Vatican Radio reported that among the representatives was Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, archbishop of Washington, D.C., who appealed for a lasting solution to the conflicts bloodying the region.

The delegation's objective was to foster relations between the Iranian and American peoples, with the hope that the heritage of religions stemming from Abraham, present in both countries, will constitute a meeting ground for dialogue between the respective cultures, Vatican Radio reported.

During its June 10-11 stay in Iran, the delegation was received by President Mohammed Khatami and by the president of Parliament, Mahdi Karrubi. The U.S. representatives also met with leaders of the Iranian religious, academic and cultural realms.