Salehi: Frank dialogue can help prevent tensions in diplomatic relations

Ali-Akbar Salehi, at a reception for diplomatic missions marking the global registration of the Alamut Castle, emphasized the role of frank dialogue in preventing misunderstandings and strengthening cultural and scientific cooperation.

Ambassador Arjan-Political Group: The banquet of diplomatic delegations on the occasion of the global registration of Alamut Castle and related fortifications, hosted by the Iranology Foundation and Qazvin Governorate, was held on Tuesday evening, October 21, 1405, in the mansion of Sardar Mofkham, Qazvin. In this ceremony, political representatives of more than ten countries of the world were present in Iran.

"Ali Akbar Salehi", the former foreign minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran and head of Iranology Foundation, in this ceremony, referring to the historical and cultural status of Alamut and its capacity to strengthen the relationship between nations, considered the presence of diplomatic representatives in this event as an opportunity to deepen mutual understanding, safeguard the common human heritage and pay attention to the responsibility of countries in bringing nations closer to each other.

Stating that Alamut is the place where history, nature and thought are connected, Salehi stated that the strong fortresses of this region among the Alborz mountains are evidence of an important chapter in the history of Iran and the Islamic world. In a period of history, Alamut became one of the important political, cultural and intellectual centers of Nizari Ismailis and left a distinctive mark on the history of this region. According to him, these historical monuments are a reminder that civilizations are formed in interaction with the natural environment, historical experiences and intellectual traditions, and the value of cultural heritage is not limited to national borders.

The head of the Iranology Foundation considered the registration of the "Almut Castle and its related fortifications" in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2026 as recognition of the value of this heritage and noted that this event, in addition to being a source of pride for Iran, creates a common responsibility for humanity in safeguarding the treasures of the past and passing them on to future generations.

Sometimes a frank conversation or accurate transmission of a message can prevent a misunderstanding from turning into a serious dispute in diplomatic relations.

He continued, addressing the role of diplomacy and the responsibility of political representatives of countries, and said: the mission of ambassadors goes beyond official negotiations and management of political relations. One of the important missions of diplomacy is to turn the distance between nations into an opportunity for recognition and understanding and to turn differences into a basis for mutual respect.

Pointing to the differences between the nations in history, culture, traditions and interests, Salehi clarified that these differences should not necessarily lead to enmity; The main issue is their wise recognition and management. Ambassadors have a dual and decisive role in this direction; On the one hand, they convey the positions and concerns of their respective governments to others, and on the other hand, they help their governments to understand the realities, views, and legitimate concerns of the countries where they are assigned.

According to the head of the Iranology Foundation, this bilateral responsibility is important because misunderstandings do not only arise from real differences of interests, but also incomplete information, misconceptions, and misinterpretation of the other party's intentions. Sometimes a timely explanation, a frank conversation or an accurate transmission of a message can prevent a misunderstanding from turning into a serious dispute in diplomatic relations.

The mission of ambassadors goes beyond official negotiations and management of political relations

Stating that diplomacy in its best form, in addition to resolving disputes, is also the art of preventing avoidable disputes, he added: mutual understanding does not mean the agreement of all nations on all issues; Rather, it requires readiness to listen, understand different points of view, and seek reasonable solutions, even if disagreements persist.

Referring to the unprecedented speed of information dissemination in today's world, he noted that this situation has doubled the responsibility of diplomats; Because misinformation can spread quickly, while trust takes time, persistence, and meaningful interaction to form. Therefore, by communicating with the people of the mission countries, getting to know their history and culture, and encouraging direct dialogue, ambassadors can play a role in reducing misconceptions and strengthening the foundations of sustainable cooperation.

The head of the Iranian Studies Foundation considered one of the most important achievements of a diplomatic mission to be that at the end of it, not only official relations between countries have become stronger, but also their nations have gained a more accurate, fairer and deeper understanding of each other.

Diplomacy is a bridge between nations and their common future

Referring to the gathering of representatives of different countries in this event, Salehi said that getting to know the historical heritage goes beyond visiting ancient buildings and fortifications and said: such meetings provide the opportunity to know the experiences, thoughts and ideals of people who have played a role in shaping the history of a land. Every nation has a complex set of memories, achievements, difficulties and hopes, and knowing this complexity is necessary to overcome simplistic notions and form real mutual respect.

He expressed hope that the visit of diplomatic representatives to Alamut, in addition to familiarizing with a valuable part of Iran's history, would create new opportunities for cultural, academic, scientific and tourism cooperation between Iran and their respective countries. According to Salehi, these exchanges can take countries' relations beyond the framework of official channels and help bring more nations closer through the cooperation of scientists, artists, researchers and the young generation.

In summing up his speech, the head of Iranology Foundation described historical heritage as a bridge between the past and the future and diplomacy as a bridge between nations and their common future and said: If guarding Alamut is a duty to future generations, protecting peace, strengthening trust and expanding mutual understanding are also responsibilities towards these generations.

He pointed out that although it is not possible to eliminate all differences, misunderstandings can be avoided, differences can be looked at wisely, and differences of opinions cannot be blocked.

In the end, Salehi appreciated the presence of political representatives in this event, considered knowledge, foresight, fairness and adherence to dialogue as important capacities of diplomats to play a lasting role in this direction and expressed hope that this meeting will leave good memories of Iran and its hospitable people for the guests and provide the ground for closer ties and more fruitful cooperation in the coming years.