Tehran reaffirms commitment to nuclear treaty, blasts Germany’s support for Western aggression

Department of Research, Studies and International News -04-07-2025

In a firm statement on Thursday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reaffirmed Iran’s dedication to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), refuting speculation that Tehran intends to withdraw from the accord. His remarks came amid escalating tensions following unprovoked strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities by the United States and the Israeli regime.

Araghchi emphasized that Iran continues to honor its obligations under the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Safeguards Agreement, despite having recently passed legislation to restrict certain forms of cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog. The new law, passed by Iran’s Majlis (parliament), is a direct response to what Tehran calls illegal and hostile acts by Washington and Tel Aviv against its nuclear and strategic infrastructure.

“Iran remains committed to the NPT and its Safeguards Agreement,” Araghchi wrote in a post on social media. “However, in light of unlawful assaults on our safeguarded facilities, our cooperation with the IAEA will now be coordinated through the Supreme National Security Council, in line with our national security requirements.”

The foreign minister’s comments were prompted by a statement from Germany’s Federal Foreign Office, which condemned the Iranian legislative response and described it as a “devastating message.” In response, Araghchi strongly criticized Berlin’s apparent double standards and blind alignment with Tel Aviv, particularly in the wake of Germany’s endorsement of Israel’s recent military campaign against Iran.

Germany’s support for the Israeli strikes drew sharp condemnation in Tehran. Notably, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz provoked outrage after he claimed that Israel was doing “dirty work” on behalf of the West, a statement that earned praise from Israeli officials but drew fierce criticism from many quarters, especially within Iran.

Araghchi directly addressed Merz’s remarks, denouncing “Germany’s explicit support for Israel’s unlawful attacks on Iran, including protected nuclear facilities, as so-called ‘dirty work’ for the West.” He also accused Berlin of failing to uphold its obligations under the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the multilateral nuclear agreement that the U.S. unilaterally violated in 2018 under President Trump.

The JCPOA permitted Iran to enrich uranium at limited levels under rigorous international supervision. Yet Germany, alongside other Western powers, has continued to pressure Iran for zero enrichment, which Tehran sees as an unjust and one-sided demand.

“Germany’s Nazi-style support for genocide in Gaza and its historical role in Saddam Hussein’s chemical attacks on Iran are not forgotten,” Araghchi added. He recalled that firms from the former West Germany had previously supplied materials that enabled Saddam’s regime to manufacture and deploy chemical weapons during the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq War.

Despite Iran’s repeated calls for Berlin to acknowledge and investigate its past involvement in Iraq’s chemical weapons programme, Germany has refused to accept responsibility or issue a formal apology. This historical grievance continues to fuel resentment in Tehran, especially as Germany now aligns itself once again with hostile powers in targeting Iranian lives and sovereignty.

Germany, along with other European nations, expressed support for Israel during its latest military offensive, a 12-day onslaught that claimed the lives of hundreds of Iranian civilians, including nuclear scientists, high-ranking military officials, and members of their families. The U.S. joined this campaign by launching aerial attacks on three Iranian nuclear facilities. In retaliation, Iran fired missiles at a U.S. military airbase in Qatar. A ceasefire was reached shortly after.

Iranian officials have also criticized the IAEA for what they see as politicized behavior and biased silence. Instead of condemning the acts of aggression by the U.S. and Israel, the Agency issued a resolution on June 12, just a day before the Israeli strikes, accusing Iran of noncompliance with its nuclear obligations. Tehran views this as an act of complicity and a betrayal of the IAEA’s supposed neutrality.

Under international law, nuclear facilities are granted special protection due to the severe environmental and humanitarian risks associated with any potential leak of radioactive material following military attacks. Yet no condemnation has been issued by Western governments or international agencies regarding the deliberate targeting of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.

While the true extent of damage inflicted on Iran’s nuclear programme remains uncertain, the U.S. Pentagon claimed on Wednesday that its attacks have delayed Iranian progress by up to two years. Nevertheless, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi recently stated that Iran could resume uranium enrichment within months.

Iran has consistently maintained that its nuclear programme is purely civilian in nature and that it has no ambitions to develop nuclear weapons. By contrast, the Israeli regime, which has never signed the NPT, is widely believed to possess a substantial undeclared arsenal of nuclear warheads, making its attacks on Iranian facilities not only hypocritical but deeply destabilizing to regional and global security.

As Tehran stands firm against Western provocations, it continues to advocate for a rules-based international order, one not dominated by coercive power or selective outrage, but by mutual respect and adherence to international law.