As war rages, Iranian politicians push for exit from nuclear weapons treaty

Iran's parliament is considering a bill that would withdraw the country from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) as the US and Israel intensify their attacks on Iranian nuclear sites.

The move comes as Iranian politicians claim that the treaty has provided no benefits for the country, with Ebrahim Rezaei, spokesman for the national security commission of parliament, stating that the treaty has been "meaningless" for Iran. A priority piece of legislation has been uploaded to the parliamentary portal and will be reviewed soon, according to Malek Shariati, a representative from Tehran. If approved, the law would also revoke a previous agreement that restricted Iran's nuclear activities.

Iranian authorities have been critical of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), accusing the agency of taking a politicised stance and being complicit in attacks against Iranian nuclear sites. The IAEA has rejected these claims, and its director, Rafael Grossi, has stated that no war can completely destroy Iran's nuclear programme. However, Iranian politicians have expressed their discontent with Grossi's comments, with Fada-Hossein Maleki, a member of the national security commission, accusing him of acting as an "agitator" to please US President Donald Trump.

The US and Israel have significantly intensified their attacks on Iranian infrastructure, including steel factories and a university, leaving thousands of jobs at risk and causing long-term damage to Iran's economy.

Iran's parliament will review the bill to withdraw from the NPT, and if approved, it will need to be agreed upon by the Guardian Council before being implemented by the government.