In a November 25, 2024 address that aired on Channel 1 (Iran), Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei stated that an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is insufficient and that he deserves the death sentence. Speaking before Basij members, a few days after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu and former Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant, Khamenei called for a death sentence to be issued against these "criminal leaders." The speech was met with chants of "Death to America! Death to England! Death to Israel!" from the crowd, which included IRGC Commander-in-Chief Hossein Salami, Qods Force Commander Esmail Qaani, and Iranian Armed Forces Chief of Staff Major General Mohammad Bagheri.
Ali Khamenei: "The enemy did not win in Gaza. The enemy did not win in Lebanon. The enemy will not win in Gaza and Lebanon."
Crowd Member: "Say: 'Allah Akbar!'"
Crowd: "Allah Akbar! Allah Akbar! Allah Akbar! Khamenei is the Leader! Death to those who oppose the Rule of the Jurisprudent! Death to America! Death to England! Death to the hypocrites and the infidels! Death to Israel!"
Khamenei: "What they have done is no victory. It is a war crime. They issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu. This is not enough. [He deserves] the death sentence."
Crowd Member: "Say: 'Allah Akbar!'"
Crowd: "Allah Akbar! Allah Akbar! Allah Akbar! Khamenei is the Leader! Death to those who oppose the Rule of the Jurisprudent! Death to America! Death to England! Death to the hypocrites and the infidels! Death to Israel!"
Khamenei: "A death sentence should be issued for these criminal leaders.
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"As wide as the resistance axis is today, it will expand several times more tomorrow."
Crowd Member: "Say: 'Allah Akbar!'"
Crowd: "Allah Akbar! Allah Akbar! Allah Akbar! Khamenei is the Leader! Death to those who oppose the Rule of the Jurisprudent! Death to America! Death to England! Death to the hypocrites and the infidels! Death to Israel!"