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Iran greenlights cultural pact with Portugal
The measure passed during Sunday’s open session with 223 votes in favor, five against, and four abstentions out of 249 lawmakers present—marking a decisive move to expand Iran’s cultural diplomacy footprint in Europe, IRNA wrote.
According to the Cultural Commission’s spokesperson Ahmad Rastineh, the agreement taps into “one of the most powerful tools” for modern diplomacy—cultural exchange.
“There are unparalleled capacities between nations in areas such as education, tourism, and sport that can lead to cultural synergy,” he said, emphasizing Iran’s unique position as a bridge between Islamic and Persian civilizations.
The accord outlines mutual commitments, including the promotion of language and cultural studies, exchange of students and scholars, and collaborative efforts to protect cultural heritage. Both nations will encourage studies of Persian and Portuguese languages and work through online platforms to broaden access to educational content.
Cultural diplomacy, long seen as a soft-power tool in Iran’s foreign policy arsenal, is expected to play a key role in countering what officials describe as “Iranophobia” and “Islamophobia.” As Deputy Parliamentary Affairs Chief Kazem Delkhosh put it, “Engaging with the world is the antidote to fear-based narratives. We must introduce the world to the real Iran.”
While largely welcomed across party lines, a handful of MPs raised concerns. Mohammadreza Sadeghian, representing Mehriz, warned of the risks tied to Western cultural influence, especially through digital media. “Western culture has already crept into our homes,” he said. “What guarantees are there that this won’t be another channel for cultural invasion?”