Examining the effects of religious-identity elements on Iran's national identity

The most important elements of Iranian national identity are the existence of two elements: Shiite Islam and Iranianness. Along with Shiite Islam, which has been one of the most important factors in the identification of Iranians against the Ottoman Turks and Arabs, the element of Iranianness, which includes elements such as Iranian tribes and their subcultures, Iranian civilization, rituals, and cultural heritage, has also been very important factors in creating the identity and national cohesion of Iranians. For this reason, creating a balance with respect to the elements that constitute Iranian identity by Iranian government officials is very important. With the establishment of the Islamic Republic in Iran, the decision-makers of the system considered the most important factor in the identification of Iranians to be the religious-identity element and believe that other elements of Iranian identity are of secondary importance. Giving priority to religious-identity elements and narrowing Iran to Shiite Islam can create identity and security challenges for the national identity of Iran, as well as the nation and people of Iran, especially within the borders of that country. Among the consequences of this policy, we can mention the growth of sub-national identities such as religious, ethnic, and local identities. Common values ​​in which a particular value of members of society can be accepted and recognized. Thus, according to Haunt's theory, it can be imagined that these three forms of identification relations are social preconditions for identity formation, and therefore, ignoring them or preferring a specific identity-religious area will lead to divergence and weakening of national cohesion.