The Superiority of Ayatollah Khamenei's Nuclear Fatwa on Legal Obligations and Ethical Commitments

The present research, emphasizing Ayatollah Khamenei's perspective on nuclear weapons as a fatwa, and considering its superiority over legal obligations and ethical commitments, aimed to answer the question of "what position does the nuclear fatwa hold compared to analogous concepts such as legal obligations and ethical commitments?" The research method was descriptive-analytical, and the results indicate that Ayatollah Khamenei's nuclear fatwa, like other fatwas, has been formed within the mechanisms and framework of jurisprudence. The nuclear fatwa is superior in motivating compliance, has greater coercive power, and provides better social assurance. This fatwa addresses social issues falling within the jurisdiction of the jurisprudent's authority. Therefore, compliance with and adherence to this fatwa is not only mandatory for his followers but also obligatory for non-followers. Considering Ayatollah Khamenei's policymaking role in the country and his command of all branches of power based on Article 110 of the Constitution, this fatwa regulates the defensive behaviors of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Accordingly, compliance with the nuclear fatwa is obligatory for all pillars of government and can be legally binding in the international system. Therefore, it can be said that the country's commitment to this fatwa, due to its unique characteristics, surpasses the obligations of nuclear treaty regimes.