Universal History Annotation << Back SPIRITUAL AND MORAL THEME IN COOPERATION BETWEEN THE USSR AND IRAN: MISSED OPPORTUNITIES OR THE LANDMARK OF TODAY? S.R. Chedzhemov, Z.T. Plieva The article examines the Soviet-Iranian relations of the late twentieth century, when the spiritual leader of Iran, Ayatollah R. Khomeini, addressed a special message to the President of the USSR M.S. Gorbachev. The analysis of this appeal shows the desire of the Iranian side to draw the attention of the leadership of our country to the issues of religious and moral education and the organization of mutually beneficial cooperation on this basis. The authors emphasize the positive activities of the leadership of the modern Russian Federation and Iran, analyze and systematize materials indicating the establishment of humanitarian ties between Iran and Russia, including the materials of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania, in particular the North Ossetian State University named after K.L. Khetagurov. The selfless activity of the heads of the Iranian embassies in Russia and representatives of the teaching staff of universities of the two countries is emphasized. The article concludes that the emerging educational and cultural cooperation plays a positive role in the harmonization of international relations in the Caucasus and the Middle East and this trend has further prospects. Keywords: USSR, Iran, Ayatollah R. Khomeini, Russia, North Ossetia-Alania, religious and moral education, humanitarian cooperation. DOI: 10.25791/vseist.01.2022.1147 Pp. 03-10.