Political relations

Hungary and Iran established diplomatic relations in 1939. The Hungarian Embassy in Tehran started its operation in 1951. After the 1979 revolution, Hungary was among the first countries to recognize the newly established Islamic Republic of Iran.
 
High level visits since the proclamation of the Islamic Republic of Iran

1986
Mr. Mir Hossein Moussavi, Iranian prime minister
1988
Mr. Károly Grósz, President of the Hungarian Council of Ministers
1993
Mr. Ali Akbar Velayati, Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs
1993
Mr. Gyula Kiss, Hungarian Minister of Labour
1993
Mr. Hossein Kamali, Iranian Minister of Labour
2001
Mr. János Martonyi, Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs
2005
Mr. Jaafar Towfiqi, Iranian Minister of Science, Research and Technology
2005
Mr. Kamal Karrazi, Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs

Most important bilateral agreements

Cultural cooperation 1968
Technical and scientific cooperation 1972
Road transport of persons and goods 1992

Cultural relations

The legal and institutional framework for the development of cultural, scientific and educational relations was laid down in the relevant Agreement, signed on 24 May, 1968. The main fields, covered by the Agreement include Iranian studies, Turkology and archaeology.
During the past decade, Hungary has become popular with Iranian students wishing to study abroad. Various Hungarian universities – mainly medical and technical – receive hundreds of Iranian students every year. The quality of higher education in Hungary is recognized internationally, while living costs are lower than in most Western European countries. For further information about possibilities of studying in Hungary visit campushungary or contact the Hungarian Embassy in Tehran where various brochures are available.
In Hungary there is a Hungarian-Iranian Friendship Society, which organizes cultural programs for Hungarians interested in getting a deeper knowledge of Iran, its history, culture and society.
Eötvös Loránd University of Sciences, the biggest Hungarian university has an independent department of Iranian Studies.

Scientific and technological relations

Scientific and technological cooperation between Hungary and Iran are regulated by the Technological-Scientific Cooperation Agreement, signed on 26 September, 1972.

Economic relations - bilateral import and export.

Hungarian export to Iran in the first half of 2008 was USD 10 million and the value of imported goods USD 1,4 million, a considerable decrease in Hungarian export compared to USD 45 million in 2005. UN sanctions (No. 1737/2007, 1747/2007 and 1803/2008) negatively affect bilateral trade, especially the financing of business transactions. Still, there are opportunities for bilateral business, and it is recognized in both capitals that the current level of cooperation cannot be deemed satisfactory. Hungarian made buses still running on Tehran’s and other Iranian cities’ streets are an indication of Iran's appetite for Hungarian technology. One further proof of traditionally good trade and investment contacts between the two countries is the power plant of Isfahan. Based upon these long traditions and the great potential of Iran, Hungarian companies are busily trying to reintroduce themselves to the Iranian market by increasing their activity. Agriculture know-how, agricultural and oil-drilling machinery, water and waste water processing technologies, IT and food products are readily available for the huge Iranian market. Small and middle-size enterprises of Hungary have been significantly active in developing business relations with Iranian counterparts of late.

Archaeology, History and Literature

The ancient Hungarian tribes moving towards West from the Ural area in the 7-8 centuries AD, settled down for a while in the Caucasus. Staying there they were living in the neighbourhood of ancient Iranian tribes. These Hungarian tribes were picking up some cultural and linguistic patterns, which still exist in the Hungarian art and language. In the history of the Hungarian Kingdom there was also connection with Iran. For example the great Hungarian king, Matthias the 1st in the 15th century sent a personal special envoy to the his Persian counterpart.
 
The Hungarian orientalists and intellectuals have traditionally paid great attention to Iran. Some of these

The famous linguist and Oriental traveller Armin Vámbéry made a journey in Iran in the 19th century and wrote books about his experiences.
The British-Hungarian archaeologist Aurel Stein took part in three successful expeditions in Central Asia and Persia. He recorded numerous archaeological sites, especially in Iran. Today the British Library has an independent collection of documents, and manuscripts discovered by Stern.
The famous Hungarian poet in the 18th century, Mihály Csokonai Vitéz translated Omar Khajjam and Hafez verses from Farsi into Hungarian. Many of his poems were written under the influence of these two great Persian poets.

Some books, translated from Farsi into Hungarian

Firdausi: Sahname,
Hafez: Rubaiat
Anthology of Persian poets,
Anthology of contemporary Iranian novelists,
Short stories and novels by Bozorg Alavi, Sadeq Chubak, Sadeq Hedayet, Nizam Aruzi.
There is a traditional mutual interest and respect of the cinematography of the two counties toward each other.
On institutional level the Eötvös Lórand University of Sciences in Budapest has a department of Iranian studies, established in the early 20th century. A Hungarian-Iranian Friendship Group was set up in Budapest, Yazd and the Hungarian city Jászberény keep good relationship with each other, as “sister cities”.