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3. Iran Says Not Seeking Nuclear Weapons but Non-Proliferation Treaty Under Review

Iran said on Monday it was not seeking nuclear weapons but the issue of whether to remain part of the non-proliferation treaty was under review in parliament.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran has never sought and does not seek nuclear weapons," said foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei in a weekly press briefing.

"Regarding membership in this treaty, regardless of our clear position on the prohibition of all weapons of mass destruction, this is genuinely a debate taking place within public opinion and at the parliamentary level."

This development comes approximately 48 hours after a member of Iran’s parliament announced that a bill had been submitted calling for Tehran to withdraw from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). In a post on X, lawmaker Malek Shariati said the proposal had been referred to the parliament’s legal affairs deputy for review, in what appears to be an early stage of the legislative process. 

AFP