FM: Iran signals shift in nuclear nonproliferation stance

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has indicated that Iran may reconsider its participation in the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) following recent military strikes by the US and Israel on Iranian nuclear sites.

“The attack on our nuclear facilities will certainly have serious and profound repercussions on Iran’s future course,” Araghchi said in a statement, raising doubts about Iran’s continued commitment to the international arms control framework, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media. 

The NPT is a landmark treaty aimed at curbing the spread of nuclear weapons while promoting peaceful nuclear technology. Signatories that do not possess nuclear weapons are prohibited from acquiring them. Iran has long maintained that its nuclear programme is intended solely for peaceful purposes.

The strikes, ordered by US President Donald Trump last weekend, targeted Iranian nuclear infrastructure. Trump later claimed that the operation had "obliterated" Iran’s capabilities. However, a leaked Pentagon report suggested the damage may have only set Iran’s programme back by several months.

“We have worked for many years to demonstrate to the world that we are committed to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty [NPT] and willing to work within its framework, but unfortunately, this treaty has not been able to protect us or our nuclear program,” Araghchi said.

The foreign minister also pointed to long-standing tensions between Tehran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the UN watchdog tasked with monitoring compliance with the NPT.

The IAEA has previously reported that Iran failed to provide full transparency regarding certain aspects of its nuclear activities. Following the US withdrawal from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) under Trump’s first term, Iran resumed uranium enrichment to levels nearing weapons-grade, a move that drew further scrutiny from the international community.

Araghchi acknowledged that no final decision has been made but hinted at a possible shift in Tehran’s position. 

“I imagine that Iran’s view of the nuclear program and the non-proliferation regime will undergo changes, the direction of which I cannot yet determine,” he added.

By Naila Huseynova