After Israeli bombings, Iran signals strategic shift on nuclear commitments; mulls Non-Proliferation Treaty exit

A man looks at flames rising from an oil storage facility after it appeared to have been struck by an Israeli strike in Tehran. (Pic credit: AP)

As Israel continues to target nuclear sites in Iran, Tehran on Monday said that its parliamentarians are preparing a bill that will push it towards exiting the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. According to a report by Reuters, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said, “In light of recent developments, we will take an appropriate decision. Government has to enforce parliament bills, but such a proposal is just being prepared and we will coordinate in the later stages with parliament.” Meanwhile, he also reiterated Tehran’s official stance against developing nuclear weapons.Is Iran violating NPT? This comes amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran as both countries continue to launch waves of missiles at each other. The timing of this statement is also crucial, as Israel alleged that Iran is on the verge of building a nuclear bomb. However, Iran denied the allegations, asserting that its nuclear programme is peaceful. Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian echoed that position on Monday, saying nuclear arms violate the country’s core religious principles.But last week, the IAEA said that Iran violated its NPT obligations. Baghaei said the recent Israeli attacks and the IAEA resolution played a direct role in Tehran’s strategic reassessment. “Those voting for the resolution prepared the ground for the attack,” he said.The 1970 treaty restricts signatories from pursuing nuclear weapons in exchange for access to civilian nuclear technology and oversight by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).Proposal in initial stages According to Reuters’ report, no decision on quitting the NPR has been made yet, but the proposal is in initial stages of legal process. Meanwhile, Baghaei criticised Israel’s own nuclear stance, highlighting that the country is not a signatory to the NPT and is widely believed to possess an undeclared nuclear arsenal. “The Zionist regime is the only possessor of weapons of mass destruction in the region,” he said.