Chairman of the Religious Board of Muslims of the Russian Federation, Grand Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin, met with the Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Seyed Abbas Salehi. The meeting was attended by deputy ministers, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the Russian Federation Kazem Jalali, and Head of the Cultural Representation at the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the Russian Federation Abdolreza Rashad.

On the Russian side, the meeting was attended by Deputy Chairmen of the RBM Mufti Rushan Abbyasov, Mufti Ildar Alyautdinov, Ildar Galeev, Renat Abyanov, Dinar Gaynetdinov, and Representative of the RBM Chairman in the DPR Ilduz Iskhakov.

At the beginning of the conversation, Grand Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin, on behalf of Russian Muslims, expressed deep solidarity with the people of Iran and noted the fortitude and courage that the Iranian nation has demonstrated in the face of external aggression. The Grand Mufti emphasized that, with his blessing, a delegation of the RBM had taken part in the farewell ceremony for Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei in Tehran.

According to him, the current meeting continues the long-standing tradition of trusting relations between the RBM and the leadership of Iran. Grand Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin recalled that in 1989, as a young imam-khatib of the Moscow Cathedral Mosque, he was among those who met at the capital's airport the Iranian delegation led by Ayatollah Abdollah Javadi Amoli, which arrived with the "Message" of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyed Khomeini, to General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev. Decades later, this historic event remains a solid foundation for the development of Russian-Iranian spiritual dialogue.

The head of the RBM particularly noted the role of President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin in supporting traditional religions in Russia, including in the development of religious infrastructure for Muslims. He emphasized that the Head of State deeply understands the significance of spiritual and moral values in the life of society and creates all conditions for their preservation and strengthening. With the support of the country's leadership, relevant agencies, and personally Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Marat Khusnullin, mosques are being restored in the regions reunited with Russia. As an example, he cited restoration work at the mosque in Mariupol and in other cities of the region that suffered from Ukrainian shelling.

Minister Seyed Abbas Salehi noted that in Iran, Grand Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin is known as an outstanding Islamic scholar and theologian whose opinion enjoys great authority. The Minister was particularly impressed by the pace of development of Muslim infrastructure in Russia: since the late Soviet period, the number of mosques and prayer houses has grown to several thousand. According to him, religiosity and spirituality have become an integral part of modern Russian society.

"We see that the situation of Muslims in Russia is improving and religious infrastructure is developing. This evokes the warmest feelings in us," said the Minister.

Seyed Abbas Salehi emphasized that it is extremely important for Iran to interact with the Muslim community of Russia. People who know the culture and traditions of the Muslim peoples of the East can become guides of Russian-Iranian friendship. The Minister recalled that in 2015, Russian President Vladimir Putin presented Ayatollah Ali Khamenei with one of the oldest manuscript copies of the Quran from Russian collections. This manuscript was subsequently studied in detail by Iranian scholars. According to the Minister, the Islamic heritage preserved in Russian archives and libraries can become an important area of bilateral cultural, scholarly, and religious cooperation.

The Minister said that his agency pays special attention to the Holy Quran. The Ministry holds an international Quran recitation competition, an annual International Exhibition of the Holy Quran during the month of Ramadan, scholarly forums, and conferences. Seyed Abbas Salehi noted that he is well aware of the extensive work of the RBM in studying and popularizing the Holy Scripture and the high values embedded in it—through large-scale cultural, educational, and publishing projects, exhibitions, competitions, and other initiatives aimed at introducing a broad audience to Islamic heritage.

The parties agreed that the Quran can become a connecting link between the Muslims of Russia and Iran. The Minister noted that the delegation of his ministry, which took part in the XII St. Petersburg International Forum of United Cultures, visited the "World of the Quran" exhibition organized by the Religious Board of Muslims of the Russian Federation at the State Museum of the History of Religion and gave it high praise.

Discussing the role of culture in strengthening ties between countries, Grand Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin said that he is the president of the Kazan International Film Festival "Altyn Minbar." He noted that this year the Grand Prix of the festival was awarded to the Iranian film "The Land of Angels." The Minister, in turn, emphasized that the language of culture and cinema helps convey spiritual and moral values to contemporaries, especially to young people.

The Minister highly commended the Grand Mufti's many years of contacts with the leadership of Iran: meetings with the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, and the recent letter received from Ayatollah Seyed Mojtaba Khamenei. He also gave high praise to the level of the RBM's relations with state and religious structures of Iran, in particular with the Organization of Culture and Islamic Relations, headed by Hojjat al-Islam Mehdi Imanipour, the World Assembly for the Rapprochement of Islamic Schools of Thought headed by Ayatollah Hamid Shahriari, Iranian universities, and other religious institutions.

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the Russian Federation Kazem Jalali stated that Grand Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin is "the voice of truth and verity." Under his leadership, important events are held within the walls of the Moscow Cathedral Mosque, including those with the participation of ambassadors extraordinary and plenipotentiary: actions in support of Palestine, Jerusalem Day, and other significant events. Among them, the diplomat particularly highlighted the farewell prayers for the late President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Seyed Ebrahim Raisi, and for Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, emphasizing that this is extremely important for Iran.