Iraq's Grand Ayatollah Al-Sistani warns against Iran-Israel escalation, calls for international intervention
Najaf (IraqiNews.com) – Iraq's top Shia religious authority, Grand Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani, issued a strong warning on Thursday (June 19, 2025) regarding the ongoing military strikes between Israel and Iran, calling for international intervention to stop the war.
In a statement from his office, Al-Sistani condemned the 'continued military aggression' against Iran and any threats to its leadership. He warned that any 'criminal escalation' could lead to widespread chaos and spiral out of control, urging world bodies to help find a peaceful solution to the conflict.
The statement comes on the seventh day of mutual attacks between Iran and Israel. Separately, Ali Al-Fatlawi, a leader in the Fatah Alliance, a prominent Iraqi political coalition, told media that if the situation escalates further, it is possible the supreme religious authority could issue a fatwa for 'jihad' against the US and Israel.
Al-Sistani's official statement, however, focused on de-escalation and a diplomatic solution, reflecting the gravity with which Iraq's highest religious authority views the regional conflict.
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