Thanks to the victory of the Islamic Revolution 31 years ago these days under the enlightened leadership of Imam Khomeini (may his soul rest in peace), Iran has become the centre of the Muslim World and plays a vital role in the affairs of the ummah much to the frustration of the enemies of humanity, especially the US and its Zionist surrogate, the usurper state of Israel. The Islamic Republic of Iran is the defender of Muslims and inspires resistance against the domineering powers throughout the world. This strategy in resolving crises around the Muslim World has angered the West and its accomplices.

It is worth noting that the Islamic Revolution which revived the genuine teachings of Islam in the Iranian society has properly defined Iran's domestic and foreign policies on the basis of God's Revealed Word, the Holy Qur'an. The Book of God terms Muslims as brethren unto each other and instructs them to help fellow Muslims. It tells them not to remain silent against injustice and oppression of Muslims. In verse 92 of Surah al-Anbiya, God Almighty says: "Surely this Islam is your religion, one religion (only), and I am your Lord, therefore serve Me."

Based on this Quranic verse, article 11 of the Islamic Republic of Iran's constitution says that all Muslims are a single Ummah and the Iranian government is duty bound to work for fostering unity and solidarity among world Muslim in order to materialize their political, economic and cultural goals. Islam not only opposes oppression but it considers yielding to oppression as unacceptable and un-Islamic.

Towards the end of verse 141 of Surah Nisa, God explicitly says:

"And Allah will by no means give the unbelievers a way against the believers."

Based on this Qur'anic verse, in article 152 of the Islamic Republic of Iran's constitution we read: "The Islamic Republic of Iran's foreign policy is based on negating any kind of hegemony, safeguarding the country's complete independence and territorial integrity, defending the rights of all Muslims, standing firm against the domineering powers, and promotion peaceful relations with all non-hostile world countries."

Ever since its grand victory these days in 1979 the Islamic Revolution has spared no efforts in supporting the oppressed nations of the world, especially the Muslims. It is worth noting that Imam Khomeini had hailed the Islamic Revolution as the Movement of the deprived and the oppressed. The late Imam's ideals are the base of Iran's domestic and foreign policies till this day. Recently, in a meeting in Tehran with the Guyanese President, the current Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, called the hegemonic policies of the domineering powers as the greatest oppression of the world community and stressed that since the very beginning, the Islamic Republic of Iran is opposed to the domineering powers.

The Islamic Revolution stresses unity and brotherhood among world Muslims, for the solidarity of the Islamic World is considered the greatest bulwark against the designs of Global Arrogant powers which seek every pretext to loot and plunder the Islamic states. Ayatollah Khamenei notes that differences among Muslims only serve the domineering powers. He said: The only way to remove the current problems of the Muslim world is unity and steadfastness against the pressures of the West. Since the beginning of the Islamic Revolution, he adds, the Islamic Republic of Iran has spared no efforts in this regard.

The Islamic Republic of Iran encourages nations under the jackboots of hegemony and occupation not to fear the seemingly destructive military power of the aggressors, and to resist till ultimate victory. In his dynamic will, Imam Khomeini has addressed the world's oppressed people, saying: Rise and retake your rights, by your teeth if possible, and fear not the propaganda tirade of the superpowers and their agents. Drive away the criminal rulers who present to the enemies of your country the fruits of your work and labours.

An example of Islamic resistance is the usurped nation of Palestine. The heroic Intefadha waged by the Palestinian people was undoubtedly inspired by the epic resistance of the Iranian Muslim people against the US-backed and British-installed Pahlavi regime. The spirit of resistance of the Palestinian people has exposed the futility of the so-called negotiations with the illegal Zionist entity. In this regard, Imam Khomeini had said: "Yielding to the oppressors is oppression of the oppressed, while compromise with superpowers is tantamount to the oppression of all humanity. Those who tell us to compromise are either ignorant or mercenaries. Reconciliation with the oppressors is opposed by all divine Prophets since they worked hard to remove oppression from human societies."

Therefore, diplomacy is the major means of the Islamic Republic of Iran for defending Muslims or resolving the crises of the Muslim world. Iran's diplomacy in international arenas is based on efforts to materialize the rights of the Muslim peoples worldwide. Iran has played a constructive role by winning the confidence of other Muslim or independent states.

Iran actively supports the resistance of Muslims especially in the Zionist usurped land of Palestine. It uses the UN General Assembly, the Human Rights Council and other related international organs to voice support for the rights of the Palestinians. Iran has made it clear that the only peaceful solution to the chronic question of Palestine is referendum involving all original inhabitants of the land including Muslims, Christians, and the pre-Zionist Jews, for determining the form of government and one single state spreading from the borders of Lebanon and Syria in the north to the Sinai and the Gulf of Aqaba in the south, and from the River Jordan in the east to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. The Islamic Republic of Iran regards Israel to be an illegal implant and calls for its removal from the Middle East.

The Islamic Republic of Iran also supports peaceful solutions to the internal disputes in Iraq, in Afghanistan, and in Yemen. It has firmly demanded the withdrawal of the US and all other occupation forces from Iraq and Afghanistan. The Islamic Republic of Iran also firmly backs the people of Lebanon against the attacks of Israel. It was because of Tehran's principled support, the Islamic Resistance of Lebanon was inspired to first force the Israelis to retreat from the southern parts of the country in 2000, and then in 2006 shatter the myth of the military might of the Zionist entity during the 33-day war. Last year, during the 22-day holocaust unleashed on Gaza's besieged 1.5 million Palestinians, it was Iran's moral support which made the people resist and repulse the aggressors.

It should be recalled that in the 1990s the Islamic Republic of Iran had actively supported the Bosnian people and saved them from the genocide of the Serbs. Iran also plays a vital role in mediating solution to the Qarabagh conflict in the Caucasus between the Republic of Azerbaijan and Armenia. The Islamic Republic enjoys respect and credibility among all Muslims ranging from the southern parts of the Philippines where the Muslims are oppressed to Kashmir, and in various parts of Africa. As part of its moral support for peaceful solutions, Iran uses various cultural tools, especially the media to echo the people's resistance and to expose the crimes against humanity of the aggressors so that the world people become better aware of the realities. In short, over the past three decades since the victory of the Islamic Revolution, Iran has successfully resolved several crises and continues to champion the rights of Muslims and other oppressed nations, much to the chagrin of the US and other exploitative and oppressive powers. To recall the words of the Father of the Islamic Revolution, Imam Khomeini (may his soul rest in peace): "The sacred movement of the Iranian people is Islamic and therefore it is evident that it impacts all Muslims worldwide."