A top Iranian cleric has called for the execution of U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing them of mass murder and demanding justice under Islamic law.
Speaking during a Friday sermon in Tehran, Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami—a senior member of Iran’s Assembly of Experts and the powerful Guardian Council—claimed the two leaders were responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands in Gaza and the assassination of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani.
“You are murderers, and you need to be punished,” Khatami declared, according to a translation by Memri TV.
The sermon drew chants from the crowd of “Death to America,” “Death to England,” and “Death to Israel.”
Rising Tensions in the Middle East
Khatami’s remarks come amid a spike in regional tensions, following last month’s 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran. The fighting unfolded in the context of the ongoing war in Gaza between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group Hamas, which began after the group launched a surprise assault on Israel in October 2023.
The situation further escalated after U.S. airstrikes targeted and reportedly delayed Iran’s nuclear program by two years, according to Pentagon assessments.
Trump Fires Back at Iran’s Supreme Leader
In response to the growing war of words, President Trump recently took aim at Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in a Truth Social post.
“We know exactly where the so-called ‘Supreme Leader’ is hiding,” Trump wrote. “He is an easy target, but is safe there—we are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now. But we don’t want missiles shot at civilians, or American soldiers. Our patience is wearing thin.”
Iranian officials responded swiftly, warning that further disrespect toward Khamenei could provoke a show of the regime’s “real capabilities.”
U.S.-Iran Relations on Edge
With Washington’s relations with Tehran already strained, the cleric’s explosive call for execution underscores the fragile state of diplomacy and regional stability. Meanwhile, the Biden-era sanctions previously lifted have now been reimposed under the Trump administration, fueling further animosity.
