An Analysis of Conceptual Metaphors in the Iranian Supreme Leader’s Stance toward Israel after October 7, 2023

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Associate Professor of Political Science, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, University of Gilan, Gilan, Iran.

2 Postdoctoral Researcher in Political Science, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, University of Gilan, Gilan, Iran.

3 Adjunct Professor of Political Science, Faculty of Law and Political Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.

Abstract
Metaphorical language has consistently served as a powerful tool in political discourse for shaping perceptions, framing conflicts, and mobilizing audiences. Within the context of the Iran–Israel conflict—particularly in the aftermath of the events of October 7, 2024—the speeches of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran are replete with metaphors that simultaneously convey moral, theological, and political meanings in a condensed and impassioned form.
Drawing on the conceptual metaphor theory developed by George Lakoff and Mark Johnson, and situated within the framework of cognitive linguistics, this study analyzes the metaphorical constructs present in Ayatollah Khamenei’s discourse regarding the Zionist regime. Metaphors such as “the melting of the occupying regime,” “a monstrous beast,” “the axis of evil,” and “the storm of resistance” not only reflect the political and ideological stance of the Islamic Republic of Iran, but also establish a cognitive framework for interpreting action, identity, and legitimacy in the conflict.
This research seeks to demonstrate how metaphorical language, through the fusion of moral and religious elements with political expression, shapes the political rhetoric of the Supreme Leader and plays a critical role in the construction of the resistance discourse, the redefinition of the enemy, and the articulation of legitimacy for the actions of the resistance front. The findings offer a novel perspective on the influence of conceptual metaphors in the discursive dynamics and cognitive strategies underpinning the Iran–Israel confrontation.

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Volume 20, Issue 2
No. 78
Spring 2025
Pages 111-144

  • Receive Date 21 March 2025
  • Revise Date 26 May 2025
  • Accept Date 14 June 2025