Prepared by Messenger Staff
Iranian Ambassador Summoned Over Queen Ketevan Remarks
Iran's Ambassador to Georgia, Seyed Ali Moujani, was summoned to the Foreign Ministry over social media remarks about Queen Ketevan and his plans to publish research on historical sources preserved in Iran and Georgia.
Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Khvtisiashvili told Moujani that the statements "go beyond the scope of diplomatic activity" and "have a negative impact on public sentiment," the ministry said.
Khvtisiashvili also said diplomats must operate within their mandate, follow diplomatic norms and refrain from interpreting the history and internal affairs of the host country.
Moujani had said his planned research would be a personal historical assessment, not an official Iranian position or a final conclusion on Queen Ketevan.
The ministry said it expected Iran to take measures to prevent similar incidents from being repeated.
Georgia's Economy Grows 6.3% in August
Georgia's real GDP grew 6.3% year-on-year in August 2026, with average growth for January-August reaching 7.6%, according to preliminary data from Geostat released September 30.
Growth was driven mainly by manufacturing, information and communication, finance and insurance, real estate, trade, and transportation and storage. Construction declined, while healthcare, arts and entertainment, and energy also contributed to growth, according to the Economy Ministry.
Exports rose 22.1% to $5.4 billion in January-August, while domestic exports excluding re-exports increased 63.5% to $3.3 billion.
The EBRD recently raised its 2026 growth forecast for Georgia to 6.5%, with 5.5% projected for 2027. The IMF also forecasts 6.5% growth this year, while the UN and World Bank project 5.4% and 5%, respectively.
Georgia's economy grew 6.9% year-on-year in the second quarter, with nominal GDP reaching GEL 28.1 billion, according to Geostat.
