Madrid: Iran’s Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, Abbas Salehi, recently visited the National Library of Spain as part of his trip to Barcelona to attend a UNESCO conference. During his visit, Salehi met briefly with the head of the library in Madrid and toured the various departments of the expansive complex on Sunday. He was joined by the Iranian Cultural Counselor in Spain and the Secretary General of the UNESCO Commission in Iran.

According to Islamic Republic News Agency, the Iranian minister was provided with detailed explanations about the library’s operations and its extensive collection of books and manuscripts. At the end of the visit, Salehi extended an invitation to the head of the National Library of Spain to visit Iran. He highlighted the importance of finalizing a memorandum of understanding on cooperation between the national libraries of the two countries, a process actively pursued by the Cultural Counselor of the Iranian Embassy in Spain.

Salehi’s visit to Spain was prompted by his participation in the UNESCO Mondiacult 2025 summit in Barcelona. The summit gathered ministers of culture and representatives worldwide to discuss the role of culture in global development and cooperation. On the sidelines of the conference, Salehi engaged in bilateral meetings with his counterparts from several countries, with a focus on expanding cultural exchanges and strengthening diplomatic ties.