Ahmad Nourizadeh was an Iranian poet, literary scholar, translator, journalist, and researcher. He was born in November 1951 in Ghazian, Bandar Anzali, northern Iran. Through several decades of translating and introducing Armenian literature, history, and culture to Persian-speaking audiences, he became recognized as the founder of Armenian studies in the Persian language in Iran.

Nourizadeh was one of the very few non-Armenian literary figures—and reportedly the only non-Armenian poet in the world—who composed poetry in Armenian. His contribution was highly regarded in Armenia, where he was affectionately described as “the Persian-speaking son of the Armenian nation.”

He also had experience in journalism and served as the editor of the political desk of the Ettela’at newspaper before the Iranian Revolution. During the final years of his life, he lived under medical and social care at the Kahrizak Charity Foundation because of multiple sclerosis. Nourizadeh died on August 23, 2021, at the age of 69.

Education
Nourizadeh studied Armenian language and literature directly with prominent Armenian teachers. He learned the Armenian alphabet in less than six months under the guidance of the Armenian poet Arshi Babayan. He later continued his language training with Khajak Der-Grigorian, head of the Armenian Studies Department at the University of Isfahan.

Although the available information does not mention a formal university degree, his extensive knowledge of Armenian language, literature, history, and culture earned him an honorary professorship from Yerevan State University in 2001.

Activities and Works
Nourizadeh began translating and introducing the works of Armenian poets in 1969–1970. His career encompassed literary translation, historical and cultural research, poetry, authorship, and journalism. Over more than four decades, he played a central role in introducing Armenian cultural heritage to Iranian readers and published approximately seventeen books.

One of his most influential works was One Hundred Years of Armenian Poetry: Selections from More than Seventy Armenian Poets, published in 1990 with an extensive introductory study of Armenian history and culture.

His notable translations include:

The Apple Garden, Rain, and Several Other Stories, featuring works by fifteen prominent Armenian writers
Autumn in Flight by Varand Kurkjian
Peter the First by Alexei Tolstoy
One Hundred Years of Armenian Poetry
Tsolak by Axel Bakunts
The Twenty-Six Commissars, or the Baku Commune by Hrachya Kochar
Red Songs, a collection of poems by Yeghishe Charents
O Homeland! O Homeland!, a collection of poems and stories by Hovhannes Tumanyan
Blue Love Poems, a poetry collection by Vahagn Davtyan
Amalia, a novel by Nar-Dos
His principal authored works and poetry collections include:

The History and Culture of Armenia
Greetings to You, Armenians, a collection of poems in Armenian
In the Night of Solitude and Dreams, a collection of Armenian poems
Let the Arabian Jasmines Spread Their Fragrance, a collection of Persian poems
In the Night of Solitude and the Winter of the World, a collection of Persian poems
Achievements and Awards
Nourizadeh’s work created an important cultural bridge between Iran and Armenia. Armenian writers and critics praised him as one of the foremost translators of Armenian literature and regarded his contribution as an exceptional phenomenon in Armenian literary history.

His major honors include:

The Appreciation Award from the Writers’ Union of Armenia
The Garbis Papazian International Cultural Award, Austria, 2000
The Movses Khorenatsi Medal, Armenia’s highest cultural distinction, presented by President Robert Kocharyan, 2001
An honorary professorship from Yerevan State University, 2001
The Kantegh Grand Prize of the Writers’ Union of Armenia, 2005
The Gold Medal of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Armenia for his extensive cultural contributions, September 26, 2011