U.S. officials assess that Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran's new Supreme Leader, has a greater interest in developing nuclear weapons than his predecessor and father, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, according to a report by the U.S. daily The New York Times (NYT).

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

U.S. officials believed that while Iran had long wanted the capability to build nuclear weapons, Ali Khamenei had been hesitant and that this reluctance 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 U.S. administration of Joe Biden previously stated that Iran was seeking to develop rudimentary nuclear weapons providing a deterrent similar to a Hiroshima-class atomic 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 there are no signs Iran has resumed its nuclear program, it has taken some steps to protect its nuclear assets—such as relocating centrifuges to underground facilities at Mount Kolang (Kouh-e Kolang) in central Iran—amid the war in December of last year and the recent conflict.

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

The NYT noted that such intelligence assessments could serve as an additional justification for the U.S. to elevate the intensity of its recently resumed military actions targeting Iran.

U.S. officials told the NYT that hardliners within Iran who have argued that only nuclear weapons can 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 increased the likelihood of Iran pursuing nuclear weapons.

She added, "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," and noted that "this war is backfiring on its nominal goal of preventing Iran's nuclear proliferation."