President Rouhani: Iran after Brotherhood, Unity in Region

Speaking this morning at the meeting of participants of the 33rd International Islamic Unity Conference with Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, Rouhani said that the Islamic Republic is not seeking to build an empire in the region, rather, it wants to establish brotherhood and unity in the region.

“In this blessed day, which is the birthday of the Prophet, we pray to God for unity and brotherhood in World of Islam to be able to achieve great victory against all kinds of oppression and aggression,” his office’s website quoted him as saying.

“In the era that women were considered second-class citizens and bloody wars were going on between different tribes, religions and branches, a man raised a voice that was different from all voices of the time and brought a book, wisdom and scale that was different from the previous ones,” he said.

“The great Prophet of Islam brought everyone together; from black, white, Arab and non-Arab to women, men, the poor and the rich; they were all the same,” he stated.

Highlighting that to the Prophet, everyone is equal before the law, he continued, “Except for the Quran, which was his heavenly miracle, the Prophet brought another great miracle and he showed the world the greatest social and virtuous miracle in the society with his ethics.”

“He made a covenant with the help of his political miracle and signed a peace treaty that was higher than tens and hundreds of wars, and God granted the Prophet with the medal of victory in that peace, not in war, as the verse in Quran says, ‘We have granted you a conspicuous victory’.”

The President went on to say that with his miracle of the Book, wisdom, ethics and politics, the Prophet brought a new civilization to the world, adding, “today, we, as followers of the Prophet, are looking to build a government based on his model, not looking for an empire.”

“Our influence in the region is not due to our military strength and scientific and geographical capabilities and strategic geographical position. Our influence is due to the Islamic Revolution and its influence that has captured hearts,” Rouhani emphasized.

“We believe in a revolution that promotes Islam and the moralities of the Prophet; and today that people in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Bahrain, Yemen, and etc. feel close to Iran is because of the attraction and message of the Islamic Revolution that is on the path of the Prophet of Islam,” the president added.

“Our children went to Iraq and Syria as advisers and sacrificed their lives to fighting terrorism alongside the nations.”

Stating that being Persian or Arab is not a privilege and our privilege is following the Prophet, he continued, “Our main privilege is to follow the messenger of God. We do not want to conquer any land and to be like an empire; what we want in the region is brotherhood, unity, and obedience to the Prophet.”

In August, Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Lariani, in a message on the advent of Edi al-Adha (Feat of Sacrifice), invited all his counterparts in Islamic countries to promote unity among Muslim countries.

“Hajj provides a good opportunity for more unity and solidarity among all Muslims,” Larijani said on August 11 in his congratulatory message to his Muslim counterparts on the occasion of Eid al-Adha, which marks the climax of the annual hajj pilgrimage.

Noting that the Islamic Republic of Iran has always sought to strengthen unity, brotherhood and cooperation among the Islamic countries since the victory of the Islamic Revolution, Larijani expressed the Iranian Parliament’s readiness to strengthen cooperation among Islamic countries, wishing the parliament speakers of the Islamic countries a happy Eid and well-being.

The Iranian Parliament “supports all constructive steps to strengthen multilateral cooperation, including parliamentary ties, between all Muslim countries,” the top lawmaker added.

Larijani also called on all Muslims to unite in a bid to prevent chaos in their countries.