He also noted that the revolution has radically changed everything in the region, adding that nothing would ever be the same again.Do the current developments confirm Khomeini's predictions? The revolution's impact and consequences are now more visible and observable in the country.
We witnessed in the 2009 presidential elections in Iran that the internal political struggle was more about birth pains for the emergence of a new socio-political culture. The struggle between leading figures, including Mir Hussein Mousavi, a former esteemed prime minister of the post-revolutionary period who was favored by Khomeini, former President Mohammad Khatami, who expressed full support for Mousavi, another former president, Hashimi Rafsanjani, and former Parliament Speaker Ayatollah Karroubi -- I should note that these are all respected leaders of the revolution -- and Mahmood Ahmedinejad, accused of election fraud, and Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who never ceased supporting him, shows that the whole thing is not about a simple presidential dispute or election fraud and that the ongoing tension and disagreement has some deeper dimensions. The internal factors should also be taken into account to understand Iran better.
Another factor that puts Iran in a critical position in world politics as well as the nascent international system is its reactionary stance toward the system and its determination. It would not be wrong to argue that the parameters of this attitude were formulated by Imam Khomeini in 1979. He clearly said back then: “The US as well as the Soviet Union will collapse. America is the actual problem for the Islamic world. This country is not such a strong and powerful actor. Unlike common perceptions, it will collapse eventually.” According to him, Iran should consider this fact and determine regional and global politics.
In 1989, when the Soviet system and the Warsaw Pact collapsed, the world transitioned to a unipolar and unbalanced era. This was against the rules of nature, and it was impossible for this order to create a stable system. It has become evident after a painful, two-decade-long experience that such an order was impossible. Now, the world is experiencing a multipolar period.
Iran is one of the major obstacles before attempts to create this new world order. Major actors of world politics take measures to make sure that it will not exist on its own and that it will not take the initiative to create regional Islamic integration. However, Iran will determine its future in reliance on its own resources.
If Iran chooses the strategy of Iran for Islam, as promoted by Imam Khomeini, if it does not commit the mistake of pursuing its own national interests alone and if it perceives other Islamic countries as equals -- to do this, it has to establish a paradigmatic dialogue with Saudi Arabia by setting the sectarian differences aside and maintain close ties with Turkey and Egypt -- it will extensively contribute to regional peace, protect itself against global aggression and attract the support of Sunni masses in the Islamic world. However, if it pursues its national interests alone -- which will mean Islam for Iran -- this actor cannot be persuasive. In the new era and process, none of the countries in the region are able to survive on their own or have the potential to sustain their presence. Clear and transparent policies are influential. Tactics based on opportunism or cleverness are aborted in a very short time. This is of course a decision or call to be made by the Iranian people, responsible intellectuals, politicians and administrators.
Vital opportunities have emerged for Iran. For instance, Turkey's recent moves to improve relations with Syria and the Arab world are an asset and advantage for Iran. Thanks to this, Iran may establish a more constructive dialogue with the Arab world and base its relations with these countries on a reasonable and lasting ground.
Benzer Haberler 
