Iran’s Parliamentary Committee on National Security and Foreign Policy has called for Tehran to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), in the wake of U.S. airstrikes targeting three of Iran’s nuclear facilities—Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan—early Sunday morning.
Speaking with the Tasnim News Agency, committee member Ebrahim Rezaei stated that a majority of committee members had voiced strong criticism of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and called for a review of Iran’s NPT membership, including a possible suspension of cooperation with the IAEA and a full withdrawal from the treaty.
According to Rezaei, the committee held a meeting Sunday that included representatives from the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) and a deputy foreign minister, during which consensus emerged in favor of a potential withdrawal.
Calls to exit the NPT have been gaining momentum since June 13, when Israel launched its military campaign against Iran. On June 16, just days after the initial Israeli strikes, the Iranian parliament (Majlis) held a session to discuss possible withdrawal, with lawmakers preparing draft legislation that would authorize such a move. That meeting set the stage for Sunday’s extraordinary session of the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, held shortly after the U.S. strikes.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei acknowledged that the government would consider the proposal carefully. “In light of recent developments, we will take an appropriate decision. The government is obligated to enforce parliament bills, but such a proposal is still in the preparation phase. We will coordinate further steps with parliament,” he said.
If a bill to exit the NPT is passed by the Majlis, the final decision would require approval by Iran’s Supreme National Security Council and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Also on Sunday, the Majlis voted in favor of a motion to close the strategic Strait of Hormuz—through which over 20% of global oil trade passes—a proposal also debated during the June 16 parliamentary session. As with NPT withdrawal, the final decision on the strait’s closure lies with the Supreme Leader and the national security council.