Tehran: Iran "remains committed to diplomacy and peaceful solutions," the country's President Masoud Pezeshkian stated in a message to Pope Leo XIV, as reported by Iranian state media.

According to Anadolu Agency, Pezeshkian also conveyed Tehran's appreciation for the Catholic leader's "moral and logical stance on the recent military aggressions against Iran." The president emphasized that Iran's actions targeting the goals of the US and Israel were conducted "within the framework of legitimate defense," urging the international community to "act responsibly against America's illegal actions."

Regional tensions have risen since February 28, following strikes by the US and Israel against Iran. In retaliation, Tehran targeted Israel and US allies in the Gulf, also leading to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. A ceasefire was brokered on April 8 through Pakistani mediation; however, talks in Islamabad did not yield a permanent resolution. US President Donald Trump subsequently extended the truce indefinitely.