New Iran Supreme Leader 'More Interested in Nuclear Weapons' Than Predecessor

U.S. authorities assess that Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran's new supreme leader, is more interested in developing nuclear weapons than his predecessor and father, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, according to a report by The New York Times (NYT).

Citing officials briefed by U.S. intelligence, the newspaper reported that U.S. intelligence believes Mojtaba Khamenei—who replaced the previous leadership killed in U.S. and Israeli strikes—and his hardline government harbor ambitions to develop advanced nuclear weapons.

U.S. officials noted that while Iran has long desired the capability to produce nuclear weapons, Ali Khamenei had hesitated, and they believed that hesitation was genuine.

Based on intercepted conversations and public remarks prior to the war, U.S. intelligence assessed that Mojtaba Khamenei does not share his father's hesitation and is interested in developing advanced nuclear weapons.

While the Joe Biden administration stated that Iran sought to develop a rudimentary nuclear weapon providing deterrence similar to a Hiroshima-class bomb, U.S. officials estimate that Mojtaba Khamenei supports thermonuclear warheads (hydrogen bombs) that can be miniaturized and mounted on long-range missiles.

U.S. officials told the newspaper that while Iran has not shown signs of resuming its nuclear program, it has taken some steps to protect its nuclear assets through the war last December and the recent conflict, such as moving centrifuges to underground facilities inside Mount Kuh-e Kolang in central Iran.

Regarding the ceasefire memorandum of understanding agreed upon by the U.S. and Iran last month, Mojtaba Khamenei permitted the agreement but stated he did not agree with it "in principle," which the NYT interpreted as alluding to the clause stating that "Iran does not pursue nuclear weapons."

The NYT pointed out that such intelligence assessments could provide additional justification for the U.S. to step up the intensity of its recently resumed military actions targeting Iran.

U.S. officials told the NYT that individuals inside Iran who previously argued that only nuclear weapons could deter U.S. and Israeli attacks believe their position has been further strengthened.

Rosemary Kelanic, Middle East program director at Defense Priorities, a U.S. think tank skeptical of U.S. military intervention, pointed out that the nuclear cooperation agreement signed between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia has also significantly heightened the possibility of Iran pursuing nuclear weapons.

"Iran now has a much greater incentive to weaponize (nuclear capabilities) to deter future attempts by the U.S. or Israel to collapse the regime or the state," she said, adding that "this war is backfiring on the nominal goal of preventing Iran's nuclear proliferation."
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.