French President Emmanuel Macron has warned that Iran should not withdraw from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), emphasizing the potential consequences of such a move. In a recent address following an EU summit in Brussels, Macron emphasized the international community’s responsibility to prevent Iran from withdrawing from the NPT. He highlighted the potential dangers of such an action, stating that the worst-case scenario would be Iran’s exit from the treaty, which could lead to a ‘collective weakening’ of global nuclear arms control efforts.
Macron expressed concern over recent US and Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, calling them ‘genuinely effective,’ but warned that the worst-case scenario would be Iran’s withdrawal from the NPT. He has also pledged to consult with the other permanent members of the UN Security Council, including the US, and to inform President Donald Trump about France’s recent communications with Tehran. Additionally, Macron emphasized the need for a ‘genuine convergence of views’ to prevent the resumption of Iran’s proliferation activities.
Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), expressed his view that Iran’s withdrawal from the NPT would be ‘very regrettable.’ Meanwhile, Abbas Golroo, the chairman of the Iranian parliament’s foreign relations committee, stated that Iran has ‘the legal right to withdraw from the treaty.’ He made this statement on June 22, the day the US struck three nuclear facilities, including the uranium enrichment site at Fordow. Golroo noted that lawmakers would review the country’s continued participation in the NPT, as the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei criticized the IAEA for failing to properly condemn the strikes.
Iran, which denies that it is pursuing a military nuclear program, maintains that it has the right to enrich uranium for civilian purposes. However, the incident has raised concerns over the potential impact on global nuclear disarmament efforts. The situation remains tense, with France and other Western powers advocating for continued adherence to the NPT, while Iran expresses its right to self-defense and non-proliferation in response to the recent strikes.