Iran MPs threaten nuclear treaty

BBC

Iran's parliament has threatened to force a withdrawal from the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty if Western pressure over its programme increases.
The threat came in a letter to the UN a day before key UN members discuss a tough draft resolution on the issue.

Pulling out of the NPT is the ultimate threat of non-cooperation by Iran, says our Tehran correspondent.

A withdrawal would mean the country's programme could no longer be inspected by the UN nuclear watchdog, the IAEA.

The parliament's letter, addressed to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, said that unless the row was resolved peacefully, "there will be no option for the parliament but to ask the government to withdraw its signature".

The threat was echoed by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who said the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) has no validity if it threatens the rights of a nation.