Iran Considers Withdrawing from Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty

Istanbul (ANTARA) - The possibility of Iran withdrawing from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) is being discussed in Tehran, according to Iranian media reports on Saturday (28/3).

Relevant government bodies, including parliament, are currently considering the withdrawal on an “urgent” basis, according to a report from Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency.

In a post on social media platform X, Tehran’s deputy Malek Shariati stated that the “emergency plan to support Iran’s nuclear rights” has three main areas.

These include plans to exit the NPT, the repeal of laws related to the implementation of Iran’s 2014 nuclear agreement, and support for new international agreements with like-minded countries, including the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and BRICS, comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and others.

The possibility of withdrawal has emerged amid heightened alertness across the region since the US and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran on 28 February, which killed more than 1,340 people, including Iran’s then-supreme leader, Ali Khamenei.

Although analysts say the US’s objectives in the war remain unclear, Washington has long objected to Iran’s enrichment of nuclear material to levels that could be used for nuclear weapons.

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