Iran has warned that it may legally withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) if European countries try to reimpose UN sanctions. The warning came as European powers Britain, France, and Germany push for a vote against Iran at the UN’s nuclear watchdog board.
Iran’s ambassador to the UN, Saeed Iravani, sent a letter repeating earlier warnings. He said Iran could take “appropriate measures,” including starting the process to leave the NPT under Article X of the treaty. This warning comes amid pressure to approve a resolution accusing Iran of not cooperating over alleged undeclared nuclear activities.
If passed, the resolution could lead to reactivating UN sanctions lifted under the 2015 nuclear deal (JCPOA). These sanctions could return in October when key parts of the UN Security Council Resolution 2231 expire. Iran has rejected the recent report from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), calling it politically motivated and based on intelligence from hostile sources, including Israel.
Iran accuses the European countries of using the deal’s “snapback mechanism” as a political weapon. This mechanism allows automatic reinstatement of sanctions if Iran is found violating the deal. Iran claims this pressure comes while it is negotiating a possible alternative agreement with the US, which withdrew from the deal in 2018.
The European trio (E3) said they remain committed to diplomacy but warned they might activate the snapback if Iran violates its safeguard obligations under the NPT. Iran called the European move legally baseless and politically irresponsible, saying it could harm regional and global peace and security.