In a significant development, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed gratitude to Pope Leo for his principled position regarding recent US and Israeli military actions against Iran. The president highlighted the pope’s response as moral, rational, and just, emphasizing the importance of such a stance amid escalating tensions.
During a telephone conversation, Pezeshkian underscored that the strikes were launched under false pretenses and violated international law. He noted that these attacks occurred while diplomatic discussions between Tehran and Washington were still in progress, suggesting that the timing undermined efforts toward peaceful resolution.
Furthermore, Pezeshkian criticized statements attributed to the US president, which suggested the potential destruction of Iran’s ancient civilization. He described these remarks as reflecting a flawed understanding of power and an aggressive posture that exacerbates regional instability.
The Iranian leader also pointed out that the assaults were carried out with Israeli support, reinforcing Tehran’s view of the strikes as coordinated and unjustified. Iranian media highlighted that Pope Leo’s condemnation of the attacks aligned with concerns over the disruption of ongoing diplomatic negotiations.
Notably, there has been no independent verification of the details of this telephone exchange. Nonetheless, the interaction marks a rare acknowledgment from a prominent religious figure regarding the geopolitical tensions involving Iran, the United States, and Israel.
