Following Israeli attacks reportedly approved by the US, Iran has signaled a potential withdrawal from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Tehran announced it has suspended nuclear negotiations with the US and is preparing to leave the treaty.

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmail Baghaei announced that the Iranian Parliament is drafting a bill to withdraw from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).

According to a report by Al Jazeera, Baghaei reiterated Iran’s opposition to weapons of mass destruction, implying that this move is intended as a political message. However, he also affirmed that Tehran remains against the development of such weapons.

The NPT, signed in 1968 and enacted in 1970, has 190 member states. It prohibits signatory countries, other than the US, Russia, China, the United Kingdom, and France, from acquiring nuclear weapons. In return, it permits them to pursue peaceful nuclear programs for electricity generation under the supervision of the United Nations (UN).

This announcement comes amid heightened military tensions and nuclear threats between Iran and Israel over the past week.

How the NPT move was triggered

Iran’s decision follows a comprehensive air assault launched by Israel on June 13. The operation, codenamed “Rising Lion,” targeted Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, military command, and senior scientists.

The attacks resulted in the deaths of the Iranian Chief of General Staff, the Commander of the Revolutionary Guards, and nine nuclear scientists. According to Iranian authorities, a total of 224 civilians were killed.

In response, Iran launched over 100 ballistic missiles and drones at Israel. The retaliatory strikes hit Tel Aviv, Haifa, and several other cities, killing at least 24 people and injuring more than 400.

US-Iran nuclear talks halted

These developments have directly impacted diplomatic efforts. Iran announced an indefinite suspension of its nuclear negotiations with the US.

Hours before the Israeli attacks, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) published a report stating that Iran was not complying with its NPT obligations. Immediately following the report, Tehran announced the activation of a third uranium enrichment facility.

What is the NPT?

The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) is an international agreement signed in 1968 and enacted in 1970. It aims to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, promote the reduction of existing arsenals, and encourage the peaceful use of nuclear energy. Iran has been a party to the treaty since 1970.

However, Iran began to gradually step back from its commitments under the agreement after US President Donald Trump withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018. The Trump administration reimposed severe sanctions on Iran, causing significant damage to its economy.

In an early morning assault, Iran launched dozens of missiles into northern and central Israel, causing attack alarms to sound across a wide area. The attack resulted in significant destruction in Tel Aviv and Haifa, with the US embassy building also sustaining damage.

Some missiles managed to bypass air defense systems, striking Tel Aviv and its surrounding areas. Iran announced that its missile attack on the city was carried out “successfully.” According to Israeli sources, at least three people were killed in the initial barrage, and residential buildings in numerous cities suffered extensive damage.

The Iranian state agency, IRNA, reported that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed “a new wave of attacks carried out with missile systems successfully and effectively hit targets in Israel.”

An Israeli army spokesperson has since announced that it is safe to leave shelters, and rescue teams have been dispatched to the impact sites. The military issued a warning against sharing images and locations from the strikes, cautioning that “Iran could use them to improve its attacks.”

Meanwhile, explosions in the city of Petah Tikva, located in Tel Aviv’s Gush Dan region, led to the severe destruction of buildings. Fire and rescue teams were immediately directed to the area. In the northern port city of Haifa, images shared on social media showed a missile striking an industrial zone that houses oil refineries and a power plant.

According to officials, eight people died in Iran’s overnight retaliation, bringing the total death toll in Israel to 24 since Iran’s retaliatory attacks began on May 13.

The Israeli Ministry of Health announced that 287 people were hospitalized overnight. One of the injured is in serious condition, while 14 others sustained moderate injuries. Among the wounded are two children being treated at the Schneider Children’s Hospital in Petah Tikva. No official information has been released regarding the condition of 15 individuals taken to Maayanei Hayeshua Hospital in Bnei Brak.

In Haifa, approximately 30 people were injured, and a fire broke out at a power plant near the port. Search and rescue operations are ongoing in the region.

Numerous missiles were spotted in the skies over Tel Aviv, with the sound of explosions reaching as far as Jerusalem. In a crowded neighborhood just a few hundred meters from the US Embassy, the windows of several hotels and homes were shattered, and a few apartment buildings were completely destroyed.

Damage to the US Embassy

US Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, announced that the US embassy branch in Tel Aviv sustained minor damage from the Iranian missile attacks. In a statement on X, Huckabee said, “Minor damage occurred due to the tremors caused by Iranian missiles landing near the Embassy building in Tel Aviv; however, no US personnel were injured.”

The ambassador also noted that all US embassies and consulates in Israel are closed, and the order to remain in shelters is still in effect.

‘The shelter door collapsed on us’

Guydo Tetelbaun, a 31-year-old chef living in Tel Aviv, described the experience to Al Arabiya, explaining that they rushed to a shelter when the sirens sounded around 4:00 AM. “We ran to the shelter across the street,” he recalled. “A few minutes later, the door collapsed on us. A few people who came in were covered in blood. When it was quiet, we went back up to our apartment, but there wasn’t much left. The walls had collapsed, and the windows were gone. The scariest part is the uncertainty… This situation could last a long time, get worse, or maybe get better. But the uncertainty is the hardest part.”

Following the attack, Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz claimed that Iran “targeted civilians” and threatened that residents of Tehran would “pay the price for it very soon.”

Iran: We applied a new method

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps stated that they employed a “new method” in the attacks, designed to turn Israel’s multi-layered air defense systems against each other. “Despite the extensive support from the US and Western countries with the most advanced defense technologies, the new methods used ensured maximum impact on targets in the occupied territories,” the IRGC said in a statement.

The first wave of retaliation from Tehran, following Israel’s morning attack on Iran, was intercepted in Jordanian airspace.

According to CNN, Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson Effie Defrin stated that Iran had launched over 100 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) toward Israeli territory. It can take up to seven hours for such drones to travel from Iran to Israel.

Defrin remarked, “All [air] defense systems are working to intercept the threats. This is a different kind of event from what we have experienced before, and we expect difficult hours ahead. We must show resilience and patience.”

Around 9:30 AM in Tel Aviv (9:30 AM TRT), an IDF official informed the press that the Israeli military had begun shooting down the Iranian drones.

Approximately two hours later, the IDF announced it had “brought the situation under control,” though it did not specify whether all the drones had been downed, according to Times of Israel correspondent Emanuel Fabian.

Jordanian Air Force jets and air defense systems shot down several missiles and drones that entered Jordanian airspace on Friday morning, as reported by the state news agency, Petra.

Citing a military source from the General Command of the Jordanian Armed Forces, Petra reported that Royal Jordanian Air Force aircraft were on “high alert” to protect the country’s airspace and ensure the safety of the nation and its citizens.

The source added that the interception operation was based on military assessments indicating a high probability that the missiles and drones could fall on Jordanian territory and populated areas, potentially causing loss of life.

According to the report, the Jordanian Armed Forces declared they would not permit any violation of the country’s airspace under any circumstances.

Following Israel’s attack on Iran, both Jordan and Iraq announced the closure of their airspace and the suspension of all flights.

Last year, the United Kingdom took action to protect Israel during Iran’s retaliatory strike. However, uncertainty surrounds whether a similar move was made this time, despite claims to the contrary. During that previous incident, the US, the United Kingdom, France, and Jordan worked together to thwart Iran’s retaliation.

British ministers and officials convened on Friday morning to determine their response. Sources familiar with the meetings, who spoke to The Guardian, initially indicated that a decision was made early in the morning for the UK not to assist in downing the drones or intervene militarily. However, they later stated that “this decision was not yet clear.”