What was the Vatican award given to Iran’s ambassador? US embassy clarifies why it was given

The US Embassy to the Holy See has pushed back against claims circulated by some Iranian media outlets that the Holy See granted a unique diplomatic honor to Iran’s ambassador, calling the reports misleading and lacking context.

While Iranian state media portrayed the recognition as a major political gesture from the Vatican, the embassy said the award was actually part of a routine diplomatic tradition regularly given to ambassadors who complete more than two years of service to the Holy See.

Why was Iran’s envoy given the Vatican recognition?

The controversy began after Iranian media outlets, including MehrNews and the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), reported that Iran’s ambassador to the Vatican, Mohammad Hossein Mokhtari, had received the “Vatican’s highest diplomatic honor.”

According to IRNA, Pope Leo XIV awarded the recognition to Mokhtari for his “efforts to promote peace, dialogue, and bilateral relations.”

The report also claimed that “officials praised the Iranian embassy’s activities in advancing peaceful coexistence, wisdom, tolerance, and interfaith dialogue,” and that in the official decree, Leo “expressed appreciation for Ambassador Mokhtari’s services in strengthening ties with the Holy See." Iran and the Holy See have maintained diplomatic relations since May 1953.

US Embassy says the award is routinely given to ambassadors

In response to the growing attention surrounding the reports, the US Embassy to the Holy See clarified that the recognition was neither unique to Iran nor personally bestowed by the pope.

“Contrary to news reports, Pope Leo has not bestowed an exclusive special honor on the Iranian ambassador to the Holy See,” the embassy said in a May 13 social media statement.

“This decoration is given to all accredited ambassadors to the Holy See after 2+ years of service and has been standard practice for many years.” The embassy further explained that the recognition “is a personal recognition and does not imply support or opposition to any policy or country.”

“Thirteen ambassadors were recently given this recognition. Previous US ambassadors have all received the same,” the post noted. “Finally, the decoration was not given in person by the pope.”

What Vatican officials said about the ceremony

According to Vatican News, Mokhtari was one of 13 ambassadors recognized after completing at least two years of diplomatic service to the Holy See. The ceremony was led by Archbishop Paolo Rudelli, substitute for general affairs at the Secretariat of State, who presented insignia and official parchments to the diplomats.

The Vatican report framed the ceremony as part of a standard diplomatic protocol rather than a political endorsement of any government.