Kharrazi added that "the only thing currently prohibiting this is the leader’s fatwa," but indicated that Iran’s nuclear doctrine could change if the nation faced an existential threat. A fatwa is a ruling by an Islamic leader or body; Khamenei issued a fatwa against nuclear weapons in 2003. The spokesperson added that the U.S. intelligence community continues to assess that the supreme leader has not made a decision to resume its nuclear weapons program. “That said,” the spokesperson added, “we take any nuclear escalation by Iran incredibly seriously and will respond accordingly.”Iran has long denied it was seeking a nuclear weapons program after abandoning one in 2003. “There is a possibility that the range of Iran’s missiles may increase.”Iran has long denied it was seeking a nuclear weapons program after abandoning one in 2003.

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Persons: Israel, Kamal Kharrazi, ”, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Al Mayadeen, Kharrazi, Khamenei, William Burns, Netanyahu, “, Hossein, ” Kharrazi, Barack Obama, Donald Trump Organizations: CIA, State Department, NBC News, Israel Defence Forces, U.S, Revolutionary Guard Locations: Iran, Lebanese, United States, U.S, Israel, Gaza, Europe, Islamic Republic of Iran