At 10.00 today the Holy Father Francis received in audience H.E. Dr. Seyed Taha Hashemi, ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran, on the occasion of the presentation of his credential letters.

The following is a brief biography of the new ambassador:

H.E. Dr. Seyed Taha Hashemi
Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran

He was born in Zărand-Kerman on 23 November 1958, and is married with five children.

He obtained a doctorate in medicine from Tehran University in 1989, a PhD in Islamic Law from Tehran and Qom Theological Seminary in 2007, a specialization in behavioural psychology from the Berkeley University of Jakarta in 2013, and a specialization in general psychology from Peyam-e Nur University in 2017.

He has held the following positions: deputy director of the Coordination Council of Islamic Propaganda and Director of the Dahe-ye Fajr Corps of the Islamic Revolution (1980-1992); director of the Centre for Informatics Research on Islamic Sciences (1992-2018); member of the Board of Directors and of the Council of Guarantors of the Office for Islamic Propaganda of the Qom Theological Seminary (1994-2004); parliamentary representative for Qom and member of the directorate of the Islamic Legislative Assembly (1996-2000); director of the Supervisory Board on the Organization of Radiotelevision of the Islamic Republic of Iran (1997-2000); editor-in-chief of the national newspaper Entekhab (1998-2004); deputy legal and international director of the Organization for Cultural Heritage, Crafts and Tourism (2004-2005); director of the Cultural and Natural Heritage Committee - UNESCO National Commission (2004-2007); member of the Culture and Civilization Committee of the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution (2004-2017); director of the Institute of Research on Cultural Heritage and Tourism (2005-2007); cultural and social vice-rector of the Free Islamic University (2013-2016); member of the General Culture Council (2013-2017); medical advisor to the Rector of the Free Islamic University (2016-2017); member of the Scientific Council of the Institute of Research on Cultural Heritage and Tourism, and advisor to the executive director of the Institute for Social Security.