Iran Says 'Never Sought, Doesn't Seek' Nukes: How Does A Nation Become Nuclear Power?

Last Updated:March 30, 2026, 20:55 IST

The West Asia conflict highlights a friction in international law: the distinction between those permitted to hold the nuclear weapons and those legally forbidden from doing so

Iran on Monday said it has “never sought" and “doesn’t seek" nuclear weapons, but is reviewing its nuclear treaty amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia. 

This statement by Iran underlines that the escalating tensions in the region could lead to a probable crisis when it comes to global nuclear governance.

Tehran’s announcement comes amid a backdrop of military strikes by Israel and the United States against Iranian infrastructure. The escalating tension also highlights a friction in international law: the distinction between those permitted to hold the world’s most destructive weapons and those legally forbidden from doing so.

With Iran’s domestic discourse shifting toward weaponisation and Israel, which is set on destroying Iran’s alleged nuclear capacity, maintaining a policy of strategic ambiguity, the “rules-based order" that has governed the atomic age for over half a century appears increasingly fragile.

WHAT IS THE NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY?

The Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), established in 1968, serves as a primary pillar of collective security in international law.

The NPT’s core mission is to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, promote total disarmament, and facilitate the peaceful use of nuclear energy. Its legitimacy is grounded in the principle of state voluntarism – the idea that a sovereign state must explicitly consent to limit its military capabilities.

It creates a tiered system that distinguishes between nuclear-weapon states and non-nuclear weapon states. This asymmetrical compromise was designed during the Cold War to prevent an uncontrolled proliferation of nuclear powers, which was viewed as a major threat to global stability.

Under this framework, non-nuclear weapon states agree never to acquire such armaments, while nuclear-weapon states commit to not transferring technology and to pursuing negotiations for eventual disarmament in “good faith".

News world Iran Says 'Never Sought, Doesn't Seek' Nukes: How Does A Nation Become Nuclear Power?

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