U.S. Intelligence Believed Iran's Former Supreme Leader Opposed Nuclear Weapons. His Successor May Not

American intelligence officials assess that Mojtaba Khamenei has shown greater openness to developing advanced nuclear weapons, even though he has never publicly endorsed such a program. (Credit: Hamid Foroutan/Isna/AFP via Getty Images)

U.S. intelligence agencies believe Iran's new Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, is significantly more willing to pursue nuclear weapons than his father and predecessor, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

According to a report by The New York Times, American intelligence officials assess that Mojtaba, who took power after his father, Ali, was killed during an Israeli strike aided by U.S. intelligence, has shown greater openness to developing advanced nuclear weapons, even though he has never publicly endorsed such a program.