Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has thanked Pope Leo for his stance on recent US military strikes against Iran, according to a message published by Iranian state news agency Fars, Al Jazeera reports.

Pezeshkian said the pope had taken a “moral, logical and fair” position against the strikes, which he said were carried out under false pretences, in violation of international law, and with Israeli support.

The pope added that the strikes occurred amid ongoing negotiations between Tehran and Washington.