May 19th marks the anniversary of the helicopter crash that led to the martyrdom of Iran’s late President, Hujjat al-Islam Seyyid Ebrahim Raisi. This tragic event, which resulted in the loss of a widely respected and beloved national figure, evoked deep sorrow across Iran and many other countries. In the immediate aftermath, a significant number of foreign delegates traveled to Tehran to offer condolences. During a meeting with the families of public service martyrs Imam Khamenei remarked on Raisi’s tireless character: “The late martyr Mr. Raisi did not distinguish between night and day and was, in the true sense of the word, tireless” (May 20, 2025). The Leader of the Islamic Revolution also emphasized in another statement: “We lost a distinguished personage. It is a heavy loss that can’t truly be compensated for” (May 22, 2025). In commemoration of this occasion, KHAMENEI.IR has reviewed President Raisi’s foreign policy achievements and constructive international engagements, highlighting the diplomatic priorities of the 13th Administration.
International engagement in Martyr Raisi administration: A multilateral approach
In a meeting with government officials on April 4, 2023, Imam Khamenei emphasized the importance of expanding Iran's international relations beyond traditional Western partners: "Foreign relations does not just refer to relations with America and a handful of European countries. There are two hundred and some countries in the world. Each of them has a capacity. These foreign connections can be used for this [purpose]," said Imam Khamenei on April 4, 2023. Previously, on March 10, 2016, he noted: "The world is vast, and power is now dispersed and shared."
Under President Raisi, Iran's foreign policy shifted from reliance on a few Western nations to a strategy characterized by "pragmatic revolutionism" or "justice-based multilateralism." This approach focused on neutralizing sanctions, annulling them where possible, and establishing balanced political and economic relations globally.
A review of President Raisi’s foreign trips and diplomatic engagements reveals his special attention to Asia, Africa, Latin America, and neighboring countries. Within less than three years, he visited multiple nations in these regions.
His efforts to expand ties with Asian countries drew appreciation from regional leaders. Presidents of Russia, China, Qatar, Pakistan, and Central Asian nations acknowledged his contributions to strengthening regional cooperation and thanked him during bilateral meetings.
Economy: The First Priority in Raisi’s International Strategy
Reviving and strengthening Iran’s economy was a top priority for President Raisi. A robust domestic economy was seen as essential not only for national resilience but also for smoother global economic relations. As emphasized by Imam Khamenei, such strength stems from boosting domestic production. In this regard, Raisi gave notable attention to domestic manufacturing.
On May 9, 2025, Imam Khamenei stated: "According to statistics provided to us, during the Raisi administration, 8,000 factories were revived… That was one of the proud achievements of that dear martyr."
While focusing on domestic industry, President Raisi also pursued broader economic relations at regional and global levels. On September 16, 2021, he attended the BRICS Summit in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, where he declared: "The priority of my government is economic, and we are seeking to expand economic ties in the region." At this summit, a goal was set to raise bilateral trade with Tajikistan to $500 million. A milestone achievement under Raisi’s administration was Iran’s accession to BRICS on January 1, 2024, joining Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. Additionally, Iran became a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), aligning itself with key regional powers such as China, Russia, and India.
His focus on economic diplomacy also materialized in expanding relations with Russia, across all sectors, then with Turkey, with a trade target of $30 billion, and then with Asia, Africa, and Latin America, through diversified trade strategies.
During meetings with presidents of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, both expressed keen interest in expediting the Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran corridor and finalizing the strategic Bandar Abbas–Central Asia railway. In extra-regional economic diplomacy, during Raisi’s 2023 trip to Cuba, CIGB executives confirmed joint efforts with Iran’s Pasteur Institute to produce vaccines.
His visit to Venezuela also reactivated the massive 20,000 m² “Megasis” Iranian Product Mall in Caracas, which had been stagnant for years, reestablishing a vital outlet for Iranian goods.
Just and Fair International Relations
In Raisi’s view, many dominant powers have exploited global relations solely for resource extraction, intentionally hindering the independence of partner nations by withholding technological transfers. In contrast, Raisi emphasized fair and reciprocal exchanges of knowledge and technology, particularly with friendly and neighboring nations.
At the sixth CICA Summit, he stated: "The Islamic Republic of Iran believes in securing the mutual interests of independent nations through cooperation."
During his 2023 visit to Venezuela, Raisi noted Iran’s valuable scientific and technological experiences in overcoming sanctions, offering to share these achievements with Caracas. He emphasized converting sanctions into opportunities—a model Iran had already begun implementing. He reiterated this message in meetings with leaders of Qatar and Pakistan, offering to exchange expertise and capacities in circumventing unjust sanctions.
Culture: A Key Dimension of Regional and Global Cooperation
Believing that culture drives politics and strengthens people-to-people ties, Raisi gave culture a prominent place in diplomacy. During a visit to Tajikistan, he paid respects at the tomb of Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani, a spiritual figure revered in Tajikistan, underscoring shared spiritual heritage.
Raisi consistently extended solidarity and congratulations on national days to other nations. His commitment to Islamic values was evident in his public observance of prayer, even during official meetings—for instance, pausing talks with President Putin to pray. The Grand Mufti of Russia later remarked: "Your prayer in the Kremlin was symbolic. Someone from Finland wrote to me saying that blessing has entered the Kremlin." In a high-level meeting with Venezuelan officials, Raisi described General Qassem Soleimani and Simón Bolívar as symbols of resistance against imperialism. Upon returning from his Latin American tour, he noted: "Latin American countries share a common discourse with Iran’s Islamic Revolution."
This cultural diplomacy fostered mutual closeness. A notable example was the renaming of a major boulevard in Islamabad to “Iran” during his visit to Pakistan.
Palestine: A Constant Principle in Raisi’s Regional Policy
Support for Palestine has always been a cornerstone of Iran’s strategic policies. Imam Khamenei affirmed this on April 24, 2001: "Support for Palestine, the Intifada, and resistance against Zionism and its backers is one of the main pillars of the Islamic Republic’s strategic policy." Raisi carried this principle forward, consistently advocating for the oppressed people of Gaza. Before his November 2023 visits to Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, he stressed that Gaza would be the central issue of those discussions, and criticized the inaction of international organizations as evidence of the world’s need for a new global order.
At the sixth CICA summit, he blamed the U.S. and the Zionist regime for the killing of civilians in Palestine, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, and Afghanistan, and called for an end to occupation and respect for the right of nations to self-determination.
In multiple meetings, he warned Islamic countries that silence or inaction on Israeli crimes would be a divine test, urging them to sever political and economic ties with the regime to halt its atrocities.
In a meeting with President Putin, Raisi described the killing of over 6,000 children in Gaza as a genocide and crime against humanity, made worse by Western and American support or silence, exposing the ineffectiveness of human rights organizations.
Religious Discourse: A Pathway for East–West Convergence
Raisi’s belief in interfaith unity and religious discourse led him to emphasize Christ’s message of justice during his visit to Latin America, stating that true Christianity opposes oppression.
In a meeting with Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari on April 22, 2025, Raisi spoke of the shared religious and cultural values between Iran and Pakistan, calling them foundations for deeper bilateral ties. Zardari, in response, praised the mutual devotion to the Ahl al-Bayt, especially Imam Reza (A.S.), as a spiritual bond uniting the two nations.
At the heart of Raisi’s cultural diplomacy was fostering Islamic unity. In a meeting with the Speaker of Algeria’s Parliament, he praised Algeria’s bold stance on Islamic causes and its clarity regarding Zionism. He also condemned the hostility of dominant powers like the U.S. and Israel toward independent nations, proposing closer cooperation between Iran and Algeria in support of the Islamic world.
Standing Against Oppression
Another key element of Raisi’s foreign policy was a steadfast opposition to global oppression. He frequently asserted that dominant powers aim to subjugate other nations, seizing their resources and denying them sovereignty.
In a 2023 meeting with Venezuelan lawmakers, Raisi commended their historic resistance against imperialism, honoring their national heroes as models for oppressed peoples seeking liberation.
In a speech in Managua’s Freedom Square, he declared: "The revolutions of Iran and Nicaragua are united in their pursuit of independence, freedom, and justice. Both are deeply rooted in struggles against U.S. dominance."
He also laid a wreath at the memorial of Nicaragua’s revolutionary leaders.
During a high-level meeting with Ugandan officials, Raisi praised Uganda’s stand against extremism and highlighted the shared anti-colonial spirit between Iran and Uganda. He criticized Western nations for undermining family values, promoting homosexuality, spreading extremism, and weaponizing human rights to pressure independent countries. He stressed that deepening cultural cooperation between Iran and Uganda would be a potent response to these foreign agendas.
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