Iranian Guards' commanders urge Khamenei to revoke fatwa on nuclear weapons

Senior commanders of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) have reportedly urged Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to lift a long-standing fatwa banning the development of nuclear weapons.

Military officials argue that Iran must acquire nuclear capabilities to counter what they describe as “existential threats” from the West, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

The shift in stance follows Donald Trump’s election victory, with IRGC leaders warning that Tehran’s security vulnerabilities are at an all-time high.

“We have never been this vulnerable, and it may be our last chance to obtain one before it’s too late,” a senior Iranian official was quoted as saying.

Khamenei first referenced the fatwa against nuclear weapons at an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) meeting in 2005, declaring such arms “absolutely haram” (forbidden by Islam). Despite this, Western intelligence agencies have long suspected Iran of advancing its nuclear program beyond civilian use.

For the record, Iran has consistently denied seeking nuclear weapons, insisting its program is solely for peaceful purposes. However, the latest calls from top IRGC officials suggest an internal shift in Tehran’s strategic calculations.

By Khagan Isayev