“I must confess that the issue remains in the background of my thoughts," the first American pontiff says in a new book.

But, says BBC Persian, at the same time there appears to be a sense of relief - even celebration - among those who believe the regime's downfall can only come through military intervention. In one ...

"I had never seen tanks before." ...

The US president may be forced to wage a political battle at home while presiding over a new war in the Middle East.

Apparent Iranian attacks have been reported in Dubai, Doha, Bahrain, Kuwait, and elsewhere in the region. Earlier, Donald Trump said "major combat operations" were under way in Iran.