Iranian Lawmakers Debate Shift in Nuclear Doctrine and NPT Exit

Iran's Foreign Ministry has stated that the country remains committed to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, amid an intensifying debate within Iranian political bodies regarding a potential shift in defense strategy. The official clarification follows calls from lawmakers and an influential oversight body to review the national nuclear doctrine and consider withdrawing from the international accord.

Iranian parliamentarian Kamran Ghazanfari told Euronews that updating Iran's nuclear posture was necessary to establish military deterrence against threats from the United States and Israel. Ghazanfari stated that members of parliament continue to push for a bill proposing NPT withdrawal to reach the open floor, despite previous procedural delays within the legislature. He added that conventional ballistic missiles could serve as delivery vehicles for warheads, arguing that nuclear capability creates a strategic balance among opposing powers.

Former Iranian lawmaker Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh expressed skepticism regarding the effectiveness of such a move, noting that deterrence requires complex strategic balance and retaliatory capability beyond simply possessing an atomic bomb. Falahatpisheh argued that Iran's military strategy remains conventional and that departing from the NPT would damage national security interests by opening the door to future conflict. He also highlighted that the Supreme National Security Council has not approved the triple-urgency bill drafted by lawmakers to exit the treaty.

In a formal statement, the Assembly of Experts, which oversees the supreme leader's office, urged an evaluation of Iran's position regarding the treaty. The assembly declared that examining the issue of withdrawal from the NPT, reviewing the country's defence doctrine and creating the necessary deterrence has become an unavoidable necessity and has turned into a public and national demand. The broader debate has also drawn on recent statements by Supreme National Security Council secretary Mohsen Rezaei concerning domestic military assets, which Ghazanfari interpreted as referencing special weaponry, whereas Falahatpisheh maintained that Iran's defence framework remains non-nuclear.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry maintained that the country adheres to its obligations under the NPT. The United States government has not commented on the parliamentary discussions, and parliament has not yet scheduled a vote on the withdrawal proposal.

Written by Andreas Hofer andreas.hofer@alpineweekly.com