Salehi, who is on a visit to Turkey, said on Tuesday that his visit to Ankara was connected to the cultural year between the two countries.

He said that following discussions with his Turkish counterpart, both countries have agreed to continue their joint cultural programs in the coming months and through 2026.

Salehi noted that nearly 40,000 people have studied the Persian language in Turkey over recent decades, indicating strong potential for further deepening cultural relations.

To provide a comprehensive picture of Iran’s contemporary cultural scene, Salehi said that Iran produces between 80 and 100 feature films annually, alongside dozens of television series.

He also noted that an Iranian short animated film has won an Academy Award.

In the realm of performing arts, the minister said that over 100 theatrical performances are staged nightly in Tehran alone, with about 5,600 receiving performance licenses nationwide each year.

He added that over 7,500 music performance permits were issued last year.

The visual arts sector is also active, with over 4,500 exhibitions in calligraphy, graphic design, and painting being held annually.

Salehi also highlighted Iran’s publishing industry, which releases around 110,000 book titles each year, adding that the Tehran International Book Fair (TIBF) is one of the world’s largest.

Completing the overview of Iran’s media landscape, the minister said that the country has over 5,000 print media outlets and about 30 active news agencies.