Iranian Cleric Issues Fatwa Against Trump, Netanyahu, Labeling Them 'Enemies of God'

A prominent Iranian Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi, issued a fatwa on June 29, 2025, declaring U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “enemies of God” for their roles in recent military strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. The religious decree, reported by Iranian state media and outlets like *The New York Sun* and *Fox News*, calls on Muslims worldwide to oppose the two leaders, labeling them “mohareb” (those who wage war against God) and citing potential punishments under Islamic law, including execution, crucifixion, amputation, or exile. The fatwa follows a 12-day conflict that escalated tensions between Iran, Israel, and the U.S., raising fears of further retaliation.

The Fatwa and Its Context

The fatwa was a direct response to threats made by Trump and Netanyahu against Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, during the conflict that began June 13, 2025. Israel’s Operation Rising Lion targeted Iran’s nuclear sites, including Natanz and Fordow, killing at least five scientists and damaging centrifuge infrastructure. The U.S. joined on June 22, striking three nuclear facilities with 14 30,000-pound “bunker-busting” bombs. Trump claimed the strikes “totally obliterated” Iran’s nuclear program, though IAEA chief Rafael Grossi countered that damage was severe but not total, with Iran potentially able to resume enrichment within months.

During the conflict, Trump said he knew Khamenei’s location, calling him an “easy target” but sparing him “for now,” according to *The Times of Israel*. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz also threatened to kill Khamenei, per *Newsweek*. Shirazi’s fatwa, issued in response to an inquiry, declared that “any person or regime that threatens the Leader or Marja” is a mohareb, and Muslims must “make these enemies regret their words and mistakes.” Iranian state media, including Mehr News and *Tehran Times*, framed the decree as a call to defend the Islamic Ummah (community), with cooperation with Trump or Netanyahu deemed “haram” (forbidden).

This is not Iran’s first high-profile fatwa. In 1989, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issued one against author Salman Rushdie for his novel *The Satanic Verses*, leading to decades of threats and a 2022 stabbing attack in New York that left Rushdie blind in one eye. The *New York Sun* noted similarities, warning that Shirazi’s fatwa could incite violence, with British-Iranian podcaster Niyak Ghorbani calling it “state-backed incitement to international terrorism.” Iran’s history of targeting U.S. officials is well-documented: since the 2020 killing of Qassem Soleimani, Iran has openly threatened Trump and former aides like Mike Pompeo, with a 2022 near-miss assassination attempt on Pompeo in Paris, per *The Washington Post*.

The fatwa’s timing is significant. Iran’s nuclear program, already under scrutiny for a 400-kilogram stockpile of 60% enriched uranium, faces further uncertainty after the strikes. Grossi warned on June 27 that Iran could reconstitute enrichment capabilities, while Iran’s ban on IAEA inspections and removal of surveillance cameras have raised fears of unmonitored nuclear activity. The *Independent* reported construction vehicles at Fordow, suggesting Iran is rebuilding.

The fatwa drew sharp condemnation. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called it “unacceptable,” urging protection for American leaders. France, Germany, and the UK issued a joint statement on June 20 condemning related threats against Grossi and supporting the IAEA’s role. Israeli UN representative Danny Danon, on June 22, accused Iran of “extortion through intimidation.” On X, sentiments were polarized: @realjgnavarro called it a “terror alert,” while @BombshellDAILY highlighted a supposed bounty, though no verified bounty was confirmed in June 2025 sources.

Iranian officials, like Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, rejected negotiations under pressure but left open future nuclear talks, per *The Times of Israel*. Trump, however, insisted on X that he was not engaging with Iran, claiming their nuclear ambitions were “obliterated.” The *Guardian* criticized Trump’s strikes as a reckless gamble, arguing they may push Iran closer to a nuclear weapon by incentivizing a covert program.

The fatwa comes amid a fragile U.S.-Qatar-brokered cease-fire following Iran’s retaliatory missile strikes on Israeli cities and a U.S. base in Qatar. Iran’s Foreign Ministry summoned Swiss and German ambassadors over Trump’s “irresponsible” demand for “unconditional surrender,” per *The New York Times*. The *Tehran Times* underscored Khamenei’s revered status as a Marja, framing the fatwa as a defense of Islamic values. Meanwhile, domestic unrest in Iran, including mass arrests of alleged “Israeli mercenaries,” signals internal pressure on the regime.

As the U.S. and Israel navigate the fallout, the fatwa amplifies fears of Iranian retaliation, potentially through proxies like Hezbollah. With Trump’s history of surviving two 2024 assassination attempts, unlinked to Iran, per 'The Atlantic',and ongoing threats against former aides, the decree adds a volatile layer to an already tense geopolitical landscape.

Sources: The New York Sun, Fox News, Newsweek, The Times of Israel, The Independent, Tehran Times, The Guardian, The Washington Post, X posts