IRGC commanders urge Khamenei to revoke nuclear weapons fatwa

Senior commanders of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) are urging Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to revoke his fatwa prohibiting nuclear weapons, citing existential threats from the West. They argue that possessing nuclear arms is crucial for national survival, especially given increased regional tensions and military actions against Iranian facilities. The fatwa, established in the mid-1990s and publicly announced in 2003, has historically constrained Iran's nuclear ambitions, but internal pressures are mounting for its reevaluation. Some IRGC officials express that the regime risks collapse without the ability to develop nuclear capabilities as a deterrent. Additionally, political dynamics have shifted since the election of Donald Trump, with hardline politicians calling for a revision of nuclear policy amidst claims that Iran already possesses the technical capacity to develop such weapons. Kamal Kharazi, an advisor to Khamenei, has emphasized that should Iran's existence be threatened, the military doctrine would need to adapt accordingly.