TEHRAN -- President Mohammad Khatami here Wednesday reproached the Bush administration for erecting another wall of distrust between Tehran and Washington which have held no diplomatic relations since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, IRNA reported.

"During the presidency of (Bill) Clinton in America grounds were created to strike a crack in the wall of distrust between the two nations, but the present American leaders not only destroyed these grounds but created another wall of distrust," he told a delegation of Abrahamic leaders of U.S. universities.

Washington severed ties with Tehran after Iranian students took over U.S. embassy, known as the 'den of spies' during the 1979 Islamic Revolution. President George W. Bush has lumped Iran into an 'axis of evil' with North Korea and Iraq, under former leader Saddam Hussein.

"Are those who have become the messengers of dialogue among civilizations and coalition for peace based on justice...the axis of evil or the masterminds of violence as well as terrorists and warmongers?" Khatami asked in cutting reference to Bush administration.

The United Nations named 2000 as the year of dialogue among civilizations upon President Khatami's initiative. A year later, the Iranian president mooted the idea of 'coalition for peace' in the wake of September 11 terror attacks in the United States.

The Islamic Republic believes U.S. invasion of independent countries, Iraq included, amounts to promoting violence and radical movements. President Khatami said, "We respect the American nation, but politically we have big problems with the American government."

The Iranian president also reiterated the Islamic Republic's condemnation of September 11, 2001 terror attack on U.S. landmarks, describing the bombing as the 'manifestation of hatred'.

Khatami lashed out at 'those backward people who describe their terrorist actions as a sacred issue as well as those who espouse violence under the pretext of fighting terrorism and regard this (fight) as sacred'.

"Unfortunately, the sacred spirit of religions, which must be the sources of life and love, is being ignored and is misused for massacre, hatred, discrimination and instilling terror among people and these misuses are not linked to any specific religion," he said.

He also urged followers of Abrahamic faiths 'to guide human beings in developing countries to establish democracy and in developed countries to respect ethics, values and other cultures'.

"The followers of Abrahamic faiths, by relying on commonalties such as belief in God, Revelation and Resurrection, must look at modern human beings and find ways for a healthy living, which are also in accord with their interests," Khatami added.

The Iranian president said, "Today we need to recognize the causes for the lack of kindness and love in the world, not escalate violence.

"The most important question posed for followers of Abrahamic faiths is why the modern humanity is so depressed and restive in the face of existing material progress and tools of power," Khatami added.

A senior member of the delegation, Cardinal McCaric from Washington, conveyed the warm regards of world Catholics leader, Pope John Paul II, for President Khatami.

He also hoped that world nations would bridge their gaps to have better understanding from one another, especially their religion.

The high-ranking religious delegation, including a number of Christian, Muslim and Jewish professors from U.S. universities, have been touring several Iranian cities and held discussion with the country's officials.