TEHRAN — Twenty-six Iraqi and other Arab-speaking poets have gathered in Mashhad for a cultural and literary meeting focused on strengthening exchanges between poets from Iran and the Arab world.
The gathering, organized by the Cultural and Educational Committee of Arbaeen, brought the poets together with officials from the Poetry and Literature Office of the International Imam Reza Foundation. 
Held at the Fatemieh Hotel in Mashhad, the meeting coincided with celebrations marking the birthday of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon Him) and Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq (AS).
The program provided a forum for discussing potential areas of cooperation in poetry and cultural activity, with particular attention to creating lasting connections between poets and writers working within religious and cultural traditions.
Seyyed Hussein Seyyedi, director of the International Imam Reza Foundation’s Poetry and Literature Office, said the visiting poets had played an important role in articulating the discourse of resistance through poetry, including works devoted to martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.
According to Seyyedi, participants agreed to maintain their connections through online platforms and to explore the possibility of holding more specialized literary meetings in the future.
As part of the program, a number of the visiting poets are scheduled to read their work in the Ghadir Courtyard of the Imam Reza shrine, where they will perform for pilgrims and residents of the city.