Iran’s parliament is prepared to withdraw from the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) if the United Nations reimposes international sanctions, senior lawmaker Manouchehr Mottaki said on Wednesday, according to the state-affiliated Defapress news agency.
The warning follows moves by several European countries to signal their readiness to trigger the UN “snapback” mechanism, allowing for the restoration of sanctions on Iran before the measure’s expiration in October.
The mechanism was originally part of the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which Iran says the West has undermined since the U.S. withdrew from the accord in 2018.
Mottaki’s remarks underscore escalating tensions between Tehran and Western powers amid disputes over Iran’s nuclear activities, which the West suspects may have military dimensions, allegations Iran denies.
Withdrawal from the NPT would mark a major shift in Iran’s nuclear policy, removing it from a key international treaty designed to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, and could further isolate Tehran diplomatically while heightening regional security concerns.
Written By Rodney Mbua
