For Khamenei, nuclear capability is not a goal but rather a means to force the West and its regional allies to recognize the regime’s strategic interests. Moreover, he is convinced that the West is seeking to undermine the Islamic Republic through a “soft” assault of culture and politics, and that compromise on the nuclear program would lead inevitably to concessions on human rights and democracy, and eventually to regime change.
对哈梅内伊而言，核能力与其说是目的，不如说是迫使西方和其地区盟国承认现政权战略利益的一种手段。此外，他深信西方企图通过文化和政治领域的“软”攻击来破坏伊斯兰共和国，核计划的妥协必然导致在民主和人权等领域做出让步，并最终导致政权更迭。