The War That United the Iranian Nation: Intellectuals Warn Against Squandering Post-Conflict Social Cohesion

According to Saed News, a group of distinguished Iranian academics convened at the Institute for Labour and Social Welfare to examine the sociopolitical aftermath of Israel’s recent assault on Iran. The conference, titled “Social Solidarity and National Defense,” featured speakers including Hadi Khaniki, a communications scholar at Allameh Tabataba’i University, who underscored the need to protect the emergent “social capital” born out of national resistance.

Khaniki argued that the war served as a rare moment of convergence across political, generational, and ideological lines—an awakening of what he called “the essence of Iranian wisdom,” echoing Ferdowsi’s concept of kherad (intellect) in the Shahnameh. He warned, however, that this cohesion could quickly dissipate if decision-makers revert to pre-war inefficiencies, injustices, and suppression of civic freedoms.

“The war was a moment of symbolic clarity,” Khaniki said. “From artists to medics, from prisoners to guards, all became part of a single narrative of sacrifice.” He also called for greater intergenerational dialogue and recognition of Iran’s cultural plurality as integral components of resilience.

The scholars emphasized that Iranian media must abandon outdated tropes and instead offer inclusive, pluralistic storytelling that reflects the complexity of the national experience. “The true victory,” Khaniki concluded, “was the participation of all Iranians. That unity must not be squandered by political missteps or cultural myopia.”