Greece–Iran relations

Greek-Iranian relations are foreign relations between Greece and Iran. The two countries have had relations for thousands of years, and share great historical and cultural ties. Greece has an embassy in Tehran, and Iran is represented by its embassy in Athens.

Greek-Iranian relations

Greece
Iran
Diplomatic mission
Embassy of Greece, TehranEmbassy of Iran, Athens

History
Cartoon on the establishment of diplomatic relations between Greece and the then-ruling Qajar dynasty of Persia in 1902

Ancient
See also: Achaemenid Empire, Classical Greece, and Hellenistic Period

Relations between the two people date back from antiquity and well before the Persian invasion of Greece. By the late 6th century BC, the Achaemenid Persian Empire was in control over all of Asia Minor (which included many ethnically Greek areas), as well as many of the Greek islands, Thrace, and the kingdom of Macedonia, the latter two which make up large parts of modern-day northern Greece. There is also the report by Strabo of an Athenian delegation to Persia in 432 BC.[1]

The relations have evolved from sworn rivalry during the Greco-Persian wars to strong cordiality, since Alexander the Great defeated the Persian Empire. Alexander admired Persian culture, and wanted to create a mixture of Greek and Persian culture which would forever bind and commemorate the two peoples.

This legacy of strong cordiality would thus be found back for many more centuries in various parts of the world named as the Greco-Persian culture. A harmonious blend of both Greek and Persian cultural aspects. The Kingdom of Pontus was a prime example of an entity (in Asia Minor) where Iranian and Greek culture, ethnicity, identity, amongst others, mingled.

Medieval
See also: Sasanian Empire and Byzantine Empire

The Sasanian Empire and Byzantine Empire (which was Greek-speaking) were the main powers in southern Europe, Western Asia, and Central Asia. There were many conflicts between them.

Modern

There is a small Christian Greek community in Iran.[2] In Tehran, there is a Greek Orthodox church which opens mostly during the Greek Holy Week.[2]

In January 2020, the Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis stated that "Greece supports the decision of the USA for the assassination of Qasem Soleimani" causing an official protest by Iran.[3]

Diplomacy

See also

References
  1. D. J. Mosley,Archipresbeutai, Hermes, Vol. 94, No. 3 (1966), pp. 377–381.
  2. "Διμερείς Σχέσεις της Ελλάδος". www.mfa.gr. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
  3. Διάβημα διαμαρτυρίας του Ιράν
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