Pope Leo applauds US-Iran interim peace agreement

Pope Leo praised an interim agreement between the United States and Iran on Tuesday, expressing hope that the deal would permanently end the regional conflict in the Middle East. Speaking from his residence in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, the pontiff said the two powers are set to formalize the accord on Friday.

The pope, who has been an outspoken critic of the war, told journalists that while several points remain to be settled, it is always better to resolve them through dialogue and negotiations rather than returning to war. He concluded his remarks by stating he hopes the agreement is a true solution and that the conflict is really over.

Details of the provisional accord began to emerge on Tuesday. The deal would see Tehran forgo nuclear weapons in exchange for the ability to sell oil immediately upon signing. A senior U.S. official confirmed the agreement includes banking, transportation, and insurance services to facilitate these transactions. The official stressed that Iran's access to the benefits is conditional on abiding by all agreed points, including not acquiring a nuclear weapon, neutralizing its enriched material, and not interfering with the free flow of navigation in...