Iran signals exit from nuclear treaty as tensions with Israel escalate
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Tehran: In a dramatic escalation of tensions with Israel, Iran on Monday announced that its Parliament is drafting legislation to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), a move that has triggered alarm over the future of nuclear stability in the Middle East.
The development was accompanied by a statement from Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who reaffirmed Tehran’s official stance against the development of nuclear weapons. He emphasised that Iran’s nuclear programme is centred on peaceful energy production and scientific research, in accordance with a long-standing religious edict issued by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei opposing weapons of mass destruction.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran remains opposed to the development of nuclear arms, but it will pursue its legitimate right to nuclear energy and research under international law,” Pezeshkian said.
The NPT, established in 1970, is a foundational global treaty aimed at preventing the spread of nuclear weapons while promoting the peaceful use of nuclear energy and furthering disarmament. If Iran exits the treaty, it would mark a significant geopolitical shift, fuelling fears of a nuclear arms race in an already volatile region.
The announcement came amid intensifying conflict with Israel, which has entered its fourth consecutive day. Heavy missile exchanges have continued, with no indication of a ceasefire. On Monday, Israel called on civilians living near major Iranian weapons facilities to evacuate, warning that a "long list of targets remains" and military operations would press on.
Tensions between the two nations have sharply worsened since the collapse of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, following the United States’ unilateral withdrawal in 2018. Since then, Iran has ramped up its uranium enrichment capabilities. While Tehran maintains that its nuclear activities are peaceful, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has warned that Iran now possesses enough enriched uranium to potentially produce multiple nuclear warheads if it were to pursue that path.
In a related development, Iran’s judiciary on Monday announced the execution of Esmaeil Fekri, who was convicted of spying for Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency. According to the state-affiliated Mizan Online news outlet, Fekri was found guilty of “corruption on Earth” and “moharebeh” (waging war against God). The Supreme Court upheld the sentence, and the execution was carried out swiftly.
The latest escalation began on Friday when Israel launched a surprise offensive targeting Iranian nuclear and military infrastructure. Since then, at least 224 people have been reported killed in Iran, including high-ranking military officials, nuclear scientists, and civilians. Iran has responded with missile and drone attacks that have killed at least 24 people in Israel.
The rising hostilities and Iran’s potential withdrawal from the NPT have raised concerns among global powers about the prospect of a deepening crisis in the Middle East, with nuclear implications that could reverberate far beyond the region.
With IANS inputs