Unprecedented Global Alignment with Islamic Revolution Signals a Historic Turning Point

Hawzah News Agency– Ayatollah Alireza Arafi made the remarks during a meeting with the National Council of Religious Outreach Groups, held Saturday evening at the office of the Director of Iran’s Seminaries.

A New and Unprecedented Global Phase

Ayatollah Arafi stressed that current conditions are fundamentally different from all previous historical periods.

“We are facing a truly unique situation—one that has never been experienced before in history,” he said. “These transformations are deeply influential both domestically and globally. After the Al-Aqsa Storm operation, and especially following recent developments, we have entered a new chapter unlike anything we have witnessed in the past.”

Historic Opportunities and Serious Challenges for Religious Institutions

The senior cleric noted that while the Islamic Revolution has created immense opportunities for religious institutions over the past decades, it has also generated unprecedented challenges and threats.

“These challenges directly affect the institution of religion, the clergy, Islamic seminaries, and the broader movement of religious propagation,” he said. “Today, extraordinary opportunities and major threats exist side by side, each exerting a decisive influence on the trajectory of the Islamic Revolution.”

Coordinated Global Pressure against the Islamic Revolution

Referring to international developments, Ayatollah Arafi said there is clear coordination among various global actors, including the Zionist regime, the United States, European powers, and certain Arab governments.

“In many cases, these actors are operating in synergy and pursuing a common objective,” he said, describing this alignment as evidence of serious and organized threats facing the Islamic Revolution.

Unprecedented Global Public Alignment with Revolutionary Discourse

Despite these pressures, Ayatollah Arafi said what distinguishes the current situation is the growing global public response to the Islamic Revolution’s message.

“People around the world, in various countries, have demonstrated an unprecedented level of empathy and alignment with the discourse of the Islamic Revolution and its religious worldview,” he said.

He added that the Islamic world is currently positioned at a critical juncture where opportunities and threats are both exceptionally weighty, making the role of religious and revolutionary institutions—particularly Islamic seminaries—more vital than ever.

Intellectual and Cultural Opportunities and Threats

Ayatollah Arafi emphasized that the Islamic Revolution is facing both immense intellectual opportunities and extraordinary cultural threats.

“Successfully navigating this stage requires courage, knowledge, intellectual depth, wisdom, and a strong collective will,” he said. “Without these elements, advancing our objectives will not be possible.”

He identified Western cultural dominance as one of the most serious challenges confronting Islamic societies today.

Islamic Revolution as a Challenge to Western Civilization

Tracing the historical expansion of Western civilization, Ayatollah Arafi said Western culture and values have steadily spread across the world over the past four to five centuries.

“Today, the Islamic Revolution is the only serious and organized force standing against this civilizational dominance,” he said. “Most countries are deeply influenced by Western civilization, while the Islamic Revolution is actively challenging this global trend.”

He stressed the importance of a deep and critical understanding of Western civilization, particularly in academic and scientific institutions.

“This critique must be foundational, scholarly, and systematic—not superficial or emotional,” he said, noting that Western philosophy, economics, science, and technology have profoundly shaped global educational and scientific systems.

Strategic Readiness Required to Counter Global Threats

Ayatollah Arafi warned that confrontations with Western dominance have intensified since the victory of the Islamic Revolution.

“Before the Revolution, Western civilization exercised almost complete dominance, and this process advanced with little resistance,” he said. “Today, resistance has emerged, and as a result, the challenges have become sharper and more complex—especially in Iran and other Islamic societies.”

He called for comprehensive strategies and careful planning to identify and counter these threats while making effective use of historic opportunities.

Rapid Technological Transformation and Emerging Challenges

The head of Iran’s seminaries also pointed to rapid technological developments, particularly in artificial intelligence and cognitive sciences, as an additional and growing challenge.

“These accelerating transformations will have profound impacts on our intellectual, cultural, and social systems,” he said.

Ayatollah Arafi noted that he regularly studies new research in these fields and expressed deep concern about future developments.

“While general awareness of these technologies exists today, far more fundamental disruptions lie ahead,” he warned, especially regarding generational shifts driven by advances in cognitive sciences that could reshape existing social and intellectual orders.

Historical Capacity of Religious Institutions

Despite these challenges, Ayatollah Arafi expressed confidence in the historical capacity of the clergy and religious institutions.

“The institution of the clergy and religious academic centers possess deep historical capabilities,” he said. “Today, talented, active, and knowledgeable young scholars are present within these institutions, but a new, dynamic, and forward-looking approach is essential.”

Foresight and Strategic Preparedness

Concluding his remarks, Ayatollah Arafi underscored the importance of future-oriented thinking and strategic preparedness.

“Foresight and readiness for upcoming transformations are absolutely essential,” he said. “All the measures we have taken so far cover only a fraction of what is truly required. Much more must be done to respond effectively to the profound changes ahead.”