Calls for Execution in Tehran Sermon
During a sermon in Tehran on Friday, Ayatollah Ahmad Katami, a prominent cleric, openly advocated for the execution of former President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He accused both leaders of responsibility for the deaths of numerous individuals in Gaza and referenced Qasem Soleimani, a significant figure in Iran whose death came after a U.S. airstrike ordered by Trump in 2020.
The Iranian authorities often encourage citizens to regard Soleimani as a martyr, although many within Iran resist this imposed reverence for the slain commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Interestingly, the crowd attending Katami’s sermon echoed his sentiments, chanting hostile slogans such as “death to America,” “death to Britain,” and “death to Israel.” The phrase “death to England” remains a recurrent theme in Iranian rhetoric.
Katami directed a fierce condemnation at the leaders of the U.S. and Israel, stating, “You’re murderers, and you need to face consequences.” He argued that their actions constituted severe crimes under Islamic law, suggesting they were engaged in “corruption on the land” and in conflict with divine will.
He reiterated that the sentences against Trump and Netanyahu align with Sharia law and should indeed be enforced.
Just a week prior, a collective of senior Shiite clerics from Iran had issued fatwas, denouncing both leaders. These religious rulings accused Trump and Netanyahu of being “Mohaleb,” a term implying they act against Allah. The fatwas followed concerns regarding discussions about targeting Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Critics within the Iranian opposition have denounced these fatwas as incitements to terrorism aimed at the U.S. and Israel. The Iranian government has long proclaimed intentions of avenging Soleimani’s death, promising to select the time and place for any retaliatory actions.
In a notable event during Soleimani’s funeral in 2020, Iranian state media reportedly announced an $80 million bounty for Trump, with calls for Muslims worldwide to contribute to the cause.
Furthermore, in December 2023, an Iranian court ordered Trump, along with his former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and various U.S. agencies, to pay $50 billion in compensation for Soleimani’s death, suggesting it was a class-action lawsuit supported by over 3,000 Iranian citizens.
With ongoing tensions, Trump’s past military actions against Iran, particularly during the conclusion of Israel’s operations, may escalate the threat of Iranian reprisals in the future. Ayatollah Khatami and other clerics have claimed that Netanyahu is also a legitimate target, showing a continued intensity in their rhetoric against figures seen as enemies of Iran.
