
Yemen's Ansar Allah (Houthi) Movement Threatens To Target U.S. Warships If Iran Is Attacked, Reaffirms Support For Gaza, Pledges Defense Of Any Nation Facing 'Israeli Aggression,' Warns Against Allege
On June 21, 2025, Yemen's Ansar Allah (Houthi) Movement's armed forces issued a statement reaffirming the group's firm and principled stance in rejecting the "Zionist aggression" against the people of Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and any Arab or Islamic country subjected to Israeli attacks.[1]
The statement, released on the Telegram channel of armed forces spokesman Brig.-Gen. Yahya Sare'e, emphasized that the conflict has expanded to include Israeli aggression against Iran, following its "ongoing crimes against the Palestinian people, its acts of genocide, and its continued assaults on the Lebanese and Syrian peoples, as well as its war against Yemen." The Houthis called Israel's latest actions "full-scale aggression" against Iran as part of a broader plan to reshape the Middle East and dominate the entire region.
Accusing Israel of working toward this goal with full, active U.S. partnership and support, the Houthis went on to claim that its main objective is to eliminate Iran from the regional equation, since it is considered the "greatest obstacle to Israel's expansionist ambitions."
The group issued a clear threat: "If the United States becomes involved in any aggression against Iran in support of Israel, the Yemeni Armed Forces will target American ships and warships in the Red Sea."
Declaring that this battle is for the entire nation and that salvation, honor, and victory lie in taking action and engaging in jihad for the sake of Allah, the Houthi armed forces went on to quote Quranic verses, framing their response to the alleged Israeli-American aggression as a divine responsibility and moral imperative.
After affirming their readiness to stand alongside any Arab or Islamic country subjected to "Zionist aggression" or that chooses to confront Israel in self-defense or in support of Palestinian resistance fighters, the Houthis also declared their unwavering commitment to the people of Gaza, pledging not to abandon them or allow the Israeli-American project to succeed in the region.
The statement concluded with religious invocations and nationalistic slogans, affirming trust in Allah, loyalty to Yemen's sovereignty and independence, and solidarity with all free people of the Muslim nation.

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Memri
8 hours ago
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Anti-Trump Fatwa By Iranian Grand Ayatollahs: Any Person Or Regime Who Threatens The Leader Is The Enemy Of God And Islam And His Punishment Is Death
On June 29, 2025, Grand Ayatollah Nasser Makarem Shirazi issued a fatwa stating that the punishment for U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who threatened Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei with assassination, is the same as the punishment for muhareb – that is, a person defined as an enemy of God and Islam who is gravely threatening or conducting an armed rebellion against the Islamic public order. In Shi'ite Islam, and particularly under Iranian religious law, the punishment for this is particularly severe and is usually death; less often, it could be exile, amputation of the transgressor's right arm and left leg, or crucifixion. It should be noted that President Trump never threatened to assassinate Khamenei and it was even reported that he had prevented such an assassination. Makaram Shirazi, 98, is one of the greatest religious clerics in Iran with the rank of Grand and the authority of a Marja'i Taqlid, the highest religious level and one that obligates his followers to obey him and morally imitate his positions in every one of his fatwas. This fatwa, handwritten by him, was issued in response to a religious question by believers who had asked about the punishment for anyone – meaning the leaders of the U.S. and Israel – who specifically threatens to assassinate the Iranian supreme leader. Makaram Shirazi wrote in his fatwa that the punishment for such a person threatening Khamenei is the same as that for a muhareb whose killing is permitted, and that any collaboration with that person is forbidden. He added that all Muslims must work to make the transgressors regret their actions, even if they have to suffer for doing so, and that these Muslims' reward will be the same as for jihad fighters. Ayatollah Makaram Shirazi (Source: ISNA, June 29, 2025) The next day, June 30, Grand Ayatollah Hossein Nouri Hamedani published a similar fatwa, in response to a request submitted to him to set a high price for anyone threatening Khamenei's life, in the form of an historic fatwa expressing the might of Islam that will deter America and Israel. Hamedani, one of the most prominent of the Shi'ite religious authorities in Iran and one affiliated with the revolutionary-conservative stream, stated that any harm or insult to Khamenei was fundamentally harm or insult to Islam, and that the punishment for anyone harming or threatening him was like that for a muhareb. He added that protecting Khamenei was a religious obligation for all Muslims, and that any assistance to those harming him is also considered punishable by death according to the religion. Ayatollah Nouri Hamedani (Source: ISNA, June 30, 2025) The following is a translation of the fatwas by the Ayatollahs Makaram Shirazi and Hossein Nouri Hamedani: Ayatollah Nasser Makaram Shirazi was asked: "In recent days, we are witness to the fact that America's president and the heads of the Zionist regime have repeatedly threatened to assassinate the supreme leader of the Islamic Republic and some of the clerics and religious authorities [i.e. grand ayatollahs]. We ask your honor to clarify: What is the religious sentence for anyone threatening the religious authorities and the leader of Islamic society, and if God forbid such an operation is carried out by the government of America or by any other element, what is the obligation of Muslims all over the world? God preserve and keep the divine clerics, religious authorities, and the Supreme Leader of the Revolution in the shadow of the followers of the Imam of Time [the Mahdi, the Shi'ite Messiah], and remove the evil of the unbelievers and the enemies of the religion of God." Ayatollah Makaram Shirazi's Response: "In the name of Allah the Merciful and Beneficent, any person or regime that threatens the leader of the Islamic ummah [Khamenei] or its religious authorities, with the aim of harming the ummah and its rule, or who actually attacks it, is considered a muhareb. Any cooperation with him [the attacker] or reinforcement of him by Muslims or Islamic governments is strictly forbidden. All Muslims around the world are obligated to make these enemies regret their words and actions, and if they must endure hardship or damage for doing so, their reward will be the same as that of a jihad fighter for Allah. May it be God's will to protect Islamic society from its enemies and to hasten the appearance of Imam Mahdi."[1] The fatwa published by Ayatollah Makaram Shirazi permitting the killing of President Trump (Source: ISNA, June 29, 2025) On June 30, 2025, Grand Ayatollah Hossein Nouri Hamedani published a similar fatwa, following a query concerning "threats by the U.S. president" and "the heads of the Zionist regime" to harm Khamenei. It called on him to set a high price for such deeds with an historic fatwa clarifying the might of Islam and deterring America and Zionism from continuing their threats. In his response, Nouri Hamedani stated that any attack or threat against Khamenei is considered harm or a threat to Islam, and the sentence for anyone committing such an act is the same as for a muhareb. Hamedani's response: "In the name of Allah the Merciful and Beneficent, peace be upon you. As stated in the declaration to which you referred, harm or insult to the authorities of Shi'ite religious law, and in particular to Ayatollah Khamenei, is considered to be harm to the foundations of Islam. Today, His Honor [Khamenei] leads the Islamic ummah with strength and courage, and there is no doubt that it is a religious obligation to support him. Any attempt to weaken him, especially at this time when the enemies of Islam, the Quran, and the Ahl Al-Bayt [Shi'ites] have united, is strictly forbidden. Therefore, any threat or harm to him or to the authorities of Shi'ite religious law by a person or a state is considered punishable like a muhareb and anyone who assists with such an act is subject to the same punishment. May God Almighty make His Honor the Hidden Imampleased with us."[2] The fatwa published by Ayatollah Nouri Hamedani (Source: IRNA, June 30, 2025)


Shafaq News
10 hours ago
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Iraq's golden opportunity: A new dawn for regional influence
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'The regional de-escalation in the Middle East—particularly among Iraq's neighbors—can have direct and profound effects on Iraq's economy,' he stated to Shafaq News. Saleh pointed out that countries such as the Gulf States, Turkiye, and Iran might now be more willing to invest in Iraq, particularly in sectors like infrastructure, energy, transport, and agriculture. He also highlighted the ambitious "Development Road" project as a potential flagship for this investment influx, offering Iraq a chance to enhance both its economic connectivity and geopolitical weight. Saleh further noted that improved regional security could attract Arab and foreign capital to Iraq's industrial and economic zones tied to the Development Road, mitigating investment risks and offering higher degrees of stability. 'The more attractive and stable the environment is for foreign investors, the more costs decline while profit opportunities grow,' he explained. Among the more promising areas for external investment, aside from hydrocarbons, are Iraq's underdeveloped natural resource sites—an arena he described as both vital and untapped. 'One of the best external investment opportunities in addition to the Development Road is joint investment in underground natural resource sites—excluding oil and gas—as they represent a vital and promising field for investors.' Additionally, over the past year, Iraq's non-oil GDP has shown signs of recovery, growing by 4.3% in 2023, driven in part by higher consumer demand and modest public investment. The World Bank projects Iraq's overall GDP to expand by 5.2% in 2025, assuming a stable oil market and modest progress in structural reform. Powerhouse in the Pause Hussein Al-Saabri, Deputy Chairman of the Parliamentary Investment Committee, told our agency that the end of hostilities between Iran and Israel has contributed to a calmer regional atmosphere. 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Eid emphasized that entrenched corruption across state institutions continues to sabotage investment prospects, stall critical projects, and paralyze the business environment. 'Translating this calm into real economic rewards requires meaningful internal reform. External stability is important, but it does not compensate for the entrenched corruption across Iraqi state institutions. Corruption consumes investment opportunities, paralyzes projects, and weakens the business environment,' he cautioned. Further illustrating the depth of the challenge, Iraq consistently ranks among the most corrupt countries in Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index, placing 154 out of 180 countries in 2023. The country reportedly loses an estimated $10–15 billion annually to corruption-related leakages, according to government audits and parliamentary oversight reports. These losses have not only undermined basic service delivery but also severely discouraged foreign direct investment, which remains one of the lowest in the region as a percentage of GDP. Eid also warned that increased foreign investment and lower financial risk in Iraq will depend on two critical variables. First, the longevity and credibility of the regional calm whether investors believe it is more than a transient pause. Second, the Iraqi government's ability to introduce credible reforms that improve business conditions and reduce the interference of armed groups. 'Yes, to a certain extent—but two conditions must be met,' he explained. 'First, investors need to be convinced that this is not a temporary calm. Second, the government must follow through with domestic reforms to improve the business climate and curb interference by security forces and armed groups.' If these conditions are met, Iraq could see improvements in its credit ratings and attract Gulf, Turkish, and Iranian capital previously deterred by instability. Rethinking Security Beyond the economic realm, the current lull presents an opening for Iraq to reimagine its national security framework. Military expert Alaa Al-Nashou, speaking to Shafaq News, emphasized the importance of responding to the shifting regional landscape with a comprehensive security doctrine. 'The region remains vulnerable to rapid developments amid regional and international polarization,' he said. 'Iraq must build a new national security vision.' This includes enhancing intelligence capabilities, improving information security, and refining command and control systems. 'States rely on security capabilities such as intelligence, accurate data, leadership, cybersecurity, and the protection of infrastructure and personnel. All of these enhance national security,' he observed. He further added that Iraq's security strategy should be rooted in balanced foreign relations, the rejection of external interference, and alignment with shared regional interests. 'Iraq needs a security vision tied to a balanced foreign policy based on shared interests, while rejecting interference or submission to any external power.' Finally, Al-Nashou urged Iraq to strengthen cooperation with Arab, regional, and global partners as a safeguard against future instability. 'Iraq must chart a path forward based on genuine security principles that protect Iraqi society and deepen cooperation with Arab, regional, and international security frameworks.'


Shafaq News
12 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Iranian media highlights Barzani's stance during the Iran-Israel war
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