Crescent International
February 11, 2026 marks 47 years of the victory of the Islamic revolution in Iran.
The Rahbar, Imam Seyyed Ali Khamenei had urged people to participate in these commemorations in large numbers.
Millions came out in nearly 1400 cities across Iran, especially in Tehran, in response to the Rahbar’s call.
They braved freezing temperatures, rain and snow to express their support for the Islamic revolution.
It was a tight slap on the face of the enemies and their media outlets that have been projecting an image of Iran on the verge of collapse.
Addressing the massive rally at Tehran’s iconic Azadi Square, President Masoud Pezeshkian said, “The people of Iran rose up to establish justice, ensure independence, and show the world that Iranians and Muslims can, with their ability, will, knowledge, and skill, build their country and bring dignity and freedom.”
Every foreign visitor to Iran has come away greatly impressed by the people’s commitment to the revolution and Iran’s progress despite the stifling sanctions.
From its network of highways to high rise buildings, Tehran represents a city bustling with activity.
This is not to suggest that its journey has been uneventful.
In the 47-year period, Islamic Iran has faced multiple crises, all engineered from abroad.
It has faced assassination of thousands of leading figures, terrorism of the munafiqeen, internal sabotage, wars and sanctions.
It has withstood all these challenges and taken remarkable strides in many fields, including scientific and nuclear fields.
Other countries would have folded long ago. Not so, the Islamic Republic.
What accounts for such resilience?
In one word, Islam.
This needs elaboration.
Iran’s adherence to the principles of Islam that nurtures the spirit of sacrifice has enabled it to withstand all these pressures.
Even more specifically, the example of Imam Husain’s struggle and sacrifice are deeply ingrained in their psyche.
It enables them to overcome every challenge.
Further, committed Muslims led by muttaqi leadership are not afraid of death.
Martyrdom is courted, not shunned.
Few other people can demonstrate such commitment underpinned by religious values.
People with this level of commitment can never be defeated.
Soon after the victory of the Islamic revolution, Iran held a referendum to approve the Constitution.
It called for the establishment of the Islamic Republic.
More than 98% of the people voted in favour.
The victory of the Islamic revolution was preceded by a year of peaceful protests against the brutal US-zionist puppet regime of the Shah.
He fled the country when his heavily-armed forces, despite killing an estimated 80,000 people, could not subdue them.
Millions came out day after day, including mothers carrying infants in their arms, demanding the Shah’s removal.
The spirit of resistance has endured.
This is remarkable.
Keeping the revolutionary spirit alive for so long is not possible without strong faith and ideology.
This is not to suggest that there was no opposition from within.
There was what the late Dr Kalim Siddiqui described as the “liberal soft centre” of the revolution represented by people like Bani Sadr and Sadeq Qutbzadeh.
Imam Khomeini gave them an opportunity to serve the people based on Islamic values but they were too westernised to appreciate the values of Islam.
They worked from within to undermine the Islamic revolution.
Bani Sadr was made the president yet he had to flee the country when the Majlis (Parliament) launched impeachment proceedings against him.
Qutbzadeh, appointed foreign minister, was executed after his failed coup attempt against the Wilayat-e Faqih (Imam Khomeini).
Remnants of the “liberal soft centre” still exist in Iran.
It comprises a tiny minority who believe surrendering to the west, especially the US, will end Iran’s problems.
These misguided people do not realize that even the American people have wisened up to the criminal nature of their rulers.
Why should the US care for the people of Iran?
The liberals (aka Reformists) have learnt no lessons from the plight of the people of Iraq, Libya and Syria.
America is the enemy of humanity.
If it does not care for its own people so why would it care for others living thousands of miles away?
Islamic Iran’s core lessons endure: popular mobilisation underpinned by Islamic values can defeat empire.
Instead of surrendering to US-western sanctions, self-reliance has led to success.
Imam Khamenei has always urged the development of resistance economy.
It has brought dividends in many fields, including scientific, nuclear, missile technology and agriculture.
Iranian officials have found creative ways to bypass America’s illegal sanctions.
Learning from Iran’s experience, other countries have also adopted its anti-sanctions program.
This is not to suggest that Tehran has had 100% success but without developing creative ways, its economic situation would be much worse.
After the failure of the 12-day criminal war launched jointly by zionist Israel and the US, the terrible duo instigated an internal insurrection in January.
They exploited people’s genuine grievances arising from high prices caused by a precipitous decline in the currency.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent admitted at the Senate hearings that the US engineered the currency collapse.
The Islamic Republic and the masses defeated this foreign-instigated conspiracy.
Donald Trump and Israeli officials have admitted that they were behind the violent riots.
The rioters’ failure led Trump to threaten Islamic Iran militarily.
Tehran called his bluff and warned that any attack on Iran would result in a very strong response.
American military bases in the region, its naval vessels as well as the zionist entity would be hit hard.
Trump had to back down and beg for a negotiated settlement with Iran (see also here).
We must finally ask: why are the US, zionist Israel and the collective west so opposed to the Islamic Republic?
There are two principal reasons for their relentless opposition.
First, Iran has broken loose from the western-crafted world order imposed after the Second World War.
Even western countries have realized that this order is crumbling and are abandoning it.
The second is Islamic Iran’s unwavering support for the Palestinians’ struggle for their fundamental rights and freedom from zionist occupation.
Iran’s principled opposition to the zionist settler colony has inspired global struggles for justice.
The Global South now stands with Iran.
Tehran’s principled stand has won admirers even among people in the west.
America’s domination is coming to an end, and with it, the demise of the illegitimate zionist entity.
Despite illegal sanctions, sabotage and other difficulties placed in the path of the Islamic Republic by imperialists and Zionists, the peop...
