Read this in The Manila Times digital edition.
FEB. 11, 2024 is the Islamic Republic Day of Iran and the 45th anniversary of the victory of the Islamic Revolution in Iran.
Just a few days ago, we also celebrated the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Iran and the Philippines. Our relations had roots in the ancient maritime trade routes in the region, as part of the maritime Silk Road hundreds of years ago.
In the modern era, Iran — being the first destination for Overseas Filipino Workers in West Asia — brought the two nations' relationship even closer. Iran's foreign policy toward the Philippines is based on the look-east strategy and the idea that both nations are determined for their independence, freedom and national sovereignty, to live in peace and security, and to ensure prosperity for our present and future generations.
Iran, also known as Persia, is home to one of the world's oldest civilizations with more than 7,000 years of documented human history. Enjoying a significant status in the world heritage, Iran was widely acknowledged as the cradle of civilization.
The Islamic revolution succeeded 45 years ago in 1979 in a peaceful way in Iran, establishing a republic instead of a monarchy. There were two key points in understanding the reasons behind the Islamic Revolution.
The first point is that the Islamic Revolution of Iran was against internal tyranny and its most important discourse was religious democracy in the direction of people's control over their fate.
In the period ruled by Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, Iranian people did not have sovereignty over their fate. The representatives in the National Assembly and the Senate were appointed selectively and by order. People were deprived of freedom of speech, of the pen and thought.
The revolutionaries and the noble people were sent to prison and tortured. Freedom of speech was at its record low and the security organization of "Sazman-e Etelaat Va Amniat Keshvar" or Organization of Intelligence and Security of the Country had intruded into people's private lives and gatherings, and meted out harsh treatment toward the dissidents.
From the very beginning, Imam Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini revealed his anti-tyranny position and introduced and uncovered the monarchy as the symbol of dictatorship.
The second point is that the Islamic Revolution was against foreign domination because, in the Pahlavi period, Iran's dependence on foreign powers — including the United States (US) — in different cultural, political, economic and military dimensions was at its highest level.
Any of those foreign powers plundered the country's national resources. The current leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said: "There is no greater humiliation for a nation than dependence. The Iranian government during the inauspicious idolatrous Pahlavi regime — a humiliated and corrupted regime stuck in the swamp of dependence — was born dependent in origin."
So, a significant achievement of the Islamic Revolution was the elimination of reliance on foreigners and gaining independence. The slogan of "neither the East nor the West-[but] the Islamic Republic," as well as "Independence, freedom — the Islamic Republic" was what the Iranian revolutionaries asked for in their homeland and their shift on the path to progress and excellence.
In the military, the Iranian army and its commanders were under the control of American generals, who played the role of the Persian Gulf gendarme to prevent the dominance of the Soviet Union in the region. After the victory of the Islamic Revolution, the conditions were transformed and considerable developments occurred particularly during the Holy Defense against Saddam Hussein's invasion.
The outcome of the imposed war appeared in the defense industries and the development of self-confidence in the Iranian defense industry. Today, the Islamic Republic of Iran is one of the strongest deterrent missile and drone powers in the world that is both indigenous and under the management of Iranian forces.
Iran's independence led to the undeniable influence and presence of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Western Asia. Today, Iran, as a stabilizing and anti-terrorist power, is the main obstacle to the realization of the arrogant goals of the US and Israel in the region.
The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria and other terrorist groups founded by the US and its regional allies were defeated in Iraq and Syria with the blessing of the Islamic Revolution. Palestine is on the route to freedom, and Yemen is gaining its independence after years of fighting against foreign invasions.
The paramount achievements of the Islamic revolution have paved the way for setting considerable records in the pursuit and implementation of sustainable development.
Since then, the Iranian people have been moving their path towards social development and economic growth. We have made progress in various fields such as infrastructure, agriculture, industry, medicine, nanotechnology, nuclear energy, aerospace engineering, chemistry, physics and biotechnology.
Independence was a significant and influential achievement of the Islamic Revolution. The Iranian nation will handle all its problems, particularly the cruel sanctions relying on this endowment and lack of dependence on foreigners, and will move along the path to excellence and progress, relying on its internal resources.
One of the outcomes of the country's independence was in the economy, which led to the country's self-sufficiency and lack of dependence on foreigners by relying on domestic capabilities and moving in the path to making the economy resistant.
Iran and the Philippines have a long history of economic cooperation. There is great potential in both developing countries for further cooperation, with both countries signing an memorandum of understanding on scientific and technical cooperation in 1964.
This is renewed several times including in 2019, which covers several priority areas such as agriculture and biotechnology, medicine and pharmaceuticals and nanotechnology. A Master of Science in Nanotechnology program; procurement of biomedical devices and acquisition of Tocilizumab vials were currently the three projects under the Philippines-Iran partnership.
At present, there are around 1,200 Filipinos in Iran. Of this number, 999 are permanent migrants, mostly married to Iranian nationals.
Iran and the Philippines is a good example of the close and peaceful coexistence of different religions. Abrahamic religions contained strong warrants for peacemaking. Inter-religious dialogue could be the basis for the creation of a world free of war, terror and extremism.
The world would be facing exponential challenges at regional and international levels. Hegemonic and unbridled unilateralism adopted by some powers had brought about a new era of unrest and instability for the international community.
Their pathological resort to unilateralism, through the imposition of illegal sanctions and suppressing other countries' development by waging economic terrorism against them, were openly in contrast to the norms of international law and human rights.
These have not affected or will not affect our unwavering determination toward our vision for building a peaceful world. Iranian people have paid a heavy price in realizing their ideals, but they have learned invaluable lessons and gleaned a lot of knowledge on self-confidence, self-reliance and unity. These were the building blocks of the new character of Iran and the Iranian people.
President Ebrahim Raisi's "Look east "policy is giving priority to Asian countries including members of The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean). Iran's integration into the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and Brics or Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa was in line with this policy, wherein Teheran had focused on relations with non-Western and Asian states in the areas of diplomacy, commerce and security cooperation.
We are a member of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia and have significant trade with some members of the Asean. Hence, we would like to increase economic relations between Iran and the Philippines. The two nations can also start people-to-people exchanges that cover different fields. Filipinos can travel to Iran with an electronic visa.
Iran is a vast country in the Middle East that has its beauty in each season. Iran's tourist attractions included its beautiful beaches, lush mountains, wonderful weather in all four seasons, ancient historical sites and monuments that demonstrate Iran's rich culture and civilization.
The unique places in Iran would attract any tourist in the world. The 26 United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization World Heritage Sites rank our country as one of the richest countries in the world in terms of natural and historical treasures. Also, there were several ancient and historical churches and sacred Christian sites in Iran that you must visit.
In the end, let us pray for the welfare and prosperity of the government and the people of the Philippines, and the ever-expanding friendship of our two nations.
Maraming Salamat po, Mabuhay! (Thank you very much. Long live, everyone)!