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In a candid interview, Iran’s Vice President Jafar Ghaempanah said that the country’s ongoing uranium enrichment activities would have been suspended if Tehran had known the United States was planning to assassinate Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Ghaempanah emphasized that Iran’s strategic decisions are guided by a calculation of costs and benefits, and that a direct threat to the nation’s highest religious and political authority would have forced a reassessment of its nuclear pursuits. He did not provide details about the alleged U.S. plan, but his remarks suggest a perception within the Iranian leadership that external aggression could compel policy reversals.
The vice president’s comments come amid heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington, where the United States has repeatedly warned Iran over its nuclear program and imposed sanctions. While Iran continues to enrich uranium to levels below weapons-grade, it maintains that its nuclear activities are for peaceful purposes and sovereign rights. Ghaempanah’s statement reflects a broader narrative within Iran that external threats, especially those targeting the Supreme Leader, could reshape its strategic calculus, potentially leading to de‑escalation in certain areas to preserve national stability.
Analysts note that the vice president’s remarks may also be aimed at domestic audiences, reinforcing the government’s resolve to protect its leadership while signaling to the United States that any aggressive move could have unintended diplomatic repercussions. The statement underscores the delicate balance Iran seeks between advancing its nuclear capabilities and avoiding a direct confrontation that could jeopardize its political hierarchy.
