TEHRAN: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has expressed gratitude to Catholic spiritual leader Pope Leo for taking what he described as a moral stance against US attacks on Iran.
He said the Pope adopted a fair and logical position by opposing the strikes, adding that the attacks were carried out under false pretexts and were a violation of international law.
President Pezeshkian further said that US and Israeli actions took place during ongoing negotiations, terming recent statements by former US President Donald Trump dangerous and shameful, and reflective of a misleading perception of power and aggressive behaviour.
He warned that the policies of the United States and Israel pose a threat not only to Iran but also to international legal frameworks.
Meanwhile, Iran’s permanent representative to the United Nations Amir Saeid Iravani said responsibility for the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz lies with the United States and its allies.
He stated that regional energy markets and global supply chains are facing severe instability due to ongoing tensions.
The Iranian envoy said Iran has faced two illegal attacks within a year, which he said violate the UN Charter and have resulted in civilian casualties and damage to infrastructure, including deaths of women and children.
He added that the root cause of the crisis is military actions by Israel and the United States, and said Iran is ready to restore normal conditions in the Strait of Hormuz if tensions are reduced.
