An Iranian grand ayatollah called for "severe punishment" of President Donald Trump and anyone who "threatens" Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei as tensions between the country and the U.S. continue following the bombing of its nuclear sites.
Concretely, Nasser Makarem Shirazi said all those who engage in what could be considered a threat will be considered "enemies of god" and guilty of a crime known as moharebeh, which means "making the war against God." Iranian legislation contemplates punishments including execution, the amputation of limbs or exile for those found guilty.
Iranian state media reported on the statements, made after Shirazi was asked how Muslims should respond to "repeated threats" by Trump and Israeli authorities against Khamenei and other members of Shia leadership. He then urged all Muslims around the world to stand against what he defined as threats.
Trump has ramped up criticism of Khamenei as the two leaders trade barbs following the bombing of Iran's nuclear sites during the war with Israel. The U.S. president reiterated that his administration is not seeking regime change in Iran, but slammed Khamenei saying he prevented him from being killed.
In a lengthy social media post on Friday, Trump criticized Khamenei for "blatantly and foolishly saying Iran won the war against Israel." "As a man of great faith, he is not supposed to lie," he added.
Trump went on to say he new "exactly" where Khamenei was sheltering during the war and it was him who "would not let Israel, or the U.S. armed forces, by far the Greatest and Most Powerful in the World, terminate his life."
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, however, said on Thursday that the country intended to kill Khameneid during the war "but there was no operational opportunity." Asked if they needed permission from the U.S. to carry out the attack, Katz said Israel "doesn't need any permission to make these decisions."
Trump nonetheless went on to say in the post that he saved Khamenei "FROM A VERY UGLY AND IGNOMINIOUS DEATH, and he does not have to say, "THANK YOU, PRESIDENT TRUMP!" In fact, in the final act of the War, I demanded that Israel bring back a very large group of planes, which were heading directly to Tehran, looking for a big day, perhaps the final knockout!"
The post concludes with Trump saying Iranian authorities are "always so angry, hostile, and unhappy, and look at what it has gotten them - A burned out, blown up Country, with no future, a decimated Military, a horrible Economy, and DEATH all around them."
"They have no hope, and it will only get worse! I wish the leadership of Iran would realize that you often get more with HONEY than you do with VINEGAR. PEACE!!!" he concluded.
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