Iran calls US biggest threat to NPT, warns of stronger defence push

Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei has called the United States the “greatest threat” to the global nuclear non-proliferation regime, accusing Washington of undermining the very treaty it claims to defend.According to news agency ANI, Baghaei made the remarks during a press briefing on Monday, responding to threats by the United States targeting Iran’s remaining nuclear facilities. He argued that threatening military action against a country could undermine the principles of nuclear non-proliferation and encourage states to reconsider their security policies.“The United States is actually the greatest threat to the nuclear non-proliferation regime,” Baghaei said. “The very expression of a threat against a country and the implicit threat that we may use a certain weapon is itself an encouragement to violate the Non-Proliferation Treaty.”He further criticised the silence of international institutions, including the United Nations, the UN Security Council and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), over what he described as Washington’s hostile rhetoric against Tehran.“The threats being raised against us will surely make us more determined to strengthen our capabilities in our own defence,” Baghaei said, warning that American threats could set a dangerous international precedent.Addressing questions about whether Tehran could reconsider its nuclear doctrine in response to military threats, Baghaei acknowledged that discussions on the issue were taking place within Iranian society and among sections of its political establishment. He linked the debate to years of American pressure and targeted assassinations of individuals associated with Iran’s nuclear programme.“Iran’s nuclear program has been and remains absolutely peaceful, and this has been proven many times,” he said.Baghaei also confirmed that Iran had no immediate plans to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), maintaining that Tehran continued to recognise its obligations under the international agreement.“At the decision-making level, we are still a member of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), and as long as Iran is a member of this treaty, it considers itself bound and obliged to comply with the obligations contained in that document,” he said.The NPT, which entered into force in 1970, seeks to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy and advance nuclear disarmament. It recognises five nuclear-weapon states, the United States, Russia, China, France and the United Kingdom.