The Persian Language as a Factor in Iran's External Cultural Policy

This article discusses strategies for promoting the Persian language as the official language of Iran and in intercultural communications, including in dialogue with Russia. Iran, correctly estimating the potential capabilities of the Persian language and its popularity among the countries of the Nowruz region, pursues a special language policy. Neighborhood and friendly relations with Russia force Iran to take this factor into account when developing a strategy for popularizing the Persian language as one of the components of cultural policy. The object of the study are the rationales and principles of Iranian state cultural policy. The subject of the study are the prospects for cultural interaction in the context of the interests of the Russian Federation and Iran in the field of expanding linguistic cooperation. Using the comparative method it was possible to track the Russian and Iranian approaches to culture by studying the fundamental documents of Tehran and Moscow and identify the prospects for humanitarian cooperation. The scientific novelty of the study lies in the fact that similar principles of the state cultural policy of both countries in the language sphere have been identified, which makes it possible to build constructive intercultural communication and avoid misunderstandings and disagreements in the relations between the two countries. The emphasis of the authorities of both Russia and Iran on the importance of language as one of the most important factors in the implementation of “soft power” in cultural diplomacy and their efforts to strengthen and promote the national language of their country among the peoples of other countries positively affects the development of all spheres of cooperation, including cultural, economic and military between the two states, which guarantees the realization of the national interests of the two countries in the region.

Iran, Russia, language policy, Persian language, Russian language, soft power, Russian World, Saadi Foundation, Cultural dialogue, Education