IRNA � Foreign Ministry spokesmen Bahram Qasemi in a message expressed condolences over the demise of the late Iranian thinker, Dariush Shaygan, who passed away on Thursday.

Shayegan the Iranian thinker, cultural theorist and comparative philosopher died of heart attack, at the age of 82.

Qasemi pointed to the prestigious researches carried out by Shayegan in philosophy and thought which resulted in publishing various books and articles.

Qasemi hailed him as an international thinker saying, his works attracted attention of the world toward Iranian philosophy.

He also condoled with Shayegan�s friends and family and also with scientific and cultural community.

Shayegan studied at Sorbonne University in Paris. He was a Professor of Sanskrit and Indian religions at the University of Tehran.

He wrote the novel Land of Mirage in French which won the ADELF award presented by the Association of French Authors on December 26, 2004.

Shayegan, who studied with Henry Corbin in Paris, has also authored pioneering works on Persian mysticism and mystic poetry. He was a founding director of the Iranian Center for the Studies of Civilizations.