The Role of Religion in the US-Iran Conflict

The United States and Israel launched a military campaign against Iran on February 28, 2026, as part of an effort by President Donald Trump to cripple Iranian military programs and eliminate imminent nuclear threats. This conflict has been characterized by the use of religious rhetoric and the invocation of faith by leadership on multiple sides to justify military actions and mobilize support.

A central development in the conflict was the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader of Iran. Nader Hashemi, director of the Alwaleed Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown University, noted that while the conflict is not religious at its core, religion is being used as a vehicle to mobilize people in support of political causes.

Religious Rhetoric in U.S. Military Leadership

Within the United States administration, religious themes have been integrated into the justification for the war. On March 5, 2026, President Donald Trump received prayers from evangelical Christian ministers in the Oval Office.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has further linked the military operation to religious mission. During a Christian service at the Pentagon on March 25, 2026, Hegseth employed biblical language to describe the conflict, calling on God to break the teeth of wicked enemies who deserve no mercy and should be delivered to the eternal damnation prepared for them.

Hegseth, who has a tattoo reading Deus Vult (God wills it)—a phrase associated with the medieval crusades—described the operation as a task requiring clear and righteous targets for violence.

These developments have led to concerns regarding the separation of church and state within the U.S. Military. According to reports from NPR on March 11, 2026, more than two dozen democratic members of Congress have requested an investigation into claims that some military leaders are utilizing apocalyptic theology in conflict briefings, suggesting that President Trump is anointed by Jesus to cause Armageddon.

Israeli and Iranian Religious Frameworks

The Israeli government also utilized religious imagery to frame the start of the war. On February 28, 2026, the Israeli prime minister invoked the Jewish holiday of Purim, which took place on March 2-3, 2026. The prime minister referenced the holiday’s celebration of the Jewish escape from a plot by Haman, an official in the ancient Persian Empire, to annihilate the Jewish people.

In Iran, where religion holds a constitutional role, the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has served as a catalyst for instability. Because the assassination occurred during the month of Ramadan, supporters of the supreme leader have expressed increased anger. Hashemi compared the impact of the assassination to the targeting of the Pope during Easter.

Regional Instability and Retaliation

The military strikes and the death of the supreme leader triggered widespread unrest across several Muslim-majority countries. Reports indicate that nearly two dozen protesters were killed in Pakistan, while demonstrations occurred in Iraq, Bahrain, India, and Lebanon.

Iran responded to the February 28 attacks by launching strikes against U.S. Military bases located in the following countries:

• Saudi Arabia
• Qatar
• Bahrain
• Iraq
• Kuwait
• Jordan
• United Arab Emirates

The combination of political instability and the use of sectarian differences has raised concerns that the conflict could evolve into a wider and more chaotic regional war involving various U.S. And Iranian allies.

Religion is not the driver of conflict in the Middle East. It’s the vehicle that is used to mobilize people in defense of political ideologies and causes.

Nader Hashemi, director of the Alwaleed Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown University