Iranian politicians seek to withdraw from nuclear arms treaty amid ongoing conflict

Tehran, Iran – Iranian politicians have proposed withdrawing from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), citing a lack of benefits from remaining a signatory. The proposal, which has been uploaded to an online parliamentary portal, aims to revoke a law that adopted nuclear restrictions linked with the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.

According to officials, the legislation would also support a new international treaty on developing peaceful nuclear technologies with countries such as those in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS. The proposal must be approved by the Guardian Council, a powerful constitutional body, before being implemented by the government.

Iranian authorities have accused the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of taking a politicized stance and being complicit in attacks against Iranian nuclear sites. IAEA Director Rafael Grossi has denied these allegations, stating that no war can completely destroy Iran’s nuclear program unless it is a nuclear war with destruction on an unfathomable scale.

In recent days, Israeli and US forces have intensified their attacks on civilian nuclear sites, steel factories, and a university, causing significant damage to infrastructure. The Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant has also been targeted, prompting IAEA warnings about the potential for a major radiological incident.

The attacks have had long-term repercussions for Iranians and the country’s beleaguered economy, which is struggling with an energy crisis and inflation rates of around 70 percent. Thousands of jobs may be at stake due to damage to steel production facilities, which form the backbone of Iran’s non-oil exports.

Source: Al Jazeera