Speaking to a Hawzah News Agency correspondent in Sanandaj, Hojatoleslam Seyyed Musa Mahmoudi, director of the Safiran Hedayat Seminary in Bijar, criticized Rubio's recent statements during his visit to Greece, describing them as containing insulting references to Iran's ancient and proud civilization — a civilization that has always been counted among the world's valuable cultural and historical treasures.
'Insults Reflect Enemies' Inability to Grasp Iran's Grandeur'
He added: "Insulting the culture and civilization of the Iranian nation, more than anything else, expresses the opponents' inability to understand the historical and cultural greatness of this land — because Iran, over thousands of years, has always been a source of culture, knowledge, and influential civilization."
Emphasizing Iran's historical background, the director of the Safiran Hedayat Seminary in Bijar stated: "The Iranian nation, from distant past to the present, has been the heir to a great civilization — a civilization whose works and achievements are still visible in various parts of world history and culture."
Iranian Culture Intertwined with Islamic Teachings
Mahmoudi continued: "Today, Iranian culture, in its bond with Islamic culture and teachings, has formed a valuable civilizational capacity whose role and position in global cultural and historical developments cannot be ignored."
He noted: "A significant portion of historical studies and works around the world is dedicated to examining Iran's civilization and the cultural achievements of this nation, and this itself is evidence of the importance and influence of this historical heritage."
A Heritage That Cannot Be Diminished
The director of the Safiran Hedayat Seminary in Bijar concluded: "The historical and cultural identity of the Iranian nation is deeply rooted, and insulting remarks cannot diminish the value and standing of this ancient heritage in world history."
Rubio's Remarks Draw Widespread Condemnation
Rubio's recent speech alongside the Acropolis in Athens, in which he portrayed the United States as the heir to Greek civilization and invoked the Greco-Persian Wars to frame a civilizational duality against Iran, has drawn sharp criticism from Iranian officials, academics, and media figures.
Critics have pointed out that Rubio's narrative conveniently omits the context of the Greco-Persian Wars — including the Athenian attack on Sardis and the burning of its temple in 498 BC, which provoked the Persian response — while ignoring the Achaemenid era's contributions to human rights, tolerance, and respect for diverse traditions.
They argue that such selective historical narratives serve less as genuine historical reflection and more as an attempt to legitimize Washington's present warmongering against Iran by recasting aggression as a civilizational defense.
Iran's Civilizational Legacy in Global Scholarship
Iran's ancient civilization, spanning the Achaemenid, Parthian, and Sassanid empires, has left an indelible mark on world history. The Cyrus Cylinder, often described as an early declaration of human rights, the administrative sophistication of the Achaemenid Empire, and the cultural and scientific achievements of subsequent Persian dynasties remain subjects of extensive international scholarly study.
The integration of Iranian culture with Islamic teachings following the arrival of Islam in Persia produced a golden age of science, philosophy, literature, and art that shaped not only the Muslim world but also contributed significantly to the European Renaissance and the broader trajectory of global civilization.
Iranian officials and scholars have repeatedly emphasized that such historical heritage cannot be erased or diminished by politically motivated insults, and that attempts to distort history will only further isolate those who resort to such tactics.
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