The files we follow: Relations between Iran and its Neighboring Countries; Relations between Iran and the United States; Relations between Iran and the BRICS; Relations between Turkey and the European Union; Relations between Turkey and the BRICS; Relations between Gulf Countries and the United States; Geopolitics of Yemen: Between Internal Fragmentations and Regional Interferences.
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While all eyes are on the Washington-Tehran dialogue aimed at reaching an agreement on Iran’s nuclear programme, Iranian diplomacy is busy taking part in a number of high-profile international events, notably with its BRICS+ partners. These events deal with issues that are crucial to the global economy, such as research, science and tourism, but are also part of the agenda of security and economic cooperation organisations such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), which brings together two of Iran’s key strategic partners, China and Russia. Against a backdrop of heightened regional tensions and pressure from negotiations with Washington, Iran is seeking to solidify existing partnership opportunities to ensure its economic security.
Here is a brief summary of the latest summits and meetings that have marked the Islamic Republic’s last month of diplomatic activity.
Education and science on the agenda with Beijing and Tashkent
The 9th summit of education ministers from the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation took place on 12 and 13 May. The event was held in the city of Urumqi, in the Uyghur autonomous province of Xinjiang. Over the course of the two days, Iranian Science Minister Hossein Simaei-Sarraf met with various ministers from the organisation’s partners, and attended a number of trade fairs and conferences dedicated to research, education and the development of artificial intelligence. Accompanied by his Chinese counterpart Yin Hejun, he attended the opening ceremony of the SCO University Conference. The main aim of this platform is to encourage the creation of contacts between the various members, in order to develop a network of students and experts within the universities.
The summit was also an opportunity for Iran to organise a bilateral meeting between Chinese education minister Huai Jinpeng and minister Simaei-Sarraf, to discuss the development of academic and scientific partnerships between Beijing and Tehran. The Chinese minister said: ‘China has so far awarded scholarships to more than 200 Iranian students. The country would like to attract more Iranian and Chinese students to Iran’. These statements illustrate China’s desire to promote trade with its Iranian partner, and to strengthen existing ties between the two nations. Simaei-Sarraf mentioned other avenues for development, particularly in terms of scientific research, highlighting recent Iranian advances in biology and nanotechnology. The cooperation mentioned would be in line with the signing of the comprehensive cooperation agreement with China in March 2021.
Minister Simaei-Sarraf also met with the Uzbek Higher Education Minister Kongratbay Sharipov. In particular, he highlighted the agreement between Sharif University of Technology and Uzbekistan, saying that Uzbekistan was willing to extend this cooperation.
A political and diplomatic summit in Tehran
On 18 and 25 May 2025, the Tehran Dialogue Forum will be held in the Iranian capital. The event will be organised by the Institute of Political and International Studies (IPIS), which is linked to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Saeed Khatibzadeh, President of the Institute, said that the event would be attended by over 200 international guests, including representatives from the Persian Gulf States as well as partners such as Russia, China and Afghanistan. He also said that the summit would focus on regional issues and their impact on international disorder. There are several possible interpretations of these remarks, but it is likely that the finalisation of negotiations with the US administration will be discussed, as well as developments in ongoing regional conflicts such as Yemen and Gaza. The event represents an opportunity for Iran to strengthen its privileged contacts with the States of the region and fulfil its priority diplomatic objectives, such as the easing of international economic sanctions.
Tourism as an economic objective at the United Nations
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