This article attempts to demonstrate the legacy of Ibn Khaldun in Iran. We will show how his presence, thoughts, and works have left an influence on this country. Despite the fact that he lived in the 14th and 15th centuries, his thoughts are appropriate for discussion in the 20th century and have become sources of scientific and political judgments. In this article the evolution and importance of two intellectual traditions are examined: Orientalism and the return to self. In the first phase, the depiction of his thoughts arose from the rational and political paradigm and the tradition of Orientalism through an interaction with Western development. In other words, Ibn Khaldun’s thoughts were created with regard to Western development. The thought of Ibn Khaldun is important for explaining why Iran has distanced itself from the historical perspective rather evolving, developing and achieving a better status. With regard to the rational tradition of return to self, it can be claimed that Ibn Khaldun’s thoughts have been applied for reintroducing the historical past rather than moving toward the future.