Iranian Clerics Call for Assassination of Trump and Netanyahu Amid Stalled Talks

President Trump (right) and Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel [Photo=Reuters Yonhap]

Iranian clerics have publicly called for the assassination of U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This comes as negotiations between the U.S. and Iran over a ceasefire have stalled, revealing internal dissent among hardliners in Iran.
According to the British Telegraph on June 30, clerics affiliated with the Iranian Experts Assembly issued a statement with ten points, claiming that killing Trump and Netanyahu is a "religious duty." They labeled the two leaders as "worthy of death" and insisted that their assassination should not be neglected under any circumstances.
The Experts Assembly is a constitutional body responsible for electing and supervising Iran's Supreme Leader. The clerics cited the need for revenge for the death of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed on the first day of U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Iran on February 28.
However, this statement does not represent the entire assembly's position. Of the 88 members, only about 63 signed the statement, and the assembly's secretariat distanced itself from the declaration a few hours later.
The clerics also took a hardline stance on negotiations, criticizing the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz as a "strategic error" and demanding that Iran's nuclear rights be excluded from discussions.
On June 17, the U.S. and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at ending the Middle Eastern conflict. The two sides agreed to discuss a permanent ceasefire, Iran's nuclear program, sanctions relief, and navigation issues in the Strait of Hormuz within 60 days. However, the implementation of this agreement has faced pressure due to clashes in the Strait of Hormuz and instability along the Lebanon front.
Subsequent discussions have also encountered difficulties from the outset. U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrived in Doha, Qatar, but the Qatari Foreign Ministry stated that "there will be no high-level direct talks between the U.S. and Iran." Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei also confirmed that "no negotiations of any level are scheduled with the U.S."
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian defended the ceasefire agreement, stating that it was made in coordination with the new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.

* This article has been translated by AI.