Iran’s top cleric issues fatwa against Trump and Netanyahu, calls them “enemies of God”

Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi, one of Iran’s most senior Shiite clerics, has issued a religious decree or fatwa against US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

He labeled them as “enemies of God” and urged Muslims worldwide to take action against them.

The fatwa, published by Mehr News Agency, accuses the American and Israeli leaders of threatening Iran’s Supreme Leader and its top religious authorities. “Any person or regime that threatens the Leader or Marja (May God forbid) is considered a 'warlord' or a 'mohareb',” the Ayatollah declared.

In Islamic jurisprudence, a mohareb is one who wages war against God. Under Iranian law, individuals found guilty of moharebeh can face severe penalties, including execution, crucifixion, limb amputation, or exile, reported Fox News.

Makarem’s decree further stated, “Any cooperation or support for that enemy by Muslims or Islamic states is haram or forbidden. It is necessary for all Muslims around the world to make these enemies regret their words and mistakes.” He also assured that Muslims who face difficulties while acting upon this decree would be “rewarded as a fighter in the way of God, God willing.”

The religious ruling follows a deadly 12-day conflict that erupted on June 13, when Israel launched a surprise bombing campaign targeting Iranian military commanders and nuclear scientists. Tehran responded with a barrage of ballistic missiles aimed at Israeli cities. Israel justified its offensive by claiming it was acting to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons — an accusation Tehran has consistently denied.

The conflict escalated when the United States joined Israel in striking three of Iran’s nuclear facilities. In retaliation, Iran targeted an American military base in Qatar with missile fire.

A fatwa is an interpretation of Islamic law issued by a *Marja* — the highest-ranking authority in Twelver Shia Islam. Such decrees are intended to guide Muslims and can apply to both individuals and governments.

This is not the first time a fatwa has made international headlines. In 1989, Iran’s then-Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khomeini issued a decree calling for the assassination of author Salman Rushdie over his book The Satanic Verses, which was deemed blasphemous. That ruling led to several violent incidents, including the killing of Rushdie’s Japanese translator and multiple attacks on his publishers. Rushdie survived several assassination attempts, the most recent being a 2023 stabbing that left him blind in one eye.