US religious leaders meet with Ayatollah Javadi-Amoli in Qom

Rasa - A group of American Christian religious leaders has met with Ayatollah Abdollah Javadi-Amoli in the holy city of Qom and discussed with him issues of mutual interest.

News ID: 917

Date: 18 June 2014 - 16:57

Rasa News Agency - On May 29, a group of American Christian religious leaders met with Ayatollah Abdollah Javadi-Amoli in the holy city of Qom and discussed with him issues of mutual interest.

The source of emulation told his American visitors that Iran has no problem with American people but it is necessary that US statesmen change their attitudes toward Iran.

The American 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 Washington Catholic University, and Dr Alex Roy Medley, Head of National Council of US Churches.

Responding to a question by Dr Joel Hunter, a senior pastor from Northland Church in Florida and a spiritual adviser to US President Barack Obama, concerning role of religious leaders of the both countries in improving relations between Iran and the USA, Ayatollah Javadi-Amoli 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 group of American scholars were invited by Iranian religious leaders and scholars to attend a conference entitled “A World Free of Violence and Extremism from the Perspective of Abrahamic Religions,” that was held in Tehran on May 25. Dr Hunter said he met with Iran’s parliament speaker, advisers to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, officials from Iran’s Academy of Science, Iranian Christian and Jewish leaders, and Grand Ayatollahs in Qom.

The American religious leaders were in Qom to confer with some religious and cultural officials in Iran as part of an effort to build understanding and friendship between the two faiths. Dr Hunter said that religious extremism and violence as well as a faith-based path to peace were among the main topics he discussed with Iranian officials.

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