Trump Warns Iran on Nuclear Weapons Amid Ongoing Feud with Pope Leo

President Donald Trump reiterated his firm stance against Iran's nuclear ambitions on Thursday, declaring that the Islamic Republic must never be allowed to develop nuclear weapons. Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump emphasized the global threat such a development would pose, stating that the world would face grave danger if Iran succeeded in obtaining nuclear capabilities.

Trump's remarks came amid a continuing public dispute with Pope Leo, the Chicago-born pontiff who has become one of the most prominent voices criticizing the ongoing U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran. The Pope made headlines over the weekend after delivering a passionate peace appeal, condemning what he called the "madness of war." Despite pressure from the Trump administration, Leo told Reuters on Monday that he would not be silenced and intended to continue speaking out against the conflict.

Trump, who has controversially claimed credit for Leo's papal appointment, has repeatedly labeled the religious leader as "weak" on foreign policy. However, the president appeared to soften his tone slightly on Thursday, acknowledging the Pope's right to free speech while firmly maintaining his disagreement. "The Pope can say what he wants, and I want him to say what he wants, but I can disagree," Trump stated.

The ongoing war, which began when U.S. and Israeli forces launched strikes against Iran on February 28, has since escalated into a broader regional conflict. Iran retaliated with strikes targeting Israel and Gulf states hosting U.S. military bases, while continued U.S.-Israeli operations in Iran and Lebanon have reportedly killed thousands and displaced millions of civilians.

Trump's attacks on Pope Leo have drawn significant backlash from American Christians across the political spectrum, highlighting the deep divisions the conflict has created both domestically and internationally.