Tehran and Dushanbe; two powerful wings strengthening the Persian-speaking world / Success of Iranian short film in Spain

Pars Today – The head of the International Affairs Center of Iran’s Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts emphasized the necessity of forming and strengthening a union for Persian language and culture.

According to Pars Today, Hojatollah Ayoubi, head of the International Affairs Center of Iran’s Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts, and Matlubakhon Sattoriyan, the Minister of Culture of Tajikistan, met on Tuesday on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meeting of culture ministers. 

During the meeting, both sides stressed the unbreakable cultural and civilizational ties between Iran and Tajikistan, rooted in their shared history, language, and thought. 

Ayoubi highlighted the distinguished status of the Persian language in both countries and underscored the need to establish and reinforce a Persian language and culture union. He noted that Iran and Tajikistan, as two powerful wings of Persian culture, should lead efforts to unify the Persian-speaking world.  

‏Iranian female table tennis players advance in world rankings

Four of Iran’s top female table tennis players improved their positions in the latest global rankings. Following the release of the 28th-week rankings of 2025, Elina Rahimi, Mahshid Ashtari, Shima Safaei, and Neda Shahsavari, the captain of Iran’s national women’s team, advanced their standings in the sport.  

Success of Iranian short film in Spain

The short film Black Scarf, directed by Alireza Shah Hosseini from Iran, won the Special Jury Award in the main competition of the Diversima Cinema Festival in Spain, selected from six finalist films. 

Black Scarf had previously won the Best Film award at the 22nd San Sebastian International Film Festival in Spain and has been screened at numerous festivals, including Milan, Turin (Italy), the Human Rights Dignity Festival, Porto Fem (Portugal), the 25th Lanzarote International Film Festival, and the Adriatic Short Film Festival in Spain. The film’s synopsis reads: "Do you know anything about spiders?... They eat their mates."

Iranian table tennis players to compete in SMASH Sweden  

The SMASH Sweden table tennis tournament, whose points will impact the rankings of participating players, will feature representatives from Iran. Noshad Alamiyan and Benyamin Faraji, Iran’s top-ranked players in the global standings, have confirmed their participation.  

Special award at Bulgarian Short Film Festival goes to Iranian film Under the Shady Oak

The short film Under the Shady Oak, written, produced, and directed by Hossein Allahyari, won the Special Jury Award at the 22nd IN THE PALACE International Short Film Festival in Bulgaria during its first international appearance. 

The festival’s jury praised the film, stating: "Through powerful visuals and a haunting atmosphere, this film portrays the universal tensions of family and heritage, deeply resonating on a personal level. 

Under the Shady Oak evokes a sensory and immersive experience, using strong symbolism to weave a metaphorical narrative of resilience, sacrifice, and the unspoken bonds between generations." The festival was held from June 28 to July 5, 2025 in Bulgaria.

MG/ME