Senior Iranian clerics have called for the assassination of President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, declaring that it is the “religious duty” of faithful believers to kill the two leaders.
According to the report, members of Iran’s Assembly of Experts described Trump as “evil” and Netanyahu as “wicked,” saying both men should be held responsible for the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei at the outset of the war.
The clerics issued a statement declaring that those who have the opportunity should act against the two leaders.
“It is obligatory upon any duty-bound person who gains access to these criminals to send them to hell,” the clerics wrote, according to The Telegraph on Tuesday.
The Assembly of Experts is constitutionally responsible for selecting and supervising Iran’s supreme leader. According to the Daily Mail, the body is seeking revenge following Khamenei’s death, which it said occurred on the first day of the war.
The report also said the Assembly’s headquarters in Tehran and Qom were bombed to prevent the group from naming a successor after Khamenei’s death. According to Iranian officials cited in the report, Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba, was ultimately appointed.
In addition to calling for retaliation against Trump and Netanyahu, the Assembly urged supporters of the Islamic Republic to continue participating in mass demonstrations.
The clerics said public demonstrations should continue “in the leader’s name,” arguing that “the people’s presence is necessary and decisive.”
The calls for the assassination of the U.S. and Israeli leaders come as Washington and Tehran continue operating under what the article describes as a fragile agreement intended to halt direct attacks while negotiators work toward a longer-term peace arrangement.
Vice President JD Vance traveled to Switzerland last month as part of those diplomatic efforts. Following the meetings, Vance acknowledged that negotiating with Iran had proven challenging but expressed cautious optimism about the discussions.
According to the article, Vance said the Iranians are “extremely confusing” negotiators but added that he believed the meeting was productive.
Despite those diplomatic efforts, tensions remain high.
The article states that Iran has violated the existing ceasefire agreement and carried out attacks against commercial ships late last week. Those reported actions prompted a sharp response from President Trump.
According to the report, Trump said he was growing increasingly frustrated with Iran’s alleged ceasefire violations and warned that continued attacks could force the United States to take decisive action.
The president said he may be “forced” into wiping the country out “once and for all.”
The latest threats from Iran’s senior clerics underscore the continued volatility surrounding the conflict, even as diplomatic efforts remain underway. The reported calls for violence against Trump and Netanyahu come amid an already fragile ceasefire and ongoing negotiations aimed at securing a broader, long-term peace agreement between the United States and Iran.
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