Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has called for transforming Islamic unity from a political slogan into a strategy based on justice, mutual security, shared interests and cooperation, stressing that differences among Muslims should never turn them into enemies.
Addressing the 40th International Islamic Unity Conference in Tehran on Thursday, President Pezeshkian said Islamic unity does not mean making all Muslims identical. Rather, unity means ensuring that religious, political and national differences do not lead Muslim nations to confront one another.
Unity does not mean becoming the same; it means that differences do not turn Muslims into each other’s foes, he said, adding that Shia Muslims would remain Shias and Sunni Muslims would also remain Sunnis, while diverse schools of jurisprudence and theology, along with different nations, governments and national interests, would continue to coexist.
Referring to the legacy of the martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, whose ideas were the focus of this year’s conference, President Pezeshkian said Islamic unity was viewed not as a temporary political tactic, but as a strategic principle for the dignity, independence and future of the Muslim world.
He said the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) had built a community with a shared destiny out of people with different tribes, histories and interests. In Medina, the Muhajirun (those who emigrated from Mecca) and the Ansar (migrants from Medina) became brothers, while the Aws and Khazraj, who had fought for years, were brought together under the Covenant of Medina.
President Pezeshkian stressed that unity must not mean abandoning truth or justice. If a Muslim is oppressed, Muslims must support the oppressed; if a Muslim is committing injustice, brotherhood requires preventing that person from continuing it, he nnoted.
The president argued that the Muslim world’s main problem is not a lack of resources or capabilities, but the failure to transform scattered capacities into common will and collective power. He said population without connection does not constitute power, wealth without cooperation cannot create shared strength, and natural resources without science and technology cannot guarantee independence.
President Pezeshkian proposed three measures: a mutual security and non-aggression pact among Islamic countries; a permanent mechanism for mediation and conflict prevention; and deeper economic, scientific and technological cooperation.
He also called for expanding cooperation in artificial intelligence, medicine, water, energy, agriculture and emerging technologies, as well as increasing intra-Islamic trade and investment.
Addressing Iran’s recent conflict, President Pezeshkian said Iran had not initiated the war but had strongly resisted aggression committed by the US and the Israelil regime. He said the attacks took place as Iran and the United States were engaged in diplomatic negotiations, assassinating commanders, officials, scientists, students and civilians and causing extensive damage to cities and infrastructure.
Islamic unity does not mean abandoning justice, President Pezeshkian said, urging Muslim countries to discuss not only common enemies but also their common future.