Sri Lanka, April 13 -- Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has condemned what he called the "insult" to the pontiff, in the latest development related to President Donald Trump's fierce criticism of Pope Leo XIV yesterday.

"I condemn the insult to Your Excellency on behalf of the great nation of Iran, and declare that the desecration of Jesus, the prophet of peace and brotherhood, is not acceptable to any free person," Pezeshkian said in a message to the pope on X. "I wish you glory by Allah."

Mehdi Tabatabaei, the deputy for communications at Pezeshkian's office also condemned Trump's comments, comparing the so-called "character assassination" of the pope to the assassination of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

"W...