Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian has strongly condemned what he described as the “desecration” of Jesus following a controversial social media post by US President Donald Trump.
According to Jerusalem Post, the incident has sparked renewed political and religious debate across international platforms.
According to the Iranian leader, the controversy began after Trump shared an AI-generated image depicting himself in a Christ-like role.
In the image, Trump appears dressed in flowing robes, surrounded by radiant light, with figures resembling angels or soldiers levitating around him.
Prominent symbols such as the Statue of Liberty and fireworks were also visible in the background, adding to the symbolic intensity of the post.
Pezeshkian reacted by issuing a public statement on X (formerly Twitter), directed at Pope Leo XIV. In his message, he expressed solidarity with the Pope while condemning the portrayal, stating that insulting or misrepresenting religious figures, particularly Jesus Christ, was unacceptable to believers and “any free person.”
He emphasized that Jesus is revered in Islam as a prophet of peace and brotherhood, reinforcing the shared religious sensitivity surrounding the figure.
In his message, the Iranian president wrote that he was acting on behalf of the Iranian nation in rejecting what he called an insult and desecration.
He also extended goodwill to the Pope, wishing him strength and divine blessings.
The controversy escalated further after Trump separately criticized Pope Leo XIV, calling him “weak on crime” and “terrible for foreign policy.”
These remarks followed the Pope’s public appeal for de-escalation amid growing international tensions involving the United States, Iran, and Israel.
The exchange has drawn widespread global reactions, with observers noting how digital imagery, political messaging, and religious symbolism are increasingly intersecting in international discourse.
