The diplomatic relations between the Portuguese Republic and the Islamic Republic of Iran date back to the 16th century, following the establishment of the Portuguese State of India.
The first interactions between Portugal and Iran date back to the 16th century, during the period of the Safavid dynasty, when a Portuguese armada led by Afonso de Albuquerque stormed and captured Ormuz in 1507. From that moment on, the two countries initiated a period of intense interaction, with multiple embassies and envoys sent by the two nations. In 1513, Afonso de Albuquerque, as governor of Portuguese India, sent Miguel Ferreira and João Ferreira to Persia, as ambassadors to the Shah Ismail of Persia.[1]
During the 20th century, the relations between the two countries were renewed, with the first Portuguese consulate in Tehran opening in December 1932, which was followed by a Portuguese Legation in the same city on 11 May 1956, which would eventually become an embassy. On 15 October 1956, the Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of Portugal in Ankara, Luís Norton de Matos, presented his credentials as Non-resident Ambassador in Tehran, becoming the first diplomatic representative of Portugal in Iran in the modern era.[2]
Throughout the first two decades of the 20th century, the relations between the two countries intensified, several bilateral agreements were signed, and a number of official visits by officials from both countries occurred. In 2008, the 500th anniversary of the relations between the two countries was celebrated.
Several bilateral agreements have been signed by the two countries, including:[3]
Furthermore, numerous Memorandums of Understanding were signed between different Ministries of the two countries, regarding cooperation in the fields of Education, Culture, Science, Technology, Sports, Tourism, Historical and Patrimonial Documentation, Agriculture and Political Consultations.
Over the last decades, several high level visits took place, including the following:
The two countries maintain a modest, but consistent economic and commercial relationship. The total of goods traded by the two countries in 2019 amounted to 21.99 million dollars, with a surplus from the Portuguese perspective of 5.21 million dollars.[5]
Iran was in 2020 the 104th client of Portuguese exports, with a quota of 0.02% of the total of Portuguese exports in that year, while it was the 130th largest exporter of goods to Portugal, with a quota of 0.002% of the total, in the same period.[6]
The main products exported from Portugal to Iran in 2020 were Agricultural Products, Food Products, Common Metals, Minerals and Ores, and Machinery and other Equipment. In the same year, the main groups of products exported to Portugal by Iran were Minerals and Ores, Agricultural Products and Chemical Products.[6]