Baghaei says Iran still weighing NPT exit, steps taken 'most minimal'
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Iran is accusing the world of ignoring "Israel’s" secret nuclear arsenal, calling it the main obstacle to a WMD-free West Asia and a threat to global security.
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Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei speaking in a press conference on October 20, 2024. (MFA.IR)
Iran has not yet made a definitive decision on whether to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), the Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Monday.
At his weekly press briefing, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei reaffirmed Iran’s current stance, noting that the country “remains a member of the NPT and committed to the safeguards agreement.” He clarified that while the idea of withdrawal “has been raised in parliament at a limited level,” no binding decision has been made.
Baghaei also criticized the international community for its silence on "Israel’s" nuclear capabilities. “This is a fact. This regime is the only obstacle to the realization of a West Asian region free of weapons of mass destruction, and it is the only regime in the region that is not a member of the Non-Proliferation Treaty,” he said.
He added that "Israel is also a dangerous entity that commits genocide and occupies the territory of two countries, and is a serious and immediate threat to global peace and security.”
Iran’s parliament submits emergency bill to withdraw from NPT
Following the announcement by the E3 (France, Germany, and the United Kingdom) to trigger the snapback mechanism on sanctions against Tehran, Iran’s Parliament has drafted and submitted an emergency bill on August 29 proposing a full withdrawal from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
At the time, Hossein-Ali Haji-Deligani, Deputy Chairman of the Article 90 Committee of Iran’s Parliament, confirmed that the bill will be uploaded to the parliamentary system on the following day and subsequently reviewed in an open session.
“As we had previously stated, these countries were already implementing the consequences of the snapback mechanism, including sanctions against us. There is nothing new in this.” Haji-Deligani told Iran's Tasnim.
Steps taken so far 'the most minimal'
He further stated that the steps taken were “the most minimal response by Parliament to the recent action of the European countries, and further regret-inducing measures are also on the agenda.”
The proposed legislation comes amid growing frustration in Tehran over the West’s repeated failure to honor agreements and ease pressure on Iran. Haji-Deligani noted that Iran’s Parliament is determined to pursue a firm and deterrent course of action.
According to the lawmaker, the activation of the snapback mechanism effectively reinstates previous sanctions but introduces no new developments. Nonetheless, he emphasized that Iran’s response would be strategic and assertive.
Criticizing continued dialogue with Western countries, Haji-Deligani asserted, “Given what these three countries have done, negotiations with them are now meaningless. Dialogue will only embolden them."
“We witnessed that during negotiations with the arrogant US, a brutal war was launched against our country by Israel, and the US bombed our peaceful nuclear sites,” he added. “Our people clearly know that talks with these countries have brought nothing but more pressure. Therefore, all dialogue must be suspended until these countries abandon their double standards.”
The emergency bill signals a potential turning point in Iran-E3 talks and highlights a significant policy shift in Tehran’s approach to its nuclear file. The move could impact the broader framework governing the Iranian nuclear program and regional diplomacy.
Pezeshkian to visit New York
In a different context, the spokesperson of the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is set to visit New York, United States.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian will participate in the meeting to be held on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the United Nations (UN) establishment, Baghaei said on Monday.
“According to the law, America has no right to restrict the Iranian delegation’s trip to New York, but they are doing so,” Esmaeil Baghaei added..
