Several Iranian lawmakers have called for the country’s withdrawal from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), as United States President Donald Trump says the war on Iran will be “wrapped up” soon.
asserted
war → call → Iran
The lawmakers’ demands come as Qatari mediators returned to Tehran this week to mediate peace talks with the US.
asserted
mediators → come → US
Recommended Stories
list of 3 items- list 1 of 3Senators briefed on Trump’s ‘insane’ plan to restart war on Iran
- list 2 of 3Oman rescues 25 from burning oil tanker in Strait of Hormuz
- list 3 of 3Pakistan army ‘cautiously optimistic’ about US-Iran mediation efforts
asserted
army → brief → efforts
Before the US and Israel’s war on Iran began on February 28, Washington and Tehran had already been engaging in indirect nuclear negotiations mediated by Oman.
asserted
Washington → begin → Oman
Iran had also stated on numerous occasions that it had no plans to develop nuclear weapons.
asserted
it → state → weapons
Trump has also repeatedly stated that Iran “cannot have a nuclear weapon”, making it a non-negotiable condition for ending the ongoing conflict and securing a permanent deal.
asserted
it → state → deal
Iran, however, has demanded certain conditions be met before it will talk again about its nuclear programme – including an end to the US naval blockade of its ports in and around the Strait of Hormuz, the lifting of sanctions and a guarantee there will be no more attacks.
asserted
it → demand → sanctions
The war, which is entering its ninth month, has upended global energy and financial markets with the closure of Hormuz.
asserted
which → enter → Hormuz
On Friday, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi hit back at Friedrich Merz after the German chancellor said the war on Iran has added more than 100 billion euros ($112bn) to Europe’s energy costs.
asserted
war → hit → costs
In a post on X, Araghchi noted that Merz had “hailed” the US and Israel’s attacks on Iran in June of last year, when he said: “This is the dirty work Israel is doing for all of us.”
The Iranian foreign minister then warned that any renewed attacks could come at a far higher cost for Europe.
“100bn Euro is nothing compared to the Earth-shattering blow Iran’s Powerful Armed Forces will deal against those who dare harm our people,” Araghchi wrote.
uncertain
Araghchi → note → people
“Red lines are a thing of the past,” he added.
asserted
he → add → past
Could Iran withdraw from the NPT, and what would that mean for diplomatic efforts to end the war?
uncertain
that → withdraw → war
Here’s what we know:
Which Iranian lawmakers are calling for withdrawal from the NPT, and why?
asserted
lawmakers → know → NPT
On Saturday, Iranian legislator Mahmoud Nabavian called for Iran to withdraw from the NPT and change its nuclear doctrine, adding to similar demands from other lawmakers and public figures.
“Now that we have paid the heavy costs of war and sanctions, it is time for the Iranian nation to withdraw from the NPT treaty and change the nuclear doctrine,” he wrote on X.
asserted
he → call → X.
In parliament, Ebrahim Rezaei, a member of the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, said 10 proposals to withdraw from the treaty had been registered, and withdrawal was under consideration, according to the Fars news agency.
uncertain
withdrawal → say → agency
Mohammad Javad Haj Ali Akbari, an Iranian politician and scholar, also called for a review of Iran’s nuclear doctrine, describing it as a “national demand” during his sermon on Friday, state broadcaster IRIB reported.
asserted
IRIB → call → Friday
He said the demand was not a hasty or emotional reaction, but reflected Iranians’ awareness of what he described as US failures to honour commitments.
asserted
he → say → commitments
Separately, in a report earlier this week, Iran’s Tasnim news agency reported calls for Iran to withdraw from the NPT and accused the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of becoming politically aligned with the US and Israel.
asserted
Iran → report → US
Last month, an IAEA resolution expressed “grave concerns” about Iran’s “continued noncompliance” with its obligations under the NPT, to which it is a signatory.
asserted
it → express → which
But the IAEA has not had access to key nuclear facilities in Iran since the US and Israel launched a 12-day war against the country in June 2025, which included attacks on key Iranian nuclear sites, such as the Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan facilities.
asserted
which → have → facilities
Iran has condemned the IAEA resolution, calling it baseless and politically motivated.
asserted
Iran → condemn → it
The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons is a landmark international treaty aimed at preventing the spread of nuclear weapons and promoting peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
asserted
Treaty → aim → energy
It was opened for signature on July 1, 1968, and entered into force on March 5, 1970.
asserted
It → open → March
The treaty was negotiated by the US, the Soviet Union and the United Kingdom.
asserted
treaty → negotiate → US
Under the NPT, nuclear-weapon states agree not to transfer nuclear weapons or assist non-nuclear-weapon states in developing them.
asserted
states → agree → them
Non-nuclear-weapon states also agree not to seek or acquire nuclear weapons.
asserted
states → agree → weapons
The treaty views nuclear-weapon states as those which manufactured and tested a nuclear weapon or other nuclear device before January 1, 1967.
asserted
which → view → January
The treaty also paves a path for these original nuclear weapons powers to phase out their arsenals.
asserted
powers → pave → arsenals
Non-signatories include India, Pakistan, Israel and South Sudan.
asserted
signatories → include → India
The treaty supports the right of all signatories to access nuclear technology for peaceful purposes under safeguards overseen by the United Nations nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
asserted
treaty → support → watchdog
Among the 11 articles of the treaty, one allows a country to withdraw with three months’ notice “if it decides that extraordinary events … have jeopardised the supreme interests of its country”.
asserted
events → allow → country
Iran signed the NPT in July 1968 and ratified it in February 1970 as a nonnuclear-weapon state.
asserted
Iran → sign → state
It has since stated consistently that its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes and research only.
asserted
programme → state → purposes
The IAEA has conducted inspections under the treaty’s safeguards system.
asserted
IAEA → conduct → system
Iranian leaders have not yet responded to demands from lawmakers to withdraw from the NPT.
asserted
leaders → respond → NPT
But on October 24, according to Iranian media reports, the Paydari Front, a hardline faction aligned with conservative groups, also called on parliament to withdraw from the NPT.
uncertain
Front → accord → NPT
Withdrawal from the NPT would not automatically mean that Iran would build a nuclear weapon.
asserted
Iran → mean → weapon
Officially, the Iranian government’s position on not seeking nuclear arms remains unchanged.
asserted
position → seek → arms
In June, Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that lawmakers are preparing a bill to withdraw Tehran from the NPT.
asserted
lawmakers → note → NPT
“In light of recent developments, we will take an appropriate decision,” ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei had said at a news conference.
asserted
Baghaei → take → conference
…and 60 more, not listed.
The Aporia
