Religious Leaders in U.S. and Iran Call for Peace

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A group of American Christian, Muslim and Jewish religious leaders have joined hands with Iranian Muslim religious leaders in a statement calling on their governments to negotiate with mutual respect to end the animosity between their countries and move towards genuine peace. The statement, titled "A Time for Peace", was signed by 20 initial signatories and has been published in multiple languages.

Why it matters

This joint statement from religious leaders in the U.S. and Iran represents a rare show of unity and cooperation across the geopolitical divide. It highlights the shared values and desire for peace among faith communities, and could help build momentum for diplomatic efforts to improve relations between the two countries.

The details

The statement calls on the U.S. and Iranian governments to "take concrete steps towards reconciliation before even greater catastrophes befall us." It affirms that genuine peace means more than just a cessation of hostilities, but also cooperation to address global challenges like injustice, poverty, and environmental degradation. The religious leaders have offered to partner with their governments, faith communities, and civil society to help prepare the ground for lasting peace.

• The statement was sent to the Iranian and U.S. governments on February 5, 2026, one day before indirect negotiations in Oman.
• The statement was first published by the Islamic Republic News Agency in English and Farsi on February 11, 2026.
• Pax Christi International published the statement in Brussels on February 12, 2026 in English, Spanish, Portuguese, French and Italian.

What’s next

The group of religious leaders who signed the "A Time for Peace" statement have offered to partner with their governments, faith communities and civil society organizations to help prepare the ground for genuine peace between the U.S. and Iran.