The capture of Nicolás Maduro will force officials in Tehran to consider a broader range of risks as Trump threatens to intervene.

Tehran also increasingly cut back its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog, as tensions increased over its nuclear program in recent years. The IAEA’s director-general has warned Iran could build as many as 10 nuclear bombs, should it decide to weaponize its program.

Officials said that leaders were in survival mode amid anti-government protests and the prospect of again coming into the cross hairs of Israel and the United States.

Iran protests prompt Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to call demonstrators 'enemy mercenaries' and 'rioters' in first public speech since nationwide unrest began seven days ago.