Firebrand cleric Ahmad Khatami and the Friday prayers service lead has called on Iran’s foreign ministry to file a formal complaint against US President Donald Trump following his recent admission that he personally directed Israel’s attacks on Iran during the 12‑day war on November 14.

Iran was targeted by Israeli strikes in June, which led to a 12-day war that also saw the US bomb Iranian nuclear sites on the final day. Although Washington initially denied involvement, Trump later stated he was in charge of the operation.

“Trump openly said he led the Israeli assault on Iran and confessed,” Khatami declared in front of worshipers in the heart of Tehran, Tasnim reported.

"The diplomatic apparatus issued a statement and condemned it, but my suggestion is that with this confession, although international forums may not produce results, there is no choice but to file a complaint. The diplomatic apparatus should explicitly complain about criminal Trump," he said.

Khatami urged officials to prioritise the livelihoods of citizens. “Inflation rises by the moment, and I ask officials to work harder for these good people so they can see the results of the Islamic system on their tables,” he said.

On the legal issue of hijab, which caused mass protests following years of state versus the people, Khatami described it as both a religious and legal obligation. He distinguished between women who deliberately defy the law and those who do not, urging the latter to “place themselves in the camp of Lady Fatima.”

He warned that foreign powers, including the CIA, were seeking to exploit the issue of Iranian women’s hijab as a means to orchestrate a coup, referencing a recent book by an American author, which he did not name.

Iran has faced growing defiance of compulsory hijab since the 2021 unrest sparked by the death of a young woman in morality police custody. President Masoud Pezeshkian has pursued a more lenient approach, drawing criticism from hardline factions.

Khatami later also addressed Iran’s unprecedented drought, noting rainfall has fallen to its lowest level in 57 years and is not limited to Iran, with onlookers watching out for future government moves.

The senior cleric brushed off criticism of the state, saying, “This is a global issue. Prayer for rain has been held across Islamic countries, too,” he said. He stressed that this is not a political matter, calling for collective action and water conservation.

“Wastefulness is forbidden. If you see someone wasting water, advise them properly. I ask people to manage consumption,” he said. His remarks come amid a prolonged drought, with much of Iran enduring a rainless autumn that has deepened concerns over the country’s water crisis.

A day earlier, Iran's Latyan Dam, one of Tehran's primary water sources, had fallen to approximately 9% of its capacity, marking the lowest reservoir level since its completion, the Ministry of Energy reported on November 13.

Earlier, Energy Minister Abbas Aliabadi warned that a Tehran household consuming 145 times the standard water consumption pattern will face disconnection in addition to fines, Tasnim reported on November 12.