Iranian religious leader Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi was asked a question about how Muslims should respond to US President Trump and "leaders of the Zionist regime" issuing "repeated threats" against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior Shia scholars.
In response, Shirazi ruled that "It is clear that threatening the life of any person who is a pillar of the Islamic system, the Marja’iyyat (religious authority), and leadership, especially the supreme leader, is forbidden and religiously prohibited."
"It is obligatory to defend them and to confront the perpetrators of such threats, and violating this sanctity is one of the greatest sins," Shirazi wrote.
"Muslims around the world must stand firm against such enemies and their open crimes. If they [the enemies] carry out such an act, they will face severe and divine punishment, and they will undoubtedly be avenged," his ruling concluded.
Shirazi used the term Muharrab to describe those who carry out such "open crimes." The term is often translated into English as "waging war against God," "war against God and the state," or "enmity against God." These crimes carry the death penalty in Iran.
Another connected crime in Iran is "Mofsede-fel-arz," translated as "spreading corruption on the earth", which can be applied for political crimes such as treason.
Iran's judiciary system has also used another related crime, "Baghy," which can be translated to "armed rebellion against the legitimate Islamic government."
What threats did Trump, Israeli leaders allegedly issue?
In the hours following the start of the Iran-Israel ceasefire, US President Donald Trump published footage of B2 Stealth Bombers taking off for Iran, dubbed with the lyrics “bomb, bomb Iran” sung to the tune of The Regents’ Barbara Ann - a song made popular by the Beach Boys.
The post, published on Wednesday, included the lyrics: “Went to a mosque, gonna throw some rocks/ Tell the Ayatollah, 'Gonna put you in a box!'" and “Ol' Uncle Sam's gettin' pretty hot/ Time to turn Iran into a parking lot.”
US President Donald Trump said that he saved Ayatollah Ali Khamenei from "A VERY UGLY AND IGNOMINIOUS DEATH," in a Friday post on Truth Social, after the Islamic Republic leader claimed victory over Israel and the US during the 12-day war on social media.
Defense Minister Israel Katz on June 19 directly threatened to assassinate Khamenei in response to Iranian ballistic missiles striking Beersheba’s Soroka Medical Center. “Khamenei will pay for his crimes,” he said.
While this is not an explicit ruling to target Trump or Israeli leadership for their comments against Khamenei and other Iranian leaders, there is a call for revenge in the event of any attempt to cause physical harm.
There is also a significant implication that such acts deserve death according to Twelver Shia law.
Yonah Jeremy Bob and Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report.