Iran has indirectly issued a death threat against U.S. President Donald Trump after an influential cleric said threats against Iranian leader Ali Khamenei are considered a curse and a sin, punishable by death under Islam.

Nearly two weeks ago, Mr Trump had indirectly threatened Khamenei, saying he was an easy target.

“We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now,” he said in comments to reporters.

Ayatollah Nasser Makarem Shirazi, an influential cleric from Qom, south of the capital, Tehran, did not mention Mr Trump by name but stated in a religious declaration that threats against Mr Khamenei or other religious leaders are considered so grievous they are punishable by death under Islam, the state news agency Irna reported.

Mr Shirazi was responding to a question from a believer about Mr Trump.

“Individuals or regimes that attack an Islamic government or threaten or act against its religious leaders are considered ‘Mohareb’,” which means enemies of God or warriors against God.

Therefore, he said, it is the duty of Muslims to hold these “enemies” accountable. Ayatollah is the religious title of an Islamic legal scholar.

He did not directly name Mr Trump but merely explained Islamic principles, which state that those who punish the enemies of Islamic states and leaders are regarded as holy warriors and are assured of God’s blessing.

(dpa/NAN)