Salehi Views Islam as Main Cause of Popular Uprisings in Region

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi described Islam, Islamic Awakening and Islamic Revolution as well as discontent with dictatorial regimes as the driving force of the recent popular movements in the region.
"These uprisings are independent and derived from ideology and Islamic awakening that finds its role model in the Islamic Revolution (of Iran in 1979)," Salehi told reporters on the sidelines of an international conference on 'Islamic awakening' here in Tehran on Tuesday.

He added that he believes Islamic causes stand atop the list of the people's demands since people's demand for human dignity and their slogans against autocracy and oppression are emphasized by Islam.

"Even those slogans that are used in these uprisings and seem to lack an Islamic root and identity are in essence Islamic," Salehi reiterated.

He further pointed to Iran's scientific and industrial achievements after the victory of the Islamic Revolutions in 1979, and added that people in the region are closely watching the progresses made by Iran during this period, "and this serves as a source of inspiration for their uprisings against their tyrannical rulers".

Earlier this month, Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei had also underscored the profound and vast influence of Iran's Islamic Revolution on the growing wave of Islamic awakening in the region, and voiced confidence about the desirable outcomes of the current popular uprisings.

"Thanks to Islam and Islamic Revolution, a public Islamic awakening has happened in the region today, which will definitely yield its results as it has already yielded its results in certain points," Ayatollah Khamenei said, addressing a group of Iranian people here in Tehran.

"The more the people's determination, faith and readiness for sacrifice grows, the higher the chances of victory will be," the Leader continued.