In June 2025, after Israeli and U.S. airstrikes targeted Iranian nuclear sites and civilian areas, the Islamic Republic stopped short of a full military response. But it didn’t remain silent. Its reply came not just through rhetoric or missiles, but through symbols—religious, national, and increasingly fused.

For decades, Iran’s rulers viewed nationalism as a divisive, Western import—a colonial tool designed to fracture the Islamic ummah. But the strikes seem to have reshaped that narrative. Today, the same leaders who once championed pan-Islamism now promote a fusion: Shi’a symbolism woven into nationalist pride. It’s not the first time these elements have overlapped—but this time, the message is louder, clearer, and more intentional.

One of the clearest signs of this shift came during Ashura in early July. In Yazd, official mourning ceremonies featured the anthem Ey Iran—a patriotic song long missing from state events. Religious  sermons spoke of defending “our Iran,” not the broader Muslim ummah. The change in tone was unmistakable.

Ayatollah Khomeini built the Islamic Republic on a vision that placed Islam above the nation. He condemned nationalism as an imperialist poison. This wasn’t just rhetoric—it was core doctrine. As Khomeini famously declared:

“Islam has come to eliminate these nonsensical ideas. Nationalist people are of no use to us; Muslim people are. Islam is opposed to nationalism. Nationalism means we want the nation, we........

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