Iran-Italy relations
Encyclopedia
Iran–Italy relations refers to the diplomatic relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Italian Republic.
and Byzantium
in antiquity. This era lasted for several centuries until the Islamic Conquest of Persia
transferred the power in Iran to Arab muslims
for the next 200 years.
and Italy
have existed ever since Marco Polo
traversed Iran on his way to China during the late 13th century.
Pope Innocent IV
also sent religious missionaries into Iran in an attempt to win over the Ilkhanate
rulers of Iran. Lombard Ascelino for example, met an Ilkhanid commander near Tbilisi
, and Giovanni da Pian del Carpine
met Güyük Khan
while many Venetian ambassadors visited Aq Qoyunlu courts, with increasing visitors up through the Safavid era.
countries following the Islamic Revolution, and when Italy supplied Iran's enemy
with economic and naval assistance throughout the Iran–Iraq War. Relations were normalized following the conflict's end in 1988.
Although Italy harbors a large population of members of the MKO as do many European Union
states, Italy officially considers the group a terrorist organization.
clubs. Rahman Rezai (currently of A.S. Livorno Calcio
) and Ali Samereh
(formerly of Perugia Calcio
) are some notable examples.
The movie "Soraya", directed by Lodovico Gasparini, was released in 2004, depicting the story of Soraya Esfandiary Bakhtiari. Former Miss Italy Anna Valle http://www.annavalle.com/ played the leading role of the Persian Princess who was forced to divorce from the Shah of Iran
(played by German actor Erol Sander
) after failing to give him an heir to the Peacock Throne
. French actor Claude Brasseur
plays the role of Prime Minister Mossadegh. The film was released in Italy
on Rai Uno
.
In 2004, Italian experts were also reportedly working on plans to expand the National Museum of Iran
beyond its current capacity. Notwithstanding the proliferation of economic and cultural connections, Diplomatic relations between Italy and Iran have often been disrupted seeing as the former, which is a member of the European Union
supports all sanctions against Iran and is quite critical of the current leadership of Anti-Western-oriented President
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Classical era
Sassanid Persia had intense, often adversarial relations with RomeRome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
and Byzantium
Byzantium
Byzantium was an ancient Greek city, founded by Greek colonists from Megara in 667 BC and named after their king Byzas . The name Byzantium is a Latinization of the original name Byzantion...
in antiquity. This era lasted for several centuries until the Islamic Conquest of Persia
Islamic conquest of Persia
The Muslim conquest of Persia led to the end of the Sassanid Empire in 644, the fall of Sassanid dynasty in 651 and the eventual decline of the Zoroastrian religion in Persia...
transferred the power in Iran to Arab muslims
Arab Muslims
Arab Muslims are adherents of the religion of Islam who identify linguistically, culturally, or genealogically as Arabs. They greatly outnumber other ethnic groups in the Middle East. Muslims who are not Arabs are called mawali by Arab Muslims....
for the next 200 years.
Medieval era
Relations between IranIran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
and Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
have existed ever since Marco Polo
Marco Polo
Marco Polo was a Venetian merchant traveler from the Venetian Republic whose travels are recorded in Il Milione, a book which did much to introduce Europeans to Central Asia and China. He learned about trading whilst his father and uncle, Niccolò and Maffeo, travelled through Asia and apparently...
traversed Iran on his way to China during the late 13th century.
Pope Innocent IV
Pope Innocent IV
Pope Innocent IV , born Sinibaldo Fieschi, was pope from June 25, 1243 until his death in 1254.-Early life:...
also sent religious missionaries into Iran in an attempt to win over the Ilkhanate
Ilkhanate
The Ilkhanate, also spelled Il-khanate , was a Mongol khanate established in Azerbaijan and Persia in the 13th century, considered a part of the Mongol Empire...
rulers of Iran. Lombard Ascelino for example, met an Ilkhanid commander near Tbilisi
Tbilisi
Tbilisi is the capital and the largest city of Georgia, lying on the banks of the Mt'k'vari River. The name is derived from an early Georgian form T'pilisi and it was officially known as Tiflis until 1936...
, and Giovanni da Pian del Carpine
Giovanni da Pian del Carpine
Giovanni da Pian del Carpine, or John of Plano Carpini or John of Pian de Carpine or Joannes de Plano was one of the first Europeans to enter the court of the Great Khan of the Mongol Empire. He is the author of the earliest important Western account of northern and central Asia, Rus, and other...
met Güyük Khan
Güyük Khan
Güyük was the third Great Khan of the Mongol Empire. As the eldest son of Ögedei Khan and a grandson of Genghis Khan, he reigned from 1246 to 1248...
while many Venetian ambassadors visited Aq Qoyunlu courts, with increasing visitors up through the Safavid era.
Iranian Revolution and Iran–Iraq War
Unfortunately however, Italo-Iranian relations would also take a turn for the worse. Bilateral relations were strategically damaged in the 1980s when Iran distanced itself from all, if not most WesternWestern world
The Western world, also known as the West and the Occident , is a term referring to the countries of Western Europe , the countries of the Americas, as well all countries of Northern and Central Europe, Australia and New Zealand...
countries following the Islamic Revolution, and when Italy supplied Iran's enemy
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
with economic and naval assistance throughout the Iran–Iraq War. Relations were normalized following the conflict's end in 1988.
Modern era and current relations
Iran-Italy trade stood at $US 2.7 Billion in 2001 and 3.852 Billion Euros in 2003. In 2005, Italy was the third largest trading partner of Iran with 7.5% of all exports to Iran. Italy was the top trading partner of Iran in the European Union in early 2006. Commercial exchanges hit 6 billion euros in 2008.Although Italy harbors a large population of members of the MKO as do many European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
states, Italy officially considers the group a terrorist organization.
Cultural relations
In recent years, some soccer players from Iran's Team melli have been absorbed by Italian Serie ASerie A
Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
clubs. Rahman Rezai (currently of A.S. Livorno Calcio
A.S. Livorno Calcio
Associazione Sportiva Livorno Calcio is an Italian football club based in Livorno, Tuscany. The club was formed in 1915 and currently plays in Italian Serie B. The team's colors are dark red or maroon...
) and Ali Samereh
Ali Samereh
Ali Samereh is an Iranian football player who currently plays for Mes Sarcheshmeh in the Persian Gulf Cup. He usually plays in the striker position.-Club career:...
(formerly of Perugia Calcio
Perugia Calcio
Associazione Calcistica Perugia Calcio is an Italian association football club based in Perugia, Umbria, direct heir of the old Perugia Calcio and A.C. Perugia, excluded from Italian football because of financial troubles....
) are some notable examples.
The movie "Soraya", directed by Lodovico Gasparini, was released in 2004, depicting the story of Soraya Esfandiary Bakhtiari. Former Miss Italy Anna Valle http://www.annavalle.com/ played the leading role of the Persian Princess who was forced to divorce from the Shah of Iran
Pahlavi dynasty
The Pahlavi dynasty consisted of two Iranian/Persian monarchs, father and son Reza Shah Pahlavi and Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi The Pahlavi dynasty consisted of two Iranian/Persian monarchs, father and son Reza Shah Pahlavi (reg. 1925–1941) and Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi The Pahlavi dynasty ...
(played by German actor Erol Sander
Erol Sander
Erol Sander is a Turkish-German actor.-Filmography:* 1998: Paradis d'enfer* 1998: Jamais deux sans toi* 1999/2000: Sinan Toprak ist der Unbestechliche* 2000: Zwei Leben nach dem Tod...
) after failing to give him an heir to the Peacock Throne
Peacock Throne
The Peacock Throne, called Takht-e Tâvus in Persian, is the name originally given to a Mughal throne of India, which was later adopted and used to describe the thrones of the Persian emperors from Nader Shah Afshari and erroneously to Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi whose throne was a reconstruction of...
. French actor Claude Brasseur
Claude Brasseur
-Biography:He was born in Neuilly-sur-Seine as Claude Pierre Espinasse, the son of actor Pierre Brasseur and actress Odette Joyeux. He is the godson of Ernest Hemingway and the father of Alexandre Brasseur....
plays the role of Prime Minister Mossadegh. The film was released in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
on Rai Uno
Rai Uno
Rai 1 is the primary television station of RAI, the national public service broadcaster, and the most watched television channel in Italy. It was born as Rai Tv from 1954 to 1961, called Programma Nazionale from 1961 to 1979, after called Rete 1 from 1979 to 1982, then called Rai Uno from 1982 to...
.
In 2004, Italian experts were also reportedly working on plans to expand the National Museum of Iran
National Museum of Iran
The National Museum of Iran is a museum in Tehran, Iran. It is the combination of two museums, the old Muze-ye Irân-e Bâstân , and the modernistic white travertine National Arts Museum , inaugurated in 1972...
beyond its current capacity. Notwithstanding the proliferation of economic and cultural connections, Diplomatic relations between Italy and Iran have often been disrupted seeing as the former, which is a member of the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
supports all sanctions against Iran and is quite critical of the current leadership of Anti-Western-oriented President
President of Iran
The President of Iran is the highest popularly elected official in, and the head of government of the Islamic Republic of Iran; although subordinate to the Supreme Leader of Iran, who functions as the country's head of state...
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.