Pope Decries Barbaric Assaults on Tehran

Pope Francis, the head of the Roman Catholic Church, condemned the deadly twin terrorist attacks in Tehran and offered condolences to those affected by the assaults. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's secretary of state, said in a message sent to Iran on Friday that the Pope was sending "heartfelt condolences to all those affected by the barbaric attack in Tehran" and lamented the "senseless and grave act of violence", Press TV reported.  The Pope "commends the souls of the deceased to the mercy of the Almighty" and "assures the people of Iran of his prayers for peace", the message read. At least 17 people were killed and 52 others injured in Tehran on Wednesday when gunmen mounted almost simultaneous assaults on the Parliament and the mausoleum of the late founder of the Islamic Republic, Imam Khomeini. The self-styled Islamic State terror group claimed responsibility for the attacks.