Iran’s top leader has issued a religious opinion, or fatwa, declaring the purchase of any Israeli goods or trade with Israeli companies to be forbidden.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme political and religious authority, is urging Muslims throughout the world to avoid the purchase of any products that would profit Israelis.

A fatwa is a religious opinion that Muslims only obey if they revere the person issuing it, which in the case of Khamenei would be restricted largely to Iranian Shi’ites.

Iran doesn’t recognize Israel and has no trade ties with the Jewish state but the ruling also affects international companies operating in Iran and outside Iran whose shareholders are Israelis.

Iran’s leader issues fatwa against Israel trade | International | Jerusalem Post