In a meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Iran National Olympic Committee President Mahmoud Khosravi Vafa and Kioumars Hashemi, chair of the NOC Commission on International Relations, met with Foreign Minister Dr Seyed Abbas Araghchi to discuss expanding cooperation in sports diplomacy.
Vafa expressed his gratitude to the Ministry and Iranian diplomats around the world for their continued support, particularly in facilitating the participation of Iranian athletes in major international events such as the Asian Games and the Olympic Games. He emphasised the strategic importance of sports diplomacy in enhancing Iran’s public diplomacy and global image.
“Sport plays a significant role in increasing interactions and communications between countries, and national Olympic committees have an important role in this regard because, at international events like the Olympics and Asian Games, we witness senior officials of those countries at opening ceremonies.
“Apart from increasing the morale of athletes, this increases friendship between countries. It is appropriate for embassies to pay close attention to using these opportunities. We are also ready for any cooperation in this field,” he added. Drawing on global examples, Vafa underlined the potential of elite sport to serve national interests and called for deeper coordination between the NOC and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to align efforts in sport and diplomacy.
Hashemi, also a former Minister of Sports and Youth, acknowledged the Ministry’s key role in resolving legal challenges on the international stage and supporting Iran’s successful pursuit of influential roles within international sports organisations. He emphasised that strengthened institutional ties would allow Iran to project a more unified and effective presence through sport.
Foreign Minister Dr Araghchi echoed these sentiments, describing sport as “a bridge between nations and a powerful force in public diplomacy.” He welcomed the proposals made during the meeting, including the establishment of a dedicated ‘Sports Diplomacy Desk’ within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a proposal to be further developed by the NOC in line with the principles of the Olympic Movement and national regulations.
As part of continued collaboration, it was also agreed that Iranian ambassadors would receive copies of all Memorandums of Understanding signed between the Iran NOC and its counterparts in other countries. These agreements will serve as diplomatic tools to deepen bilateral relations and create joint initiatives.
