Iran-Greece Science Ties Face Banking, Visa Barriers

Greek academic officials discussed student exchanges and joint research in Iran on Monday, but Iranian university officials said bank transactions, visa issues, travel difficulties and administrative obstacles still stand between proposed cooperation and working projects. The meetings placed institutional promises alongside the financial and paperwork barriers that can determine whether researchers and students actually cross borders.

Cooperation, Routed Through Institutions

At the University of Science and Culture and the Iranian Cultural and Creative Industries Park, the delegation examined scientific and technological capacities and possible ways to strengthen academic ties, IRNA reported. The agenda included student exchanges, joint research, economics and management cooperation, and professional training courses.

Officials also considered whether the University of Science and Culture could join the Black Sea Universities Network, and whether the Greek embassy could help arrange academic links and memoranda of understanding with Greek universities. These proposed connections run through universities, a regional network and an embassy; the report identifies no grassroots or community-led organizing around the exchange.

Ali Sadollah, an official with the University of Science and Culture, described programs in engineering, humanities, law, art, architecture, tourism and life sciences. More than 320 international students study there, and the university cooperates with more than 30 universities in 14 countries. Sadollah said it was ready to work with Greek universities on exchanges, joint research and international conferences.

He also highlighted institutions affiliated with the Academic Center for Education, Culture, and Research (Jahad-e Daneshgahi), including Royan Institute, Ibn Sina Institute and the Iranian Cultural and Creative Industries Park. The park connects academic and research capacities with creative businesses and cultural industries, offering possible cooperation in cultural economy, innovation, soft technologies and international cultural activities.

Agreements Meet Practical Obstacles

On October 28, the Greek delegation visited Shahid Beheshti University. During a scientific roundtable at its Faculty of Economics and Political Sciences, Chancellor Mahmoud-Reza Aqamiri and Greek academic officials discussed exchanges of professors and researchers, shared expertise, joint research and educational projects, and attracting students.

The Greek delegation called for broader scientific, interdisciplinary and international cooperation to strengthen social justice and address shared challenges. It also emphasized the human and legal dimensions of the war against Iran. The report gives no further detail on that discussion or any specific proposals connected to it.

Iranian academic officials said financial constraints, travel difficulties, bank transactions, visa-related issues and administrative obstacles needed attention before joint scientific work could develop. They proposed online meetings, joint articles, library cooperation and continuing research projects. Aqamiri said Shahid Beheshti University would follow up on implementing the agreements and establish a basis for lasting scientific interactions. For now, those are proposed next steps; the report doesn't describe completed projects.

Scientific Rankings and Official Claims

In a separate section, IRNA reported claims by Saeed Bakhtiari, head of the Presidential Affairs Office at the Islamic World Science Citation Center (ISC), about Iran's scientific output. At an August 17 press briefing, Bakhtiari said Iran ranked first among Islamic nations in cognitive sciences and held the top position overall, while competing closely with Turkey and Saudi Arabia.

Bakhtiari said Web of Science data placed Iran first among Islamic countries in some fields and second or third in others. He said Iran ranked second among Islamic countries and ninth worldwide in advanced materials, third in artificial intelligence behind Saudi Arabia and Turkey, and second in quantum science after Saudi Arabia. He also said national development plans emphasized science in these fields. These rankings appear as Bakhtiari's account; the report doesn't provide the underlying data or independent verification.