Iranian President-elect Ebrahim Raisi

On Wednesday, Iranian President-elect Ebrahim Raisi discussed on a phone call with Vatican Prime Minister Cardinal Pietro Parolin the heroism of the martyred IRGC Quds Force commander Major General Qasem Soleimani. He said that his memory would never be erased from history, highlighting how he saved the lives of Muslims and Christians from the clutches of terrorists.

Raisi said, "Martyr Soleimani's efforts, resistance, combat of terrorism, and saving the lives of Muslims and Christians from the clutches of terrorists will never be erased from the pages of history."

In his call with the Vatican Prime Minister, Raisi said that he believes that defending human rights should be the main focus of cooperation between the followers of Abrahamic religions, including Islam and Christianity.

The Iranian president-elect touched on Eid al-Adha, saying that it is the most significant Islamic holiday related to Prophet Ibrahim - he continues, "that is why we must consider Eid al-Adha a holiday of interaction between Abrahamic religions."

"Defending and preserving human rights is the basis of Iran's internal and foreign policies," stressed Raisi. "According to the teachings of the Abrahamic religions, Iran and the Vatican must stand with the oppressed and abused peoples who stand in the face of oppressive global forces," he continued.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran, as a country that has religious democracy, welcomes all dialogue with Abrahamic religions, especially with Christianity," Raisi noted.

President-elect asserted that Iran's policies consist of "supporting the oppressed Palestinian people, combatting Zionist occupation, defending Yemen, and combatting Takfiri terrorists in Syria and Iraq, as part of our support for human rights."