Iran’s Assembly of Experts has backed withdrawing from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and overhauling the country’s defence doctrine, calling both steps essential to national security and deterrence.
In a 10-point statement released on Thursday, the body responsible for appointing, supervising and dismissing Iran’s supreme leader described the moves as an “unavoidable necessity” to strengthen the country’s deterrence capabilities.
The statement, reported by WANA news agency, pointed to repeated threats against Iran’s civilian nuclear programme and the failure of international institutions to protect its interests.
It said reconsidering Iran’s membership of the NPT and revising its defence doctrine had become a national demand, aimed at establishing stronger deterrence.
The assembly also expressed support for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Mojtaba Khamenei and recent statements by Iranian armed forces commanders. It warned against concessions to the U.S. and threatened an immediate response“without geographical limitations” to any renewed attack.
Calls for Iran to withdraw from the NPT have intensified among lawmakers and political groups following Israeli and U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities monitored by the United Nations in 2025 and 2026.
Following the strikes, Iran’s parliament passed legislation preventing inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) from accessing the bombed facilities, accusing them of espionage on behalf of foreign powers.
Iranian officials have also accused IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi of double standards, criticising his failure to condemn attacks on civilian nuclear facilities and blaming him for helping reinstate UN Security Council sanctions against Tehran.
Tensions between Tehran and the IAEA have deepened, with Iran’s mission in Vienna accusing Grossi of inconsistency over his condemnation of attacks on nuclear facilities.
The mission argued that Grossi had previously treated condemnation of strikes on Iranian nuclear sites as falling outside his responsibilities.
“Impressive; 'STRONGLY CONDEMNS' clearly can be used by the IAEA DG @rafaelmgrossi. But why is it not applied consistently in all situations?,” the mission asked in a post on X on Monday.
“When #US and Israeli regime bombs struck #Iran safeguarded peaceful nuclear facilities, unprecedented in the Agency’s history, or the Iranian nuclear personnel were assassinated, they were never condemned. In those situations, DG apparently considered condemnation to fell outside his “purview” and “work”.”
Grossi, however, has defended the IAEA’s independence, maintaining that the UN nuclear watchdog operates without external influence.
“Selective outrage isn’t a pillar of nuclear safety and safeguards. It’s a pillar of a résumé,” the Iranian mission added, continuing its criticism of Grossi.
“Institutional duty is not optional. Professionalism requires consistency.”
A new study in mice suggests the brain’s protective barrier does more than block harmful substances. It also delivers essential proteins from...
Melting glaciers, recurring droughts and dust storms are putting growing pressure on Central Asia’s water resources, agriculture and public h...
Iran’s Assembly of Experts has backed withdrawing from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and overhauling the country’s defence...
European leaders gathered in Dublin on Thursday, 12 November, for the ninth European Political Community (EPC) summit, with security, defence and energy high on the agenda. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev held talks focused on peace, trade and regional cooperation.
Iran will not let a single particle of its enriched nuclear material leave the country, and any new U.S. attack would be met with strikes on distant American bases, Iranian security chief Mohsen Rezaei has said.
Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang is stepping down amid reports linking him to a woman suspected by U.S. authorities of spying for China, throwing the future of the $4 trillion chipmaker into uncertainty.
Kazakhstan’s security service has arrested Nurlan Zhakupov, CEO of Samruk-Kazyna, the country’s sovereign wealth fund, on suspicion of corruption. Yelzhas Otynshiyev, Chairman of KTZ, Kazakhstan’s national railway firm has also been detained.
Eight people have been killed and at least 17 injured after an apartment building collapsed into a neighbouring construction site in Brooklyn, New York, as rescuers continued searching the rubble for possible survivors.
Melting glaciers, recurring droughts and dust storms are putting growing pressure on Central Asia’s water resources, agriculture and public health.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan welcomed climate commitments from world leaders at COP31 on Thursday, as he held a series of high-level meetings covering regional security, trade and energy cooperation.
Iraq is exploring the possibility of importing natural gas from Azerbaijan through Türkiye as Baghdad looks for new ways to secure fuel for its power stations and reduce its dependence on external suppliers.
Kazakhstan-linked hackers stole thousands of national security documents from Tajikistan, a cybersecurity company has said.
At least 28 people, including 10 police officers and 18 militants, were killed in violence in northwestern Pakistan, authorities said on Wednesday (11 November).
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment