TEHRAN, May 27 (UPI) -- A religious scholar says Iran wants diplomatic relations with Israel, but can't say so publicly because of a feud with supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Mahmoud Nubian said Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's top adviser, Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei, stated three years ago Iran should have "friendly ties" with the Jewish state.