Iran warns it may exit Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty if UN sanctions reimposed

Iran has signalled that it may consider initiating a legal process to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) if European countries move forward with efforts to reimpose United Nations sanctions. 

In a formal communication to the UN Security Council on June 11, Iran’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, Saeed Iravani, reaffirmed Tehran’s previous position that it would take what it described as “proportionate responses” if further international pressure is applied, Caliber.Az reports via Iranian media.

Among the steps being considered, Iravani stated, is “starting the process of withdrawal from the NPT in accordance with Article X of the Treaty.”

This development coincides with diplomatic moves by the United Kingdom, France, and Germany — commonly referred to as the E3 — who are pushing for a vote on a resolution against Iran at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors meeting in Vienna.

The resolution, backed by the United States, accuses Iran of insufficient cooperation with the UN’s nuclear watchdog concerning what the IAEA describes as “undeclared nuclear activities.” 

The resolution is based on recent IAEA findings and, if passed, could pave the way for a reinstatement of UN sanctions against Iran. These sanctions were lifted under the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) but could be reimposed by October 2025 when provisions of UN Security Council Resolution 2231 — endorsing the JCPOA — are set to expire.

Iranian officials have pushed back against the IAEA’s report, questioning its objectivity and accusing the agency of relying on intelligence from adversarial sources, including Israel. They have criticised the E3’s actions as an attempt to exploit the JCPOA’s “snapback mechanism” — a provision that allows for the automatic reimposition of sanctions if Iran is deemed non-compliant — as a tool for political leverage amid ongoing indirect negotiations with the US over a potential new agreement. Washington withdrew unilaterally from the JCPOA in 2018.

In a joint statement issued this week, the E3 reaffirmed their commitment to diplomacy but indicated readiness to act if Iran was found to be in violation of its safeguards obligations under the NPT. “Absent a satisfying deal, the E3 will consider triggering the snapback mechanism to address threats to international peace and security,” the statement read.

In his letter, Iravani condemned the efforts by the European nations as “legally baseless and politically reckless,” and warned that such actions could have serious consequences for both regional and global stability.

By Tamilla Hasanova