Pezeshkian hails Pope’s stance on war against Iran
President reaffirms commitment to diplomacy to resolve disputes with US
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Saturday commended Pope Leo for his recent stance on the US-Israeli aggression against Iran, while urging the international community to counter the “illegal demands and adventurous, dangerous policies” of the US government.
In a message to the leader of the world’s Catholics, Pezeshkian thanked the Pope for his “ethical, logical, and fair positions” on the war which the president branded as an assault on the rule of law at the global level, international law, human values, and the teachings of divine religions.
Pezeshkian said that the “destructive approach” of the United States and Israel, along with their “illegitimate attacks,” were not directed solely against Iran.
“The costs of this dangerous approach will inevitably be borne by the entire international community,” he pointed out.
Leo, the first American pontiff, had decried the deaths of “so many” civilians in the conflict and lamented the collapse of US-Iran peace talks.
According to the Pope, the aggression created a “chaotic situation for the global economy,” along with “a whole population in Iran, of innocent people, which is suffering because of this war.”
His criticism met with a sharp reaction from the US President Donald Trump who criticized Leo, calling him “weak on crime”.
The war broke out on February 28 with airstrikes that assassinated senior Iranian officials and commanders, including Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei. More than 3,700 people were killed in the strikes on Iran.
The president noted that Iran had consistently proven its “commitment to diplomacy and peaceful solutions for resolving issues,” including with the US government.
“Despite repeated US betrayals of the negotiating table, Iran has welcomed mediation and entered the Islamabad talks in good faith and professionally.”
The president also warned that the use of US military bases in Persian Gulf Arab countries for the aggression forced Iran’s Armed Forces, in self-defense, to target aggressor interests and assets in those countries.
“This is while, as history testifies, we have never threatened or encroached upon the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our neighbors, and we continue to seek the best possible relations with all our neighbors, as well as a life of peace, tranquility, and prosperity in the region,” he stated.
The president reaffirmed Iran’s commitment to dialogue and peaceful problem-solving, saying that resistance to illegal US demands was tantamount to defending international law and human values.
“The international community is expected to adopt a realistic and fair approach to counter the illegal demands and adventurous, dangerous policies of the United States,” he added.