politics

US-Iran War Day 22: Trump Eyes Drawdown, Eases Oil Sanctions

Donald Trump said the US may “wind down” its Middle East military operation, even as his administration deploys more troops and requests an additional $200 billion from Congress. The United Kingdom has approved the use of its bases for US strikes near the Strait of Hormuz, while Washington considers lifting sanctions on Iranian oil at sea to stabilise prices. Follow live updates on military actions, regional reactions and unfolding developments:

01:01 PM, 21 March 2026

War must end completely and permanently: Iran FM

Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, has expressed willingness to consider any initiative that could bring the ongoing Middle East conflict to a “complete end,” describing the war as one “imposed” on the country, according to the BBC.

Speaking to Japanese media outlet Kyodo, Araghchi said Iran is “ready to listen and to consider such proposals.” However, he added that while some nations are seeking solutions, “it does not appear that the United States is prepared to halt its aggression.”

Araghchi clarified that Iran is not calling for a ceasefire, but aims for “a complete, comprehensive, and lasting end to the war.”

The interview was shared on Araghchi’s Telegram account, and a transcript was published by Mehr News Agency, linked to the Islamic Propagation Organisation.

12:28 PM, 21 March 2026

Seoul signals support to reopen Strait of Hormuz

South Korea said it’s also in talks with Iran after the Islamic Republic’s foreign minister said Teheran may allow Japanese vessels to pass the Strait of Hormuz.

South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it was having “multifaceted” talks with Iran and other related nations to find ways to “protect our citizens and secure energy transport routes.”

12:23 PM, 21 March 2026

Iran president says no dispute with its neighbours

Addressing neighbouring countries Saturday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian posted on social media that “the only beneficiary of our differences is the Zionist entity,” referring to Israel.

12:20 PM, 21 March 2026

Iran holds funeral for intelligence minister

Saturday’s funeral service for Minister of Intelligence Esmail Khatib was held in Iran’s holy city of Qom, the Islamic Republic’s state-run media reported.
11:56 AM, 21 March 2026

Iranians hold Eid prayers as Mideast war rages

Thousands of Muslims held Eid Al Fitr prayers in Iran on Saturday to mark the end of the Ramadan fast against the backdrop of the Middle East war, state television footage showed.

At dawn, a crowd of worshippers gathered at central Tehran’s Imam Khomeini grand mosque, named after the founder of the Islamic republic.

For lack of space, many worshippers followed the prayer outside, with state television showing images of crowded areas around the mosque, despite the risk of strikes.

Overnight strikes again targeted several districts of Tehran and its outskirts, as well as the central city of Isfahan, according to the Fars news agency.

Iranian television also showed prayer gatherings elsewhere in the country, including in Arak in the centre, Zahedan in the southeast and the western city of Abadan.

11:25 AM, 21 March 2026

Kurds in Iraq celebrate the new year festival of Nowruz

11:13 AM, 21 March 2026

Iran war halts Qatar helium output, risks tech chain

Iran’s attack this week on Qatar’s natural gas export facility threatens to disrupt not just world energy markets but also global technology supply chains because the helium it produces is crucial for a range of advanced industries.

Best known as the gas that makes party balloons float, helium is also a key input in chipmaking, space rockets and medical imaging.

Qatar supplies a third of the world’s helium, according to the US Geological Survey, but the nation had to halt production shortly after the war erupted three weeks ago. The latest Iranian strikes against the region’s energy producing infrastructure have added to supply worries, with Qatar’s state-owned gas company saying it would crimp helium exports by 14%.

10:54 AM, 21 March 2026

Israel says targeting Hezbollah in Beirut

The Israeli military said it launched a wave of strikes on Beirut claiming to target the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah early Saturday, while Lebanese state media reported strikes in the country’s south.

In a brief statement on Saturday, the Israeli military said its forces were “currently striking Hezbollah terrorist organisation targets in Beirut”.

A military spokesman earlier issued a warning to residents of Beirut’s southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold, to evacuate ahead of strikes.

09:51 AM, 21 March 2026

Middle East crude surges toward $150 as global oil prices rebound

Global oil prices rose again on Saturday as geopolitical tensions tightened supply flows, with Middle East crude leading gains.

Murban crude, a key UAE benchmark, surged 18% to $146.40 per barrel after jumping 6% to $131 a day earlier. Brent crude climbed back above $100 to $112 per barrel, up 3.3%, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rose into the low-$90s.

The rebound follows losses on Friday. The US has been worling to boost supply, while allies are coordinating efforts to stabilize flows through the Strait of Hormuz, including deploying additional troops to secure key shipping routes.

07:30 AM, 21 March 2026

Saudi Arabia condemns Israeli ‘aggression’ against Syria

Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry condemned on Saturday Israel’s strikes on Syrian army camps as “aggression”, joining Turkey in calling on the international community to intervene.

The Saudi foreign ministry said in a statement that the Kingdom condemned “the blatant Israeli aggression… in flagrant violation of international law and Syrian sovereignty”.

It urged the international community “to put an end to Israel’s violations of international laws and norms”.

07:30 AM, 21 March 2026

Iran says ready to help Japan ships through Hormuz Strait

Iran is willing to help Japanese ships sail a vital route for global fuel supplies, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Kyodo News in an interview published on Saturday.

Japan depends on crude oil imports from the Middle East, most of which transits the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran has effectively closed the strait in retaliation for US-Israeli strikes, sending countries reliant on the shipping lane scrambling for alternative routes and tapping reserves.

In a telephone interview with Kyodo News on Friday, Araghchi denied closing the passageway, insisting instead that countries attacking Iran face restrictions, while others were being offered assistance.

“We have not closed the strait. It is open,” he said.

He added that Iran was prepared to ensure safe passage for Japan.

07:15 AM, 21 March 2026

United Airlines prepares for oil to reach $175 a barrel

The airline’s CEO said the company is also preparing for oil to not return to $100 a barrel until the end of next year.

Scott Kirby said in a message to United employees on Friday that jet fuel prices that have more than doubled in the last three weeks already would cost the airline $11 billion a year if they remain where they are now.

The price of Brent crude has zigzagged from roughly $70 per barrel before the Iran war began to as high as $119.50 this week.

Of United’s worst-case assumption, Kirby said, “I think there’s a good chance it won’t be that bad, but … there isn’t much downside for us to preparing for that outcome.”

07:10 AM, 21 March 2026

Friday briefing: Middle East conflict developments

Iran strikes: Israeli military launched attacks on Iranian government sites in Tehran; Ali Mohammad Naini, IRGC spokesman, was killed. Iran confirmed his death.

Iran’s leadership: New Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei issued a statement; he has not been publicly seen since succeeding his father, Ali Khamenei.

Nowruz in Iran: Iranians marked the New Year amid mourning for those killed in protests and US-Israeli strikes; economic crisis and currency collapse overshadowed celebrations.

Hormuz tensions raise: US military intensified strikes against Iranian drones and naval vessels to secure the Strait of Hormuz amid soaring oil prices.

Gulf states under attack: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and UAE intercepted drone and missile strikes, reportedly launched from Iran; Kuwaiti refinery fires reported.

Lebanon: Eid Al Fitr celebrations disrupted as Israel and Hezbollah continued hostilities; hundreds of thousands remain displaced.

Israel: Iran launched missiles at Israel; fires reported in Haifa, missile fragments fell in Jerusalem including near Old City; no casualties reported.

US military moves: President Trump considers winding down operations in Iran, while sending 2,500 additional Marines to the region; wartime emergency declared to expedite $23B in weapons sales.

Death toll: Over 2,300 killed since the start of the war—mostly in Iran; 1,000+ in Lebanon; at least 13 US service members and 14 Israelis dead.

Indian casualty in Saudi Arabia: A second Indian national was killed in Riyadh after an Iranian missile attack on March 18, following an earlier Indian fatality on March 8

07:00 AM, 21 March 2026

Israel launches new strikes on Tehran, IDF says

The Israel Defence Forces says it has launched a fresh wave of airstrikes on “Iranian terror regime targets” in Tehran, targeting government and military infrastructure in the Iranian capital.

The announcement followed recent Israeli strikes in Beirut aimed at Hezbollah positions, after evacuation warnings were issued for several neighbourhoods in the south of the city.

06:39 AM, 21 March 2026

Iran fired missiles at joint US-UK base in Indian Ocean

Iran recently fired two ballistic missiles toward the joint US-UK military base at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, The Wall Street Journal reported Friday, citing US officials.

Neither missile hit the target, which is around 2,500 miles (4,000 kilometers) from Iranian territory, but the launch suggests that Tehran has missiles with longer ranges than previously thought, the report said.

One of the missiles failed in flight, and the other was targeted by an interceptor fired from a US warship, though it was not clear if the missile was hit, The Journal reported.

Diego Garcia in the Chagos Islands is one of two bases Britain is allowing the United States to use for “defensive” operations in Iran.

05:40 AM, 21 March 2026

Israel military says striking Hezbollah targets in Beirut

The Israeli military said it launched a wave of strikes on Lebanon’s capital Beirut targeting Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah early Saturday, after calling on residents of several areas to evacuate.

In a brief statement, the military said its forces were “currently striking Hezbollah terrorist organisation targets in Beirut”.

A military spokesman earlier issued a warning to residents of Beirut’s southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold, to evacuate ahead of strikes.

05:30 AM, 21 March 2026

Bahrain intercepts 143 missiles, 242 drones since escalation

The General Command of the Bahrain Defence Force announced today that its air defense systems intercepted and destroyed 143 missiles and 242 drones since the start of the brutal Iranian aggression against the country.

The General Command emphasized that the use of ballistic missiles and drones to target civilian objects and private property constitutes a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and the United Nations Charter, and that these heinous and indiscriminate attacks represent a direct threat to regional peace and security.

05:20 AM, 21 March 2026

Targeting Iranian oil could hit other countries, Qatar warns

Qatar’s Minister of State for Energy Affairs Saad bin Sherida Al Kaabi said Qatar had warned the United States about the potential regional fallout if Iranian oil and gas facilities were targeted, urging Washington to exercise restraint.

He told Reuters that damage to facilities worth $26 billion could disrupt LNG shipments to Europe and Asia for up to five years. The recent attack on Ras Laffan halted 17% of Qatar’s LNG export capacity and may delay expansion projects that would have increased production from 77 mtpa to 126 mtpa by next year.

Al Kaabi said no casualties were reported, but the delay in North Field expansion could push back deliveries to countries including France, Germany, and China. Full resumption of QatarEnergy operations would take at least three to four months once hostilities cease.

He warned that the broader impact of the conflict could set back the Gulf region’s economy by 10–20 years.

04:33 AM, 21 March 2026

Saudi Arabia intercepts more than 20 drones in east

Saudi Arabia intercepted 22 drones in the east of the country, the defence ministry said on Saturday, as Iran continues striking Gulf nations.

“10 drones intercepted and destroyed in the eastern region,” the Saudi defence ministry posted on X.

The ministry later posted that its air defences had shot down 12 more drones, also in the east.

Iran has kept up retaliatory attacks on Saudi Arabia and nearby nations in response to US and Israeli strikes that have sparked a war that has spread across the Middle East since late last month.

04:30 AM, 21 March 2026

Baghdad International Airport targeted by 3 drones

An Iraqi security source announced today that Baghdad International Airport was targeted by three drones.

The source stated that two drones targeted the vicinity of the logistics support center surrounding Baghdad International Airport, adding that the attack was thwarted by air defenses.

In the same context, a security source also reported that the logistics support headquarters at Baghdad International Airport was targeted following the crash of a third drone in its vicinity.

In southern Kirkuk, northern Iraq, a medical source announced that an unidentified projectile killed two people and left others injured after it was tampered with by children

03:30 AM, 21 March 2026

US lifts sanctions on some Iranian oil

The move comes as the White House tries to bring down soaring oil prices.

The pause applies to Iranian oil loaded on ships as of Friday and is set to end on April 19.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent previously suggested the move as a way to prevent China from being the sole beneficiary of Iranian oil.

The Trump administration also eased sanctions on certain Russian oil shipments for 30 days as it looks for ways to boost global oil supplies during the Iran war.

The license has limits including a restriction on sales involving anyone in North Korea or Cuba.

02:08 AM, 21 March 2026

Trump adds new objective for the Iran war

Though his administration for weeks has maintained that its four objectives remained “unchanged, unambiguous, and consistent” since the operation began, Trump in his social media post added a fifth one.

The four objectives had been to block Iran’s path to a nuclear weapon, stop it from arming proxy militant groups, destroy its navy and destroy its ballistic missile capacity.

In his post Friday, Trump enumerated those and added a fifth: “Protecting, at the highest level, our Middle Eastern Allies” and listed America’s Gulf partners.

01:35 AM, 21 March 2026

Trump says US considers ‘winding down’ Iran military effort

Trump says he is considering ‘winding down’ Middle East military operation even as US sends more troops to region. The president made the comment in a post on social media Friday evening after another climb in oil prices sent the US stock market sharply lower.

Trump’s statement seemed at odds with his administration’s move to send more troops and warships to the region and request another $200 billion from Congress to fund the war.

In his post, the president also left a muddled picture of whether the US would police the vital Strait of Hormuz shipping lane. Trump had said this week that the US didn’t need help, while also complaining that other countries did not help.

12:44 AM, 21 March 2026

UAE residents alerted safe

UAE residents have received a new mobile alert from authorities confirming that the situation in the country is currently safe following earlier warnings about potential missile threats.

12:37 AM, 21 March 2026

Trump rules out ceasefire in Iran

US President Donald Trump on Friday ruled out reaching a ceasefire agreement with Iran, saying Washington has the upper hand in the three-week-old war

12:35 AM, 21 March 2026

Dubai authorities confirm air defence interception

Authorities in Dubai have confirmed that the sounds heard across parts of the city were the result of successful air defence interception operations.

In a statement, the Dubai Media Office said the noises reported by residents were linked to defensive measures carried out as part of security operations.

Officials urged the public to rely only on verified updates from official channels and avoid circulating unconfirmed information.

12:11 AM, 21 March 2026

UAE issues emergency alert

The UAE Ministry of Defence has issued an urgent alert, advising residents to take immediate shelter due to a potential missile threat.

The message, sent to mobile phones in multiple areas, instructed people to go to the nearest secure building and avoid windows, doors, and open spaces until authorities provide further guidance.

12:08 AM, 21 March 2026

Blasts, air raid sirens heard from Jerusalem

A series of blasts were heard from Jerusalem on Friday after sirens sounded in northern Israel, AFP journalists said, following a warning that Iran had fired missiles.

“A short while ago, the IDF identified missiles launched from Iran toward the territory of the State of Israel. Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat,” the Israeli military said on its official Telegram channel.

12:04 AM, 21 March 2026

‘I may have a plan, I may not’ to attack Kharg Island: Trump

Trump was asked while leaving the White House on Friday afternoon about plans to have US forces further target Kharg Island in the Arabian Gulf, which is vital to Iran’s oil network.

He responded, “I may have a plan I may not” but said he wouldn’t tell reporters one way or the other.

“It’s certainly a place that people are talking about. But I can’t tell you that,” Trump added.

GULF NEWS

politics

U.S.–Iran may meet in Pakistan for talks next week

The U.S. and Iran will likely return to Pakistan next week for a second round of peace negotiations, two senior Pakistani officials told MS NOW on Wednesday.

The latest sign of the countries’ continuing efforts to reach a diplomatic end to the war came from officials who are involved in finalizing decisions with the U.S. and Iranian teams, but did not want to be named because of sensitivities around negotiations, MS NOW reported.

The step toward resuming the stalled peace talks came as tensions in the Persian Gulf continued to rise, further imperiling a shaky two-week ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran.

Oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains at a trickle as Iran continues to pose threats to passing vessels and the U.S. enforces a retaliatory blockade of Iranian ports.

President Donald Trump, who said last week that the ceasefire agreement was subject to the strait being fully reopened, had complained about the lack of activity in the vital shipping route prior to announcing the blockade.

On Wednesday, Iranian state news outlet Fars reported that Tehran was suspending all petrochemical exports until further notice.

Still, the White House said Wednesday it is optimistic about a possible peace agreement coming into view.

“Discussions are being had,” and “we feel good about the prospects of a deal,” press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters at a White House briefing, while cautioning that the next round of in-person talks hasn’t yet been made official.

Leavitt also said those talks would “very likely” be held in Islamabad, “the same place as they were last time.” Pakistan has facilitated communications between the warring powers.

The first round of negotiations last weekend — a marathon 21-hour session led on the the U.S. side by Vice President JD Vance and special envoys Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner — ended in no deal.

Pakistan is “the only mediator in this negotiation,” Leavitt said as she praised the regional power for its help so far.

Leavitt also said it is “not true” that the U.S. has requested an extension of the ceasefire, which is set to expire next Tuesday.

A senior U.S. official told CNBC on Wednesday morning, “The United States has not formally agreed to an extension of the ceasefire. There is continued engagement between the U.S. and Iran to reach a deal.”

CNBC

politics

US halts Iran sea trade despite hopes for talks

The United States said on Wednesday its military had completely halted trade going in and out of Iran by sea, while President Donald Trump said talks with Tehran on ending the war could resume this week, sending oil prices down for a second day.

Trump said negotiations between U.S. and Iranian officials could resume in Pakistan in the next two days and Vice President JD Vance, who led weekend talks that ended without a breakthrough, said he felt positive about where things stood.

“I think you’re going to be watching an amazing two days ahead,” Trump told ABC News reporter Jonathan Karl, adding he did not think it would be necessary to extend a two-week ceasefire that ends on April 21. “It could end either way, but I think a deal is preferable because then they can rebuild,” Trump said, according to a post by Karl on X. “They really do have a different regime now. No matter what, we took out the radicals.”

Officials from Pakistan, Iran and the Gulf also said negotiating teams from the U.S. and Iran could return to Pakistan later this week, although one senior Iranian source said no date had been set.

Despite the optimistic note, more vessels were being turned back under the U.S. blockade on Iranian ports, including a U.S.-sanctioned and Chinese-owned tanker Rich Starry that was making its way back to the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday after exiting the Arabian Gulf.

Admiral Brad Cooper, the head of the U.S. Central Command, said American forces had completely halted economic trade going in and out of Iran by sea, which he said fuels 90% of Iran’s economy.

“In less than 36 hours since the blockade was implemented, U.S. forces have completely halted economic trade going into and out of Iran by sea,” Cooper said in a post on X.

U.S. and Iran begin a battle of economic endurance in the Strait of Hormuz

Earlier the U.S. military said it had intercepted eight Iran-linked oil tankers since the start of the blockade on Monday, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Trump, speaking to the New York Post on Tuesday, said his negotiators are likely to be back, thanks largely to the “great job” Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, was doing to moderate the talks.

Later on Tuesday, at an event in Georgia, U.S. Vice President JD Vance said Trump wanted to make a “grand bargain” with Iran but there was a lot of mistrust between the two countries.

“You are not going to solve that problem overnight,” he said. The signs of diplomatic engagement to end the conflict that began on Feb. 28 helped calm oil markets, pressing benchmark prices below US$100 for a second day on Wednesday. Asian stocks rose while the safe-haven dollar stabilized after falling for a seventh straight session overnight.

China’s Xi warns global order ‘crumbling’ amid Iran war chaos

However, the market stands to lose access to further supply as the U.S. does not plan to renew a 30-day waiver of sanctions on Iranian oil at sea that expires this week, according to two U.S. officials, and quietly let a similar waiver on Russian oil run out on the weekend.

The war has prompted Iran to effectively shut the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial global waterway for crude and gas transport, and cut shipments from the Gulf to global buyers, particularly in Asia and Europe, leaving importers scrambling to secure alternative supplies. About 5,000 people have died in the hostilities, including about 3,000 in Iran and 2,000 in Lebanon.

Sticking points

Iran’s nuclear ambitions were a key sticking point at the weekend talks. The U.S. had proposed a 20-year suspension of all nuclear activity by Iran, while Tehran had suggested a halt of three to five years, according to people familiar with the proposals.

Speaking in Seoul, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, said the length of any moratorium on Iranian uranium enrichment was a political decision and it was possible Tehran might accept a compromise as a confidence-building act.

The U.S. has also pressed for any enriched nuclear material to be removed from Iran, while Tehran has demanded that international sanctions against it be removed.

Israel and Lebanon meet in Washington for first direct diplomatic talks in decades

One source involved in the negotiations in Pakistan said back-channel talks since the weekend had produced progress in closing that gap, bringing the two sides closer to a deal that could be put forward at a new round of talks.

However, in a major complication for peace prospects, Israel has continued to attack Lebanon as it targets Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militant group. Israel and the U.S. say that campaign is not covered by the ceasefire, while Iran insists it is. On Tuesday, the U.K., Canada, Japan and seven other countries condemned the killings of UN peacekeepers in Lebanon and called for “an urgent end to hostilities.”

Reuters

politics

‘I don’t fear Trump,’ says Pope Leo after ‘weak’ jibe

Pope Leo said he did not fear the Trump administration and would continue to speak out against war after Donald Trump delivered an extraordinary broadside against him in which he said he did not think the Chicago-born pontiff was “doing a very good job”, while also suggesting he should “stop catering to the radical left”.

In remarks that have been widely criticised, the US president used a lengthy social media post to sharply criticise Leo while he flew from Florida to Washington on Sunday night, then continued in comments on the tarmac to reporters. “I’m not a fan of Pope Leo,” he said.

Trump made the comments after Leo suggested over the weekend that a “delusion of omnipotence” was fuelling the US-Israeli war in Iran. While it is not unusual for popes and presidents to be at cross purposes, it is exceedingly rare for the pope to criticise a US leader – and for the president to respond in such a stinging manner.

“Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy,” the president wrote in his post, adding: “I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon.” He repeated that sentiment in comments to reporters, saying: “We don’t like a pope who says it’s OK to have a nuclear weapon.”

Later, he posted a clearly AI-generated image of himself as a Jesus-like figure, appearing to “cure” a man. He deleted it after a backlash from some of his religious supporters.

Leo presided over an evening prayer service in St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican on Saturday, the day the US and Iran began face-to-face negotiations in Pakistan during a fragile ceasefire. The pope did not mention the US or Trump by name, but his tone and message appeared to be directed at Trump and American officials, who have boasted of US military superiority and justified the war in religious terms.

Leo arrived in Algeria on Monday as part of an 11-day tour of Africa, and during the papal flight he told reporters he was not a politician and that he did not want to enter into a debate with Trump.

“The message of the church, my message, the message of the gospel: blessed are the peacemakers. I do not look at my role as being political, a politician.” Leo said he did not think the message of the gospel should “be abused, as some are doing”.

“I continue to speak strongly against war, seeking to promote peace, dialogue and multilateralism among states to find solutions to problems,” he said.

Responding to a question from a US journalist, the pope said: “I’m not afraid of the Trump administration or speaking out loudly of the message of the gospel, which is what I believe I am here to do, what the church is here to do.”

US bishops have defended Leo, saying he is not a political rival but a “vicar of Christ who speaks from the truth of the gospel” while their Italian counterparts called on Trump to respect Leo and his ministry.

The Iranian president, Masoud Pezeshkian, said he condemned Trump’s “insult” in a message addressed to Leo on social media. “On behalf of the great nation of Iran, I condemn the insult to Your Excellency and declare that the desecration of Jesus (peace be upon him), the prophet of peace and brotherhood, is unacceptable to any free person,” he wrote.

Italian politicians from across the spectrum also criticised Trump’s comments. Matteo Salvini, the far-right deputy prime minister who has been a staunch supporter of Trump, said: “If anyone is working hard on the issue of peace and conflict resolution, it’s Pope Leo. Attacking the pope, a symbol of peace and a spiritual guide for billions of Catholics, doesn’t seem like a useful or intelligent thing to do.”

Italy’s far-right prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, said Trump’s words were “unacceptable”. But that was only after she came under pressure from the opposition when she omitted to address the remarks in a social media post earlier on Monday that praised Leo for his role in “fostering the return of peace” and his trip to Africa. Her government has formed strategic partnerships on the continent, mainly aimed at addressing irregular immigration.

Meloni, who is ideologically in tune with Trump and has nurtured good relations with him, said in a statement: “I find President Trump’s words toward the Holy Father unacceptable. The pope is the head of the Catholic church, and it is right and proper that he calls for peace and condemns all forms of war.”

Matteo Renzi, Italy’s liberal former prime minister, said it was a “duty” to defend the pope. “Not only for Catholics but also, and above all, for the laity,” he said.

“It’s been centuries since we’ve seen such blatant aggression [against a pope],” Renzi said, describing the pontiff as a “bridge builder”, in contrast to Trump, who he described as “a destroyer of relationships and civilisations”.

Leo’s criticisms of the war have intensified since the US-Israeli strikes on Iran began. In ones of his harshest condemnations, he said God “does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them”.

This was seen as a rebuke to the US defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, who said he prayed for “overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy”.

Leo has also referenced an Old Testament passage from Isaiah, saying that “even though you make many prayers, I will not listen – your hands are full of blood”.

Before the ceasefire, when Trump warned of mass strikes against Iranian power plants and other infrastructure and that “an entire civilization will die tonight”, Leo described such sentiments as “truly unacceptable”.

In his social media post on Sunday night, however, Trump went far beyond the war in Iran in criticising Leo. The president wrote: “I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s terrible that America attacked Venezuela, a Country that was sending massive amounts of Drugs into the United States.” That was a reference to the Trump administration ousting the Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro in January.

“I don’t want a Pope who criticizes the President of the United States because I’m doing exactly what I was elected, IN A LANDSLIDE, to do,” Trump added, referencing his 2024 election victory.

Trump also suggested in the post that Leo only got his position “because he was an American, and they thought that would be the best way to deal with President Donald J Trump”.

“If I wasn’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican,” Trump claimed, adding: “Leo should get his act together as Pope, use Common Sense, stop catering to the Radical Left, and focus on being a Great Pope, not a Politician. It’s hurting him very badly and, more importantly, it’s hurting the Catholic Church!”

In his subsequent comments to reporters, Trump remained highly critical, saying: “I don’t think he’s doing a very good job. He likes crime I guess,” adding: “He’s a very liberal person.”

In the 2024 election, Trump won 55% of Catholic voters, according to AP VoteCast, an extensive survey of the electorate. But Trump’s administration also has close ties to conservative evangelical Protestant leaders and has claimed heavenly endorsement for the war on Iran.

Hegseth has urged Americans to pray for victory “in the name of Jesus Christ”. When Trump was asked whether he thought God approved of the war, he said: “I do, because God is good – because God is good and God wants to see people taken care of.”

The US vice-president, JD Vance, urged the Vatican to “stick to matters of morality”.

Vance told Fox News: “In some cases, it would be best for the Vatican to stick to matters of morality … and let the president of the United States stick to dictating American public policy.”

The Guardian