Systematic Principle of Conflict between National Interests and Islamic Community Expediencies (With an Emphasis on the Viewpoint of Āyatollāh Khāmeneii)

The purpose of the present study is to answer this research question: from the view of Āyatollāh Khāmeneii, what is the relationship between national interests and Islamic community expediencies? The common viewpoint in finding an answer to this question is based on the likelihood of conflict between these 2 categories and search for finding out the priority aspect of one over another. However, from the view of Āyatollāh Khāmeneii, it can be concluded that based on belief in 3 concepts named as consistency between national interests and theoretical foundations of Islam, consistency between national interests and national identity, and consistency between national interests and international objectives, there is innately no conflict between national interests and Islamic expediencies because in his view, national interests of an Islamic country are not separated from the Muslims’ national identity and social culture derived from Islamic values. In his opinion, in many cases, the perception of conflict is out of ambiguity; and if theoretical and practical confusions in the foreign policy of the Islamic government are resolved and corrected, a major part of outer contradictions in practical aspects would also be removed. Sometimes, conflict is out of the illusion of interests or experiences. Islamic government by considering theoretical foundations of Islam and a realistic outlook based on the existing necessities, can provide suitable strategies and techniques in its foreign policy to sustain national interests and Islamic expediencies.