During the grand ceremony held at the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Budapest—attended by several Hungarian officials and figures, resident ambassadors and diplomats, executives of Iranian and Hungarian companies, academic and scientific personalities, Hungarian Iranologists, and Iranian expatriates—Ambassador Morteza Moradian stated, “Today marks 47 years since the great revolution of the Iranian people; a revolution that was the manifestation of a nation's will relying on faith, historical identity, and the desire for independence. Through their participation in the millions, they brought about the change of a regime that prioritized foreign interests over the will of the people.”
He further noted, “Over the past 47 years, the Iranian people have consistently faced various pressures and obstacles such as coups, war, terrorism, and sanctions. However, despite all these pressures, they have managed to take significant steps on the path of development and have achieved brilliant accomplishments in various fields of science, technology, industry, and culture.”
Envoy to Hungary: Iran is Committed to diplomacy based on mutual respect
Moradian further added, “The past calendar year was a year of many ups and downs for the Islamic Republic of Iran. Despite the ‘maximum pressure’ and the bullying approach of the United States, the Islamic Republic, in order to demonstrate its goodwill, entered into dialogues regarding nuclear issues.” However, while five rounds of talks had been held and an agreement had been reached for a sixth round, we witnessed the Israeli regime's military aggression against Iran, with the participation of the United States, which led to a 12-day war and significant human and economic losses to my country.
Referring to the peaceful protests of January 2026 (Dey 1404), Moradian stated, “These protests concerned economic issues and problems that began in several cities, but they were exploited by the infiltration of terrorist elements, which turned these peaceful protests into armed riots. During these incidents, a significant number of law enforcement forces and ordinary citizens were martyred or injured. The high number of casualties among the police and security defenders on one hand demonstrates the restraint of the law enforcement forces, and on the other hand, reflects the level of violence perpetrated by terrorists.”
The Iranian ambassador further emphasized that the Iranian government considers itself committed to upholding the rights of citizens, including the right to peaceful assembly.
Referring to what he called “simultaneous military, political, and media campaigns” against Iran, he clarified that the Islamic Republic, while defending its national security, remains and has always been committed to diplomacy based on mutual respect.
In another part of his speech, Moradian addressed the relations between Iran and Hungary, stating: “The two countries, with over four centuries of informal relations and a century of formal ties, celebrated the 100th anniversary of their diplomatic relations in 2025/2026 (1404). The holding of the first joint consular commission and the signing of a memorandum of understanding for academic cooperation have been among the important steps in developing bilateral relations.”
He also pointed to the fact that more than 2,500 Iranian students are studying at Hungarian universities and noted the sister-city agreements between three cities of the two countries, considering these as signs of the expansion of scientific, cultural, and economic cooperation between Tehran and Budapest.
Envoy to Hungary: Iran is Committed to diplomacy based on mutual respect
At this year’s ceremony, two prestigious cultural programs were also performed and received a warm reception from the attendees. An exhibition of paintings by Master Mahmoud Farshchian and a Shahnameh recitation program featuring the poems of Hakim Abul-Qasem Ferdowsi showcased the splendor of Iranian art and literature, earning the admiration and praise of the guests.
The works displayed by Master Mahmoud Farshchian, with their spiritual, mythical, and human themes, reflected the deep bond between Iranian art and moral and mystical concepts; the explanations provided regarding the history and style of these works greatly captivated the audience.
Furthermore, the Shahnameh recitation program, while creating an intimate cultural atmosphere, demonstrated that art and literature can serve as effective tools in public diplomacy, fostering mutual understanding and strengthening bonds between nations.
These cultural programs, aimed at introducing our country’s civilizational and cultural capacities, provided a unique opportunity for non-Iranian guests to become better acquainted with authentic Iranian art and culture.
The enthusiastic reception and the conversations sparked by these programs illustrated that culture and art can play an effective role as a complement to the expansion of public diplomacy and bilateral relations.
IRNA