Vatican diplomacy ‘crashed’ this Friday against the White House wall. President Donald Trump responded sharply to Pope Leo XVI’s call for a truce, assuring that he has not the slightest intention of declaring a cease-fire in the war against Iran, which he described as an ongoing crushing victory.
“We can have a dialogue, but I don’t want to do a ceasefire. You don’t do that when you’re literally obliterating the other side,” Trump told reporters, making it clear that his military strategy will not be stopped by humanitarian appeals.
“We have killed all their leaders”
🔵 #ENTÉRATE | Donald Trump rejects truce called by Pope Leo XVI in Iran and says he will continue offensive.https://t.co/NqRTAjmEoN
– ABCNoticias.mx (@ABCNoticiasMX) March 20, 2026
With his characteristic triumphalist tone, the Republican boasted about the progress of the US-Israel coalition after almost a month of hostilities (initiated on February 28 following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei). According to Trump:
Iran’s Navy and Air Force have been virtually wiped off the map.
The top leadership of the Islamic Republic has been eliminated.
Oil chaos: Who cares about the Strait of Hormuz?
In the face of global concern over the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz – the world’s crude oil hub – Trump threw a dart at his allies.
He stated that the U.S. does not need such a path and that it is Europe, Japan and South Korea who should be concerned (and acting).
” NATO has so far not had the courage to deploy the necessary ships,” the president fired, calling the reopening of the strait a “simple military maneuver” that his allies fear to execute.
A few days away from the first month of this open conflict, the outlook is one of total uncertainty.
While Pope Leo XVI advocates dialogue to avoid a major catastrophe in the Middle East, the Trump Administration seems determined not to let off the accelerator until Tehran’s surrender is absolute.
Filed under: Trump responds to Pope on Iran
