Iranian, US Religious Figures Meet

 The US religious figures met with Ayatollah Abdollah Javadi Amoli, a prominent Shiite leader, in Qom city on Thursday, and discussed issues of mutual interest.

Ayatollah Javadi Amoli told the US religious leaders that Iran has no problem with the American people but it is necessary that the US statesmen change their attitudes toward Iran.

Responding to a question by Dr. Joel Hunter, a senior Pastor of Northland Church, concerning the role of religious leaders of the both countries in improving relations between Iran and the US, he said that Iran has always lived peacefully with all nations and has tried to be fair and wise in its interactions with other countries.

The US delegation who met with Ayatollah Javadi Amoli included Dr. Joel Hunter, Dr. Barbara Skinner, Head of National Network of US-African Priests, Dr. James August Kovalevsky, Professor Anthony Destro from Faculty of Washington Catholic University, and Dr. Alex Roy Medley, the Head of the National Council of US Churches.

US religious have traveled to Iran to confer with a number of Iranian religious and cultural officials.

The United States and Iran broke diplomatic relations in April 1980, after Iranian students seized the United States’ espionage center at its embassy in Tehran. The two countries have had tense relations ever since, but have shown willingness to attend talks to help resolve regional issues, including security in Iraq. Yet, the two countries have avoided talks on bilateral issues for the last thirty years.

Washington and its Western allies accuse Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons under the cover of a civilian nuclear program, while they have never presented any corroborative evidence to substantiate their allegations. Iran denies the charges and insists that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only.