The Islamic Republic of Iran - the EU Cultural Diplomacy

Today, in the international arena, all countries are trying to engage in comprehensive development oriented mutual dialogue with a principle called maintaining national interests, and have concluded that making use of cultural instruments is the best and most efficient way of optimal implementation of foreign policy and gaining national interest. With the advent of new political-security and geopolitical developments, the political stance of the Islamic Republic of Iran on the EU has changed. The EU that encompasses some powerful and influential countries, is considered to be one of the powerful economic blocs in the international system. Given the US sanctions against our country, the formulation and implementation of efficient cultural diplomacy is an issue that can provide a better opportunity for more serious engagement with the EU, leading to tension reduction and peace and security return. Cultural diplomacy can be said to be an efficient and flexible instrument in foreign policy to improve the level of government relations and to increase understanding among nations and to create international peace and stability. It also provides the appropriate grounds for mutual understanding of human societies through the expansion of cultural-artistic exchanges, development of academic- educational collaborations and interaction between elites and communities, language teaching and the removal of existing language barriers. This study is a library research and has a descriptive-analytic method. It seems that if the foreign policy of a country could promote its desirable values ​​in the international system by making use of attractive culture for nations, it would create behavioral patterns and political commitments without compulsion at the major level in its favor.