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“Historically Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, India, Pakistan and Middle Asia have been located in the territory of Iranian culture and civilization,” Ali Jannati, the minister of Iranian culture and Islamic Guidance told the IRIB.

The culture minister of Iran has touched upon Azerbaijan’s intention to change the poems written in Persian language on Iranian famous poet Nizami Gyanjavi’s grave into Azerbaijani, and noted, “Those short minded who try to eliminate the cultural heritage of Iran, Persian language and literature will not rich their goal.”

Iran and Azerbaijan have had disagreements in recent years over some cultural and historic issues. According to the Iranian side, in addition to maintaining that Nizami Ganjavi was an Azerbaijani, the Azerbaijanis try to present polo as well as Iranian musical instruments as those that originated in Azerbaijan, which has caused discontent of Iranian officials and art workers.

According to IRNA news agency, the IRI Sport and Youth affairs deputy minister Seyyed Reza Salehi Amiri has recently touched upon the game polo and has noted, “We are going to call a joint meeting with the Foreign Ministry and Cultural Heritage organization officials in connection with the developments over the game polo. Be sure we will not allow Azerbaijan to ascribe the game polo, which belongs to our beloved Iran, to itself.”