Iran may quit nuclear treaty amid Israel tensions

Tehran

Amid growing tensions with Israel, Iran announced Monday that its Parliament is preparing a bill to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). This has sparked global concern about rising nuclear risks in the Middle East.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said the country still opposes nuclear weapons and follows a religious ruling by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei that bans weapons of mass destruction. He stressed that Iran’s nuclear program is for peaceful energy and scientific research, in line with international law.

The NPT, in effect since 1970, aims to stop nuclear weapons from spreading while supporting peaceful nuclear use and disarmament. Leaving the treaty would signal a major escalation in regional tensions.

The announcement comes after days of missile exchanges between Israel and Iran. Israel has warned of more strikes and urged people near Iranian weapons sites to evacuate. Since the collapse of the 2015 nuclear deal, Iran has increased its uranium enrichment. The IAEA has said Iran now has enough enriched uranium to build nuclear weapons if it chooses to.

In a related move, Iran executed Esmaeil Fekri, accused of spying for Israel’s Mossad. He was convicted of corruption on Earth and waging war against God.

The current conflict began Friday when Israel launched surprise attacks on Iran’s nuclear and military sites. Since then, at least 224 people have died in Iran, including scientists and military officials, while Iranian attacks have killed 24 people in Israel.