MAINS Current Affairs includes Iranian Parliament Mulls Possible Exit from Nuclear Treaty & 14th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization

International

1. Iranian Parliament Mulls Possible Exit from Nuclear Treaty

Context

Iran’s Parliament is reportedly reviewing a proposal to withdraw from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), according to statements by the Iranian Foreign Ministry. Recent reporting indicates that lawmakers are actively discussing a possible vote if the geopolitical situation worsens.

This development has major implications for West Asian security, global nuclear non-proliferation, and India’s strategic interests.

What is the NPT?

The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons is the cornerstone of the global nuclear order.

• Signed in 1968
• Came into force in 1970
• Objective:
  • prevent spread of nuclear weapons
  • promote peaceful nuclear energy
  • pursue disarmament

Three Pillars of the NPT

1. Non-Proliferation

• Non-nuclear weapon states agree not to acquire nuclear weapons.

2. Peaceful Use of Nuclear Energy

• Countries are allowed to develop civilian nuclear programmes under safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

3. Disarmament

• Recognised nuclear powers are expected to negotiate in good faith toward disarmament.

Countries Outside the NPT

• The following countries are not signatories:
  • India
  • Pakistan
  • Israel
  • North Korea (withdrew later)

Why is Iran Considering Withdrawal?

1. Strategic Pressure

• Recent military escalation involving the U.S. and Israel has intensified domestic pressure in Iran.
• Iranian hardliners argue that continued treaty membership does not protect Iran’s rights or security.

2. Collapse of JCPOA Framework

• The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action has effectively weakened after the U.S. withdrawal in 2018.
• This led Iran to gradually resume enrichment activities.

3. Sanctions and IAEA Disputes

• Snapback sanctions and disputes over inspections have further strained trust.

Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) 2015

Participants:

• Iran
• P5+1: Five permanent members of the UN Security Council (China, France, Russia, UK, U.S.) plus Germany.
• EU:Participated in negotiations.

Iran’s Commitments

• Nuclear Restrictions: Iran agreed not to produce highly enriched uraniumor plutonium for nuclear weapons and to ensure its nuclear facilities focus on civilian purposes.
• Centrifuge Limits:Iran limited the number, type, and level of its centrifuges, and reduced its stockpile of enriched uranium.
  • Uranium enriched to 5% is for nuclear power; 20% for research or medical use; 90% for weapons.
• Monitoring and Verification:Iran agreed to allow the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) unfettered access to nuclear facilities, including undeclared sites.

What Other Signatories Agreed To:

• Sanctions Relief: The EU, UN, and U.S. agreed to lift nuclear-related sanctions on Iran, but U.S. sanctions on ballistic missiles, terrorism support, and human rights remained.
  • The U.S. lifted sanctions on oil exports but kept restrictions on financial transactions.
  • UN arms and missile bans on Iran were liftedafter five years, provided the IAEA confirmed Iran’s nuclear activities remained civilian.
• Violation of the Deal: If any signatory suspects Iran is violating the deal, the UN Security Council can vote on whether to continue sanctions relief.
  • This “snapback” mechanism remains in effect for ten years, after which the UN sanctions are set to be permanently removed.
• Trump’s Withdrawal: In 2018, President Trump withdrew the U.S. from the deal, leading Iran to resume nuclear activities.
• Iran’s Nuclear Activity:In 2023, Iran enriched uranium to near weapons-grade levels, raising international concerns.
  • Key provisions of the JCPOA began to expire by late 2023.

Current Concern

Recent reports suggest that influential political groups inside Iran are openly discussing suspending or leaving the NPT, which was once considered only a bargaining tactic. (Reuters)

This raises fears of:

• nuclear weaponisation
• regional arms race
• further military escalation

Global Implications

1. Threat to Nuclear Non-Proliferation Regime
   • Iran’s exit would seriously weaken the credibility of the NPT system.

2. West Asian Instability

• Could trigger responses from:
  • Israel
  • Saudi Arabia
  • S. allies in the Gulf

3. Oil Market Volatility

• Heightened conflict in West Asia may affect energy supplies through the Strait of Hormuz.

Implications for India

• For India, the issue is significant because of:
  • energy security
  • diaspora in Gulf region
  • Chabahar connectivity interests
  • regional stability

Way Ahead

• Lawmakers in Iran have in the past raised the idea of leaving the treaty in response to external pressure.
• The current conflict has brought the issue back to the centre of political discussion.
• There has been no official confirmation yet that Iran will exit the treaty, and the outcome will depend on internal approvals and the course of the conflict.

Conclusion

Iran’s possible exit from the NPT would mark a major turning point in global nuclear politics.

While no final decision has yet been taken, the issue has moved from rhetoric to active legislative discussion, making it a serious geopolitical concern for the international community.

Economy

2. 14th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization

Context: The 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) of the World Trade Organization ended in Yaoundé without an agreement on continuing the moratorium on customs duties for e-commerce transactions.

What is the E-commerce Moratorium?

In 1998, WTO members decided not to levy customs duties on electronic transmissions.

These cover:

• digital products such as e-books, software, music, and online games
• electronically delivered services like OTT and streaming platforms

This arrangement has been renewed at every Ministerial Conference, generally once every two years.

Since it lapsed on 31 March 2026, countries now have the option to impose tariffs on digital trade.

Major Issues at MC14

No Agreement on Extension

• Developed economies such as the US, EU, and Japan favoured a longer or permanent continuation of the moratorium.
• On the other hand, developing nations, including India, resisted this move, citing concerns over loss of customs revenue and shrinking policy flexibility in the digital economy.
• Differences over whether the extension should be for two years or five years resulted in a deadlock.

TRIPS Non-Violation Moratorium

• The conference also witnessed the expiry of the protection against non-violation complaints under the TRIPS Agreement.
• This safeguard had existed since 1995 and helped preserve the policy space of developing countries.
• With its expiry, measures that are technically WTO-compliant may still be challenged.
• For India, this raises concerns over disputes related to Section 3(d) of the Patents Act, 1970, which prevents the evergreening of drug patents unless enhanced efficacy is clearly established.

Fisheries Subsidies

Members welcomed the enforcement of the 2022 Fisheries Subsidies Agreement.

• The agreement prohibits subsidies for:
  • illegal and unreported fishing
  • fishing of already depleted stocks without restoration efforts
  • unregulated fishing in high seas areas
• However, the issue of subsidies leading to overcapacity and overfishing remains unresolved.
• Members agreed to continue discussions on this at the 15th Ministerial Conference.

India’s Key Position

Development-Oriented Multilateralism

• India reiterated the need for a fair, open, and non-discriminatory trading system, in line with the Marrakesh Agreement.

Public Stockholding for Food Security

• India strongly pushed for a permanent solution on Public Stockholding (PSH).
• It argued that:
  • most Indian farmers are small and marginal
  • the MSP system is essential for livelihood protection and food security

Special and Differential Treatment

• India stressed the importance of effective Special and Differential Treatment (S&DT) provisions for developing and least-developed countries to address deep structural inequalities in global trade.

Dispute Settlement Reform

India also highlighted the urgent need to restore a fully functional, automatic, and binding dispute settlement system, as the continued paralysis of the Appellate Body undermines WTO credibility.

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