Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Specialized commission does not reach consensus on suspending Additional Protocol to NPT

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, Oct 2, IRNA
Majlis-Additional Protocol
Majlis Special Commission on National Security and Foreign Policy on Sunday debated a bill on suspending Additional Protocol to Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and did not reach consensus for legal considerations.

Rapporteur of the commission Kazem Jalali told IRNA that the debate was adjourned to the next session of the specialized commission.

"Extensive debate was held in today's session on national nuclear program, fuel cycle, defending Iranian rights in the context of Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and implementing or suspension of Additional Protocol to NPT," Jalali said.

"Several MPs believed that since Majlis has not ratified the Additional Protocol to NPT and the government has enforced it voluntarily, it is up to the government whether or not to observe it," he said.

"Several other commissioners said that Majlis has not recognized the Additional Protocol to NPT and there is no place to suspend a subject which has not been ratified so far."
Iranian government signed Additional Protocol to NPT which grants intrusive inspection to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to prove civilian nature of national nuclear program.

IAEA charter specified Additional Protocol to NPT as "objective guarantee" to the international community to ensure that civilian nuclear programs not to be diverted from context of Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Majlis passed a motion in reaction to anti-Iran resolution of IAEA Board of Governors. Iran dismissed the resolution as "void of legal foundation" and said it will not overlook national rights enshrined by NPT.

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