The joint press conference, held at Tehran’s iconic Vahdat Hall, marked the start of a six-day cultural program under the recently signed Comprehensive Strategic Partnership treaty between Moscow and Tehran.

The event, which includes concerts, film screenings, and exhibitions in Tehran and Isfahan, features more than 130 Russian artists, musicians, and officials.

The week officially opened in Iran with a rich program of events taking place in Tehran and Isfahan from June 10 to 15.

The opening ceremony of the week in Isfahan was held with performances by the Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra and the Lezginka State Dance Ensemble from Dagestan. In turn, Tehran hosts an exhibition titled ‘Living Traditions of Russia’, featuring Russian handicrafts and traditional arts.

Salehi described Russia as “more than a neighbor,” saying the two countries have long-standing literary and artistic ties, invoking names like Chekhov and Dostoevsky.

“Tolstoy’s work was among the top five bestsellers at Tehran International Book Fair,” he said, citing this as proof of Iranians' deep engagement with Russian culture.

Standing alongside him, Lyubimova expressed gratitude for Iran’s hospitality, calling the opening a “bridge for future cooperation.”

She said her delegation includes musicians, and artisans from regions as diverse as Dagestan and Kamchatka.

“We’re a nation made of many ethnicities,” she noted, adding that Russian traditional dance, music, and crafts are “living symbols” of this cultural mosaic.

The Russian minister emphasized cinema and animation as key areas for joint ventures. She confirmed that her team would tour a Tehran film production village, where a Russian film is currently in production. “Iran’s capabilities in animation are impressive—we are ready to collaborate,” she said.

Salehi, addressing potential cooperation in the fashion industry, said Iran’s diverse clothing design could be a “serious avenue” for deeper cultural exchange. “It’s a sector ripe for attention,” he noted.

At a separate ceremony the same day, Mohammad-Mehdi Imanipour, head of the Islamic Culture and Relations Organization, and Lyubimova inaugurated the Russian folk art exhibition ‘Living Traditions of Russia’ at Niavaran Cultural Center in Tehran.

Imanipour described the show as a cultural anchor supporting the two countries’ strategic plans. “Despite being neighbors, we still don’t know each other well,” he noted, blaming what he called a “fabricated fear” driven by the West. “We need events like today’s to change that.”

Lyubimova highlighted several standout exhibits, including ivory sculptures from Kamchatka, ceramic pieces from Pskov, and works from the Caucasus and central Russia. “These pieces speak for themselves,” she said. “They carry our artistic tradition across borders.”

“We know Iran as the land of the Persians. It’s a country with an ancient heritage, both in poetry and in architecture, and that’s something the entire world recognizes. I’m truly glad to be here, to see Iran with my own eyes and experience it firsthand.

When it comes to the traditional music of this land, I have to admit I don’t know much. But fortunately, I’m familiar with its classical music and I do listen to it. From my perspective, cultural weeks like the one between Iran and Russia are incredibly important. They allow for a real exchange between the two nations, which in turn enriches both cultures and broadens our thinking. These events also help us connect, especially through art and music, and really listen to one another.

As for the Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra, it’s been active for nearly 100 years. The orchestra is named after Russia’s great composer, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.

If I had to explain the secret to the lasting power of his work, I’d say the core of Tchaikovsky’s music is love, along with the human spirit, sorrow, and suffering. It’s in that sadness that the music touches the human soul.”

Dima Tkachenko, Conductor of the Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra of Russia