From 15 to 18 November 2025, the cities of Tehran and Shiraz hosted the International Iranology Forum — a major academic and cultural event that brought together leading researchers and experts in Iranian studies from around the world. One of the main organizers of the Forum, alongside the Iranology Foundation, the Academy of Persian Language and Literature, and the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Tourism of Iran, was the Islamic Culture and Relations Organization of Iran — a partner/participant of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions.
The primary goal of the Forum was to expand and strengthen cooperation among Iranologists, Iranology centers, and scholars working in this field.
The Forum’s rich program included the official opening ceremony, plenary and breakout sessions, panel discussions, as well as a cultural program featuring visits to Persepolis and the mausoleums of Hafez and Saadi.
The thematic sessions of the Forum focused on topics such as “Global Iran in the Context of Globalization,” “Iranology, Cultural Diplomacy, and International Cooperation,” “Theoretical and Epistemological Foundations of Iranology,” “Hafez Studies and Iranology,” and were held across four different universities in Tehran.
More than 50 experts and representatives of the academic community from various countries — including Armenia, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Greece, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Kazakhstan, China, Malaysia, Oman, Pakistan, Russia, Serbia, Tajikistan, Turkey, and Uzbekistan — took part in the Forum.
The International Center for Interfaith and Interreligious Dialogue was represented by Madina Abisheva, Senior Consultant of the Department for implementation of the initiatives of the Congress. The participation of a Kazakhstani representative highlighted the strengthening of cooperation between Kazakhstan and Iran in the fields of culture, science, and the development of intercivilizational dialogue.
Special attention during the Forum was given to issues of international cooperation and scholarly exchange between research centers of different countries. The event became an important platform for sharing academic achievements, discussing current challenges, and establishing new academic partnerships.
