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Iran's New Ruling Elite Won't Compromise on Their Nuclear Ambitions

(Wall Street Journal) Reuel Marc Gerecht and Ray Takeyh - The Israel-Iran war has weakened the institutions of the Islamic Republic substantially and looks likely to launch a new generation of leaders. That's bad news for Israel and America. While Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and his minions have tried to claim victory over Israel, the overwhelming sentiment among them is surely not pride but shame. The loss has greatly diminished the supreme leader's stature, and the consequences of defeat will catapult little-known, hard-core believers into the ruling elite. These men won't compromise on the regime's nuclear-weapon ambitions. The Islamic Republic is unlikely to construct large enrichment plants such as Natanz or rely on mountains to protect its atomic assets. U.S. and Israeli satellite and aerial reconnaissance is too good, and construction times for new underground facilities are too long. Numerous, easily concealed surface facilities are now a better bet - so long as the regime can neutralize foreign spies in Iran. Reuel Marc Gerecht, a former Iranian-targets officer in the CIA, is a resident scholar at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. Ray Takeyh is a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.
2025-07-24 00:00:00
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