Iran quits nuclear treaty, denies seeking WMDs
Iran is set to withdraw from the nuclear treaty, asserting that it is not pursuing weapons of mass destruction. On Monday, Esmaeil Baghaei, spokesperson for the foreign ministry, confirmed that Iran’s parliament is in the process of drafting legislation aimed at withdrawing from the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). According to Reuters, he stated that Iran “remains opposed to developing weapons of mass destruction.”
Before dawn on Friday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) initiated “Operation Rising Lion”, an air-and-missile offensive targeting nuclear, missile, and military assets throughout Iran. Israeli commanders indicated that the pre-emptive strikes aimed to thwart Iran’s “imminent capacity” to develop a bomb. Over 100 high-value sites — encompassing facilities in proximity to Natanz and Isfahan — were targeted. Satellite images subsequently revealed significant devastation, although Iran’s main uranium-enrichment facility seemed to have avoided substantial harm.
In a matter of hours, Iran launched successive waves of ballistic missiles and armed drones targeting Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Jerusalem. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on Sunday: “If Israeli aggression stops, our responses will stop.” However, should they persist, they ought to anticipate an even more formidable response. He further warned Washington, London, and Paris that “if they assist in blocking our retaliation — via air bases, warships or intelligence — their regional assets will be targeted”. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reiterated the threat, vowing “severe punishment” and charging Israel with pushing the region toward full-scale war.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) gathers in Vienna on Monday to assess the repercussions of Israel’s strikes and to analyze the implications of the violence on the oversight of Iran’s near-weapons-grade uranium. The session comes in the wake of last week’s board vote determining that Tehran is in non-compliance with its safeguards. In the wake of that ruling, Israeli munitions targeted nuclear sites, resulting in the deaths of several scientists and impacting areas within Tehran’s residential core.
According to US officials, Trump obstructed a proposal to eliminate Khamenei. As reported by Reuters, two senior US officials indicated that President Donald Trump has recently exercised his veto power against an Israeli proposal aimed at the assassination of Ayatollah Khamenei. An official inquired, “Have the Iranians killed an American yet?” No. Until they do, we are not even discussing the pursuit of the political leadership. Leaders from the US and Israel have maintained nearly continuous communication following the strikes that occurred on Friday, according to the sources.
On Sunday, Trump asserted on his Truth Social account on X that he “never received credit” for resolving international conflicts. He referenced his purported contribution to alleviating tensions between India and Pakistan and declared, “Likewise, we will have PEACE, soon, between Israel and Iran!” Numerous calls and meetings are currently occurring. The president stated, “MAKE THE MIDDLE EAST GREAT AGAIN!”
As missile sirens echo through the Iranian capital, the Indian embassy, in collaboration with local authorities, has initiated the relocation of students from Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, and Iran University of Medical Sciences to more secure locations. Officials informed The Hindu that the primary objective is to evacuate Indian nationals from Tehran “as quickly as possible” due to concerns over potential escalation.
