The history of the Center for Iranian Studies dates back to 1989. In 1991, the Department of Iranian-Turkic Philology was opened, founded by Professor Z.L. Rustemov. In 1993-1994. The head of the department was Doctor of Historical Sciences Zhappasbaeva Zh.M. (Tulebaeva). From 1994 to 2008, Head of the Department of Iranian Studies and Indology was Doctor of Philosophy, Professor Utegen Kumisbayev. From 2008 to 2011 The department was headed by the scholar for Iranian studies G.T. Zhumadilov.

On October 12, 2012, the Cultural Representation of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Faculty of Oriental Studies of the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University signed an agreement on the opening of the Center for Iranian Studies. The subject of this agreement is the creation and equipping of the Center for Iranian Studies at KazNU, which will allow organizing various scientific, cultural and educational events with the support of the Cultural Representation of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran. In addition, the Iranian Studies Center organizes advanced training courses for teachers of the Persian language and literature and for students of the Persian language courses.