September 23, 2025
Web desk
During the years of the Sacred Defense, Iran’s Sunni Muslims stood shoulder to shoulder with their Shia brothers, especially in border regions such as Kurdistan, Kermanshah, West Azerbaijan, and Sistan-Baluchestan. Thousands of Sunni fighters were martyred on the front lines, while local resistance groups emerged to defend their towns and villages. Sunni scholars also played a vital role, inspiring the youth with sermons that emphasized resistance and sacrifice for the homeland.
Religious minorities, though small in number, showed remarkable loyalty and courage. The Armenian and Assyrian communities sent young men to join combat units, with Christian fighters alone offering more than 90 martyrs. Many also worked in technical fields, repairing vehicles and equipment for the army. Zoroastrians and Jews contributed through both direct participation in battle and generous logistical and financial support, with several of their own remembered among the martyrs.
The Armenian community in particular stood out for its sacrifices. Figures like Vartan Abrahamian and George Petrosi became symbols of devotion, while Armenian doctors, nurses, and women volunteers served in field hospitals and behind the lines. Among the Zoroastrians, martyr Rostam Shahriari remains a respected name, while Jewish Iranians such as Fereydoun Setareh are remembered for their service on the battlefield and in humanitarian relief efforts.
From the Assyrian fighters guarding Iran’s western borders to the Christian, Jewish, and Zoroastrian families offering aid at home, the Sacred Defense highlighted a unity that transcended faith and ethnicity. Mosques, churches, synagogues, and fire temples all stood in solidarity, creating a lasting image of shared sacrifice. That unity, rooted in Iranian-Islamic values, continues to shape Iran’s collective memory of the war as a symbol of national resilience.
