Iran mulls exit from nuclear weapons treaty

 

The possibility of Iran’s withdrawal from the Nuclear Non‑Proliferation Treaty (NPT) is under discussion in Tehran, Anadolu Ajansi reported.

According to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency, government bodies, including Parliament, are reportedly “urgently” mulling withdrawal.

In a post on X, Tehran MP Malek Shariati said an “emergency plan to support the nuclear rights” of Iran has three main areas.

They include a declaration of withdrawal from the NPT, the cancellation of the countermeasure law in implementing the 2014 Iran nuclear deal, and support for a new international agreement with like-minded countries for the development of peaceful nuclear technologies, including Shanghai and the Brics bloc of Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and others.

The possibility of withdrawal comes with the entire region on alert since the United States and Israel launched an air offensive on Iran on Feb 28, with over 1,340 people killed since, including then-supreme leader Ali Khamenei.

Though analysts say the US has not been clear in its objectives in the war, Washington has long objected to Iran enriching nuclear material to weapons-grade.

Iran responded to the offensive with drone and missile attacks targeting Israel, as well as Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military bases, causing casualties, infrastructure damage, and disruption to global markets and aviation.

Meanwhile, Iran’s ambassador and permanent representative to the UN Office in Geneva, Ali Bahraini, said Tehran has agreed to the United Nations’ request for the safe passage of ships carrying humanitarian goods through the Strait of Hormuz.

Mehr News Agency reported him saying that this is in line with Tehran’s longstanding principles of humanitarian law.

This decision reflects Iran’s continued commitment to supporting humanitarian efforts and ensuring that those in need have unimpeded access to essential aid, he added.

He emphasised that operational arrangements for implementing this decision will be finalised in due course in coordination with the United Nations.

- Bernama