US Assesses Iran's New Supreme Leader More Interested in Nuclear Weapons Than Predecessor
US intelligence agencies assess that Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is more interested in acquiring nuclear weapons than his predecessor Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to a New York Times report citing briefed officials. [1]
US Intelligence Assessment on New Iranian Leader
US intelligence agencies believe Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is even more interested in acquiring a nuclear weapon than his father and predecessor was, according to a Friday New York Times report citing officials briefed on the information. [1] The intelligence agencies believe that the killing of former supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during the opening days of the US and Israel’s military operations against Iran in February intensified Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. [1] Officials noted that much of the information regarding Khamenei’s views came from before the start of the war. [1]
Constraints on Iran's New Supreme Leader
The new supreme leader has been in hiding since he was injured in the strike that killed his father. [1] The officials, according to the NYT report, also stated that his communication with other Iranian officials has been limited as he avoids public appearances for fear of being targeted in further airstrikes. [1]
Iran's Nuclear Asset Preservation Efforts
While intelligence agencies assessed that Iran has not made moves to restart nuclear enrichment and weapons development, steps have been taken to preserve nuclear assets damaged by US and Israeli strikes. [1] If Iran had moved to repair the damage and restart enrichment immediately after the strikes, their nuclear progress may only have been set back by six months, according to the assessments. [1] Part of the effort to preserve remaining nuclear assets included moving centrifuges to the heavily fortified underground complex of Pickaxe Mountain, US officials said, potentially allowing Iran to maintain access to equipment needed to enrich uranium and build a nuclear weapon. [1]
Shift in Nuclear Weapons Approach
While the former supreme leader publicly denied that he was pursuing a nuclear weapon, Iranian efforts to build its nuclear capabilities did continue. [1] US Intelligence officials, citing public statements and conversations intercepted before the war, asserted that Khamenei did not put forth the same facade of hesitancy and was interested in furthering enrichment and weapons programs. [1] According to the NYT, US officials at the end of the Biden administration believed Iran was looking into developing a crude form of nuclear weapons. [1] The new supreme leader, officials stated, is looking instead to support the development of a thermonuclear warhead that could be placed on a long-range missile. [1] US officials noted that Iranian officials who previously argued that a nuclear weapon would be the only deterrent to US or Israeli strikes may now have strengthened their positions under the new supreme leader. [1]
Trump Comments on Iran Talks and Potential Strikes
President Trump said on Friday that he had not decided on whether to launch major strikes on Iran yet, as Tehran was now getting "serious" in talks with Washington. [5] Trump said Iran had a choice between making a deal or facing a "much higher level" of strikes. [5] "We're locked and loaded and ready to go. But we're talking to them, so I think while we're talking, we'll see what comes of it. I believe...They're very serious. They should be," Trump said. [5] Trump separately doubled down on comments in an earlier social media post in which he said he believed that Russia and China were not arming Iran, despite reports that both countries were giving Tehran intelligence to target US forces. [5] "I mean, I will tell you that President Xi said he will not partake, and President Putin said the same thing. I think you know I trust them," Trump told reporters. [5]
Senate Debate Over US Military Involvement
Sen. Tim Sheehy, R-Mont., choked up on the Senate floor as he pointed to a bracelet honoring a fallen friend he said was "cut in half" by an Iranian bomb, turning a Democratic-led push to rein in President Donald Trump’s war powers into an emotional warning about the cost of failing to confront Tehran. [4] The Montana Republican and combat veteran delivered the fiery remarks in opposition to an Iran War Powers Resolution that would have forced the removal of U.S. forces from hostilities against Iran unless Congress explicitly authorized the mission. [4] "We didn’t start this war, we did not. But, we will finish it," Sheehy said from the Senate floor. [4] Sheehy argued Democrats were right to call the conflict a "war of choice," but said the choice was made by Iran’s regime decades ago — not by Trump. [4] "This is a war of choice. The Democrats are correct," Sheehy said. "It’s a war of choice that was begun by a radical, lunatic band of terrorists that took over a beautiful nation 47 years ago." [4] The former Navy SEAL then ticked through decades of attacks he tied to Iran and its proxies, invoking the 1983 Marine barracks bombing, the USS Cole, the Achille Lauro and terrorist groups including Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis. [4] "This regime that we are fighting does not care about our partisan politics," Sheehy said. "They don’t care who you voted for, who you pray to, or where you live. They want to kill all of us. And they don’t just say it, they actually do it. And they’ve been doing it for 47 years." [4]
What to watch next: Trump has said he has not decided on major strikes while noting that Iran is getting more serious in talks, and the Senate rejected an effort to advance the Iran War Powers Resolution in a 47-49 vote.
