Message from Seyed Mohammad Khatami on His Birthday: The Shadow of War Must Be Pushed Away

In a statement on domestic conditions and international developments, Seyed Mohammad Khatami stressed the need to find solutions to keep the shadow of war away from Iran.

In a statement about the current international and national situation, Hojjat al-Islam wa al-Muslimeen Seyyed Mohammad Khatami said: In addition to what is happening in people's lives today, there are bigger threats to our future and the world around us. One day, the invitation to the "Dialogue of Civilizations" in the name of Iran became a global and official approach, but now, in the middle of large-scale wars and open aggressions that constantly take visible and invisible victims, the talk of "War of Civilizations" is being discussed, and this is a new sign of the escalation of global and regional crises.

The text of Seyyed Mohammad Khatami's statement reads:

Dear Iran is currently facing one of the most complicated passages in its glorious history. An unequal and unjust war has been imposed by the American government and the Israeli regime on all the economic, social, political, military, scientific and industrial affairs of the country, and the intertwining bottlenecks and crises caused by the blockade, embargo and restrictions have endangered the daily life and even the minimal livelihood of honorable and noble Iranians. There is no doubt that as a matter of prudence, one should be more concerned about Iran and people's issues and problems, and in addition to emphasizing brave resistance, one should focus on advancing political horizon-opening solutions.

Expecting another devastating war, even if it is not real, or the continuation of a critical and uncertain situation in the country, wears out the real life and the mental world of the society and reduces the resilience and power of the nation against various events. Therefore, getting out of this erosive and crisis-causing situation should be based on the efforts and solidarity of all the elements of the system, the political and civil currents attached to Iran and the people of the nation, and help the respected government in breaking the current deadlocks and opening new horizons for the pride of Iran.

Based on the little experience I have in serving the noble nation of Iran, I feel that in addition to what is happening in people's lives today, there are bigger threats to our future and the world around us. One day, the invitation to the "Dialogue of Civilizations" in the name of Iran became a global and official approach, but now, in the middle of large-scale wars and open aggressions that constantly take visible and invisible victims, the talk of "War of Civilizations" is being discussed, and this is a new sign of the escalation of global and regional crises.

The American foreign minister recently spoke about the clash between the ancient civilizations of Iran and Greece in Athens in order to give a historical background to the war-mongering and extravagances of his government. A statement that has neither scientific validity nor political validity, and only wants to justify today's aggressions under the guise of imaginary historical and civilizational confrontations.

Iran is not only a geographical name, but also the origin of the oldest civilizations in human history; A land that has continuously produced, strengthened and exchanged science, philosophy, culture and art not only within itself, but also in historical dialogues with Greece and other ancient civilizations. Therefore, those who are the flag bearers of the threat and war of civilizations today, cannot claim thought, justice, freedom and human rights against Iran.

America is a great country and its nation, like all nations, should be respected; But we cannot ignore the threat of global policies and the way of governing that country; The method and procedure, the biggest result and gift for Iran and many countries of the world, was and is coup, aggression and looting of material and spiritual capitals. The commission of the biggest crimes and the most ugly violations of international laws and the violation of the rights of the Iranian people with the complicity of the anti-humanist Israeli regime in recent years and in the open aggressions are proof of this claim. What do the dismembered bodies of 170 elementary school children, thousands of innocent citizens and the most prominent leaders, scientists, commanders and service children mean in the continuation and expansion of cruel sanctions and inhumane sieges? And against that, what name do they put on the epic resistance of the people and the defenders of the homeland?

Of course, we should know that this ear-splitting voice of American sovereignty, although it is loud, is not the real voice of the American nation and elites and the voice of the leading world order. The voice of dialogue, peace, sustainable security and all-round development is a voice that, although it is still not easily heard in the world of politics, it has created new hopes in the human world; The voice of defending the oppression of the people of Gaza, the voice of rejection, isolation and condemnation of Israel, and the voice of the collapse of the credibility and authority of the head of the American government are now so widespread that it cannot be denied.

The coherent picture that the President of China recently paints of the world's needs is another proof of this claim. In China's view, the four main issues of mankind—development and technology, peace and security, dialogue between civilizations, and global governance reform—are inseparable from each other.

What is our task now? It is clear that we must find a solution and plan to remove the shadow of war and aggression from the country, defend the interests and national security, provide people's livelihood and achieve sustainable development for Iran.

In the midst of these war-mongering and illusory civilizational claims, I humbly request all intellectuals and scholars, political and civil elites, and general citizens who have their hearts in Iran, to place the territorial, historical, and civilizational integrity of Iran at the center of their ideological and political approaches and solutions, and to convey the voice of this national desire and will to all levels and dialogue capacities in all national and international arenas. Today, every true civilizational narrative and every intelligent political voice is an effective field for preserving and defending Iran and opening new horizons for the pride and bright tomorrows of this country.