Iran extends welcome to US religious groups - Al-Monitor: The Middle Eastʼs leading independent news source since 2012

Barbara Slavin

Barbara Slavin

Jun 29, 2014

Then-Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (L) speaks with Roman Catholic Cardinal Emeritus Theodore McCarrick (2nd R) and Washington Episcopal Bishop John Bryson Chane (R), part of an US clerical delegation during a meeting in Tehran, Sept. 17, 2011. — REUTERS/Morteza Nikoubazl

فارسی

Iran is reopening the gates to delegations from the US religious community as part of a broader outreach meant to smooth the way for a nuclear agreement and improve relations with the United States.

Since March, three major faith-related US delegations have visited the Islamic Republic of Iran for meetings with senior Shiite Muslim theologians and government officials.

Iranian women theological students pay first visit to the US

Barbara Slavin

Barbara Slavin

Mohammad Nahavandian, head of Iran's Chamber of Commerce, looks on during an interview with Reuters in his office in Tehran February 20, 2010. Western-backed sanctions on Iran to crimp its disputed nuclear activities will not have the desired impact as the country increasingly turns to Asian and regional countries, Nahavandian said. To match interview IRAN-ECONOMY/SANCTIONS REUTERS/Morteza Nikoubazl (IRAN - Tags: POLITICS BUSINESS) - RTR2ALV8

Rouhani's US-Educated Chief of Staff Knows East and West

Reza H. Akbari

Reza H. Akbari

Pope Francis, Iraq's Ayatollah Sistani call for unity in historic meeting

Hassan Al-Saeed

Hassan Al-Saeed

Why Iran's grand ayatollahs are fighting over Rumi

Rohollah Faghihi

Rohollah Faghihi