Tehran – The University of Salento has concluded its mission to Iran, marked by the return to Italy of Rector Fabio Pollice and Professor Enrico Ascalone. Invited by the Iranian Ambassador to Italy, Seyed Mohammed Ali Hosseini, and the Iranian Academy of Sciences, the UniSalento delegation met with representatives of Tehran’s leading universities, signing five agreements for scientific and cultural cooperation.

The visit represents a major milestone in the university’s long-standing commitment to cultural diplomacy. UniSalento has also been invited as guest of honour at Innovex 2026 – the prestigious Innovation Expo welcoming hundreds of cutting-edge companies from across the Middle East.

Additionally, following the success of the archaeological mission at the UNESCO site of Shahr-I-Sokhta, Iran’s Ministry of Culture informed Rector Pollice of its intention to entrust UniSalento with the excavation of another major archaeological site – one of the most significant in the region.

During the five-day mission, the Italian delegation participated in a series of meetings with Iranian scholars and students, the latter attending seminars led by Rector Pollice and Professor Ascalone, who specializes in archaeology and art history of the ancient Near East.

The delegation was also received by the Italian Ambassador in Tehran, Paola Amadei, and Emanuele Marchi, Head of Cultural Affairs at the embassy, to whom they presented the university’s international growth strategy.

“I firmly believe,” said the Rector, “that the collaborations initiated and those to come will contribute to further advancing our university and help lay the groundwork for a new season in relations between our two countries.” (9colonne)