Iranian lawmakers call for nuclear overhaul
Thirty-nine lawmakers in the Islamic Republic's parliament have called on the Supreme National Security Council to review Iran's “defense doctrine” as the risk of escalation with Israel continues to grow, Iran International reported.
Hassanali Akhlaghi Amiri, a Mashhad MP, told semi official ISNA news that he and 38 other members had made the push, part of a growing debate in Tehran regarding Iran’s military strategy, particularly its stance on nuclear weapons.
The rising tensions have seen parliament members in Iran advocating for stronger measures, with some in Israel saying that attacking Iran's nuclear facilities is the only way to secure the Jewish state from Iran.
This year, Iran has escalated its actions by launching two direct aerial bombardments on Israel, moving beyond its usual reliance on proxies for close-range attacks.
Based on Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's disputed nuclear fatwa, Iran says it has never pursued nuclear weapons, as he has publicly prohibited all weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear bombs. However, many question the legitimacy of this fatwa, particularly in light of Iran's rapid nuclear advancements, which has seen it breach global enrichment regulations.
The UN's nuclear chief said that Iran is "weeks not months" away from a nuclear weapon earlier this year.
Amiri acknowledged that the fatwa remains intact but said: "In the context of jurisprudence, time and place can influence the modification of rulings, and secondary rulings can replace primary ones."
However, contrary to widespread perception, a fatwa itself is not a legal document – but, an advisory opinion on Islamic law offered by a high-ranking cleric. It is not set in stone and can be changed at any time.
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