Iran says its parliament is drafting a bill to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Iranian lawmakers are in the early stages of drafting a bill that could lead the country to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), the Foreign Ministry said on Monday. However, officials reiterated Iran’s continued opposition to developing nuclear weapons.

“In view of recent events, an appropriate decision will be made. While the government is obligated to implement parliamentary legislation, this proposal is still being prepared, and we will coordinate with parliament at later stages,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei told reporters at a press conference.

The NPT, which Iran ratified in 1970, allows signatories to develop civilian nuclear energy while committing them to refrain from pursuing nuclear weapons and cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the U.N.’s nuclear watchdog.

Tensions have escalated after Israel launched airstrikes on Iran last week, claiming Tehran was nearing the capability to build a nuclear bomb. Iran has consistently maintained that its nuclear program is intended for peaceful purposes. However, the IAEA recently stated that Iran is in breach of its NPT obligations.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reaffirmed on Monday that nuclear weapons remain prohibited under a religious decree issued by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

State media reported that no final decision has been made by parliament regarding an NPT withdrawal, with one lawmaker confirming the proposal is still in its preliminary legal stages.

Baghaei emphasized that incidents like Israel’s attack have a direct influence on Iran’s strategic decision-making. He suggested the IAEA resolution passed before the strikes contributed to the escalation. “Those who supported the resolution paved the way for the attack,” he said.

He also criticized Israel, saying, “The Zionist regime is the only holder of weapons of mass destruction in the region.” Israel, which has never signed the NPT, is widely believed to possess nuclear weapons, though it maintains a policy of ambiguity.