Iran has increasingly used the term “Axis of Resistance” to describe a network of state and militia forces united against Israel and the United States in the Middle East.
After the Hamas-Israel war began on October 7 last year, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, then Iran’s Foreign Minister, was often called the “Foreign Minister of the Axis of Resistance.”
Before he died in a helicopter crash in May, he often said that “the fingers of the region’s resistance forces are on the trigger.”
The “Axis of Resistance” has become one of the most frequently used phrases in the rhetoric of Iranian officials.
They consistently emphasize the strength and unity of the forces, presenting it as a symbol of solidarity and resistance against the Islamic Republic’s enemies.
One of the central objectives of the Axis of Resistance is to confront Israel and the United States, countries referred to as the “Great Satan” and the “Little Satan” by Iran.
In the early days of the war, Hassan Nasrallah said, “To the Americans, I say that threats and fear-mongering against us and the resistance movements in our region – whether they are movements or nations – are futile.
“You know, we received messages that if operations in the south continue, the U.S. not only plans to bomb you in Lebanon but also to bomb Iran… These fleets of yours in the Middle East waters do not scare us now, nor have they ever frightened us in the past.”
These objectives are not new. Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the Iranian government has established its opposition to Israel and the United States. Subsequent regional developments have provided Tehran with opportunities to pursue these goals.
In 2015, Ali Akbar Velayati, an international affairs advisor to Iran’s Supreme Leader, identified Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine as the “Axis of Resistance,” saying that the “primary duty” of these countries is not only to resist foreign domination but also to prevent U.S. influence in the region.
Axis of Resistance: A Strategy
In the view of officials and supporters of the Islamic Republic, the “Axis of Resistance” was established as a response to the global hegemonic system, which seeks to integrate the Middle East and Islamic countries into its order.
Meanwhile, the Islamic Republic claims to promote a new regional order and the creation of an Islamic civilization.
Ebrahim Fayaz, a professor at the University of Tehran, said, “The Axis of Resistance has now transformed from mere militarism into a civilizational dimension. It represents a geographical dimension of Islam and the Middle East and aims to shape the future.”
Tehran officials emphasize their influence in at least four capitals – Baghdad, Damascus, Beirut, and Sana’a – as a demonstration of their regional power.
The Islamic Republic claims to have gained influence by leveraging tools such as technological advancements, public opinion management, and religious democracy.
In the Islamic Republic’s narrative, the influence comes from the Axis of Resistance and its objectives, with its overarching goal being opposition to U.S. and Israeli influence in the Middle East.
Consequently, some describe the Axis as an “anti-hegemonic” force that seeks to alter regional dynamics in favor of Tehran’s vision and the so-called “Islamic liberation” forces.
Mohanad Hage Ali, a senior researcher on the Middle East at the Carnegie Center, likens the Iranian-backed proxy groups to “a kind of NATO for militant groups.”
The Axis of Resistance is not the Islamic Republic’s only strategy to confront hegemony. On one hand, they have threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz or launch missile attacks on the oil infrastructure of the Persian Gulf’s Arab states. On the other hand, hostage-taking is another key element of their approach.
Mohsen Rafighdoost, a former IRGC commander, said, “None of the world’s superpowers or regional powers dare to attack Iran. On one hand, the Islamic Republic possesses military capabilities that even the U.S. does not have. On the other, we have hostages from global powers, and if attacked, we would eliminate them within half an hour. Inshallah, circumstances will come for us to carry this out.”
What Are the Reasons Behind the Formation of the Axis of Resistance?
Various theories attempt to explain how the Axis of Resistance emerged. One theory suggests it is rooted in Iranian nationalism, which identifies the West as an enemy.
This perspective is deeply influenced by historical experiences, such as the bitter events of the Qajar dynasty and moments like the 1953 coup, which intensified mistrust toward the West.
The 1979 Islamic Revolution, with its slogan of “Independence,” amplified this sentiment, positioning Iran as the leader of a new front against Western dominance, particularly the United States and Israel.
In his book Axis of Resistance: The Islamic Republic of Iran and Regional Order, Mehdi Shapouri outlines additional theories about the rise of this coalition.
One view argues that after the Soviet Union’s collapse and the end of the Cold War, a power vacuum emerged in the Middle East, and the Axis of Resistance formed in response.
Another perspective suggests that regional pressures following the Islamic Revolution pushed the Islamic Republic to engage with non-state actors and establish the Axis.
The most widely accepted theory says that Iran actively created and supported the Axis based on the ideology of the Islamic Revolution.
All these theories attribute a central role to the Islamic Republic. From the start, Ruhollah Khomeini labeled the U.S. as the “Great Satan” and Israel as a “cancerous tumor” in the heart of the Islamic world.
In a speech after the revolution, Khomeini said, “We fight because we are men of battle. We will export our revolution to the entire world because our revolution is Islamic. And until the call of ‘There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is His messenger’ echoes across the globe, our fight will continue.
“As long as there is resistance anywhere in the world against the oppressors, we will stand with them. We defend the defenseless people of Lebanon and Palestine against Israel.”
This doctrine of exporting the Islamic Revolution and resisting the U.S. and Israel forms the foundation of the Axis of Resistance.
A pivotal moment that accelerated this strategy was the U.S. intervention in Kuwait in 1991 and the establishment of its first military base there.
To counter this threat, Tehran intensified efforts to strengthen or establish predominantly Shia groups across the region.
By providing financial, ideological, and military support, Iran empowered these militia groups. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), particularly its Quds Force, has played a vital role in coordinating these movements, from Hezbollah in Lebanon to the Houthis in Yemen and various groups in Africa. This strategy enables Iran to maintain both regional and transregional influence.
Following the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Iran launched an ideological project aimed at uniting the Islamic world against “Zionism.”
In one of his well-known speeches, Khomeini said, “I announce my support for the resilient Palestine and dear Lebanon,” and addressed Muslims and the oppressed worldwide, “Rise, unite and defend Islam,” he said.
These declarations reflected a deep belief in the framework of exporting the revolution. Grounded in the Islamic values of the 1979 Revolution, the Islamic Republic expanded its revolutionary ideology beyond its borders, supporting movements and groups across the Middle East that adopted “anti-imperialist and anti-Zionist stances.”
These efforts laid the foundation for what would later become known as the Axis of Resistance. The Islamic Republic’s constitution explicitly underscores this ideological mission.
The constitution envisions the formation of a “unified global Islamic community” through support for Islamic and popular movements and the triumph of the oppressed over the oppressors.
Military institutions such as the army and the IRGC are tasked with extending Islamic governance, while other entities, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, are required to collaborate in this mission and avoid compromising with oppressors.
Source » iranwire