Portugal and Iran, a primer · Carl Munson's Portugal Club

Portugal and Iran, a primer

As the US political leadership is threatening to bomb the country of Iran "back the Stone Age", let's look at the relationship between Portugal and Iran (historically 'Persia' under the Safavid dynasty and later periods):

*Early Modern Period (15th–18th centuries)*

1489–1492: First indirect Portuguese contacts with the Persian Gulf region. Explorer Pêro da Covilhã visits the area while scouting trade routes for King João II.

1507: Portuguese forces under Afonso de Albuquerque conquer the strategic island of Hormuz (Ormuz) in the Persian Gulf, establishing control over key trade routes. This marks the beginning of direct Portuguese–Safavid interactions, often marked by both cooperation (against common Ottoman threats) and rivalry.

1513: Afonso de Albuquerque sends ambassadors (Miguel and João Ferreira) to Shah Ismail I of Persia, initiating formal diplomatic exchanges.

1515–1622: Portugal maintains a presence in Hormuz, using it as a trading and military outpost. Multiple embassies travel between the Portuguese Estado da Índia and the Safavid court. Relations involve trade, anti-Ottoman alliances, and occasional conflicts.

1622: Combined Anglo-Persian forces (English East India Company assisting Shah Abbas I) recapture Hormuz from the Portuguese, ending over a century of Portuguese dominance in the Gulf. A subsequent Portuguese attempt to retake it in 1625 ends in a naval stalemate.

1630–1722: After the loss of Hormuz, Portugal shifts focus to Bandar-e Kong on the Persian mainland as a trading center under agreements with Safavid Iran. This sustains commercial ties for about a century.

1736 onward: Relations decline sharply under Nader Shah Afshar. Official political and trade contacts largely cease for decades.

*19th–Early 20th Century*

Mid-19th century (Qajar period): Sporadic re-engagement, but no sustained official diplomatic framework until the 20th century.

*Modern Diplomatic Era (20th–21st centuries)*

1932: Portugal opens its first consulate in Tehran.

1935: Official political relations established at the level of minister plenipotentiary.

1956: Portugal establishes a legation in Tehran (later upgraded to embassy). On 15 October, Luís Norton de Matos presents credentials as the first non-resident Portuguese ambassador to Iran (based in Ankara).

1971: Portugal opens a resident embassy in Tehran. A Portuguese delegation attends Iran's 2500-year celebration of the Persian Empire in Persepolis/Shiraz.

1974: Following Portugal's Carnation Revolution, Iran recognizes the new Portuguese regime.

1979: Iranian Islamic Revolution. Relations continue but are influenced by broader Western–Iran tensions.

1984: Iran opens its resident embassy in Lisbon, with Jahanbakhsh Mozaffari as the first ambassador.

2000s–2010s: Steady but low-profile bilateral ties focused on trade, culture, and occasional high-level visits. In 2008, historical documents from the relationship are exhibited in Lisbon.

2015: Commemoration of 500 years since initial Portuguese arrival in Hormuz; cultural exchanges intensify.

2020: Joint events (seminar and exhibition in Lisbon) mark approximately 500 years of historical relations, 85 years of modern diplomatic ties, and 50 years since the Portuguese embassy opened in Tehran. Both sides highlight cultural and historical bridges.

*Recent Developments (2020s)*

Relations remain formally maintained with embassies in both capitals (Iranian Embassy in Lisbon; Portuguese Embassy in Tehran).

Ties are generally cordial but limited, centered on cultural dialogue, trade, and people-to-people contacts (including the small Iranian community in Portugal).

Portugal, as an EU and NATO member, often aligns with European positions on Iranian nuclear issues, human rights, and regional stability.

In early 2026, amid heightened Middle East tensions (including conflicts involving Iran, the US, and Israel, and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz), Portugal emphasized diplomatic solutions, ruled out military involvement, and temporarily closed its embassy in Tehran for security reasons while advising its citizens to leave.

Portugal has also supported mediation efforts and condemned certain Iranian actions in the region, reflecting its broader Western alliances.

Overall, the relationship has evolved from intense 16th–17th century maritime rivalry and trade in the Persian Gulf to modern, low-intensity diplomatic and cultural engagement.

Both countries occasionally reference their long shared history as a foundation for dialogue despite geopolitical differences.

How many Iranians are thought to be living in Portugal?

300

3,000

30,000

7 votes

3 comments