World
Iran Lawmakers Push for NPT Exit Amid Ongoing War
Several Iranian lawmakers have urged the country to withdraw from the Nuclear Non‑Proliferation Treaty (NPT). The calls come as Qatari mediators return to Tehran to revive peace talks with the United States after the war that began on February 28, 2025. Iran has repeatedly stated that it has no plans to develop nuclear weapons and that its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes. President Donald Trump has said the war will be “wrapped up” soon and that Iran cannot possess a nuclear weapon, making that a non‑negotiable condition for ending the conflict.
On Saturday, legislator Mahmoud Nabavian posted on X that Iran should exit the NPT and change its nuclear doctrine after the costs of war and sanctions. In parliament, Ebrahim Rezaei reported that ten proposals to withdraw from the treaty have been registered and are under consideration. Mohammad Javad Haj Ali Akbari also called for a review of Iran’s nuclear doctrine, describing it as a national demand during a sermon reported by state broadcaster IRIB.
Iran’s Tasnim news agency reported earlier this week that lawmakers and public figures have called for withdrawal and accused the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of aligning politically with the United States and Israel. The IAEA issued a resolution last month expressing “grave concerns” about Iran’s continued non‑compliance with its obligations under the NPT. Iran has condemned the resolution as baseless and politically motivated.
The NPT, opened for signature on July 1, 1968, entered into force on March 5, 1970. It prohibits nuclear‑weapon states from transferring weapons or assisting non‑nuclear‑weapon states in developing them, and requires non‑nuclear‑weapon states to refrain from seeking or acquiring nuclear weapons. Article 6 allows a country to withdraw with three months’ notice if extraordinary events jeopardise its supreme interests.
Iran signed the treaty in July 1968 and ratified it in February 1970 as a non‑nuclear‑weapon state. The IAEA has conducted inspections under the treaty’s safeguards system, but has not had access to key Iranian nuclear facilities since the U.S. and Israel launched a 12‑day war in June 2025 that included attacks on the Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan sites.
Iranian leaders have not yet responded to the lawmakers’ demands. On October 24, the Paydari Front, a hard‑line faction aligned with conservative groups, also called on parliament to withdraw from the NPT. The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that lawmakers are preparing a bill to withdraw, and spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the government would coordinate with parliament in the later stages.
Trump has repeatedly stated that Iran “cannot have a nuclear weapon” and has said the war will end soon. In a speech in Daytona Beach, Florida, he reiterated that the United States would never give Iran a nuclear weapon. In an interview with KCMO radio, he said the war would be “wrapped up soon” but that Washington needs a guarantee that Iran will never possess a nuclear weapon.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned President Trump on X that its armed forces are monitoring U.S. movements in the region and would retaliate significantly if the U.S. and Israel launch another attack.
Before the war began, Tehran and Washington were engaged in indirect nuclear negotiations mediated by Oman. At talks in Geneva, Oman said both sides had made “significant progress” and that Iran had agreed to reduce its nuclear stockpiles to the lowest level possible. The war has since halted those negotiations.
Diplomatic efforts to de‑escalate the conflict are ongoing. Qatari mediators, in coordination with U.S. officials, returned to Tehran to revive the June ceasefire that collapsed over control of the Strait of Hormuz. A letter from U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance to Iran’s security chief Mohsen Rezaei proposing renewed peace talks was delivered to Tehran. Pakistani military spokesman Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said his country is “cautiously optimistic” about mediation efforts.
The situation remains uncertain. U.S. Central Command briefed President Trump on options for renewed attacks, and U.S. Senator Chris Murphy described the war plan as “insane.” Washington has warned Gulf allies to prepare for potential military action after the November 3 midterm elections. Analysts say that if Trump loses both houses, he may be forced to pursue a more active international agenda, potentially focusing on the Iran conflict.
Iran’s seven‑point plan for ending the war includes an end to the U.S. naval blockade of its ports in the Strait of Hormuz, lifting of sanctions, and a guarantee that there will be no further attacks. Iran has expressed distrust of U.S. commitments, citing past attacks during negotiations.
Overall, the calls for withdrawal from the NPT reflect growing frustration among Iranian lawmakers over the war’s costs and the perceived lack of progress in diplomatic negotiations. The outcome of these calls and the broader diplomatic efforts will shape the future of the conflict and Iran’s nuclear policy.