In a stark escalation of religious and political rhetoric, Iran’s most senior Shiite cleric has issued a fatwa—a binding religious decree—against US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling for Muslims worldwide to resist the two leaders and “make them regret” their actions.
The fatwa, delivered by Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi, came in the wake of a bruising 12-day war which left swathes of the region in upheaval. The cleric labelled Trump and Netanyahu as mohareb—a term reserved in Islamic jurisprudence for those who “wage war against God.”
“Any person or regime that threatens the Leader or Marja (May God forbid) is considered a ‘warlord’ or a ‘mohareb’,” Grand Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi declared.
Iranian law permits the harshest punishments for moharebs, including execution, crucifixion, limb amputation, or exile. The fatwa added that offering “any cooperation or support for that enemy by Muslims or Islamic states is haram or forbidden,” further calling on believers to act collectively.
“It is necessary for all Muslims around the world to make these enemies regret their words and mistakes,” the decree stated.
The pronouncement also encouraged personal sacrifice in the name of faith. “If a Muslim who abides by his Muslim duty suffer hardship or loss in their campaign, they will be rewarded as a fighter in the way of God, God willing,” it added.
The timing of the fatwa appears directly linked to the most serious escalation between Iran, Israel, and the United States in recent years. On 13 June, Israel launched airstrikes on Iranian soil, reportedly killing military commanders and nuclear scientists. Tehran responded with a volley of ballistic missiles aimed at Israeli cities.
US-Iran clash fuels clerical decree
As fighting intensified, the United States joined Israeli forces in targeting three of Iran’s nuclear sites. Iran retaliated with missile strikes on an American military base in Qatar, drawing the region into a broader and more dangerous confrontation.
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The Ayatollah’s decree reflects a sharp blending of religious authority and geopolitical strategy, a hallmark of Iran’s clerical establishment during moments of national crisis. The title of Marja—held by Shirazi—is bestowed upon the highest-ranking religious scholars in Twelver Shiism and carries wide influence among Iran’s Shia population.
History of fatwas and violence
This is not the first time Iran’s clergy has invoked fatwas to threaten foreign figures. The most notorious example remains the 1989 fatwa against author Salman Rushdie, issued by Ayatollah Khomeini following the publication of The Satanic Verses. The decree called for Rushdie’s death and triggered years of violent backlash.
That fatwa resulted in the murder of a Japanese translator, attacks on publishers across Europe, and Rushdie’s prolonged exile. In 2023, the author survived a brutal knife attack in New York, which cost him an eye.
Fatwa: A powerful tool in Iran’s arsenal
By definition, a fatwa is a religious edict grounded in Islamic jurisprudence. When issued by a Marja, it assumes broad significance, compelling action among Shia adherents and obliging Islamic states to comply where possible.
The new decree targeting Trump and Netanyahu symbolises a renewed religious framing of international confrontation, positioning the two leaders not merely as political adversaries, but as divine enemies.
Neither the United States nor Israel has officially responded to the fatwa.
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