TEHRAN: Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf criticised US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s references to ancient Persia in an October 7 speech in Athens, warning Washington against invoking historical conflicts.
Rubio addressed an audience at the Pnyx, overlooking the Acropolis, where he recalled Persian King Xerxes’ invasion of Greece in 480 BC.
He praised the Athenians’ resistance and subsequent rebuilding of their city as examples of Western determination. Separately, he condemned Iran’s current clerical leadership, describing its ideology as a “cult of death”.
Ghalibaf responded on X on October 9, accusing Iran’s adversaries of seeking to erase ancient civilisations. “Those who chase Alexander’s legacy will share Valerian’s fate: you will kneel,” he wrote.
His warning referred to Roman Emperor Valerian, whom Persian ruler Shapur I captured in 260 AD. However, Iran’s defence of its ancient heritage contrasts with statements from former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
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In April 2012, Khamenei criticised Xerxes’ invasion of Greece, arguing that the campaign served rulers’ ambitions rather than national interests. In 2018, he dismissed pride in ancient Persian dynasties as an insufficient basis for national achievement.
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Meanwhile, Iranian commentators offered differing interpretations of Rubio’s address. Historian Touraj Daryaee challenged its presentation of the ancient wars as a conflict between Eastern and Western civilizations. US-based Iranian analyst Omid Memarian argued that the speech could help Tehran portray Washington as hostile to Iranian identity.
However, political analyst Nejat Bahrami rejected claims that Rubio had attacked Iranian civilisation. He argued that the secretary’s historical references concerned Western resilience, while his criticism targeted Iran’s present government.
The US State Department did not immediately respond to Iran International’s request for comment on the criticism. At his January 2025 Senate confirmation hearing, Rubio had praised Iran’s ancient culture and distinguished the Iranian people from their political rulers.
Iranian officials criticised Marco Rubio’s references to ancient Persia in an Athens speech, while commentators disagreed over whether his remarks targeted Iranian civilisation or its present rulers.
