"The Son is Worse Than the Father"... Successor's 'Nuclear Ambitions' Revealed

According to a report by the New York Times, U.S. intelligence agencies have assessed that Mojtaba Khamenei, the current Supreme Leader of Iran and son of the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei—who was killed in U.S. and Israeli airstrikes—shows an even greater interest in developing nuclear weapons than his father.

While Ali Khamenei had been hesitant about acquiring the capability to manufacture nuclear weapons, his son Mojtaba Khamenei is different.

U.S. intelligence agencies based this assessment on intercepted conversations and public remarks prior to the war.

Citing officials briefed by U.S. intelligence, the New York Times reported that intelligence authorities believe Mojtaba Khamenei and his hardline government harbor ambitions to develop advanced nuclear weapons.

The newspaper interpreted Mojtaba Khamenei's stated refusal in principle to agree to the ceasefire memorandum of understanding reached between the U.S. and Iran last month as stemming from provisions regarding Iran not pursuing nuclear weapons.

Although Iran is not currently showing signs of resuming its nuclear program, it has reportedly taken some measures to protect its nuclear assets—such as relocating centrifuges to underground facilities—through the war on December 12 of last year and the recent conflict.

The New York Times noted that with the U.S. having resumed military action targeting Iran, such intelligence assessments could serve as a justification for escalating the intensity of the attacks.

(Produced by Jeong Yu-mi | Video by Na Hong-hee | Graphics by Lee Jung-joo | Produced by SBS Digital News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.