Continuity and Change in the Islamic Republic’s Vision of Regional Order: The Palestinian Cause in Iranian Foreign Policy

Since 1979, the Islamic Republic has framed itself as a revolutionary anti-imperialist state that advocates for the oppressed, with the Palestinian cause as a central pillar of its ideological framework. No other country has been so consistently supported in words and deeds. To understand the significance of the Palestinian cause in the Islamic Republic’s vision of regional order requires placing Palestine within the Islamic Republic’s foundational narrative of resistance, anti-imperialism, and independence. True to its nature as a revolutionary state, the Islamic Republic challenges the existing regional and global order, advocating for change and resistance to great power politics while presenting itself as a steadfast defender of the oppressed. This revolutionary narrative established Palestine as a symbol of the Islamic Republic’s commitment to anti-imperialism and resistance. In contrast, Israel is framed as an illegitimate colonial entity imposed by Western imperialists, with Israel’s existence seen as but an extension of U.S. dominance in the Middle East.1 The hostility toward Israel, which became a defining feature of Tehran’s foreign policy after 1979, stems from both ideological convictions and strategic considerations.