In October 2007, the United States Institute for Peace and Salam Institute for Peace and Justice jointly organized a 7-member delegation of American Muslim Scholars of Islam and peace and conflict resolution to Iran. The 10-day trip comprised of visits to three major cities in Iran: Teheran, Qum, and Isfahan. The objective of the delegation was to engage with Iranian experts on the subject of Islamic sources of peacebuilding, conflict resolution, nonviolence, and dialogue. The delegates met with a wide spectrum of Iranian representatives from civil society, human rights organizations and non-governmental bodies, as well as with academicians, high-ranking religious leaders, university students, social scientists, and theologians.

American Delegates Meet with Iranian Counterparts

Some of the main observations and conclusions of the delegation include:

• Much of the critique and analysis was directed towards internal matters of Iran rather than US policy. The level of self-criticism was high and deeply felt by all parties.

• There is concern around the rhetoric of escalating violence and military attack on Iran, as this would disrupt and derail the internal reformist movements and activities that the clergy, academicians, and civil society within Iran are actively engaged in, and weaken the moderate voices within Iran

• Economic sanctions will also slow down the internal reforms and civil rights activities, as the focus will then shift to mere survival rather than active political and civil engagement

• Academicians and civil society in Iran are actively engaged in peace and conflict resolution programs that are woven into existing fields and curriculums. There is an interest and willingness to engage with US institutions and clergy (Muslim and non-Muslim) to share information and expertise and explore ways to promote peace and conflict resolution work

• There exists a merging of roles and activities within individuals with Ayatollahs serving as academic scholars, and academicians working as reformers, each taking responsibility in their own way for bringing change in Iranian Society.

• There is a willingness and openness among the clergy to look at the Shia-Sunni issue and explore ways to address it

• The clergy also have ample resources and expertise and are interested and willing to engage in a constructive relationship with the US

Meeting at the Academy of Science

Iran Trip Reports and Additional Information

To read the short report of findings and recommendations arising from the delegation to Iran, please click here to download. A comprehensive report will be posted on our web site soon.

Iran Trip Report, by Dr. Qamar-ul Huda, Senior Program Officer, United States Institute of Peace (USIP)

Reflections from Iran, by Dr. Amr Abdalla, Dean, University of Peace, Costa Rica

Reflections on Iran's Trip, by Abd al-Hayy Michael Weinman, Department of Communication & Journalism, The University of New Mexico

The audio of the USIP Panel on "Dialogue on Islamic Peacemaking: Report on a Mission to Iran"

Americans glimpse the 'real' Iran, by Qamar-ul Huda, Mohammed Abu-Nimer and Ayse Kadayifci, posted on Common Ground News Service web site. This article was later reprinted by the following English language news agencies and various institutions: Tharwa Community, Human Dignity and Humiliation Studies, Daily News Egypt, Middle East Times, Two Circles, Indian Muslims, Just International, Gulf Research Center, United States Institute of Peace, World Press, Campaign Against Sanctions and Military Intervention in IRAN. The piece was also reprinted in Arabic in Tharwa Community, and in French, in Emarrakech and Le Matinal.

For more photos from the trip to Iran, please click below to folow the links to web-based photo albums:

Photos by Mohammed Abu Nimer

Photos by Qamar Huda