This week Christian leaders once again called on Iran to renounce violent political activity and to recognize Israel.  Ekklesia reports: 

The World Council of Churches (WCC) executive committee has called on the government of Iran for a moratorium on its uranium enrichment programme, to recognize the state of Israel, and to support international efforts to end terrorism. Other countries should also contribute to global security, the committee said.

Urging the government of Iran to "fully comply and cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Security Council directives and requests," the statement affirms that "a verifiable moratorium on all Iranian uranium enrichment and reprocessing efforts" is immediately required.

The statement evokes Iran's record of "clandestine nuclear research" and its "failure" to accomplish IAEA requirements, for which it has "lost the confidence of many in the international community". The moratorium is an "extraordinary" requirement that Iran must accept in order to regain "international trust", but which "does not deny in principle Iran's right to develop nuclear technology for peaceful purposes".

Another issue mentioned by the WCC executive committee is "hateful and irresponsible statements" sometimes made "by the Iranian leadership against the Jewish people and the state of Israel".

According to the WCC statement, "Iran's acceptance and recognition of the state of Israel within the borders of 1967, and Iran's support for efforts by the international community to put an end to violence against unarmed and innocent civilians for political or religious aims," are among "commitments" needed "to begin to address broader security concerns".

Click here for the full article and click here for the WCC statement.