Iran’s parliament is considering a possible withdrawal from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said, amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which has now entered its second month. He emphasized that Tehran neither sought nor intended to have nuclear weapons.
Lawmakers also discussed the possibility of withdrawing from the NPT after a 12-day conflict last June during which Israel and the United States targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities.
What is the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons?
The NPT is an international agreement aimed at halting the proliferation of nuclear weapons and related technologies, promoting cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, and promoting the broader goal of nuclear and total disarmament. The treaty was opened for signature on 1 July 1968 and entered into force on 5 March 1970.
It was negotiated between 1965 and 1968 by the 18-nation Committee on Disarmament, a United Nations-backed body based in Geneva.
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On 11 May 1995, after 25 years, member states agreed to extend it indefinitely. Under the treaty, nuclear-weapon states are defined as states that developed and tested nuclear devices before 1967, namely the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, and China.
However, four nuclear-armed countries – India, Pakistan, Israel and North Korea – are not part of the NPT framework. Among them, India, Pakistan, Israel and South Sudan have never signed the treaty, while North Korea previously joined but withdrew in 2003.
India has consistently justified its decision not to sign the NPT by calling the treaty “discriminatory, unequal and flawed” and claiming it allows countries that already possessed nuclear weapons by a certain date to retain them, while prohibiting others from acquiring such capabilities, according to Al Jazeera.
In India’s view, the NPT allegedly divides the world into “have-nots and have-nots”, noting that it does not require the United States, Russia, China, France and the United Kingdom to give up their nuclear arsenals.
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The NPT consists of a preamble and eleven articles. Although it does not explicitly refer to “pillars”, it is commonly understood to be built on three basic principles: the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, the promotion of disarmament, and the guarantee of the right to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.
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These three elements are closely linked and mutually supportive. A strong nuclear non-proliferation system in which countries meet their commitments creates a critical foundation for progressive disarmament and enables increased cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
Why does Iran want to withdraw from the NPT?
Iran is considering withdrawing from the NPT as a strategic response to intense military pressure, including Israeli and US strikes on its nuclear facilities. Baghaei said Tehran remains committed to the NPT as long as it is a member, but questioned the treaty’s effectiveness, saying Iran was being attacked while its rights under the deal were not being respected, Reuters reported.
Baghei stated: “What is the advantage of joining a treaty in which the bullying parties at the international level not only do not allow us to exercise its rights, but also attack our nuclear facilities?”
(With inputs from Reuters)
Key things
- The treaty was opened for signature on 1 July 1968 and entered into force on 5 March 1970.
- Lawmakers also discussed the possibility of withdrawing from the NPT after the 12-day conflict last June,
- Baghaei said Tehran remains committed to the NPT as long as it is a member, but questioned the treaty’s effectiveness.
