Salehi: Iran-Russia relations pave the way for a multipolar world

Pars Today – Iran’s Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance stated that relations between Iran, Russia, and other countries, based on a shared approach, can lay the foundation for a truly multipolar world—a world not solely reliant on politics and economics, but also anchored in culture, values, and the shared heritage of nations.

Seyed Abbas Salehi, Iran’s Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, who traveled to St. Petersburg at the invitation of the Russian Minister of Culture to participate in the 11th International Assembly of United Cultures and to promote cultural relations, visited St. Petersburg University, a 301-year-old academic institution, and discussed ways to develop bilateral scientific and cultural cooperation with the university’s board of trustees.

According to Pars Today, citing IRNA, Salehi stated that the concept of a multipolar world is not limited to politics and militarism but must fundamentally be cultural. He emphasized that if development is viewed solely in economic terms, the result will be the dominance of a politically unipolar system.

Salehi added that Iran and Russia have not merely been neighboring countries but have shared dialogue and cooperation, with cultural and scientific ties between the two nations dating back centuries.

Referring to the popularity of Tolstoy’s works at the Tehran Book Fair, Iran’s Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance emphasized that literary ties between Iran and Russia run deep. He noted that the poetry of Iranian poets such as Hafez, Sa'di, and Ferdowsi has attracted attention in Russia, while writers like Pushkin and Tolstoy have drawn inspiration from Persian literature. Likewise, the works of Russian literary giants such as Dostoevsky and Chekhov hold a special place in Iran.

Salehi noted that at least one Russian theatrical production is staged in Iran every day, and Russian classical music also enjoys widespread popularity. He added that Russian cinema has been particularly appealing to Iranians and has played an important role in cultural exchange.

The Iranian Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance described Russian Iranology as a great opportunity for mutual understanding, highlighting that over 10,000 scholarly works in this field have been published by Russian researchers, and these studies should become a cornerstone of cultural relations between the two countries.

Salehi also stressed the importance of preserving the shared heritage of Iran and Russia, recalling the sister-city relationship between St. Petersburg and Isfahan, and emphasized that a strong tree of friendship and cultural solidarity should be nurtured for future generations.