Iran nuclear policy and NPT status uncertainty

Tensions regarding Iran’s nuclear policy have escalated following US military strikes on September 2, 2026. On September 12, Mohammadreza Mohseni-Sani, a member of the Iranian parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, announced that Iran no longer considers the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) to be binding. While President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed openness to negotiations within the NPT framework, he noted that direct talks with the United States are difficult due to a breakdown in trust following the death of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

By September 13, Iranian officials continued to signal potential shifts in doctrine. Abbas Goudarzi, a spokesperson for the Iranian parliament's leadership council, stated that Tehran has the capacity to change its nuclear policy in response to external pressures. While President Pezeshkian has denied seeking nuclear weapons, other officials, such as Member of Parliament Fada Hossein Maleki, indicated that Tehran would respond to potential US nuclear actions.

During a visit to India on September 13, President Pezeshkian reiterated that the Islamic Republic is not seeking nuclear weapons, arguing that Iran would not have joined the NPT if such weapons were its goal. However, this presidential stance contrasts with legislative developments. Representative Hosseinali Hajidolegani reported that several lawmakers have signed a proposal for an expedited withdrawal from the NPT, arguing that nuclear deterrence has become an “unavoidable necessity” for the country. Hajidolegani also called for conducting necessary tests to achieve nuclear capabilities.