Iran's threat to withdraw from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons in case of a US pullout from the 2015 nuclear deal does not mean that it will seek to divert its nuclear activities toward military purposes, says a former senior official.
In recent days, the head of the Supreme National Security Council, Ali Shamkhani and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said leaving the NPT, is an option if US President Donald Trump walks away from the historic nuclear accord signed between Tehran and the six world powers, as the treaty may no longer serve Tehran’s interests.
Looming Deadline
Trump has said unless European allies “fix” what he claims are "terrible flaws" in the accord by May 12, he will reimpose US economic sanctions on Iran, which would be a severe blow to the pact that put curbs on Iran's nuclear program in return for the lifting of international economic sanctions.
The objective of the NPT, which took effect in 1970, is to halt the spread of nuclear weapons-making capability and guarantee the right of all members to develop nuclear energy for peaceful ends.
Iran has been a non-nuclear-weapon state party to the treaty since 1970 and has maintained that its nuclear program is peaceful.
NPT Reputation
In an article published by the Iranian Diplomacy website on Sunday, Alireza Akbari, a former deputy defense minister, said, "Iran's threat to quit the NPT does not signal an intention to move toward developing nuclear weapons, but rather puts the entire integrated international mechanism for nuclear non-proliferation at risk of being discredited."
He argues that nuclear-armed states, particularly in the West, need such a mechanism for the survival of the NPT and its significance in the eyes of the world so that they can maintain their “strategic supremacy”.
Well-Timed Move
Iran’s threat to leave the NPT could make the US think twice about pulling out of the deal, Akbari says, adding that "in this face-off, the other side should be aware that they should take our stance seriously even if they themselves are bluffing."
He added that a confrontational approach definitely has adverse consequences, but the path to "engagement" usually goes through the threat of "conflict".
"Making unexpected threats can upset the other side's planning in a surprising manner just before they are about to make a decision."
Legal Move
Iran has fulfilled all its obligations under the 2015 nuclear agreement while Washington's non-performance is obvious, the international affairs analyst said, adding that the NPT acknowledges the right of all member states to leave the treaty if their interests are endangered.
"Each party shall, in exercising its national sovereignty, have the right to withdraw from the treaty if it decides that extraordinary events, related to the subject matter of this treaty, have jeopardized the supreme interests of its country. It shall give notice of such withdrawal to all other parties to the treaty and to the United Nations Security Council three months in advance," reads Article 10 of the NPT.
Akbari says the country's senior officials should be trusted to decide matters concerning national interests and their positions should be assessed in the long term rather than in one case.
Possible Options
In addition to leaving the NPT, Iran has said it is mulling over other options if the deal collapses, including ramping up its civilian nuclear program. Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has issued a fatwa, or religious ruling, against production, stockpiling and use of nuclear weapons, saying these are against Islam.
At a recent nuclear non-proliferation conference in Geneva, top UN disarmament officials made statements in support of the Iran nuclear deal and expressed concern over the anticipated US exit.
