Grand Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi Declares Jihad Against U.S. and Israel

Prominent Iranian cleric Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi has declared jihad against the United States and Israel following the reported killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

According to Iranian state-linked media, the senior Shia authority described avenging Khamenei’s death as a religious duty for Muslims worldwide. The statement comes amid intensifying tensions after joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran that began on February 28.

Makarem Shirazi is one of Iran’s most influential religious figures, and his remarks are likely to heighten fears of further escalation across the region.

The declaration follows a series of retaliatory actions and rising rhetoric after reports that Khamenei was killed in the strikes, a development that has dramatically increased geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

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