The Islamic Republic Issued A Fatwa On Trump. The U.S. Must Prepare Accordingly.

Iran’s senior Shiite cleric has declared war on the President of the United States. The Islamic Republic’s Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi issued a fatwa stating that threats against Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei — particularly by President Trump — constitute a war against Islam. “Any collaboration,” he wrote, “is forbidden. Muslims must respond with ‘severe punishment.'”

This is not empty rhetoric. It’s a directive. The regime is using religious law to justify action against American political leadership. This fatwa is not an outlier — it is state-sanctioned pretext for terror.

???? FATWA: Iran’s Grand Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi — one of the most senior Shia clerics in Qom — has issued a ruling declaring that threats against Khamenei by President Trump and others amount to a “war against Islam.” Remaining silent is “haram,” he says, and Muslims must… pic.twitter.com/2jbgPjpW0l

— Mark Dubowitz (@mdubowitz) June 29, 2025

The Islamic Republic has a documented history of carrying out extraterritorial operations: assassinations in Europe, surveillance of U.S. targets, plots against dissidents, and support for militant proxies. Now, after President Trump ordered strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities and humiliated Khamenei in his press conference, the regime is escalating. It is signaling its operatives — at home and abroad — that retaliation is not just permissible. It is required.

This fatwa gives legal and religious cover for future attacks. It sets the stage for proxy operations, lone actor violence, and state-sponsored terror framed as divine justice. The regime has already authorized retaliation against American and Israeli targets. The network is active. The planning is done. All that remains is execution. The regime’s intentions are not hypothetical. In the months leading up to the 2024 U.S. presidential election, Iranian operatives were actively plotting to assassinate Donald Trump, according to Western intelligence sources.

Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi is delivering a sermon. February 8, 2024. Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto via Getty Images.

These networks are not limited to Iran or the Middle East. They are embedded inside the United States. The regime has exploited Palestinian solidarity movements, college encampments, and so-called cultural centers to build cover and infrastructure for future operations. What appears to be activism is, in many cases, ideological and logistical preparation. The Islamic Republic has skillfully used progressive activists, woke institutions, and even elements of the Democratic political class as unknowing tools — shielding itself behind civil rights rhetoric while laying the groundwork for subversion and violence. In 2011, an Iranian-American working for the Quds Force was charged with plotting to assassinate the Saudi ambassador in Washington, D.C. That was over a decade ago. The capabilities have only expanded since.

This is not a theoretical risk. It’s an operational doctrine.

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The United States must respond accordingly.

First: Federal authorities must treat this fatwa as an actionable threat. DHS, FBI, Secret Service, and intelligence agencies must identify and dismantle regime-linked cells, proxies, and influence networks operating inside the United States under cultural, religious, or diplomatic cover.

Second: Islamic Republic’s top officials who issue or endorse calls for violence must be designated as enablers of terrorism and sanctioned accordingly. That includes financial, digital, and travel restrictions without exception.

Third: The regime must not outlast this escalation. The U.S. must adopt a policy of full support for regime change led by the Iranian people. That means providing technical, financial, and political support to Reza Pahlavi, who has accepted the responsibility of leading the transition after millions of Iranians — both inside the country and abroad—have chanted his name and called on him to represent their national will.

Fourth: The U.S. must support Israel’s precision operations targeting the regime’s nuclear, military, and intelligence assets — and where necessary, extend that support to neutralizing select political and religious officials who are operational leaders in the regime’s state-directed terror infrastructure. This must be framed and executed as counterterrorism.

Fifth: The U.S. must initiate immediate and comprehensive screening of Iranian nationals already inside the country — including visa holders, green card recipients, and naturalized citizens — who maintain any connection to regime institutions, propaganda networks, or clerical systems. If the U.S. accepts that it is under asymmetric threat, it must respond accordingly. A national emergency declaration should be on the table.

28 June 2025, Hesse, Frankfurt/Main: German-Iranians protest against the Mullah regime in Iran at a rally at the Hauptwache in Frankfurt. One man holds a photo of Reza Pahlavi II, who is living in exile. Photo: Boris Roessler/picture alliance via Getty Images

These actions are not optional. They are overdue. If left unchecked, this regime will act on its threats.

There is no negotiation pathway. There is no moderation. The Islamic Republic is not a government. It is a transnational threat actor. It issues religious rulings as operational orders. It does not fear diplomacy; it fears consequences.

The fatwa against President Trump is a signal. September 11th began with similar rhetoric. Now, another one has been issued — and this time, the target is named. If the U.S. ignores it, the next attack will not be a press release. It will be a body count.

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Dr. Aidin Panahi is an Iranian-American research professor, energy expert, and political activist. He is the cofounder of the “From Boston to Iran” initiative and his analyses on security and policy issues have appeared in outlets including The Jerusalem Post, Washington Times, the Jerusalem Strategic Tribune, Middle East Forum, Homeland Security Today, and Visegrád24. X: @Aidin_FreeIran

The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.