The Islamic Republic of Iran has faced the complex phenomenon of “soft war” in recent decades, which specifically targets the religious, national, and revolutionary identity of the younger generation. This article aims to explain an effective strategy for countering this aggression by analyzing the concept of “propaganda” in the thought of Imam Khomeini (RA) and elevating it to the level of a comprehensive strategy under the title of “Jihad of Clarification.” The present study adopts a descriptive-analytical approach and employs qualitative content analysis. The primary data were collected through the study and systematic note-taking of foundational sources, particularly the collected works of Imam Khomeini (Sahifeh-ye Imam). These data were subsequently integrated with and analyzed in conjunction with theoretical concepts in the fields of soft war (Joseph Nye and John Collins), propaganda (Jacques Ellul), and developmental psychology (Erik Erikson) in order to develop a coherent conceptual framework.
The findings indicate that Imam Khomeini’s proposed strategy for countering soft war rests on several key pillars: (1) a precise understanding of the nature and dimensions of the adversary’s psychological operations; (2) redefining “propaganda” as an enlightening intellectual jihad (“Jihad of Clarification”) that, rather than relying on exaggeration, is grounded in neutralizing false narratives and representing the truth; (3) emphasizing the key components of a propagator’s effectiveness, including source credibility (knowledge, faith, and consistency between words and actions), awareness of the times, and an understanding of contemporary circumstances; and, most importantly, (4) the need for a strategic transition from a one-way communication approach to a two-way, paternal, and compassionate interaction with the younger generation in order to prevent the penetration of syncretic ideas and empower them. This study concludes that immunizing society against soft war requires the effective implementation of the “Jihad of Clarification” strategy. Success in this endeavor depends on intellectual and cultural elites giving due consideration to the concerns of the younger generation and establishing empathetic dialogue with them, thereby transforming young people into the foremost defenders of the intellectual and cultural frontiers of the Islamic Revolution.