Public diplomacy in the contemporary era functions as a complementary tool to official diplomacy, playing a vital role in shaping public opinion and influencing international relations. Relations between Iran and the European Union have in recent decades been marked by persistent political tensions, economic sanctions, and negative media portrayals. The central research question of this study is to what extent non-state actors can contribute to improving interactions and reducing mutual misperceptions between Iran and Europe. The hypothesis argues that the purposeful engagement of non-state actors—including NGOs, think tanks, universities, media outlets, chambers of commerce, and the Iranian diaspora—can enhance Iran’s soft power, open alternative channels of communication, and help reframe existing discourses, thereby fostering more constructive engagement. The theoretical framework draws on the concepts of soft power, neo-functionalism, and network theory, all of which emphasize the transnational and network-based role of non-state actors in international politics. The findings indicate that the use of public diplomacy and modern communication tools, particularly digital diplomacy, academic and cultural exchanges, joint research projects, and transnational dialogue networks, can significantly improve Iran’s image within European public opinion. Moreover, the experiences of countries such as China and Turkey in leveraging public diplomacy highlight that sustained investment in this domain can generate tangible and lasting outcomes in foreign relations. Accordingly, strengthening the role of non-state actors should not merely be seen as a complement to official diplomacy but as a strategic pathway toward reshaping and enhancing relations between Iran and the European Unio