Iranian historian Ali Kalirad on Armenia, Iran and shared history

Ali Kalirad, Head of the Research Center of the National Library and Archives of Iran, delivered a series of lectures at the YSU Faculty of Oriental Studies. We spoke with him about his academic interests, the historical role of Iran's Armenian community, the Armenian-language press, and the historical ties linking the peoples of the region.

- Mr. Kalirad, how did your interest in history begin, and what drew you specifically to Armenia and the Caucasus? 

- My interest took shape during my childhood and teenage years. It is difficult to point to one specific reason; sometimes the most diverse encounters can spark an interest.  

I remember being drawn to the sound of the duduk. I wondered where the instrument came from and what its history was. Iran has a large Armenian community, and during my teenage years, passing by an Armenian church or seeing a newspaper printed in Armenian made me want to learn more about Armenian culture and language.

I was also interested in the cultures of other peoples in the region. Initially, I studied Armenia's history independently. Later, my interests broadened, and I began conducting academic research.

- Why has the Caucasus been important to Iran, and how is the region's history intertwined with Iran's past?

- For Iranians, the Caucasus has never been a foreign region. During my school years, I had classmates with the surname "Yerevani." Even encounters like these are reminders of the historical ties between Iran and the Caucasus.

The Caucasus has been of geopolitical and economic importance to Iran since ancient times. The peoples of Iran and the Caucasus have also developed strong cultural ties.

Our shared history shows how closely the destinies of countries in the region have been intertwined. Studying these connections is also essential to understanding the present.

- What are the main challenges in studying Armenian-Iranian history today, and how can the archives of the two countries contribute to this work?

- There is still much work to be done in identifying and studying sources related to our shared history. Armenian researchers need to explore materials preserved in Iran much more, while Iranian researchers should explore the information available in Armenian archives and written sources. Relying exclusively on sources from one country can make it difficult to gain a comprehensive understanding of historical events and the ties between peoples. 

My academic interests primarily concern modern and contemporary history. Armenian-language newspapers and journals published in Iran are also particularly important sources for studying this period. However, Armenian sources are equally valuable for research into earlier periods of Iranian history.

Materials preserved in different languages and in different countries can complement one another, helping us develop a more comprehensive understanding of the past.

- Why is it particularly important to study the Armenian-language press published in Iran and the Caucasus?

- The Armenian-language press is an important yet still insufficiently studied source. This includes periodicals published both in Iran and the Caucasus.

Armenians have played a significant role in Iran's intellectual and public life throughout the country's modern history. However, the contributions of Armenian thinkers have received relatively little scholarly attention.  

One challenge is that many Iranian researchers have limited access to Armenian-language materials and are unfamiliar with them. Due to language barriers, the information preserved in these publications remains outside the scope of academic research. 

An important area of cooperation between Armenian and Iranian scholars should therefore be the study of the legacy of Armenian thinkers and political and public figures. This requires Armenian researchers to engage with Persian-language sources and Iranian scholars to work with Armenian-language materials.

- Have you ever come across an archival document that changed your understanding of a particular period in Iranian or Armenian history?

- It is difficult to single out one document. I have been particularly interested in Iranian written sources on World War I, including materials on events that took place in Anatolia and the Caucasus.

Reading these sources has helped me more deeply understand how interconnected the destinies of the peoples of our region are. A war or catastrophe in one part of the region can also affect other peoples. Therefore, it is important to study both the history of individual countries and the ties between them.

As a historian, I consider studying the region's shared historical heritage essential. It can provide a basis for dialogue and mutual understanding. History also encompasses tragedies and crises, and studying them helps us understand the past and consider how to build a better future.

- What advice would you give young people beginning to study Iranian history and Armenian-Iranian relations?

- They should be prepared for a long journey. Historical research requires sustained effort and a willingness to reconsider one's own ideas and approaches. When new sources or documents emerge, we must also be ready to revise our previous views.  

It is important to recognize that studying Iranian history offers insight into a significant part of the region's broader history. This is particularly relevant for those seeking to understand the historical ties between the Caucasus and neighboring peoples.