Foreign Ministry’s spokesman says Persian seen as ‘unique bridge’ in diplomacy
Scholars urge global efforts to preserve, promote Iran’s rich heritage
Iran's Foreign Ministry's spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said on Sunday that the Persian language holds a “unique” role in diplomatic dialogue and remains a living legacy of a civilization that once stretched from India to the Balkans.
Speaking at the 11th annual gathering of Persian language educators and institutions, hosted on June 1 by the Saadi Foundation in Tehran, Baqaei stressed that Persian is more than a language — it's a carrier of “thought, wisdom, and history.”
He called Iranian diplomats “ambassadors” not only of the Islamic Republic, but of Persian culture.
“We believe Persian can still play a remarkable role in international diplomacy,” he told a hall packed with university officials, diplomats, and cultural experts.
Baqaei cited long-standing cooperation between the foreign ministry, the Saadi Foundation, and the ministry of science as key to advancing Persian instruction abroad, despite what he called “tight budgets and limitations” in some countries.
He closed his remarks with couplets from 13th-century poet Rumi, urging listeners to “speak Persian” and not let the language fade into silence.
Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel, head of the Saadi Foundation and a former speaker of Iran’s parliament, echoed the call for deeper investment in language education.
“We must build the infrastructure,” he said, “and help every institution that wants to teach Persian.”
Tracing the foundation’s roots to a small program launched at Allameh Tabataba’i University four decades ago, Haddad-Adel said the aim has always been to train teachers and produce textbooks designed for non-native speakers.
“We started with zero,” he noted. “Today we’re nearing 100 published books.”
Still, he warned that Persian needs a standardized certification system like TOEFL or IELTS. Without such benchmarks, global learners may hesitate. “Our burden is heavy,” he said. “But we cannot afford to fall behind.”
Saeed Habiba, deputy science minister and head of Iran’s student affairs organization, called Persian the “second great classical language” after Greek and said it must evolve into a modern scientific tool. “Diplomatic science begins with language,” he said. “If we lose that, we lose our voice.”
The conference also featured panels on artificial intelligence, educational technology, and student recruitment. A cooperation agreement between Iran University of Medical Sciences and the Saadi Foundation was signed on the sidelines.
Haddad-Adel wrapped up the event with a nod to the growing interest in Persian around the world. “Even if we lose motivation,” he said, “there are still people out there eager to learn our language.”