Iran: "If Europe Raises Nuclear Issue at Security Council, We Will Withdraw from NPT"

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] The Iranian government has threatened to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). If Europe, which has maintained the lifeline of the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA - Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action), turns its back on Iran and brings the Iranian nuclear issue to the UN Security Council, Iran will withdraw from the NPT.

On the 20th (local time), according to Iran's state-run IRNA, Javad Zarif, Iran's Foreign Minister, stated, "If Europe continues inappropriate actions or refers Iran's nuclear development to the UN Security Council, we will withdraw from the NPT." Minister Zarif did not disclose specific details but also warned, "Iran may take other separate measures before withdrawing from the NPT."

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

After Qasem Soleimani, commander of the Quds Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, was killed by U.S. forces, Iran announced it would no longer comply with sanctions related to uranium enrichment promised under the nuclear deal. Despite the U.S. withdrawal from the nuclear deal, European countries remaining in the agreement expressed concern over Iran's actions and initiated dispute resolution procedures under the nuclear deal.

The NPT is an agreement that prohibits nuclear weapons possession for 190 member countries except the U.S., Russia, China, the UK, and France, while allowing peaceful uses of nuclear energy such as nuclear power generation. So far, North Korea is the only country to have withdrawn from the NPT. Informal nuclear-armed countries such as India, Pakistan, and Israel have never joined the NPT.

Iran still keeps the possibility of dialogue open.

Abbas Mousavi, spokesperson for Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said, "Despite some European countries' bad intentions shown during the negotiation process, the door to negotiations is not yet closed," adding, "The ball is still in Europe's court." However, Mousavi also said, "Iran has no intention to negotiate under the conditions that European countries think."