Iran’s parliament is reviewing the possibility of withdrawing from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), a move that would free Tehran from international restrictions on developing nuclear weapons and from obligations to allow global inspections of its nuclear programme.
The country cited “bullying” at the international level to justify the review during the ongoing war, which comes amid reports of a US plan to seize Iran’s uranium and follows American strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities months ago.
"What is the benefit of joining a treaty in which bullying parties at the international level not only do not allow us to benefit from its rights but also attack our nuclear facilities?" Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei asked on Monday, also stressing Tehran has not and will not seek nuclear weapons.
Reports indicate that Tehran is weighing a broader policy shift, including a potential NPT withdrawal, scrapping its countermeasure law tied to the 2014 nuclear deal, and backing a new international framework with like-minded countries, including Brics members, for the peaceful development of nuclear technology.
The US and Israel have launched an ongoing military campaign against Iran, alleging it is developing weapons of mass destruction, claims Tehran has strongly denied. In June last year, the US targeted three key nuclear sites – the Fordow Uranium Enrichment Plant, the Natanz Nuclear Facility, and the Isfahan Nuclear Technology Centre.
Iran is believed to have moved around 400 kilograms of partially enriched uranium – material that could be further processed for weapons use – from these sites following the 12-day conflict, even as Washington and Tel Aviv continue to accuse Tehran of advancing a weapons programme.
According to US officials, former President Donald Trump is weighing a high-risk military operation to seize uranium stockpiles deep inside Iran, a move that would mark a significant escalation, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Despite the review of a potential NPT exit, Iranian officials maintain that the country’s nuclear programme remains strictly peaceful.
Experts warn, however, that withdrawing from the 1970 treaty would weaken international oversight of Iran’s nuclear activities, heighten regional instability in West Asia, and could trigger fresh sanctions or diplomatic isolation.
While the parliamentary review does not automatically translate into a formal withdrawal, Iran would not require approval from other countries to exit the treaty.
Iran’s nuclear programme has advanced significantly since 2018, when the United States withdrew from the nuclear deal that had capped Tehran’s uranium enrichment. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has repeatedly raised concerns over Iran’s growing stockpile of highly enriched uranium, noting it could be sufficient for multiple nuclear weapons if further enriched.
