Hawzah News Agency (Qom, Iran) – In a meeting with the officials of Islamic Culture and Relations Organization (ICRO) in Qom on Monday, March 6, Ayatollah Alireza Arafi asserted that international relations can be defined through two distinct perspectives; one area of diplomacy is establishing international relations in terms of serving countries' national interests, the second perspective is to look at foreign relations in terms of cultural and intellectual approaches."

Stressing that the Islamic Republic of Iran seeks both forms of international relations in its foreign diplomacy, Ayatollah Arafi added, "When it comes to Iran's foreign policy, one cannot separate Iran's cultural and intellectual diplomacy from its political relations."

Dean of al-Mustafa International University further reiterated that al-Mustafa's future strategies are planned with respect to world's diverse cultures and civilizations and said, "Adopting a long-term approach in our future strategies is considered as another major principle in enhancing  international movements."

Highlighting the influential role of media in international activities, the member of Islamic Seminaries' Supreme Council remarked, "We must realize the potential of Quranic institutions as well as Public NGOs in order to boost our international interactions." Hawzah reported.

"Currently, as many as 100 thousand clerics are doing research and taking courses in Islamic sciences in the city of Qom, more than 10 thousands seminary lecturers and scholars are teaching in the seminary of Qom, there are more than 300 research institutes publishing scientific journals and books on different subjects in multiple disciplines and languages; these are just a few examples to show the amazing cultural and scientific capacities which have been created in the holy city of Qom."