From Karbala to Karabakh: Shia Mythology and Iran’s Strategic Narratives of the Fight Against Mercenaries

Abstract

When examining the foreign policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, it’s crucial to recognize the significant role that Shia mythology plays. While pragmatic policies and Realpolitik often guide its relations with other countries, the context of this policy and the national discourse is uniquely shaped by religious myths. In the political discourse related to Iran’s Middle Eastern policy, the fight against so-called takfiri groups, deemed apostates for declaring fellow Muslims as infidels, holds a central place. This struggle formed the basis of Iran’s Islamic-political justification for its involvement in Middle Eastern conflicts. Shia mythology plays a profound role in shaping this religious-political construct. During and after the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war, this mythology also penetrated Iran’s South Caucasus political discourse, where the Syrian mercenaries used by Azerbaijan were labeled as takfiri groups. In both the Middle East and the South Caucasus, the presence and actions of mercenaries have been portrayed and interpreted through the lens of this powerful mythology, which emphasizes the themes of resistance, martyrdom, and the defense of the oppressed. This mythological framework informs Iran’s domestic political discourse and extends to its foreign policy narratives, allowing the Iranian state to construct a coherent ideological justification for its threat perception notions.