Hoj Mostafa Faqih Esfandyari, the deputy for International Affairs of the shrine, pointed to the significance of holy shrines in fulfilling cultural goals on the third day of the First Regional Summit for Iran’s Cultural Attaches in neighboring countries.

“Accordingly, we’ve suggested a plan dubbed ‘Pilgrimage Diplomacy’ to the Islamic Culture and Communication Organization and the Foreign Ministry in order to waive visa for the citizens of countries that attract pilgrims. Fortunately, Foreign Ministry officials expressed readiness to help us in this regard”, added Faqih Esfandyari.

“This office is run by public donations and endowments, and doesn’t need any national budget. Therefore, it can be a role model for the Cultural Attaches to be more influential in cultural spheres”, noted the deputy.

“Pilgrimage Diplomacy is significant in both scientific and cultural areas. Therefore, I suggest that a specific desk for pilgrimage, donations and endowments be set up for cultural attaches (in Iran’s embassies in neighboring countries). Given the scope of Imam Reza shrine activities, we need to promote Imam Reza’s life and conduct via cultural diplomacy”, continued he.

Stressing that Imam Reza shrine welcomes everyone – Muslims and non-Muslims alike – he stated: “It behooves the shrine to make it possible for the pilgrims to see all the aspects such as religious, historic and cultural (museums)”.

Faqih Esfandyari further called upon Iran’s cultural attaches to register an international day for Imam Reza so that to convey Prophet Muhammad’s Infallible Household’s teachings to the world.

He urged them to take initiatives in the neighboring countries and pave the way for “academic and scientific figures from regional countries” to come to Imam Reza shrine in northeastern Iranian city of Mashhad.

The First Regional Summit for Iran’s Cultural Attaches in neighboring countries is underway 7-12 October in Iran.