World Council of Churches (WCC) General Secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay welcomed the memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran and expressed hope that a comprehensive agreement will be negotiated within the ceasefire.

“It is our hope and prayer that this agreement, once concluded, will contribute to greater stability and security in the region,” he said. “History reminds us that peace is not established by signatures alone.”

Pillay noted that such agreements acquire meaning only when they are translated into action, mutual accountability under international law, justice, and respect for human dignity.

“The WCC appeals for the agreed ceasefire to be respected across all theatres of the conflict, including Lebanon,” he said. “At the same time, we caution against viewing any such agreement as the achievement of peace for the Middle East as a whole.”

Peace cannot be ensured by the resolution of one dispute, Pillay added, while other conflicts continue to inflict suffering on millions. 

“In Lebanon, violations and attacks continue to be reported despite ceasefire arrangements, and Israeli military forces remain present in parts of southern Lebanon,” he said. “The people of Gaza continue to endure devastating humanitarian conditions.”

Pillay noted that Palestinian people in the West Bank and East Jerusalem face rapidly deteriorating conditions of life due to increasing attacks and harassment by settlers and Israeli security forces. 

“Across the region, communities continue to live with the consequences of war, displacement, occupation, insecurity, and deep political divisions,” he said. “Nor can peace be achieved by simply shifting international attention from one crisis to another.”

Following is the text of the statement:

The World Council of Churches (WCC) welcomes the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran, and we commend this initiative as an important sign of hope for a sustainable end to this conflict. 

While this MoU is a general framework for a peace agreement, we hope that a comprehensive agreement will be negotiated within the ceasefire prescribed by the MoU, discussions on which will begin tomorrow. It is our hope and prayer that this agreement, once concluded, will contribute to greater stability and security in the region. History reminds us that peace is not established by signatures alone. Such agreements acquire meaning only when they are translated into action, mutual accountability under international law, justice, and respect for human dignity.

The WCC appeals for the agreed ceasefire to be respected across all theatres of the conflict, including Lebanon. We hope that the anticipated peace agreement will be rooted not only in political and economic strategic interests, but also in a commitment to justice and the well-being of all people of the region, and that it will be implemented in good faith and become a foundation for genuine peace, security and reconciliation.

At the same time, we caution against viewing any such agreement as the achievement of peace for the Middle East as a whole. Peace cannot be ensured by the resolution of one dispute while other conflicts continue to inflict suffering on millions. In Lebanon, violations and attacks continue to be reported despite ceasefire arrangements, and Israeli military forces remain present in parts of southern Lebanon. The people of Gaza continue to endure devastating humanitarian conditions. Palestinian people in the West Bank and East Jerusalem face rapidly deteriorating conditions of life due to increasing attacks and harassment by settlers and Israeli security forces. Across the region, communities continue to live with the consequences of war, displacement, occupation, insecurity, and deep political divisions.

Nor can peace be achieved by simply shifting international attention from one crisis to another. Genuine peace requires a consistent commitment to international law, human rights, accountability, and the equal dignity and rights of all people without discrimination. The suffering of one community must never be eclipsed by interests and developments elsewhere; nor should one diplomatic breakthrough diminish the urgency of addressing other unresolved conflicts.

As a fellowship of churches committed to justice, peace, reconciliation and unity, we pray that this agreement may contribute to a broader regional vision in which dialogue replaces confrontation, justice overcomes violence, and peace is pursued not selectively, but comprehensively and inclusively for all.

Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay
General Secretary
World Council of Churches