In the context of escalating war with the US and Israel, many politicians in Iran are pushing for a shocking step: Withdrawing from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).
Al Jazeera newspaper said that this move stems from the argument that continuing to stay in the treaty no longer benefits Tehran.
Mr. Ebrahim Rezaei - spokesman for the National Security Committee of the Iranian Parliament - bluntly declared: The signing of the NPT "does not bring us anything" in the context that civilian nuclear facilities are still being attacked.
A bill has been submitted to the parliamentary system, as revealed by MP Malek Shariati. The content not only proposes withdrawing from the NPT but also abolishing nuclear restrictions linked to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, and aiming to establish a new cooperation framework with partners such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) or BRICS.
However, the legal path is not simple. Even if the National Assembly passes it, the bill still needs to be approved by the Guardian Council - the power body of 12 members - before the government implements it.
The pressure to withdraw from the NPT is not new. Hardline factions in Iran have long called for the development of nuclear weapons to respond to pressure from outside. However, in the current context of direct warfare, these voices are becoming stronger than ever.
At the same time, Tehran has also increased criticism of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Iranian officials accuse the IAEA of "politicizing" and even facilitating attacks on the country's nuclear program - which the IAEA rejects.
The above accusation increases already high tensions between Iran and the international community. Previously, IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi once stated that no conventional war can completely eradicate Iran's nuclear program - unless nuclear war occurs, which he emphasized "no one wants".
Some Iranian MPs also accused Mr. Grossi of inciting the situation to "please" President Donald Trump, saying that recent statements have exceeded international standards.
If Iran actually withdraws from the NPT, the consequences will be extremely widespread. This is the foundational treaty of the global nuclear weapons control system. A large country in the Middle East abandoning this mechanism could trigger a domino effect, weakening the entire structure of nuclear non-proliferation.
More importantly, this move will almost neutralize all international monitoring channels for Iran's nuclear program.
