Iran MPs Urge Nuclear Arms as Diplomacy Frays

Around 70–71 hardline Iranian MPs have urged a reassessment of Iran’s defence doctrine and called for developing or possessing a nuclear weapon as a deterrent, arguing it would not violate Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s 2010 fatwa. President Masoud Pezeshkian told the UN General Assembly that Iran has never sought and will never seek to build a nuclear bomb, reiterated the fatwa prohibiting such weapons, and condemned June strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. Britain, France and Germany have triggered a 30‑day UN 'snapback' process to reimpose sanctions unless Iran restores IAEA access, addresses its enriched‑uranium stockpile and enters talks, while offering up to a six‑month delay if conditions are met. Tehran subsequently suspended cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, heightening diplomatic tensions and prompting skepticism from Western governments and Israel about Iran’s intentions. US intelligence has not concluded that Iran has decided to build a nuclear weapon, and Tehran has asked the Supreme National Security Council to urgently review the parliamentarians’ proposal and provide expert analysis.