Iran FM Says Nuclear Doctrine Stable Pending New Supreme Leader's View

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi stated on March 18 that Tehran’s nuclear doctrine is unlikely to see significant immediate changes. However, he noted that the official stance awaits the views of the new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei. The transition follows the death of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, whose early 2000s fatwa prohibited the development of nuclear weapons. Araqchi clarified that such religious decrees are traditionally tied to the specific jurist who issued them, leaving the door open for future shifts under new leadership. Simultaneously, U.S. and Israeli military operations have significantly degraded the capabilities of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), specifically targeting drone, missile, and naval sites. Analysts at a recent Brandeis University forum observed that these strikes have pointedly avoided Iran's regular army and energy infrastructure. This selective targeting is viewed by some experts as a strategic move to isolate the IRGC while potentially preserving the regular military's capacity to challenge the group internally. Current U.S. policy under President Trump appears to have shifted toward isolating a weakened Iran rather than direct regime change. While no new military actions were reported in the last 24 hours, regional experts warn that any disruption to the Strait of Hormuz remains a critical flashpoint that could trigger further escalation if diplomatic or strategic resolutions are not finalized.