A fatwa issued by Iran’s Grand Ayatollah Nasir Makarim Shirazi has declared Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu as ‘enemies of God,’ prompting calls for strict action from the Muslim community. Concurrently, another fatwa, issued by Grand Ayatollah Noori Hamdani, declared anyone threatening Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as an enemy of God. These religious edicts reflect the growing unease within Shia leadership over alleged threats to Khamenei. The Supreme Leader, now in a secure bunker, has issued a warning to the United States and Israel, threatening retaliation against American military bases in the Middle East if Iranian nuclear sites are attacked. He has also called for celebrations of a ‘victory’ over Israel.
In response, Donald Trump accused Khamenei of ingratitude, and warned of stronger American action if Iran pursues nuclear weapons. Trump also mentioned that the US and Israel know Khamenei’s whereabouts. The recent conflict between Iran and Israel, involving missile and drone attacks, lasted 12 days. The conflict began with an Israeli strike on Iranian nuclear bases, followed by Iranian retaliation. The US eventually intervened, destroying Iranian nuclear centers before a ceasefire was brokered by Qatar. Despite the ceasefire, strong words continue to be exchanged between Iran and the US.