The policy of exporting the Islamic Revolution
The policy of exporting the Islamic Revolution () is a strategy in Iran's foreign policy that believes in exporting the teachings of the Iranian Revolution of 1979 to achieve similar examples in Islamic and even non-Islamic countries. This policy has been explicitly and at various times announced by Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran. One of the basic slogans of the Islamic Revolution of Iran, which has won based on religious ideology, is the export of the revolution. Accordingly, the purpose is exporting the revolution as a culture , ideology and an intellectual and epistemological method. Origins. In Ruhollah Khomeini's thought, the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, with the development of the responsibilities of the Islamic system, the purpose of establishing such a system is defined at three levels: national, regional (Islamic) and global. Therefore, his comprehensive approach to the Islamic political system during the absence of the Infallible Imam is extroverted and cosmopolitan. That is, he considers the effort to expand the influence of Islam in the world as the original responsibility of the Islamic government beyond national borders. In Khomeini's view, the way  to success of such an Islamic cosmopolitan approach is to issue a revolution that has led to the establishment of an efficient Islamic government. The idea of export is the common ideal of most revolutions, although the type and nature of such action varies in their types. In Khomeini's thought and political life based on religious principles, export has its own characteristics. In this approach to realistic idealism, the export of the Islamic Revolution is a two-pronged strategy that, based on the interests of both parties, leads to the pursuit of national interests while pursuing transnational responsibilities. Backgrounds  and origins of the theory of exporting the Islamic Revolution are as follow: The first successful "Islamic" political revolution. Iran introduced the first successful "Islamic" political revolution to the world; A revolution based on Islam and the slogan "Allahu Akbar" and based on Shiite ideology and symbolism and with the leadership of the clergy. With Iranian Revolution of 1979, Muslims around the world are blessed and benefited with the rise of the concept of Islamic identity and the return of Muslim pride and authority in a world dominated by superpowers. In addition, Khomeini considered the Iranian experience as a guide  for political and ideological change in the Muslim world. His plan was to unite all Muslims in a political and cultural struggle against East and West. By winning this struggle, Iran was ready to propagate its principles in its own country and in the outside world. The principles of ideology of Islamic Iran, which were immediately introduced in the world, have some indicators, some of which are mentioned below: Accordingly, from the very beginning of the Iranian revolution of 1979, the export of the revolution was considered as one of the main goals of it. The ideal of exporting the  revolution is not limited to the Islamic Revolution of Iran, but even in the universities of Europe and the Americas in the last two centuries is considered as part of the mission abroad of all revolutions. Unbalanced theories. In total, three theories about "The policy of exporting the Islamic Revolution" have been proposed by Iranian thinkers and officials after the presentation of this theory by Khomeini. Khomeini (1st Supreme Leader of Iran) and Khamenei (2nd Supreme Leader of Iran) offer a precise position that partially refutes all these three theories. They prove that the concept of "The policy of exporting  the Islamic Revolution" is to exporting Islamic spirituality and Islamic values. According to Khomeini, the goals of "The policy of exporting the Islamic Revolution", are based on the following principles: The first view: opposition to the export of the revolution. A group of Iranian nationalists, regardless of the effective and deterrent international factors, considered the plan to export the revolution and pursue it to be a wrong and harmful thing. Pretending to be Islamic thought, the group focused its movement on nationalism. Because the revolution did not take place in the form of a cohesive party or organization, it was  an opportunity for this view to flourish. The slogan of national reconstruction in a format in harmony with the international system and custom, regardless of the revolutionary conditions, was the first teaching of the proponents of this view, and therefore they opposed the export of the revolution by declaring priority to domestic reconstruction. Of course, the reconstruction of the country was just a slogan. This group believed that all axes of development and growth should be spent on Iran's interests and that Iranianness should be considered the main axis for growth. And global sensitivities must be avoided. They disliked  the value treatment of the world system, emphasizing in their slogans a free and independent Iran, communication with all countries and joining the existing global community. They considered Islamic values and the revolution acceptable as the borders of Iran and considered the export of the revolution as an act contrary to international norms. The members of the Interim Government of Iran and Mehdi Bazargan were from this group. Criticism. This view is completely nationalistic and passive and has nothing to do with revolutionary conditions. This view restricting change and development within a kind of indifference to the international community. Khomeini  rejected this view by explicitly declaring that the export of the revolution was certain. Even if a nation want to think only of preserving their ideal country, they still need to think about exporting the revolution; Because a country that wants to be independent and not be dominated by any power in the world will certainly be attacked and will need to have a strong foothold in other parts of the world to use this capacity when defending itself. The second view: military export. Some who were revolutionary elements and considered national borders to be the construction of the colonial  era also believed in the military export of the revolution. Proponents of this view believed in conspiracy theory. They attributed any disorder, backwardness, cultural petrification, and demarcation to the planned conspiracy of the colonial powers. The main goal of this view was the constant and continuous attack on the value and status and attempt to destroy other regimes. The group focused on the use of military, guerrilla, and intelligence capabilities, and the arming of liberation movements and endangering the foundations of authoritarian regimes. This view quickly gave way to the first view. In this view, national interests are assumed to  be the same as ideal interests, and ideological interests are given priority in foreign policy from a violent and repressive position. In this view, any acceptance of international law was rejected and all their institutions and organizations and their laws were considered totally unacceptable. The realization of revolutionary values and the destruction of these systems through the use of force was considered. Criticism. This view was rejected by Khomeini in that it allowed the use of any means. This method and military invasion of the Islamic countries of the Third World is reminiscent of exploitative methods. The destruction of national  borders is considered a dangerous and destructive move. Khomeini says: ""When we say that our revolution should be exported everywhere, they should not take the wrong meaning from this that we want to conquest countries. We know all Muslim countries from ourselves. All countries must be in their place. We want this thing that happened in Iran and this awakening that happened in Iran and the way that Iranian people distanced themselves from the superpowers and cut off superpower's hands from their own reservoirs, this to happen in all nations and in all governments, this is our wish."" The  third view: theory of Umm al-Qura and building a pattern society. Proponents of this view believed that Iranians should build a single pattern nation at home and use all revolutionary, legal and even violent military means to achieve this goal. In relation to the outside world, they pursued a policy of peaceful politics combined with opportunism and believed that wherever the national interests demanded and the conditions were ready, Iranian should strike at the dependent and authoritarian regimes and if the conditions were not suitable, Iranian should continue the current situation by compromising. This view was a combination of  the last two view, and its proponents believed that as long as Iranian could not stabilize the situation at home, they should not take an aggressive stance against the international community, but after Iranian could improve the situation at home and achieve our goals, they must gradually enter into conflict with the world community and the environment. If Iranian interests are at stake and conflict and violence are not working, it is necessary to reach an international compromise and reach an understanding with the powerful countries. In this view, the use of all means to achieve revolutionary goals was considered  legitimate and acceptable. Criticism. This view is also a kind of passive stance due to the existence of a kind of opportunism in it and since it pays the attacks on the international community, however in a limited extent, it rejected by Khomeini's view. Ruhollah Khomeini’s view. The concepts that Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, has explicitly mentioned about "The policy of exporting the Islamic Revolution" are as follows: Ali Khamenei’s view. Ali Khamenei, 2nd Supreme Leader of Iran, agrees with Khomeini's view about the export of the revolution and says  in this regard: ""How much the global propaganda slammed the words of our dear Imam (Khomeini) who said: "We will export our revolution to the whole world." The exporting of the revolution did not mean that we would get up and go this way and that with force and power and start a war and force the people to revolt and revolution; This was not the intention of the Imam (Khomeini) at all. This is not part of our policies and principles; It is rejected. This is how they interpreted this sentence so slammed it."" He also says about the  meaning of exporting the revolution: ""The meaning of the exporting the revolution is that the nations of the world see that a nation with its own strength, relying on its will and determination, and relying on God, can stand and not give up. If the nations see this stability, they will believe and be encouraged to save themselves from the burden of oppression."" Khamenei also says about "exporting the revolution means exporting the humanizing culture of Islam": ""After the victory of the Islamic Revolution of Iran, the leaders of world propaganda started a controversy over the exporting of the revolutionary  culture of Islam and they begin to advertising invasion on the concept of the exporting of the revolution (with the wrong meaning that they presented from the export of the revolution). All media outlets around the world rely on the fact that the Islamic Republic is trying to export the revolution! Their malice is that they introduce the export of the revolution as the export of explosives and the creation of conflicts in the corners of the world and such things!! This, like the rest of the Western malice propaganda, is a vicious ploy."" Khamenei goes on to say: ""Exporting  the revolution means exporting the humanizing culture of Islam and exporting sincerity and purity and relying on human values. We are proud of this work and this task. This is the way of the prophets and we must continue this way."" He also says in this regard: ""The exporting of this revolution (Iranian revolution) means the export of revolutionary values and the revelation of the tyrants and oppressors of the world, it is our divine duty. If we do not do this, we did negligence."" General principles of the policy of exporting the Islamic Revolution. According to the views of  Ruhollah Khomeini (the founder and first Supreme Leader of Iran) and Ali Khamenei (2nd Supreme Leader of Iran), the following general principles can be inferred about "the policy of exporting the Islamic Revolution": In the constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The propagation of the Islamic Revolution is one of the most important points that has been given enough attention in the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The concept of "the policy of exporting the Islamic Revolution" as one of the main components of "neither Eastern nor Western policy" in relation to the issue of independence and  countering infiltration against the influence of foreign powers makes sense; "The policy of exporting the Islamic Revolution" itself is a kind of strategic orientation that aims at the formation of independent governments based on religious values and teachings in Islamic countries. The preamble to the Iranian constitution states: ""Given the content of the Islamic Revolution of Iran, which was a movement for the victory of the oppressed over the arrogant, the constitution provides the basis for the continuation of this revolution at home and abroad, especially in expanding international relations with other Islamic and popular movements, to pave the way  for the formation of a single world nation and to continue the struggle for the salvation of oppressed and deprived nations throughout the world."" Article 154 of the constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran clearly states the purpose of propagation of the revolutionary and Islamic idea, and also expresses its determination to achieve it. This principle bind up the Islamic Republic of Iran to supporting oppressed and deprived nations. According to the Article 154, this support is accompanied by complete abstention from any interference in the internal affairs of other nations and no request does not entail. Also, in  Paragraph 16 of Article 3 of the constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran obliges to regulate the foreign policy of the country according to the standards of Islam, brotherly commitment to all Muslims and unwavering support for the oppressed of the world.