Iran's highest religious authority, the Assembly of Experts, issued a statement calling for the assassination of U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The call for violence from the country's most senior clerics marks a severe escalation in rhetoric against the U.S. and Israel. Such declarations from the religious establishment can serve as a catalyst for militant action or influence the policy direction of the Iranian state.
In a 10-point statement [1], the clerics described the killing of the two leaders as a religious duty for Muslims. The document characterized Trump as "the criminal American president" and Netanyahu as "the wicked prime minister of the Zionist regime" [1].
This religious decree targets the leadership of both nations through a formal framework of theological obligation. The Assembly of Experts holds significant power within the Iranian political system, overseeing the selection and monitoring of the Supreme Leader.
External observers suggest these calls reflect internal power dynamics within the Iranian leadership. Peter Jennings said there is a split between the extremists in charge and an even more extreme group of clerics who want to continue the fight.
Other religious figures have echoed this sentiment with more direct language. One unnamed cleric said to "send them to hell" [3]. These statements emerge as a challenge to diplomatic stability in the region.
The Assembly of Experts continues to frame the conflict as a spiritual and moral imperative. By labeling the leaders as "evil," the religious authority seeks to justify lethal action as a requirement of faith [2].
“"the criminal American president" and "the wicked prime minister of the Zionist regime"”
The issuance of a formal religious duty to assassinate foreign heads of state by the Assembly of Experts suggests a hardening of the Iranian clerical establishment's stance. By framing political assassination as a theological requirement, the religious leadership creates a moral mandate that may override diplomatic efforts or official state channels, potentially increasing the risk of state-sponsored violence or proxy attacks.
