Ayatollah Sheikh Mohsen Araki issued a stern warning, stating that any aggression by the United States or Israel targeting Iran or the Iranian Supreme Leader “Ali Khamenei” would lead to the declaration of a “comprehensive jihad” without borders.
Araki is considered a prominent religious figure and close to hardline circles in the city of Qom. He is also seen as a spokesman for the Iranian regime’s orientations and has strong ties to Hezbollah networks.
These statements come at a very sensitive time internally, especially after Iranian President “Masoud Pezeshkian” called for calm, and following recent unrest in the country, which included police intervention to disperse riots.
The statements also coincide with the continuing repercussions of a 12-day war last summer, which resulted in strikes that damaged the capabilities of the Revolutionary Guard, while the country is witnessing ongoing protests and a significant deterioration in the value of the Iranian currency, the Rial.
In light of the general context of his statements, Araki appears to be aiming to rally popular support by portraying the situation as an open confrontation with “enemies at the gates,” and calling for readiness to respond.
