Pope expresses optimism regarding Iran-US MoU

Pope Leo has expressed optimism that a memorandum of understanding, expected to be signed between Iran and the US later this week, could help bring an end to the cycle arising out of the latest unprovoked American-Israeli aggression targeting the Islamic Republic.

Speaking about recent diplomatic developments on Tuesday, the pontiff welcomed the prospect of the MoU's formal signing.

"Thank God, there is at least this memorandum that they will officially sign on Friday," he said, according to Vatican News.

While noting that outstanding issues remain, he emphasized the importance of negotiations.

"There will still be several points to be established," he added, "but it is always better to do so through dialogue, through negotiation, rather than returning to war."

The Pope said he hoped the MoU might be "truly a solution to the war, that the war is really over and that we can move forward for the good of all."

The United States and the Israeli regime began the aggression on February 28 amid widely reported instigation on the part of Tel Aviv.

Iran responded to the attacks that led to the martyrdom of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei as well as senior officials and numerous ordinary citizens, by staging decisive and successful retaliatory strikes against the aggressors' interests across the region.

US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire on April 7.

Washington, however, would resort to repeated violations of the truce, while Tel Aviv would stage daily deadly acts of aggression against Lebanon, despite the Islamic Republic's insistence that cessation of aggression should encompass all fronts. The violations similarly prompted strong Iranian retaliation.

On Sunday, the Iranian Foreign Ministry announced that the memorandum of understanding had been finalized and is scheduled to be formally signed in Switzerland on Friday.

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