MANILA, Philippines — A senior Iranian cleric has warned that any attack on Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei could trigger what he described as a “global jihad,” escalating tensions amid heightened confrontation involving Iran, the United States, and Israel.
Ayatollah Mohsen Araki, a prominent Shiite religious figure, said targeting the Supreme Leader would not be seen as a mere political or military act but as an assault on Islam itself, according to a report by Gulistan News TV.
Araki warned that such an action would compel Shiite religious authorities and followers worldwide to respond, framing the threat as a religious obligation rather than a state-led retaliation.
⚡️BREAKING
Ayatollah Mohsen Araki:
‘If Grand Ayatollah Khamenei is targeted, the highest Shiite authorities will declare a global jihad against the United States and Israel’ pic.twitter.com/w9arB6urk1
— Iran Observer (@IranObserver0) January 11, 2026
The remarks come as rhetoric intensifies in the Middle East following renewed hostilities involving Israel and Iran-aligned groups, as well as speculation about potential direct confrontations between Tehran and Washington.
Iranian officials have repeatedly said that the country’s top leadership is a “red line,” warning of severe and far-reaching consequences if crossed. While Araki’s statement does not reflect an official declaration of policy, it echoes long-standing positions within Iran’s hardline religious and political establishment.
There was no immediate response from the United States or Israel to the cleric’s warning.
Analysts say such statements are often intended as deterrence, signaling the high cost of any attempt to directly target Iran’s Supreme Leader while mobilizing ideological and religious sentiment beyond Iran’s borders.
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