Iran's Supreme Leader Orders War Crimes Prosecution of US and Israeli Leaders

The directive covers crimes from both major phases of the conflict — the June 2025 war and the war that began in February 2026 . It frames the legal pursuit as one of the most important judicial issues facing the nation, effectively elevating it to a matter of state priority.

Specific Alleged War Crimes Cited

Khamenei named several specific incidents and categories of attacks as grounds for prosecution:

• The Minab school attack — a strike on a school in Minab
• The Lamerd attacks
• Child killings
• Attacks on medical facilities
• Attacks on civilians broadly
• The assassination of his predecessor, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and other senior Iranian officials in US-Israeli strikes

Each of these incidents, he argued, forms part of what he described as "hundreds or even thousands of significant legal cases" that should be pursued without delay .

The 'Admission of Crime' Claim

A notable and legally unconventional element of Khamenei's directive is his claim that American and Israeli leaders had themselves "admitted" to committing crimes. He argued that these leaders had publicly boasted about their military operations against Iran, and that these statements should be used as evidence in legal proceedings .

Specifically, he stated that "the confessions and even brazen boasting of some of the leaders of the US-Zionist enemy regarding these crimes, are indisputably an admission of crime" . This effectively attempts to turn public statements of military success into legal admissions of wrongdoing — a strategy that frames prosecution as a matter of straightforward legal process rather than contested accusation.

Broader Context: The 2025–26 Conflict and Fragile Ceasefire

To understand the significance of Khamenei's directive, it is necessary to understand the conflict it references.

The Multi-Phase War

Iran fought a multi-phase war with the US and Israel. Major hostilities occurred in June 2025 (a 12-day war) and again from February 28, 2026, when the US and Israel launched coordinated airstrikes targeting Iranian nuclear facilities, military infrastructure, and senior leadership, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei . The conflict included direct US-Iran exchanges of fire and broader regional escalation involving Israeli operations in Lebanon .

The Ceasefire Framework

Several ceasefire milestones have been reached:

• An initial two-week ceasefire was agreed on April 8, 2026, mediated by Pakistan .
• On June 15, 2026, the US and Iran signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) framework deal aiming to end the war, though key issues — including Iran's nuclear program and support for proxies — were deferred to a 60-day follow-on negotiation period .
• The framework includes the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to shipping .

Fragility of the Ceasefire

The ceasefire remains highly precarious. Renewed military exchanges occurred in early June 2026 (Iranian drones intercepted by the US) , and both sides traded attacks in the Gulf just one day before Khamenei's statement — on June 27, 2026 — raising fears the MoU would unravel . Israel has also complicated the deal by refusing to withdraw from seized territory in Lebanon .

Political Strategy: Why This Directive Matters

Khamenei's legal directive serves multiple strategic purposes for Iran:

• Domestic legitimacy: It frames the war as an act of foreign aggression and positions the new Supreme Leader as defender of the nation, consolidating his authority after succeeding his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
• International pressure: Pursuing cases in international courts keeps legal and diplomatic pressure on the US and Israel even as ceasefire talks proceed.
• Negotiation leverage: The threat of prosecution and war crimes claims can be used as a bargaining chip in the 60-day follow-on negotiations, particularly around sensitive issues like Iran's nuclear program and proxy networks .
• Mobilization: It signals to Iran's domestic audience and regional allies that the leadership has not abandoned accountability despite entering a diplomatic track with the US.

It also follows earlier statements from Iran's judiciary chief, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, who in April 2026 called for pursuing legal action against the US and Israel for war crimes and seeking compensation through international mechanisms . This suggests the legal strategy has been in development for months and is not merely a response to any single event.

Key Takeaway

Khamenei's June 28 directive is a carefully calibrated move that serves multiple strategic goals: consolidating his domestic authority as the new Supreme Leader, maintaining international legal pressure on the US and Israel, and creating a bargaining chip for the critical 60-day negotiations ahead. Whether any of these cases actually proceed in international courts remains to be seen, but the directive itself signals that Iran's legal campaign is intended to be a persistent feature of the post-ceasefire landscape, not a temporary headline.