According to Al Jazeera, Mojtaba Khamenei has called on Muslim-majority countries to maintain unity, warning that the United States and Israel are allegedly attempting to exploit divisions within the Muslim world. His comments come as Iran remains under significant political, economic and military pressure from Washington and Israel, with Tehran continuing to present cooperation among Islamic nations as an important means of resisting external influence.
Khamenei has previously emphasized the dangers of sectarian divisions, particularly disagreements between Sunni and Shiite Muslims. Iranian officials have long argued that foreign powers can take advantage of such differences to weaken Islamic countries and prevent them from responding collectively to regional challenges.
In earlier remarks cited by Iranian sources, Khamenei described the deliberate promotion of religious discord as a serious challenge facing Muslim societies. “The imposed, deliberate and malignant problem of igniting the flame of discord among the Islamic Ummah (community) is one of the major problems of the Islamic world today,” he said.
He also cautioned that attempts to create division could extend beyond Sunni-Shiite tensions and potentially encourage disagreements within individual Islamic traditions. His broader argument has been that internal fragmentation leaves Muslim countries more vulnerable to political interference and regional instability.
The call for greater solidarity has gained renewed significance as Iran faces escalating confrontation with the United States and Israel. Tehran has accused both countries of seeking to isolate Iran while encouraging disagreements between neighboring Muslim states.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has similarly advocated closer cooperation. Speaking at an International Islamic Unity Conference in Tehran, he urged Muslim countries to strengthen their security and economic relationships and prevent their territories from being used for attacks against other Islamic nations.
Pezeshkian also proposed a “mutual security and non-aggression pact” that would require participating countries to respect one another’s territorial sovereignty and refrain from supporting destabilizing activities against neighboring states.
Iran’s appeal for unity comes amid severe economic difficulties linked to renewed American sanctions and restrictions affecting trade and energy exports. Reports have highlighted rising inflation and weaker foreign trade, while Tehran has sought diplomatic and economic assistance from countries such as Qatar and Pakistan.
Iranian leaders maintain that external pressure is intended to weaken the country economically while also encouraging political and regional divisions. Critics, however, argue that Tehran frequently invokes foreign threats and national unity to strengthen domestic support during periods of crisis.
The wider Middle East remains deeply affected by sectarian tensions, political rivalries and competing alliances. Tehran therefore continues to portray Muslim unity as both an ideological principle and a strategic necessity in confronting what it describes as efforts by Washington and Jerusalem to fragment the region.
COURTESY: Samson334
