Iran’s Assembly of Experts issued a statement calling for the deaths of President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, marking an escalation in rhetoric from the country’s religious leadership.
The 88-member Assembly of Experts, a body constitutionally tasked with selecting and overseeing Iran’s supreme leader, released a 10-point declaration describing the U.S. president and Israeli prime minister as deserving of death. The statement framed such action as a religious obligation that must be pursued “under any circumstances,” according to reports of the clerics’ announcement.
The call comes amid ongoing tensions between Iran and Western nations, even as diplomatic channels remain open. Iran’s civil government continues to engage in discussions over a potential agreement, while the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps maintains military operations in regional waters and airspace.
The Statement and Its Messaging
The Assembly of Experts used the term “mahdour al-dam,” meaning deserving of death, to describe both leaders in their declaration. They characterized the Israeli premier as “the wicked prime minister of the Zionist regime” and called the U.S. president “the criminal American president.”
State media amplified the message beyond the clerics’ statement. The newspaper Hamshahri published a front-page image of Trump’s face positioned within rifle crosshairs, accompanied by the headline “Revenge is certain.”
Security Implications
The declarations arrive following previous assassination attempts against Trump, including an incident in which a shooter came within inches of striking the president. Those earlier attempts involved individuals acting alone rather than coordinated teams.
Security officials have flagged concerns about potential threats posed by operatives who may have entered the United States through the southern border. Estimates suggest between 20,000 and 30,000 Iranian nationals currently reside in the country without authorization, according to available data.
The distinction between individual attacks and operations by a nation-state with resources, training and coordination infrastructure creates a significantly different threat assessment, according to security analysts.
International Response
Both the U.S. Secret Service and Netanyahu’s security detail have been monitoring threats related to the statements. The timing of Iran’s rhetoric coincides with continued diplomatic discussions between the Iranian government and international parties regarding a broader agreement.
The Iranian leadership’s public statements reflect broader tensions within the country’s governance structure, where both civilian officials and military-aligned factions exert influence over policy directions.
This story has been updated. CNN’s International Desk contributed to this report.
