TASS: Russia and Iran’s "Loving friendship": The evolution of diplomatic relations since the 16th century

Close ties 

The enigmatic word "Persia" is familiar to everyone: tales of shahs and jinn, luxurious carpets, magnificent gardens, and turquoise — images that have captivated us since childhood. Yet, few realise that this mystical eastern land has always been closer to Russia than commonly perceived. As early as in the first half of the 16th century, Moscow’s Grand Princes Vasili III and Ivan the Terrible were already expressing interest in the Safavid kingdom. Records reveal that the Shah’s envoy, upon arriving in the Russian capital in 1521, was given cannons and armour by the Moscow Prince. In 17th-century diplomatic correspondence, the relations between Russian Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov and Iranian Shah Abbas the Great were described as a "loving friendship". The details of the relations between the two states are chronicled in little-known archival documents, which have been meticulously studied since 2018 by the Centre for the Study of the Islamic Republic of Iran at St Petersburg University, with support from the Russian Science Foundation. 

"When we decided to study the diplomatic heritage of 17th-century Russian-Iranian relations, we scarcely anticipated the vast realm we were about to uncover," noted Artem Andreev, Director of the Centre for the Study of the Islamic Republic of Iran at St Petersburg University, Candidate of History, and Associate Professor in the Department of Ethnopolitology at St Petersburg University. "We may say that the documents from the 1620s to the 1690s had remained virtually untouched by scholars. Most notably, the ties were so close that envoys were constantly circulating." 

Hardly had one diplomatic mission departed Iran for its northern neighbour when the next envoy was getting ready for the journey. Nor did Russia lag behind in terms of the number of diplomatic missions. Every detail of these missions was meticulously documented. The Collection of the Russian State Archive of Ancient Acts houses some five hundred storage units, each comprising hundreds of pages. These records serve as a unique source of insight into the history of international relations. 

The initial phase of the research project undertaken by scholars from the Centre for the Study of the Islamic Republic of Iran at St Petersburg University focused on studying Persian diplomatic documents, including: letters; travel papers; petitions submitted by Persian ambassadors; and, notably, written records of negotiations with Russian diplomats. 

While delving into the archival documents, experts from St Petersburg University unexpectedly discovered some historical parallels. The records reveal that, approximately 400 years ago, Russia’s eastern neighbour did not leave it in the lurch. In the aftermath of the Russian Time of Troubles and the signing of the Truce of Deulino with the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth — which resulted in the loss of the Smolensk, Starodub, and Chernigov lands — Russia sought to reclaim its territories. To achieve this, it was essential to bolster the Russian army’s armaments, and Iran extended a supportive hand. 

"In the 1640s, the Muscovite state was seeking to reclaim its lands from the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, but it faced a critical shortage of saltpetre for gunpowder production," explained Artem Andreev. "At that juncture, Iran became one of its principal suppliers. Shah Abbas II issued a decree reserving saltpetre sales exclusively for Russia." 

During this period, the two states were connected by active and mutually beneficial trade across the Caspian Sea. Hence, the large number of the diplomatic and commercial missions. Notably, Russia and Iran committed to safeguarding the well-being and security of each other’s diplomatic representatives. The letters of credence issued by the Muscovite state for its diplomatic delegations, addressed to the Iranian ruler, explicitly invoked the ‘loving friendship’ between the sovereigns. 

"Upon the enthronement of Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov, the first Russian Tsar of the House of Romanov, in 1613, Russia found itself in dire straits following the Time of Troubles, with a desperate need for funds," Artem Andreev remarked. "To this end, various foreign powers were petitioned for loans. The only ruler who assented was Shah Abbas the Great." 

Unique insights 

When Russian diplomatic envoys or trade missions prepared for their journey to Iran, the Ambassadorial Prikaz drafted orders to guide the tsar’s representatives during negotiations. The envoys, in turn, documented their experiences in what were known as envoys’ reports. These documents offer a unique insight into Iran’s history, detailing the customs of the Shah’s court and meticulously chronicling the events unfolding within the country. Such reports are of considerable interest to Iran as well, given that most of the documents for this period have been irretrievably lost in the country. 

One such invaluable source of international history is the account of Anisim Gribov, Tsar’s envoy and head of a trade mission dispatched to Central Asia to sell Russian goods. In 1646, after visiting Persia, Gribov headed towards Bukhara but found himself in a difficult situation. He could not reach Bukhara due to a fierce conflict among the Uzbeks of Mawarannahr, the Mughals — whose empire encompassed present-day India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh — and the Kazakh tribes. Shah Abbas II could not remain indifferent to Gribov’s predicament. 

"Anisim Gribov understood that he would need to account for his failure to reach Bukhara,’ explained Artem Andreev. ‘He began asking questions to everyone he encountered — from merchants to ordinary residents and travellers — about the ongoing events. He documented all their responses, and thus his envoy’s report became an invaluable insight into the region’s international history."

Partnership with Iranian universities 

Scholars from the Centre for the Study of the Islamic Republic of Iran at St Petersburg University also conduct research in collaboration with their Iranian colleagues. Almost annually, experts from St Petersburg host seminars to exchange research findings with colleagues from the University of Tehran, the University of Isfahan, and Allameh Tabataba’i University. 

The University of Tehran is one of the closest partners of St Petersburg University. In May 2024, during the Russian Language Week, a Representative Office of St Petersburg University was opened at the University of Tehran. Alexander Alimov, Director of the Department for Multilateral Humanitarian Cooperation and Cultural Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, took part in the opening ceremony. 

St Petersburg University’s collaboration with the University of Isfahan is also actively developing. This partnership holds particular symbolism: like Russia, Iran has a second, unofficial capital. While the economic and political centres of Iran are situated in Tehran, the cultural heart of the country beats in Isfahan. Historical parallels go even further: during the Safavid dynasty, Isfahan was Iran’s capital, much as St Petersburg was the main city of the Russian Empire under the Romanovs. 

"Isfahan and St Petersburg are twin cities. And in keeping with Iranian tradition, cities are not brothers, but sisters. Thus, Isfahan is, at the very least, a sister to St Petersburg," clarified Artem Andreev. 

Looking East 

The East is growing in appeal for a rising number of Russian undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students. According to Artem Andreev, while academic exchange programmes initially drew primarily students specialising in Oriental studies, there is now burgeoning interest from students in other humanities disciplines as well. Artem Andreev hopes that in future, students from technical disciplines will also be interested in these exchange programmes. In 2023, seven students from St Petersburg University went to study at the University of Tehran, and more than 20 students from Iran came to study at St Petersburg University. 

Iran and Iranians are drawn to Russian culture. Many citizens of the eastern nation are well-versed in Russian culture and its key figures. Iranians hold a particular affection for Fyodor Dostoevsky; translations of The Brothers Karamazov and Crime and Punishment are ubiquitous in bookshops across Iran. We discussed this with Stanislav Krasutskii, a graduate of the Faculty of Asian and African Studies at St Petersburg University, who is currently doing a master’s course at Allameh Tabataba’i University in Tehran. 

Stanislav Krasutskii confessed that he had long dreamed of visiting Iran. So, when he came across an online advertisement for a master’s programme at an Iranian university, he did not hesitate. After successfully completing all the required tests, he enrolled at the Faculty of Persian Literature and Foreign Languages, where there is also a Russian language department. Despite his deep interest in Iran and its culture, Stanislav Krasutskii soon found that he missed Russia and the Russian language, prompting him to visit the Russian Language Department. 

"When I came there, I met the Head of the Department, a very kind woman," Stanislav Krasutskii shared. "She was delighted that a Russian student had stopped by. Having studied in Moscow herself, she understood my feelings perfectly, as she also had once ventured to study in a foreign country." 

A distinct Iranian culture 

Iranians are very hospitable. Smiles and openness are deeply ingrained in their culture. Persian speech etiquette even has its own concept — "Taarof". For example, according to the rules of Iranian etiquette, an interlocutor must not only to inquire about your well-being but also invite you home. 

"When you go shopping and offer your card or cash to the shop assistant, they initially decline with a phrase like 'there’s no need for that'," Stanislav Krasutskii explained. "This form of communication is part of their culture." 

The locals react warmly when they learn that he is Russian, shared Stanislav Krasutskii; some even attempt to communicate in Russian. Despite the apparent differences in mentalities, the Russian cultural footprint in Iran is profound — not only is Fyodor Dostoevsky widely recognised, but Leo Tolstoy is also known to virtually everyone in the country. Iranian cinema also bears a distinct Russian influence, with films featuring references to Maxim Gorky or the popular romance "Dark Eyes". 

Future plans 

The study of the diplomatic heritage of the two countries is but one facet of the work conducted by the Centre for the Study of the Islamic Republic of Iran at St Petersburg University. In future, the Centre aims to resume research using digital stylometry, or computational stylistics. With specialised software, scholars can analyse the style of an ancient text’s author, which presents significant opportunities to explore medieval Muslim anonymous manuscripts and determine their authorship. 

Furthermore, Artem Andreev highlighted that the Centre would like to form interdisciplinary teams to explore various aspects of Iran, such as its legal system. Particular areas of interest include the functioning of the Iranian economy, banking, and stock exchange. Social and internal political processes in Iran remain largely under-researched by Russian scholars. 

"As Iran increasingly becomes our partner, the demand for these studies grows," Artem Andreev concluded. "It is now up to us to meet this demand."