Widely regarded as one of the region’s most influential literary gatherings, the event serves as a vital platform for promoting dialogue, displaying literature and deepening intellectual connections.
A renowned annual cultural event held for over 30 years, the Tehran International Book Fair features the Guest of Honor Country annually.
Previous guests of honor include Afghanistan, Oman, Russia, Italy, Serbia, China, Qatar and Tajikistan.
Yemen was an honorary guest at the 35th TIBF in 2024, joining a 140-square-meter stand and a delegation of ten officials, writers, poets and publishers. Over 15 bilateral meetings, events and panel discussions were also held.
Iranian cultural authorities highlight the strategic cultural partnership between Iran and Iraq, and the shared historical and literary traditions that bind both countries.
Gholamreza Abazari, Iran’s cultural attachment in Iraq, expressed his gratitude to Iran’s Ministry of Culture and Islamic leadership for selecting Iraq as a guest of fair honors.
He emphasized the importance of cultural interactions, saying, “Iran and Iraq are strategic partners in the field of culture and civilization, which is reflected in their formal and informal engagement with both the government and the Iraqi people.”
With TIBF 2025 welcoming thousands of visitors from around the world, organizers are optimistic that Iraq’s prominent role at the fair will lead to lasting literary collaboration and deeper cultural appraisals between the two countries.
The event not only celebrates Iraq’s literary achievements, but also strengthens the profound historical and intellectual ties that Iran and Iraq share.
The special Iraqi pavilion opened at TIBF with Iran’s Minister of Culture, Sei Abbas Salehi and the presence of Iraqi culture, tourism, ancient existences and Ahmed Whakak al-Bhadrani.
“We have and continue to have a wide range of opportunities for cultural diplomacy thanks to deep-rooted historical and cultural commonalities in our relationship with Iraq,” Salehi said.
He said, “Cultural diplomacy is an effective tool and is extremely important in the interaction between governments and nations, especially neighboring countries. As we share ancient history and culture with Iraq, opportunities for cultural diplomacy are enormous. These opportunities help to strengthen and accelerate effective social relations between our countries and governments.”
He expressed his hope that Iraq’s choice as a guest of honor marks a new milestone in line with cultural diplomacy.
Salehi further states: “Fortunately, there is a strong cultural agreement with Iraq. During the recent visit of the Iranian and Iraqi president, documents were signed on this point. These agreements open up ways to promise cultural exchanges between the people of both countries and their governments.”
Iraq has attended the book fair with over 30 publishers and well-known cultural figures from both the private and public sectors.
The international section of the Tehran Book Fair covers an area of 360 square meters. It includes a variety of programs, including special sessions, bilateral meetings, scientific and cultural visits with participation from publishers, authors and publishing activists from various countries.
These programs serve as platforms for developing international publishing cooperation and expanding the cultural diplomacy of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Iraq’s presence at the Book Fair includes a dedicated pavilion featuring a diverse range of literary works, ranging from contemporary fiction to classical poetry, religious studies and academic publications.
Renowned Iraqi scholars, authors and publishers engage in discussions, book signing and specialized seminars to provide insight into Iraq’s literary heritage.
A key highlight of TIBF 2025 is its ongoing efforts to strengthen public collaboration between Iran and Iraq.
The fair held a pivotal session entitled “Strategy for Expanding the Translation and Publication Market between Iran and Iraq.”
The discussion focuses on strengthening bilateral publishing contracts and addressing challenges related to intellectual property rights.
Additionally, officials at the event highlighted how the partnership could open a path to more structured cooperation, including the potential formation of Iran-Iraqi co-publishers.
Such an initiative will encourage greater translation and distribution of books between the two countries and expand access to cultural and academic material.
The latest edition of TIBF began on Wednesday (May 7, 2025) with Iranian chairman Mohammad Bakar Kalibah attending.
With the motto “Let’s read for Iran,” the 36th TIBF is currently underway in the capital, Imam Khomeini Mosala until May 17th.
Reported by Tohid Mahmoudpour