Pope calls for dialogue and restraint amid growing US- Iran tensions

Monitoring Desk

VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis called on Sunday for dialogue and restraint two days after the killing of a top Iranian military commander by the United States.

Speaking at the Sunday Angelus prayer at the Vatican, the pope did not mention Iran by name but spoke of a terrible air of tension that could now be felt in many parts of the world.

“I call on all sides to keep the flame of dialogue and self-restraint alight and ward off the shadow of hostility,” he said.

“War only brings death and destruction.”

On Friday a U.S. drone strike on a convoy at Bagh-dad airport killed Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani, drawing promises of harsh revenge by Tehran. (Reuters)