The 88-member Assembly of Experts, a constitutional body responsible for selecting Iran’s supreme leader, released a 10-point statement declaring that killing both leaders constitutes a religious duty. The statement used the Arabic phrase “mahdour al-dam,” meaning deserving of death, and called for the assassinations to be carried out “under any circumstances.”
The edict comes as Iran’s civil government continues diplomatic negotiations on a potential peace agreement. Simultaneously, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has maintained attacks on shipping vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and launched operations against neighboring countries.
The Threat Level
Iranian state media amplified the rhetoric when the newspaper Hamshahri published a front-page image of Trump’s face in rifle scope crosshairs with the headline “Revenge is certain.” While Iran has historically employed aggressive rhetoric, security officials say the combination of stated intent and operational capability requires serious assessment.
Previous assassination attempts against Trump have been carried out by individuals with limited resources. A state-sponsored operation would differ significantly, involving trained personnel, advanced equipment, and coordinated teams, according to security analysts.
Security Implications
U.S. authorities have noted that between 20,000 and 30,000 Iranian nationals are currently in the country illegally, with the majority entering during recent years. Officials are evaluating the security implications of this population in relation to the threats issued by Tehran.
The Secret Service and Netanyahu’s security detail have been notified of the escalated rhetoric and are adjusting protective measures accordingly. Experts stress that any successful attack traced to Iranian operatives would trigger severe military consequences for the Iranian government.
This story has been updated. CNN’s National Security Team contributed to this report.
