Iranian Military Commanders Urge Supreme Leader to Revoke Fatwa on Nuclear Weapons
In an extraordinary intervention, leaders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) have urged Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, to revoke a fatwa banning the development of nuclear weapons. According to senior military commanders, the regime must possess nuclear capabilities to counter “existential threats” from the West.
The call for nuclear armament comes amid heightened tensions and perceived vulnerabilities following the election of Donald Trump. Senior commanders, who previously adhered to Khamenei’s directive, are now advocating for the development of an atomic bomb. “We have never been this vulnerable, and it may be our last chance to obtain one before it’s too late,” an IRGC official told The Telegraph.
Khamenei’s fatwa, issued at a 2005 International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) meeting, declared nuclear weapons “absolutely haram” (forbidden by Islam). However, exiled officials and recent reports suggest that clandestine efforts to develop nuclear missiles are underway despite the religious decree.
Internal pressures have intensified, with hardline politicians and dozens of Iranian MPs urging a revision of the country’s nuclear policy. Kamal Kharazi, an adviser to Khamenei, acknowledged in November that the fatwa is the only constraint preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
Recent comments on a Telegram channel associated with the IRGC claimed Iran had the technical ability to build nuclear weapons: “We don’t have a nuclear bomb, but if we want to, we will build one.” This sentiment reflects a growing belief among some Iranian officials that possessing nuclear weapons is a rightful necessity.
The international community remains concerned about Iran’s nuclear ambitions, with MI6 chief Sir Richard Moore warning of continued threats to global security. In December, Britain, France, and Germany stated that Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium had reached “unprecedented levels,” lacking any credible civilian justification.
Despite public denials of a nuclear agenda by Iranian officials, the internal debate over nuclear weapons development continues to escalate. President Masoud Pezeshkian emphasized that war is not in Iran’s interest, and efforts to push towards nuclear weapons are being resisted.
As global leaders, including US Vice President JD Vance and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, prepare to gather at a major AI summit in Paris, the future of Iran’s nuclear policy remains uncertain. The world watches closely as Iran grapples with internal pressures and external threats, determining its path forward.