Iranian representatives reportedly objected to language stating that “Iran can never seek, develop or acquire any nuclear weapons”, while the United States insisted that the wording remain part of the document.
The 2015 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) is held at the United Nations headquarters in New York on April 27, 2015. The conference kicked off on Monday and would last till May 22. (Xinhua/Shi Xiaomeng/IANS)
Fresh tensions erupted between Iran and the United States after the latest round of high-level United Nations nuclear discussions ended without consensus, marking the third consecutive failure of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference to adopt a final document. Iran sharply criticised US and its allies following the deadlock, accusing them of pushing the global nuclear framework towards collapse through “obstructionism”.
The breakdown at the United Nations comes at a time of escalating confrontation between Tehran and Washington over Iran’s nuclear ambitions, with the US repeatedly asserting that Iran must never be allowed to develop nuclear weapons.
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The latest review conference, which began at the UN headquarters in New York on April 27, concluded without agreement after days of negotiations failed to bridge deep divisions among member states.
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Reacting after the conference ended, the Permanent Mission of Iran to the United Nations blamed the United States and its allies for the failure to finalise the outcome document.
In a statement posted on X, the Iranian mission said, “US excessive demands push the NPT into free fall.” It further claimed that the conference collapsed because of “obstructionism” by Washington and its allies.
Iran also warned that the future of the NPT itself could come under threat if progress on nuclear disarmament continues to stall.
U.S. Excessive Demands Push the NPT into Free Fall
The NPT Review Conference failed for the third consecutive time due to obstructionism by the United States and its allies.
Iran’s warning: Without nuclear disarmament, no future can be envisaged for the NPT.
— I.R.IRAN Mission to UN, NY (@Iran_UN) May 23, 2026
According to reports from NHK Japan, negotiators revised the draft final document four times in an attempt to secure consensus among participating nations.
Several contentious references were reportedly removed during negotiations, including wording linked to Ukraine’s nuclear facilities and North Korea’s denuclearisation.
However, disagreement over Iran’s nuclear programme remained unresolved until the final day of discussions.
Iranian representatives reportedly objected to language stating that “Iran can never seek, develop or acquire any nuclear weapons”, while the United States insisted that the wording remain part of the document.
The disagreement ultimately prevented delegates from reaching consensus before the conference concluded.
Do Hung Viet, president of the conference, termed the outcome as “very regrettable” after negotiations failed to produce an agreed final declaration.
The collapse marks the third consecutive failure of the NPT Review Conference, which is generally held once every five years, to adopt a final document.
The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty remains one of the world’s most significant international agreements aimed at preventing the spread of nuclear weapons while promoting peaceful use of nuclear energy and advancing global disarmament efforts.
The treaty was opened for signature in 1968 and came into force in 1970. It was extended indefinitely in 1995 and currently includes 191 member states, including the five recognised nuclear-weapon states.
The latest deadlock is likely to intensify concerns over the future effectiveness of the global nuclear order at a time of rising geopolitical tensions and renewed fears over nuclear proliferation.
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