Former President Donald Trump expressed strong support for Pakistan’s recent diplomatic efforts aimed at bringing peace to the Middle East, describing the country’s role as “very important” in advancing the peace process. Speaking ahead of a planned international meeting in Paris on Friday, Trump reiterated his desire to secure a comprehensive agreement with Iran that would prevent the country from acquiring nuclear weapons.

Vice President JD Vance echoed Trump’s optimism about the peace initiatives, emphasizing that the administration seeks a “grand bargain” rather than a limited deal. “The reason why the deal is not yet done is because the president really wants a deal where Iran doesn’t have a nuclear weapon,” Vance stated.

The upcoming summit in Paris will focus in part on the ongoing disruption of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime chokepoint whose closure has contributed to a surge in global oil and natural gas prices. The region’s instability remains a central concern for world leaders as they seek to address the broader implications of the escalating conflict.

In a separate development, Trump sharply criticized Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni following her defense of Pope Leo XIV, who has publicly called for an end to hostilities in the Middle East. Trump described the pontiff as “very weak” and accused Meloni, with whom he claimed to have had a positive relationship, of abandoning the United States amid the conflict. “She’s no longer the same person and Italy will never be the same country again,” Trump said in an interview with the Italian publication Corriere della Sera.

Meloni responded by affirming the Pope’s right to advocate for peace and condemned Trump’s remarks as unacceptable. “The Pope is the head of the Catholic Church and it is right and normal for him to call for peace and to condemn every form of war,” she said.

Trump also criticized Italy’s immigration policies, asserting that they were undermining both Italy and Europe. He acknowledged that he had not spoken with Meloni in some time, expressing disappointment in what he perceived as a shift in her stance.

Meanwhile, Iranian human rights conditions remain deeply concerning. Reports indicate that at least 1,639 people were executed in Iran during 2025, making it the country with the highest per capita execution rate globally, according to Amnesty International. Non-governmental organizations have warned that the ongoing conflict could lead to an escalation in such executions, adding to the humanitarian crisis in the region.