Discussing Iranian-European relations at the Tehran Dialogue Forum, 18-19 May 2025

Oliver and Jordan with H.E. Abbas Araghchi, Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs.

On 18-19 May, Oliver and Jordan attended the Tehran Dialogue Forum 2025, hosted by the Institute for Political and International Studies (IPIS), the main think tank of the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The event convened more than 200 delegations of senior officials, diplomats, academics, and organisations from 53 countries. The Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi each delivered keynote remarks. 

Through approximately 50 speeches and panel discussions, the event aimed to facilitate policy dialogues and the sharing of diverse perspectives on pressing regional and international challenges. It provided us with an important opportunity for bilateral meetings and to deepen our understanding of the West Asia region. 

Oliver participated on a panel titled ‘Iran and Europe: Dialogue and Dilemmas, and the Road Ahead’. He discussed the obstacles to cooperation between Europe and Iran, with the panel concluding that while deep divisions remain, relations could improve based on dialogue and mutual recognition of interests. 

Oliver discussed European-Iranian relations with other panellists: Seyyed Mohammad Deghani, Milos Strugar, Maria Louisa Fantappie, Erwin Van Veen, and Prof. Laszlo Csicsmann.