In brief
Mohsen Rezaei of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council warned that Iran could withdraw from the Treaty on the Non‑Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons if the U.S. resumed aggressive actions, insisting the U.S. ensure Iran’s full rights under the treaty before any nuclear talks. Rezaei cited the rights Iran enjoys and demanded U.S. recognition of those rights before negotiations could begin.
In Tehran, Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, warned that Iran might withdraw from the Treaty on the Non‑Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons if the United States resumed what Iran calls aggression.
Rezaei said his remarks on Iran’s state television were a clear signal that Washington’s continued pressure would be viewed as hostility, and that Iran’s international legal standing would be put in question.
He explained that the country currently holds 22 rights under the treaty, citing the protections for peaceful nuclear use, the right to seek assistance, and the right to international respect as key to its sovereignty.
Rezaei stressed that the United States must guarantee Iran’s full rights before any bilateral talks on its nuclear program could begin, framing the obligation as a prerequisite for dialogue.
"If you want to discuss the nuclear issue, we will demand our rights first. You must first recognize our rights," Rezaei said, underscoring that Iran would not start negotiations until the U.S. respected the rights outlined in the treaty.
The comments came as U.S. sanctions tightened and diplomatic retaliation over the failure to implement the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action escalated, with Iran branding the U.S. stance as a direct challenge to its sovereignty.
The Treaty on the Non‑Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, signed in 1970, binds 190 member states and establishes three pillars—non‑proliferation, disarmament, and peaceful nuclear cooperation—that Iran adheres to while seeking safeguards.
Rezaei’s call reflects Ankara’s view that Iranian security interests should not be compromised by external demands, and it is positioned against a backdrop of regional sensitivities.
Washington has warned that leaving the treaty would undermine global non‑proliferation efforts, but no official response followed the TASS report at the time of its publication.
Should the U.S. continue a strategy it views as provocative, Iran may reconsider its adherence, sparking a debate over the viability of the treaty as a binding legal framework.
Rezaei concluded that Iran would only discuss its nuclear program once the U.S. recognized and upheld the rights it claims under the NPT, signaling a potential halt in current talks.
Time will reveal whether the U.S. will meet Iran’s demands or if the two sides will seek a new arrangement that preserves the treaty’s spirit while protecting Iran’s sovereign agency.
