A new report by a research institute finds that Iran’s state school textbooks promote violent martyrdom, normalize militarization, and reinforce strong anti Western sentiment. According to the study, the country’s revolutionary Islamist ideology is deeply embedded across subjects and grade levels, presenting education as a vehicle for preserving the ruling system’s political and religious worldview.

Textbooks glorify figures such as Qasem Soleimani, portraying him as a heroic martyr who defended the nation and confronted the United States. The curriculum repeatedly characterizes the United States as a primary دشمن and frames confrontation as justified and necessary. Students are taught that Western powers seek to undermine Iran and prevent the spread of its Islamic culture, fostering a sense of constant external threat.

The report also highlights the militarization of youth through defense readiness courses, weapons training, and lessons that elevate martyrdom seeking above other forms of sacrifice. Iran’s nuclear program is depicted as a source of national pride tied to revolutionary perseverance. Following the June 2025 twelve day war, new educational materials were introduced to reinforce narratives of resistance and national unity, further embedding wartime ideology into the school system.