Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian condemned US President Donald Trump’s insult of Pope Leo XIV, saying disrespect toward the pontiff and Jesus was unacceptable, reports Anadolu Agency.

In a post on the US social media company X, Pezeshkian condemned Trump’s remarks “on behalf of the great nation of Iran,” adding that the desecration of “Jesus, the prophet of peace and brotherhood,” is not acceptable to any free person.

Pezeshkian’s statement came after Trump launched a broad public attack on Pope Leo, calling him “weak on crime” and “terrible for foreign policy,” while also questioning the circumstances of his election.

Trump also criticized the pope’s stance on international issues, including the war against Iran, and suggested that his leadership of the Catholic Church was politically motivated.

The US president further shared an AI-generated photo on Truth Social depicting himself as Jesus.

The pope, in response, said he was not afraid of the Trump administration and would continue to speak out against war, emphasizing that his position is rooted in religious principles rather than politics. He also said he had no intention of entering into a direct debate with Trump.