Three powerful Shiite clerics in Iran have declared global jihad against the United States and Israel following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, issuing religious rulings calling on Muslims worldwide to seek “revenge” by launching terror attacks.
The declarations came as the war in the Middle East continues to escalate, raising warnings that Iranian sleeper cells and lone-wolf attackers could attempt terror attacks across the globe.
The latest proclamation came from Grand Ayatollah al-Haydari, who issued a fatwa condemning the U.S.–Israeli strikes that killed Khamenei.
In the ruling, al-Haydari described the military campaign as a “barbaric and vicious war.”
Multiple Fatwas Call for Revenge
Al-Haydari’s decree follows earlier fatwas issued by two senior Iranian clerics:
• Grand Ayatollah Hossein Nouri Hamedani
• Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi
Both clerics called on Muslims around the world to avenge Khamenei’s death.
A fatwa is a religious decree issued by Islamic authorities, and followers who recognize the cleric’s authority are expected to obey it.
Experts warn that such declarations can serve as religious justification for terrorist violence, potentially activating extremist networks tied to the Iranian regime.
Cleric Warns U.S. and Israel of Consequences
In his statement, al-Haydari issued a warning directed at the United States and Israel.
“We warn you, in the strongest and most realistic terms of warning, against underestimating the dignity and capabilities of these peoples,” he said.
“They are faithful peoples who place their lives before their faith to defend their honor, dignity, religion, and creed.
“So, may your interests in the region be destroyed if you have any.”
Earlier Fatwas Called Revenge a Religious Duty
Grand Ayatollah Hossein Nouri Hamedani issued his fatwa after receiving a request from leaders of the Assembly of Seminary Students and Scholars in Qom.
Hamedani declared that Muslims are religiously bound to avenge Khamenei’s death and bring those responsible to justice.
Meanwhile, Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi labeled the United States and Israel the “main perpetrators” of the killing.
Shirazi said retaliation was a religious obligation for Muslims worldwide.
He called for Muslims to avenge the “blood of the martyr” Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and urged continued retaliation “until the evil of these criminals is eradicated from the world.”
Shirazi is one of Iran’s most influential clerics and played a role in the 1979 Islamic Revolution that brought the current regime to power.
War Intensifies Across the Region
The fatwas were issued as fighting between Iran, Israel, and the United States intensified across the Middle East.
Explosions continue across Tehran amid the ongoing conflict.
Iranian state media confirmed blasts near the capital, while Israel reported activating its air defense systems in response to incoming Iranian missiles.
President Donald Trump warned that the war could continue for weeks or longer, as the death toll in Iran approaches 800 people.
Regional Violence Spreads
The conflict has also spilled into neighboring countries.
In Lebanon, Israeli airstrikes targeted Hezbollah-linked positions.
Lebanese state media reported that four people were killed when a residential building in Baalbeck was struck.
Meanwhile, Iran has launched numerous ballistic missiles toward Israel, though most have reportedly been intercepted by Israeli defense systems.
Iranian attacks have also targeted U.S. interests in the region.
Drone strikes hit the U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia and the U.S. Consulate in the United Arab Emirates, according to reports.
U.S. Casualties Reported
The Pentagon also confirmed that four U.S. Army Reserve soldiers were killed in a drone attack Sunday targeting a command facility in Kuwait.
The assault also killed two additional U.S. service members, bringing the total number of American fatalities in the attack to six.
Since the conflict began, eleven deaths have been reported in Israel, according to officials.
Warnings of Global Terror Threat
Security experts warn that the fatwas issued by Iranian clerics could encourage extremist attacks worldwide, particularly by Iranian sleeper cells or radicalized individuals acting independently.
Potential targets could include embassies, restaurants, shopping areas, and other public locations, according to analysts monitoring the situation.
As the war intensifies, intelligence officials are warning that the threat of retaliatory terror attacks beyond the Middle East may now be significantly higher.
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