Trump clashes with Pope Leo again, says Iran must not get nuclear bomb

US President Donald Trump said Iran must not be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon, addressing Pope Leo in a social media post as their public dispute intensified.

“Will someone please tell Pope Leo that Iran has killed at least 42,000 innocent, completely unarmed, protesters in the last two months, and that for Iran to have a Nuclear Bomb is absolutely unacceptable,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, adding, “AMERICA IS BACK!!!”

The remarks come days after Trump criticised the pontiff as “weak on crime” and “terrible on foreign policy” following the pope’s condemnation of the US and Israeli war on Iran.

Pope Leo has said he has “no fear” of the Trump administration and would continue to speak out against war.

Iranian authorities have reported 3,117 deaths, while groups outside the country estimate about 7,007.

The International Atomic Energy Agency has said it has found no evidence that Iran is building a nuclear weapon.