Ideological Resilience: Do U.S.-Israeli Strikes Strengthen Iran’s Internal Resolve?

Following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on February 28, 2026, experts suggest the conflict is shifting from a purely military confrontation into a deep-seated ideological struggle. Hossein Dabbagh, an Assistant Professor at Northeastern University London, argues that rather than weakening the state, these external attacks are consolidating public support by tapping into powerful religious and nationalist narratives.

Central to this domestic resilience is the Shia political theology of "Shahadat" (martyrdom) and the historical resonance of the Battle of Karbala. By framing the current war as a struggle of "righteousness against injustice," Tehran has successfully transformed military setbacks into a narrative of sacred resistance. This "siege mentality" has reportedly unified even those who were previously critical of the clerical establishment, as the demand for "unconditional surrender" from the Trump administration is perceived as a threat to Iranian national sovereignty and identity.

While the physical infrastructure of Iran has suffered significant damage, the conflict appears to be revitalizing the state’s anti-imperialist rhetoric. Analysts warn that while tactical victories like destroying missile sites are achievable for the U.S. and Israel, the ideological framework of the Iranian state may become more entrenched. As long as the conflict is viewed through the lens of martyrdom, the "foundational myths" of the Islamic Republic are likely to endure, potentially making the regime’s ideological core more resistant to external pressure in the long term.