General view of the Nobel banquet at Stockholm City Hall, in Stockholm, Sweden, December 10, 2019. TT News Agency/Anders Wiklund via REUTERS/File Photo

The foundation responsible for awarding the Nobel Prizes on Thursday announced that it was reversing a 2022 decision to exclude Iran, Russia, and Belarus from its awards ceremonies and lavish annual banquet.

In a press release, the Nobel Foundation cited the need for dialogue “even to those who do not share the values of the Nobel Prize” in deciding to invite representatives of the three authoritarian governments.

“It is clear that the world is increasingly divided into spheres, where dialogue between those with differing views is being reduced,” said Vidar Helgesen, executive director of the Nobel Foundation. “To counter this tendency, we are now broadening our invitations to celebrate and understand the Nobel Prize and the importance of free science, free culture, and free, peaceful societies.”

Last year, the Nobel Foundation decided to exclude Russia and Belarus from the festivities over the former’s of Ukraine. The foundation also decided to exclude Iran because of the regime’s brutal crackdown on anti-government protests that erupted nationwide following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in September. Amini died in a Tehran hospital on Sept. 16, 2022, after she was arrested and savagely beaten by officers of the Iran’s “Morality Police” for allegedly wearing her hijab, or head covering, inappropriately.

“We believe that given the serious and escalating situation, Iran’s ambassador should not be invited to the Nobel Prize award ceremony,” the Nobel Foundation said in a statement at the time.

However, the foundation on Thursday said that its new policy would be to invite the ambassadors of all countries that have diplomatic representation in Stockholm and Oslo.

Sweden and Norway have shared responsibility for awarding the prizes named after Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel since the two countries dissolved their political union in 1905.

The 2022 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded jointly to Belarusian human rights advocate Ales Bialiatski, the Russian human rights organization Memorial, and the Ukrainian human rights organization the Center for Civil Liberties. 

Bialiatski is in a Belarusian prison and Memorial has been shuttered by the Russian state. Still, the Belarusian, Russian, and Iranian representatives will this year be able to enjoy an extravagant white-tie dinner that, according to recent menus posted by the Nobel Foundation, is likely to include a selection of fine wines, cognacs, and dishes like caviar, Swedish venison, and baked cheesecake and plum compote.