Iran’s parliament prepares bill to exit nuclear treaty after Israeli strikes

June 16, 2025 by News Desk

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In a dramatic escalation following Israeli strikes on its nuclear facilities, Iran’s Mejlis (unicameral parliament) is reportedly preparing a bill to withdraw from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), a move that could significantly reshape the regional and global nuclear landscape.

The NPT, signed in 1968 and in force since 1970, aims to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and promote peaceful nuclear use. Iran, a signatory since 1970, agreed not to develop nukes and to allow inspections, though it’s faced accusations of violations.

Deputy Rouhollah Izadkhah confirmed on Iranian SNN television that the parliament is actively drafting legislation to facilitate Iran’s exit from the NPT. He also stated that withdrawal from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is under serious consideration.

“The minimal necessary measure is withdrawal from the NPT. We are currently preparing a bill for this in parliament, and even withdrawal from the IAEA is being discussed,” said Izadkhah, signaling mounting frustration over what Iranian lawmakers see as the failure of international treaties to ensure national security.

Earlier, Ebrahim Rezai, a member of the Mejlis’ Committee on National Security and Foreign Policy, called for Iran’s withdrawal from the NPT, arguing that the agreement had become “a threat to Iran’s security rather than a safeguard.”

The announcement comes in the wake of Operation Rising Lion, launched by Israel on the night of June 13, which specifically targeted Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. Iran responded within 24 hours, and both sides exchanged further strikes on June 14 and the night of June 15. While both countries reported casualties and confirmed damage to several sites, they have downplayed the extent of the destruction.

Iran’s nuclear journey began in the 1950s under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi with support from the United States. It joined the IAEA in 1958, signed the NPT in 1968, and ratified it in 1970. After the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the program was initially halted but resumed in the late 1980s, with significant advancements over the following decades.

If Iran follows through with this legislative initiative, it would mark a pivotal shift, potentially freeing Tehran from legal obligations under the NPT and intensifying already fragile regional tensions.