Akshay DidwaniyaIranian President Masoud Pezeshkian praised Pope Leo XIV for taking a principled stand against the US-Israeli military assault on Iran while calling on the global community to rise up against Washington’s illegal demands and reckless foreign policy.
Iran Thanks Pope Leo XIV for Speaking Out Against Aggression
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian sent a message to Pope Leo XIV leader of the world’s Catholics expressing deep appreciation for the Pope’s principled moral position against the US-Israeli military assault on Iran. Pezeshkian did not stop at gratitude. He pushed further, calling on the entire international community to respond with a clear-eyed, fair approach to Washington’s “illegal demands and adventurous, dangerous policies.”
In the message, Pezeshkian made clear that Washington and Tel Aviv’s actions go far beyond their fight with Iran. He argued that their “destructive approach” along with what he described as “illegitimate attacks” strike at the very foundation of global governance, international law, human dignity, and the values at the heart of every major religion. He warned that the whole world will eventually pay the price for this reckless course of action.
A War That Changed Everything on February 28
The conflict Pezeshkian referenced began on February 28, when US-Israeli airstrikes assassinated senior Iranian commanders and officials including the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei. Iran’s armed forces hit back hard, launching daily missile and drone strikes against Israeli-occupied territories and US military infrastructure spread across the region.
Iran’s Record at the Negotiating Table
Despite this Pezeshkian stressed that Iran has never walked away from diplomacy. He pointed to Iran’s willingness to engage with Pakistan’s mediation effort, saying Tehran entered the Islamabad talks professionally and in good faith, even after repeated American betrayals at the negotiating table. Iran’s commitment to peaceful solutions, the president said, has never wavered.
Trump’s Threats Called “Rooted in Arrogance”
Pezeshkian took direct aim at remarks made by US President Donald Trump remarks he described as “dangerous” and “shameless” in which Trump spoke of intending to “destroy Iran’s historical civilization and send it back to the Stone Age.” The Iranian president had sharp words for those statements:
“stem from the illusion of absolute power and are rooted in arrogance, bullying, greed, and an attempt to resolve conflicts through unbridled violence; something the human conscience is incapable of understanding or tolerating.”
Iran Warns Gulf Nations on Their Role
Pezeshkian also addressed the use of US military bases in Persian Gulf countries during the recent assault. He warned that this forced Iran’s armed forces acting purely in self-defense to strike aggressor assets in those countries. Yet, he was careful to frame Iran’s overall regional posture as one of peace:
“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.”
A Call for the World to Take a Stand
Pezeshkian wrapped up his message by reaffirming that Iran’s refusal to bow to illegal US demands is not stubbornness it is a defense of international law and human values itself. He put the responsibility squarely on the shoulders of the global community:
“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.”
Aditya Didwaniya
Pratik Agrawal
Mayur Mohta
