'Corruption on Earth': Iran indicts Trump over Khamenei killing, faces death penalty

Iran has issued an indictment against US President Donald Trump over the killing of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iranian media reported on Tuesday.Tehran prosecutor Ali Salehi said indictments had been completed in 140 cases linked to the war, including 74 involving the US government and Trump, and 23 concerning Israel and prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to IRGC-affiliated Fars News Agency.The charges against Trump include “corruption on earth”, murder, destruction, intentional assault and terrorist acts, Fars reported.Under Iranian law, convictions for murder and “corruption on earth” — a broad charge used in cases involving serious offences against the state or public order — can carry the death penalty.The move marks one of Tehran’s stronger legal responses yet to the killing of Khamenei, who died during the US-Israel war against Iran earlier this year. Iranian officials have repeatedly vowed to pursue those they hold responsible for his death and have accused Washington and Israel of playing a central role in the attack.The indictment comes as Trump has struck a cautiously optimistic tone on possible diplomacy with Tehran while continuing to threaten renewed military action if talks fail.Trump said on Tuesday that the US and Iran were having “good talks” and that progress was being made, but warned that Washington could resume attacks on Iranian targets if an agreement was not reached.The US president had earlier paused a two-week bombing campaign to allow more time for diplomacy, saying he was prepared to take strong military action if negotiations did not produce results.Iran, however, has denied claims that it initiated direct negotiations with Washington and has maintained that any diplomatic contacts are taking place through intermediaries.The legal action is largely symbolic because Iran has no jurisdiction over a sitting US president and no practical means of enforcing the charges outside its territory. But it underscores Tehran’s effort to formally assign responsibility for Khamenei’s killing as the US and Iran continue to test the possibility of a diplomatic off-ramp.Catch the latest World News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.