As Iran trades direct missile strikes with Israel in one of the most serious escalations in years, the Islamic Republic is also quietly deepening its influence in the Balkans through religious and cultural networks.
Though largely overshadowed by Turkey and Saudi Arabia in the region, Iran has spent decades cultivating ties with Muslim communities in Southeast Europe. Analysts say its outreach efforts are part of a broader soft power campaign that has taken on new urgency as Tehran faces growing international isolation.
Building Influence Through Culture
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iran’s main vehicle for religious diplomacy is the Ibn Sina Institute, established in Sarajevo in 1996. The center publishes Shiite theological works and Persian literature in local languages and maintains ties with Islamic faculties. It has also helped build a modest network of Iranian-linked clerics and scholars in the region, particularly in the Sandzak area bordering Serbia and Montenegro.
In Albania, Iran has focused on the Bektashi community, a Sufi-oriented religious order that is more open to Shiite ideas than the region’s Sunni majority. Cultural organizations such as the Saadi Shirazi Foundation, Quran Foundation, and Rumi Foundation have promoted Persian language, Islamic philosophy and religious education, often in cooperation with local academics.
Regional War Reaches a Boil
Iran’s efforts in the Balkans come amid a sharp escalation in the Middle East.
On Friday, Israel launched a wave of airstrikes across Iran, targeting missile bases and nuclear infrastructure in what it called Operation Rising Lion. The attack, which followed drone incursions from Iranian-backed militias, marked one of the most direct confrontations between the two regional powers.
In response, Iran fired dozens of ballistic missiles and drones into Israeli territory on Saturday, damaging civilian areas in Tel Aviv and prompting Israeli officials to warn of further retaliation. The international community, including the United Nations and European Union, has called for immediate de-escalation.
Quiet Networks, Limited Reach
Back in the Balkans, Iran’s religious influence remains limited compared to Turkey’s extensive mosque-building campaigns and Saudi Arabia’s financial support for Wahhabi-leaning groups. Most Muslims in the region follow the Hanafi school of Sunni Islam, making Shiism a minority current.
Iran’s refusal to recognize Kosovo’s independence has further complicated its efforts. And in Albania, authorities have closely monitored Iranian-linked groups, particularly since hosting the exiled Iranian opposition group Mujahedin-e-Khalq (MEK) in 2016. Albanian security forces have since thwarted multiple alleged plots by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
“Presence, Not Dominance”
Despite these obstacles, experts say Iran remains committed to building soft influence in the Balkans—through books, lectures, youth programs and religious dialogue—rather than competing directly for dominance.
“Iran isn’t trying to dominate the region religiously the way Turkey or Saudi Arabia do,” said a researcher at the University of Sarajevo. “It’s about maintaining a presence—quiet, consistent, and strategic.”
The escalation with Israel may complicate those efforts. But Tehran appears determined to balance military assertiveness at home with soft power diplomacy abroad, even in a region where its message often finds only a narrow audience.