US and Iran Weaponize Ancient Myths to Justify Modern Military Campaigns

Since the outset of the US-Iran confrontation, policymakers in both capitals have repeatedly turned to antiquity to bolster their arguments. In early October, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio invoked the 480 BC Persian invasion of Greece while warning of a decline in Western civilization, echoing earlier Trump administration attacks on “Iranian civilization.” Meanwhile, Iranian officials draw on the 680 AD martyrdom of Imam Hussein at Karbala, casting contemporary setbacks as temporary defeats in a holy struggle.

The article argues that these historical analogies transform complex geopolitical disputes into binary, mythic battles, making it easier to justify sanctions, military posturing and internal repression. It also highlights a strategic pivot in US messaging after the Hormuz Strait closure, shifting focus from human-rights concerns to security threats, and compares this to the Bush era’s “crusade” rhetoric. By framing the conflict as a continuation of ancient Greek-Persian antagonism, both sides aim to secure popular backing and portray any opposition as existential.