A meeting took place in Ankara, Turkey, where Iran's cultural attaché, Asgar Farsi, and the President of the Russian Center for Science and Culture in Ankara (Russian House Ankara), Alexander Sotnichenko, reached an agreement on developing cinematic interaction and joint cultural programs.
During the negotiations, both sides emphasized the significance of cultural ties between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Russian Federation. According to ILNA, participants reviewed existing opportunities to expand cultural cooperation in Turkey and highlighted the need to strengthen exchange and interaction between the cultural institutions of the two countries.
Farsi noted the importance of developing cultural relations between Iran and Russia, as well as utilizing the common potential of the two states in the field of art and culture. He called the exchange of experience and the implementation of joint cultural events one of the effective ways to deepen these ties.
The Iranian cultural attaché described the center for teaching Persian language in Ankara as one of the most important educational centers specializing in teaching Persian to non-native speakers. He stated that the Center for Teaching Persian Language of the Cultural Administration of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Ankara has many years of experience and is ready to share its knowledge with the Russian House Ankara.
A significant part of the meeting was dedicated to studying cooperation opportunities in the field of cinema and visual production. The parties discussed prospects for closer interaction in organizing film events, screening Iranian and Russian films, showcasing the cinematic capabilities of both countries, and laid the foundation for bringing together filmmakers and industry professionals.
Furthermore, the organization of joint Iranian-Russian cultural days was considered as an effective means of presenting the culture, art, and heritage of both countries in Turkey. Both sides agreed that such joint programs could serve as a suitable platform for Turkish society to become acquainted with the cultural potential of both nations, as well as for establishing contacts between artists, writers, and cultural figures.
Later, within the framework of the meeting, ways to expand cooperation in the fields of publishing, publication, and holding joint cultural exhibitions were discussed. Special attention was paid to participation in book fairs, presentation of works and authors, translation and publication of literary and cultural works, as well as establishing links between the publishers of the two countries.
The issue of expanding communication between the Iranian and Russian representations in Ankara was also examined. Both sides stressed the need to continue consultations and exchange of views on cultural and artistic issues, as well as identifying new areas for joint work.
The Iranian Ambassador to Russia announced that the city of Kazan, the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan, has been added to the list of organizing cities for the Iranian Cultural Week in Russia, expanding the event's reach beyond Moscow and St. Petersburg.
During a visit to the Russian State Library in Moscow on Thursday, Kazem Jalali stated that the upcoming cultural week will provide an opportunity to deepen dialogue and expand cooperation between the two countries in the fields of culture, library science, and academic exchange.
Kazan's inclusion came after an initial plan that only provided for Moscow and St. Petersburg as host cities. The city was proposed as an additional venue after it was selected as the Cultural Capital of the Islamic World for 2026.
The exact dates for the cultural week have not yet been announced. This event follows the successful holding of the Russian Cultural Week in Iran in June 2025.
During the meeting, attended by Iran's cultural attaché in Moscow, Abdolreza Rashed, Jalali emphasized the importance of strengthening scientific and cultural ties between Tehran and Moscow. He also proposed creating a joint research working group to review the history of Iranian-Russian relations based on archival documents from both countries.
Jalali noted that the history of relations between Iran and Russia has largely been written from the perspective of Western sources, insisting that scholars from both countries should work together to create a more balanced and comprehensive description of their centuries-old interaction.
He suggested that this working group be jointly coordinated by the Cultural Department of the Iranian Embassy in Moscow and the Russian State Library, bringing together leading Iranian experts on Russia and Russian specialists studying Iran.
Referring to the military aggression of the US and Israel against Iran, Jalali stated that ancient civilizations cannot be resolved through the language of force. He also thanked the government and people of Russia for supporting the Islamic Republic after the attacks, adding that the Iranian people, despite their rich cultural and artistic heritage, have never sought war.
For his part, Vadim Duda, CEO of the Russian State Library, highly praised the resilience of the Iranian people, noting that Iran and Russia have maintained their dignity and honor in the face of difficulties. He criticized the West's double standards regarding democracy and human rights, arguing that it is contradictory to invite a country to negotiations while resorting to military action.
Duda also welcomed Jalali's proposal for a joint scientific initiative to create an impartial historical account of Iranian-Russian relations.
After the meeting, Jalali inspected the library's manuscript collection, including rare Persian manuscripts such as copies of 'Divan-e Nizami Ganjavi'. He also proposed intensifying cooperation in the field of digitization and restoration of Persian manuscripts held at the institution.
The Russian State Library in Moscow is one of the country's national libraries and is considered the largest public library in Russia and Europe. According to Russian officials, it contains about 200 million books and other publications and functions as a leading scientific and bibliographic center. Founded in 1862, this organization has changed several names throughout its history before adopting its current name in 1992.
