Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs, Majid Takht-Ravanchi, has warned that Tehran could withdraw from the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) if the UN Security Council’s snapback sanctions are triggered. This revelation was shared by Iranian lawmaker Ebrahim Rezaei after a meeting of the Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee on Tuesday. Takht-Ravanchi and Deputy Foreign Minister for International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi attended the session to discuss the latest developments regarding the 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
According to Rezaei, Takht-Ravanchi outlined that in response to the re-imposition of UN sanctions, one of Iran’s countermeasures could be withdrawing from the NPT, a move that would mark a significant escalation in the ongoing nuclear tensions. The discussions also covered recent negotiations in Geneva between Iran and the three European signatories of the deal—Britain, France, and Germany. These talks aim to salvage the JCPOA, which Iran struck with six world powers in 2015, including the United States, Russia, and China. The agreement had seen Iran agree to limit its nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of international sanctions.
However, after former US President Donald Trump withdrew from the deal in 2018 and imposed a “maximum pressure” campaign on Iran, the remaining European signatories have been accused of not fulfilling their commitments. Takht-Ravanchi noted that while talks continue, they are still far from reaching a new framework or agreement. The meeting also touched on broader regional issues, including the situations in Palestine, Lebanon, and Ukraine, underscoring Iran’s ongoing geopolitical concerns.
