Tehran:An Iranian Foreign Ministry official has expressed concern over US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's comments regarding ancient conflicts between Iran and Greece, suggesting they risk politicizing history to promote a narrative of civilizational confrontation.
According to Islamic Republic News Agency, Alireza Hedayatpour, the deputy for cultural cooperation at the Foreign Ministry's Center for Public Diplomacy, emphasized that historical heritage should foster dialogue, tolerance, and mutual understanding among nations, rather than justify hostility or depict civilizations as perpetual adversaries.
Hedayatpour argued that the fifth-century BC conflicts, while significant, should not be simplified as a mere battle between a superior civilization and a foreign threat. He noted the Achaemenid Empire's governance over a vast, diverse territory and the differing political interests among Greek city-states.
He also discussed Herodotus' historical accounts, stressing the importance of evaluating them within the context of their creation. Hedayatpour warned against interpreting these ancient conflicts as an eternal struggle between a civilized West and a threatening East, which he believes politicizes history.
Highlighting Cyrus the Great's conquest of Babylon in 539 BC, Hedayatpour pointed to the Cyrus Cylinder as a valuable document for understanding the Achaemenid approach to political power and cultural diversity. However, he cautioned that historical achievements alone do not define a civilization's moral standing, referencing Athens' harsh treatment of Melos in 416 BC as an example of the disparity between political ideals and power.
Hedayatpour asserted that threats to Iran's cultural heritage or infrastructure transcend geopolitical competition. He cited international laws, including Article 2(4) of the UN Charter and the 1954 Hague Convention, which offer frameworks for protecting cultural property during conflicts.
The official called for legal and diplomatic measures, increased international dissemination of research on Iranian heritage, and collaboration with global scholars and cultural organizations to safeguard shared heritage and promote peaceful coexistence.