Senior Iranian cleric calls for retaliation against Donald Trump following the sinking of a warship in the Indian Ocean

A senior Iranian cleric calls for retaliation against Donald Trump as the US-Israeli campaign sinks an Iranian frigate and conflict spreads to Azerbaijan.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 5, 2026, 10:44 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from The Independent

High ranking cleric issues direct threat to United States leadership

In a rare and significant escalation of rhetoric, Ayatollah Abdollah Javadi Amoli, one of the highest ranking figures in Shiite Islam, appeared on state television to call for the shedding of President Donald Trump’s blood. The statement follows the sinking of the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena by a United States submarine in the Indian Ocean on Wednesday, an attack that resulted in at least 87 deaths. The Ayatollah declared that Washington would bitterly regret the precedent set by the torpedo strike, characterizing the event as a great test for the nation of Iran as the war enters its sixth day.

Naval warfare and the first torpedo strike since World War II

United States Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the sinking of the IRIS Dena, noting that the operation marked the first time a torpedo had successfully sunk an enemy vessel in combat since the Second World War. Hegseth stated that the Iranian navy now rests at the bottom of the Persian Gulf, referring to the broader objectives of Operation Epic Fury. In response to the loss of the frigate in Sri Lankan waters, Iranian forces have claimed to set fire to a United States tanker in the northern Gulf, though Washington has not yet commented on these reports.

Regional spillover and border conflict with Azerbaijan

The violence associated with the US-Israeli campaign has rapidly spread beyond the borders of Iran and Israel. On Thursday, Iranian drones reportedly targeted an airport and a school in Azerbaijan, an act that led the Azerbaijani government to vow a response with an iron fist. In immediate retaliation, Azerbaijan closed its airspace for twelve hours along its 689 kilometer border with Iran. Despite the targeted nature of the strikes, Tehran has officially denied any involvement in the attacks on its northern neighbor.