Iranian rabbi calls for revenge over killing of country’s Muslim leader

Rabbi Younes Hamami Lalehzar. Photo: Wikipedia

Rabbi Younes Hamami Lalehzar, the spiritual leader of Iran’s Jewish community, called for the physical elimination of those responsible for the killing of Ali Khamenei, World Israel News reports.

Speaking at a conference titled “Fulfilling the Promise of Revenge,” Rabbi Lalehzar argued that retaliation was necessary for the killing of Khamenei in February 2026. He stressed that the deliberate taking of a human life is one of the gravest sins and requires those who organized the crime to be brought to justice.

Drawing on sacred texts, Hamami Lalehzar called for “blood vengeance,” adding that the phrase was more precise than the general term “revenge.” He cited the biblical injunction that land defiled by spilled blood cannot be cleansed except by the blood of the one who shed it. According to the rabbi, retribution is not an emotional act of anger but the exercise of a lawful right to justice.

“The murderers of Supreme Leader Khamenei must be killed,” Hamami said.

In his address, the community leader also distinguished between the Jewish faith and the political movements of the Zionist regime. He noted that many Orthodox Jews refuse military service and oppose the policies of Tel Aviv. The rabbi emphasized that those who organized attacks on Iranian commanders and officials must be held accountable.

Homayoun Sameh, the representative of the Jewish community in the Iranian parliament, also expressed support for the initiative. He called on the authorities to launch active operations to make their opponents “regret and suffer.” Sameh stressed that the principle of “an eye for an eye and blood for blood” should apply in this situation, warning that failure to retaliate could provoke further attacks on the country.

As previously reported by the UOJ, Israeli rabbis criticized the Pope over his anti-war statements.

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