French President Emmanuel Macron has issued a stern warning to Tehran, cautioning that any move to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) could push Iran towards a worst-case scenario. His remarks follow mounting speculation that Iran may abandon the treaty in response to recent United States airstrikes on its key nuclear facilities.
Speaking in Brussels, Macron welcomed the effectiveness of the American strikes on Iran’s nuclear research sites, describing them as “genuinely effective,” but warned that Tehran’s possible withdrawal from the arms control agreement could trigger severe global repercussions.
“Our genuine concern is to prevent Iran from acquiring nukes, though Tehran has also wished not to move towards making the bombs from enriched Uranium,” said Macron.
The French President also confirmed that he had briefed his American counterpart, Donald Trump, on France’s latest consultations with Tehran and said France would soon open discussions with other United Nations Security Council (UNSC) members, including Russia and China, in a bid to contain further escalation.
Growing tensions after strikes
Iranian nuclear infrastructure has been under increasing pressure after recent US strikes on the Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan facilities. In response, senior Iranian lawmakers have publicly floated the possibility of withdrawing from the NPT—a move that would mark a serious rupture in international non-proliferation norms.
Also read: France condemns Israeli attacks on Tehran’s Ervin Prison
Abbas Golroo, chairman of Iran’s parliament foreign relations committee, stated on 22 June that Iran had the sovereign right to walk away from the treaty. “After the airstrikes, we have all right to withdraw,” he declared. However, he later clarified that a formal review would precede any decision, with parliament retaining the final word.
Shortly after, the Iranian parliament voted to suspend cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), following accusations by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei that the agency had acted with bias against the Islamic Republic.
IAEA expresses regret
In Vienna, the IAEA issued a muted but clear response to Iran’s growing discontent. The agency’s chief said it would be “very regrettable” should Tehran exit the treaty. A withdrawal would severely restrict international oversight of Iran’s nuclear activity and further destabilise the region, observers warned.
Since the fall of the US-backed regime in 1989, Iran has been under layers of sanctions aimed at curbing its nuclear ambitions. While Tehran insists its nuclear enrichment is for peaceful purposes, Western powers remain unconvinced.
France, a long-standing proponent of multilateral diplomacy, has maintained that Iran should remain within the NPT framework and return to compliance with IAEA protocols, which have been weakened by Tehran’s recent legislative actions.
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