US Religious Delegation Visits Iran-- Hope for Peace in the Region Rooted in Dialogue

WASHINGTON, DC. As the US government contemplates the possibility of a regional dialogue in the Middle East, religious leaders, under the leadership of the World Council of Churches, released a statement about their recent visit to Iran. Their hope for peace is rooted in the possibility of new dialogue.


Statement:

As Christian leaders from the United States, we went to Iran at this time of increased tension believing that it is possible to build bridges of understanding between our two countries. We believe military action is not the answer, and that God calls us to just and peaceful relationships within the global community.

We were a diverse group of Christian leaders that included United Methodist, Episcopal, Catholic, Baptist, Evangelical, Quaker, and Mennonites who have 17 years of on the ground experience in Iran.  We were warmly welcomed by the Iranian people, and our time in Iran convinced us that religious leaders from both countries can help pave the way for mutual respect and peaceful relations between our nations. 

During our visit we met with Muslim and Christian leaders, government officials, and other Iranian people.  Our final day included a meeting with former President Khatami and current President Ahmadinejad.  The meeting with President Ahmadinejad was the first time an American delegation had met with a sitting Iranian President in Iran since the Islamic revolution in 1979.  The meeting lasted 2.5 hours and covered a range of topics including the role of religion in transforming conflict, Iraq, nuclear proliferation, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

What the delegation found most encouraging from the meeting with President Ahmadinejad was a clear declaration from him of no intention to acquire or use nuclear weapons, as well as a statement that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict can only be solved through political not military means.  Finally, he said, “I have no reservation about conducting talks with American officials if we see some good will.”

We believe it is possible for further dialogue and that there can be a new day in U.S. – Iranian relations.  The Iranian government has already built a bridge toward the American people by inviting our delegation to come to Iran.  We ask the U.S. government to welcome a similar delegation of Iranian religious leaders to the United States.

As additional steps in building bridges between our nations, we call upon both the United States and Iranian governments to:

• Immediately engage in direct face-to-face talks
• Cease using language that defines the other using “enemy” images
• Promote more people to people exchanges including religious leaders, members of Parliament/Congress, and civil society

As people of faith, we are committed to working towards these and other confidence building measures, which we hope will move our two nations from the precipice of war towards a more just and peaceful settlement.