The prominent Iranian Shia cleric Grand Ayatollah Nasir Makarim Shirazi has issued a fatwa, a religious decree, condemning former US President Donald Trump and former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, labeling them as ‘enemies of God.’ The decree calls for the Muslim community to take decisive action. This was followed by a similar decree from Grand Ayatollah Noori Hamdani, who declared anyone threatening Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei an enemy of God, reflecting the tensions surrounding the supreme leader. The Supreme Leader, who is residing in a safe bunker with his family, issued a warning to the US and Israel against attacking Iranian nuclear bases, promising retaliation. He also called on the Iranian people to celebrate a ‘victory’ against Israel.
Donald Trump responded to Khamenei’s warnings, accusing him of being ‘ungrateful’ and stating that the US would take more intense action if Iran pursued nuclear weapons. Trump added that the US and Israel were aware of Khamenei’s location. The situation developed after an Israeli attack on Iranian nuclear facilities, which led to a 12-day conflict marked by missile and drone attacks. The United States intervened by bombing Iranian nuclear centers, which led to a ceasefire brokered by Qatar. Despite this, Iran and the US continue their harsh rhetoric.