Iran threatens to withdraw from nuclear non-proliferation treaty
Published: Tuesday, Dec 3rd 2024, 21:40
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In the event of the reintroduction of strict UN sanctions, Iran's government sees withdrawal from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty as a possible reaction. Deputy Foreign Minister Madschid Tacht-Rawantschi brought this up at a meeting with representatives from Germany, France and Great Britain in Geneva on Friday, the Isna news agency reported. It referred to Ebrahim Resai, spokesman for the National Security Commission of the Iranian parliament.
The meeting was about an exchange of views with the Europeans, Resai emphasized. "We did not negotiate in Geneva because there was no text that we could have actually negotiated," Irna quoted him as saying. "Our aim was to first define the framework for the talks. We are still a long way from actual negotiations."
Increasingly open discussions about the nuclear program
The West and Israel have repeatedly accused the Islamic Republic of seeking nuclear weapons in the past. The Vienna nuclear pact was therefore intended to restrict the nuclear program and ease sanctions in return, but was unilaterally terminated by then US President Donald Trump in 2018. Since then, the Islamic Republic has no longer strictly adhered to the conditions.
In view of the military tensions with Israel, the nuclear issue is increasingly being discussed openly in Iran. While some politicians are calling for nuclear weapons as a deterrent, the government firmly rejects such considerations and refers to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's religious ban on weapons of mass destruction. The nuclear program is used purely for civilian purposes.
Iran's government wants to prevent snapback mechanism
Just a few days ago, Tehran announced plans to install thousands of additional centrifuges for uranium enrichment in its nuclear facilities and to put existing ones into operation. This was the government's response to a resolution by the International Atomic Energy Agency, which accused Iran of a lack of cooperation and transparency.
The reintroduction of old UN sanctions, also known as the snapback mechanism, allows sanctions to be automatically reinstated if Iran violates the nuclear agreement. The accusations do not have to be unanimously accepted by all signatory states, which facilitates activation. This is perceived by Iran as unilateral pressure.
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