YSU as a platform for developing academic relations between Armenia and Iran

YSU Rector Hovhannes Hovhannisyan welcomed the visit of Ali Akbar Salehi, emphasizing the significance of Armenian-Iranian educational relations: "We have always maintained the highest level of relations with our Iranian partners, as evidenced by our fruitful cooperation with the ambassador. Thanks to the efforts of Mehdi Sobhani, the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Armenia, the Ferdowsi Hall was opened at YSU Faculty of Oriental Studies within a very short period. It now serves as a venue for a wide range of educational, scientific, and cultural initiatives and has become one of our students' favorite places. In addition, through the ambassador’s support, the tuition fees of five students from the Chair of Iranian Studies are being covered, for which we express our sincere gratitude. We hope that during Ali Akbar Salehi’s next visit, our students will have the opportunity to attend his lectures."   

He noted a clear intensification of Armenian-Iranian academic cooperation in recent years. Student exchange programs are being implemented with Iranian universities, and leading Iranian scholars often deliver lectures at YSU. The rector emphasized the importance of continuing this partnership and establishing enduring channels for academic cooperation and knowledge exchange. 

Dean of the Faculty of Oriental Studies Ruben Melkonyan presented the faculty’s educational programs and outlined its four key areas of focus: Iranian studies, Arabic studies, Turkology, and Azerbaijan studies. "Persian has been taught at YSU since its founding, and we are proud to continue the strong tradition of Iranian studies to this day," the dean stated. "Our faculty is also a significant research center, with our professors actively involved in academic and expert-level work. It is a multidisciplinary faculty that encompasses diplomacy, languages, literature, history, and related fields."

President of Iranology Foundation Ali Akbar Salehi expressed his gratitude for the warm reception, highlighting the longstanding, strong, and fraternal ties between Armenia and Iran, and emphasizing the important role of the Armenian community in Iran across various sectors.  He also highly appreciated the willingness on both sides to promote effective cooperation and the successful implementation of research programs. 

"It is commendable that YSU initiates interesting and valuable programs contributing to the development of Iranian studies. I myself was inspired to attend a lecture on the Alawites. Emphasizing the fact that language, history, and diplomacy are taught here, I must stress that language is the foundation of diplomacy," Ali Akbar Salehi noted, referencing proverbs on the close link between language and diplomacy. He also proposed inviting Iranian professors to deliver engaging and thought-provoking lectures at YSU.   

Ambassador Mehdi Sobhani stressed the importance of collaboration with YSU, characterizing it as a strong platform for advancing Armenian-Iranian educational and scientific relations.