Among his teachers were prominent religious scholars such as Morteza Haeri Yazdi, Hossein Vahid Khorasani, Mousa Shobeiri Zanjani, and Abdollah Javadi-Amoli.
He also attended philosophical discussions conducted by Morteza Motahhari, including sessions examining the ideas of Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel and Karl Marx.
This combination of Islamic theological education and Western philosophical studies influenced Khatami’s later political thinking. His speeches and writings frequently emphasized the importance of culture, intellectual exchange, historical understanding, and the relationship between religion and modernity.
In recognition of his international cultural initiatives, Khatami later received honorary academic degrees from several universities, including the University of St Andrews and the University of Liège.
Early Political Activities
Khatami became politically active during the early 1960s, when opposition to the monarchy of Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi was increasing.
As a student in Isfahan, he participated in Islamic student organizations that discussed political, religious, and social issues. These associations provided opportunities for politically engaged students to exchange ideas and organize activities.
