In a meeting with Sunni clerics and clergymen on Sunday, Raisi warned against the spread of Takfiri currents in the region.
Describing Muslim unity as a “strategy, not a tactical affair” for the Islamic Republic, the Iranian president said, “We must remain vigilant against the infiltration of Takfiri and Salafi thoughts into the country. British Shiism and American Sunnism are two sides of the same coin and both are against unity in the Islamic world.”
He also highlighted the significant role of Sunni clerics in the history of Iran, saying Sunni intellectuals have provided remarkable services to the homeland as the Shiite and Sunni Muslims have lived in coexistence for years.
In remarks in October 2021, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei described Muslim unity as a fundamental matter, not a tactical one.
“The unity and solidarity of Muslims is not a tactic in the way as some people now think that we should be united because of certain circumstances. No, it is a matter of principle. The cooperation of Muslims is necessary. If Muslims are united, they will help each other and all will become strong. When this cooperation exists, even those who want to interact with non-Muslims, which is alright, will enter into this interaction with full hands,” the Leader said in a meeting with the government officials of the Islamic Republic and foreign participants in the 35th International Islamic Unity Conference.