Iran says respects all divine religions

TEHRAN,July 2(MNA) - Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said on Saturday that Iran respects all divine religions. “Respecting diving religions is an integral part of the universal teachings of Islam, and, based on this, the Islamic Republic of Iran respects all divine religions and is regarded as one of the initiators of dialogue among divine religions of Islam, Christianity, and Judaism,” Mehmanparast said in response to remarks recently attributed to Iranian First Vice President Mohammad Reza Rahimi. “As it was mentioned in the remarks by Mr. Rahimi, we respect the followers of the Prophet Moses (AS), but we are opposed to global Zionism,” Mehmanparast added. He also said, “Accusing the Islamic Republic of Iran of racism is a completely wrong approach.”