Speaking at the opening ceremony of the International Festival of Professional Theaters in Dushanbe, Minister Matluba Sattoriyon welcomed the Iranian delegation and highlighted the “many common grounds” shared by the two countries in culture and the arts.

“We have already worked together on joint productions in theater and music,” Sattoriyon said, adding that these efforts have “introduced our cultures to wider audiences.”

Sattoriyon stressed that recent high-level visits, including a trip by Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian, have “kicked off” a new phase of collaboration, with cultural and artistic activities taking center stage. “I believe these partnerships should grow in different forms,” she said. “My colleagues and I are ready to start a new season of cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

Iran’s Deputy Minister of Culture for Artistic Affairs, Nadereh Rezaei, echoed the sentiment, expressing hope for “fresh breakthroughs” in joint projects.

“We will plan for Tajik artists to take part in next year’s Fajr festivals in Iran,” Rezaei said, referring to one of Iran’s most prominent cultural events.

Rezaei also announced that Iranian musicians have prepared two full repertoires of poetry by Rudaki, a revered Persian poet born in what is now Tajikistan. “Our artists are ready to perform these works in Tajikistan,” she said, noting the strong ties between the two nations’ artistic communities.

The festival, running from May 1 to May 7, features ‘Fox Hunting Manners,’ a play from Iran’s North Khorasan province, among other international entries. The Iranian cast paid tribute to victims of a recent explosion in Iran by wearing black at the opening.

Diplomatic and cultural exchanges between Iran and Tajikistan have picked up in recent months, with artists from both countries appearing in each other’s films and TV series. “This path can pave the way for even more joint activities,” said Iran’s ambassador to Tajikistan, Alireza Haghighian.