Iran says lawmakers mulling leaving Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Iran’s parliament is reviewing a possible exit from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei says, while insisting Tehran has not and will not seek nuclear weapons.

Iranian lawmakers had also raised the possibility of leaving the NPT, which recognizes the right to develop, research, produce, and use nuclear energy as long as nuclear weapons are not pursued, after the 12-day war last June when Israel and the US struck Iranian nuclear facilities.

“What is the benefit of joining a treaty in which bullying parties at the international level not only do not allow us to benefit from its rights but also attack our nuclear facilities?” Baghaei says, adding that Tehran would respect the treaty as long as it is a member.