-defend-and-present-their-islamic-and-156712/. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.