Islamic Republic of Iran and Religious Branding; Anti-System Revolutionary Acts in the International System

Today, the branding of a country and issuing a positive or negative portrayal of it is based on the various components of its software and hardware power. Nowadays, different nations in the world are branding themselves and portray it based on different components such as economics, culture, politics, governance, tourism, and so on. Now the question is that whether religion can really be the branding of a nation to represent and present itself in the world? Can the branding of religion be a positive and decisive element in raising a country and enhancing its soft power and subsequently spreading a positive image of it? The Islamic Republic of Iran seems to have been able to expand its areas of influence and power by branding religion, though this power has been influenced by the interests of powerful Western countries in times of anti-system and in opposition to the structure of the international system. The dual standards and norms of the international system have not recognized the religious branding of a nation and its legitimate interests because it is primarily concerned with religion and its use as a basis for influence and increasing power in conflict with the norms and interests of the great Western powers and their allies. The present article emphasizes that the Islamic Republic of Iran has been able to portray and present itself in the world with a religious brand, even though this portrayal was at times based on opposition to the international system.