Israel Alarmed by an Iranian Eulogist’s Travels
WANA (Dec 09) – Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) has expressed concern in a new report over Iran’s expanding cultural and religious activities in Thailand, citing the international trips of Meysam Motiei — a well-known Iranian religious reciter and professor at Imam Sadeq University — as a visible sign of this growing influence. According to the Israeli think tank, this trend could gradually affect Israel’s strategic position in Southeast Asia.
Over recent years, Motiei has undertaken a series of cultural-religious visits across Asia and Europe, meeting with Muslim communities — both Shiite and Sunni — and participating in local religious gatherings and commemorations. One of the trips that particularly drew the attention of Israeli analysts was his visit to Thailand last year, a country long viewed in Israeli foreign-policy assessments as a relatively low-risk environment.
In its report, INSS states:
“The Islamic Republic has intensified its efforts to expand its presence among Shiite communities in Thailand. The question is what impact this development may have on Israel.”
The institute points to the long historical roots of Iran–Thailand relations, noting that contacts between the two societies date back roughly 420 years, to the journey of Ahmad Qomi, an Iranian merchant and cleric whose visit laid the foundation for sustained ties. The report also highlights that in February 2025, Tehran and Bangkok signed a new economic agreement that led to a reported 25 percent increase in bilateral trade — a sign of gradually warming official relations.
Yet Israel’s chief concern, according to the analysis, is not economic or security cooperation, but rather Iran’s growing use of soft power tools. The INSS writes:
“Over the past year, Iran has strengthened the network of cultural and religious mechanisms operating in Thailand. Motiei’s visit represents one of the most visible signs of this trend — a journey linked to institutions such as Al-Mustafa International University, which maintains an active branch in Bangkok.”
The report notes that while Israel tends to focus on the Iranian nuclear program as its primary threat, countries like Thailand do not necessarily perceive the nuclear issue as a direct danger to their own security. Instead, Israeli analysts warn that Iran’s sustained cultural outreach and social engagement abroad — hallmarks of an effective soft-power strategy — pose a more subtle long-term challenge by shaping public perceptions and forging durable grassroots connections in regions far from the Middle East.
Drawing parallels with Europe, particularly Italy, the INSS observes that Iranian cultural centers often operate beyond purely artistic or educational missions, playing a role in political messaging and public diplomacy that serves Tehran’s broader strategic objectives. The institute further argues that these networks are central to organizing events such as annual Quds Day demonstrations in Thailand — rallies critical of Zionism and the Israeli government while expressing support for the “Axis of Resistance” and the Iranian state.
Motiei’s travels have not been limited to Asia. His visits have extended to multiple European countries, including Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Spain, Italy, and even the Vatican. He has also traveled to Lebanon, where he conveyed greetings from Iran’s Supreme Leader to the Lebanese people and delivered messages from local communities back to Tehran — a trip that attracted notable media attention.
Notably, these trips have reportedly been carried out on a grassroots and non-governmental basis, without direct state funding or official sponsorship — a factor that, according to international observers, enhances their credibility and localized impact. At the same time, some analysts argue that the success of such initiatives demonstrates the untapped potential of Iran’s cultural diplomacy institutions, which could pursue a more coordinated and strategic approach.
Overall, the INSS report reflects a shift in Israeli strategic thinking: beyond military and nuclear concerns, Iran’s soft-power reach is now viewed as an influential factor in regional and extra-regional dynamics — at times manifesting in something as modest yet symbolically potent as the visit of an Iranian religious figure to a Southeast Asian nation.
