Iranian parliament warns of jihad if Supreme Leader Khamenei is attacked

In this photo released by an official website of the office of the Iranian supreme leader, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks in a meeting, in Tehran, Iran. (Photo: AP)

Any attack on Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei would trigger a declaration of jihad, or holy war, ‍the ⁠Iranian Students News Agency quoted Iran’s national security parliamentary commission as ​saying on Tuesday.

Tensions ‌between Iran and the United States ​have grown following a severe crackdown of protests across Iran, which US President Donald trump warned ‌could lead to a response from Washington.

“Any attack on ‌the Supreme Leader means ‌a declaration of war with the entire ‌Islamic world ‍and ⁠must ​await the issuance of a Jihad ⁠decree by Islamic ⁠scholars and the response of Islam’s soldiers in ‌all parts of the world,” ‌the parliamentary commission said.